Imrie liked to be on time. Rena did not. The moment Rena said it was four-forty-eight, it seemed like she had the upper hand. They will be late for another tailor meeting. And if Miss Diren decided she did not need them, they would be in trouble.

"Rena, we have to move or we will be late for Diren's meeting," I said slowly, moving a branch away from my face.

The girl laughed, but then she realized that cruel reality was waiting for her if they were late.

"You are right," Rena, a tall girl with black hair and black eyes answered, and got up from her place under the tree. "Let's go, the Gate is not far away from here,"

Once you crossed the border, you could see the difference. You came to a better place; the streets were clearer, and people were dressed better, in dark suits and elegant dresses, every single one made by them; girls from the Town. They dressed girls in simple black and green dresses. Two of them Imrie and Rena just came up in the crowd.

People who were The Pure tried to be as far off them as possible. They wanted to get done with it and come back.

Imrie focused on the one place she wanted to see. News shops. She saw a big black line showing that more people were killed - six of them. Chills run down my spine. I felt my hands shaking.

I did not see the rest just black dots. It was too far for me to see it. I exhaled, letting a breath I didn't know I was holding. That would always happen when I had to cross the border.

Every check was necessary. A soldier who checked them tapped all around her breasts, purposely holding them longer than normal. I tried to set free, but he restrained me in a second.

"Calm, girl," he said sharp pushing her to cross.

I answered nothing. I tried to be as calm as I could. Every meeting made me nervous. It was my just fifth meeting, but it seemed people like how she made it because they wanted her - specifically Imrie Windsor.

"Rie, I feel you are purposely trying to sabotage us," Rena said, her black eyes narrowing.

"I do not," I said carefully.

"Then move, or we will be late," she dragged my hand, and I moved from her.
Why she wanted to be there before I did not know.

"Calm down; we are here," Rena raised her hand showing at the big mansion.

And we were. A big dark mansion showed in front of us. It had three rows of windows. Every floor has five of them. The roof was all in different angles, and it almost looked broken. But it wasn't. That was just fun. They wanted it to look like that.

I took another deep breath opening the big gate. It opened without a sound. Stepping on the cold stone, I turned around. This was a new thing. The garden was all decorated in black roses. Everything seemed so cold and dark I mechanically stepped back. I didn't like that. I felt Rana's warm hand around mine dragging me to a maids entrance.

Big black simple doors. A rose on them. I did not have a good feeling about this.

My heart skipped a beat when someone opened those doors. I wanted all of this to be a dream, but it was not. I was here. Doing a job, I had to do. No matter how much I wanted to play with cookies, I was not able to. My section was cleared to tailoring.

"Rana you know the way," said a blonde colored battler in the black tuxedo. Rana nodded and pushed my hand. I nodded too, charmed with the house.

As I stepped inside, I felt a sudden buzz down my spine. I could not stop a bad feeling about it. Something is not fine with this house.

Rana seemed to notice nothing. She was telling me bits and things about this, but I did not hear her. She was with an aim; I was not. I did not know what I was doing in this house.

The answer should be easy; to work, but I could not stop thinking I have to do more. To confess something; my power or to die.

My shoes echoed as Rana opened one door and I stepped on the marble floor. That was a low lighted room with a big disc in the middle. Someone prepared it for this. I had everything I needed - a tool for primal work and a machine for finishing details. The rest was on me.

"What we are supposed to do?" I asked scared.

"Wait," she answered and looked around.

"I think ma'am will come in a few minutes - the gentleman will be in the opposite room." Battler said. "I will take care of him. She is on you," Rana turned. I nodded shortly already feeling my palms sweating. I did not know what to do.

I sat on one chair, hoping I do not feel so nervous. I have to calm myself down. I looked at the floor. My simple black shoes were in contrast because the floor was white. They love black and white.

My mind rushed mixing all the five houses I visited, and it made a colorful one house. The outside would be white like Holns, inside light yellow like Dawns, and black floor like Mrs. Yown. I had curtains pink like the Warns and blue furniture like Opins. They all had a different coloring in the house and in just that color. They would have a dress made in that color.

I suddenly heard the door slamming, and I stood up immediately. Rana greeted someone, but I was scared to even look at anyone.

Just when a strong female voice echoed room, I looked up.

Mrs. Yown had white-blond hair and blue eyes like babies. She was beautiful. They treated their skin with the best products; shiny and healed. She had no freckles or scars. Flawless.

"Start, before I change my mind and I do not pay you," I shook my head suddenly scared and rushed toward her.

My brother and I needed money. The winter is coming, and food was a priority. I took a centimeter and measured her. All perfect she smelled like a fresh rose and a hint of vanilla. It was not anything too strong, but I could not forget it.

"I wanted a black gown for a Nights Change. It will be with one sharp cut on the left side almost to the end of my leg. Make it that way, you know," she stopped for a second and looked at me. I nodded fast, and she continued, "and also I want it sleeveless and," she wanted to say something more, but doors stopped her.

A tall man also with blonde hair like her and the same eyes entered the room. That must be her brother. They were similar.

Rana jumped from her chair, and as I measured how much she wanted a long backside, and saw a quick smile on the boy's face.

Oh, no.

I wanted to stop her, but I knew I could not do that. We both need money, and no one would risk being left without the money.

I had to let her. She had a smile too.

"Excuse me, lady," she said fast leaving the room. A boy went last smiling at something his sister said.

She mentioned something about Warriors.

After she left, I continued measuring, and she continued to talk until someone interrupted us. A girl with dark blue hair and eyes, entered the room taking off her gloves. She threw them on the table completely focused on her hair. A long hair was all in waves so nicely curled it seemed impossible.

