♞ Ivy's POV ♞

Due to my other duties involving Zayn's speech and training the Elites for a possible Revolutionary attack, I hadn't visited Aaron in weeks. He was my eyes and ears of the city, and I blamed myself partly for Delia's assassination. Had I asked Aaron before the coronation if anything was going on, he probably would've been able to warn me beforehand.

So here I was, parked in front of the same bar at 8:30, my first stop of two tonight. Zayn's speech (while terribly improvised and not at all what I had wanted) had been a success, and I'm pretty sure he and Odette were having a movie night in the Manor's theater room in celebration, complete with popcorn, candy, and some make outs in the dark room. Hey, it was bound to happen.

I stayed in my car for a few moments, just thinking. Aaron's payment was on the inside pocket of my coat, a few minor illegal substances slipped in among a decent amount of cash. I never questioned Aaron's choices, only offered him his desired payment.

Sucking in a breath, I got out of my car and headed for the bar. It was crowded as usual, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes lingering heavily in the air. I ignored the drunk twenty year olds having fun, taking my seat at our usual table in the corner.

I stared at the people around me while I waited for Aaron to show up, catching a flirty look from one fairly attractive male with a beer in his hand. He couldn't have been older than twenty, and he winked at me. I didn't do anything, only turn away from his dominating gaze. To return his flirty stare would be wrong, the guilt would eat me alive.

Boys seemed to be drawn into my physical features, a kind of bad girl look intriguing them. Their fascination only went skin-deep though, my personality and job not one to keep most boys around. I wasn't like Odette.

She was charming, I was cunning.

She was sweet, I was sour.

She was innocent, I had been exposed to so many evils in my life already.

The boy seemed to realize that I wasn't interested, turning to talk to his group of rowdy friends again. I didn't think about it too much though, since Aaron had arrived.

He didn't look much different, maybe a few more tattoos from my last payment to him. He was alone, a lazy smile gracing his features as he saw me. He slid into his chair, already pulling a cigarette and lighter out of his pocket. He offered one to me, but I swiftly declined.

"Nice to see you again, babe." He smirked, and I pulled his payment out of my pocket, sliding it quickly over to him. He nodded happily after inspecting the contents of the little bag.

"What would you like to know Victoria?"

"Did you find out who the leader of the Revolution is?" I asked hastily, not wanting to waste any time.

"Not exactly." Aaron puffed on his cigarette. I gave him a glare.

"You were supposed to find out exactly who the Leader is. That's what the payment was for."

"Well sorry, Victoria, but I didn't get a specific name. Its not all my fault, none of the Revolutionaries I talked to knew an exact name. They all referred to them as the Leader." Aaron held his hands up in defense, and I rubbed my temples with my fingertips. Aaron was useless this time.

"Do you know anything at all?"

"I do know one thing. One Revolutionary in particular was very helpful."

"What did he tell you?"

"The Leader may be closer to achieving his plans than we thought, Victoria. The Empire could be in grave danger." Aaron admitted, blowing a ring of smoke into my face. I held my breath, refusing to let the nicotine into my lungs. I let the information process slowly, my eyes closing shut as a strong migraine settled in my mind.

"How close are we talking?"

Aaron's face turned somber. "Like maybe a week until the Leader's ready. At least, that's what the guy I talked to said."

I cursed to myself silently. We had a week until the Revolutionary attack, and we still had no idea who we were up against.

"You know nothing?" I confirmed, almost planning to steal Aaron's money and drugs back for his terrible information this time.

"Not as of right now, but I could do a bit more digging." Aaron glared at me. "Babe, you gotta remember that I'm risking my life associating myself with these rascals. It won't be long until the King starts eradicating the rebels."

"You think so?" The idea of Zayn ordering his troops to kill the Revolutionaries seemed a bit far fetched for his character. That sounded more like my orders.

"Of course. They already killed two of his cousins, who's saying they won't go after someone closer to him next?" Aaron had a point. We needed to crack down on security, especially if the next attack really was close.

"Speaking of which, did you hear the last surviving cousin isn't doing too well?" Aaron casually remarked, not aware of my fists clenching under the bar table. "I heard he's in a coma and he still hasn't woken up yet. Looks like Zayn might lose another relative."

I didn't have an answer for Aaron, deciding it was time to leave. I stood from my seat, causing Aaron to only smile lazily as he finished off his cigarette.

"See you later, Victoria."

***

The drive to my next destination was one of silence, no radio or anything playing in the background. This wasn't my first time visiting, I had secretly been doing it for weeks. I couldn't help thinking about what Aaron had said.

"I heard he's in a coma and he still hasn't woken up yet. Looks like Zayn might lose another relative."

Ignoring my heavy heart, I pulled into the parking garage, driving all the way to the top so the stars and the moon shone down on me. I parked quickly and got out, not wanting to waste another minute.

I knew exactly where to go, navigating bright hallways and riding elevators to a special room, close to the top of the hospital.

I pressed the palm of my hand to a small screen on the wall, the monitor immediately recognizing my fingerprints. I was admitted in, and after saying a friendly hello to a few security guards and nurses, stopped in front of a door. My hand was shaking as I placed it on the handle, my heart beating faster with both nerves and anticipation.

"Looks like Zayn might lose another relative."

No.

I was jolted out of my thinking trance by a soft voice, barely audible.

"He's been waiting for you, you know." The girl stepped out, dressed in all black, her dark hair covering half of her face like usual. Her arms were crossed, a reassuring smile on her face.

