Merle stalked by the window looking down at the world below. The feathers drifted across the floor as he paced. The king of Euphoria slumped in a pool of his own blood. I wasn't able to process this, terror filling my entire being.

Merle turned his head dully, "I was hoping to kill you before you realized your place in all this." He huffed, mulling over something.

"It all was a lot simpler when the murder attempts were one sided."

I tried to speak, an indiscernible squeak was all that came out. He smirked, walking closer "Sorry, go ahead speak." He offered, something loosening in the force locking me in place.

"Please…" my voice croaked out. "...If you're gonna do this... let, let…the others go." I cried, biting back the welling anger inside me.

Merle nodded, "I have no intention of killing your friends, thief. I'm not even going to kill you." He looked back towards the window.

I furrowed my brow, "You're not?" I spat out confused. He laughed, a laugh reminiscent of a crow. "No, not yet." He put his blade back in Its sheath.

"Trust me It's tempting but I can't put everything I worked for in jeopardy."

I gawked at him, "But how does my death do that?" I hissed back.

He raised his eyebrows, "Do you want to die Wanderer? Don't ask stupid questions." The light from the window making his feathers shimmer.

"Believe it or not but I have bigger things to worry about than you." He muttered. I blinked against the slow motion. Was he talking about the Remedy?

"Order is everything. I can't get distracted by little pests." He said determined, shifting his posture.

"I won't let you do this." I growled back. Merle snickered, turning back towards me.

"Try and stop me, no really it will be fun. I've already killed one king and I'm about to kill three more." His beak twisted into a sinister grin.

"Come and chase after me, Wanderer. Watch as they fall. Then when it is all over I will come for you and we will see whose demise is really approaching." He smirked, with a melodious tone. An anger building up inside me.

"Yes we will see! I have the prophecy on my side." I roared, finding my voice more easily.

Merle tilted his head, "Yes...but we all think to some degree that the prophecy is on our side. Everyone is quick to own it. Prophecies are fickle, not so straightforward." His expression grew grim, "The cards will fall where they may. I am ready for them."

My heart failed, dropping to my stomach. He was so sure of himself. His grin widened as he headed to the doorway. Merle lingered for a moment, locking his gaze, "I'll see you soon Wanderer, if you're brave enough to follow."

The world collapsed back into its rhythm. I took a gasp of air, my lungs moving normally in time again. Broc jumped from his hiding spot, sword swinging. He let out a frustrated cry. The king, dead on the floor.

I fell to my knees, wiping the tear streaks from off my face. Luca stood silently behind me. An angry silence, he stared off with clenched fists.

"He's going for the next king." I muttered, finding my sense of composure.

"But which one?" Broc asked, his eyes darting back to Euphoria's dead king.

"Manic." Luca echoed coldly. "It's the next one to fall in the prophecy. He’s going in order."

I nodded, "We have to stop him." I said getting to my feet.

"Wait Phyn." Broc advised, his expression a bit shaky, "Think this through." I turned with a frown, "What's there to think through, he's not going to stop."

My words were steady, inside I was shaking. Luca stepped forward from behind me. "Phyn's right we have to follow." He stated, throwing his pack back on.

"But how will you even stop him? We couldn't even touch him." Broc cautioned, a slight tremor in his eyes. "We'll improvise." Luca stated, heading for the door.

"But what about the king? Are we just going to leave him here?" He called, following me and Luca.

"It's too late for him now." I muttered, looking back at his body. "They'll blame us for this." I looked back, before exiting.

No sign of Denver, just the lower guards. They watched us walk out, subtly taking note. We needed to get out of here quickly. We skirted past them, trying to avoid suspicion, and made our way back into the hall.

"We need to find the others and get out." Luca concluded, quickening his pace.

Someone was on the ground at the end of the hall. His blond hair messy, and a bell in hand. "Diggery!" My heart was pounding. I ran to him, rushing to his side I lifted his head up. He groaned as I did, rubbing his head. A sour frown across his face. I sighed in relief as he sheepishly sat up. He was alright.

"He just snuck up on me." Diggery muttered, his bright green eyes catching mine. "Are you good?" I asked, waiting for a proper answer. Diggery nodded, "Ya, mostly just got the wind knocked out of me."

He looked up at me with flirtatious eyes, "I'd be good as new if you kissed it better." I felt my face grow red. "I-"

My voice cut off, flustered. He laughed at me and I rolled my eyes, helping him up.

