Heartless by Rahma Ahmed

HEARTLESS
By Rahma Ahmed



HEARTLESS
By Rahma Ahmed



ONE


LOVE IS DEAD

AMOUR HATED NEW BEGINNINGS. Yet here she was starting a new life in
this horrid place. She was to start anew and keep her mother’s secrets buried in the towns they
lived in before.

In her sixteen years of life she had moved more times than she could count. They
were in a new home at least once a month. She hated moving but her mother always had the
best excuses and she never had anything else to do but to listen.

Omen was a strange place. Filled with people with strange names. But it was a small
town and everyone knew everybody.

This apartment was different, her mother had said. She had bought two that were
right next to each other, though Amour had no idea why she would need two.

But Amour didn’t question these things and plastered a smile.
None of this would ever feel like home anyway.
She didn’t know what a home was but she knew that this wasn’t it.
They had moved this time because her father had gotten a new job.
Her mother had been so happy to leave. But he was rarely home.
Amour wished that he was. Then he would see how their mother needed help. That
she wasn’t okay. That she was the reason that they had to move so many times. Trying to find
those who tainted their streets with their crime sprees. Her father was a detective and they had
taken him to solve their problems, though they knew he wouldn’t
What he didn’t know was that once they lived here, they couldn’t leave.
Her mother waved her over, so she sat down across from her. It had been awhile
since she talked to her mother one on one and she didn’t seem bothered. She never enjoyed
their chats, they were usually to cover up something she’d done. Amour was her alibi.

“Amour,” Her mother began though she paused and stared directly at her, his eyes
bearing into her soul. It sent a shiver down her spine.

“It’s pouring buckets outside,” her mother stated flatly. “Go bring your brother
inside before he catches a cold.”

Her mother waved her off and Amour sighed, getting up and out the door, tugging
on her rain jacket.

The rain was blinding, she couldn’t see what was ahead of her or if there was
someone behind her. The wind made it worse.

Amour didn’t like not knowing what was around her.
The people of Omen were completely against going outdoors on unlucky days. The
fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, thirteenth, and seventeenth.
Her mother didn’t believe any of it and sent Amour out anyway. But on all those
days, someone always went missing, someone was killed, someone was taunted and Amour
was yet to experience that
Amour opened the gate of the backyard of the apartment complex, looking around
for her brother.
“Art!” She called. “Come inside.”
Amour received no response, continuing to walk through the yard, catching no sight
of her brother. She huffed seeing that the gate that leads to the forest was open.
“Art!” Amour called once more. “You’re not supposed to go into the forest! Where
are you?”
Anour received no response once more, trudging through the first, her footsteps
leaving imprints in the soaked earth. She saw the shape of Art’s little footprints, following
them. They ended up at the entrance of a cave.

1

“Art,” Amour hissed, seeing her brother crouched down in the corner. He placed a
finger to his lips. Amour stood behind him, peering over the rock. “What?”

