Grace's POV

The morning's light came faster than I expected. Laying down upon my bed, my eyes felt the intrusion of light forcing me to turn to the other side of the bed. Today was the day of the party, an annual party where all those who had been ex communicated by Corvus gathered. This would be the day I had the chance to convince them to start a war with Corvus not only for my sister's life but for the many friends and families that others had to leave behind as well.

"Miss are you up?" I hear a soft female voice call out to me.

"You all really get up at dawn, don't you?" I question with a groan, protesting removing myself from my bed.

"Some of us do miss, I have come to help you bathe and be dressed, Octoclus sent me himself." She adds as she walks to the side of the bed.

Of course, he did. No doubt Octoclus knew what I would ask the other's today. I had to look the part of knowing what I was doing and asking for, so he sent me some help. Lifting the top half of my body from the bed I look around the room to see Milo and Ali were already gone. Ok, so those two get up before dawn...men. Eventually I manage to get up out of bed and the young woman leads me to the bath's where I refuse to let her bathe me. I am a grown woman, I know how to wash my own body thank you.

Ali's POV

Milo and I watched as Octoclus instructed the others on what when where and arranging the party. A deep part of me knew that this may not be the best idea, but it was the only one we had. Would any of the people who came to this party listen to Grace though? She was a woman and still many men did not think women half as clever as them. Leaning against the wall I can't help but think of all the ways that this could go wrong.

"Your thinking about the negative outcome that could happen too aren't you?" Milo questions as he looks at me.

"There are many ways that this could go wrong." I reply not looking away from the others setting up for the party.

"How many bad outcomes have you thought of so far?"

"Twelve and still counting."

"You boys lack faith in the woman. Think of the good attributions she has, not only does she know how to fight but she has a good head on her shoulders." Octoclus says as he walks up to us.

"She is a woman, that is the first problem every man who comes here has with her." Milo comments as he looks to Octoclus. "You know just as well as we do that no one will take her seriously."

"Perhaps, she just needs to get their attention. Remember the rose? Beautiful and charming but her thorns cane be quite deadly under the right circumstance. Now you two go get dressed the party will be starting within the next hour or so." Octoclus says as he walks away to finish off the final arrangements for the party.

Both Milo and I walk back into the room but stop when we both see the sheets of the bathing room flowing in the wind, unless someone was using that room they were always tied up. That's when we heard Grace talking to someone, turning to make a run for it we both stand frozen when we hear her yell just one word at us.

"GUYS!" Grace yells at the top of her lungs tightening the sheet around her form.

"We didn't see anything we swear." I quickly try to reassure her waiting for Milo to back me up...but he didn't.

"Both of you didn't see anything? That better be the truth!" Grace said as she quickly runs behind a screen.

"I swear, we just came here to change like we were told to." I tell her as I keep my head turned from her.

"Get out! You can change when I am done!" She yells and we both make a run for it out of the room.

Closing the doors behind bus, both Milo and I rest against the wall and catch our breath. She would have killed us if either of us saw her naked. Of that I have no doubt. Looking Milo's way I catch him blushing and wonder what he could possibly thinking of.

"Why is your face red?" I ask him as he looks over at me with wide eyes.

"It's not, I'm just hot after making a run from her." He replies as he looks away from me.

"That is a lie, you saw her didn't you?!" I say as I walk right up to him.

"It wasn't on purpose! I didn't know who it was and when I looked it was to late not to see anything." Milo admits and he speeds up his explanation.

"She will kill you."

Turning I begin to walk away.

"It wasn't my fault! I didn't know she was bathing and neither did you!" Milo says as he runs to catch up with me.

"I didn't see anything...you did." I tell him as we keep walking.

Eventually one of the others brought us out clothes and we changed in another room. After doing so we joined Octoclus as the party was beginning. There were so many people there from the rich to the poor, class did not matter at this party. Everyone was equal no matter their status. Once the room was almost too crowded Octoclus walked inside with someone walking right beside him.

"My dear friends, long ago I promised you all that I would find a way to deal with Corvus and return you to your family and friends. Not only that but get you the revenge you want and deserve." Octoclus says as he then looks to the person beside him.

Making my way through the crowd I am stunned to see Grace is standing beside him with the gown I thought was a wedding dress upon her body. She looked like a goddess and glowed like one too. I would dare say anyone would listen to her now.

"This is Grace, sister to Cassia who is the fiancé of Corvus and like you she wants revenge but we need an army...she has been trained by one of Corvus own men as well as a gladiator. She has exactly what we need to get our revenge on Corvus...will you join her as I do?" Octoclus questioned and the whole room erupted in agreement.

Well that was easy enough, Grace didn't have to do a thing but stand there and look mesmerizing. Once the crowd had calmed down, she looked over my way and made eye contact with me. Octoclus let her hand go and she went right to me.

"I didn't have to say a word...Octoclus really can work a room." Grace says as she looks to Octoclus.

"Your beauty overpowered them...they were willing to do anything." I tell her honestly.

"Ali, don't play around with me. Where is Milo?" she asks as she looks around.

Milo then taps her shoulder and she turns around and smiles at him.

"Well grace, you have your army...now we just need a plan to get in." Milo says as he looks out to the crowd of people.