*A/N:  So... the sparks of rebellion are fully ignited & the fame is starting to catch. But we need more than 2 people to fully ignite this thing. Gregory is still uncertain. Alice needs more allies. Let's keep adding kindling shall we? Things are heating up!😅😈🔥

——-
After a week of "mating" Gregory and I were parted again, promises exchanged that we would both attempt to spread the message of rebellion.

     Given that we had not actually lain together, I would not become pregnant but I was certain Dulane would not give up so easily. We would be offered another chance to join together when I was next in my cycle and by then, I hoped to offer my former mate true hope that our plans to overthrow our masters were feasible. For that, I knew I would need help and it was there I found the true problem. How could one so tainted to both sibla and humans alike gather others to her cause?

    Though I continued my reconnaissance every day as I had since rebellion had reignited my desire to live, I could not help but despair in how little others were willing to interact with me. Even if they did have sympathy for my plight as Gregory had implied, I had no idea how I might know which were safe to speak with. Moreover, I had no desire to cause others danger in conversing with one so hated by our masters as myself. My thoughts turned of course to the woman who again and again proved her power among both human and sibla.

    I had not seen Dreda since she had cared for me in the days after my punishment though I imaged she still watched from afar. I needed more. I needed her to know of my alliance with Gregory. To help guide me in my goal of rallying others to our cause. Unfortunately, I had no idea how we might be able to speak again in private. I had to send her a message.
   
My first experience in condemnation from my Master had taught me a valuable lesson. No gift once given could not be taken away. When I had regained my place under Madam, before Mary's birth, I had taken precautions to ensure I would never lose my most valued possessions again. Left alone to finish cleaning the larder one night, I managed to sneak, undetected, to my secret treasure trove.

    Crawling behind a bag of flour on my hands and knees I went to the loose bricks hidden there and forced them from the wall, breath held as I waited to see if the hidden items I'd stored were still safe. My body relaxed when my hand pulled out the worn book of Grimm's Tales.

    Covered in dust though they were, my stash of paper, pencils, and the copy of stories I'd used to read to Mary were untouched. I hugged the book close, remembering the day Mary had managed to beg it from Avaline, returning to me the tales I'd loved in my youth. I remembered how proud she'd been to read the words to me of the few fables she knew well. How wonderful it was to wrap my child in my arms and share with her a world where good truly did conquer evil. A reality so much kinder than our own. Now I would take on the part of these imaginary heroes, avenging my daughter's death and bringing justice to the villains that had abused so many.

    I retrieved a few sheets of paper and one of my precious writing utensils, putting the rest of my supplies and the book back into their hollowed out spot and replacing the bricks. I stuffed my prize into the space between my breasts and went back to cleaning. The next morning I arose before dawn and composed my note, going to my day of work with hopes I might find the one to act as messenger and reconnect me to my one true friend. Luck was on my side.
——
    The morning was uneventful. Dulane was away on business and I was ordered to the kitchen for the morning. As usual, Madam had given me a variety of unpleasant assignments, the first of which involved scrubbing every inch of the kitchen floor by hand. But thought the task was tedious and painful, I could not help but see it as an opportunity. As I crawled along the hard ground on my hands and knees, I worked to keep my eyes and ears open to whatever opportunity I might find to discover allies to my cause and a means to deliver the dangerous note pressing against my skin.

    "Miss Dreda sent me to see if the baby formula had arrived yet."

    My heartbeat quickened at the sound of a high pitched voice, cutting through the general kitchen chatter. A child. One Dreda's charges in the kitchen. Not so unusual perhaps, but when I looked up from the ground I was shocked by what I saw. I knew the girl. Focusing on her small face the memory came back. Laying in bed. So much pain. The child who had accompanied Dreda. Who had thanked me for saving her friend. Clarissa.

    "Ah, you're back." Rin's voice joining the conversation. "Hattie, I think the men brought over somthing this morning. Go and check."

    Back

    The girl had been here before. I wondered why I hadn't noticed her. Perhaps I'd been too lost in my cloud of personal misery to see the link to salvation that had been there waiting all along. I didn't doubt Dreda had chosen her kitchen messenger carefully. That she had sent Clarissa in hopes she would connect us again. This child knew me already. She could act as link. But of course, I would have to be very careful...

I tried as inconspicuously as I could to move nearer to the girl as I worked but froze in my advance seeing Hattie returned.

    "The shipment is in the larder," she told the young girl. "One of the overseers can bring it by the nursery when we have unpacked the rest of the kitchen supplies."

    The small child nodded obediently and turned to leave. I couldn't miss my chance. The moment Hattie turned her back, I picked myself from the ground, going to the door as quickly as I before the girl disappeared.

    "Clarissa?" I said, keeping my voice low.

    The child turned to me, clearly startled, expression blank.