All he did was point.
In front of them was a boy, around her age, covered in blood. That sight of it made
Amour feel dizzy.
The boy fell to his knees, crumbling in a heap on the ground. Another boy laughed
as he pulled the knife out from his stomach, inspecting the blade. There wasn’t a drop of blood
on him, but he seemed to enjoy seeing the other boy in pain.
Amour felt faint, ducking back under the rock, pulling Art down with her.
She tried to steady her breathing, unsee what she had just seen but the damage had
been done.
Amour looked up once more, seeing that the boy was distracted in moving the
corpse. Amour ushered Art out, but the two froze when they heard the voice of the cloaked
boy.
“Going off so soon?” he asked with a maniac laugh, stepping toward them. Amour
instinctively pulled Art behind her. The boy stopped mere inches from her, reaching out with
his gloved hand, placing his fingers under her chin.
Her pink orbs stared into his orange ones. She raised her own hand, wrapping it
around his wrist and pushing his hand away. He chuckled, stepping back and wagging his
finger in her direction.
“Amour, Amour, Amour.” he tutted. Art’s grip on her arm slackened as he tiptoed
out the cave before going off in a sprint. To get help he informed Amour when she got home
that evening.
“Who are you?”
The unknown boy laughed, circling around Amour.
“Who am I?” the boy chuckled. “You don’t remember me?”
As far as Amour knew, she’d never met this dude in her life.
“Always wanting answers don’t you Amour?” he said. “I have many but I won’t tell
you..”
He pulled a knife out of his jacket, pressing it to her neck. Amour didn’t flinch, she
gave no reaction.
That was what he wanted and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
“No screaming? No last words?” he tutted under his breath. “I’ve been watching you
for months now. I was tempted to get you earlier, but you didn’t seem to care that your friends
told you about their run-ins with me. I won’t kill you. Just make you afraid like the rest of
them.”
Amour blinked up at him unfazed.
“Enough with the seriousness,” he said. “I’ve been watching you for a long while
now Amour. I’ve waited for your return. Now here you are.”
Amour pursed her lips together.
“It’s been awhile since I met someone like you.” he continued. “Someone with your
eyes. Someone who has the courage to come and live here. Most people run away after
hearing the things that go on around here. But you, you are different.”
He grinned at her, tapping her nose with his finger.
“You mean pink?” Amour asked. “‘Cause half the people have pink eyes, others
have purple and orange.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen.” Amour answered. “I don’t know what that has to do with anything.”
“Old enough.” he said. “I’ll give you a deal because I think you’re a swell gal.”
Only one question popped in Amour’s mind, “Why?”
“Because I think you’d be a great asset to me,” he said. “You should be thanking me
for not cutting off one of your limbs like you’re other friends. And leaving my mark on them.”
“You mean the moon?” Amour asked. “That’s real creative bud.”

2

“You’re really hard to tolerate,”
“I’ve heard.”
He cracked a smile, showing his blood stained teeth.
That hadn’t scared Amour as much as it should have.
“Keep your mom off my trail,” he said. “Help me get rid of people like her.”
“Dude you rob people of their limbs,” Amour said. “That’s way worse than what my
mom does.”
“Your mom is more of a killer than I am,” he said. “You and I both know that. She’s
no better than the other idiots that live here. She used to live here, no? That is why you came
here is it not?”
He took out a lighter, lighting a flame and pressing it to her forearm, making a moon
symbol.
“Once you’re marked, it can’t be removed.” He smiled. “I’ll keep my word if you.
No harm to you,” he cupped her face in his hands. “Pleasure doing business with you Amour.”
Amour pushed his hands away, turning away, before stopping in her tracks.
“You never told me your name,”
“Karma,”
Amour walked into her house, getting an earful from her mother as soon as she
walked in.
“Why were you late young lady?” her mother asked. Amour detected something
different in her tone. She was worried.
Amour shrugged past her, entering her and Art’s shared room. Art pressed her on
what had happened, how she had lived.
“Love is dead,” Amour heard her mother say on the phone. Her blood stopped cold
in her veins. Her father couldn’t be dead.

TWO


TIES THAT BIND

FIVE YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE THAT DAY, and Amour couldn’t come to
terms with it. She locked the door to the second apartment that she had taken from her mother.
The other had been sold. She lived there with Art, having gained guardianship of him when
the child protective services deemed her mother “unstable.”

Amour had watched as her mother went on a rant, claiming that she was mentally
okay, that she didn’t need anything. Yet a day later, she checked herself into a mental
institution.

Amour had taken Art to his first day of ninth grade, fussing with his hair.
“It’s fine Mo,” Art said, pushing her hand away. “Everything is going to be fine.”
He was the more optimistic between the two of them. Amour dwelled on what
could’ve happened in the past. She’d blamed herself for this happening but Art insisted that it
wasn’t her fault. Amour beamed at him.
“Sorry,” Amour said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. He waved, walking
up the steps for the first time like Amour had nearly five years prior. When he was nothing but
a distant dot in the sea of students, Amour entered her car.
She let out a huff, sticking her key into the ignition.
“It’s fine Mo,” Karma mocked from the passenger seat, startling her.
“Why do you always do that?” Amour muttered, pulling out of the parking space
and into the open road.
He twisted an object in his hands, a necklace with a heart charm, tossing it back and
forth between his hands.

