Daphne looked up from her conversation with some ASB girl. What was her name again? Something that ended with an -a. Probably.

She glanced around. Her sixth sense was tingling. Something was off.

“And honestly, the after-school programs are so overrated! It’s like they don’t even-”

“Why bother with reform? Let’s just get rid of it and replace it.” Daphne turned to the stunned girl. She patted her shoulder encouragingly. “You know you have my full support.”

With that, the queen excused herself from the conversation.

“Thank, thank you, Daphne!” The poor girl stuttered behind her.

Daphne’s eyes roamed across the party. Rowdy teenagers, plastic cups everywhere, and a general mess of chaos and not yet fully matured minds…

“Hey everybody! Kira’s gonna do a backflip into the pool!” The sound of rambunctious cheering followed. SPLASH! Silence. Then, even louder cheers.

Rex rolled her eyes playfully… just as she thought, stupid teenagers all around. She paused… Everything was normal. So, what was up with that unsettling feeling?

“Hey, Rex!”

Daphne’s eyes widened. She turned.

Ria stood at the bottom of the staircase. What was the girl doing there? Her arms were flat at her sides, but her eyes were angry and ferocious.

“What did you call me?” Daphne frowned at the dark glare that was being shot her way. What was her problem? Ria should be bowing at her feet, if anything. Daphne resisted the urge to sneer.

The other girl took a wobbly step towards her, unsteady on her short heels. Still, the hairs on the back of Daphne’s neck rose as Ria approached. There was something wrong with the girl. If she were any other person, Daphne would have stepped back. But she was Rex. And Rex was the supreme. The most powerful.

Ria took another step forward. The room had fallen silent. Even the others could sense the ongoing tension between the two girls.

With one stalking forward relentlessly and the other as unmoving as a mountain, it was inevitable that they soon stood face to face.

Daphne stared down at the other girl, reaching out for her arm. To her surprise, Ria let her take hold of it.

“Surprised to see me, Rex?” greeted Ria.

“What are you talking about, Ria?” The other girl let out a nervous laugh, eyes wide and confused as she looked around at all the eyes watching.

The nearby bystanders started to pity Daphne. The poor girl had just wanted to be nice but now Ria was spitting on her kindness! They glared at the nobody. It was only on account of Daphne and her order to leave Ria alone that no one butted in.

“I invited you, why would I be surprised to see you? Are you feeling all right?” Daphne gripped Ria’s arm, adding a bit of pressure. “I think you might be a bit confused.”

“Oh, I’m not confused. Rex. My mind is perfectly clear,” snapped the girl. Ria sneered, “You’re a liar, and I would punch you in your stupid face if I believed in violence.”

The room gasped.

Shocked, Daphne’s innocent facade cracked as she frowned, “Excuse me?” She lost her grip on Ria’s arm.

“You heard me, Daphne. And you might think you can fool everyone else, but I know the two sides of you.” Ria leaned in close, her breath ghosting Daphne’s. “Pull your men and puppet ministers out of Oceanport if you know what’s good for you. Otherwise, I can’t promise what will happen next.”

Daphne reached out, worriedly. “Ria, you’re acting really weird! Do you need a ride home? Kris! Kris, could you-”

Ria laughed, cutting off the other girl’s act. She shook her head. “You’re good, Daphne. Really good.”

The girl brushed past Daphne, a certain presence overtaking her. “I’ll walk myself out.”

“Why are you acting like this?” asked Daphne, stopping the other girl in her tracks. “I’m so confused, Ria. Are you mad at me or something?” Her voice cracked. “If there’s something you want to say to me, just say it!”

To everyone else, it looked like the queen bee was offering an olive branch to the pitiful lunatic. But there was something in the way the two stood that also made all the others keep silent. Ria was not cowering to the other girl, her back was straight and proud. Contrary to Daphne’s belief, their classmates weren’t stupid. They knew there was more to this power play than met the eye. Plus, it was exciting to see someone actually dare to challenge the queen of the school… even if they were bound to lose badly.

