District 17

Skylar looked to Eva for a moment when she came onto the balcony. Her mind was crowded with confusion. She looked to the plate of cinnamon rolls and then her emerald eyes looked back to the woman once again. Skylar looked out to the city as Eva spoke of how she might be hungry. Truth was, she had forgotten about her hunger. Her body was weak. She did need to eat. But, the adrenaline raced through her veins, galloping along, keeping her pulse quick. As Eva spoke about the events, as she tried to make Skylar feel better she found herself staring at the city, remembering her past, when she was a child once more. What it would be like to be care free once more….to have her brave father at her side.

‘We are going to figure it out, right?’ The words stung. What if they couldn’t figure it out? Dr. Knightley was incredibly smart, however what if this was some form of magic, some form of curse. It certainly felt like a curse, the fear she felt. She had never felt more terrified in her life. That demon…she saw him with each rest of her eyes.

It was when Eva questioned about Dr. Knightley that Skylar looked to her once more, a slight curve in her lips. She watched Eva as she spoke, about elves, and dwarfs, kings and queens. Even coconuts….

After Eva had stopped talking, Skylar looked over her features for a long silent moment. She looked at the gauntlet that Dr. Knightley crafted to aid her in controlling her powers. “You know…” She spoke, her voice small, “We could leave all of this, you’re right.” She looked back out toward the city. “We could just disappear….” She took in a slow shaken breath, “But this world, it will not disappear, it will still be here, the pain and suffering will still go on...” Her eyes locked on Eva then, a darkness in them, a darkness that had never been there before. “Do you know, what would happen if the Guild were to collapse?” Skylar stared at Eva for a long moment, her eyes burning into the woman before her. “The Order would devastate our homes, everyone who gained gifts, every single person would be tortured and syphoned of their magic on a daily basis. They keep people like us alive in District 1 for sport, to use us, for cheap entertainment. They are absolutely----…..”

Skylar stumbled and held her hand to her temple, she squeezed her eyes shut. “I….I’m….” She fell, her back hit the railing of the balcony and she slipped into a seated position. Both of her hands held her head.

”What do you think you’re doing?” The Shadow Demon spoke, clouding her thoughts.

Skylar was breathing heavily, tears rolled down her cheeks, she clenched her jaw, “I’m sorry…I…I didn’t….I….” She spoke quickly, her voice full of fear. “Eva….” She whimpered. “I didn’t….I didn’t mean it….I….it’s not….” She fought to breathe as she felt the demon choking her, bruising appeared around her neck as she lifted slightly off of the ground. “Run….Eva…..go….” Her eyes looked up to the woman, the emerald green color faded until her eyes were completely black, she looked like a demon. Skylar took in a slow controlled breath, a smirk formed on her lips, she stood. “Perfect.” She spoke, her voice distorted. The demon had control of her. She took a few steps and fell to her knees, coughing and breathing heavily. Tears ran down her cheeks, “No…No….please…stop…” She whimpered. Her eyes had changed back to the beautiful emerald color once again.

Dr. Knightley came rushing through the door. “What just happened?” She knelt down at Skylar’s side. “Eva, did you see anything?” She questioned as she looked over Skylar, the bruising on her neck was dark purple. “Who did this to you, Skylar?”

“A demon.” Skylar choked.

“Eva, what color were her eyes?” Dr. Knightley questioned the girl. She checked Skylar’s pupils carefully, searching for an answer. Though, she got her answer when Skylar let out a cry, her body slumped forward in a trembling heap. “Skylar?” She asked softly. “Can you hear me?” Dr. Knightley rolled her onto her back, her muscles were all contracted, her body was stiff as a board. Dr. Knightley pulled an injection from her white coat and injected it into Skylar, this caused her muscles to loosen. “Come on.” She carefully lifted her onto her bed. “Eva. Keep an eye on her, I’ll be right back.” The doctor ran off.

Skylar’s eyes fluttered as she fought her way in and out of consciousness. Once she finally gained control of herself she blinked and looked around the room, her body felt like a freight train hit her. “What happened…?”

“Don’t be sorry…” Skylar whispered softly, her eyes felt heavy, as if she had been awake for days on end without even a moment of rest. “I was out of control….something needed to be done…” She pushed herself up slowly, her skin pale, sweat beaded along her brow line. “Something still needs to be done.” She spoke, her voice distant, full of thought.

Booker placed his hands on her shoulders just as she went to stand. “You’re staying here; Dr. Knightley will be right back.” He searched her eyes as she looked up to him, “We will figure this out, Sky. We will stop Ainsley and whatever it is that he is up to. So, you can’t give up on us.” He gave a gentle smile.

Skylar looked to him, her expression blank for a long moment, her eyes void. “I know we will end this, Booker. It is just all of the time between the beginning and the end that causes me to become upset. The attack on District 5 was not a setback, it was something that we did not expect all together. This….” She paused and took in a slow deep breath, “This thing, this demon, it….” She lowered her head and then stood, she looked into Booker’s eyes. “This was not planned; this was not something we could foresee. So, before we waste any more time just sitting around waiting on a cure to be found, I am going to take this into my own hands, I’m not just going to sit aside and watch as the districts are ripped to shreds by the Order. While the Overseer Soldiers burn down homes and kill innocents that never deserved to be within the line of fire. This was not their fight. This is our fight and it is our duty from the days of old to protect the people of the districts against the tyranny of the Order. They have always been heartless bastards, and now it seems that we are nothing more than a game to them. The explosion from District 17 that gave gifts to thousands in the other surrounding districts is nothing more than a chance to have more magical beings to suck the life out of and torture. There has to be an end to this.” Her brows were tucked together. Skylar took a step forward for Booker to place his hand on her shoulder. “I’m not going to end up like my father, Booker.” She brushed his hand away and left the room.

Booker stood silent for a long moment. He looked to Eva and gave a gentle smile before he walked to the balcony and started to pick up the shattered pieces of the plate. He threw the pieces into a small garbage can before he sighed, “You know, Eva, that is really impressive that you were able to get into the demon’s dream like that, into the reality that he was shaping for Skylar. I’ve only heard of that happening once or twice in the history of the Guild.” He paused a moment before he gave a nod, “You should rest, settle yourself in, feel free to go downstairs to Dr. Knightley if you want to do any training, or even Tyrin. They would both be more than happy to assist you. Or if you need anything I will be in my quarters, just down the hall.” He looked to the balcony for a moment before he left the room.

**

Skylar was downstairs in the lab with Dr. Knightley, she lay on a bed with electrodes hooked all over her body. She looked to Dr. Knightley with her emerald eyes before she gave a nod, silently approving of the woman to proceed. Dr. Knightley began clicking about on the computer, “Just remember to breathe, Warden.” She spoke just before she finally keyed in the final approval, turning on the electrodes. Skylar let out a whimper and shut her eyes tightly as the electricity flowed through her body, her muscles trembled. The nearby screen began spiking with readings. A model of Skylar’s body appeared on the screen in anatomical position, rotating slowly to reveal any abnormalities.

Dr. Knightley moved about clicking here and there as the electrodes continued to send shockwaves through Skylar’s body. The doctor winced as Skylar screamed. The pain from this test usually kept her from performing it on anyone, but in this case it was vital to aiding her in finding out what exactly Ainsley had injected the Warden with. The test seemed to go on for hours as the doctor rushed about, making notes and clicking away at the keys of her computer before finally the electrodes ceased to shock Skylar. She lay on the bed, her chest heaved, her eyes were closed…she was unconscious. Dr. Knightley took in a breath as she brushed blood from her nose. “It was necessary Skylar.” She spoke softly as she began to pull the electrodes from her body. “Tyrin.” She called as she removed the restraints from Skylar’s wrists, hips, and feet.

“Yes, Dr. Knightley?” Tyrin came from across the lab.

“Can you help me with the Warden?” Dr. Knightley lifted Skylar’s limp torso against her chest, her arms dangled and her head fell to the side lifelessly. Tyrin stepped forward and grasped the Warden’s feet into her arms and the two doctors carried her across the lab. Dr. Knightley punched a large red button and a chamber came from the wall. The lid made a hissing sound as it released air before it opened slowly and slid out of the way. The two carefully placed her into the chamber. Tyrin hooked up an IV and hooked the tubing into a connector inside of the chamber before she pulled a mask down and tightened it over Skylar’s face. Tyrin tightened the straps until the mask released pressure when Skylar took in a breath, lights lit up on the side of the mask letting the doctor know that it was active.