3

“Where’d you get that?” Amour asked, no interest in her tone whatsoever. “Another
one of your kills?”

“I’ve told you that I didn’t kill your father for five years Mo,” Karma stated flatly.
“Then who did?” Amour deadpanned, keeping her gaze focused on the road. “I have
to get to work. What do you want?”
“We’ve been together for five years, Mo,” Karma said, ignoring her question. “Your
company.”
“Well I don’t want yours,” Amour said flatly. “You’re twenty one years old, you
should have other friends other than me.”
Amour parked the car in front of the coffee shop, Karma sighed, slumping in the
passenger seat.



CHASITY GLARED OUT THE WINDOW of the car, narrowing her eyes at the
island she would now call home. They’d taken the ferry across and hadn’t bothered to get out
of their car. She propped her feet onto the dashboard, blowing a bubble with her gum. She
hated new beginnings.

They’d moved multiple times during her lifetime. Her mother had always claimed it
had been because she kept finding better jobs. But Chasity saw it as her wanting to get as far
away from Fortune as possible. She wanted nothing to do with the place she’d met Chasity’s
father and Chasity was completely fine with that.

She’d never known the man and she held no resentment toward him. If she could
leave her mother she would. Her mother had no time for her. She was never home. And the
days she was, she’d disappear in the middle of the night, returning at four in the afternoon the
next day.

Chasity didn’t know what her mother did those nights, but she didn’t care. The more
time she has to herself the better. She didn’t need her mother. She didn’t need anybody.

Her mother didn’t care for her. Her father had left her and the kids at school never
bothered to get to know her. She’d leave soon enough.

Her mother turned to look at her, a brave smile on her face though Chasity could see
right through it. It was forced.

“Now Chasity when we get there.” her mother said. “I’ll drop you off at the coffee
shop, maybe you could make new friends. I’ll fix up the house. Then when you're done, you
know where to find it.”

“No I don’t Mom.” Chasity said.
“The guide will show you.” her mother said. “We live right next door to him.” When
her mother saw the look on her face, she added, “Well they tried to get his friend to do it.” her
mother said. “Amour I think her name was. But she declined. She has a job. You can get a
job.”
“Just because she has a job doesn’t mean I have to have one.”
“It’s just a suggestion sweetie.”
“Keep your suggestions to yourself.” Chasity spat. “When are we going to get
there?”
“Soon.” her mother said. “Right as soon as we get off this ferry.”
Chasity rolled her eyes, tugging at her blonde hair streaked with green. The chains
on her boots jingled as she crossed her feet over each other. She wore leather everything even
though it was extremely hot outside. It didn’t bother her one bit. She’d grown accustomed to
it.
Her mother regarded her outfit in disdain but she said nothing as they pulled off of
the ferry and sped off to the coffee shop.

The Brew For You Cafe was unlike any of the coffee shops Chasity had been to. For
starters it was solar powered and had strange slogans.

4

She was perfectly fine with the plants dying. With pollution. With the toxicity in the
world. Her chocolate brown eyes looked over the place with hatred. It didn’t feel right. Then
again neither did the other places she’d gone to.

