Valerius Vella (18) D2M

It was with complete composure that I played my game. I had laid my trap and set my bait and now I just had to watch. I leaned against a doorway, always the careless, aloof one. I tossed my pocketwatch in my hands, casually displaying that I had so much wealth I could afford to destroy an imported watch while also showing to the entire party that I was growing bored. It was a party I hosted, and everyone was only there because they'd rather spend time cringing on my good side than find themselves trapped on my bad side. If I stayed bored, the entire party would end up on my bad side. Most of them were, anyway, but I let them dance, pretending that they still had a chance at my fortune.

"Hey," I called, one word enough to gather the attention of the entire room. "Let's play truth or dare."

The room quivered under my gaze. To say no would be rude, just like rejecting an invitation to my party. To not attend would be social suicide. So would playing truth or dare.

"C'mon," I cajoled the room of liars and thieves, One's elite children. They knew what wealth was, but nothing like mine. Nothing like what I had inherited at the price of my mother's blood and my father's death. They'd stay near me for a chance to eat off my table, I knew. They'd tremble and pray I didn't cause their fall from grace. "It'll be so much fun."

"You go first," Slate bravely called. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," I spat nearly immediately, sitting on the ground. The others formed a circle around me, jockeying to be as far away from me as possible. That just put them in my line of sight.

"I dare you to kiss Lapis," Slate said, a diplomatic dare. Or a cowardly one. It was mild, nothing, a game anyone could play. I leaned over and kissed the boy on the lips, knowing he'd like to say no as much as I enjoyed his squirming. It was dirty of Slate, really. I didn't mind kissing the boy. I could kiss anyone I wanted. Lapis, however, had a loving girlfriend, one who was now looking up at me. She'd ask my approval. I'd grant it.

"My turn," I cried, the room falling to silence as they realized Slate's mistake. Sometimes they went ten, fifteen rounds without calling on me. Slate was full of hubris. "Blair, truth or dare?"

Blair's eyes flashed as she considered. She knew either would be torture. Truth and I'd have something terrible to reveal. Dare and I'd make her life hell. It was the price she paid, staying with Slate. "Truth," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I choose truth."

"What were you doing last Tuesday at three?" I asked, giving her an easy out. It was unlike me, really, but I was feeling generous. Call it grace, call it mercy. I thought the girl deserved better than her slimeball of a boyfriend.

"Getting a nose job," Blair admitted, relief wafting off of her. I wondered passively what her real secret was. There had to be something she was so terrified of admitting that she would openly and easily say she'd had plastic surgery. It was no matter, really. I'd find out when I wanted to. Nothing stayed secret from me.

Octavia Jacobs (18) D2F

"Hey there little darling boy," I called to the single light of my life. The bundle of joy was in his cradle, where I had specifically instructed his father to leave him. Cassius couldn't be trusted to change a diaper or feed a child, and I was glad when he finally let me hire a nanny. I had hired one months before, of course. I just had her sneak in and out of the house until I officially had his permission. A man like him could never be alone with something as pure and wondrous as my child.

"Hey there Drusy-wusy!" It wasn't like me to use baby talk. Such things were beneath a woman of my caliber, really. I was prim and composed at all times, even when there were yelling men barking at me, claiming that their anger wasn't an emotion while any of my tears would be. I did not raise my tone to a childish pitch and repeat phrases. Not until I read that it was good for a child's development, that is. I'd walk on my hands over lemon-covered glass for Drusus. It seemed like a much smaller ask to be immature so he'd mature more healthily.

"How have you been today? Mama's been good! She's been so good! I got to call Brutus an idiot, even if I had to say it in some silly-dilly nice words. And Ms. Maversham mysteriously got sick before my presentation, so no one asked stupid, asinine questions meant just to trip me up. And uppies! And downsies. And someone parked in my spot so I got to tow their car." It was an important part of my daily routine, decompressing while I talked to Drusus. I'd have to find a replacement for him once he was old enough to actually understand what I was saying. Regardless of the future, I had a routine to follow. I couldn't miss a day of my countdown.

"Guess what today is? It's day fifteen!" Drusus couldn't count that high. He was still an infant. Didn't even crawl yet. I, however, could count down. I had been waiting eagerly for thirty-one days and now there were only fifteen left. It would be good when the days ended. Eagerness didn't become me.

"Just fifteen more days and Cassius is gone," I called, grabbing Drusus's little pinky toe. "And in fourteen days I'll start making excuses. And in thirteen days I'll give my alibi. And in twelve I'll get rid of Valerius..."

It was a story Drusus had heard more than once. He wouldn't know I had told it to him, even though I said it every day. I was teaching him his numbers, really, in a backward sort of way. He'd learn from what his mother said. Even if he still called me "Mama," like a child. His nanny could teach him how to say "Mom" and "Mother." I'd teach him how to eviscerate his political opponents.