"I think you're already good Diggery." I muttered, catching Luca right behind me. Shoot. Had he heard all that? I hoped not.

"Did we get him?" Diggery asked, his eyes brightening in hope. I shook my head.

"The king is dead," Luca said dully. I hung my head at my failure. Broc catching up, he stopped behind us. Diggery gave a sad nod, "That's unfortunate." He concluded.

He kept my hand, "At least you're still okay." Diggery said, looking dotingly into my eyes. I gave him a nervous smile and I let go. Refusing to look back at Luca. I didn't want to see his reaction. "He's headed to Manic, he's going to kill their queen next." I explained, changing the subject.

"What's this guy's problem with monarchs?" Diggery snorted, dusting himself off.

"It's something to do with the prophecy I think." I cautiously looked back to Luca for confirmation. Back to that serious, unreadable expression. My heart sank.

"The blood of four will end the war." Emery's voice echoed as she came around the corner. It was the line from her poem.

"What war?" Diggery scrunched up his face. "The great war is already over." He added.

Emery leaned against her staff. "Yes but that isn't the war it speaks of. Do you remember the next line in the poem Wanderer?" She asked me.

"Our nature we won't defeat." I answered, looking for her to explain.

"It's not a political war."

She turned back towards the corner. "Come on, we have to grab Ari and go. We don't have time to overanalyze this." She shifted the topic, the rest of us following after her.

"Lead the way." Broc said, catching up to her pace.

Luca looked over at me troubled, like he ate something sour. "What’s wrong Luca?" I asked, trying to catch his eyes. "Nothing." He muttered, looking up briefly. "We just have to keep focused." I didn't know what to say. I bit my lip, looking away.

"How come Ari isn't with you?" Broc asked Emery as we bounded down the hall. "Well if you hadn't noticed he's a bit of a handful." She bit back in a growl. He shot her a glare. Emery rolled her eyes, "He got distracted by something and has been in a tangent ever since." She explained pausing at the door.

"I managed to shut him in here." She said, turning the door open. As it swung I caught sight of Ari standing in the middle of the room. A panicked look in his eyes he was scattered, pacing tensely, "THERE GOING TO FIND OUT." He called, "THEY'RE GOING TO STOP ME." He shouted, his hands shaking. "I SHOULD'VE NEVER!" He concluded with wide eyes. "THEY WON'T...forgive." Ari paused, blinking at us.

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"Ari." I cautiously approached, "Do you know where you are? What we're doing here?" I held up my hands defensively. He was much more agitated than earlier. A bead of sweat dripping down his forehead, he shook his head.

"I CAN'T KEEP MY THOUGHTS STRAIGHTENED." He boomed, gripping the sides of his head. I took his hands pulling them down from his head.

"That's alright Ari I can help you." I stared at him, making him look back at me. "Remember what I said when we walked in here? We do this together." I gave him a smile, his breathing slowing. He looked saddened by something still, although a lot less frantic.

"It doesn't remove the shame." Ari's voice came out quiet.

"What?" I asked, trying to get more out of him. He just stared at me blankly. I didn't have time for this.

"We have to go to Ari. Are you good to leave?" I studied him, hoping he'd stay calm. He nodded, still visibly confused. I hoped that leaving this place would fix that. Euphoria was messing with his head. I looked back to the others, watching intently.

"Let's get out of here." Emery muttered, stepping forward. I darted my eyes between everyone. "Everyone take a hand. We should move fast." I suggested, holding out my own hands.

"Stop! Escape is futile!" A voice from behind the door roared. Not now. Emery and Broc jumped back in a combative stance as the door burst open. Diggery stumbled further into the room. Wide eyed, he backed away from the commotion. Luca quickly jumped to my side, my heart skipping a beat.

Ari tilted his head in a frown, as Denver stood with scowl and a score of guards. They marched into the room, standing ready in formation.

"I should've known better than to let such criminal scum into the presence of my King! You will pay dearly for such a crime!" He hissed, his eyes lit up in fire.

"We didn't kill your king." I growled, ready to argue.

"Phyn." Emery clenched her fists. I nodded, we were clearly outnumbered and not very convincing.

I grabbed Ari's hand, Luca grabbing mine. Emery jumped back, finding Diggery's hand, pulling him closer to the center. A chaotic, frantic speed. Broc stepped back, putting his hand in the mess of connections.