“Oh and Chasity?”
“Yes mother?”
“Take your brother with you,”
She climbed out of the car, not replying when her mother bid her farewell, taking
Crew’s hand in her own. She heard the car rumble down the street, before she could only hear
it distantly.
She walked up the stairs of the coffee shop.
It was a Sunday and the line extended out the door.
“Hello!” a man’s voice said from behind her. “Welcome Chasity.”
The man had startling orange eyes and dark black hair that curled to his shoulders.
He raised his arms up in greeting and Chasity felt intimidated by his towering figure. He was
easily over six feet tall
“Chasity,” Chasity said. “That’s me. Who are you may I ask.”
“My name is Karma.”
“Cool meeting you Karma,” Chasity said, shaking her hand. “Where’s the dude
that's supposed to show me around? Or is it you?”
“No.” He said. “It’s not me. But he told me he’d run late so I came to say hello,” He
smiled.
“Thanks,” Chasity said, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Hey Karma!” He beamed, striding toward the entrance. “Thanks for keeping her
company while I was running late,” He turned to Chasity. “My car broke down. My name’s
Duke.”
“It’s cool,” Chasity said, shrugging her shoulders. “Do you want to go in or…”
Duke nodded earnestly, holding the door open for her as she walked in, taking in the
scene in front of her. The walls were decorated with inspirational things and it was so bright,
like someone had thrown up color all over the room. Chasity didn’t quite like it, but it would
do.
The three of them walked toward the counter, Duke rang the bell.
A girl with green hair and pink eyes appeared in front of her. Chasity found it odd.
Then again, everyone here had colorful hair and eyes.
“Hi Amour!” Duke beamed, leaning against the counter.
“Duke,” Amour said, flatly, though her gaze wasn’t on him, rather it was on Karma.
She looked away, taking notice of Chasity.
“A new one huh?” Amour asked.
“There hasn’t been a new one since you came,” Duke shrugged. “Five years ago.”
Amour shrugged, leaning against her propped elbow, studying the two of them, with
no interest whatsoever.
“What’s your name?” Amour asked, fiddling with the ring on her finger. “How old
are you?”
“Chasity,” Chasity replied. “Sixteen.”
Amour nodded and Chasity felt like she had let her down somehow, though she had
no clue why. She didn’t need some random girl’s approval, yet she wanted this one’s.
“And what’s your name?” Amour asked Crew, bopping him on the nose.
He broke into a giggle and through it she had somehow comprehend his name,
holding up seven fingers.
“Crew,” Amour said. “I like it.”
“I’ll have a caramel frappe, extra caramel,” Duke said.
Chasity’s eyes danced down the menu.
“I’ll have a chocolate frappe,” Chasity said. “And a chocolate donut for Crew.”

5

Amour jotted it down, not bothering to ask Karma what he wanted and fetching
what they asked for. They sat at the counter, waiting for her to return. Chasity wondered why
Amour had been like that to Karma, though Duke seemed to have read her thoughts.

“They’re best friends,” Duke whispered to her. “She never takes his order, she
already knows what he wants.”

Chasity nodded. She never had a best friend and she didn’t want one. Friends slowed
you down, her mother had taught her.

And for some reason she believed her,
Amour returned and sure enough, she did have something for all of them.
“That’ll be twelve dollars,” Amour recited, as Duke handed her the money.
“Oceana’s having a party tomorrow,” Duke said, as Amour’s gaze landed on him.
“You’re coming right?”
Amour and Karma had a silent argument before Amour turned back to Duke, “I’ll be
there.”
Duke smiled, bidding them goodbye, forgetting that he had to take Chasity and
Crew with him.
Amour continued working, carrying trays around the crowded shop. Chasity
observed that many of the people had strange names. Blessing. Fox. Fortune. Honor.
Have all of them in the same room, all she saw was a rainbow of hair colors.
Chasity sat there for a few hours, before Amour returned to the counter and sat
across from her. She had taken off her apron, trading shifts with a boy named Beau, who’s
sister Blessing was busy chastising his every move.
Amour smiled a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, taking her keys off its hanger and
heading out the door.
Karma headed out after her and Chasity wondered if there was something she was
missing. She let the thought slip her mind, heading out the door with Crew.
She knocked on the window of Amour’s car. Amour rolled down the window.
“Did you want a ride?” Amour asked, Chasity nodded. Amour unlocked the door,
Chasity and Crew filed into the backseat. “Where do you live?”
“The Misfortune Apartments,” Chasity said.
“I live there too,” Amour said. “You took 13a yes?”
“How’d you know?”
“It was my mom’s apartment,” Amour said. “Before she checked into a mental
institution. I live in 13b.”
Chasity watched the buildings that passed by. The Library. The Mall.
They pulled into one of the schools, Amour tapping the steering wheel impatiently.
A boy with similar green hair to her own, entered the car, sitting next to Crew.
He looked around but said nothing, propping his head in his hands and staring out
the window.
Chasity already didn’t feel at home her



