I am once again praying people won't kill me. Enjoy this chapter guys!- 😈

I'm shocked, something I have not been in years. Because for the first time, I had held all the cards. I never expected shock again. But it comes anyway. No one moves, as if they are frozen in time.

"Mare?" I whisper, enraged and horrified. She walks forward, and smiles coldly.

"Hello Maven. Still hiding from a fight?" Mare comes closer and I start to see her features. She looks deadly, her brown hair chopped short, her gown torn, and no manacles.

"I would ask you the same darling," I say walking forward, matching her deadly smile with my own. "What happened to your bracelets?" She scoffs at me, but I am delighted to see, still steps back in fear.

"Evangeline Samos is quite a talented magnetron you see. So talented, that she can undo her own work." Mare smirks at me as I realize the treason of Evangeline Samos. That snake. I never trusted her, but I figured I had enough leverage to use against her to keep her loyalty.

"Well I can assure you there are many magnetrons here, and I can guarantee they won't be ask treasonous as Evangeline Samos." Mare doesn't flinch but looks at me with cool glare.

"I wouldn't recommend you test me Maven."

"I wouldn't recommend you test me Mare." She forces a laugh. The battle starts up again, the sentinels unconcerned and my traitorous children fighting them. Mare glares are me, hateful.

"You think I'm scared of you Maven?"

"No," I smile darkly, "but I know what you are scared of. You don't like Silencers, do you?" This time she does flinch, and I take a step forward, invading her personal space to gently touch her face. "Oh darling. I know how powerful you think you are. And what power you really hold. None." She recoils, shoving my hand away.

"Are you talking about yourself or me? I can't tell, Maven."

"You of course," I say, trying to not let her get under my skin, "you were the coward afraid to tell anyone the truth. You wouldn't when you were eighteen, or now. You live in a world of lies Mare Calore," I smile when I use her last name, a clear reminder of who really is in charge. Mare stiffens.

"You're one to talk," she hisses, "especially when you where the one manipulating from day one."

"You wish that were true Mare. If I was the one manipulating, you wouldn't be here. But not to worry. As soon as I put a stop to the fighting, you will come back with me, and everyone will be happy again."

"Will you kill our children?"

"It depends Mare."

"On what?"

"On their obedience." Her voice trembles with emotion.

"I swear if you kill them, I will kill you." I fold my arms across my chest.

"Oh, I don't think you can. Otherwise, you would have right now."

"I SW-"

"Do. It. Kill me. Prove that you can Mare." I spread my arms wide open, smirking. She does not strike. "I thought so, darling." Suddenly, her gaze wobbles behind me. I turn as quickly as I can, summoning flames, but it's too late. Clara Barrow arrow stabs a spear through my heart. I send a flame rocketing towards her, and she screams in pain. As I collapse I turn to Mare, who stands over me, fighting her emotions of hatred and, to my delight, concern. She still cares. She always will. As I prepare to greet death, I smile.

I lost. I suppose in a way, I always have.