"Is this truly the only way?" Lady Miranda, the Mistress of the Common Court, asked, her brown searching Sasha's for answers. "Should the children suffer for this fight, Sasha?"

Her jaw tightened, but was not able to provide an answer as Caroline approached them. "The Belles are here."

"Lady Miranda," Aliya said as she faced the doors, "I've always believed that your loyalty doesn't lie solely on Belcourt, but with the children. Without you, we would have never felt we have a home here. We believed in you because we felt your love. You molded us to be capable women. Not our courts, but you, our mother in the Common Court. And with much respect, we're asking you to do something selfless again. Please do this one thing for us. Keep the children safe."

"Sasha, we know you're inside!" Jade's voice said from behind the giant doors of the Great Hall. "Bring the children out now."

Sasha did not reply. When they entered Belcourt, they knew anything could happen. Even now, she could not tell if West and the others were successful. But she could only hope that something went right.

"Let us talk this out, Sasha," Jade said from the other side. "Let us not involve the children."

Aliya turned to her. Caroline did the same.

"Think fast, Sasha, before you all burn down to ashes."

Above, smoke clouded the ceiling. The Great Hall was made of bricks, but the ceiling was all timber.

"Sasha?" Aliya asked.

She moved closer to the doors. "Stand beside me, Caroline," she said. When the woman did, Sasha turned to Lady Miranda. "You know what to do, my lady."

"But Sasha—"

"As we planned, take the children to the lake, my lady," Sasha faced the door again. "You do not have much time. Go." Lady Miranda reluctantly nodded and turned away.

"Do you think it will work?" Aliya asked Sasha.

"I cannot promise it will, but I hope it does." She looked up at the gathering smoke above them.

Caroline nodded and drew in a long breath. "I hope she gathered enough Soldiers here."

"In Belcourt," Aliya said, stepping to Sasha's left side, "everyone runs toward the children."

Sasha checked the ceiling again. "It's time." She turned to the other women who had been guarding the door and nodded. They pulled at the iron chains that lifted the bars that barred the doors. Two women pulled the doors open, revealing Jade and other Belles. And from both sides, dozens of Soldiers rushed in.

The smile Jade had on her face froze when she realized what was happening. Her eyes scanned the Great Hall. "Where are the children?" she demanded.

Sasha looked up just in time to see more Soldiers gathered by Theodora Vandenberg drop from ropes and surround the other Soldiers, trapping them inside the Great Hall, moving in a giant circle, waiting for someone to make the first strike.

"They were here twenty minutes ago, but we had to send them to somewhere safe, Jade," Caroline said.

Jade's eyes landed on Caroline and twitched. Her lips curled in a sneer as she stepped back. "Close the doors!" she shouted at the Belles behind her.

"I don't think that's possible, Jade," Sasha said.

Jade looked over her shoulders at the Belles. "Ladies," she said. The Belles pulled out their swords and advanced into the Great Hall. "You're not getting out of here. Tell us where the children are now."

"Not if you step aside and let us leave," Sasha said.

"And why would I?"

"Because this fight is not between us. This is for Belcourt."

Jade laughed. "You've grown quite funny, Sasha. The mere fact that you entered Belcourt and threatened our children means the fight is between you and all of Belcourt."

Sasha let the silence linger for a few seconds. She watched Jade's gaze jump back to Caroline, then at Aliya, then back at her. "She's using you, Jade," Sasha said. "Why do you think she saved you?"

"The High Priestess saved me because she believed in me."

"After going behind her back? After working with Esther to kill Prince Albert?" Sasha asked. "Jade, what Arielle did was manipulate you. She is manipulating you. She saved your life and made you think you gained redemption. One you have to pay for with blind loyalty. Don't you see it?"

Jade shook her head. "What I see, Sasha, is you manipulating me." She scoffed. "I am not falling for your trap."

"Are you doing this for the children, Jade? Or are you just doing this for yourself?"

"I have no selfish reasons, Sasha." Jade moved forward, so did the Belles, pushing Sasha and the others back. Theodora's Soldiers were not enough to protect them from the Belles. They had their hands full with the other Soldiers in the center of the Great Hall. And although the Belles were not as adept to weapons as the Soldiers, they were still trained.

Should a fight ensue, Theodora's Soldiers would have their hands full with their fellow Soldiers, leaving Sasha and the others to deal with the Belles on their own without weapons. But the only way to deal with Jade was to talk. Use the woman's desires against her. Keep her out and keep the fight from happening until more help arrived.

"Do you?" she asked, looking Jade in the eye. "Have no selfish reasons? You have no plans to kill us here and then perhaps comfort those who lost us? Trent Durham for one?"

The woman's eyes flared with fury. "You can't provoke me, Sasha. I would rather die here with you than find myself bedding that man again." Her eyes jumped to Caroline and she sneered. "I've used him too many times than I could count, darling. I don't think I'll ever find myself in need of him in the next life."

"The feeling should be mutual," Caroline said. "He's been saying the same thing."

Jade shook her head and started to move back and Sasha moved forward, but the Belles stepped in front of her.