“I STILL DON’T KNOW why you’re friends with him Mo,” Art said as Amour
tucked him in. It was a ritual that neither knew who they were keeping it for. Amour did it out
of habit and Art didn’t stop her.

“You don’t have to understand,” Amour said, tucking a strand of his hair behind his
ear as she sat at the edge of his bed. Amour smiled at him but he didn’t return it, the gears
turning in his head.

“I don’t want you to be mad at me,” Art said. “I just don’t understand why you’re
friends with a killer.”

“I’d love to explain,” Amour said. “But you wouldn’t understand.”

6

“You keep saying that I won’t understand,” Art said. “But out of the two of us, I’m
the sane one.”

“Be sane for me,” Amour said.
“You don’t want to end up like mom do you?”
“I won’t.”
“You’re already halfway there,” Art continued. “Dad wasn’t a detective, he was a
murderer and he used his job to find other targets.”
“I know Art,” Amour said.
“But I don’t believe he’s dead.”
“What do you mean?”
Art fished a letter out of his pocket, in their father’s handwriting.
“I got it out the mail this morning,” Art said. “He sent it to you. I wanted to read it
with you.”
Amour hesitantly opened it, Art peering over his shoulders.

To my Amour,
I am alive.

The moon shall rise red as blood and I shall see you again.

THREE


RUNNING CAN’T SAVE YOU

CHASITY SHRUGGED HER PACK onto her shoulders, heading up the spiraling
staircase. She stood in front of the glass door, pushing it and entering. Right next to the door
was the office. A boy sat in a chair outside the office door, scrolling through his phone,
waiting for Chasity to arrive. She was getting a pre-tour of the school before it started
tomorrow per her mother’s request.

“You’re one of those people.” Chasity said, popping her bubble. “How tragic.”
“Oh hi.” Duke said. “Sorry I left you yesterday.”
Chasity rolled her eyes as he handed her an envelope.
“What’s that?” Chasity asked.
“Your schedule,” Duke said. “Thought it might have been better if you opened it.”
“It looks like someone tried to and failed.” Chasity said as she tore it open. “I
assume it was you.”
“I’ve never been the best at opening them.” Duke said, scratching the back of his
neck. “My sister usually does it.”
“Who? Amour?” Chasity asked. “The girl who was supposed to be the one leading
me. Not you.”
“My sister’s Delight. Mo’s just a friend. She’s going through things,” Duke
shrugged. “Her mom was sent to a mental facility after orchestrating her dad’s ‘death’.”
“Why’d you use air quotes”
“I think he ran away before she could do anything,” Duke said. “Like my dad.”
“Are most of the people here homicidal maniacs?” Chasity asked, crossing her arms
over her chest.. “I never knew my dad. He went up and left. I would too if I could.”
“You hate your family that much?” Duke asked.
“Hate is a strong word.” Chasity chastised, “I merely dislike her. She’s never home
and she’s always making me get up and move. My brother I tolerate.”
“Hate,” Duke said, motioning around him. “It's a big thing here.”
“That’s great.” Chasity said. “What’s with the apples?”

7

“There’s a statue of our founder outside.” Duke said. “She had an obsession with
apples. Didn’t end well.”

“Isn’t that lady bad luck?” Chasity asked. “I mean, I don’t believe in that but that’s
what the papers said.”

