XAVIER

The Court meeting began.

The Upper Court members sat on the right or left, depending on their Assassin class, still dressed in black. The Crowns sat on their respective thrones, each in official gold and blue, the crowns on their heads standing high. Arielle and I stood next to our fathers, taking our place as the Crown Heirs. As the only Royal Assassin, Damien sat on the steps between the two thrones.

There was a resounding silence until Edsel spoke up. "The Ravens have been slowly building their forces over the past few years. It wasn't until lately that they've actively lashed out and became a threat, first murdering our children and now our Queen. They must not get away without any consequences. They must be dealt with and serve as an example for all others.

"We will begin strategizing, effective and immediately," my father began until a Court member belonging to the Unassailables stood.

"Your Supremacy, may I speak?" she asked.

Father nodded, telling her to continue.

"A pillar of our government was murdered and another has fallen. It is clear that we must act and we must do it immediately. However, they were also dear members of your family. If it doesn't offend you, Your Supremacies, I believe it would be in all of our best interests to allow for someone else to lead the charge against the Ravens as you grieve so that we may retaliate effectively."

And there it was. The first power grab. If we give a Court member the ability to lead the charge, it would send the message that we are indeed weak and cannot handle the weight which comes with ruling. How foolish does she think we are?

Another Court member stood, no doubt ready to defend us in an attempt to win our favor, but Arielle stepped forward first.

"Have you seen the news today?" Arielle asked, posing the question as more of a threat.

The Court member bowed her head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"So you've seen the dead bodies in Chicago?"

"Indeed, I have, Your Majesty."

"And what did you think of it?" Arielle asked. "Did you note the way the Streeters cowered away? Did you watch the blood spill down the winding road and covering the hill? Did you see the massacre and think of how it was more than you'd done these past few days when you moped around our palace and gave your deepest condolences?"

The insult wasn't quite as veiled as those typically used in the Court, but it had the intended effect.

"I apologize for my poor counsel, Your Majesty and Your Supremacies." The Court member bowed and sat back down.

"Speaking of inaction," Edsel started, "The Governors of Sector 18, in which Indianapolis resides, have proposed not to punish the city for the attack on the Queen. We relented until now, but I demand answers. Come forth and plead your case."

A Court member from each class stood and descended from the seating box. They hid signs of fear, though one's breathing was longer and raspier than normal. The other clasped his hands behind his back to prevent them from shaking. The two walked to the middle and kneeled in an Assassin salute before standing side by side.

The Crown Fortier raised an eyebrow, signaling them to begin.

The Unassailable Court member spoke, "We believe that it would be unwise to punish the city as a whole for crimes only a select group of people committed."

"Nonsense!" an Unassailable shouted. "Do you wish to appear weak? Or perhaps it isn't just in appearances."

"I am not weak nor do I appear to be!" The Unassailable Governor responded. "I know the people that I speak for and I know what they truly see as strong. If we destroy their city immediately, they will believe that the Assassins are weak and overcompensating to keep a facade of strength."

So this was one of the smarter Unassailables. How nice to know that there's still hope for them.

"You may destroy them," the Intellect started, "but their resolve to upend the Crowns will only get stronger. Half will join the Ravens and the other half will riot, allowing the Ravens to grow stronger as we are occupied with stamping out more immediate fires. This is precisely what the Ravens wanted, and, as per my prediction, precisely why the Ravens chose our specific city to attack."

He was right. Father and I came to the same conclusion the other day as well.

"So what do you propose?" the Crown Fortier asked. "That we simply sit still and do nothing?"

The Intellect shook his head. "No. I ask that we take a more subtle approach. We offer them rewards and treat them well. They will tear each other apart and ensure that nothing will destroy their lives—including their own family and friends."

"And they won't take advantage of our kindness?" another Court member asked.

"On the streets, they don't say that the Assassins are weak. They say the Assassins too cruel. A little bit of mercy can go a long way in gaining their favor and helping us catch the Ravens."

The Court was in complete silence as the Crown Fortier thought for a moment before saying, "We will give you two weeks to try your way. If you don't bring in any clues or information within this time, Indianapolis will burn."

The Governors bowed with a quick, "Thank you, Your Supremacies."

As they went back to their seats, the Governor of Los Demonios, Balker, stood. "Your Supremacy, may I make an urgent request?"

Edsel nodded.

"Earlier this year, thanks to the Crown Heirs and current Royal Assassin, we were able to end the crimes of Oliver Davis, a man who named himself under the name of the diablo and pitted our children against animals in an underground fighting ring. Now, a new diablo has risen and taken his place. It is unclear whether or not he is sending money to the Ravens as his predecessor had, but we believe so. We already captured and hung a few of the diablo's men, but we would deeply benefit from having a few more operatives to help us in our fight."

