Tara walked to the door, heart thumping, wondering what time it was. “Who is it?”

“It’s Matt.”

Tara checked the deadbolt, wondering if the reinforcement arrays tattooed to it could withstand a “hero.” Matt was the alternate leader, in a sense. The dissidents were feeling the heat from Sara’s rule, and once she took a more moderate approach toward her, he became the voice of discontent. He was getting aggressive, and now he was knocking on her bedroom door in the middle of the night. It was extremely uncomfortable.

“Can’t we talk tomorrow?” she asked.

“No. I mean, yeah, we can. But we can’t talk openly.”

Tara’s heart thudded in her chest. It was a deep, muted thud like a drum covered in cloth before someone hit it hard with a mallet. Matt was conspiring, and while Tara didn’t like Sara and was seeking ways to get out of her situation, she wasn’t challenging Sara. If there was one thing that Tara and the other seven moderates shared, it was fear. Sara had the power of the future, political skill, and experience and was willing to kill them—something that she had proven. There was no way the moderates would challenge her. It was nothing short of suicide.

“I think you should go for now,” Tara whispered.

Matt scoffed on the other side of the door. “Would it be better if you came to my room? Or… fuck,” he said in frustration. “What do you want to do? Talk openly?”

“I’m not sure if I want to talk.”

“Yeah, figures.”

Tara could almost see the disappointment on his face, and she could imagine his wry smile.

“Whatever,” he said. “I’ll just talk to the others.”

Tara’s curiosity started burning, like an itch that a person knew they shouldn’t scratch but felt compelled to. And when he walked away, that itch got so unbearable that she unlocked the door and opened it, catching his back as he was leaving.

“I’m not going to say yes,” she said.

He turned around. “You might.”

Tara smiled wryly and looked down the hall. “Touch me, and I’ll kill you.”

Matt’s expression turned murderous. “Like I would.”

Tara’s frustration, annoyance, and fear blended together in a twisted mixing bowl, making her want to scream at him. But instead, she opened the door more. “Hurry up,” she said.

Matt came into the room and sat down, looking around her bedroom. It was filled with ornate jewelry, and she had the castle’s staff paint it burgundy and gold before filling it with blue and pink furniture for a posh, contemporary feel.

“This is… something.” He sat down in one of the chairs, stroking the strange fibers on the armrest. “What is this?”

“I don’t know,” Tara replied, sitting down. “It looks nice.”

“Oh….” He said, rolling his eyes almost contemptuously. She could tell he was trying to say, So you’re that type of woman. Marries a man and then forces him to buy drapes. It annoyed her. She could bet money that if she went into his room, it’d have bland walls with weapons hung on them. He seemed like that type of man.

“What do you want, Matt?”

Matt’s body stiffened, and the airs on his arms bristled. It was almost as if everything was just a fantasy until he was forced to speak it. “Prince Halter got in contact with me.”

Tara shot up. “You spoke to him?” She cupped her mouth and then lowered her voice. “Are you mad?!”

“Not him.” Matt looked at her, the door, and then her chair as if to communicate sit. “Calm down.”

Tara didn’t want to sit. She wanted him to leave. Things had gone too far. Things weren’t like they were when Mary was there, and King Escar was king. Defying Sara was defying the queen to her face. It was surprising that Sara hadn’t acted yet.

“Look, chill. It was through a guard. There’s spies.” He looked away. “Halter’s negotiating for us to join another kingdom. People could train us there. Give us resources—“

“That’s not the problem,” Tara said, speaking through her teeth. “The problem’s Sara. Didn’t you see that big fucking gash by the amphitheater? Do you think we’ll be able to do that?”

“We don’t have to,” Matt said. Do you think Sara could survive a 50-cal to her skull?”

“Get out.” Tara pointed to her door.

“I’m not talking about killing her,” Matt said, gripping his armrest. “I’m just saying that she’s a person. She’s not a god. It’d only take a diversion for—“

“Out,” Tara said.

Matt stood up. “Are you a child? This is seriou—“

“Say one more word, and I’ll report you.”