Tyrin took a step back as Dr. Knightley clicked a few buttons on the side of the chamber. “Did you solve it?” She asked as she watched the lid slide shut and then a thick white smoke like mist fill the chamber.

“I believe so.” Dr. Knightley stared down to the chamber for a long moment as the smoke began to clear, ice particles clung to the glass of the chamber. Skylar’s body was a ghostly blueish white. She turned and went to her table with all of the herbs and liquids. “I believe, that if I mix…..” She paused as she measured out a bright red liquid. “I can just….” She mixed a few more things, the liquid became orange now. “There is a way to stop this.” She nodded as she mixed in a few herbs which caused a strange popping sound from the liquid before it turned a deep purple. She drew the liquid into a large syringe before she moved to the side of the stasis chamber. She then injected the liquid into a port. She watched as it ran through the lines on the outside of the chamber and then it slipped inside of the chamber. It crawled up the tube and soon it was going into the IV catheter in Skylar’s arm. A moment passed as the two doctors stood on either side of the chamber, watching Skylar’s still body. Her emerald eyes shot open and she fought against the hold downs within the chamber, fear in her eyes.

“Dr. Knightley what did you inject her with?!” Tyrin rushed around and input several commands into the keyboard of the chamber.

Dr. Knightley stared at Skylar, unmoving. She watched as Skylar’s eyes melted into the pitch black of the demon. Her eyes were void of all life. The Doctor gave a nod as she stood there with a smirk on her lips. “It isn’t comfortable when it isn’t on your own terms, is it?” She looked into Skylar’s eyes, speaking to the demon. Skylar fought against the restraints. The machines beeped erratically in response to the movement, to the spike in her pulse and respirations. Dr. Knightley ran to her table and grabbed another liquid that she had prepared. She injected it into the lines. “Goodbye demon.” She spoke as she watched the white fluid push through the lines and into the IV once again. The demon slammed Skylar’s head against the pillow several times, screaming bloody murder. It thrashed against the bonds and fought with all its might until suddenly, the fight seemed to end. Skylar lay, staring blankly up at the ceiling. The pitch black in her eyes slowly melted away and her breathing as well as heart beat returned to normal. Her eyes slowly slid shut. Dr. Knightley punched in a few commands on the stasis chamber before she gave a smile and a nod to Tyrin. “We will give her twelve more injections like this, back to back. Six of each, to be exact. That should ban this demon from her mind. It should force him out. Then, we will have our old Warden back.”

Tyrin stood with crossed arms, she gave a nod and a smile, “Very well done, Doctor. Your elvish ways always give you a unique answer. I would have never thought to fight a demon with an herbal concoction.” She stepped off and sat at her desk, studying some of the data that had come from the chamber before she flipped over to Eva’s data. Taking notes on it. She was Dr. Knightley’s understudy. She learned from this woman. Anyone would be lucky to get to work with Dr. Knightley.

**

Two days passed as Dr. Knightley and Tyrin worked closely, injecting the mixtures into the chamber. By time the last injection was scheduled Dr. Knightley pushed the purple liquid in and watched carefully. No response at all. This was perfect. Skylar was no longer harboring the demon. Dr. Knightley waited a few moments before she pushed the white liquid through the lines. “We will give her a few more hours before we deactivate the stasis chamber.” Dr. Knightley spoke to Tyrin. They kept Booker and Blake away from the research lab. Dr. Knightley knew that Booker would feel overly protective of the Warden, especially with the amount of pain this was inducing.

**

Two more days passed after the doctors pulled Skylar from the stasis chamber. She sat in her study, among a pile of books, flipping through the pages, searching. Studying it. A knock came from the door, causing Skylar to look up from the dusty book before her. “Come in.” She spoke.

“Warden.” The door pushed open. An older man walked in. Jasper Grieves. Her second in command. He had been out on an important mission through all of this. He gave a gentle smile. “Skylar.” He came to her desk.

“Jasper.” She looked up to him and searched his eyes. “Please, sit. I am sure you have had a long and difficult journey.”

“Of course.” He sat down and exhaled heavily.

“So tell me, what is the word from Cisne?” Skylar asked before she took a sip of her coffee.

“Warden.” He shook his head. “Ren said that if we need any assistance with the Order to let her know ahead of time, they are in a bit of a sticky situation as we speak. Right now there is something more pressing than the matter of the Order.”

“What could be more important than ending Ainsley.” Skylar asked, her brows furrowed.

Jasper took in a deep breath, “Are you aware of the traitor that is among our ranks?” He asked. “The man that conspired with Ainsley in the assassination of your father?”

Skylar tensed, “Who?”

“Eva’s friend, Blake. The Wretched.” Jasper stared into her eyes. “He was removed from the Guild, banned. How in the hell did he get back here? And more importantly you’re allowing that bastard to just walk around, he should be in chains!”

Skylar visibly boiled from the inside. She didn’t speak. She stood from her desk and rushed from the room and down the halls to the room that Booker had given Blake. She snapped her fingers before she burst through the door. Time stopped as she advanced on Blake. She grasped him by the neck and slammed him harshly against the wall before she snapped her fingers again. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t gut you.” She growled, her eyes full of hatred. “I should give you the same death that you gave my father.” She had her blade held to his throat just beneath her deathly tight grip. The sharp edge of the blade pressed into his skin, drawing blood, his blood dripped down his neck beneath the blade. Skylar’s emerald eyes bore into his with the heat of a thousand suns. She would kill him.

Skylar stumbled back, she looked to Eva in disbelief. She then looked back to Blake, her pulse pounded within her ears. “I’m only going to hear you out for, Eva. If you don’t have a good enough story, I’ll rip you apart piece by piece.” She sheathed her dagger and crossed her arms tightly across her chest. She stared at the letter for a moment, the page old and worn from being inside of Blake’s pocket over the years. The Warden reached forward and took it into her hands. Her eyes scanned over the page and as she read her jaw became slack. She ran her fingertip over the seal several times before she brought her eyes back to Blake. “Go on.” She spoke, her jaw tight, the cold back in her voice. The voice of the Warden. The voice that she used with all of her Guild members. The heartless voice, though beneath her hard outer shell, she was much more she was quite soft and caring. But most all of the Guild believed her to be a ruthless Warden, but they did not hate her for it. They respected her judgement and would follow her into battle to their deaths if she asked of them to. In the four years since her father was assassinated she had climbed from zero respect to most of the respect of her men. Though some of the older Guild members still doubted her, saw her as a child.

As Skylar listened to what Blake had to say, she loosened slightly, though her brows remained pulled together. “They had to find someone to blame…no one wanted to blame Ainsley.” She whispered. “This seal…” She ran her fingertips over it again and again. “I’ve seen it before.” Skylar took in a breath, “It wasn’t Ainsley who wrote this letter. I know this writing.” She pulled her brows together more, a troubled expression began to wash over her face. Her breath quaked within her chest. “I….” She shook her head slightly and took a step back, her eyes were glassy. She turned and left the room without another word. Skylar held the letter tightly within her grip as tears welled in her eyes. She rounded a corner right into the chest of Booker. His hands grasped her shoulders. She looked at him silently.

“Sky?” He asked, but she didn’t answer.

Skylar brushed his hands away from her and marched on. She found her way across the mansion, though not without the notice of the eyes of the Guild. Some whispered, the pain on her face, they could all see her pain now. She pushed the heavy oak door open and stood silently, staring into the room.

“Warden?” The voice came across the room from the shadows, flames flickered within the fireplace as the man tossed another log on the fire. “Skylar? Are you alright?”

She stepped into the room, and up to him, her eyes looked up to him. As she had looked up to him since she was a child. As she had felt him fit to be the second in command when her father was assassinated by Ainsley. She stared into his eyes as she blinked back tears, her breath caught in her chest as she held the letter out to him.

He looked to the letter and swallowed, “There is an explanation for this, Skylar.” His voice was soft. “Don’t just jump to conclusions.”