"They'll be here soon, Jade," Aliya said.

Jade smiled and continued stepping back. "Don't worry, darling, I'll be just outside the door waiting." Her eyes lingered on Caroline as she added, "I wish to personally have Trent Durham on his knees. Begging me for your life, Carol." And as she turned away, she said to the Belles holding off Sasha and the others, "Summer, you're in charge. Be strong, ladies. Help will be here soon. Stand your ground. This is all for Belcourt."

Four Belles exited with Jade and locked everyone else inside. Sasha slowly let out a sigh of relief. Then her eyes landed on Summer and the other Belles. Jade left most of the younger ones here. They did not know much about the outside world yet. They only knew what Belcourt told them. Ruby already did that through the papers. Sasha would only have to give them more reasons to doubt.

*****

Esther was crouched behind an empty carriage outside the burning Great Hall. Leila stood stupefied, the glow of the fire reflected on her face as she watched on. Leo was peering out the side of the carriage, as if waiting for something. The two Royals were doing the same from the other side.

"We should light the fireworks," one of the Royals said to Leo.

Esther turned to Leo. "What fireworks?"

"A signal for the others outside Belcourt," said Leo.

"Signal for what?"

"That we need help."

"And who will help us?"

"I'm certain Royals will. However, I do not know about your side of the family."

She gritted her teeth. "I thought you had a very solid plan."

"Darling, in war, no plan is solid. You just have to have multiple ones."

"And how many do you have?"

He grinned at her. "Quite a lot, to be honest. I only know what I have to do. We're doing our part. I don't know about the others." He turned to the two Royals. "Nevertheless, we have to send the signal and hope Darcy will know what to do. We can't stay here."

"Where are we going?"

He looked at the burning Great Hall. "As far as I know, fire was not a plan. We have to know what's happening."

Esther frowned at him. Then her eyes widened. "Did you bring the children here?"

Leila's head snapped toward Leo. "You trapped them inside?"

"Well, not really. We have a different plan where to take them. Obviously, someone else trapped them inside—"

"You cannot be utterly serious!" Esther hissed.

Leo sighed. "We do not have time for this," he said, pointing at Leila. "You, child, will stay with the princess." He looked at Esther. "You make sure you stay behind us." He turned to one Royal, who nodded after he drew out his pistol. Leo was holding one as well. "Run," Leo whispered before sprinting across the ground toward the Great Hall. One Royal stayed behind to light the fireworks.

"Left," Leila said behind Leo. "There's an entrance to the left that will lead to the hall."

They followed her direction. Turned left. Then right. Then ran straight and encountered a problem. They skidded to a stop. At least ten women in black cloaks were facing the giant doors of the Great Hall. "Servants," Leila whispered behind Leo. Someone in front was pleading for someone to open the doors.

"Jade," Esther added, hearing the familiar voice in front of the doors. Seeing the Servants were unarmed, she moved past Leo and rushed through the crowd. He pulled at her arm to stop her, then continued forward, keeping her and Leila behind him.

"What is this commotion?" Leo cheerfully asked, brows raised as if in innocent confusion. The Servants around them stepped back warily, but one of them moved forward and said, "Your Highness."

She did not address Leo, nor was she looking at Esther. She was staring directly at Leila. The other Servants instantly knew what she meant.

However, Jade was in total control. With five armed Belles behind her, the woman looked away from Leo and then at Esther. Her lips curled into a smile. "Princess Esther," Jade greeted. "I was not expecting to see you here. I was waiting for someone else."

"You know each other," Leo interjected, blocking Jade's view of Esther. "Good. Did she try to kill you before? I wouldn't be surprised if she did. Esther used to do that."

Jade's face turned red. "And who are you?" There was no question she knew who Leo was, but she wanted him to feel unimportant.

"Leo Stanhope. My father loves to put 'prince' before the name, but I've long dropped that out. I was once a Flower here, you know," Leo said. Then he nodded toward the door. "How are the children?"

"Safe somewhere," Jade said. Esther hoped she was telling the truth. "However, I cannot say the same for the wives of the Royals." She craned her neck to meet Esther's gaze. "You should join them, Princess."

"I'm afraid the princess is currently indisposed," said Leo, raising his arm to point the pistol at Jade. "Open the doors."

"Not until I'm certain Sasha and the others have been dealt with. It shall not be long, I promise."

The Royal standing behind Esther and Leila stepped forward and raised his weapon as well. The Belles moved with their swords at the ready.

"Take them away," Jade ordered the Servants. "I'm telling you, ladies, the children are no longer here!"

The Servant who recognized Leila took her by the arm. "Please come with me."

"I don't—"

"I'm Mason's mother," she cut in, her words giving Leila pause. "We'll keep you safe."

Leo looked over his shoulder at the Servant. His eyes met Esther's, then traveled around the harmless Servants. "Go with them, then take Leila away and hide somewhere safe."

Esther hesitated, but nodded when she heard more footsteps coming from down the hall. Soldiers?

"Go. I'll find you shortly," Leo said before he faced Jade again, saying, "I've heard many crazy things about you, darling."