Daphne had the ghost of a smirk on her face as she watched Ria, challenging her.

“What could I possibly say to you?” asked Ria.

Daphne blinked, “Then what-”

“You’re so powerful Daphne and I’m just a nobody, right?” asked Ria.

Before Daphne could reply, Ria added, “But don’t forget,” Ria didn’t bother looking back. “The higher you climb, the harder you’ll fall.”

A stunned silence followed her words.

With her back turned Ria said, “Oh, and before I forget.” She smirked, patting Carmae in her pockets. “Scalae is an arrogant prick”

Satisfied, the crazy girl stomped away. Marcel’s eyes burned as she glared at Ria. As the girl passed, she stuck a foot out. Ria stumbled and her heels caught on her dress. Her flailing was the only thing that saved her from falling flat on her face. With that, the tense atmosphere broke. Their classmates nearby laughed. Marcel smirked.

Huffing, Ria took off the heels and chucked them behind. The smarter kids ducked while an unlucky soccer player got a shoe to the face.

He groaned as his classmates came to check on him. As if appearing out of thin air, Kris came forward and offered his iced can for the guy’s bruise.

The girl just got weirder and weirder. The group turned to see Daphne’s expression. To their surprise, the girl was pale as a sheet, her clenched fists shaking by her side.

A dripping-wet Kira wrapped in a towel stepped into the room. Her eyes followed a retreating Ria. Who was that, she wondered. Someone that could actually rattle Daphne? The gymnast had a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Daph, you good?” asked Kira.

But Daphne’s brain was frozen. What did Ria mean by her words? Part of her wanted to chase after the girl. Shake the annoying brat and demand what she meant, but common sense held her back. There were too many witnesses. Her nails dug into her hands painfully. Daphne scowled. She knew she shouldn’t have invited Ria!

Something was terribly wrong. Her sixth sense had been screaming it all along!

The most likely scenario was that the girl had suddenly gone on a power trip and was bluffing. But why would she mention Milror? How did she know about the puppet ministers? The girl talked as if she had a connection to Oceanport… but she couldn’t possibly have gone back since Carmae had been confiscated by Daphne!

And what was that comment about Scalae? How did Ria even know the name of Rex’s Sacred Piece?

The queen’s stomach dropped. Without a word, Daphne Mele sprinted up the stairs to the shock of all present.

The girl slammed open the door to her room. She shoved the closet out of the way and frantically slid open the hidden door.

Daphne let out a breath of relief. The locked box was still intact, sitting right where she left it.

Something loosened in her chest. So, it was just a bluff from a crazy girl. Daphne laughed. Since when did Lady Rex get rattled so easily? It must have been the stress of everything. After all, party planning was exhausting.

Daphne pressed her hands against her burning cheeks. To think, if Ria had regained her piece, how would Daphne have faced Queen Mother? Queen Mother, who secured Rex her power and held sway over the Temple of Admin? But it was fine. The box was intact. The piece was still within her grasp. Queen Mother’s power and loyalty were still hers.

Daphne sneered. She hated traitors. Time to take away her protection and teach Ria Regina a lesson. A dog that bit its savior’s hand would see just how hard life could get when that savior turned its back on them.

There was a reason people got on Daphne’s side.

Because getting on her bad side was not an option.

—

Eres curled her fingers around her glass. The red liquid swirled.

“The area has been cleared out and the Elite Guards are en-route, my lady,” announced the attendant. He kept his head low.

Eres nodded her approval. “Good.”

The queen glanced out at the snowy mountains in the distance. With this sacrifice, the future of the Citadel would be secured. Her hand tightened around the glass, knuckles whitening. It was all for the greater good.

The queen’s eyes caught sight of children playing in the streets. Their rosy cheeks were vibrant against the backdrop of the snow, making for an adorable sight as they pelted one another with snowballs. She wondered if the children in the mines ever got to play with- Eres paused cutting herself off from those thoughts.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

She fanned herself. Why was it so stuffy in here?

