Thursday 5:15 p.m. Inside the Brownstone:

Grew-Ella followed Quig into the den, and her frantic eyes scanned the room. "Why do most of the people here work for Silvan-Mack?"

"We need to leave." Quig grabbed her arm.

Dot suddenly appeared in the room. "You need to stay. Chase had another nightmare."

His father blocked them. "The guest of honor has arrived." Rodrick grinned and snatched a bottle of tonic water from the table, and he smashed the bottle into the wall. "Grew-Ella, you came from a workhouse, and Silvan-Mack is sending you back."

"Leave my daughter alone. I paid off the workhouse, which is legal," Karen said.

Squad members escorted Grew-Ella's mother out of her brownstone, and into a limo.

Quig leaped in front of her, his wings extended in a fighting pose, even though he appeared calm. "Grew-Ella... shouldn't have to hide who she is, but I promise you she's amazing."

A government official grasped Grew-Ella's wrist, but everyone in the room knew the man was Junior, wearing a wig to cover his elf ears and sunglasses to enter without the paparazzi lurking. "Rodrick, you dolt. You were ordered to arrest her without witnesses." Junior reached into his pocket, removed a black cloth mask with an etching of a moth, and tightened the mask over Grew-Ella's head.

Rodrick spoke. "Junior, you're required to possess a court order to grab her at her apartment."

Junior spoke. "My adopted father, Silvan-Mack, ordered her into the workhouse. She stole funds from the Call Center."

"I didn't, I promise," Grew-Ella said.

Grew-Ella's brother rushed at Junior from the other room. "I thought we were friends."

"Madd-Ox, were you there? Don't tell me and just shush." Junior wore oversized dress shirts and suit jackets and resembled a student who borrowed his father's clothes. He scratched his white goatee. With his free hand, Junior discarded the wig, along with sunglasses, and a scarf in a trash can. This revealed white hair, a large nose on a youthful face, cherry-colored lips, and elf ears as sharp as daggers.

Quig's cousin, a female government official, removed Grew-Ella's shoes and exposed her deformed feet. "She violates our laws. There are differences between acceptable and common, but Grew-Ella is neither; she's defective. We should send her to the Kill Home."

Junior stepped back. "You're the one who is defective. I said nothing about killing her. I don't find her unattractive, but I didn't create the rules. If elected, I'm getting rid of the status system."

"I bet you don't know what goes on in some workhouses." Quig's cousin snorted and spoke. "Grew-Ella didn't have plastic surgery to remove her loose skin, and her nickname in middle school was Grew-Ella the Gorilla. She received braces, but no butt lift, no nose job, no lip filler, and no tummy tuck. Everyone should look the same. Forget the workhouse; we should be selling her organs to prettier and more worthy women."

"Are you deranged? I just wanted her to work off her debt by teaching workhouse laborers to read. She isn't ugly," Junior said.

Grew-Ella rocked herself. Tears formed under her mask, soaking the cloth. She shook and floated, trying to flee.

Junior yanked Grew-Ella closer to him and spoke to her. "I don't plan to torture you. Silvan-Mack is livid you told Dot about the NDA, and that is punishable by our laws."

"Someone else told my...sister! He didn't break the law, and the workhouse leaders don't care." Quig yanked Grew-Ella away from Junior and removed the mask, discarding it on the floor. "You're not taking her to a workhouse!"

"Just how are you going to save her?" Junior asked.

Quig reached for Grew-Ella. "Because I'm marrying her, and that removes any badges. You can't jail her legally. After all, I'm classified as a broken elite because I'm still a popular writer, and by law, I can remove her badges and offer financial restitution."

"Oh, come on," Junior smirked.

Quig showed the nuptial bracelet from his pocket. "I don't need anyone's permission if she isn't elite."

Junior sighed and started speaking again. "What about the stolen money? It's $500,000, and she can't pay."

"I could take out a loan, but I didn't steal anything." Grew-Ella slid her shoes back on.