“You.” Skylar finally spoke. “You wanted me to kill, Blake, because he was the only one that knew the real truth. He was never a conspirator in my father’s assassination. You were. You ran him off. Because he was the only one that knew.” Her voice was even, smooth like glass as she spoke. “How long?” She asked, “How long did you and Ainsley plan this? Since I was a child? Before I was born? You’ve been around a terribly long time, Jasper.” She choked back tears as she fought to hold control of herself, “I trusted you, I’ve looked up to you. You were like a father to me when my own father was busy with missions that he had been assigned to…”

Jasper put his hands up slightly and pulled the letter from her fingertips, “Skylar…I…” He swallowed, fear in his eyes. She knew. “You have to understand. This is bigger than you. Bigger than me.”

Skylar reached forward in an instant, she gripped his shirt at the collar, she held him close, her eyes burned into his. “Nothing that you say will make me understand, Jasper. Nothing will ever right my father’s death.” In that moment her dagger was in her other hand, it sliced through the air as she drove it upward. The blade cut into his skin just behind his jaw, forcing upward into his skull. Blood poured from the puncture as Skylar twisted and ripped the blade from his skull. She pulled the letter from his hands as he choked on his own blood. He fell to his knees first before he toppled to the floor, blood began to pool beneath his body. Skylar stepped forward and pulled his desk open, in the top drawer two seals sat, the seal of the second hand and the Goldhand seal. Skylar lifted the seal into her fingertips. She stared at the curves of the impressions for a long moment before she tossed the seal into the flames. The flames turned blue from the material of the seal. She folded the letter and pushed it into her pocket before she turned.

“Sky…” Booker stood in the doorway, his jaw loose. He stared to Jasper’s body and then back to her in disbelief. “You…”

Skylar took in a shaken breath; blood had splattered across her face in speckles from the entry of her blade. Blood covered her left hand that held the dagger still, blood dripped from the steel of the blade. “I will kill anyone who was involved with Ainsley.” She finally spoke after a long moment. “Gather the Guild in the meeting chamber, there are things that will be changing and it is better for them to hear this now, rather than through whisperings of others.” She went to step passed him.

“Sky…” Booker stared into her eyes for a long moment. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close to his body for a long moment. That was when Skylar finally began to sob. The tears flowed from her eyes and the sobs shook her body. He held her here for as long as she needed until she finally peeled away. He gave her a gentle smile and a nod. “I’ll get the Guild.” He spoke and wiped away her tears.

Skylar turned and walked down the hall where she entered her study. She sat in her chair at the desk. The desk that her father had spent so many hours at while she was growing up. The desk that he stood at the night that he died. This room was the first and the last of her memories with her father. She took in a breath as she stared to the blood stain in the floor. Her expression was void of life now. She had been ripped into pieces so many times she was unsure of what to feel now. Skylar felt a hand on her should and she turned her head, only for darkness to follow…

”Skylar.” Her father’s voice came from the dark corners that surrounded her. “You have to let it go.” His voice was strong, as always. “You hold so much anger, you harbor so much hate. That is going to end up getting you killed.” He appeared from the darkness.

Skylar stood her emerald eyes looked over him, she reached forward only for her hand to push through his chest, it dissipated around her fingertips like smoke. “Father…” She whispered. “I…”

He looked to her hand and gave a gentle, sad smile. “Sky, you have done so much in the four years without me. You are a stronger Warden than I could have ever been.”

“You’ve grown.” A voice came from behind her father. Mavis turned slightly and smiled as he placed his arm around a woman that Skylar had never seen. This woman that stood before her had emerald eyes, soft features, long dark hair. The woman reached forward, her fingertips touched Skylar’s cheek for a moment before her hand dropped to hold Mavis’ hand.

“Sky, there is far more to my death than you may ever understand. You have to promise me, you won’t forget what the guild is for. We are not for revenge, Sky. Ainsley will have his time.” He gave a gentle smile.

Skylar made to step forward only to be surrounded in blackness once more. “Amara!!!” She could hear her father’s voice scream, pain in his voice. She could hear a young child crying. Skylar spun around as the darkness dissipated she stood in a large room, the floor was marble, the ceiling was lined with silver etchings. Her eyes fell on Mavis, he stood in his assassin gear, black from head to toe, his mask upon his face. His dagger was drawn. He was staring at a man that held a woman, the same woman from before in his hold. The man didn’t have a face, it seemed that his face had been overcome by shadows.

“Take another step and I’ll kill her, Mavis.” The man’s voice was deep, dark. It commanded that he listen. Mavis was frozen in his stance. “Give me the device and I’ll allow her to live.” The assassin commanded. Mavis pulled a small device from his belt. It was a bracelet of some form. It had inscriptions and runes on it that pulsed with energy. “Put it on the floor with your weapons, and step back.” The assassin ordered. Mavis did as he was told, he took several steps back, his hands raised. The assassin shoved Amara onto her knees as he stepped forward and grasped the bracelet into his hands, he chuckled deeply. “Thank you kindly, the Order will be most pleased in your retrieval of this, Mavis.” He leaned down and ripped the blade across the woman’s throat. “You understand.” He chuckled before he disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

“Mommy!!!!” A tiny child came running forward from behind a pillar. The girl pulled her mother onto her back, crying.

Mavis took a slow step forward. “Sky…” He whispered as he knelt next to the child and her dead mother. He slowly pulled her from the body and into his arms, she screamed as she fought against him, crying out for her mother. Mavis looked up as guards rushed into the ballroom. He held the child close to his body and he too disappeared into the night.

Skylar gasped for air, her eyes shot open. She sat, still in the chair of the study. She looked around frantically. Who? What? How did that happen? Who did that to her? Who showed her those memories? Her father…he never spoke of it. What happened. Who was this woman? Her mother…who was she really? That palace….where was it? Was Mavis really her father? The world seemed to be spinning around her.

“Skylar?” Booker came into the study. He stared to the Warden for a long moment. “Are you alright?” He asked.

“I don’t know…” She whispered.

Booker paused for a moment as he took in a breath, “I have gathered the Guild, as you requested…um…”

“Yes of course.” Skylar rose and went to her bedroom. She disappeared for several minutes before she reemerged. She had changed from the bloodied clothing and into a different outfit, one that she hadn’t worn before. She wore black pants with dark brown straps along them that held her equipment. She wore a black top that had thin yet strong armor that was as light as a feather. It buckled together as well. She had her pistol and her dagger upon her hips. She also had a mask that could cover her face, as well as a hood that lay upon her shoulder at the moment. “Shall we?” She stepped from the room, followed closely by Booker. The halls were empty. Everyone was in the meeting room. Skylar walked in and took the podium and silence sprang across the room. “Good Evening, Nighthand Guild.” She spoke, her voice stronger than it had ever been. “It has come to my attention that we had a traitor among our ranks.” The eyes of the Guild looked around, trying to spot the man. “He has been taken care of.” She spoke after a long silence. The Guild members began to speak amongst each other. “I will not tolerate any form of traitorous acts against the Guild. Those that I find to be involved in such acts will be dealt with accordingly.” She set a small box on the podium. “It is time to appoint a new council that can assist with Guild activities. I know that I have fallen behind on keeping up with assignments, but with a council that will no longer be an issue that we will have to deal with again.” She caught Blake’s eyes among the crowd, and then her eyes fell on Eva. “I would like to appoint five council members.” She looked back out at the Guild, the expression of their faces was of shock. Since the council fell apart it wasn’t spoken of since. “The Reaper of the Night Hand Guild Council will be Blake. He has long ago been in the council and he will aid in putting the pieces back together. Next we will have Specialist Winslow, he is a long time assassin with the Guild. Dr. Knightley will be our new Officer of Medical, she is the best for the job. Lukas will be our next Guild Lieutenant. Booker, you are the new appointed Second Hand.” She paused as the Guild members looked around. All of the members that Skylar had chosen were extremely qualified for the positions that they each had been given. “Step forward please.”

