Evangeline's POV:

"That went well," Elara says, snatching her hand away from the king when we reach the residence floors. He doesn't seem to mind in the least. "Take the girls to their rooms."

She doesn't direct her command at anyone in particular, but four Sentinels break off from the group. Their eyes glitter behind their black masks.

"I can do it," Cal and Maven say in unison.

Elara raises an eyebrow. "That would be inappropriate."

"I'll escort Evangeline, Mavey can take Mareena," Cal offers, ignoring the queen's statement.

The king shrugs. "Let them, Elara. The girls need a good night of sleep, and Sentinels would give any lady bad dreams." He chuckles, tossing a playful nod at the guards.

After a moment of tense silence, the queen turns on her heel. "Very well."

"To bed," the king says, his voice a bit more forceful and authoritative. The Sentinels stay with him, following when he goes the opposite way from his wife.

"My room is where, exactly?" I ask Cal with mock innocence.

"This way, my lady." He holds out an arm to me, but I breeze right by him. "Good night, Mavey, Mareena," Cal says before following behind me.

I waited until we were out of ear shot before asking, "So, you're just going to lie to all of Norta and tell them that Mareena has silver blood when she has red blood?"

Cal tensed up a bit. "What makes you think she has red blood?"

"Well, let's see... she was standing only about 15 feet from me when she fell into the arena, a fall from which she got a few small scratches and scrapes, so yes, I could clearly see that her blood was red."

Cal stops walking. "You can't tell anyone," he says, a begging look in his eyes.

"Tell me where her room is, and I won't tell anyone. I swear on my colors."

"Why do you want to know where her room is?" Cal asks suspiciously.

"To talk, alone."

"About what?"

I debate whether to tell him about the gun, but eventually decide against it. "To get to know her better."

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It's been about four hours since Cal dropped me off at my new room, and two hours since I had asked Sara Skonos to bring me the gun under my mattress in my old room. Now I'm walking through the service passageways to get to Mareena's room, gun concealed in my leather jacket from earlier. I had spent a few hours looking through books, until I finally found an American gun model that matched the one Mareena had with her when she fell.

Finally, I found the service door leading to the lightning girl's room. I knock on the door and wait.

After about 30 seconds Mareena opens the door. She was in grey yoga joggers and a fitted white crop tank top, any make up she had on earlier was gone.

"Evangeline," she greeted. I shove my way past her, into the room. She closes the door and turns to face me.

"I know your blood is red." She didn't respond, she just stared, her face completely emotionless.

"Does your room have security cameras in it?" Mareena asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Does your room have security cameras in it?" she repeated.

"I-I don't think so, I've never really checked," I answered, confused by her question. She made a slight gesture with her head, nodding towards the bathroom door. She didn't say anything as she walked towards said door, but the message was pretty clear; We're being watched.

I followed her into the bathroom. Once the door was shut, she turned to me. "What did you want?"

"Why'd you have a gun on you, and where'd you get it from?" I ask, pulling it out of the pocket I had hidden it in.

"Who said that was mine," she says, her face still emotionless. Damn, she's good at that.

"It was concealed beneath your uniform when you fell into the arena. I felt it on you," I say. "So, why'd you have it and where'd you get it from?"

She stood there for a few minutes, probably debating whether she could trust me or not. Finally she answered. "I always carry it with me for protection, most people in the Stilts carry some sort of weapon with them for defense."

"Ok, where'd you get it from?"

"The black market."

"No, no you didn't. When I was looking through some books to find a model that matched your gun I came up with a match from America."

"I got it from the black market. Where they got it from, I don't know, it might have come from America."

I shake my head. "The black market doesn't go that far."

"How many people have you told about this?" she asks.

"No one other than Sara Skonos, but she had her tongue cut out many years ago, so she won't be telling anyone."

"The queen is a whisper," she points out.

"Elara and Sara don't get along, so Sara avoids her."

Mareena nods, finally satisfied. "Fine, I'll answer your questions, but you can't tell anyone about what said in this room tonight."

"Wasn't planning on it." She crosses her arms, as if waiting for a different answer. "Fine, I swear on my colors that I won't tell anyone. Happy?"

"Yes."

"So, why don't you start by telling me what your name really is." I say.

"Natasha."

"Natasha what?"

"Can't tell you that," she said.

"Your gun was made by the organization called S.H.I.E.L.D., do you work for them?"

She hesitated. "Yes."

"What's your position?"

"That's classified." If it were possible, her face became even more expressionless.

"What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for?"

"Uhh..." she said, taking a moment to think. "Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division."

"Ok, last question; how old are you?"

"34." I stared at her blankly. That was 18 years older than what the royal family had told us tonight. "Is that all?" she asked.

"Yes."

"You know where the door is." I nod and head towards the door. "And, Evangeline," Mar-Natasha call after me, just as I'm about to turn the knob. I turn to face her. "I'm holding you to your promise, if I find out that you told anyone you will deeply regret it."

I smile. "You've got spunk, I like that. Goodnight Natasha, I'll see you at breakfast."

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Author's Note:

I know I said that I wouldn't update until mid-January, but I haven't updated a real chapter for a while. Hope you all had a great, healthy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you celebrate. Comment what your favorite holiday gift was. Happy Holidays and Happy New Years.