The guards closing in, I focused on my pounding heart, letting the beat take me deeper. Finding the pulse, I glared up at Denver, before shutting my eyes. Remembering the hot sun of Manic I slipped into the pulse. The beat pushing me closer to that feeling. In an instant I was blinking up at that very same sun. Standing before Manic's grand palace, inside the courtyard walls, a mess of arms.

"Round two." I muttered staring up at the beige towers caught up with spiral patterned domes, bright purple and deep green. Absolutely breathtaking. A palace that rivaled Euphoria's.

"That was a close one." Diggery gave a nervous chuckle pulling himself out of the human knot. "No kidding." Broc snorted, stepping back himself. Emery brushed herself off in a huff. "Let's never do that again." She complained, pointing at the mess of arms we had created.

Ari stared out blankly at the sky, looking much calmer. It was good to see him less painked. Luca let go of my hand. I looked into his eyes, something aching in them. What was still bothering him? He put his hands in his pockets, looking beyond me at the palace. I frowned, staring back up at the palace.

"Let's go find the queen." I echoed, starting towards it before everyone else. I was brave enough to follow, brave or stupid enough. Merle's words were still bouncing around in my brain. I would try my best to not let him rattle me. We lost the element of surprise. Plan or no plan I was still coming. I wouldn't think too much about it, I didn't want to lose my nerve.

Ari ran past me, preoccupied with a bird he was chasing. Fortunately back to normal, normal for him.

Luca walked beside me, hands still in his pockets. Diggery ran up on my other side, matching my pace. Stuck between both of them. I hid the tension I felt. Broc and Emery walking behind us, we all kept a slower pace. The mood was lower, I could feel it.

"We'll get him this time." Diggery echoed, looking over at me hopefully. I wavered, "We'll try." I tightened my fists. I wasn't so sure. Merle's confident death glare, stopping me. I didn't know how to fight Merle, at least not how to win. I was fighting a losing battle.

"It’s not over yet" Luca loosened his posture, staring at the bright blue sky. "It always looks hopeless before things get better." he shrugged.

"We're going to do this." Diggery added, his green eyes shining for a moment. I gave him a half grin, turning my eyes back forward. Inside I was afraid that it wasn't true. I needed to strengthen my resolve. I tapped into the cold dull grief in the pit of my stomach. I had to hate Merle, I had to feed that hatred. I needed to be as sure as him and just as ruthless. If I was going to overcome it I had to embrace that pain. I would let it drive me forward, give me the nerve to put a knife in his heart. I had to do it.

"Do you have another knife?" I asked, looking back to Broc or Emery. Broc frowned, eyeing me suspiciously. I settled my eyes on him.

"Yes...but why?" He asked. I blinked apathetically, "I still want to use the crossbow but just in case, I think I should have another weapon." Broc nodded, pausing before pulling out a black-handled blade.

"Don't use this rashly." He advised, putting it in my hand. I nodded, "I won't." I said staring at it, it held good weight. I slipped it in my bag, "Thank you Broc." I turned back forward.

Everyone but Emery was looking at me with concern. I needed to be prepared for anything, I didn't really have time to worry about what they were thinking. A knife was better than a pep talk.

Already within the courtyard walls, we approached one of the side entrances. Broc paused at the entrance, "I can help us around any security. I am very familiar with the protocol here."

"That would make things easier." I nodded in agreement.

"Perks of the old job." Broc chuckled. I laughed with him, looking back at Emery. Her expression was colder than usual.

I waited for her, "Is everything okay Emery?" She grinned at my concern, "Yes Phyn, It’s fine." She kept her fake smile, "I've realized what I must do." Her eyes looked distant.

"What do you mean?" I returned. She widened her grin, "Now Phyn I've answered more than enough of your questions. I'm entitled to my privacy."

I frowned, turning my eyes back forward. I knew better than to push it.

"It's better you don't know yet, better for everyone." She remarked quietly, sending shivers down my spine. I didn't know what that could mean?

Diggery and Luca walked silently up ahead. Emery studied them, turning back to me. She took a deep breath, "You're not being fair to Diggery." the tone in her voice changed. I frowned, I didn't know how to respond, "I don't know what to do. I don't feel-"

Emery shook her head, "No, I'm not saying you should give him a chance I'm saying you should tell him the truth." Emery made me look her in the eye.