Matt shot forward to put his hands around her throat. He got close, almost touching her skin, but not quite. “Threaten me again, and I’ll—“

“Sara’s watching us,” Tara said, taking rapid breaths, feeling her heart rattle and crank in her chest like a sputtering machine. “And I swear to God, if you kill me, she’ll rip you apart limb by limb.”

Matt yanked his hand away. “You’re just a Stan like the rest of them.”

“No, I fear her,” Tara said. “That’s different.”

“Whatever,” Matt walked to the door and then paused. “She’s not immortal, Tara. She’s not a god. So stop treating her like one.” He fell silent and then spoke. “I’m going to tell people that I told you something. If everyone gets in trouble, they’ll know it was you.”

Tara’s legs turned to rubber when he closed the door, and she sat on the chair with a fearful expression. Things had suddenly gotten real—too real. She was in danger, and everyone else was, too. She needed to stop it, but….

If everyone gets in trouble, they’ll know it was you.

That line haunted her. Tara was their leader. She was the one who was railing against Sara. If she were to snitch on her people…. Tara grimaced, cupped her face in her hands, and cried.

2

Matt awoke the next morning with paranoia burning in his veins. He regretted telling Tara anything. Now, all he could think about was wishing he could kill her and get away with it because she was a liability. This is why people have to be careful about who they trust and the reason that no one should trust women. They’re far too emotional. Tara had bitched, pissed, and moaned non-stop about Sara ever since she forced Pretty Boy to go crazy, but when it came down to it, she was all bark and no bite.

The simple fact was that they were in danger—they were all in danger. Jason and Mary—Sara’s dissidents—befell accidents and coincidences that almost got them jailed. When they didn’t get imprisoned, Jason died, and Mary went missing. Brandon stood up against Sara, and he died, too. King Escar complained about Sara and tried to reign him in, but now he was on death row. Now, Sara was the fucking queen with the power to execute people just because she wanted to, and she was building an army. What was she going to do with the people who were talking shit about her?

That’s what Tara didn’t get—

—Matt knew he fucked up. If he could go back in time and keep his mouth shut, he would. Now, he was afraid because Sara was powerful, and he was stupid enough to talk shit about someone who was clearly in a different league and proved to be far more horrifying than he imagined. He fucked up, but the simple fact was that it was only a matter of time before Sara started getting rid of him and the other people that stood against her. They might as well be Jews in the Holocaust, sitting around and waiting to be stripped of their rights and die instead of trying to flee and seek asylum in another country. That’s just how it was, and he’d take his chances running far the fuck away from where they were.

Now, they had a perfect opportunity.

Halter doesn’t stand a chance, Matt had said to the guard who spoke for Prince Halter. She’s a nuclear bomb. Tell him to give up.

I’m not sure what a nuclear bomb is, but she’s not as powerful as she looks, the guard said. What would happen if she was in the north and armies attacked in the south?

Matt paused and thought about it.

She’d lose the south, the guard said. Then what would happen when she went to the south, and people attacked in the west? Do you understand? Wars can’t be fought with one person.

Matt thought about it. But what happens when she takes revenge? I don’t think you understand how powerful she is.

Lord Bower, do you think mana is infinite? the guard posed. Do you really believe that she could face hundreds of soldiers on all sides?

Matt was stumped when he got that question. Guns ran out of ammo eventually, and she was just one person.

In war, you divide and conquer, the guard said. When people attack, you retreat. When they retreat, you attack. You destroy their supply lines, communication networks, and support base. You lead their people to starvation and turn the populace against them. Lady Reece is immeasurably powerful, and the monarchs will take her seriously. Prince Halter will make sure of it. Once that happens, she’ll just be one person, Lord Bower. Things aren’t as unmanageable as you believe.

Matt swallowed. The argument was convincing, but he still wasn’t certain where he came into play. What about us? he asked.

You will have unlimited teachers and resources. We’ll build you up, wear Lady Reece down, and you can go in for the kill.

Matt felt excitement and anxiety blend within him, and that’s how he was dragged into this mess. Now that he was a liability, there was no backing out. He needed to move quickly and bring as many people as he could into the fold.

