This time, the shock's not only on Nina's face but on mine as well. My aunt. . .she was the head of Ether this whole time? How did I not know about this?

She gives a thin smile at my discombobulated form. "I see you've joined the ranks of the lost causes," she says.

"You knew," I gasp, because my throat is unable to make any other sound. "You knew. All along."

"Yes," she says nastily. She's changed in those few months. Completely different. "Your parents weren't related to me at all. I wouldn't even be your dratted aunt if your uncle wasn't your mother's brother. You being the lost causes' 'sign' and all that rubbish. They just want a rallying point."

I can't take everything in. It's like my brain is preventing me from understanding.

She knows I'm the sign.

She knows about Alium.

How much more does she know?

Head Frost is wondering the same thing. "How come you know all this?" he asks.

"Easy. I have spies. I have undercover people who watch your movements. Especially yours, General Lyson."

General Lyson burns bright red.

Candice steps up. I don't know what she can say that will make a difference. But this is what she says.

"So you know all about Alium? Not much of a threat. Alium was never truly undercover anyway. We know all about Ether, though, and you might want to look into that. Alium's just our refuge. Our motive for coming here today is to make Alium and Ether into one."

I can see my aunt's face contorting in fury, like bread dough being kneaded. I'm surprised too. Candice? She has always said that she only knows as much as I do. I flick my eyes over to Head Frost, and I can tell from his expression that she's not lying.

We're supposed to bring Alium and Ether back together.

This brings me to my senses. I glance over at Jinx. He's got a look on that suggest that he's no longer joking around. He sees me looking. Something passes between us, and I take his hand. He takes mine. I take Candice's hand, even though I feel betrayed, and she does the same.

In a few seconds, the ones of us inside the room are standing defiantly towards my aunt.

She's livid. I see her hand flash out. A bolt of green lightning zooms from her fingertips. I watch its swift progress towards me, keeping Head Frost's and Head Lythe's words in mind.

Form the barrier. . .

Keep your mind and emotion empty. . .

I simply absorb the lightning and diffuse its power.

My aunt screams a swear word, and yells for Nina.