POST PARTY, A FEW HOURS AFTER MIDNIGHT, Valencia's bags were packed for her trip to the lake villages. She had to be there for her people during such hard times. The empress figured the explosions had to be done by a few unhappy people living in some satellite state. But it still didn't make sense — she was trying her hardest to make peace with them.

No further news came from the explosion sight. Police at the scene didn't tell her about any casualties or wounded people. Valencia hoped there were none.

Her advisory board told her not to go. It was unsafe and they, of course, had a point. But she was all too kind to let those citizens suffer alone. Valencia was going and she was making Ronan go with her.

Ronan offered Valencia a glass of water. Valencia gulped it down. The pair sat on a plush tan sofa awaiting Ophelia Fowler, the empress' detective, and their car. Their bags waited nearby. Valencia yawned, stretching out her legs as she did so. She had changed out of her crimson dress to a more comfortable, appropriate trouser and shirt set.

Valencia cracker her knuckles as she waited. They needed to leave now. She hated not knowing what was going on at the lake villages. The empress had demanded her advisory board to get more information immediately, but according to them, the police themselves were confused. Valencia didn't know what to say. Incompetent, she thought.

Ophelia rushed into the sitting room. Dressed in a white pantsuit with a deep neckline, the detective beckoned Valencia and Ronan to get up and go. Valencia scanned the room one last time from the main door, then left, afraid of what was waiting her in the lake villages.

"I have bad news," Ophelia said when they were in the car.

The palace was shrinking behind them. Safety was becoming a thing of the past.

"There's another bomb," the detective continued, "And the police don't know how to detonate it."

Valencia had to force herself to close her mouth. They were driving towards another explosion? Valencia was feeling all kinds of things: annoyance at the police and frustration at whoever plotted this.

"We should turn around," Ronan stated.

Valencia shook her head no.

"It's not safe."

"Those villagers are not safe," Valencia explained, "and I'm the only one who can comfort them. I have to go."

Valencia knew she had a huge responsibility over every person living in her empire. She didn't want them suffering like she did. She had the chance to create a better Lehua.

Valencia wasn't going to give that chance up.

• • •

THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR AGES. In the night, the trees transformed to monsters with many hands. They whispered and whistled in Valencia's devil's voice. She heard him speak in between sleep.

The night is mine, he said.

You, my rose, are mine, he said.

You are doing good things, he said.

Every time he said something, Valencia turned to see if Ronan and Ophelia heard her
devil. Even when they were awake, they didn't hear him. He truly was there for her only.

The trees finally cleared. The orange glow of dawn was visible at the horizon. As Valencia looked out the window, one thing became clear: they were not at the lake villages. The clearing in the woods held a tall house made of brick. Valencia glanced around, frowning.

"Where are we?" the empress demanded.

Ronan and Ophelia didn't say anything.

"Where are we?"

Ronan broke the silence. "This is a safe house. Andreas had it built many years ago. I suggest you walk in willingly."

Valencia crossed her arms, pink lips straight.

"Don't act childish," Ronan called her out.

"I'm going to the villages."

Ronan gave her a weak smile. "I'm sorry, Valencia. It's just not worth it."

Valencia's own guards hauled her inside. She screamed that they vowed to be loyal to her. She thrashed around in their arms, her long hair billowing in the early morning wind. Lehua's short summer was coming to an end and with its departure would come a terribly cold winter.

Valencia wanted to hate the safe house. Andreas made it. But it was nice, in a simple way. Her guards forced her into the living room. Comfortable, like a summer house. The lemon yellow sofa complimented the brick walls. Valencia imagined Andreas and Cyra sitting here sipping cocktails in fancy glasses while Ronan starved in one of Lehua's satellite states.

She scrunched up her nose in disgust. This was definitely their vacation home.

Ronan stood in the doorway. "Your guards are going to be patrolling the outside. Ophelia and I are heading to the lake villages and will notify you of everything that goes on there. I promise."

Valencia gave him a blank stare.

"You know this could be terrorist attack."

"I know," she answered.

She just didn't know why her Lehua. She was better than the former rulers. She was making amends for what they did.

•   •   •

DETECTIVE FOWLER WALKED AROUND THE CRIME SCENE. She examined the bomb: the wiring looked complicated, but it was actually a very basic system. The bomber was trying to fool them. It looked like death encased in metal. The grassy area around it was charred black.

She was already briefed by the first responder in charge. He told her of the two casualties and six injured people already at a nearby hospital. Only two were in a good condition. Ophelia learned that the only hazard, other than the second bomb, was an electrical line that fell down. An electrical team was fixing it.

Ophelia and the first responder were wearing protective clothing as they walked towards the second bomb. The ten minute drive north to the edge of the lake villages was quiet. Mournful. Even the bomb technicians were frowning as they stared at the bomb.

The detective's buttery soft mahogany skin glistened under the early morning sun. She was painfully awake. Ophelia, trained in all fields, hated when she had to use her knowledge in some. It meant something horrible had happened.

A bomb technician named Silas introduced himself. He had bright red hair like none other Ophelia had seen.

"We're glad you came here from the capital. I think these people really need to know the empress cares."

Ophelia nodded. "I will be putting out a statement soon. Hopefully that will ease their mind. And, the bomb — why can't you detonate it?"

Silas sighed. "There aren't any wires, but there's a clock and you've got two hours left. If I'm honest, I'm starting to think it's a fake and there's something much, much worse coming."

But Ophelia herself had scoured the villages to find anything the officers might have missed. There was nothing.

"Show me the bomb."