The woman got up. The attendant’s eyes widened as he hurried forward.

“Get me my hunting gear and prepare the shooting range,” Eres set down her glass and stormed out of the room.

—

Blaze took a long look around his cabin. The young man let out a forlorn sigh. He was going to miss the place.

He tossed the pack over his shoulder. If the safehouse was still in one piece after this, he would send some men to come retrieve his precious library.

Now, what to do with the mining problem and the whole sand dollar issue… He rubbed his brows. It could only be played by ear now. The thought didn’t bring as much comfort as it should have.

A whining noise and a gentle brush against his leg had Blaze glancing down. The dog barked once, wagging its tail eagerly.

A groan from the other room pulled their attention away.

The girl blinked blearily as she pushed herself up

“Oh my god, did it work?” Ria rubbed her eyes blearily.

“Did what work?”

The girl scrunched her nose. She glanced at the mob boss leaning against the doorway.

Ria blinked, “What are you doing here?” She shifted around on the bed, tossing the blankets off. “Where am I?”

“For someone who would have frozen to death without my help, you sure are rude,” noted Blaze. “Welcome to my former safe-house.”

Just like that, the memories returned to her.

Ria winced, “I just ruined your plan, didn’t I?”

Blaze shot her an unamused look. He said nothing and turned away.

Ria sniffed. Who was the rude one now?

A fluffy form barreled into her. Paws pressed up against her shoulders. The girl looked at the excited dog in shock. It was the hound from before! Hesitantly, when she sensed the animal meant no ill-will, she scratched behind its ears. The dog sat with a loud thump and nuzzled into the touch. Ria let out a laugh.

She caught sight of the flash of bandages on its hind leg. The girl glanced over at a Blaze who was resolutely looking out the window. Who knew the tough guy had a soft side?

“No need to thank me for carrying you all the way here.”

Ria froze, her hand dropped in her lap. “How long was I asleep?”

Blaze looked as if he wanted to roll his eyes at the change in topic, but held himself back. For a criminal, he was surprisingly snobby.

“Most of the night,” he answered.

Ria nodded silently.

It had only been a couple of hours! Today was the day of the extermination. She quickly dug into her pockets. Ria pulled out Carmae. It glistened in its chess-piece form. The Sacred Piece had kept its promise.

“Probably best not to flash that around,” noted the mob boss.

“Thanks for the advice but,” Ria clenched her fist around the Sacred Piece, “flashing it around is exactly what I’m planning on doing.”

She still remembered how Eres was able to out-maneuver her with the accusation that Ria was a false lunatic. While in the cells, Ria realized how unprepared she was for the position. Sure, she could run circles around high school math teachers, and binge numerous tv shows while doing homework for others, but when it came to politics and games… she was at a total loss. Ria tightened her grip around the chess piece. Still, Ria would be damned if she let them use the same trick against her twice.

The girl got to her feet and approached Blaze. “The reason you helped me was because you saw this, right? That time with Kris, I mean, Krios? And then again with the Recruiters?”

Blaze watched her impassively, neither confirming nor denying her words. “So, you finally got it back.”

Ria nodded glumly. “Funnily enough, this is the second time I’ve stolen it.”

First from Marcel, now from Daphne. What did that make Ria? A liar or a thief? Or both.

“Who cares?” Blaze tilted his head.

The words brought the girl out of her own thoughts.

Blaze shrugged, “However means you got it, Carmae is yours now. The Sacred Pieces are blessed by Admin, if it wanted to be free of you, it would be. Now, all that matters is what you’re going to do with it.”

Ria thought of Daisy and how the girl hadn’t been able to hold the piece. Her heart twinged at the memory while the other part of her refused to acknowledge the relief Blaze’s words brought her.

Ria settled for rolling her eyes. “You’re just saying that because you want insider knowledge for your business.”

