Kazmere knocked on the door to his hideout with the specific cadence of the upper Foundlings code: one regular knock, followed by a pause of two, then three knocks, another pause of two, and finally one last knock. The heavy iron door creaked open.

A single dark blue eye peered through the narrow gap. The door widened to reveal Sera, a hand crossbow aimed at Kazmere's chest. "That code is compromised; it's a gamble to keep using it." Her gaze shifted to Savere. "Oh."

Savere managed a meek smile. "Hey, Sera."

Sera's expression tensed. A fire lit in her eyes. She aimed the crossbow at Savere.

Kazmere stepped in between them and blocked the crossbow with his right hand. "Can we walk inside, please?" He offered Sera a disarming smile, and she rolled her eyes before relenting and stepping inside.

"Thank you," Savere said, her voice soft.

He grunted in reply, unsure what to do with her or how to feel about her. Kazmere's attention turned to Zavan, who was seated near the fireplace.

Zavan leapt up, his mouth slightly agape. Moisture glistened at the corners of his eyes. "Kazmere... I'm so happy to see you alive. I didn't think I would see you again."

Kazmere gathered him into a hug. "Don't worry, young man. We will get justice for what was done to us." He could see Sera standing off to the side, smiling.

Zavan backed up, full of excitement. "So where have you be–"

He'd finally noticed Savere.

Pure excitement melted away into anger. "What is she doing here?"

Kazmere asked, "What do you know–"

"I filled him in," Sera interjected.

"What is she doing here?" repeated Zavan.

"I'm kind of wondering the same thing," Sera added.

Savere just remained quiet, looking at Kazmere.

"Alright guys, just give me two seconds to explain."

Zavan took a seat, arms crossed, his expression skeptical. Sera's eyebrow was raised, a clear sign of disapproval.

Kazmere removed his cloak and draped it over a desk, the weight of the concealed knives producing a solid thud. He turned around and faced them. "Savere has been hiding the fact that she's had a family this whole time."

Both Sera and Zavan had faces full of confusion.

"I'm still confused why we're keeping a woman full of secrets around us?" asked Sera.

"I'm sorry Se–" Savere started to say.

Sera put up a hand and stared straight into Savere's eyes. "I don't want to hear another word from you in my direction."

Savere nodded.

"As I was saying," Kazmere continued. He'd known this was going to be a hard sell. To Sera most of all. "Her family is being held in Fort Givo under threat of torture if she didn't sell us out." Savere winced.

"What does that have to do with us?" Zavan asked. Sera nodded her approval.

"Well, here's the thing. She's visited there over the past few months and knows the layout. It's notoriously confusing in there I've heard for years now. She claims there are dozens of Foundlings prisoners there too."

Sera just stared back at him, saying nothing. Zavan jumped up and started pacing with his thumb pressed against the bottom of his chin.

Kazmere raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you think?"

Savere said, "Can I–"

"No," Sera said, then looked back at Kazmere. "Knowing you, you want to break in there and free the Foundlings? Am I right?"

Kazmere scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Yeah, pretty much."

Sera let out a sigh. "So what's the plan?"

Kazmere was surprised. He'd expected much more pushback from her. Even Savere looked surprised.

Sera noticed their expressions. "What? You're going to go no matter what I say." She smiled. "I would love to save everyone we can too."

"Count me in," said Zavan with a smile.

Kazmere smiled back at them both. Having them back was healing him in a way he couldn't describe. The possibility of getting more of his comrades back was starting to grow the seed of hope within him. With his abilities, Sera's planning, Savere's knowledge, and Zavan's enthusiasm – saving everyone felt possible.

The happy moment faded as he thought about Savere and what he'd have to do if they succeeded. Could he bring himself to kill her? The want to kill her was diminishing with each passing hour around her. The other Foundlings would want her dead for her crimes, not to mention Sera and Zavan. Duty might force him to.

He forced his mind clear. Cross that bridge once you get to it.

Zavan pointed at Savere. "What do we do about her in the mean time. I don't feel comfortable her knowing all our plans."

A valid concern.

"Good point. Zavan, take her to the other room and close the door. Just watch her, I promise I will fill you in on everything after."

Zavan opened his mouth to say something.

"Just please do this for me. We need someone we can trust to make sure she doesn't hear anything important. Here." He reached into his cloak and grabbed one of his blood knives, then held it out to Zavan.

Zavan cradled the dagger like it was an ancient artifact. "One of your blood daggers." He tightened his grip on the hilt. "I won't let you down, boss."

"Is this necessary?" asked Savere.

"We don't trust you. Yes, it's necessary," replied Sera coldly.

Savere sighed and followed Zavan into the other room. The young Foundling closed the door.

"What were you thinking bringing her here?" demanded Sera, keeping her voice low.

"I had no other choice. Couldn't communicate with you guys about everything and keep an eye on her."

Sera sighed. "That's fair. But what are we going to do with her? Knowing the number of lives her selfishness has cost just–" She swallowed back tears. "The sight of her makes me sick. I've never felt so much hate in my heart toward someone. Not even the king."

He walked up to her, put a hand on both arms and stared into her deep blue eyes. " I'm sorry you're carrying that weight. I would never want that for you. If it's worth anything, I'm carrying it with you."

She leaned into him and he held her for a moment. A soft moment of respite from the world's troubles. His love for her blossomed in his chest.

