[ E D I T E D ]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 35//: A wolf in sheep's clothing♕✿~♕✿~

I let my eyes wander around my room as Sam clips a sparkling jewel hair pin in my hair. Under the lights, it shines a clear blue color.

Sydney giggles as Tiffany and Lacy do her hair. I can tell they're having fun, as they're all smiling and laughing. Sydney's hair, which usually stays in dark curls around her shoulders, is braided and placed so that it looks like there's a crown hidden in her hair. Tiffany and Lacy add a few crystals to her hair, making this illusion look more real.

A pressure on my shoulders makes me look back into the mirror. Mom, with her hands on my shoulders, smiles at my reflection. "You're beautiful, my girl," she murmurs proudly.

I smile gratefully up at her. Mom, for the first time in a long time, has let her dark hair down. Her blue eyes looked more lively than before. She had on a dress that I know has sit in the back of her closet for a long time: it was a neutral grey gown, with silver jewels lining the middle of the dress. It barely reached just below her knees, and she was wearing simple grey shoes.

Dad comes up next to me, smiling at me warmly. "Your mother is right. You're the most gorgeous girl in this palace." I flush red in embarrassment.

"That's not true, dad. The other girls in this palace are quite beautiful as well," I tell him. He just pinches my cheek.

"Are you guys ready to go?" Sydney asks impatiently, shuffling from one foot to the other. My mother lets out a cry of pure shock and rushes to her other daughter, cooing over her. "Oh, look at your hair! You look like a princess!" Sydney lets out the most radiating smile ever.

I feel myself wilt a bit. If only it were Sydney in my position. She would be a great queen: she knew right from wrong, she was reasonable, and she was exactly the type of Red the king and queen would love. I, on the other hand, was already disliked from the other High Houses.

Sydney's eyes travel to me and she jumps over to me. "You're wearing it," she states with a smile on her face. I look down and realize she's talking of the music note necklace she gave me so long ago. I smile and pull her in for a hug.

"Of course I did. It goes with my dress." I wink at her.

A knock comes from the door. Lacy goes to open it, and lets out a sound of surprise when she opens the door.

"Officer Nolle. What a surprise," Lacy says as she opens up the door, revealing Lucas. He's dressed in his King's guard uniform, like always.

"Lady Madison." Lucas bows his head a bit, for some reason not looking at me. "It's time for the gathering, and His Majesty ordered for a guard to accompany the Chosen girls' families to the outdoor gardens," Lucas explains his presence here. I nod in understanding. It seems the king is doing whatever he can to make sure no rebels mess up another Choosing event like last time. I shiver at the memories.

I grab onto Sydney's hands. "Come on, let's go," I tell my family. I allow my parents to walk ahead of Sydney and I. My father offers his arm to my mother, who giggles and accepts it. I feel myself smile as I look at them, happy that they were happy.

I allow Sydney to drag me out the door in excitement. As we pass Lucas, I try to make eye contact with him, but he stubbornly looks down at the ground, some stray brown hair hanging over his mask. I purse my lips, not understanding why he's suddenly ignoring me.

As we walk down to the gardens, Sydney animatedly talks about her excitement for this gathering, and how she's sure I will be the next queen. After telling her everything yesterday, she was giving me no rest when it came to talk of who Ahren would choose.

I breathe in the cool afternoon air as Lucas leads my family and I outside. I can see an array of colorful clothing, and I know everyone else is here already. Looking over the head of my father, I see the king and queen talking to Alexis' parents. Nearby, Alexis listens carefully, though tries to remain inconspicuous.

Looking away from them, I try to search for the familiar face I've gotten to know the past month and a half. Finally, my eyes settle on the black hair of Ahren. He's smiling and talking to a small child. I recognize the child to be of House Marinos based on the colors of her dress. The little girl clings onto the pant leg of Ahren, giggling as he tries in vain to get her off. Ahren smiles playfully at the girl, then starts to tickle her sides until she shrieks and lets go of him, landing in a laughing heap on the grass. Ahren laughs along with her as he picks her up, leading her back to her parents. I feel myself smile at the scene as I watch him chat a bit with the parents.