Skylar grasped the box into her hands once more. She opened the wooden box and stepped forward as Dr. Knightley first came to the podium. She placed a pin of a caduceus on her medical jacket and gave her a stamp that also had a caduceus. Next Winslow stepped forward, he was the most highly respected assassin in the Guild. His pin as well as seal had the symbol of the assassin, a triangle with a rounded base and a skull within that triangle. Skylar then gave Lukas a pin that was a maple leaf with a seal that was also the same. She paused when Blake came up to her, she gave a gentle smile. “Thank you.” She whispered softly. She placed his pin on his collar of his jacket and handed him his seal. His seal was a skull with a gear behind it and a reaper scythe that curved around the edge. Skylar then smiled to Booker as he stood before her, surprise on his face. “You are the only one I can trust.” She spoke softly as she pinned him. His seal had a dragon on it that had the Night Hand Guild written around it. Skylar stepped back onto the podium with her now empty box. She looked out over the Guild. “I also elect to select Eva as my under study. I believe that she has great potential in our fight against the Order. The council will meet and discuss things further. Orders are only to be followed with the stamp of one of the council members and the approval stamp of either myself or the second hand. There must always be two seals. If there is only one, bring it to my attention immediately. If I am not around, Booker shall suffice. If any order is carried out with only one seal, those who do not heed this warning will be locked away, or depending on the order that was carried out you may face the same as your target. We can not allow our history to be repeated.” With that she stepped down from the podium and exited the room.

Booker stood staring over the Guild as they began to chatter to each other. No one seemed upset by this ruling. At least that he could see. He made eye contact with the others before he left the room to the Council chamber. It was a large room in the basement. It was empty for the most part, a banner was hung with the insignia of the NightHand Guild. In the center of the room was a large round table made from oak with beautiful oak chairs. Around the table was water in the form of a circle that came in to form the insignia of the Guild as well.

**

Skylar approached Eva, “You should attend the council meeting, and the meetings that will come in the future. As my understudy you will need to know what I know in the event that I may die.” She turned, “I would hate to see this Guild fall into the wrong hands.” She whispered then before she stepped away and led Eva to the chamber where the other council members had gathered. Skylar stood near the round table, her eyes looking over each of her chosen members for a moment before she took a seat and pointed for Eva to take a seat as well. “Let’s begin, shall we?” She spoke, calling the council to order. The members looked to each other and then to their Warden.

“Was Jasper the traitor?” Lieutenant Lukas asked.

“Yes.” The Warden spoke, unflinching.

“What did he do?” Specialist Winslow questioned.

“He wrote an order to murder our previous Warden, after he stole the seal from the Goldhand of the council.” Skylar again, answered without pause. She set the letter on the table. The council members passed it around, reading it, looking it over closely. “You, the members of the council, are the only members of the guild that I feel I can fully trust. Please, do not betray my faith in you.” Skylar spoke, her voice was cold and dead.

Dr. Knightley looked to her, searching her eyes for a moment, “What do we do from here, Warden?”

Skylar gave a nod, “Now we figure out a plan to suck the life from the Order. We have to figure out how to hit them hard enough to bring them to their knees. If they surrender and retreat from the districts, that is the beginning. We must free those who have been imprisoned by them, those who are tortured and sucked of their power. In all of this we must keep our word. We must remain the Guild that we are. We were founded to help the people of the districts by my great great grandfather. And that, is exactly what we will do. We Will continue to protect the people of the districts from the Order. Our first step in this is to help the survivors in District 5. They will need help to rebuild. We must keep recruiting. We also must watch Ainsley, we have learned that he has much more up his sleeve than anticipated. He has done several things in the attack on District 5 that were not expected. We must get a step ahead.”

Booker nodded as he looked to his Warden, “She is right, we must get ahead of him and his trickery. The Order will consume the districts if they are not stopped. Somehow he is involved with them, helping them. Whatever deal has been made between him and the Order is keeping him in power of the Overseer Army. They are a force to be reckoned with. I thought myself invincible until this fight with 5. I never thought I would have ended up in the condition I did…and our Warden almost died. That would have left us in the hands of the betrayer.”

“That.” Skylar interrupted and looked to Eva. “Is precisely why I have appointed an understudy.” She gave a nod, “Eva has power that is unimaginable, she will be a huge benefit to this Guild. In the event of my death, Eva will take over the guild and you as council members will follow her every word and see to it that the Guild follows her. I don’t want her to go through what I did when my father died, it was a fight to gain your trust.” She took in a breath and gave a nod. “I want all of you to think about what this Guild needs, and what we need to do, tomorrow we will meet again.” She stood and nodded to them before she left.

The council members sat in their chairs for a long moment before each finally stood and left. Leaving Booker and Eva. He looked to Eva for a moment as he stood slowly, “Could you try to crack into her skull?” He asked Eva. “She’s locked herself away and I’m not sure what has happened within that head of hers….your her understudy, right? Shouldn’t you know?” He chuckled. “Good luck, Eva.” He then stepped off and up the spiraled stone stairs.

**

Skylar sat at her desk, a pile of books before her. She was searching for the woman in her vision. Trying desperately to figure out just exactly who she was really. Who was this woman from the vision? Where had she been killed? Why? Who was the shadowed assassin? Why had her father kept this all a secret? Why did she see that? And how?

Skylar brought her eyes up to the sound of the door opening to her study. She set down the red ink pen that she held in her hand, several books lay open before her with words underlined, paragraphs circled. “Eva, hello.” She closed a few of the books as Eva came to sit at the desk before her. “Thank you, Eva, I…” She took in a breath and sighed before she pushed the book that sat in front of her away, her focus was completely on Eva now. She wasn’t distracted like all of the times before, she was listening, she wasn’t lost in another world. Skylar gave a nod when Eva apologized, she took in a breath just as Eva began to speak again. Skylar watched her closely, taking in each word, each movement, analyzing her. Just as she had analyzed her the day they met in the bakery, when she saved Eva’s life from Charlie.

“We are all struggling for one reason or another. I feel like I’m drowning, I can see the light at the surface but it seems I cannot reach it, no matter how hard I push myself to fight against the tide.” Skylar looked back to the book that she had pushed forward; it was a journal that her father had kept. Though, like the hundreds of times she had read through it after his death before, the pages still seemed cryptic and coded. “What?” She rose her eyes back to Eva. “Hear what?” Her brows drew together as she looked up to her understudy. “You don’t understand what?” Skylar stood when Eva spoke of the mask. “Why…?” She questioned, though her voice was soft. “My father wore that on his missions, he became the face of the Guild in that mask…” She took a step forward and felt frozen as Eva touched the mask. “Eva!” Skylar rushed forward, though the blast of power that came from Eva knocked her back. She stumbled and fell to the floor. “Eva what’s…..” Her words ceased, she saw the assassins from the past that stood before her. Her eyes fell on Mavis. He looked to her with a gentle smile on his lips. Her breathing quickened, her eyes welled with tears.

“Sky.” He had a warm smile on his lips. He stepped forward and placed his hands beneath her arms, just as he had when she was a child. He lifted her up and carefully set her on her feet. He searched her eyes as he stood there silently, he then looked over to where Eva stood, frozen in a trance like state.

“H-How…?” Skylar finally spoke, her voice shaking. She reached forward and placed her hand on her father’s chest, it didn’t melt through this time as it had before. “Is…did…E-Eva…do this?” She looked to the others as they stood silently.

“Yes.” Mavis spoke, his voice just the same as she remembered. “Eva is the answer, just as you knew.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. “Now, I can help you in stopping the Order from ruining the lives of the Districts once and for all.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.

Skylar was stiff for a moment before she finally wrapped her arms around her father, tears fell from her eyes and rolled over her cheeks before they soaked into his top. “Father…” She gasped through sobs.

He held her tightly, silent until she calmed, it took several minutes before he took a step back and smiled. “We need to take out the first in command, we need to weaken his army. I need you to perform research on High Commander Richard Stonewall. He is the first that we must take from power.” He looked to Eva and then back to Skylar. “I don’t want to hurt her.” He hugged Skylar once more. “We will talk again soon, Sky.” With that his arms around her dissipated into a blue smoky dust.

Skylar turned and rushed to Eva’s side, she caught Eva and gently lay her on the floor. Her face was still filled with shock as she looked over the girl before her. “Thank you.” She whispered before she carefully lifted her. Skylar carried her to her bed and gently lay her there before she stepped back to her study. She stared to where her father stood just moments before. She crossed her arms, the vision…it had to have something to do with Eva. She looked around the room. A bit of a blue hue glowed on the edge of the desk where Eva brushed dust from the old desk. Skylar stepped to her desk and sat down. She stared to the corner for a long moment before she reached forward and touched it. She gasped for air as it felt like it was sucked from her lungs. She tensed and the world faded into a black abyss.

