Aella sat on a plush couch, her hands clasped in her lap. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool window of the small transport car as Inna explained the functions of the buildings they passed. They had taken the smaller transport train on the circular, scenic route from the general train station along with many of the visiting Councilors and Diplomats.

"They are here for the Ball tonight," Inna had said in response to Aella's question. "The Founder will disembark from his personal station underneath the Castle."

Aella's eyes opened and she looked at the women with an eyebrow raised. "The Castle?"

Inna smiled. "It's what we call his personal residence. It has spires and many levels, and looks like the castles you would hear described in ancient fairy tales."

Aella nodded and closed her eyes again, listening as Inna explained the buildings as they passed each one. The massive complex was built within another dome the size of most Quadrants, with a ring of buildings that acted as a wall from the outside. Most of the elaborate marble buildings housed government agencies, advanced military operation centers, residences for the Councilors, and a Diplomatic wing for visiting nations. The center of the inner dome housed the Founder's personal residence and was filled with gardens and waterfalls from the dams that let in glacier water for the Complex.

When the train had reached the end of the line at the Complex, Inna explained that the Diplomats and Councilors had been let out at their residences and they were the last ones to get off the train.

The station was quiet, save for two men in uniform who greeted them when they exited the train. Inna exchanged several words with them before leading Aella into an elevator.

Gentle music played in the elevator as they rose. Aella took slow breaths, her hands folded in front of her waist.

"It's all right to be nervous."

Aella glanced up at the woman and smiled before turning her attention to the door as the elevator stopped moving. "I've been trained on how to interact with high-ranking officials. I know the etiquette, the manners associated with these types of events. But I was trained to interact as an aide, on behalf of the official." Her voice trailed off as she said, "I never thought—"

"That you would be the official?" Inna said. "You never thought you would rise high enough to have your own Apprentices?"

Aella sighed. "I don't think I thought that far ahead for my life. I was concentrating so much on the trials." She shifted in place, feeling uneasy as her memory drew a blank.

"Follow what you were taught, and be yourself," Inna told her as she stepped out of the elevator.

As Inna led her through dozens of hallways, Aella frowned. She stopped when Inna pointed to an elaborate couch in a hallway simpler than the others they had passed through. She sat down as Inna pointed to the double, white-painted wooden doors behind them.

"The Founder will be joining you shortly," Inna had said. "His personal dining room is just beyond those doors. He requested that you meet him here. I will be supervising the set-up of your quarters and working with the Founder's secretaries to create your schedule. I will have them initiate a tour of the Library and gardens."

"Thank you, Inna," Aella said, nodding to her.

The woman smiled and walked down the hallway in the opposite way they had come, calling over her shoulder, "Remember to breathe," before disappearing behind a corner.

Aella stood, and began pacing down the hallway. The room behind the double wooden doors was quiet, except for the occasional clink of glassware. This hallway was simpler than the others, the walls simply painted white, with a few paintings on the walls. The floor had a thick black carpet along the length of it, muffling the sounds of footsteps on the scarlet and black tiles. The first hallways they had passed through were elaborate, wooden scrollwork decorating every surface, and pottery, golden furniture, and massive wall hangings covering every inch of space.

"Aella," the Founder said.

Aella smiled as the man came toward her, his arms outstretched. "Founder," she said, bowing her head to him.

"I see Inna was punctual as always. I really must have my wife raise her salary." The Founder towered above her as he stepped next to her. His black suit was well-fitted, showing his broad frame.

Aella stood tall as he offered his arm to her. She took it and smiled as the doors opened, revealing a light-filled dining hall. The white and golden color scheme made her gasp in surprise as her eyes were drawn upward toward a painting of angels and cherubs inside of the raised edges of the ceiling.

She took a deep breath as she glanced at the men and women standing around the table. At the foot of the table stood a man, a smile on his face. To his right, near the head of the table, stood a teenager who had the same angular face and gray eyes of the Founder. On the left and across from the teenager stood a woman, a thin, silver tiara peeking out of her white hair. Next to her stood a younger woman, her bright pink, curled hair draping gently over her shoulder. As the Founder led Aella to the empty chair between the man and the teenager, she took her place behind the chair.

She waited while the Founder took his place at the head of the table, then sat down in her chair.

As the staff began to move around the table, filling glasses and bringing forward plates of steaming food, Aella looked across the table at the woman. Her skin was pale, lightly dotted with freckles. Her eyes were light green, and her hair was the color of snow. The white hair looked too old for the woman, who appeared to be in her thirties. Aella frowned as she watched the woman's face moved up in a smile, but did not reach the corners of her eyes.

Aella ducked her head when the woman looked over at her, turning her attention to the Founder. The staff had finished bringing all of the dishes and had retreated to the walls and tables of steaming food.

"As you have all been waiting for," he said, looking to each member of the table. "I have brought the newest member of our family." He turned his head to the woman on his left, saying "My wife, Queen Alana of Trinity."

Aella bowed her head, her hands tightening into fists beneath the table, then raised it and looked at the woman.

"It is a pleasure to welcome you into our family," she said. Her eyes were kind, but her face was stripped of emotion. Her movements were fluid, but she seemed robotic and out of place. Her pale skin could have been a deep tan, but it still had the blue tint that all of the aliens had.

"My eldest son, Fox," the Founder said, turning to his right.

Aella turned to look at the boy, his tall frame lean with muscle. He wore the black uniform of a Facility Senior, and he winked when he smiled at her. "A pleasure," he said. "I look forward to getting to know you."

Aella nodded and smiled.

"And my Apprentices, Leon and Seashell," the Founder said, nodding his head to the two people sitting across from Aella.

The girl smiled, waving her hand.

The man turned to her and dipped his head, his black hair falling forward toward his eyes.

"Now that introductions have been done, let us eat," the Founder said. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Aella ate quickly, focusing her attention on the food. It was delicacies she had eaten only on holidays in the Facility, as the carefully portioned and person-centric meals had focused on nutrition and the specific needs of each student. If they had wished, they were allowed to pick their own meals on Sundays and on their birthdays, and any time they had visitors from the Capitol.

She listened to the conversations with half of her attention, catching glimpses of the plans for the Ball tonight and the personal schedules of each person. When the dishes had been cleared away, and the family had risen and retired for the morning to follow through with their own personal duties, she had waited in the Ceremonial Hall, wandering around the walls where pictures hung and artifacts sat carefully in their gilded cases.

In the center of the room, a large desk sat, with papers and pens carefully arranged on the front. The press had already arrived and were setting up in front of the desk. She had managed to come in with them, and they thought she was with the reporters and had left her alone.

She turned as the door opened, and the Founder entered the room, followed by the Council.