He turns around and meets my eyes. My heart quickens a bit as he smiles at me, walking towards me. I hear Sydney giggle as she stares at me pointedly. "Well, look at the food! Guess I have to leave you alone for a bit, Madi. Sorry!" she yells out as she hurriedly rushes over to the table overflowing with decadent-looking treats.

I roll my eyes at her retreating figure, but turn back to look as Ahren reaches me. "Madi...you look absolutely stunning," he tells me in awe. I feel heat creeping up my neck.

"Thank you, Your Highness," I tell him as I curtsy. He and I both laugh at my failed attempt to do so.

"So," he starts, taking my hand in his. I feel like hornets are going rampant in my stomach right now, with his hand emitting warmth from his ability.

"So," I draw out, smiling stupidly up at him, still feeling the attack in my stomach. "How have you been enjoying the company of your family?" he asks me with a smile as he looks at me.

I shove down the smile that is trying to force its way onto my face, and try to look nonchalant.

"I really enjoy their presence. It's been too long since I've last been able to interact with them in person," I answer honestly. Ahren nods at my answer, and we continue to walk through the garden, away from the party. Through the silence that follows, I fear that he'll hear my heart beating painfully around in my rib cage.

Suddenly, Ahren lets out a breath, albeit a bit shaky. I frown a bit, wondering why he was sounding so nervous all of a sudden.

He turns to me, his grey eyes staring into me. "Madison." He starts, and then quiets a bit. I feel a shiver run up my arms at the sound of my name said so gently and...lovingly.

"I...I will never deny my feelings for you." He continues. We've stopped walking now, standing on the stone path surrounded by flowers of every color. He looks at me intensely as his hands slightly tighten on my hands. "Every time I see you, I smile and I feel happy. You've made me feel things I've never felt before. You're a talented, beautiful, intelligent girl that I'm so glad to have met." I feel my heart pound painfully.

"These past few months I've gotten to know you has been the best." Ahren takes in a breath. "And I want to spend more time getting to know you. So..I was wondering," Here, he looks down, a slight silver blush creeping up his neck. My breaths quicken as I watch him try to form the right words. He looks up at me, and opens his mouth to speak--

A sudden scream rips through the tranquil feel of the garden gathering. Both Ahren and my heads whip towards the sound. That voice...it was familiar.

I pick up the skirts of my dress, and start to run, Ahren running behind me. Please, Sydney doesn't deserve anything bad to happen to her, I think as I continue running. I turn corners, trying to get back to the entrance of the gardens, but let out a groan of frustration when I turn into another maze of flowers.

The scream comes again, this time in the direction behind me. I whip around desperately, trying to find the source. Ahren looks around as well. He looks back at me, his grey eyes a bit wild. "Madi, I think I know where the scream might--"

Two sharp gun shots cut him off, followed by the screams of the other families.

No. No. This was like a repeat of the ball. But this time, my family was also in danger.

I vaguely hear guards yell out "Rebels!" That much was obvious. My breaths start to come quicker, my mind coming up with the terrible things that could be happening to my family. Mom. Dad. Sydney.

Ahren grabs my hand, pulling me somewhere. I trip over my heels, and in anger, rip them off and throw them behind me. My bare feet pound the stone beneath me as Ahren pushes me towards the entrance of the gardens. We both stop.

Before us, families are screaming. Everyone is in a hurry, gathering their cousins and siblings and pushing to go inside the palace. I look around; my parents are no where to be found. Sydney is not here either.

Behind me, I hear a strangled sound come from Ahren. I glance at him to see his face pale, his eyes wide and stricken. I follow his gaze and gasp, putting a hand over my mouth when I see what Ahren saw.

The king and queen lie on the ground in a puddle of silver blood. The king's face is frozen in shock, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape. His fire-colored eyes no longer burn, instead looking cold and empty. His crown that he wore so often to show his power, now lies in the pool of silver blood around him and his wife.

The queen, somehow, looks peaceful even in death. Her eyes are closed, and some of her fiery hair has spilled out of its bun, hanging over her face in a mockingly beautiful way. She lays on the ground, looking like she simply fell asleep. Her crown is now stained with silver blood.

I turn back to Ahren, who looks deathly sick as he continues to look at his dead parents. Some tears have fallen out of his eyes, and I resist the urge to wipe them away.

I open my mouth, trying to say something. Saying I'm sorry seems like something stupid to say. I glance back at his parents, still shocked. I look over their bodies, trying to see if they're actually dead.