Esther hesitantly allowed the Servants to lead them away. Shortly after, she realized they had entered the orphanage. "We need to hide them somewhere," the Servant holding Leila's hand said.

"Fatima, the Soldiers are on their way!" answered one woman, eyes frantic as she looked around.

Fatima tightened her hold around Leila's hand. "This way, Your Highness."

They entered a dark corridor lined with doors. "How do we know you're not leading us to the enemies?" Esther asked.

Leila looked at her with warning. "They're not."

"How do you know—"

"I know her," said Leila. "She's Mason's mother."

"Who's Mason?"

Leila ignored her, not slowing down as they ran down the corridor. "Spread out and gather more help!" Fatima ordered the others, which they did. Others turned around to run back down the corridor.

"This way," Fatima breathlessly said, pulling Leila into a room. It was tiny, with two beds inside. Outside, they heard footsteps running after them. A cry of horror followed by lithe footsteps. "Under the bed," Fatima ordered Leila. When Leila hesitated, she pushed the child down on the ground and forced her under the bed. Esther did not waste time. She crawled after Leila and they both lay there, flat on their stomach. "Don't come out. Whatever happens, don't come out."

Esther realized the woman was holding a dagger before she stood and walked to stand beside the door.

"Quiet," Esther heard her whisper.

They may not be speaking, and no words may be coming out of their mouths, but there was no quiet in the room. Every sound seemed to intensify. Their breathing, their heartbeats. Esther closed her eyes and blindly searched for Leila's hand as the footsteps came.

Doors were being opened and shut. Distant cries from down the hall. They were searching the place. Screams. Shouts. Footsteps.

And finally, the door to their room opened, hiding Fatima behind it. A Soldier walked in. Esther prayed she would look inside the room and find it empty. But no, she walked in and sauntered to the other bed. She bent down and looked under.

Then the door closed.

Fatima.

The Soldier did not expect the attack. She dropped her sword, and it cluttered near Esther's leg. Fatima struggled with the Soldier, attacking the woman from behind, but the Soldier was stronger and more experienced. She tackled Fatima down on the ground while Esther, with no time to waste, grabbed the sword and crawled out from under the bed. The Soldier saw her and got distracted, but was too late to move. Esther swung the sword to the side, slicing the side of the Soldier's neck. In two steps, she kicked the woman off Fatima, followed as she stumbled back, and stepped above her before stabbing her in the chest.

Panting, eyes wide, hands beginning to shake around the sword, she waited until the Soldier went limp. She pulled out the weapon and turned to Fatima. "Don't move," she hastily ordered, kneeling before the Servant. They both looked down at the dagger stuck in her abdomen.

Fatima's breathing became heavier as she swallowed and grunted in pain.

"What happened?" Leila's voice asked.

"Stay there," Esther snapped at her, standing to rush to the door to lock it. When she went back to Fatima, Leila had already crawled out.

"You're wounded," Leila said, frowning at Fatima's own dagger. To Esther, she said, "What do we do?"

Esther did not know what to do. Where could they get help in a place where everyone wanted them dead?

"It's fine," said Fatima. "You're safe here. They will go to the Great Hall to assist with the fight. Once everything is silent, you find help."

Leila shook her head. "But you're not well. We need to find someone."

"There's no one." She grabbed Leila's hand, hers covered in her own blood. "Get out of Belcourt, Your Highness, and go back to the St. Vincents. Tell Mason I love him."

Esther turned to Leila whose eyes were filling with unshed tears. "No. You tell him yourself. H-He's been waiting for you." Her voice cracked as her shoulders shook in tears. Esther's jaw tightened. This child, who had been too full of pride, had finally broken down. "He's waiting for his mother," Leila told Fatima. "You cannot die." Anger ignited in Leila's eyes. "I order you not to die, woman."

But Fatima merely sobbed, her shoulders shaking as she did, choking in her own tears of desperation and longing. "T-Tell him to never be afraid of the sea because I'll always be with him. Tell him that. Get out of here and tell him that."

"N-No. You tell him that yourself—" Esther reached out for Leila. When the child looked at her with confusion in her eyes, face covered with hopeless tears, she squeezed Leila's hand.

Leila shook her head, tears trailing the air. "No. Mason... Mason needs you."

"He needs a family," Fatima said. "And he already has one."

"Stop talking. You'll live!" Leila hissed. "You cannot leave him. He's waiting. You promised him. Live!"

Esther looked up to stop her own tears. Everything that happened, since she learned of Albert's treason, the deaths that followed, finally came crashing down at her, gaining weight, pulling her down in a dark, cold place.

She did not even know this woman, did not even know her son. Someone she just killed was lying in a pool of blood behind her, so why was she bothered by Fatima's inevitable death? They should leave and find a safer place, but here they were, crying in a small dark room that belonged to two unknown orphans.

"No. Live. Live..."

Falling back, Esther hugged her knees and bent her head as Leila continued to sob, pleading with Fatima to live. To see her son.

There was nothing to do now.

Nothing but more waiting.