When I enter my room, silence echoes around me. It felt strange without Lena. I check my phone and sure enough there's a message from her:

Mom called for dinner. You're Welcome to join.

I give a wistful smile. It's been fourteen years since I last saw my own mother. My age was only seven when she died from cordebilis, an illness that had no cure. Even though I don't remember her perfectly, I still miss her at times.

I text Lena to not expect me today and turn off my phone. Looking around at my huge gold and burgundy hued room, I can't help but hate it. Nothing about it feels warm or homey despite the dark colours. I walk towards my closet and open the door. Uncountable dresses of all colours and designs hang inside it. Removing the lush carpet, I open the hidden trapdoor in the floor.

Elijah had helped me build it, and we had stored every single thing here, away from prying eyes. Taking a deep breath, I look inside at the scores of weapons stored inside. This was what we had worked for these past 6 months. This was what Elijah gave his life for.

2 years ago, Elijah had been appointed as my bodyguard, and he had taught me to wield every single one of them. The guns of every model, pistols and rifles, daggers and short swords crafted from the strongest material in the lands.

 We had stolen the weapons from the royal armory bit by bit to aid the rebellions, as by rule only the officials could own them.

Now it was time to put them to use.