Junior said something and turned back to Quig. "We'll work something out." He stood close to Quig and whispered to him. "Mom Avery and I will cover the funds. I'm on your side. Grew-Ella saved you, and you know how much I love you."

Quick stepped back and winked at Junior. "I have a better idea. My publisher owes me $2,500,000 for movie rights, and I paid taxes on the original amount. Contact the publisher, demand direct payment, and the government takes half. Seize their assets if they refuse. In exchange for my generosity, I want three officials to sign that Grew-Ella and I are financially solvent for our custody trial." Quig wrote a receipt and slipped the crumpled paper into Junior's hands.

Quig's cousin rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I'll agree to the marriage, but Silvan-Mack still plans to sell her liver."

"No, you psycho!" Junior rolled his eyes and sighed.

Quig grimaced. "You're going to be banned from my Christmas card list if you ask to kill Grew-Ella again!"

She shrugged. "Is that a promise? It'll save me from your yearly poem. Stick to short stories and the occasional article."

Madd-Ox spoke to Junior. "Buddy, your ride is upfront, and we need to talk to Mom Karen, but don't talk about the wedding."

Quig turned to Rodrick. "You should have informed me about Grew-Ella's status."

*

Ten Minutes Later:

Rodrick and his son hid inside the den and shut the sliding door to prevent anyone from listening in.

"I called your mom, and she is on her way to help. Dot and Chase are trying to save Grew-Ella, and this is the only thing they could come up with that didn't violate the NDA. Chase dragged Junior into it."

"Chase warned me, but I came up with the idea of getting an engagement contract beforehand because I knew something like this might happen with Zoreon involved."

"The prime minister refused to let me read half of it, so I rigged a loophole when I notarized it." Rodrick hugged his son.

"I thought lackeys handled those contracts, so government officials looked clean."

"Lana turned before your failed wedding and tricked him into using me as the go-between. There were multiple reasons why she was against you marrying her niece, and the contract was one of them. Lana was actually trying to save you and threatened your ex into telling you the truth."

Quig rolled his eyes. "Yes, but she also enjoyed slapping me around."

His father hugged him. "Your ex was ordered to date you by Silvan-Mack, and she never loved you."

Quig stammered for five minutes before words came out of his mouth. "I bet I'm replacing the missing funds; I suspect Zoreon stole."

"Squad members killed Lana because the executioners refused. Killing Lana was like putting a band-aid on a zombie." Rodrick's voice became loud again as they left the den. "Quig, the media won't believe you chose Grew-Ella over her smoking hot sister."

"Grew-Ella's sister is obnoxious. Dean Frog witnessed her threatening me after I refused to go to a cheap hotel room with her and join her in the hot tub."

"My sister did what?" Grew-Ella asked more loudly than she meant to.

Quig showed Rodrick the nuptial bracelet.

Rodrick examined the details. "Fine workmanship. It's your mother's design. I recognized Avery's famed work anywhere."

Quig nodded. "She helped me create it."

A squad member reached for her weapon when she spoke to Rodrick. "Grew-Ella has always been compliant. She keeps her flaws hidden. Honestly, Rodrick, if it wasn't for your super desirable body, you'd receive reject status."

"The government already punished me, but I'm still elite because I never post on social media," Rodrick bragged.

Quig's cousin spoke. "Zoreon told me that Grew-Ella agreed to his engagement contract to avoid being tossed into a workhouse prison, but I'd rather sell both my kidneys."

"I have proof she picked me, and Zoreon's pathetic offer proves Grew-Ella's arrest is illegal." Quig produced his paper contract and shoved it back into his wallet. "But mention selling her organs one more time."

"Cousin Quig, it's a joke, but vote for me for prime minister." She broke into deep laughter that echoed through the room. "I really can't wait to see Zoreon's face when he finds out." She snorted and let Avery inside the brownstone as she left.

"Your son claims that he has a valid engagement contract," Rodrick said.

Avery spoke loudly to Rodrick and showed him a copy from her purse. "Give my son this win because that contract is valid, and I was a witness to the signing. Yoleta claims Quig is a hunky librarian that most women want to check out their romance novels. I guess he could marry her if you want, but Grew-Ella has proven herself to be worthy of my son."