”Skylar Olyver.” A familiar voice spoke. “Sky.”

Skylar opened her eyes to see her father once more. They were in the black room again, just like before. Skylar rushed forward to him only for her hand to slip through him once more. She nearly fell as she stumbled and caught her balance.

“It’s different here. Like this.” Mavis spoke. “This is a piece of the spirit realm where I now reside.” He looked over his daughter’s features and let out a soft laugh. “You looked so much like your mother, Sky.”

Skylar searched his eyes. “Why didn’t you ever speak of her….why did you show me her death? Father?”

Mavis took in a breath and gave a nod. “In my room, that is now yours. Go to the book shelf that is in the bedroom. Find the book that is titled “Owl with Determination” you will find your answers there.”

Skylar gasped she lifted her head from her arms upon her desk. She had slumped forward in her dream state with her father. She blinked a few times and lifted her head, she looked around the room, remembering all the times that she had spent here with her father. She took in a breath as she stood and stepped into her bedroom. She searched the bookcase, a bookcase that she hadn’t really toyed with a whole lot before, most all of the books on the shelf were fiction. Nothing of importance. Then, she found the book. It was leather bound, the edges were worn and curling in slightly. She looked over the cover, in it was stamped an insignia of an owl, its wings stretched out as if it were flying in for the kill. She opened the book as she moved and sat on the end of her bed, careful not to disturb Eva. She crossed her legs as she looked at the first page. It was hand written.



Skylar paused for a moment. That name, Amara. The same name her father had screamed in that dark ballroom. She turned the pages, looking over the had written words, then within the pages after about five or so was a picture that was taped onto a blank page. It was the woman, Amara, her mother, She smiled, she looked as if she was laughing as a man in the picture pressed his lips against her cheek. Skylar looked closely at the man, her father. Below the picture was a heart etched into the paper with ink. And beneath this more writing:

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Skylar ran her fingertips over the picture she flipped more pages, skipping the words until she found another picture. Amara held a tiny baby in her arms, it was Skylar. Her name was written beneath the picture. Skylar smiled as she looked to the pictures within the book. The pages to follow were filled with pictures of her and her mother playing in a garden, in the same ballroom that she died, somewhere…somewhere she never knew. Her father seemed to have disappeared from the book. Skylar flipped around, searching for a picture with him, nothing. She drew her brows together when she found a picture of her and her mother with another man a noble looking man. He matched the way they dressed. He had a well-kept short beard upon his jaw. His expression was serious. It was a formal picture, on that you would see in the hall of a palace or mansion. Beneath the image was blank. Which was not like the rest of the images. Skylar took in a breath she flipped around more and found a picture of herself in the garden again, a beautiful sunflower in her hands. ‘We will push through, things will be alright.’ Was written beneath the photo.



Skylar furrowed her brows slightly she flipped the page to see a picture that really did speak a thousand words. She saw herself as a child, standing in front of one of the most known palaces in District One. Her breath caught in her chest as she slammed the book shut, tears welled in her eyes. She grit her teeth and clenched her fist. This, was something she could have never imagined…

Skylar looked over her shoulder to Eva as she slept, she seemed peaceful, relaxed. She looked over Eva’s features for a long moment before she stepped into the study where Booker came through the door. “Booker…” She nearly gasped, her breath caught in her chest.

He looked to her for a long moment, “Sky, what happened?” He asked as he gently brushed away a few of her tears. “Where is Eva?” He glanced around the room. He looked over Skylar’s shoulder to see Eva laying on the bed. “What happened?”

Skylar still held the book in her hands, clutching it as if it was her life force. She took in a slow deep breath, “A lot has happened, Booker.” She glanced over her shoulder to Eva. “We need to help her, we need to get to Dr. Knightley.” She nodded, she opened a desk drawer with a key on a bracelet that was around her wrist and set the book inside of it before she locked it away once more.

At this point, Booker helped Eva off of the floor and helped to carry her to the lab, Skylar followed, she looked to the guild members that stared at Eva with judgmental eyes.

“How is she supposed to be your understudy, Warden?” A man asked.

Skylar stopped and gave a nod to him, she stared up to him. He was a good foot above her head, a burly man, a brute. “Tyler, it would be wise of you not to question your, Warden. However, I’ll tell you how she is to save us. She has power that Dr. Knightley cannot even imagine the full potential of. She will single handedly be able to aid us in taking out those that power the Order. To put an end to this never ending war within the Districts. So, before you question her. Remember when you got your powers.” Her voice was strong, her eyes serious. “Do you remember the debilitating pain that your body went through?”

“Warden.” Tyler tried to speak, though the stern look that he received caused him to fall silent again.

“Tell me, Tyler. How was it? When you first learned your powers. When you were young? Before your powers developed. Dr. Knightley told me once, that the older we are when our powers are allowed to surface the more pain is causes. How much pain do you think she is in?”

“I…Warden….forgive me…I…” Tyler lowered his eyes away from her glare. Other guild members had stopped in the hallway to watch this play out, to see how Skylar handled it.

“You should be apologizing to, Eva. She is fighting to learn her powers, to save you.” She pointed at him, her fingertip pressed against his chest, “Think about that.” She then turned and walked off, leaving him standing there in silence. Skylar then caught back up with Booker and assisted Dr. Knightley and Booker with strapping Eva into the bed as she explained the spirits. Her father. She stood silently as Dr. Knightley spoke about the other dimensions, the spirit world, the power that Eva truly possessed. Skylar followed Blake to his office. When he spoke of the masquerade she crossed her arms. “We can’t just duplicate tickets, Blake.” She shook her head as she took the tickets into her hand. Just four tickets. Four was enough. She felt. She then drew her brows together before she left the room without a word. She rushed through the mansion and stopped outside of a closed door. She stood there for a moment before she turned the handle, Jasper’s room. She stood in the doorway and looked over the room for a moment, tidy, nothing left without a place. She stepped up to his clothing drawers and began to search through them.

Skylar searched through his entire room, top to bottom until she pulled a paper from a drawer that had Ainsley’s signature at the bottom.

Jasper,

My friend, everything is going well, I assume. I am writing this to tell you that the green light has been given from the head chair of the Order, Sir William Greystoke, he has asked that as an aid to the Overseers you capture the Warden of the Guild and deliver her to us. I will arrange a pickup for her once I have received word that you have completed the job. It does not matter to the Order if you deliver Skylar Olyver alive or dead, however as I see it, if you deliver her alive I can assure you that the prize that you receive will be well worth the hassle.

After this my friend, you may join me in District One. After this your life will no longer be with any worry or despair. This is what everything has led up to. We either put an end to the Guild now, as it is weakened, or, they will rebuild and they will once again become a thorn in our side.

Ainsley

Skylar sat on the bed as she read the letter, the room around her was a disaster, clothes thrown to the floor, papers everywhere. She pulled another paper from the pile and read through it. Jasper had been in contact with Ainsley since the death of her father. This plan, to break the Guild had been around for years. Ainsley knew her weakness was her father. He knew he could use that against her. That was why he was murdered. Ainsley spoke of her power, how she had a massive amount that would be perfect for District One. He spoke of how they could use the Guild members if they were taken alive, how it would benefit them to syphon them day in and day out.

“How could you be so heartless….?” She breathed. The idea that one of their own, a man with magic running through his blood condoned the torture of his own people. Or maybe he didn’t see them that way. Maybe he never had. She took in a breath as she pulled open a scroll, it was the blueprints to the mansion that the masquerade was at, with a detailed list of the plans that were to take place. She took the letters and the blueprints and returned to her office as she began to devise a plan. She made her own marks on the papers, she attached pictures of the Commander and his men to the papers, they had to know the targets from District One to safely take them out without disturbing the others at the party.

Skylar spent hours in the study until she fell asleep from exhaustion. Her head lay upon her arm on her desk over an open book.

