I BARELY COULD NOT keep up but the soldier on my back, holding my cuffed arms, kept pushing. Another soldier did the same to Maven, forcing himself on top of me. Arven followed us, making sure we couldn’t escape. His presence was like a heavy weight of darkness, dulling my senses. I could still see the halls around us, empty and out of sight of the nosy courtiers. But I don’t have the strength to care. Cal led the group, his shoulders tense and rigid as he resisted the urge to look back.

The sounds of gunfire, screams, and blood in the tunnel filled my mind. They are dead. We all die. This is all over.

I thought we would be moving downwards, marching down into the darkest cell in the world. Instead, Cal led us upstairs, into a room with no windows and no Sentinels. Our footsteps didn’t even echo when we entered—it was soundproof. No one could hear us. And that scared me more than gunshots, flames, or the pure raging fury of the king.

He stood in the center of the room, wearing his own golden armor and a crown on his head. His ceremonial sword hung at his side again, along with a gun he probably never used. It’s all part of the show. At least he looks suitable for his role.

The queen was also here, waiting for us wearing only a thin white dress. As soon as we entered, his eyes met mine and he forced his way into my thoughts like a dagger through flesh. I gasped, trying to clutch my head, but the handcuffs held me tight.

Everything flashed before my eyes again, from beginning to end. Will Train. Red Line. Kilorn. Riots, meetings, secret messages. Maven’s face swirled in the memory, making itself stand out amidst the chaos, but Elara pushed it aside. He doesn’t want to see what I remember about him . My brain screamed against the onslaught, jumping from one thought to another until my whole life, every kiss and every secret, was laid bare before it.

When he stopped, I felt dead. I want to die. At least I don’t have to wait too long.

“Leave us,” Elara said, her voice rough and sharp. The soldiers waited, looking at Cal. When he nodded, they were gone, leaving the room in a din of stomping boots. But Arven remained, his influence still oppressing me. As the thud of boots faded, the king allowed himself to exhale.

“My child?” He looks at Cal, and I can see the slight vibration in his fingers. But what might he fear, I am the same

never know. “I want to hear this from you.”

“They’ve been a part of this for a long time,” Cal muttered, barely able to get the words out. “Since he came here.”

“Both of them?” Tiberias turned his gaze away from Cal, to his forgotten son. He looked almost sad, his face twisted into a pained frown. His eyes wavered, reluctant to hold her gaze, but Maven glared back at him. He didn’t flinch . “You know about this, kid?”

Maven nodded. “I helped plan it.”

Tiberias staggered, as if his son’s words had been a physical attack. “And the shooting?”

“I choose the targets.” Cal closed his eyes, as if he could ward it all off.

Maven’s eyes shifted from his father, to Elara, who was standing nearby. They stared at each other, and for a moment, I thought Elara was entering Maven’s thoughts. With a jolt, I realized Elara didn’t want to do it. He couldn’t let himself see.

“You told me to find a cause to fight for, Father. And I did. Are you proud of me?”

But Tiberias turned himself towards me, roaring like a bear. “You did it! You poisoned him, you poisoned my son!” As tears rose in his eyes, I knew the king’s heart, however small or cold, had been broken. He loved Maven, in his own way. But it was too late for that . “You have taken my son from me!”

“You did it yourself,” I said through gritted teeth. “Maven has his own soul, and he believes in a different world, just like me. It was your son who changed me.”

“I don’t believe you. You must have tricked him somehow.”

“He’s not lying.”

Hearing Elara agree with me made me gasp. “Our son is always hungry for change.” His eyes stared

his son for a long time. Elara sounded scared. “He’s just a child, Tiberias.”

Save him, I screamed in my mind. He has to hear me. Must.

Beside me, Maven sighed, waiting for the possibility of disaster to come our way.

Tiberias looked at his feet, understanding the law better than anyone, but Cal was strong enough to look at his brother. I could see him remembering their life together. Fire and shadow. One cannot exist without the other.

After a long, hot, suffocating silence, the king placed his hand on Cal’s shoulder. His head shook back and forth, and tears ran down his cheeks into his beard.

“Children or not, Maven has killed. Together with this—this snake”—he pointed a trembling finger at me

—“he has committed a great crime against his own people. Towards myself , and to you. Against our throne.”

“Father—” Cal moved quickly, putting himself between the king and us. “He is your son. There must be another way.”

Tiberias froze, putting aside his father figure to become king again. He wiped his tears with a sweep of his hand. “When you wear my crown, you will understand.”

The queen’s eyes narrowed into tiny blue slits. His eyes, those eyes were the same as Maven’s.

“Fortunately, that will never happen,” said the queen dryly.

“What?” Tiberias turned to him but immediately stopped, his body frozen in place.

