VALENCIA COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT SHE HEARD. Elliot had just apologized. She instinctively looked away when he did, unnerved and surprised. It felt strange — people apologizing to her. It almost felt like she didn't deserve it.

Perhaps Valencia was an entitled bitch. As the current empress, the title fitted her logically. She didn't reject it. The name fluttered above her head in the shape of a crown. Sparkly black diamonds, her devil laughed, like your heart and soul.

"What did Ronan mean when he told me, "you don't know what you're talking about?""

Valencia sighed, still not facing Elliot. She figured her tan face was contorted into something ugly as memories of her old life resurfaced. If there was a mirror in front of her, Valencia didn't deserve a reflection. Just blood and bruises.

"Did something happen to you?" Elliot pushed further.

A life she hoped to forget flashed in front of her eyes. Her father's hatred pouring out of his skin. Her ancestral home crumbling, stories and souls forgotten in the cracks of the wall. Her devil whispering sweet nothings into her ears. The fear that shook Valencia to the core, only for her devil to lift her up.

Her devil guided her to a new life. Yes, a better one.

Better, the devil laughed, Not yet, my rose, not yet.

When? she asked of him. Pleaded, in her mind.

Elliot didn't stop his questions. "In that nightmare you told me about, you mentioned a man you used to know. Did he hurt you in real life, Valencia? Who is he?"

Her devil never answered, but a name resounded in her mind.

Homer. Homer. Homer.

"A number of men have hurt me," Valencia answered. "I am a woman in politics, you know."

She failed to mention her father. Her own friend, Homer.

It was not quite a lie, Valencia told herself.

Elliot gave her a half-smile. "Right."

The doors of Valencia's library pushed open. Ronan and Ophelia walked inside.

"He's missing," they said in unison.

The empress's heart sank. If Auden Oberlin was missing, surely he was to blame for the black magic that tainted her empire?

"A missing man is surely a wanted man now," Valencia said.

"Of course," Ophelia said, "Oberlin's wanted posters are being put up as we speak. We will find him."

"I trust that you shall."

This was Ophelia's job as the empress's detective. She will prove her worth, Valencia thought.

And if she doesn't? her devil snickered through the shadows.

Valencia's features twisted into something sour. Unpleasant. If Ophelia failed, she knew what she needed to do.

"Do we know anything else about the magic in that bomb?" Valencia asked.

Elliot glanced at Ophelia and Ronan, then turned his eyes back to the empress. Her big, brown eyes stared directly at Ophelia.

"No," the detective answered.

"Not quite the answer I hoped," Valencia said, "I expect more information by nightfall."

Ophelia felt it. A threat, disguised as something innocent.

She nodded with haste and took her leave. Ronan, as Valencia's most trusted advisor and friend, spoke freely, "If we do not find Oberlin soon, what do we do? Our people are freezing."

"We must send food and supplies to the entire empire," Valencia said, "I want the supply trucks to leave by tomorrow night latest. And let me address my people by radio, at least. If Oberlin is not found within the week, we fill have to venture to the enchantresses ourselves."

Valencia dared not to say it. What if the enchantresses came to them?

Even Valencia was unsure of what they would do.

Ronan nodded. "I will begin preparations immediately."

He also pointed at Elliot. "What is his role in this mess?"

Valencia could feel the lack of trust emanating out of Ronan. They sure did know very little about Elliot, the criminal turned faux prisoner turned makeshift friend.

"Elliot and I will speak to Andreas," Valencia said, "I need to know why he went to the lakes. It couldn't have been just because he was born there and pitied them. I mean — Andreas Stone caring about citizens? No, no way."

Elliot's eyes widened. "Empress."

"Don't 'empress' me!"

"Ophelia will not be happy about that," Ronan said.

Valencia scoffed. "I will take my guards, of course. And Elliot will be by my side."

Valencia knew a discussion with Andreas would put her mind to ease. If he had a hand in the bomb, she would know. Even if he didn't, Valencia needed to know that he was a terrible man like everyone claimed he was.

The empress and her makeshift friend packed their bags immediately and set forth to Andreas's home. It was not difficult to get there, for the empress's own guards protected Andreas's new home.

The stone castle towered above Valencia and Elliot as the wrought iron gates opened to let them through. Their white car entered the gates that swtiftly closed behind them. The gates closed with a loud bang.

Valencia looked into Elliot's eyes. She thought his eyes pleaded her to have the car turned around.

She couldn't.