Booker entered the room carefully, he shook his head and let out a soft chuckle when he saw her at the desk. When she was younger she used to always fall asleep reading. He used to watch her father carry her down the hall from the study most nights of the week. Booker stepped over to Skylar and gently pulled her from the chair, her eyes fluttered open to see him briefly before her head leaned against his shoulder. He carried her from the study into her bedroom where he carefully tucked her in. He stared to her for a moment before he left the room. He stopped at the desk, looking over her work. She had the book out, the one that her mother had written. It was open to the page with her mother and father standing with each other, smiling happily. Booker lifted the book into his hands and flipped around the pages he paused and looked to Skylar’s bedroom for a moment before he pulled the picture of Amara and Mavis from one of the pages, he pushed it into his pocket before he left the room.

Booker made his way to the lab where he sat across from Dr. Knightley at her desk. He slid the picture across the desk and took in a slow breath, “Dr. Knightley, you’ve been with the Guild or quite some time, you knew Mavis quite well. He brought you here from outside the Districts, from Cisne.”

“Where did you get this?” Dr. Knightley lifted it, she stared at the image. “I took this.” She whispered. “This…this is Skylar’s mother…I…” She shook her head. “I thought that Mavis destroyed everything after her death…he was destroyed…where did you get this?”

Booker stared at Dr. Knightley for a long moment, his brows rose, he chuckled and grinned. He stood and hugged her. “I found it in a book that Skylar had. This, is amazing! Mavis never spoke of Skylar’s mother, she’s always wanted to know what she was like who she was….”

“Booker…” Dr. Knightley stood before him, still holding the picture. “I promised Mavis to never speak of Amara.” She shook her head and handed him the picture.

“She deserves to know. Dr. Knightley…” Booker sighed as the doctor sat back down at her desk, working on evaluating Eva and her powers. “Dr. Knightley.”

“Booker, there are things.” Dr. Knightley shook her head. “I think you should turn in for the evening, I can discuss this further with the Warden, of her mother, if I feel that it is fit. Right now, it is not.”

**

The next morning Skylar called a meeting of the council. Once everyone had arrived she gave a nod as she sat the four tickets down on the table. She explained to the other council members the powers that Eva had, the ability that this gave the Guild once she could harness it. She then looked to the tickets again. “However, at this point in time it seems that we have been gifted with an easy way in.” She slid the tickets to those who would come to the masquerade, Eva, Booker, Blake, and she kept one in front of herself. “Here are the blueprints to the mansion that the tickets coincide with. It seems Jasper was invited to this to kill the rebels. However, we will be there to remove the Commander and any others from District One. We will assassinate him to give District One an idea as to how they will fall if they continue to torture and capture those with magic. To wreak havoc upon the districts. We will put an end to this nightmare that the districts have been stuck in. The constant fear of the Order. The fear of magic. Outside of the districts is freedom. However, getting out of the districts…in recent years they have cracked down so much that it is nearly impossible to leave. My father Mavis was the last to leave the Districts, and as you know he barely made it back alive.” Skylar took in a breath, “The ball is tonight. I expect everyone to dress accordingly, we will leave at sundown. I have attached a full lay out of the plan and each member from District One that will be attending the ball.” She stood and gave a nod. “If anyone has any questions I will be in my study.” Skylar then turned and left.

Booker looked over the blueprints and the pictures, her writing, “This is what she’s been working on, huh…?” He muttered softly.

“Smart girl.” Dr. Knightley said as she looked through the plan. “Eva, you could use your new friends if things get out of hand.” She smiled, “I have research to conduct.” She then left the hall.

Winslow pulled the plans to his side of the table, “I know the Warden didn’t ask of it, but I will get a team together, we will wait outside of the mansion, if anything falls through, we will be ready for backup. Lucas you will take point.” He nodded.

Lucas looked over the plans as well, “She was very through. She did all of her research.” He spoke as he read over the pages and looked to the images, “Just four members of District One? Is this even worth it?” He sighed.

Booker gave a nod, “The Commander has the power over the entire Overseer army. We will cause their knees to buckle. It will cripple them.”

**

Hours later Skylar stood upon her ship, waiting for her team. She wore a beautiful red dress that had ruffles that made it wavily reach toward the floor. Beautiful black heels. She wore a black necklace around her neck with ruby jewels in her ears and a beautiful ruby upon a ring on her hand. She looked like a noble. She even had her mask on, It was a beautiful ruby red beneath black lace with a gorgeous black feather on the right side that stuck up from the side of the mask. She stood at the wheel of her ship, staring up at the moon in the sky as she waited for everyone to arrive. When the three arrived she flashed a smile, the red lipstick that she wore caused her teeth to look whiter than usual, she quickly took the ship up into the sky with a few quick flips of switches and levers. Once the ship leveled out Skylar adjusted the wheel as needed. It would take a few hours to reach District 3, it was far out from District 16. Much further than District 5.

Booker wore a black tux with a simple mask of black and red with golden inserts. It had a vine design to it. He approached Skylar with a smile on his lips. “I’ve never seen you dressed up.” He let out a soft chuckle.

Skylar looked to him with a smile, “Not many have. This isn’t my first ball.” She noted, she was generally the guild member sent to assassinate a target at a masquerade, she fit in so well. Too well. She was from District One, after all. She couldn’t stop thinking about it. About her mother. “We should be there in a few hours.” She nodded to Booker, before she stared at the stars and the moon once again, losing herself in her own thoughts. Booker stood next to her for a long moment before he turned and left to the lower decks.

Skylar looked to Eva and a smile curved up her lips as she looked to the baker all dressed up. “The dress suits you well.” She spoke and then looked ahead of them, “You shouldn’t be nervous, Eva.” Skylar turned the wheel of the ship and shifted her weight in the heels that she wore, she was a good four inches taller. “You know how to speak, that is all that you need to do to find the rebel woman Belinda.” She flashed a smile, “The masquerades are my favorite. It is a game of cat and mouse. You, play the game right, ask the questions, do the dance, and everything will be fine.” She pushed a few buttons and pulled on a lever. “This could be a rather enjoyable experience for you, given the circumstances.” Skylar searched Eva’s eyes a moment, “No need to be nervous, you will have Blake at your side, and Booker and I will be just a few paces away.”

The flight was quick and soon they were inside the ball. Skylar looked up to the ceiling the beautiful lamps that hung down to add light to the room. Her arm was snaked around Booker’s and she leaned against him adoringly, a smile plastered upon her face. Booker blushed as he looked down to her he too chuckled before he looked back to the crowd before them. They had arrived at the party in its beginnings. People were still arriving. The party would go well into the night. More than likely the Commander and his men wouldn’t arrive for a few hours.

Skylar followed Booker through the people, at the whim of his command it seemed. “What a beautiful lady.” A man stated, he was burley, he wore a masquerade mask that seemed to be made of copper, it glistened in the light of the room. It wasn’t as flashy as the rest of the masks that others wore. Though his tux was rather nice. Skylar brought her eyes to his, a red scarf around his neck was tucked into the top of his tuxedo. She offered him her hand and he kissed her knuckles. The man looked to Booker and smirked.

Booker nodded his head, “How fairs your lady tonight?” He asked, on cue.

The man chuckled happily, “All is set. The other horsemen will arrive just after the dance, and then the party will begin.” He smirked. “My lady, you wouldn’t turn down a dance with me would you?” He asked. “You wouldn’t deny me a dance with this beautiful woman would you?” He glanced back to Booker.

“Of course not, my friend.” Booker spoke with a playful smile.

“Perfect.” He kissed the back of Skylar’s hand once more. “When the bell chimes on the 11th hour.” He nodded and looked to the large clock that could be seen in the ball room through the large open doors. With that he snaked back into the growing crowd of people.

Skylar looked to Booker as she wrapped her arm back through his. She scanned the crowd as the music began to play, calling everyone into the ballroom. The first dance. There would be many in the night. Skylar turned to face Booker once they were upon the dance floor, and like a well-practiced routine they began. Skylar smiled as she danced with him, his arm wrapped around her waist, their fingertips laced together. Skylar’s eyes wandered the room as they danced about, looking for the Commander, and the other two men. She caught sight of the man that they had already spoken to. She was passed off to another then suddenly as everyone switched partners. Skylar found herself dancing with a young woman who smiled to her. “Are you enjoying yourself?” The woman asked.

Skylar smiled as she danced, “Very much. How does your evening fair?”

“Oh wonderful! Absolutely exquisite. Belinda throws quite the party.” She chuckled happily. “Did you hear the Commander himself is to be here?”

“Oh? Is that so? What a surprise to hear of such a high command away from District One. Exciting!” Skylar grinned.