"He's a good kid with a good heart but you and the Dreamer are connected in a way that he will never be to you. Don't give him false hope." She advised, not slowing her pace. "Not that this is your biggest concern right now but it needs to be said."

"I know…" I muttered reluctantly, dreading it. I was afraid I would lose Diggery.

"Take everything in stride, yes?" She smirked. "Yes." I echoed dully.

The walls covered in colorful floral patterns twisting down the hall, we followed them. Almost hypnotizing, the pattern weaved. Broc kept us walking at a fast pace.

We passed a painting down the hall. A blue sea with a sunlit horizon. I briefly glanced at it, Emery stopped in her tracks. She stared at it, her hands shaking. I stopped, looking back. The fear leaked out of her eyes. I stared at the painting, a black spot over the sun. A different kind of paint than the picture. Just like in Euphoria.

Emery took a quick breath and kept walking, "Stop gawking Phyn." She muttered, her expression particularly sour. I wondered what all this was about. She was shaken.

Broc cautiously looking around the corners. He led us, darting down different corridors, down and up staircases till we reached a particular door.

"Is she in there?" I asked, looking for confirmation. "Yes." Emery concluded.

Broc looked uneasy, "I'll warn you now, she's nothing short of moody." He gave the door a light knock.

"Come in." A woman's voice called through the door. Broc hissed out a sigh, opening the door. A sliver of dread in his eyes. I peered into the room, a room of elegant white decor, dotted with gold, green, and purple. Broc walked in confidently. I sheepishly slipped in, Luca, Diggery, and Emery following right after. Ari stayed in the doorway, peeking in before deciding to stay outside.

A young woman lay on a couch, staring out at the open balcony view. Dressed in gold and white, she was strikingly beautiful. Beautiful dark hair, dark bronze skin, big honey colored eyes. She sat up, blinking in confusion, her expression turned to a smile.

"Broc…." She said rather flirtatiously, "It's always nice to see that handsome face of yours again, even if you are basically a traitor." She blinked her lashes.

"My queen." He bowed stiffly, ignoring her advance. I nearly snorted, Broc looked so uncomfortable.

She got to her feet, motioning for him to stand, "No need to be so formal. I'm technically not your queen anymore." She stated. Broc straightened his posture, "Nevertheless."

She smirked, standing more officially. "What brings you here, Broc son of Ulric, and in such a secretive fashion. You're not unwelcome per say." She tilted her head, flashing him that flirtatious look once more.

Broc's eyes grew serious, "Time is short. Someone is coming to kill you and we are trying to stop them."

The queen turned her nose up at us, "Oh is that all?" She crossed her arms.

"This is serious." Broc replied dryly. The queen shifted her posture, "I fear no assassin. I am no delicate flower." She hissed, pulling out a hidden blade in a sudden swoop. Broc pulled his own blocking her swing. I stepped back shocked. The queen smirked, lowering her weapon.

"Glad to see you still can anticipate me." Broc ignored her comment, "This threat can stop time. You won't be able to fight him."

The queen frowned, storing her blade back. "They warned me about him." She remarked carefully, showing no fear. "They also told me they could handle him so…"

Luca shook his head, "They can't, the king of Euphoria is already dead by his hand." She turned her head, her composure shaking, "I've heard of no such thing. You're wrong." She stated, almost desperately.

"I've seen it myself." Broc returned. She stepped back shaking her head.

I turned, seeing Emery step out into the hall. She pushed Ari back into the room, giving me a desperate look before disappearing. Diggery shrugged, turning his attention back to the conversation. Shivers crawling up my arm, something was wrong. I met Diggery's eyes again, communicating I was going to go after her.

I slipped out the door, tracing her steps. I was about to turn the corner when I heard her voice. "Hello, old friend." She echoed against the walls.

"Friend...an odd thing to call me. I don't think we were ever friendly, even when we were on the same side." A deep scratchy voice stopped my heart.

"Fair." She replied, "It was just a courtesy."

"Stay out of my way Emery." Merle growled.

"I can't do that." She said calmly. I shivered from behind the corner, too scared to look around it. "I don't have energy to waste on you." He returned coldly.

"You don't have energy to avenge Sol?" She spat back, fear in her voice. Merle didn't reply, but his footsteps stopped. Emery's voice broke, her tone shaky.

"I'm the one who killed him. I gave Sol a death sentence."