After leaving the underground bunker where Lilac Royalty was hiding, I went back home and sent my superiors a message. A risky move on my part, but I have put so many people away that knowing there is a possibility they are kept underground, tormented every day because of their power, makes me feel sick.

I should have made sure the people I have put behind bars have been freed; that way I wouldn't be in this situation.

Looking at my phone I hope my message wasn't too straightforward.

Chief - Amber Garcia has some valuable information I need. I'd like to request a meeting with her.

The situation I am in is heartbreaking. I don't know who to trust, where to go, what is real and what is the truth. I feel stuck, fear and remorse my only company as I fight to keep my head above the sea of water threatening to drown me. I want to cry, but I know that if I shed so much as one tear, I risk being thrown into jail myself.

Thinking back I should have known something wasn't right - agents mysteriously disappearing, the ghost cries underground, the lack of powered people in the prison on the seventh level - it all makes sense, yet either because I didn't want to tie it all together or because of my naivety I hadn't figured it out.

Lilac Royalty might be lying.

But would they? They don't know I am a policewoman, they believe I am one of them. So why would they lie? What would their motives be?

"Agent Aithne, it's nice to see you," A voice says, a woman stopping right in front of me. She has her hair tied back in a military bun, the same style I was taught to keep my hair in check before I decided to cut it shoulder length after my parents' death. Her brown eyes are covered by large sunglasses, big enough to also hide the majority of the scar that crosses from her left eyebrow to her cheekbone. As usual she is wearing a black police uniform, her name tag hidden from view. I always wondered why she did it, and when I asked she told me it was so that people didn't recognize her during her off duty hours - I have a feeling it has something to do with unlawful things.

Standing up from the bench, I nod, "Nice to see you too. Are we going to go and meet Amber Garcia? The information she has is urgent,".

She crosses her arms, both thick as a tree trunk and strong enough to break one, too. She might not be a powerful Caeli Lorem but for some reason she has some extremely strong Robur Flexuram, a strange combination but it works for her.

"What do you want to ask her?"

I knew she was going to ask that, so during my wait, I came up with a few ideas, but I only say the one I think she is most likely to be convinced by, "Because she knows who all the Lilac Royalty members are and based on what the vigilante group have told me, she also has intel on Black Demon,".

Black Demon is an evil association that was shut down a few years ago by the police but a few of the members got away and reformed elsewhere in the city. We have been chasing after them since they slipped through our hands, and I know Chief has some personal problems with them - one of the members who got away gave her the scar that covers half her face - so she will be more than willing to let me talk to Amber. Hopefully.

She seems to consider my words before replying, her voice cold with bitterness, "Let's go then. I'll take you to the faculty where she is being held - it appears Amber is too powerful to be held in the normal prison so they moved her to the secret prison,".

So that was how they hid the prison from sight - they lied.

Nodding, I try to hide my anger and follow her out of the park. The tenth level is beautiful, but the eleventh is even more incredible. It has natural light filtering through the many cracks on the twelfth level either because they still haven't built anything or because the richest people enjoy having glass floors and watching the poorer people below them, comparing them to a nest of ants. Level eleven has trees and flowers everywhere, a forest in the middle of the city, so unlike the dark slums beneath it, the few plants they might have are half-dead due to lack of water and light.

"So, where is the secret facility?" I ask as we move towards the lift, both of us showing our badge to the guard on duty who only nods in response, letting us pass.

Once we have walked far enough away from the crowd of people going down towards the lower levels, Chief answers, "Underground. It's the only way to keep everyone safe,".

Lilac Royalty might know the truth, then.

Once we reach the first level Chief shuffles me along more quickly. We walk over the Rialto Bridge where I had nearly died, passed the Chiesa de San Giacomo di Rialto, over the Becarie river and all the way to the Ca' Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art - a beautiful marble palace on the edge of the Grand Canal, it's interior intact. This is one of the last gems still standing and well-preserved down here, one of the only treasures that makes the rich from the higher levels come down and visit.

"In here?" I ask. If the secret prison truly is in here, I have to admit they were smart when hiding it, especially taking into account the number of people and students that come and visit it. But then again, it makes for a perfect cover; the police can come in and out as they please, bring Lorem or non-powered people and nobody would question it, thinking they must have touched one of the precious objects stored in the building.

"Yes,".

We enter the building through one of the arches, the glass barrier opening as Chief says something to the guard on duty. Walking in, I hold my breath, the beautiful scene I haven't seen since I was in school appearing before me. The intricate stone design on the floor is the same, but the many paintings hanging from the ceiling have changed.

"This way," Chief calls, walking ahead, "stop gawking, I know you like art, but this isn't the time,".

Training, that's when we got to know each other, when she took me under her wing and let me become part of her team. She never did tell me her real name though, always making me acknowledge her as Superior or Chief - I stuck with the latter.

Catching up, I try not to stare too much, instead focusing on my surroundings. If this is truly a testing facility then I will need to remember how to get in and out quickly.

Chief stops in a narrow passage, no people in sight. There is only one painting here, small roses decorating a large vase holding water, the detailing so intricate it looks real. Chief presses the top corner of the mark, the golden feature clicking.

The wall moves, revealing a hidden tunnel.

I don't dare ask any questions as Chief leads us down the steep stairs, turning a corner and finding a door similar to the one in Lilac Royalty's lair. These tunnels must have been connected or created by the same people for everything to be so similar.

I am nervous, my hair sticking up as I try to calm myself without letting my superior know I am scared. I never realized this section of Venice existed - scratch that, I never used to believe the tunnels underground were still usable - so being here is making me agitated. I have only ever been underground with Lilac Royalty, but here, I have a different feeling. I have the impression that the room is going to fall in on top of me, a claustrophobic sensation that only gets worse as I move further into the prison.

"Wait here," Chief tells me, leaving me standing in the grey room, no decorations or seats in sight. You can tell by the uneven surface of the ceiling and walls that whoever painted this room only went over the hidden rock underneath instead of covering up the irregularities with plaster and then painting over it.

The light is bright, too bright, but as I am called through to another room I am left blinded. Once I can see again I can distinguish a table with two chairs on either side, Ember - Amber - sitting on the chair furthest away from me. She looks tired and bruised - she must have put up a fight - and as she looks up I can tell there is anger and hatred in her eyes, but as they settle on me, there is also hurt. I have made my friend hurt.

"You have five minutes, agent Aithne. Inform me afterwards of your findings,".

There must be cameras and microphones, so I need to tread carefully.

"You told them my name," Amber states.

I nod, furrowing my brows as I try to think of a way to ask her what I need to without letting the people behind the fake mirrors know what I am up to. I hadn't thought I would get this far, not really, so being here has left me uncomfortably exposed.

"Has Black Demon ever laid a hand on you?".

CHAPTER SIXTEEN WORD COUNT: 1616

I honestly wasn't sure if I would be posting today because I am going through a bit of a rough patch. But anyway, I got it done! I hope you like it, and if you did, please leave a vote and comment your thoughts!

Question: Are you writing a book for the OpenNovellaChallenge? If so, promote yourself!

I mean if you are reading this then you must know I am writing one - well, two - so I don't think I need to go too in-depth here!