“I’ve heard he is in a mask that is designed to look like a raven. Exquisite.” The woman smiled.

“Oh how intriguing.” Skylar exclaimed just before she was pulled away into another dance. She conversed with several of the nobles, idle banter. She heard many rumors and started a few herself, because that was the fun of the masquerade. She was pulled around and around until she found herself looking up at the man from the foyer.

“Well hello again.” He grinned down to her. Skylar smiled up to him as they danced about. “It seems fate that we have met again.” He dipped her down before he twirled her and pulled her back in close. “Now how did Jasper get a woman as beautiful as you to attend a ball with him? How do I get that?” He chuckled.

Skylar giggled playfully, flirting with him. “Oh, well, he promised a good time, and what woman would turn down a ball? Especially a masquerade ball?” She leaned against him as they danced about.

He chuckled as they moved about the dance floor, “You’re a real gem.” He whispered into her ear. “I want you to come with me after the dance.”

“Oh? And where shall we go?” Skylar asked as he spun her once more and pulled her back in close.

“I must give a beautiful lady such as yourself a drink. It is the least I may do.” He chuckled, “I’m sure he won’t mind, you should live each day as your last, no matter the case.” He held her close as the music slowed.

Skylar found herself staring up into his eyes, her hands on his chest, she smiled in an adoring manner and let out a flirtatious giggle, “Shouldn’t we always?”

The man chuckled as he led her through the thickening crowd of nobles. He glanced around, he glanced to the clock and then looked back to Skylar. She had been doing the same, though she leaned against him slightly and held onto his arm, she giggled when he looked to her. He pulled two glasses of champagne from the table and handed one over to her. Skylar took it and ripped from the glass happily. “Are you excited for the reveal? Did you place your bet?” He asked.

“Oh I am intrigued.” Skylar looked to the time, the reveal of who Belinda was, was supposed to be announced at 11. When they were supposed to attack according to the letter, and according to this man with his code wording. It was only 8 in the evening. They had plenty of time. “I haven’t decided quite yet.” She hummed as she looked around the crowd. “It could be anyone. These things are so hard to decide.” She giggled.

Booker stared at Skylar from the crowd, keeping a close eye on her. He knew exactly what she was doing. Skylar finished her drink and leaned against this man before her, she giggled a bit more, acting as though the alcohol was impairing her judgement. The man smirked, he brushed his fingertips along her jawline and leaned down. “Come with me.” He whispered in her ear. Masquerade balls were known for scandalous acts. This man was simply taking advantage of his situation.

Skylar looked up to him, her face close to his, she smiled and giggled slightly, “Where are you taking me?” She asked softly.

“I’ll show you.” He ran his fingertips along her jaw once more before he grasped another drink, he dropped something into it as he grasped it and handed it to her. Booker moved quickly he grabbed another beverage from the table, and just as Skylar held the beverage off to the side he switched them. The man that held onto Skylar didn’t even notice, the act was so smooth. Skylar sipped from the beverage as the man led her up a flight of stairs. The chatter of the crowd could be heard below them, the laughter of all the men and women below. The man watched as Skylar finished her drink. He pulled the glass from her hand and set it down on a dresser as he walked her into a room. Skylar relaxed as she looked up to him, she giggled again as he ran his fingertips along her jawline. “You are incredibly beautiful.” He whispered as he held his hand on the side of her head, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Skylar kissed him back, she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her closer to him. He pulled back and grinned.

“Jasper never looks at me like that.” She whispered as she leaned heavily against him, giving him the impression that his drug was working on her. “You’re so strong.” She giggled and stumbled slightly.

He grinned as he held her waist and backed her up toward the bed. He kissed down her jaw and chuckled as Skylar lay back. She then moved and kissed him, her hand ran down the side of his body. She gripped onto his hand a moment before she moved the ruffles of her dress. She pulled back and he flipped her onto her back once more, with that movement Skylar’s fingers wrapped around the handle of her dagger. She snapped her fingers and time ceased. Skylar allowed the shadows to surround her as she grabbed the man and pulled him backward. She shoved him against the wall in the closet before she snapped her fingers again. His eyes looked around frantically for a moment before he looked back down to her. Just as he did Skylar drove her blade into his neck, it shattered his vertebrae as it pushed through the side and exited out the other. She ripped the blade back out with the same twisting motion that she had used on Jasper. She took a step back and inspected her dress before she smiled. “Surprise.” She spoke, a darkness in her voice as she stepped over his dead body. She pulled the door of the closet closed. She walked into the washroom where she cleaned her dagger before she lifted her dress and returned it to the sheath upon her thigh.

Skylar then made her way back down to the party. Booker took her arm almost instantly as her foot hit the marble floor of the first story of the mansion. Skylar smiled up to him and leaned against him. “3 to go.” She whispered.

“Ah, yes.” Booker smiled. “Would you like a drink my love?” He asked with a sweet tone in his voice.

“Of course, thank you.” Skylar smiled to him.

Booker leaned in and kissed her cheek before he made his way to the table with all of the bubbly beverages. Luckily champagne and cider were offered. Though they looked nearly the same. He grabbed two ciders and carried to over to her. His eyes caught another man wearing a red scarf. His mask was a cracked white marble with gold trimmings and a humming bird design. “There.” He whispered to Skylar as he handed her the beverage, he nodded in the direction of the man.

Skylar took a drink of her beverage and nodded. “Okay.” She looked to the time, nearly 9 now. “Shall we?” She leaned against him and took another drink from her beverage. Cat and mouse. Just like she said. It was easy to seduce these men.

“How fairs your lady tonight?” Booker asked the man as he approached.

The man turned to him and grinned, “Splendid. I was beginning to worry.” His eyes fell on Skylar and he paused for a moment before he looked back to Booker, “You don’t mind if I borrow him for a moment, do you beautiful?” He asked as he pulled Booker out onto a balcony. Booker looked to Skylar as he was pulled away. The man chuckled once they were outside. “I didn’t expect you to find such a beautiful guest on such short notice my friend. It’s a shame that she will die with the rest of these rebels.”

Booker chuckled and shook his head, “She is no different from the rest of the rebels, this is a shot to their rebellion. They are all traitors.” He leaned against the balcony.

“And that is why Ainsley chose you, Jasper.” He snickered. “You’re just as heartless as he claims.”

“Hm…if only I knew who Belinda was now, I would have already had her killed before your arrival.” Booker chuckled.

“It is better this way, we can kill them all together.” The man snickered. “We should get back inside, I believe the next dance is beginning.”

“Of course, when will the others arrive?” Booker questioned.

“The Commander just arrived, and Lieutenant Basser is here as well. The Major has been here since the beginning, however, I haven’t seen him all night, have you?”

Booker shook his head, “No, I had expected to see someone by now.”

“That fool is most likely having at the women.” He chuckled. “He always does at these events at home.”

Booker chuckled as well, “Ah I see, as long as he is timely, there is no issue.” He nodded as the door opened, another man with a red scarf walked onto the balcony, he had on a very royal mask with shades of red and black and silver trimming.

“Commander, sir.” The man next to him grinned.

“General.” He nodded, “Jasper.” He chuckled, “Where is your guest?”

“Inside.” He nodded to the glass doors where Skylar could be seen chatting with others of the party, drinking from her glass.

The commander looked to Skylar for a long moment and nodded, “If, you want to save that one, I won’t tell Ainsley. It would be a shame to lose her.” He snickered.

“They are all rebel traitors, beautiful or not, Commander.”

“Hm, even a wild dog can be trained.” He scoffed, “Let us enjoy the ball.” He stepped inside.

Skylar turned to look to the three as they came in. Booker motioned for her to come over and wrapped his arm around her waist. She leaned against him happily and kissed his cheek. “Who are your new friends?” She asked and looked to the Commander and the General.

“Can you keep a secret?” Booker asked, playfully. The Commander and the General both chuckled in approval. “This is the Commander of the Overseer Army, and his General.”

Skylar looked to them in amazement, “Oh how glorious! To have men of your caliber here. I am graced with your presence!” She exclaimed and curtsied before she wrapped her arm back through Booker’s and leaned against him once more.

“That you are.” The Commander snickered as the music in the ball room began. “Shall we?” He asked and looked to Booker. “May I have your lovely guest in a dance?”

