My father walks in with his usual smug smile and I almost laugh at the sight. Such pride and power he bestows but he has no clue what he has coming. What I have in store for him will wipe that grin straight off of his face.

"Are you okay?" Colton asks quietly from beside me and I hadn't realised that I was still grinning from ear to ear. I quickly stop smiling and turn to face him.

"Fine," I say and look back to my father. More than fine. I can already feel the relief building in my bones, the triumph flowing through me. My father is finally going to get what he deserves and no one is going to stand in my way.

"You're allowed to be angry Rose," Colton says and I scoff. I have the right to be more than angry. My father is lucky that I didn't come after him as soon as I had heard of his treachery towards my mother. I couldn't care less what he had done to me over the years but having my mother killed and lying to me about it was the final straw.

"I'm done being angry," I confess and I see Colton's face blanch in the corner of my eye. Colton grabs my wrist, turning me to face him as my father walks up to the dais.

"Don't do anything stupid," he says, his eyes pleading but it's too late for that. My father dies tonight and that is final. I don't care how I have to do it or what I have to do... it's happening.

"I wouldn't dream," I deadpan. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I'm going to use the restroom and no I do not need you to escort me there," I tear my hand from his grip and he lets go with surprising ease before I turn on my heel and head towards the exit.

***

My shoes click against the concrete floors as I make my way down the silent corridors, towards the drawing room. Maximus should be here soon, as long as he doesn't run into any trouble and manages to get in through the fire exit door without being seen.

With my luck though, I am sure I am going to have countless other problems tonight and countless other people that are going to get in my way.

I check my surroundings before creaking open the door and quickly sliding into the room, trying to make as minimal noise as possible.

I am welcomed with Maximus lounged in an arm chair, a book in his hands, the picture of nonchalance. "You're early," I say and his eyes snap up from the book. He slowly closes it and stands up.

"It's good to see you well Rose," Maximus was the one who healed me and helped restore my memories when the rebels had tried, and failed, to kill me.

"Thanks to you," I say and nod my head.

"Why am I here?" straight to the point I see.

I hadn't discussed any specifics with Maximus because I didn't want the risk of word getting out that I was planning on killing the lead commander. I won't be telling Maximus the reasons behind me calling him here either because, quite frankly, I can't trust him.

"I need you to do a little witchy woo on my father, slow his heart a little... just a scare," I explain and his face twists.

"Your father... the lead commander? That's treason," he whisper-shouts, eyes wide in terror. I haven't asked much of him. At first I was considering to make Maximus just kill him, simple and easy. Lucky I went with plan B.

"Relax... I'm only asking you to give him a little scare," I scoff. "Besides, I have what you want," I didn't want to have to resort to bribery but he seems harder to sway than I have time for.

"And what is that?" Maximus says lowly, walking towards me. I inch backwards, wanting to keep space between us.

"I heard that you've been wanting to advance in your practice but have no one to practice on... after the attack, we have a whole facility of people that still need help," I shrug and I see the hesitation in his eyes.

"Just slow his heart... that's it?" he questions and I have to fight off the smile threatening to form on my face. Maybe he is easily swayed after all, didn't take much convincing.

"That is all I am asking of you... no one will know," I add the last bit as a sort of incentive and it seems to work in my favour.

"Tell me what I have to do and I'll do it," Maximus says and I don't try to fight my smile this time. "What's this for anyway?" he questions and my smile quickly fades.

"Nothing important," I say and he rolls his eyes. "Is there anything you need?" I ask and he stills, contemplating.

"I only need to be within 5 feet of him, any further and there's the risk of me performing it on the wrong person," Maximus explains and I nod. Think, think. How can I get him close enough but not too close?

"There's a back entrance to the hosting hall that should get you close enough but will also keep you hidden," I suggest and Maximus nods his head. Most of the servants should just turn a blind eye and not think anything of it, I'm hoping at least.

This will either go swimmingly or we are going to be knee deep in problems. I'd prefer the former but we don't always get what we want in life. Quite clearly, seeing my current situation.

"Let's get this show on the road then," Maximus smiles and I can't help but smile back.

Smile at the idea that my father has no clue about the surprise I have in store for him.

***

After showing Maximus the back entrance and making sure he had everything he needed, I make my way back to the hall. I've been gone too long and I'm sure Colton is going to have something to say about it.

I'm not sure if I should be concerned about how easily I managed to persuade Maximus to perform on my father. I suppose his practices mean more to him than he lets on. Healers are very hard to come across, I never even knew they had existed until I was told that I was healed by one.

Feeling warm and fuzzy, probably from the alcohol, I walk back into the hosting hall and find my way back to Colton through the busy crowd. I see him talking to Peter Hallons, a woman standing beside him - her arm clasped around Peter's.