"I doubt that." I spoke harshly, not really meaning for it to sound so cruel. I shut my eyes closed, resting my forehead against his door.

Isla came up next to me, rubbing my shoulder gently.

"You never know. I've heard of some cases where they've woken up just from a loved one talking to them. Maybe today is the day?" She tried to cheer me up, and for a fraction of a second, I felt a tiny spark of hope ignite within me. Maybe today was the day.

Smiling at the Elite, I nodded before opening the door and shutting it softly after me. The room was lightly illuminated, a lamp by his bedside providing all the light that was needed. He had a window that showed a breathtaking view of the city, but I closed the curtains to allow for a bit more privacy.

His heartbeat was heard as the soft repetitive beeps of a heart monitor rang out through the room, and for a while it was the only sound in the room until I pulled up a chair next to him.

I took Sebastian's colder hand in my own, hoping to warm him up a bit. I tried fighting back tears as I looked up to his face, seeing the same image as the weeks before: a peaceful, sleeping Sebastian.

His hair was getting longer, the fringe almost at his eyes now. Eyes that hadn't been opened since the coronation day.

That day still haunted me. I would never forget seeing Sebastian so weak and out of it, barely staying awake as he was rushed to a hospital. I remember holding his hand as they lifted him on a gurney and placed him in an ambulance, only a few words being exchanged between us.

"I'm scared, Ivy."

"Don't be. I'll be right here when you wake up."

That was two weeks ago. I had lost countless hours of sleep since then just sitting by his side, talking to him.

I would tell him about my day, about how everyone missed him and hoped he was getting better. I would tell him stupid things, like why I didn't understand how dark chocolate was healthier for you and not milk chocolate. I would tell him private things, like how I missed him, how I thought about him all the time.

But now, I didn't know what to say. What do you say to someone who had been so roughly pulled out of the lives of the ones he loves?

I was never good at talking about my feelings, so I talked about the seasons.

"Everyone's been decorating the Manor for fall. You would like it, you always loved Halloween. The chefs are starting to make a bunch of pumpkins desserts and treats. The gardeners are working on their pumpkin patch. The princesses are planning a horror movie marathon." I had to stop and smile a little. "I know you're a horror film lover."

For just a moment, a warm and happy feeling overtook the room, but when I looked back at Sebastian's sleeping form, I couldn't pretend anymore. I had tried being so strong for everyone: Zayn, Odette, Seamus, Sebastian, everyone. I was at my breaking point.

I didn't even realize I had started crying until I saw the droplets on my hand. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried, and maybe that's why I let it all out.

My cries turned into sobs, clutching Sebastian's hand as some sort of life line. Life wasn't fair. First my dad, and now Sebastian too?

"It's not fair," I choked out as I sobbed. My body was shaking tremendously, unable to stop. "Everything good gets taken away from me."

I wiped away some tears, a streak of black being left on my hand, but I could care less about my makeup right now.

"Please," I mumbled as unsteady breaths desperately tried to drag in vital air. "Please, please, please wake up. I miss you so much."

But the comatose prince didn't wake up.

With watery eyes overflowing, I sighed, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.

"Please, wake up. I need you, Sebastian." It was true. I did need him.

He was the one person who actually looked out for me, as opposed to me looking out for everyone else.

He was the one person who cared, when everyone else secretly considered me a heartless monster.

He was the one person who looked out for me.

He was the only one.

My sobs gradually ceased with this realization. He had been strong for me before, when he admitted he was scared. Guys don't admit they're scared unless they're terrified.

It was my turn to be strong for him, I had promised him after all.

So I wiped my face, getting rid of the mascara trails and took my coat off, the black long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans underneath enough to keep me warm.

I promised him I would be by his side when he woke up, and I intended to keep that promise.

***

Shadows danced and played with each other in the mind of the poor druggie. Aaron was having trouble making out the way back home, relying on his memory to take him down the familiar alleyways and streets of the slums. He knew he was almost home, he recognized the people and buildings around him. Just one more alleyway and he would be free to drink and finish off the bag of substances Victoria had given him. Just as he turned into one last alley, however, a figure stopped him.

A slender figure was leaned up against a wall, a black cloak obscuring Aaron's vision of them. Small fingers pulled the hood down, revealing curled blonde hair and bright green eyes rimmed with layers of black eyeshadows and mascara. A woman.

She walked up to Aaron, stepping right in front of him. A coy, teasing smile was on her pale face as she ran her fingers down Aaron's arm.

"I've been waiting for you." She spoke seductively. Aaron was confused, did he know this woman?

"I'm Emerald. I work for the Revolution."

Aaron was confused. Why would a girl from the Revolution talk to him? He hadn't even gotten his information for Victoria from her.

He had to admit though, Emerald was pretty hot. Her eyes entranced him, and her little smile made him melt. He thought Victoria was hot, but she couldn't hold a candle to Emerald.

"I have a proposition for you from the Leader. Are you interested?" Emerald asked, and Aaron found himself hesitant. Did he really want to get involved with the Revolution?

"You will be paid handsomely, and the Leader promises that your little source of fun," Emerald gestured to the bag Aaron was holding. "Will be overlooked once we overthrow the King."

Aaron didn't take long to think about the offer.

"What do I have to do?"

Emerald smiled, and it wasn't friendly. Aaron sensed a certain danger behind the beautiful girl's good looks.

"Get rid of Victoria."