“I guess,” Duke said with a shrug. “So what’s your first class?”
“You only have five classes?” Chasity asked.
“What did you have?” Duke asked.
“Seven,”
“Sounds like torture,”
“Shut it Duke.”
“Yes ma’am.” Duke said, mock saluting. “Whatever you say.”
“Don’t refer to me as a ma’am.” Chasity said. “And my first class is English.”
“That’s on the second floor, come on Chasity.”
Duke led her down the hallway and sprinted up the staircase. Chasity rolled her
eyes, grumbling after him. When she reached the top, he stood leaning against a pillar,
watching her with an amused look.
“What?” Chasity snapped. “What’s your problem?”
“Nothing.” Duke chuckled. “Nothing at all.”
Chasity let it slide, as Duke led her down another hallway before stopping at the last
classroom on the left.
“Voila.” Duke said, opening the door.
“Wow it looks like a unicorn threw up in here.” Chasity said. “What the heck is
this?”
“Fortune Is artistically inclined.” Duke said.
“That’s her name?” Chasity asked. “No Miss or Missus?’
“Nope.” Duke said. “We call all the teachers by their first names. Most of them are
kids who graduated last year so it’s weird that we would call them that.”
“You’re telling me.” Chasity said. “Where to next?”
“You’re supposed to tell me.” Duke said.
“Oh right.” Chasity said. “The next class is Math. Gosh they’re torturing me.”
“School’s almost out.” Duke said. “It isn’t going to be torture.”
“It’s summer already. That was a bit fast.” Chasity said.
“It’s almost the day of Falling Stars.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s the day the blood moon comes out, also the day where most people go missing
and come back with no recollection of it.”
“Fun,” Chasity said, ignoring his statement. “Where is it?”
“Oh right.” Duke said. “It’s just around the corner.”
Duke shut the door before leading her toward the math room. It hadn’t interested her
so he continued the tour. Showing her the science class. They played with the test tubes and
added onto the mess that had already been made after seeing what adding vinegar to baking
soda would do even though they both knew. It had been worse since they had filled multiple
tubes and had practically made the science room look like the English classroom.
The history classroom made Chasity was too plain for Chasity’s liking. It had no
posters on the walls, and nothing was out of place
Her final class was study hall, which meant she could get her things done before she
got home. Not that she would be doing it. There wasn’t any point.
The two walked out of the school and skipped down the steps.
The man from earlier still stood where they’d left him and they pretended not to see
his eyes follow them as they walked.
“I don’t know who that guy is.” Duke said. “He shouldn’t be here.”
“You sure?” Chasity asked. “He told me he was the principal’s assistant or
something.”

8

“Never seen him in my life.” Duke said.
When Chasity turned to look at where he had been standing, the man was gone. It
couldn’t have been possible. He had just been there a second ago. Chasity knew she hadn’t
imagined him. Duke had seen him too.
“That’s really weird.” Duke said. “Let’s just keep walking. The faster we get away
from here the better.”
Chasity didn’t argue with his logic. It unsettled her to say the least that the man had
disappeared. That he wasn’t who he said he was. That Duke had never seen him in his life.
Maybe Duke wasn’t observant. Maybe the guy had been a part of the school and he
just hadn’t seen him. But Duke had lived here for ages and from what her mother told her, new
people barely ever showed up.
Sure once in a while. Otherwise the population remained the same.
That had made Chasity skeptical of it.
Why didn’t new people come? What was so bad about this place? From what she’d
seen so far, it wasn’t half bad though she would never admit that aloud. She didn’t want to
give her mother the satisfaction. She’d put on the act of her hating it, but she hoped she didn’t
have to leave it. She was tired of leaving. She wanted to be like the other kids and have an
address that they were sure of.
Chasity turned to Duke who walked aimlessly on the sidewalk, not a care in the
world. Just focused on getting to his destination.
Chasity didn’t want to get to her destination. If she did, she’d have to have one of
her talks with her mother. About how she was doing all this for her, that she cared about her.
She’d never once heard her mother tell her she loved her and she didn’t need her to.
She loved herself and that was all that mattered. She didn’t need anybody else.
Her mother tried everything she did to make her happy, to make her life worth
living. All Chasity needed was her mother to have been there when she needed her. Now it
was too late and the damage had been done. She didn’t need anybody to make her happy, she
was happy.
She was fine without her dad. She was fine without her mother.
She was good on her own. She didn’t need anyone to complete her. She was
complete.
Her mother had thought otherwise. Every time there was a school dance, she’d pay
boys to go with Chasity and they'd end up too frozen by her glare to do anything. Most ran
away. Most feared her. Most didn’t trust her.
And she was fine with that.
The kids at school could think all that they wanted of her.
She was always the odd one out. Something set her apart from all the others. It made
all the girls run away and whisper behind her back. Spreading rumors about her. She paid
them no mind.
If she did, they’d get the satisfaction they wanted, they’d get a reaction. And she
didn’t want to satisfy them. She would leave them to their gossiping. To them excluding her
from everything. Getting everyone and anyone to ignore her. It didn’t bother her as much
anymore, at least that’s what she told herself anyway. Running couldn’t save her anymore.