Walking up to Colton, I slide my hand into his but make sure not to interrupt his conversation. It can't be anything too important seen as they're so out in the open but tonight is mainly about alerting our neighbouring sectors of the rebels.

"This is Rose," Colton says and gestures to me. "This is Peter Hallons, leader of Sector 86, and his wife Cadie Hallons," Colton waves his hand towards the woman. She beams at me and I can't help but smile back. Her brown hair is styled into a braided crown atop her head, her crimson gown flowing to the floor.

"It's lovely to meet you both," I smile but can't help the thoughts that erupt. They have no idea who they are talking to. No idea the girl standing in front of them is about to kill her own father.

I swallow the bile rising in my throat... what am I doing?

No, I'm hesitating. I can't hesitate. I won't.

"I love your dress... it's beautiful," Cadie says sweetly and I thank her. Melissa did amazing with the dress, I tried asking her about how she got her hands on such a wonderful garment but she wouldn't spill.

"I was just discussing with Peter... the recent events," Colton says and I know exactly what he means, despite the vagueness.

"You're all fools for not telling us sooner and getting yourselves in such a mess," Peter spits, his wife flinching beside him. "Utter fools," he mutters.

"Watch your mouth Hallons," Colton says, his voice laced with cold although his face shows nothing but utter calmness.

A fit of coughs breaks through the music and the chatter. My head snaps to the dais where my father sits, his face pale and eyes wide. My eyes shoot to the back door but Maximus is no where to be seen.

Before I know it, I'm rushing over to the entrance where Maximus is supposed to be.

As soon as I open the door, I am greeted with a pool of blood but no Maximus. "Crap," I whisper and run my hand through my hair.

"Rose?" I hear Colton shout from down the hall and my heart begins to pound in my chest. In my moment of shear panic my dress catches in the pool of blood, drenching the hem in a dark crimson.

No, no, no.

"Rose..." he trails off when he sees me standing beside the pool of blood. His emerald eyes are wide in what I assume to be shock.

"I... I need you to get someone to clean this up... I don't have time to explain," nor do I have an explanation.

"What. Is. Going on," his voice is hard, the complete opposite of his usual tone.

My blood runs cold at the sound.

"I will explain everything later, I need to go," I say frantically but Colton crosses the space between us, his hand clasping around my wrist.

Everything was going too well. I should've known this wasn't going to work. I should've known. I need to find Maximus or do something. I don't have time for standing around.

"Tell me and I can help you," both of us are stood in the blood, the crimson pooled around our feet. "Let me help you Rose," his voice is pleading and I hate myself for keeping all of this from him. It had to be this way for this exact reason.

But I hate myself more for what I say next.

"I don't want your help," a silence fills the small space between us and his hand drops from my wrist. I feel frozen to the core as soon as his skin is no longer touching mine.

"Fine," he mutters before turning around and walking away. Red footsteps following him down the corridor. Leaving me alone in the pool of blood.

***

I quickly make my way back to the hosting hall, not caring about the trail of blood following me as my dress drags along the concrete. Someone is trying to kill my father and it isn't me.

There has to be rebels here.

I look up to the dais. My father is still sitting there, coughing his guts up as the crowd watches. I'm halfway towards the dais before a guard stops me.

"You can't go near the lead commander I'm afraid," the guard says and I have to stop myself from gawking at him.

"He is my father," I grit my teeth, the coughing only getting worse. "What's happening to him?" I question, making sure to seem oblivious to the matter.

"Boss is just ill I suppose," this time I can't hold in my laughter but it is quickly cut short when my father collapses onto the floor. The crowd begins to move closer to my dying father, none of them moving to get help.

I push around the guard and run straight towards him, blood trailing behind me. He can't die, not right now, not at the hands of other people. I am the one who is going to kill him, I am the one who decides when he dies. The music has halted, the only noise the murmuring crowd.

"I can help!" a familiar voice shouts and my head cocks to the side. Melissa? She rushes over and I can't help the confusion that fills me.

"When did you have medical practice?" I question and she smiles at me but there's a hint of something I can't decipher in her eyes.

Melissa strides over to my father, towering over him. "I had to look after myself as a kid, I know what I am doing," she says, her voice void of any emotion.

The whole crowd has gone silent. Everyone standing eyes wide, mouths agape.

Melissa lifts her fingers to my father's neck, checking for his pulse before reaching into the split in her skirt. Split in her skirt. My eyes widen and I know exactly what she is going to do before I even have the chance to draw a breath.

Unsheathing the dagger she places it on my father's throat and swipes in one swift motion.