"Fiha, I can not believe what happened at the Warrior section," she exhaled and sat next to her friend.

"I can not believe that Kassian allowed them to take part. I thought they will stay in the shadows as always."

"He cannot keep them locked forever. As we have seen, they have extraordinary talents."

I focused my look on the back of the girl's dress. I tried to measure her hands, but she did not stop moving. Sometimes I regret having to work on this.

She finally stopped moving to mention some boy.

"Uriah was supposed to host this year's Night Change."

"Do not say!" Other girl said impressed, "How, when?"

She smiled letting a girl wait. A giggle from an unknown girl made Fiha smile even wider.

"I heard it from someone. And let me tell you that person is not happy because of that," another sharp giggle, I wished to stab myself with a needle. "Damin."

She said it should be something important, but it was not. The girl reacted contrary.

"You are still seeing him? I thought you gave up on him?" A girl took one sip of tea that was standing on the table.

Unfocused I moved my hand forget I have a needle.

"Hey! Watch out, you little girl!" She yelled suddenly, tapping her hand. I saw a little red dot and I rushed to take a tissue.

"I'm so sorry, miss; I did not see. Excuse me," I said scared-looking her in the eyes. What will happen now? What will she do? Oh, God.

"Enough. I know you are not. Just bring me some cotton." I moved to search for some tissue opening machine drawer. Okay, here it is.

"Here it is," I said placing it in her hands. Without even looking at me she placed it on her elbow. As I could see there was nothing.

I measured her sleeves and kept listening to them. Why I didn't know. She doesn't want sleeves.

"I hope he will not forget milk-free cookies. There was not any last year, and I stayed hungry. I could eat nothing. I think I will kill someone if that happens again."

I silently looked at her. She didn't look at me. Writing everything she told me to make sure everything is here I didn't hear what they were talking about.

"Miss is this okay?" I asked showing her.

They stopped talking, and quietness was the only witness to how she treated me. Why did that needle not stab further?

"Yes. Do not interrupt me," she continued her conversation.

I looked down. I felt tears in my eyes. Why it has to be this mean? I am human-like she is.

"Can we both appreciate a shirtless Uriah?" She asked her friend, and I looked over my notebook.

I saw her smiling with some weird smile, something between painful grin and smile. I hoped that is not her real smile.

"We can!" A girl said, and they both laughed.

"I think I am done," I said carefully once when they stopped laughing.

"You can go," she did not look at me, and I nodded. I can not look at you either.

Collecting my things I left them in gossips trying to find Rana.

I think I will have to wait for her.

Wait around an hour.

What is she doing? When I finally saw her exiting some room, my back hurt from sitting on the floor and sick of laughs from the room I exited.

"Where have you been?" I asked angrily looking at her.

"With a gentleman. He wants a tuxedo for the Night Change."

"Do not lie Rana. I saw you," I warned her with my finger, and her smile disappeared.

"Imrie! You can not say!" She looked scared rushing toward the doors.

"What are you doing, anyway?" I whispered when battler opened doors.

She remained silent until we were out.

"Sir and I are together," her eyes lightened on the sun and I saw a difference in her.

"Ah, Rana. You know that never finishes well." I shook my head disappointment running my veins. I can not believe she was that foolish.

"He is nice you know," she said defending him.

"I do not care. They all are good for acts."

She said something, but I did not hear her. How she could be that foolish? Maybe that boy wanted something with my friend. Either way, I could not let that happen.

"Rana," I stopped her. Her black eyes looked filled with desire. She was all lost.

"Please be careful. I could not stand knowing you are hurt." She said nothing. For a second she looked at me. And then she hugged me.

"Do not worry Rie, nothing will happen. I know hat will not last," I saw how those words hurt her.

"Hey, you never know," I pushed her walking toward the border.

"That girl is the rudest." Suddenly changed subject I looked at her. There was a smile on her face.

"I know. She is the worst," Rana looked at me waving her head.

"Once she asked me to make her a cut to the hip. I did, but I not satisfied her."

"She wants it to the knee this time,"

"Then you are lucky; it will be easy. Just make it before you make a skirt. It will fall more beautifully," she smiled playing with her hair.

I wanted to tell her something, but I felt someone's hand on mine.

I turned already knowing who that was.

"Jasper, what happened?"

Fear already rushed to my brain. He would not be here if he does not have. He was working with our local blacksmith.

"Can we talk?" He whispered looking at me. His blue eyes same as mine looked at me. We were so alike: same hair, eyes, jawline, but he was taller and much more exhausted.

"Sure. Rana, see you tomorrow. I have to start with a dress." I kissed her on the cheek and walked toward our house.

"What happened?" I asked again when he closed our doors.

"Imrie, looks at this," he threw something at the table, and I looked down.

Those were newspapers from his morning.

A big line:

"Six of them dead, Warriors again showed who is the best,"

"What does this mean," I asked even though I knew an answer.

"They started with local people," he mumbled massaging his temples. When he sat opposite me I knew there is a real danger now.

"Imrie no one can not know. Swear," he looked worried, and I did not want to make him even angrier.

"Sure," I looked at my hands not sure what I was supposed to do.

"I'm serious Imrie. They can hurt you."

"I am like that, Jasper. I would not survive that. You are all I have." A weak smile formed on his lips

"Swear at power," he said fast jumping from his place.

"I swear on my power," I whispered looking at my hands and then connecting it with his.

Short sparks appeared when my hand touched his. Two powers cannot ever go together.