It's a trap, the devil cooed in her ear.

The empress tensed. Her devil was never wrong. He was righteous. He knew life's truths. Her truths.

Yes, he whispered, Run, my rose. Escape your fears and nightmares. Find me in the darkness.

Could Elliot hear the devil? Could Elliot sense her locked jaw and tight shoulders? Could he feel the energy in the car?

No, Valencia thought, all he must feel is the cold.

She reminded herself of her purpose. Magic taints her empire and Andreas must have a hand in it. Her eyes fell over Elliot again, who stared at the castle and the greyest storm clouds she had ever seen.

•   •   •

ELLIOT KNEW THIS WAS A MISTAKE. He brought Valencia right into her enemy's hands. Into Caspian's hands, the man who would kill Valencia if he could. Elliot should have felt happy. Satisfied. Valencia was his enemy too, afterall.

Yet Elliot felt something raw in the pit of his stomach. Churning, acidic, and putrid. He still didn't know much about Valencia for her guard was still up, but he could tell this: she truly cared for her citizens. She did not just boast about making change, but acted upon her words.

Elliot and the empress stood in front of the castle's large doors. Ever so grand. Elliot knew this place well. It was his home too, but Valencia had no idea. The door creaked open, and a shy maid Elliot somewhat knew opened the door. The maid eyed him, but made no comment. She bowed in front of the empress.

Valencia smiled and walked right in as if this was her home too. She darted into the living room, which didn't even look like it was being inhabited. The old-style furniture felt very Cyra Stone.

"Get me Andreas," Valencia told the maid.

The maid nodded and scurried off. Elliot plopped down on the patterned sofa, getting an eyebrow raise from Valencia. He had a second of déjà vu, feeling he had been in this moment before with Caspian.

Speaking of the crown prince, his former highness sauntered into the room with a wide grin on his face. Caspian's stormy eyes stared right into Elliot and in that moment, he knew what a big mistake this was. Caspian walked right up to Valencia, causing the empress to shuffle backwards, but Caspian engulfed her in his arms anyway.

He squeezed her so tight that Elliot thought she might erupt. Literally, or become seething with anger. Valencia never hugged him back.

Her cheeks flushed pink when Caspian let go.

"Darling empress!" Caspian shouted, "To what does my family owe the pleasure of your presence? And who is this young man at your side? I do hope that he isn't our future emperor."

Valencia's back faced Elliot now. He was sure her cheeks reddened even more. His must have too as he scowled at Caspian.

"Caspian," Valencia sighed, "I believe you know exactly what the situation is. Where is Andreas?"

"So it is my father that you want," Caspian said. "You know Ophelia was just here asking for Dr. Oberlin."

"She is investigating a serious crime that Dr. Oberlin may know more about. You haven't heard from him?"

Caspian sat on the sofa next to Elliot. "Oh, no. He disappears all the time, though. I'm sure the doctor will be back soon enough. Now tell me, empress, how does being the sovereign feel?"

Valencia shook her head. "How are you so careless? Lehua is suffering and you can't bother to find the one person who can help. The one person that everyone knows your family has contact with!"

Elliot wondered at what point would Valencia simply combust. She would burn Caspian down with her from all her anger. Hell, the whole castle would come crumbling down.

The young maid came scurrying down the staircase towards Valencia. "He does not feel well."

"What an excuse," Valencia muttered, then set forth towards the castle's second floor; when the maid didn't follow, she said, "Well show me to his room!"

Caspian scowled at Elliot. They both knew what was wrong with Andreas and that Valencia was in for a surprise. Elliot also knew there was no convincing the empress to turn around.

"You idiot," the crown prince whispered to Elliot, "Why'd you bring her here?"

Elliot sighed at the sight of Valencia already at the top of the staircase.

"There's no changing her mind," Elliot answered and promptly ran upstairs with Caspian.

Rounding the corner, he saw Valencia open the bedroom door. She slipped inside as Elliot and Caspian stood right outside, waiting and watchful.

Andreas sprung out of bed almost immediately. His opal eyes fixated on Valencia as he reached out and embraced her.

"Jenesis!" the former emperor exclaimed as he let go of Valencia, looking at her fondly. "Is it really you, Jenesis?"

Valencia turned her head over to Elliot, horror plastered all over her face. Her wide eyes looked right into Elliot's.

"Jenesis!" he screamed once more, and proceeded to plant a sloppy, wet kiss right on the mighty empress's lips.