Rodrick rolled his eyes. "I'll be merciful and allow him to marry Grew-Ella."

Avery hugged her son. "When is the date?"

"Next Christmas," Quig said.

Rodrick tugged on Quig's stronger wing. "Having her stay in your dinky hovel is proof that she loves you."

"My apartment isn't that small," Quig said.

Dot closed her eyes, and a fresh memory of Phyllis ruining the wedding formed. "This Saturday is better for our family."

Quig's body stiffened. "Today is Thursday, and I'll need help if we're going to marry in the university chapel."

Grew-Ella's fingertips brushed Quig's arm. "We have to marry before Zoreon finds out, and we don't need an extra day because we have already signed the contract. Couldn't we marry now? Most of the government officials are still here, and one of them will tell him, anyway."

Quig couldn't help but grin.

Rodrick shook his head, 'no.' He smiled at them. "Tomorrow evening is better and we'll use the Brownstone. I have a meeting with Junior on Saturday, and he'll want to show up for the wedding. His support keeps you both alive."

New memories flashed in Dot's brain. "Rodrick, use Karen's printer, and we'll handle the legal marriage tonight."

"But what about Karen? We sent her away," Rodrick snapped.

Grew-Ella stood straight, but her wings twitched wildly, and a feather fell to the floor. "My mother would be against this, and while she loves Quig, she'll demand me to reject him. He's an acceptable status for me now, and I have no objections, or I wouldn't have signed the contract willingly. We'll have a wedding party tomorrow or next month. The date doesn't matter. I'm not marrying my best friend for a huge party."

"I like that idea," Quig said.

Dot pinched her brother's cheek. "If they marry now, we don't have to have a fake date, find a decoy bride, pay for extra security, and I hate fibbing."

"Next week is fine for me, but what date do you want for the party?" Quig asked his sister.

Dot spoke. "Propose to her during your morning class before the school closes early, and we'll have a social ceremony tomorrow at the Brownstone, and Junior will convince Karen to take part."

Avery spoke. "If they don't do this now, Silvan-Mack will force my son to marry Phyllis, and I'd rather gouge my tongue than allow that pretty viper in my family, and I don't want her around my granddaughter."

"Yes, she isn't safe and Zoreon has an obsessive and disgusting crush on Grew-Ella. He'll disrupt the wedding, and I love the idea of short engagements," Quig said.

Rodrick groaned to himself. "We'll have guards." He printed out the marriage license and the 3D medical tests kit, and within ten minutes four government officials signed it and Grew-Ella and Quig were legally married.

Another Dot came in a burst of light. "Don't let Quig and Grew-Ella pick up her things alone because Zoreon is still there. I have to go back and take care of the kids with my mom and make popcorn balls with Ruby."

Rodrick left with another version of Dot.

"Quig, thank you so much." Grew-Ella collapsed onto a tie-dyed plush chair.

He lifted her, and he felt her body tremble against his. His working wing expanded and wrapped around her.

*

An Hour Later:

Zoreon waited for Grew-Ella outside his apartment. He punched Rodrick in the stomach and fumbled for his weapon. "Where is Grew-Ella? She is supposed to be here! Both she and Tiffany are supposed to be mine. Give me at least one of them."

Dot Cruie-Lock formed behind Zoreon in a burst of light. "You're not touching either woman."

Rodrick sighed to himself. "I arrested Grew-Ella at the Brownstone, but Quig offered restitution."

Zoreon raised his weapon. "Quig doesn't have the money. I bought his former publishing house just to make sure, he couldn't pay! He was supposed to receive reject status if he didn't marry Silvan-Mack's pick."

Rodrick snorted. "You have to pay, or Junior will sell the publishing house."

"Rodrick, I still won." Zoreon cracked his knuckles and stepped on his enemy's boot. "I had a DNA test taken on several members of your family. I suspected you were Quig's father, but not who his mother is. He doesn't look anything like Avery, but that test doesn't lie." Zoreon smiled. "Ida is her child as well, but not yours. It's against the law for bio mothers to foster their own children to avoid access to government funds fraudulently."