It's childish to do so. They died the moment they were shot. Chaos still ensues around us as I turn back to Ahren, and I reel back in silent surprise.

Ahren now has a fire burning in his eyes. He looks filled with hate as he madly looks around the gardens, looking for the rebels who killed his parents.

"Sir!" A guard comes up to us. "The rebels have been located near the end of the gardens!" Ahren nods, and fire suddenly engulfs his hands. In the fire, he looks like the Silver prince I imagined him to be when I first arrived at the palace.

He turns to looks at me. "Madi, go back into the palace. I'm not going to lose you as well." He turns to the guard and nods. "Let's go get them."

I watch Ahren, whom I have grown to like in the past two months of staying here in the palace. During those times, I had forgotten the amount of power he kept under his skin.

Now his fire has reminded me.

Swallowing a bit, I turn to go back into the palace. I prayed that my family was in there, safe and sound. That my parents or Sydney was not captured by these rebels.

The flash of a familiar black mask makes me look. Lucas is running towards me, no longer ignoring me like he was earlier.

"Lucas!" I shout to him. He reaches me, and grabs my arms in his hands. His green eyes behind his mask look around wildly.

"Madi, thank God you're okay," he says.

"Yes, I am. Come on, we have to go." I try to pull him with me to the palace doors.

"Madi, I have to tell you something. You're not going to be safe even in the pal-" Lucas suddenly stops walking with me, looking behind me fearfully.

I open my mouth in confusion, about to ask him what's wrong and turning my head to look around, when suffocating, dark smoke fills my lungs. I cough, my arms falling out of Lucas' grips. My eyes burn as the smoke surrounds me. My nose tries to desperately reject the foul-smelling gas, but it's no use. There's too much.

My body can't take it. Already, darkness is swimming at the edge of my vision. I'll soon pass out from the smoke inhalation. Maybe I'll die from it.

I look up at Lucas, who has a piece of black cloth over his mouth and nose. I stare at the piece of cloth, my memories pummeling me as I try to find another explanation for this.

The dark cloth has a bleeding sun on it.

The symbol of the Rogue Dawn.

A pair of hands picks me up by the middle. I'm too weak, too close to unconsciousness, to fight back. I still try to stare at Lucas questioningly, asking him with my eyes if this is true.

He looks away. The coward. "I'm sorry," I hear him whisper as the smoke covers him up, blocking him from me.

I feel like screaming as the person holding me starts to carry me away. To where, I don't know. All my thoughts are invaded by the sharp betrayal I feel now. Lucas is a part of the Rogue Dawn. I want to shout, How could you? I trusted you. Everyone trusted you.

Darkness is calling for me, and I almost give in to it at that moment. But I need to know who is carrying me away.

I twist my neck around painfully, trying to see who is holding me. Familiar black hair meets my eyes. Ahren?

I feel a cold sense of dread flood me. But I saw Ahren with the thirst for revenge in his eyes running into the garden to get the people who killed his parents. He couldn't have possibly come back to carry me. And this man, whoever he is, was carrying me away from the palace. Ahren wouldn't do that.

This man has the familiar warmth of Ahren surrounding him. Even though I'm surrounded by the heat, I can't help but shiver and let out a whimper when the man turns to look down at me.

He has the same cloth Lucas had covering his mouth and nose. His black hair, too much like Ahren's, is hanging disheveled over his face. He has a pale complexion that I've gotten used to after spending so much time with Silvers. When his eyes meet mine, I notice they're a deep blue color.

This man looked so familiar for a reason. He was the same man who had escorted me to the ball.

Even with the cloth covering his face, I can tell he's smirking. It definitely wasn't the charming smile the young man had given me when escorting me to the ball.

Although the screams and gunshots in the air are deafeningly loud, I can still hear the man easily when he leans over to whisper in my ear:

"I did promise we would meet again soon, Lady Madison. And I am a man of my word."

The world goes black.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

You guys have no idea how long I've been waiting to write this chapter!

How do you guys feel about everything's that happened? Lucas has now been revealed to be a part of the Rogue Dawn (muhahahahahhaha) and I've officially introduced the Maven character in this series (muhahahahahhaha). I'm so excited to write the next chapter, which will maybe come tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!

Glass_Sword