I’ve seen this before. In the arena, long ago, when the whisperer defeated the mighty arm. Elara even did it to me, turning me into a doll. Again, he played the strings.

“Elara, what are you doing?” the king hissed through gritted teeth.

Elara answered with words I couldn’t hear, speaking into the king’s head. He didn’t like Elara’s answer at all. “No!” he shouted while the queen forced herself to her knees with her whisper.

Cal tensed, his fists igniting the flames, but Elara held out her hand, stopping his actions instantly. He controls both.

Tiberias struggled, his teeth chattering, but unable to move an inch. He couldn’t even talk. “Elara. Arven—!”

But my old instructor didn’t move. Instead, he stood still, watching with delight. It seemed his loyalty lay not with the king, but with the queen.

The Queen saved us. For the sake of his son’s life, he will save us. We bet ourselves on alleged love

Cal to myself to change the world; instead we should focus on the queen. I wanted to laugh, to smile, but something in Cal’s expression prevented relief from coming over me.

“Julian warned me,” Cal growled, still trying to break his hold. “At first I thought he was lying about you, about my mother, about what you did to him.”

Kneeling, the king roared. It was a heartbreaking sound, one I never wanted to hear again. “Coriane,” he groaned, staring at the floor. “Julian knows. Sara knows. You punished him for the truth.”

Beads of sweat dripped down Elara’s forehead. He couldn’t endure subduing kings and princes any longer.

“Elara, you have to get Maven out of here immediately,” I said to her. “Don’t worry about me, just protect him.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, Lightning Girl.” He grinned. “I’m not worried about you at all. Although your loyalty to my son is quite inspiring. Isn’t that right, Maven?” He glanced over his shoulder at his son, who was still handcuffed.

In response, Maven’s arms shot out, releasing the iron handcuffs with ease. The handcuffs melted from his wrists in a mass of hot iron, burning until they created holes in the floor. When Maven rose to his feet, I expected him to defend me, to save me as I had tried to save him. Then I realized Arven was still restraining me, and the familiar feeling of sparks and electricity

hasn’t appeared yet. He’s still holding me, even though he let Maven loose.

When Cal’s eyes met mine, I knew he understood more than I did. Everyone can betray anyone echoed louder and louder, until it roared in my ears like the roar of a hurricane.

“Maven?” I had to look up to see his face, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize him. He is still the same young man, the young man who comforted me, who kissed me, who strengthened me. My friend . More than my friend . But there was something wrong with him. Something has changed. “Maven, help me up.”

He twisted his shoulder joints, grinding his bones to get rid of the soreness. His movements were slow and odd, and when he stood up straight, hands on his hips, I felt as if I was seeing him for the first time. His eyes were so cold.

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“What?” I heard my voice as if it came from someone else. I sound like a little girl. I’m just a little girl.

Maven didn’t answer, but held my gaze. The boy I knew was still there, hiding, blinking behind his eyes. If only I could reach it —but Maven moved faster than me, pushing me away as I tried to reach him.

“CAPTAIN TYROS!” Cal roared, still able to talk. Elara hadn’t taken it away from him. But no one came running. Nobody can hear us. “CAPTAIN TYROS!” Cal shouted again,

begging for emptiness. “EVANGELINE! PTOLEMUS, ANYONE, HELP!”

Elara seemed calm enough to let him scream, enjoying the sound but Maven flinched. “Do we have to listen to this?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so,” he sighed, tilting his head. Cal’s body moved according to Elara’s thoughts, shifting to face his father.

Cal panicked, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

Under Cal’s body, the king’s face darkened. “Isn’t it obvious?”

I don’t understand at all. I shouldn’t be here. Julian is right. This is a game I don’t understand, a game I don’t know how to play . If only Julian were here right now, to explain, to help, to save me. But no one came.

“Maven, please.” I whined, trying to make him look at me. But he turned his back, focusing on his mother and the blood he betrayed. He is his mother’s son.

Elara doesn’t care that Maven is in my memories. He didn’t care that he was part of all this. He didn’t even look surprised. The answer turns out to be very simple. Because he already knows. Because Maven is his son. Because this was the plan all along . The thought pierced like a knife through skin, but the pain only made it more real.

“You’re taking advantage of me.”

Finally, Maven deigned to turn back to me. “Starting to understand, huh?”

“You choose the targets. Colonel, Reynald, Belicos, even Ptolemus—they are not enemies of the Barisan, they are your enemies.” I wanted to tear him apart, with lightning or not. I want to make him hurt.

I finally learned my lesson. Everyone can betray anyone.

“And this, this is just another plot. You pushed me into it, even though it was impossible, even though you knew Cal would never betray his father! You made me believe it. You made us all believe it.”

“It’s not my fault you were stupid enough to follow him,” he said. “Now the Red March is over.”