Booker nodded and allowed to Commander to lead Skylar out onto the dance floor. Skylar looked up to this burley man. He was built beneath the tux, strong as an ox it seemed. He tipped her and spun her around, a grin on his lips. The Commander didn’t speak much the entire dance, just some irrelevant words, he was trying to figure out who Belinda was beneath the masks. Skylar threw out the rumors that she had heard through the night and her encounters with the others. She was tossed around in the dance again and soon found herself face to face with Eva. She smiled as they danced about. “Is your night well?” She asked, the same playful tone in her voice.

Skylar smiled as she danced with Eva, she was impressed with the precision that Eva had. She hadn’t expected such fluidity out of her. When the music slowed and Eva moved in closer to her she felt a strange feeling, as Eva’s cheek brushed against hers her breath caught in her chest. It felt as though butterflies had erupted within her stomach. Skylar shut her eyes a moment as they danced, she took in a slow deep breath as she listened to Eva. She nodded, “Yes, Booker and I know exactly where they are, only three left. I have plenty of time.” Her voice was soft as she spoke, her eyes looked around the ballroom. “Don’t worry, Eva.” She spoke as Eva left her. She was pulled into another dance, this time with Lieutenant Basser.

He danced with her as he looked down into her eyes. He twirled her about and dipped her down low to the ground. He turned her as he pulled her up and pulled her back against him, his lips could be felt against her neck. “You must be an angel, you’re too beautiful to be human.” He whispered into her ear.

Skylar leaned her head back against his shoulder and smiled to him. He spun her around and pulled her in close. Skylar looked up to him and smiled, “If I am an angel, what does that make you?” She asked quizzically.

He chuckled as they danced about, “A demon, no less. Would you fall for me?” He twirled her around and pulled her in quickly once more.

Skylar giggled and leaned against him, she looked up into his eyes for a long moment, “Would it be worth the fall?” She whispered into his ear.

The lieutenant laughed and turned her again he pulled against her hip causing her back to press against his chest once more as they continued their dance. “I’ll catch you, you won’t feel a thing.” He once again breathed into her ear. “Don’t forget me, angel.” He kissed her cheek before she was passed on to the next dance. She stood before the General this time.

The General looked to her from behind his mask, his eyes played over her, “Tell me, why did you come with Jasper? You seem as though this is below you.” He pushed her around as they danced, he wasn’t the best at the dance, he wasn’t fluid at all. He stepped on her foot.

Skylar nearly fell, but she regained her composure. “He promised me a good time, what girl wouldn’t turn down that?” She smiled to him, “And besides, any masquerade ball is the time of my life.” She felt someone pull at her and she was toss into the Commander’s hands. He stared down to her with his Raven mask. “Commander.” She smiled up to him, “A pleasure to dance with you again.”

The Commander chuckled, “It won’t be the last, I assure you that.” He danced with her toward the edge of the ballroom and pulled her away from the crowd as the music lowered. “Come with me.” He pulled her along.

“What’s happening?” Skylar asked she looked behind herself to see the other two men trailing behind. Her eyes caught Booker, a flash of fear in her eyes. She wasn’t in control of this.

The Commander stopped and stared down to her, he placed his hand on her jaw, “You’re too gorgeous for what is to come, I couldn’t let anything happen to you.” He whispered into her ear.

“What is going on?” She asked as he towed her along, her arm was held to his side by his own arm. “Commander?” She questioned as he pulled her up the stairs. “Commander what are you doing?” She pulled against him, “Let me go!” She cried, tears welling in her eyes. She knew exactly what he was doing. The Commander pushed her into a room and slammed her against the wall, his body pressed against hers. “Please…” She breathed, sobs shaking her body. “Please…” Her mascara ran down her cheeks in thick black lines from beneath her mask as she turned her head away from him.

The Commander chuckled as he ran his fingertips along her cheek. “You’ll thank me, really you will.” He pulled her jaw and kissed her. The Lieutenant and the General chuckled as they conversed amongst themselves. The Commander always kept a trophy from an event such as this. Skylar was to be that trophy. “You know, Jasper, hand-picked you. He did an excellent job too; I don’t think even he realizes how well he did. I didn’t expect this.” He kissed her cheek then. “Calm down. There’s no fun in a ball if you’re crying.” He chuckled sinisterly. The sound of the music and the conversations from the ball could be heard. The Commander took a few steps back and chuckled again.

Skylar looked to the Commander and took a step from the wall that she had been pressed against. Lieutenant Basser wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close. “Shall we?” He asked as he held her back against his chest, he kissed down the side of her neck. Skylar’s breathing shook as he held her, her hand clasped over his. He hummed as he turned her and placed his hand on her jaw, pulling her in for a kiss. “You know; the Commander is saving you.” He spoke softly. “Everyone downstairs, they’re going to die.” He looked to the clock upon the wall. “They have just an hour left to live. But you.” He chuckled, “You will be living in District One, with us.” His hand held her close, holding onto her waist.

Skylar pulled from his arms and turned, she was caught by the General whom held her arms to her body by wrapping his own arms around her. He chuckled deeply. “The Lieutenant is right; you should be thankful.”

“I promised I would catch you, when you fall, angel.” The Lieutenant stepped forward and kissed her then, Skylar kissed him back, when he pulled back she had a smile on her lips. “That’s the spirit angel.” He grinned as he pulled her from the General’s arms. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her again, he hummed as he held her close. “You’ll have a grand life in District One.” He whispered. “Masquerades at least once a week, better than this!” He let his grip loosen on her as he stared to her smile. Skylar took this opportunity to slip from his arms. She was quick in her movements as she snapped her fingers. The door was in mid swing, Booker stood frozen in time, his hand on the door handle.

Skylar rushed forward, she slipped behind the Lieutenant as she pulled her dagger from her thigh. She gripped his shoulder and as she touched him he turned toward her, the dagger was thrust into his ribcage, it sliced into his heart, as he fell to his knees Skylar stabbed him in his back before she kicked him to the ground. Time still stayed in place as she rushed across the room to the General. She thrust her dagger forward into his throat before she snapped her fingers again. She stood behind the Commander. Booker rushed into the room his eyes caught the Commander as he looked to his men. The General fell to the floor in a gurgling lump. “Looking for something?” Skylar asked.

The Commander turned, he pulled a dagger from beneath his tux and swung. Skylar’s dagger clashed with his, she shoved him back, knocking him off balance. Skylar thrust her dagger into the Commander’s abdomen and he fell back, he managed to kick Skylar in her chest as he fell, knocking her to her back on the floor. The Commander ripped the dagger from his abdomen, blood splashed to the floor as he rushed forward. Skylar scrambled and grasped his dagger from the floor, she thrust it upward into his jaw, into his skull, the blade crunched against the bone in his skull. She rolled from beneath him and ripped her own dagger from his grip and stood. Booker stood, his jaw loose as he looked at the scene before him. He saw her kill before. But, this was a massacre.

Skylar had blood on her arms, and a bit splashed on her chest and face. The color of her dress hid any droplets of blood that had made it onto the fabric. She took in a shaken breath as she looked to the Commander’s dead body. Everything in that moment had been reaction, fight or flight. It was her or him. Booker rushed forward finally after a long moment of silence, he shut the door of the room and pulled Skylar into a tight embrace. “Sky.” He whispered softly as he pulled her dagger from her fingertips. “It’s okay.” He pulled her into the washroom of the suite and washed her dagger before he took a towel and wetted it with warm water. He turned to her and gently wiped the blood splatter from her face and arms. “Come on.” He held the dagger to her. “We have a ball to finish.” He left her standing in the washroom as he pulled the bodies into a closet. He wiped the blood from the marble floor and tossed the towel in the closet with them.

Skylar placed her dagger back on her thigh and took Booker’s arm as he led her back downstairs. She smiled as he pulled her out onto the ball floor for a dance. She giggled as he dipped her low toward the floor and pulled her back up. “Perfectly, executed.” She complemented him just before she was passed to another partner. She was passed around and around until she found herself dancing with Eva once more. She grinned as they danced together, the fluid motions, each movement seemed carefully calibrated like a well-oiled machine. “It’s done.” She spoke. “All these people, are safe.” Skylar grinned then, a gorgeous smile. The music slowed, it was time for the big reveal.