    "It's good to see you again," I said, offering her a big smile. Clarissa looked to the ground shyly.

    "I'm so glad you are better, Ms. Alice," she whispered quietly. My heart pounded uncomfortably and my stomach churned with guilt. So kind and caring. But even youth would not protect the child if she was discovered with my message. Nothing would spare one discovered doing the bidding of the most tainted amongst dulane's human flock. I also knew there was no other choice.

    "Clarissa," I said, "I have an important task for you if you are willing?"

    The girl nodded enthusiastically. Of course, she would. Her misplaced hero worship could be her death. Again the guilt welled within me. I hated taking advantage of such innocent trust. Still, I'd already made my choice. If my plans could come to fruition, I would be fighting for her as well.
   
Swallowing hard and surveyed the room to make certain we were not being watched, before retrieving the note from its hidden space against my skin.

    "I need you to give this to Ms. Dreda," I said. Taking her small hand in my own, I pressed the slip of paper discreetly into her palm. " No one else can see it, do you understand? It is a special secret and if anyone else was to read this, the surprise would be ruined. Ms. Dreda will be so sad."

    The child's eye's met mine in that moment, her gaze steely. She knew this wasn't a game. Clarissa nodded her understanding. I released her hand and watched it quickly disappear into her skirt pocket before emerging empty again. She was out the door a moment later without another word.
   
As the day stretched on and I was allowed to continue at my work unmolested, my hopes that the message had been safely delivered to the nursery overseer increased. Surely if the child had been intercepted and the note discovered I would already have been dragged away, locked in a cell somewhere, awaiting further torture.

    But afternoon turned to evening. I was called to serve Dulane his dinner, which I did without incident. My heart thudded uncomfortably as I came before my enemy, knowing the risks I was taking in my actions against him. But the man was distracted, too busy with his own thoughts to pay any attention to me at all. Once the dishes were washed I was released to the dorms.

    As I lay in bed that night, waiting for my mind to release me to slumber, I thought only of rebellion. My fears and excitement at the prospect. Had Gregory been able to pass our message of resistance to any other's since our last encounter? I wondered. Had Dreda received my message? And if she had, how might she respond?

Dreda had been a loyal human for so long. A supporter of others to be certain, but would she be willing to aid a true rebellion? Risk ending her life after working so long at survival? And still, I remembered her expression as she worked on my battered form. I remembered her resolute agreement when I swore Dulane must pay for his crimes. Together she and I could leave this world with one sweeping gesture. True revenge. The thought made me smile.
———
    I could not tell how much time had past before I felt myself waking, the feeling of someone looming rousing my mind even in sleep. The room as dark, filled with nothing but the sounds of light snores but my body tensed as my eyes scanned to the mane of red hair. The green eyes staring, meeting my own gaze.

    "Come with me, Alice. We need to speak."

    A whispered command. A wronged woman finally come to make me answer for my crimes. I had no way to defend myself if she was armed. No option to protest and risk waking the rest of the women, all of whom would undoubtedly support Rebecca. I nodded my head, sleepiness replaced by dread.

    As I rose from my bed and followed the woman from the dorm, past the other sleeping figures, I imagined the ambush that must be lying in wait. Worse, I knew I could not pretend I was the victim this time. I had destroyed Rebecca. She had every reason to retaliate. How could she know I had tried to help? That I was trying to plan vengeance on behalf of all the humans of Dulane's flock.

    The air was cold outside, the sky an inky blue, adorned with thousands of shining stars in the dead of night. My short breath came in white puffs, heart pounding as I waited for the inevitable attack. It did not come.

    "I have been meaning to speak with you for some time now."

    The deep voice penetrated my body as surely as the cold. Perhaps Rebecca intended to deal with me herself. I was entirely vulnerable now. There would be no consequences for one who caused further suffering to a human already designated for pain by her masters. Still, I turned to face the woman head-on. I could not hide from my crimes nor would I try to. Yet the expression I found on Rebecca's face as neutral. No snear, no anger. She just stared at me, holding my gaze in silence.

    "You need not fear me, Alice," Rebecca said finally. The words so blunt I had no answer. "I know what you did. I will not retaliate."

    The tension in my body relaxed ever so slightly, though I could not yet believe her words. She knew. She knew everything and yet was offering a vow of peace.

    "I..."

    I tried to find a response in my brain I couldn't imagine what words might suffice. "I'm sorry," I said.

    Too simplistic and yet accurate. No matter how I felt about Rebecca and what she had tried to do, I did indeed feel sorrow that my actions had caused her pain. Rebecca held up her hand to stop further words.

    "I can not claim I would have done any different in your position," the woman said simply. "What's done is done."

    I nodded. Indeed the past was gone now. We'd both lost everything.