Blaze crossed his arms and said unapologetically. “What’s so bad about that? Business is all that matters to me.”

To his surprise, the girl smirked deviously. “Oh, I know.” The back of his neck tingled with foreboding.

“My help doesn’t come cheap.” Blaze’s dark eyes gleamed. “Spit it out. What are you planning, Four?”

“Why so nervous?” teased Ria.

“You make me question everything and you’re the least predictable person I know, of course, I’m nervous when you’re smiling like a gremlin,” snapped Blaze, being brutally honest.

“Oh.” Ria rubbed her hands together eagerly. “Then, what do you say to a deal with a soon-to-be installed queen of Oceanport?”

The mob boss’ eyes narrowed but showed no other hint of his thoughts. “If that is to be the case, then I am open to hearing your offer.”

Ria smiled, “What I’m going to need is-”

GROWL!

The girl and mob boss looked at her guilty stomach. Ria’s face turned a bright shade of red. She laughed awkwardly. “Could we maybe discuss this over some breakfast?”

Blaze didn’t hold back in rolling his eyes this time. “I’ll add it to your tab.”

The hound barked happily.

—

The Elite Guard kicked at the unconscious body. It was one of the few guards that had been stationed to stay behind for the Extermination. He glanced back at his fellow elites.

The others gave a nod back. All thirty of the guards that had been left behind were knocked out.

Nikolai, the Gerenal of the Elite Guard, felt the goosebumps rise on his arms as his scowl grew darker. He had been part of the Elite Guards for twenty years but this was the first time he had come across such a bizarre sight. He calculated all the possibilities. Assassins. Terrorists. A spoilt lunch. He paused. The last one was unlikely.

The bodies were strewn all over the place. Some had bruises on their faces, others were facing down in the snow. The whole sight was a bit… disturbing. Nikolai brushed away the thought and motioned for his team to continue.

The twenty, armed men and women, the best warriors the Citadel had to offer, trod carefully in the snow. Despite their thick boots, they moved silently. Their eyes faced forward, never straying to take a second glance at their fellow unconscious guards.

The sun was starting to make its descent behind the mountain. All of the miners should be in their quarters.

Nikolai refused to let the uneasy feeling in his gut grow but his goosebumps refused to fade. He thought back to when he first heard Eres’ decree. Bishop Fiona had delivered the letter personally. It was the first time in Nikolai’s career that he questioned his orders publicly.

If the scar across his face and the hundreds of victorious missions he had under his belt didn’t give it away, let it be known that Nikolai was far from squeamish. He had served for two decades, under two queens. Of course, there had been a few nasty jobs in the past, all for the betterment of his kingdom and queen, of course… but to wipe out an entire section of miners? Miners who were innocent men, women, and children? It seemed too far. Nikolai had wondered what could possibly possess Eres to decree such a thing. It felt like a human sacrifice.

Perhaps it was because he was of the older generation that still remembered the days when the Citadel thrived off of trade and natural resources rather than Dust and kidnapped labor… but the mines and their ways had always seemed revolting to him. Nevertheless, he was duty-bound to serve his queen, an ancient law set by the founders of the Elite Guards. So, Nikolai merely pretended the mines didn’t exist. Despite protesting the Extermination, Nikolai still followed through with his orders.

The man stepped over another unconscious guard. His brow furrowed. Wasn’t that Marge? It was a bit hard to tell with her two front teeth missing.

The other elite guards stopped behind Nikolai. Before them was the entrance to the miner’s sleeping quarters. Nikolai took a deep breath. The winter snow made it a foggy puff of air.

This was it. The Extermination.

Nikolai motioned for his lieutenant to unlock the door. The woman hurried forward. She lifted her foot to kick it, but such an action was unnecessary as a gust of wind blew it open.

As the wooden door swung open, they stared at the broken lock inside.

Nikolai slid his sword out of its sheath and held it out in front of him. The other guards followed suit. The man took a tentative step into the room. It was completely empty.

