Alarie let go of my hand and stiffened, pulling his deep green hood over his head, then he offered the man a quick incline of his head.

Bowing to the monster's son-

Alarie's eyes flashed warning at me and I bent my head a little, trying, trying, to ignore the images flashing in my mind, the poison, the rings, the deaths and murders of anyone stepping out of rank, total strippings of your Colour if you so much as stepped a foot out of line-

He glanced at our rings and flicked a finger upwards. Rise-

" Faranza Sunstar, Green," I stopped my shiver when he looked me up and down for a lot longer than I could take.

Containing my snarl, I said sweetly forcing my face into one of pleasure," Good afternoon sir, what brings you here in these parts?"

Noticing my repulsion Alarie shot me a casual smile that hid a warning only I could read. Act Fara, act.

"It's Abigor Killian," then he winked at me.

Ugh. I knew his stupid name. Every person in this stupid place did. And he knew it.

Alarie smirked at my face but then cleared his face and stared at the man who always hid behind his father's shadow.

"I'm going here for the same reason you do, and could I ask why you are going with that- " He pointed a finger at Alarie in disdain.

Trying desperately not to snarl this time I grinned with all the charm I possessed," Paper boy for a friend. "

" And who, do tell, is that friend? " He leaned closer and raised an eyebrow.

Ugh. Do go away Mister Fancy Pants. Yes, he wore silver, he was a Silver. The most elite colour that only members of the family wore. Every girl in America wanted to be married to him, to make their family and themselves a Silver.

"Please, I wouldn't like to miss this," I nodded to the enterance of the Hell, where screams broke out.

"And may I join you?" He asked, his eyes flickering with a hint of I'll-catch-you-out.

"An honour," I tried not to spit the words out.

Alarie was almost twitching with anger beside me and I stifled a laugh. This was going to be interesting.

He nodded then strode through the black hole hidden in the tall wall stretching around a large plot of dusty dead land. The wall was coal-black carved with little engravings of Reds, Oranges and Yellows, and they were not so pretty, covered in dirty rags, forced on the floor, blood staining their clothes. Or in more gruesome areas of the wall, human flesh carved to look more animal, only distinctly human because of the eye balls being popped out or the scream you could easily imagine.

I held back a sound as I saw the dark blood that coated the wall, fresh black blood-

Trying not to think, I followed Abigor through the gate, the stench of unwashed starving bodies and death meeting me.

Alarie put on the 'shameful Green' act and trotted behind us.

I didn't have to look up to know that black blood was dripping off the underneath of the gateway, I didn't need to look left or right to know that humans carved like prize toys hung off strings on my either side.

So I stared forwards at the silver shimmering staircase leading upwards to the Higher Suites.

Glancing back I watched Alarie mouth, How with him?

I turned back to see Abigar watching me closely, his face set in a grim line, quickly erasing it into one of neutral when he saw my stare.

He wore no ring. No ring because the 'Higher's family had only good.' They were 'perfect', or so they said. Thus for the Silver.

A few guards, fingers clad in a green ember or blue lightening and when they saw Abigar they bowed deeply, responded only by a sharp nod.

"So, I've heard you're the daughter of Mr and Mrs Sunstar, Purple residents of Upper Street, sixteen and ringless."

"Yup."

Annoyance flickered his face as I strode up the staircase before he had a chance to say anything more. I moved up the staircase, my hand brushing lightly against the glass railing.

Alarie had somehow managed to get next to me and he whispered," What now? "

"You and the others need to get the people to safety, I'll do the distracting- "

Male footsteps, deep and hollow echoed over the staircase.

Alarie met my eyes and hissed under his breath ,"Fara don't you even dare, don't you know what you are risking- "

I shrugged," May as well make a difference. "

And then I continued my way up the steps, my black boots clinking. Three iced gateways stood in front of me, Green, Blue, Purple. I took the purple-iced gate and stared at the three hundred plush purple seats hanging around the balcony, viewing the death and destruction below. The front five were always reserved for the President's family but now Abigor walked to the seats and guestured for me to take one.

I ignored the disapproving glances from the Purples and took the seat.

Abigor ignored the hovering Green servants beside him and all the eyes watching and looked at Alarie.

" Keep him here if you want, we wouldn't want your friend to be upset would we," He said this all in neutral then paused as if only just realising," And where is your friend? " Calculating witch.

But I had one for that too," Since you made me sit here I couldn't very well go and meet her, she's a Blue. "

A flush of darkness spread through my mind, trying to wipe out my lies. Another Cleansing.

He shrugged and looked over the silver banister, shaped like waves and down at the ground beneath, but an eye still flickered between me and Alarie as if trying to catch us out.

I looked down to the screams of a young lady, her eyes fierce with a rage as they beat her, dark lean men in silver, guards for the Higher. Red blood thrashed down her arms and even up here, I could smell a whiff of anger and death, even though the heavy lavender did its best to keep out the smell. She looked slightly familiar but I just couldn't-

I sat rigid on my chair, maintaining a reasonably relaxed position and watched in neutral at the lady who I had never- would ever save. But even then she kept fighting. Her spirit was not breaking only getting stronger.

Then I remembered there was not much time, and though from up here the lines of people shackled with gleaming silver chains were blurred it wasn't hard to guess there were around five hundred for the Daily Entertainment Sunday.

" Are you weak hearted? Because otherwise this is not for you – "

I zoned out of the man's insufferable voice and thought quickly. How long would it take to be escorted to see my 'friend' and cause a drama in the Daily Entertainment.

A flash of pain but I was too good at stopping Cleansings, just shove them down with more thoughts.

" Faranza?"

How did he know my name?

" Sorry sir," I ducked my head, trying to look bashful," I have to attend to some ... things, I will be back soon. "

Looking as red as possible, I hurried off my seat and then looked to Alarie as if it was an afterthought," Green, tell Hillary that I couldn't make it. "

He saw the unspoken message and nodded. I whisked around and walked away from the staring, curious eyes and then clattered down the silver staircase.

I paused on the last step as if to brush off dust from my purple robes. I glanced at the shattered glass artfully decorating the stairs. Yep, there he was, President's son all right.

Well, good for him, I was going to be a Crazy, already was really, so he could follow all he liked.

Another bolt of confusion.

I tied my long brown waves behind me and slid on the hood of black shadows that Astoria had given me and slid off my thick coat-robe that hid the slim black shadows of the uniform that no one wore now. The clothes that the war spies had worn fifty years ago. They were called the Shadows.

" Suits you Purple," Astoria had snorted on the day of my fifteenth birthday," Now we can get around the Daily Entertainment without you prancing around bright purple."

Darian grinned," She said she'll whip me if I told you what she did. "

" Yes, I would Doctor Shark," she narrowed her eyes at him in disapproval as if wondering what he would look like on a dinner plate.

I rolled my eyes but I was beaming. It was a taste of freedom, the freedom of something not hideously Purple.

A roll of dark thunder echoed through my brain. Bad thoughts- you get a Cleansing.

I continued down the stairs until I reached the front of the Purple Gateway.

" Sir, why are you following me? " I said casually as I chucked the Purple robe by the gateway and turned to face him.

His mouth dropped open in an oh of surprise.

I arched an eyebrow and muttered," Think you're so clever? "

" What are you doing Sunstar? "

" You stay here," I pointed at the Purple door," I don't give a damn who you think you are, you do not follow me and stay away at all times. "

" Was I really that bad? " He asked, his coal-eyes lit up with annoyance.

" Mirrors," I hinted, then I left him standing, hurrying down the staircase, my footsteps echoing behind me.