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Matt got ready and walked down to breakfast. All of Sara’s heroes were already eating large heaps of meat in front of them. They looked like Raul, scarfing down as much as possible to prepare themselves for the hell they’d go through with morning training. Just looking at them tearing meat off the bone with their teeth filled him with a sense of unease. They’re getting strong.

When Will and the others noticed them, they scoffed and looked away, talking to one another. Fuckers, he thought.

He got his food and sat down with his group, who were eating in absolute silence.

“How are things going?” he asked.

“How do you think?” Riley, one of Mary’s old friends, said. She was once really popular, sporting masterful makeup and hair that she straightened every morning. Now, she was a mid-looking brunette and was bitter about it. That made her abrasive and annoying, but lately, she started sounding reasonable. “It’s getting toxic here,” she said.

“Yeah,” Matt said. “How are music lessons, Tim?”

Tim, a once quiet kid who played violin, had been taking jenta lessons. It was a strange instrument with four strings. It sounded ambient, like a harp, but was played with a comb that hit each string three to five times, creating a wild beat. It was a complex instrument used like a bass and was really beautiful when used correctly. Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to learn.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Tim said bitterly.

“Dude, what’s up?” Matt said.

Tim gripped his fork. “My teacher keeps saying she’s busy, and when they talk to me, they’re nervous.”

Riley trembled in rage and took a deep breath. The others at the table did the same.

“Mine, too,” another said.

“This is fucked up,” Riley said. “She should just let us leave at this point.”

“She probably won’t let us,” Matt said. He watched them carefully, feeling out Tim and the other moderates. “We’re too strong. If we leave, we’ll just become enemies.”

“We’re not enemies!” Riley yelled. “Tim just wants to play music!”

The hall got silent. Matt looked around, expecting the slightest amount of sympathy from Sara’s heroes, but instead, they sneered.

“Then he shouldn’t have been a dick,” one of the female ‘heroes’ whispered.

“Fucking idiots,” another agreed.

Riley almost slammed the table and started a fight, but Matt grabbed her wrist and shook his head. “Not now,” he said. “Not… now.”

Her eyes widened, and she sat down, taking deep breaths.

“I fucking hate this place,” Tim said.

“Me too,” Matt said. “Trust me, I hate it as much as you do. But this isn’t the time.”

The others looked at him with a strange expression, hearing his tone. It wasn’t fatalistic. It was calm, rational, and confident. They picked up the message and stayed silent, knowing that the conversation was dangerous. Yet, everyone was reaching a breaking point. If they remained in Lemora, it would only get worse. They all knew it, and so Matt’s undertone was welcomed.

Matt turned to Helen to gauge her reaction. She sat next to Andy at the heroes' table despite being on the sidelines, and today, she was deathly still, looking at her plate. If Tara tells her…. He clenched his fists, kicking himself for telling Tara. Something needed to be done, and he had to act fast.

3

During practice that day, Helen approached Andy, feeling anxiety and pain ripping at her heart. She loved him, and she didn’t think Sara was a bad person. She believed that Sara genuinely meant well with her intentions as queen. The way she treated Andy and the heroes was really good, and she was fair. Moreover, Helen understood Sara’s position toward the dissidents. Mary’s people did nothing but complain about her for the better part of two years—she knew: she was one of them. It was also clear that some heroes were aggressive and had conspired in Sara’s downfall, openly celebrating and wishing for her to be executed. So yeah, teaching them was a liability, and Helen couldn’t imagine that she would teach such people after that.

But….

What was happening also wasn’t something that she could ignore. It was almost like…. Things had gotten worse abruptly in the last few days for Sara’s critics. A lot worse. The isolation had gotten a lot more extreme, teachers wouldn’t work with them, and sycounts weren’t training them anymore. When they went into the dining hall, they were shunned, and they weren’t able to leave the castle’s walls. It was like they were prisoners, and she could already see the historical parallels coming down like a guillotine. Soon, they’d be stripped of their titles completely, and in the worst-case scenario, Sara would shatter their mana cores and send them to live in the countryside—or worse. It was becoming tyrannical and extreme, and it just wasn’t… right. That’s what she had to address. That said, she was afraid that it would permanently cause a rift in her and Andy’s relationship.