It was like getting a kick in the teeth. “They are your friends. They trust you .”

“They are a threat to my kingdom, and they are truly stupid,” Maven replied. He lowered his back, bending over me with a cruel smile. “Before.”

Elara laughed at his evil joke. “It’s very easy to slip yourself into their midst. All it takes is one sentimental servant. I will never understand how those morons could be such a threat.”

“You made me believe it,” I whispered again, remembering every lie he’d ever told me. “I thought you wanted to help us.” The words came out like a whimper. For a moment, Maven’s pale expression softened. But that didn’t last long.

“Stupid girl,” said Elara. “Your stupidity almost screwed us over. Using your own guards in their liberation, causing blackouts everywhere—do you really think I would be so stupid as to miss your trail?”

Numbly, I shook my head. “You let me do it. You know about all that.”

“Of course I know. How else do you think you could get that far? I had to cover your tracks, I had to protect you from anyone with enough sanity to see the signs,” he snarled, growling like a wild beast. “You have no idea the lengths I went to to protect you from harm.” Her face was flushed with passion, enjoying every moment of this. “But you are a Red, and like the others, you are doomed to destruction.”

Something crushed me, some memories became clear. I should have known, deep down, not to trust Maven. He was too perfect, too brave, too good. He turned his back on his people to join the Barisan. He pushed me towards Cal. He gave me exactly what I wanted, and it blindsided me.

Wanting to scream, wanting to cry, I let my eyes return to Elara. “You tell him what to say,” I whispered. He didn’t need to nod, but I knew I was right. “You know what I’m thinking inside here, and you know”—my head hurts, remembering the way he played in my mind—“you know exactly how to win me over.”

Nothing hurts more than the deadpan look on Maven’s face.

“Aren’t any of them true?”

When he shook his head, I knew that too was a lie.

“Not even Thomas?”

Youth on the battlefield, youth who died fighting for other people’s wars. His name was Thomas and I watched him die.

The name punched through his mask, cracking the veil of cold indifference, but it wasn’t enough. Maven dismissed the name and the pain it caused. “Just a young man died like the others. He means nothing.”

“He means a lot,” I whispered to myself.

“I think it’s time for you to say your goodbyes, Maven.” Elara interrupted, placing her white hand on her son’s shoulder. I had struck too close to her weak point, and Elara wouldn’t let me push any further.

“I have nothing to say.” Maven whispered, turning back to his father. His blue eyes wavered, taking in the crown, the sword, the armor, anything but his father’s face. “You never look at me. You never see me. Not when you have him .” He jerked his head towards Cal.

“You know that’s not true, Maven. You are my son . Nothing can change that. Not even him,” said Tiberias, throwing a glance at Elara. “Not even what he was going to do.”

“Honey, I didn’t do anything.” Elara chirped back. “But your favorite son”—she slapped Cal across the face—“the perfect heir”—she slapped him again, harder this time—“Coriane’s son.” Another slap drew blood, tearing Cal’s lip. “I can’t guarantee it.”

Thick silver blood dripped from Cal’s chin. Maven’s eyes were glued to the blood, and a quick disapproving frown crossed his features.

“We also have a son, Tibe,” whispered Elara, her voice hoarse with anger as she turned back to the king. “No matter what you feel about me, you should love him.”

“I do love him!” she shouted, struggling against Elara’s inner restraints. “I love her.”

I know what it feels like to be the one on the sidelines, standing in the shadows of others. But this kind of anger, with this cruel, devastating and terrible scene, was beyond my reason. Maven loved his father, his brother—how could he let Elara do this? How could he possibly want this?

But he remained motionless, watching, and I couldn’t find the words to make him move.

Nothing prepared me for what happened next, for what Elara forced her doll to do. Cal’s hands shook, reaching forward, pushing against the queen’s will. He tried to fight, struggled with all the strength he had, but it was in vain. This was a battle he didn’t know how to fight. When Cal’s hand gripped the sword

gold plated, pulling it from the holster at his father’s waist, the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Tears streamed down his face, evaporating on his burning skin.

“Not you,” Tiberias said, his eyes fixed on Cal’s poor face. The king did not even beg for his life. “I know it’s not you, kid. This is not your fault.”

No one deserves this. No one . In my mind, I reached for my lightning bolt, and it appeared. The lightning blasts Elara and Maven, saving the prince and king. But even that fantasy was tarnished. Farley is dead. Kilorn is dead. The revolution is over. Even in my dreams, I couldn’t fix that.

The sword was raised high into the air, shaking in Cal’s trembling fingers. The sword was only intended for ceremonial purposes but the blade was shiny, razor sharp. The steel reddened, warmed from Cal’s burning touch, and bits of the gold hilt melted between his fingers. Gold, silver, and iron, dripped from his hands like tears.