    "You are trying to reach out to Dreda."

    I stared at her in shock, a shiver of fear radiating through me in spite of her supposed words of peace, and as she drew a folded piece of paper from her pocket, my stomach dropped. Rebecca had intercepted my message. Even in the dark I could recognize my own handwriting.

    "You are planning somthing."

    Possible responses raced through my mind one after another as the level of danger washed over me.

    I could deny. Pretend the note was not mine. That I was reformed as Dulane believed me to be. That another had written the message in revenge. But she would be watching me. She had every reason to wish for my demise and the chance to catch me in my lies.

    I could abandon my plans. Forget the dreams of revenge that had revived life within me and go back to waiting in patient vigil for death. Or, I could trust. I could have faith as I had with Gregory. Trust that Rebecca to would be willing to join in my cause. That our mutual enemy was enough for an alliance.

    "Where did you get that?" I asked, trying to bide myself time in considering options. Rebecca smiled slightly.

    "You are not the only one with connections to the nursery overseer," she answered.

    I didn't answer though her response shocked me to my core. I couldn't believe that Dreda would have betrayed me in giving Rebecca the note. Surely she knew the danger that would put me in. But Rebecca was far more connected than I'd realized.

    "Dreda is unaware that we are having this little heart to heart," the woman said, guessing at my thoughts. "But you needn't worry. I know well the protection she keeps upon you. It was Dreda who made me swear I would not seek revenge against you after I gained my place in the dorms again. The only way she would let me see my daughter."

    The pieces slowly began to fall into place. Even now it was Dreda who kept me safe from my enemies.

    "Of course I also felt my own sympathy after what happened," Rebecca continued, her smile fading. "I am truly sorry, Alice. Mary was a sweet child. Always kind. You may not believe it, but I never meant that girl any harm."

    Somehow I did believe it. Even with the tears welling in my eyes at the invocation of my daughter's name I knew the truth. Any sympathy I'd garnered in my suffering was not for my sake. It was for the soul of my perfect little girl. I was a greyskin, but Mary was innocent. Now her death would inspire a revolution.

    "I intend to make him pay," I said, emotion stripping any remaining caution.

    "And I intend to help," the woman answered. "You did what you did to survive. I always knew that, regardless of the pain you caused me. Now I will do what I must do to get revenge, no matter who I must work with. Bring me into your plans and you will be my ally."

    I remained silent, processing her words and vows of alliance. But I still did not know how she'd come by my message. What other motives she might have in reaching out to me now...

    "Refuse and I will act on my own," Rebecca prompted when I gave no answer. "But do not expect me to support you and Gregory.

    A cold chill traveled through me that had nothing to do with the night air. How could she know so much! Rebecca's smile returned as she took in my shock. She was in complete control of me now and knew it.

    "You regained your place, Alice," the woman said. "You were elevated and praised, willing to serve unconditionally if it granted your daughter safety. But I have plotted from the moment I fell. I have been vigilant, gaining ears, the trust of those I could, given my plight, waiting for the moment I might strike. Now you have brought me that opportunity.

    "I have no intention of standing in your way without reason. Dreda will receive your message. I will encourage her to take up your cause.  A rebellion will move forward. Your daughter's blood will fuel it. But I will not be left behind."

    I nodded. There was nothing else I could do after all. I did not doubt that she would be my undoing if I were to try to exclude her. I wasn't even certain I wanted to do so. I knew just how much she had lost at Dulane's hands. She deserved her revenge as much as I.

    "I will, however, insist that I operate as messenger between you and the nursery overseer," Rebecca added. "We can not allow young children to take such risk."

    Now I understood. Rebecca worked within the nursery since her reintegration to the flock. She must have gained Dreda's trust and thus the trust of the children. Clarissa would have had no way of knowing the one-footed wild one was a threat to me.

    "It was never my intent to put Clarissa in danger," I said.

    "And yet you did," Rebecca answered curtly. "But in his attempt to punish you further, Dulane has granted us a chance of alliance he could never have fathomed. I work in the nursery almost daily, teaching the children needlework. No doubt Dreda will make arrangements for you to join us now that you have reached out, but regardless, you and I will have occasion to meet every night. You will operate as eyes within the main house. Gregory will work with the males. I have trust enough amongst all the humans here to gain report of our progress. And, of course, we both know that Dreda's power to sway our masters is unmatched."

    Everything she said I knew to be true. In Rebecca's words, I could see a true revolt taking shape. A network of dissent that would cover the entirety of the estate. I needed only continue to trust. In the wild one's proposal, I saw proof that I'd been right in my assertions to Gregory. United hate could give us power beyond what our overseers might ever have imagined and now a path has been laid. Gaze locked with Rebecca's, I extended my hand and she took it.

    "To revenge," I said. "Whatever the cost."