The desire to tell her how he felt was blocked from leaving his lips. What if he didn't survive the coming days? What if she didn't? On one hand, that was the perfect reason to tell her. On the other hand, he didn't think he could inflict more disappointment on her or himself. He didn't even know if she felt the same way anymore.

Sera looked up at him and smiled. "Are you okay?"

"I was just thinking about the day we met," he lied.

She scoffed and backed up a bit. "I thought you were such an asshole at first." A coy smile played on her lips. "I wasn't wrong though."

He chuckled and pulled her close again. She let him.

"You used to go to the market in the Fourth Division with your dad. I would see you there all the time when I would steal from the vendors."

She laughed. "Remember that time you stole rugs from the Varuk. You rode them down Cater's Hill. My parents told me never to see you after that."

"You probably should have listened to them."

"Probably." She leaned in close, her ear against his chest.

He touched her ponytail. "You used to wear your hair in two pigtails back then. Not the more serious one ponytail you wear now."

"Yeah, I've grown up in more ways than one through these years. Especially the last year."

"You and me both." He put her at arm's length. "We can do this. We're going to save them and rebuild the Foundlings. You and me, we can do anything together."

Sera nodded once and smiled. "Me and you can do anything together."

Her eyes looked behind him and widened. She pulled a dagger from her belt in a flash.

The door behind him closed.

"Am I interrupting a private moment?"

That voice. The voice from the door in the Skyprison.

Kazmere instinctively tried to link with his Relic but realized it was across the room on the desk. He turned and saw the same cloaked figure from the other night. The last time, the darkness had made it impossible to see who he was talking to. But he could make out distinct features now.

The hooded figure wore a white mask that had a frowning face displayed. She stood casually – as if she was visiting old friends. On the edges of the mask, he could make out wisps of long black hair.

"What are you doing here?" Kazmere asked.

Sera looked at him with confusion.

"I've come to collect on what I asked for. I've been keeping tabs on you. You're up to something and I've come to find out what."

"Who is this Kaz?" asked Sera, her dagger still gripped in her hand.

Before he could say anything, the masked woman answered. "I've been helping Kaz here for a while now. I'm the one who helped him escape the Skyprison after all."

Fuck.

"What is she talking about?" Sera asked, her eyes flicking between them.

Kazmere rushed to explain. "She had my Relic returned to me in the Skyprison. She visited here a few nights ago demanding answers about who sold us out to the king and if Ansel killed the Queen."

Sera gave him a look. One that let him know he wasn't off the hook yet but she turned her attention to the masked woman. "What do you gain by knowing any of this information?"

The masked woman tsked in approval. "She's a smart one, isn't she?"

"Answer the question," Kazmere said.

Zavan opened the door and jumped with surprise. "Who the hell is she?"

The hooded woman saw Savere standing behind Zavan in the room and took a step back.

"What is she doing here?"

Kazmere didn't care who knew. "She's the one you're asking about. The one who sold us out to the king."

The masked woman appeared shocked. "So if she's the one, then that means..." she said under her breath.

Kazmere took a step forward. "What do you know? Help me understand."

The masked figure pondered for a moment. "This information gives me much to think about. Since you have given me something to share with my friends, I will share something with you. I eavesdropped when I first arrived and heard you mention Fort Givo. That there are Foundlings trapped there. I would stay away from there. Jormac Sundry, one of the members of the Viberium Council, is said to be residing there. You don't want to meet him, trust me."

Kazmere locked eyes with Sera. Evident on her features were concern and fear. They might have to go up against a well-trained Viberium Council member. This made things much more complicated.

"Kazmere can take on anyone, even a Vibrant. Right Kaz?" asked Zavan.

The masked woman chuckled. "It's hard to stick a knife in an illusion. That illusion might just be one of your friends."

"You love to speak in riddles. Are you saying illusions are Jormac's powers?" asked Sera.

"Yes. He can bind illusions to objects and people. Make you see whatever he wants you to for as long as he wants you to. As long as he, or an object he's invested his power into touches you. If you get caught in one of his illusions, it's over for you."

"Do you know what his Relic is?" asked Kazmere.

"No, I don't unfortunately. Well, I've gotten everything I need from this. Don't die in there. We need you still." The hooded figure turned to leave.

Kazmere took a step after her. "Why are you helping us?"

She looked back and just stood there for a moment in silence.

"Everything you are worried about is a single leaf in the storm compared to what's really going on." With that, she left.

Kazmere scratched his forehead at that.

Sera ran to the door and opened it to an empty hallway. "We should follow her. We don't know who she's reporting any of that information to."

Kazmere sat down in his red chair and leaned back, exhaustion seeping in. "It doesn't matter. She disappears in a heartbeat every time. She'll be back, don't worry."

Sera stood over him with both hands planted on her hips. Her blue eyes softened. "Why didn't you tell me? We aren't supposed to keep secrets you and I."

"I'm sorry Sera. I didn't want to worry you with anything more. I know it was stupid. Can you forgive me?" He reached for her hand.

Sera's disappointment and hurt were palpable as she left the room.

"By the Divines, I'm an idiot," he muttered. He put his head into his hands.

Zavan put a hand on his shoulder. "She'll come around. C'mon, let's plan this prison break. You've done it before, you can do it again."

His positivity uplifted Kazmere and made him stand.

"You're right, let's do this."