"Of course," Edsel responded. "We will grant you six field operatives, three from each class, and one shadow assassin from each class."

"And," father added, "when you capture more people from this operation, keep one prisoner from each level of the operation alive for questioning. Also, keep all Tab servers intact so that their contents may be searched."

"Thank you, Your Supremacies."

Balker sat back down. Another Assassin stood and the Court meeting continued on and on.

♕ ♕ ♕

Ice clinked against glasses, people chattered to the sides, Assassins swirled in their dresses, and music played in the background. They call this a funeral reception, but only because it would be rude to throw a ball for the newly dead.

I looked down at my dancing partner—a red-head who's a part of this year's Beta team, the daughter of an Upper Court member, has an affinity for guns, was holding two guys secretly without one knowing of the other's relationship, and still sleeps with her baby blanket under her pillow.

I didn't care for the way she tried to start a conversation. She wasn't worth my energy. I was much more occupied with thoughts of my next dancing partner.

I looked over the girl's shoulder to where Damien approached Arielle and did a dramatic bow, delivering his best smile. He was hiding his pain behind smiles and jokes again, which means he was starting to go back to normal. But, I couldn't deny it was merely because he believed we would get revenge on our mother. And we will. I'll be damned if the Ravens didn't pay.

Damien took Arielle's arm and dragged her away from Phoenix. Arielle only told us of Phoenix's presence after the Court meeting was held, though I saw her spying down from the rafters during the meeting. It was where Arielle used to hide when we were younger and Phoenix was standing by Edsel's side. How the tables have turned.

Damien and Arielle entered the dance, sliding directly to my left as we swirled across the floor. They were whispering to each other and Damien pointed out something to which Arielle laughed. I couldn't hear her, but I watched as one of the golden locks slipped off her shoulder as she threw her head back. Arielle punched his arm, and he laughed too, green eyes looking almost fractured in the light of the chandelier. I nearly smiled.

Finally, it was time to switch partners. I tossed the girl off to my right and Arielle spun straight into my open arms with the grace of a swan, red dress swirling around her. She smiled up at me, red lipstick accentuating her features and bringing out those blue eyes.

"Fancy seeing you here," I muttered in her ear. She smiled as I was, after all, the one who told Damien to ask her for a dance.

"I should've known you would've figured out how to work in a dance," she whispered. "That you would've found a way despite all these people here."

"I am the smartest man in Concorde," I pointed out.

She looked over my shoulder at my father.

"Second smartest," I conceded.

Arielle rolled her eyes and stayed silent. The song changed and I recognized the melody immediately. My mom's voice floated through the room as she sang the words of her favorite song.

I could remember the last time I sang it with her, in the secret garden, laughing and dancing as we harmonized and fell into sync, our voices meshing and vibrating together as if we were both an entity more powerful than this world. We were beyond our bodies, no longer living in flesh, but rather in the flowing wind. We held the power of the crashing sea in a storm and the faint movement of a flower as it extended its petals towards the sun. All of it with just the beat of a song and the voices we were given.

I wanted to feel it all again, and even if it will never be the same, perhaps it would be something similar. Perhaps it was worth it to try. After all, if I didn't try at my mother's funeral, when would I?

I started to hum. It was out of tune and quiet as my throat scratched together, dry and painful, but I was humming. Arielle was startled as she took a double-take and looked at me, checking the source of the humming, but she said nothing, only continued dancing.

I closed my eyes as the rhythm washed over us and the song fell over the room like a blanket, muffling all of the other sounds. I hummed to the song, feeling the beat, Arielle's heart racing against my chest, our movements flowing in sync, my own aching throat, and my mother's voice drifting through the air and vibrating in my bones.

When the song ended, I was lost. After all these years of darkness, I felt a single light, a glimpse tethering me back to the world until it was gone and I was floating through the darkness once again.

I nodded at Arielle and, understanding my message, we both stepped out of the dance. She gave me a quick nod and swished back into the crowd, lost amongst the dresses and suits. I looked around, starting to analyze everyone again to keep my mind occupied when I realized that both Damien and Phoenix were missing.

I inspected the crowd, trying to find them when Dominic approached.

"The Indianapolis Governors have come through," he said. "A trustworthy Streeter came forward and notified them of a few possible Raven sympathizers. They told your father, but since he can't get away right now, he wants you to follow the lead."

I nodded.

"I already notified Damien. Would you like me to inform Arielle as well?"

I shook my head. She needs to stay here and keep an eye on Phoenix. I didn't trust her.

Dominic nodded and stepped away as I headed out the door. Damien was waiting outside, leaning against a wall.

"Ready to kick some ass?" he asked with a smile though there was no humor in his voice.

I nodded, peeling away the suit and tie to reveal my fighting gear underneath.

"Great," he said. "Let's go."