"Avery didn't take the money, and there was no other way she could get custody of her children because egg donors don't have legal rights," Rodrick said. "She donated her eggs to my druggie ex-wife's mother and had no idea they were going to be misused on a woman not allowed to adopt. What good does it do you to know or care? My ex-wife almost died of a drug overdose, and I didn't even meet Avery until she retained custody of our son."

"No, you didn't want Silvan-Mack to punish you again." Zoreon laughed. "Through his adoption records, I was able to find out who the rebel queen was, and 25 is probably too young." Zoreon waved his weapon. "I figured out who the rebel queen actually is, and I won't tell Silvan-Mack if you give me Grew-Ella. You'll lose your daughter and your son finds out his life is a lie."

"I'm not the rebel queen, and neither is Grew-Ella." Dot stood to the side.

"You're lying!" Zoreon lifted his weapon at Rodrick's head and fired.

Rodrick ducked. "It's too late, they're married, and you'll risk your job. The other workhouse leaders won't allow it when she is married to a broken elite."

"Then you'll give me your youngest daughter; she's 19, right? Or you're going to convince Dean Frog to go to an alternative universe to find me another Grew-Ella because my temporal watches no longer work." Zoreon fired at him again.

Rodrick slipped into his stunner, and he shot Zoreon three times.

Zoreon twitched and fell over, his eyes stared out into nothingness, and his once handsome body slowly stiffened on the street.

Rodrick attempted to perform CPR.

Dot whispered. "Dad Rodrick, it's not going to work because he's gone. I'll text Yoleta, and I'll inform her what Zoreon has done with government funds, but not that he is dead until she gets here."

"I didn't mean to kill him, and I was only trying to protect my..." Rodrick broke into sobs.

"We'll send Voltaire to his house to destroy the information he has stolen, but Zoreon was too close to finding her. I don't like lying, and we should tell the world because the queen can handle herself." Dot stared at the workhouse leader's body. "I'm a couple of years too old to be the rebel queen, but I was the most likely suspect."

Yoleta arrived 10 minutes later; she covered her mouth and gagged. "Glad the loser is dead. Every person on death row is filtered through Zoreon. How many innocent people did I execute?"

Squad members stood behind her.

Rodrick hugged her, leaving tears on her clothes. "Their deaths weren't your fault. Lana and I raided his estate and placed millions back into the government's main account, but they blamed Grew-Ella for their thefts." He avoided Zoreon's attractive face.

"Silvan-Mack will blame Karen even if you confess," Yoleta said.

"No, Grew-Ella's mother is being babysat by Junior and Madd-Ox, and she has an iron-tight alibi," Dot said.

Yoleta's free hand touched Rodrick's neck. "Zoreon's passing won't be announced until morning."

He sobbed harder and waited for her to squeeze. "I only used a stunner. Please, slaughter me because I can't live with the guilt."

"It was self-defense," Dot yelled out. "Leave him alone!"

"I didn't mean to scare him." Yoleta stepped away. "Don't interfere with this election."

"Shouldn't you campaign after the recall results?" Dot asked. "This is an inappropriate conversation with the former king dead at our feet."

"No one will care about Puppet King Zoreon. Even Junior is running. Check your phone. I received a text an hour ago. The votes are in. Silvan-Mack tanked the economy and sold our most prestigious universities, libraries, restaurants, and businesses to other planets." Yoleta checked over her phone. "Quig is trying to contact me, but I'm done with him." Yoleta turned to the squad members. "We need to take Zoreon to the Kill Home to dispose of his body."

Squad members removed Zoreon's body to be disposed of inside the Kill Home and cremated. The death-binding spell, he cursed others with, struck him.

Zoreon couldn't move as they wrapped him in a heavy, scarlet-colored cloth. The only thing he could do was wait until his flesh was transformed into ash.

The prophecy the spirits left on Betsy's bedroom wall came to pass.