Maven studied the blade closely, carefully, because he was too afraid to see his father in his final moments. I thought you were brave. I was so wrong.

“Please.” Was all Cal could say, forcing the words out. “Please.”

There was no doubt in Elara’s eyes and no regrets. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. As the blade swung, cutting through air, flesh, and bone, Elara didn’t blink.

The king’s corpse landed with a thud, his head rolling before stopping several meters away. Blood

silver splashed onto the floor in a mirror-like puddle, touching Cal’s toes. He dropped the melted sword, letting it clatter against the stone, before falling to his knees, his head buried in his hands. The crown rolled along the floor, curling in blood, until it came to a stop near Maven’s feet, its pointed tips bright with silver splashes of blood.

When Elara screamed, moaned and approached the king’s body frantically, I almost laughed out loud at how absurd it all was. Has he changed his mind? Has he lost his sanity? Then I heard the click of the cameras being turned on, coming back to life. The cameras were sticking out of the walls, aiming right at the king’s body and what looked like the queen wailing for her husband. Maven screamed at her side, one hand on her mother’s shoulder.

“You killed him! You killed the king! You killed our father!” He screamed into Cal’s face. Only a hint of a mocking grin remained, and Cal somehow fought the urge to rip his brother’s head off. He was still in shock, unable to understand, not wanting to understand. But for once, I clearly understand.

The truth doesn’t matter. All that matters is what people believe. Julian had tried to teach me that before, and now I understood. They will believe these little scenes, beautiful plays with actors and lies. And no army or country would bow to a man who had killed his father to take the throne.

“Run, Cal!” I screamed, trying to revive him. “You have to run!”

Arven had let go of me, and the electric pulse was back, coursing through my veins like fire through ice. It was easy to break the iron, burn it with sparks until the handcuffs fell from my wrists. I know this feeling. I recognized the instinct that rose within me at this moment. Run. Run. Run.

I grabbed Cal’s shoulders, tried to pull him up, but the big fool didn’t move an inch. I gave him a small jolt, just to get his attention, before screaming again. “RUN!”

It was enough, and he struggled to his feet, nearly slipping in a pool of blood.

I thought Elara would fight me, force me to kill myself or Cal but she just kept screaming, acting in front of the camera. Maven stood by her side, both hands fanning the flames, ready to protect her mother. He didn’t even try to stop us.

“There is nowhere for you guys to run!” he shouted, but I was already running, dragging Cal behind me. “You are murderers, traitors, and you will face justice!”

Her voice, a voice I had once recognised, seemed to chase us through the doors and down the hall. The voices inside my head screamed along with him.

Stupid girl. Stupid girl. See the consequences of your hopes.

Then it was Cal who dragged me running, forcing me to keep up with his pace. Tears of anger, rage, and bitter sadness drowned my eyes, until I couldn’t

saw nothing but my hand in his. Where he went, I have no idea. I can only follow.

Footsteps thumped behind us, the familiar sound of boots. Officers, Sentinels, soldiers, they were all in pursuit, hunting us.

The floor beneath us slowly changed from the polished wood of the back halls to a maelstrom of marble—a banquet hall. Long tables set with a set of china blocked the view, but Cal cleared the displays away with a blast of fire. The smoke set off the alarm system, and water rained down on us, countering the flames. The water turned to steam as it hit Cal’s skin, enveloping him in a billowing white cloud. He looked like a ghost, hounded by life’s sudden upheaval, and I didn’t know how to calm him.

The world slowed down for me as the end of the banquet hall darkened with gray uniforms and black rifles. There’s nowhere for me to run anymore. I have to fight.

Lightning surged across my skin, begging to be released.

“No.” Cal’s voice sounded hollow, broken. He lowered his own hands, letting the flames recede. “We can’t possibly win this time.”

He’s right.

They surrounded us from many doors and hallways, and even the windows were crowded with uniformed officers. Hundreds of Peraks, armed to the teeth, prepared to kill. We’re trapped .

Cal’s gaze swept over the faces, his eyes focused on his soldiers. His own men. Seeing the way they stared back at him, glaring at him fiercely, I knew they had witnessed a horror orchestrated by Elara. Their loyalties had been broken, just like their generals. One of them, the captain, trembled as he looked at Cal. To my surprise, he kept his weapon at his side as he stepped forward.

“Submit to detention,” he said, his hands shaking. Cal’s gaze locked with his old friend, then nodded.

“We submit to detention, Captain Tyros.”

Run, every inch of me wants to scream. But this time, I can’t. Beside me, Cal looked just as devastated, his eyes reflecting a pain I couldn’t even begin to imagine. The wound cut deep into his soul.

He has also learned his lesson.[]