It was harsh.

Helen approached Andy and the engineering team. They were over the river, half a football field from the water. They had cut down all the trees and were now using the area as a space to construct large rock walls with earth magic. After the walls were built, Darius drew and activated fortification arrays on them before they toppled them. It was a pre-built bridge. That said, moving the Goliath structure was a nearly impossible task, and it only worked for small rivers, which was a major problem that was keeping Andy up at night.

“Can I talk to you?” Helen asked nervously.

Andy turned to the engineering team. “Can it wait?”

Helen gulped. “Um. No.”

Andy took a deep breath. “Hey guys, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Darius grinned. “If she can walk when she gets back—“

“Fuck off.” Helen flipped him the bird, and Darius laughed, going back to constructing an array. It was blatant harassment, but Helen couldn’t help but smile—short-lived as it was.

Andy took her hand and led her into the forest. The ambient light through the trees cast a warm glow on his face, making Helen want to disregard the conversation and focus on the good in her life. Sara was treating her well. She was treating Andy well. Their lives were set, and soon, he’d have land where they could live a comfortable life and raise children. It was a good life…. Yet….

“What’s up?” Andy said, touching her shoulder.

“I….” Helen quivered and rubbed her arms, leaning against a tree for support. “I don’t want to cause problems, but….”

Andy frowned, and she could instantly tell that he knew what she was going to say—and didn’t like it.

“Helen….”

“Andy, just listen,” she said. “I’m not asking you to say anything. Just… listen.”

Andy took a deep breath, giving her that expression that said sure, but knowing that he wasn’t actually listening. No… that wasn’t fair. Andy was a good guy. He’d listen, and he often let her have her way, but right now….

“Can you… talk to Sara?” Helen asked. “Things are getting worse—“

“They’re getting worse, Helen,” Andy said sharply. It threw her off guard. “They’re showing up to practice, stealing everything we do, building up their power out of spite. They’ve done nothing but talk shit, and now they’re bitter that we’re not helping them.”

“Not all of them!” Helen shot back defensively. “Tim—“

“Oh, please,” he said. “Tim was talking shit this morning.“

“You would too if you couldn’t learn any more!”

“Sara gave me the chance to learn, and I accepted it with the rest of the people here,” Andy said harshly. “It was open to everyone. And unless you didn’t notice, Marie and Jacob didn’t sign up to be heroes and they’re not having any problems with their teachers. Why? Because they’re not trash-talking a queen.” He laughed. “A queen, Helen. Wake up. If they acted this way to King Escar….”

He paused, and Helen laughed. “Then what, Andy? What would he have done to them? Stripped them of their rights and jailed them?”

Andy swallowed, searching for words, but he knew it was true.

“That’s what’s going to happen, Andy,” Helen said. “And what’s their crime? Not liking her? Talking trash?” She bit back her emotions. “Look, if it was King Escar, that’s okay. But Sara’s not King Escar. We come from a civilized country. You can’t just—“

“Look, I’m done with this conversation,” Andy said. “I get it. I get what’s happening. But they’re digging their own graves.”

“You know what’s happening, and you’re okay with that?”

Andy looked away. “Look, Helen. If you know what’s going to happen, and you do it anyway, you’re an idiot.”

“If you know something’s wrong and you don’t sign up for it, it doesn’t make you evil. Would you be okay following Hitler’s orders?”

“Oh, so now she’s Hitler?” Andy laughed. “And what? You’re all Jews? Get over your persecution complex.”

Helen shook her head slowly, mouth hanging open. “Andy…. Are you lumping me in with them?”

Andy turned away, taking deep breaths. “You just called her Hitler,” he said. “Where else would you stand?”

“Andy…. Are you going to leave me because I don’t want people to get persecuted?”

Andy looked at her with shocked eyes. “What? Of course not!”

Helen didn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe it. After this… it was only a matter of time. She had to choose—standing up against persecution or Andy. That made it worse. That made it so much worse. Without knowing what else to do, Helen turned around—and ran, ignoring Andy’s distant pleas as she ran through the forest.