"That's not my name," Mother growled, ignoring Kanin's slight bow of respect.

My wings rustled slightly at that, "Yes it is." I made sure to make my wings look intimidating as she looked at me blankly, blinking slowly to buy herself time on how to answer.

"It was. May I remind you that your father is dead because of Arien's Royal Family," she added with a pointed glare at Xylin.

"Prince Xylin is not the enemy, Mother. My uncle, King Renithyn Halythern is the real enemy, the one behind all of this. The cover-ups, the murders, all of it."

"Do not speak that name." Mother growled.

"So you haven't forgotten?"

"I remember everything," she whispered.

"I plan to kill him."

"Good. Why are you here now?" She mind as well have punched me instead. Her tone was clear, you are not welcome here anymore.

"Because we believe he has sent soldiers here to our home to take you and Robin hostage. He intends to use you against me as a bargaining tool."

My mother, surprisingly, didn't think I was bluffing. She ran a hand through her brown hair streaked with grey, "How much time do we have?"

"I don't know. We should leave for Monganmier immediately. The rest of the surviving rebels will be meeting us there."

"They'll be here in three minutes," Robin suddenly cut in. We all stared at her but her eyes were glazed over.

I knelt down in front of her and took her hand, "How do you know that, Robin?"

She shook her head, the glaze clearing from her eyes, "I don't know, Raila. I get these... flashes of images, like memories except I've never seen them before."

"Flashes?" Nikolei said intrigued, kneeling beside me and peering at my little sister worried, "Would you mind describing them, Robin?"

My little sister looked at Nikolei and relaxed. I guess his time as an older sibling made him good with all kids, not just Nej.

"Black, shadows everywhere—"

"Quintus," Xylin snarled. My mother remembered that name and growled, suddenly running upstairs to grab something.

"No," Robin croaked, "solid forms, twenty black forms. They were surrounding our home. Blue cloaks—"

I squeezed Robin's hand, "How many, Robin? How many were wearing azure blue cloaks?"

Nothing could have prepared me for her answer as she stated blandly, "Ten."

We all blew out a breath. Renithyn was sending twenty soldiers after my family, ten of whom had powers. There were only nine of us, seven who could fight. Cursed moons, if they managed to get into the house—

"Raila," Nikolei suddenly interrupted. I looked at him as his dark brows furrowed in thought, "my sister is only thirteen years old and she has powers...your sister, from the way she described those 'flashes'..."

"But Robin didn't do the Beckoning," I cut in, knowing what he meant, "that's impossible for Robin to have powers."

"Nej never did the Beckoning...what if it's not the age and liquid they drink that matters to receive powers?"

"Nikolei, if my sister has powers like you suspect she does, then we have to get out of here now."

"It's almost three minutes," Kalinier stated. My mother came sprinting down the steps then. I gaped at her as she crossed her arms. Clad in well-worn black fighting leathers with multiple throwing knives strapped to her legs, arms, and sides, she truly looked like a deadly rebel and spy.

"Mother..."

"Like your friend, Kanin Hylenius explained, I use to be a rebel," she flashed me a wicked grin and drew a knife, "how do I look?"

"Like an assassin honestly, but an assassin with a good heart."

"Your uncle took my husband and your father from us, I'm not letting him take anyone else away from me."

"Mother?"

"Yes, Raila?"

I gave her a small smile as I let my wings fold back into myself, "This suits you."

She examined one of her blades, "I hardly recognize myself."

I unsheathed my twin short-swords as Xylin herded Robin towards a corner where she would be somewhat safe from the fighting, "Don't worry, a few weeks ago I didn't even know how to wield a weapon."

"And now with all that training, you managed to survive two bloodbaths and killed a handful of Renithyn's soldiers," Kalinier offered.

We all shared a look, nodding at each other to offer good luck. Forming a tight circle, we silently scanned the house. My mother flinched as I released a breath and let my powers loose, roaming around the house, searching for heartbeats. My companions' thundering sound of their own hearts hammered in my ears as I finally sensed the first squadron teleporting near the end of the block.

"They're here." I announced.

"You're a renderer," my mother gaped at me as I opened my eyes again. She must have felt my powers reaching out like waves away from me.

"I am." I left it at that.