Nikolai lowered the sword.

The man was silent for a long while.

His lieutenant coughed, “Uh, sir?” She slid her sword back into its sheath. “What do we do now?”

Nikolai let his sword hang at his side. “Looks like we were too late.”

The other guards observed the empty room. It truly was empty, even personal items were nowhere in sight. Add that with the unconscious guards outside… it was easy to guess what had happened. The miners had known somehow. This was no coincidence. It was a planned move.

“Hold up,” another elite guard held a hand in the air, “Are we supposed to believe that those Port-Dogs caused,” the young man glanced outside the door, “all that?”

Nikolai nodded grimly.

The man sniffed, “Then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go catch them!”

The lieutenant slapped the younger over the head. “Watch your words, Captain. Don’t forget who gives the orders around here.” Her words were firm, but she shot Nikolai an uneasy look when the General’s back was turned.

The older man approached an empty bunk. He knelt and picked up the straw doll under it. His team watched as their leader studied the makeshift toy.

Nikolai dropped it and got to his feet. The elite guard’s General sheathed his sword and turned to the others. “Search around the perimeters. They could be hiding nearby in an attempt to fool us. No one is to follow a trail on their own, report back to me immediately.”

“Yes sir,” came the unanimous reply.

The elite guards quickly set off. Only the lieutenant remained.

She shifted on her feet. “This looks planned, General. Even traveling by foot, those stupid dogs might be halfway to the gates by now.” She licked her lips. “Karlai might be right. We should try to chase after them instead of waste time here.”

“Are you disobeying orders?” Nikolai’s gruff voice was as sharp as the blade he wielded.

The lieutenant's eyes widened. “Of course not, sir!”

Nikolai crossed his arms, a dark expression on his face. “I have answered to Eres for twenty years. You have been under my command for two. Which of us do you believe is more capable to lead? To answer to our queen?” His sword glinted by his side. “There is no fault in being ambitious, but the elite guard will not harbor mutinous fools.”

The lieutenant quickly knelt. Her head lowered. “I was indeed foolish, I apologize for my words, sir. I spoke without thinking, it will not happen again.”

Nikolai studied the woman. He did not let her stand as he spoke. “Traveling by foot is no easy feat. It would be unwise to leave without searching the area first. Loathe as you may be to admitting it, those dogs know the caves to these mountains better than anyone.” Nikolai clasped his hands behind his back. “Now go help with the search. Let us not have this conversation again.”

“I understand, sir.” With that, the lieutenant got to their feet and hurried out. Once she was out of the General’s sight, a snarl covered her face.

Nikolai’s old eyes watched as the woman left. Once she was out of the door, his gaze returned to the doll. He sighed as he bent over to pick it up once more. The stern expression melted into one of sorrow.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. This extra bit of time was all he could do for them. It might not be enough but he hoped some of them would be able to escape.

The man pocketed the straw doll in his vest and headed for the door.

“The wolf-dogs are gone! By Admin, those Port-Dogs stole our wolf-dogs!” called a voice from outside.

Nikolai paused.

Niamh. Which one of the miners thought of that idea?

—

Finn sneezed. The boy brushed his nose with his sleeve. He turned to see the trail of people following behind. “Hurry, we’re almost there!”

“You said that an hour ago,” snapped Jerrel by his side. The older man clenched the sides of the dog sled tightly, knuckles as white as the snow.

Ironically enough, when the sleds had all been paired up, Finn and Jerrel had ended up on the same sled.

“It’s not like I’ve been here before,” Finn snapped back. The dogs he controlled yipped at the loud noise.

Jerrel opened his mouth to retort but was cut off.

“There’s the Sick Area!” called Derek behind them.

Finn and Jerrel shut up and stared.

Derek was right, the Sick Area was just ahead. The other miner’s jaws dropped. The large white tent stared back at them.

Finn looked around, his grip on the ropes tightened. Hope and fear tangled in his gut. They had made it… but what awaited them ahead?