FOUR


STOLEN KISS

CHASITY DIDN’T WANT TO be reminded of her past. She’d done crazy things,
she knew that. She’d hurt many and watched them crash and burn in front of her. But
everyone had a past and that didn’t make her any different.

“What are you thinking about?” Duke asked. “You’ve been frowning for a good five
minutes. I was afraid I’d done something wrong.”

9

“Just things,” Chasity said, waving him off. “Nothing important.”
“You sure?” Duke asked.
“Very.” Chasity said. “Thanks for your worry.”
Duke shrugged, continuing forward, leaving Chasity to her thoughts. This place
would take a lot to get used to and Chasity wasn’t open to any of it. She didn’t want to give
this place a chance. She didn’t want to get attached. Because surely her mother would come
and decide that they’d have to leave again. Just like she always did. Some things never
change.
It was dark out already and Duke was fiddling with his fingers, looking over his
shoulder repeatedly.
“What are you so worried about?” Chasity finally asked, when she herself started to
look over her shoulder.
“It’s nothing,” Duke said, though Chasity was sure there was more to it, but she
didn’t want to pry.
The street lights flickered and Duke nearly jumped.
“Just tell me what you’re worried about,”
“It’s the seventh,”
“What about it?”
“Each unlucky day, someone always ends up missing or worse,” Duke explained.
“And I don’t want to be a victim of the blood moons.”
“What type of name is that?”
“They’re like a gang of sorts,” Duke said. “They take unsuspecting victims and if
they like them. They’ll make you join them.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then you’ll get killed or they’ll wipe your memory and make you forget
everything. Who you are, who others are.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know why!” Duke said. “It happened to my sister Delight, three years ago.
Usually as an initiation they make newbies harm someone mentally and they deemed Delight
as their target.”
“Is she okay?”
“Not fully,” Duke said. “But she’s getting there.”
“They knew who everyone is,” Duke continued. “They leave a crescent mark on
those who survive them and their members. That way you don’t know who’s a part of them
and who isn’t.”
Duke sighed.
“I’m not trying to alarm you or anything,” Duke said. “I just wanted you to know.”
Chasity shrugged, going up the steps of the building. They took the elevator,
clicking their apartment numbers. Chasity lived in 13a, Duke in 12b. Duke waved goodbye as
he got off the elevator. Chasity entered her apartment, finding it oddly quiet.
“Mom! Crew!” Chasity called. She received no response. They wouldn’t be asleep
at this time would they?
Chasity continued calling them, going through every room in the house. The
kitchen, the dining room, the den, Crew’s room, her own. The only room left was her
mother’s.
Chasity opened the door, freezing in her steps.
Crew laid curled up in a ball next to her bleeding mother, gasping for air.
“Crew,” Chasity said, as he backed away from her. “Crew what happ-.”
Crew started motioning for her to look behind her but Chasity had reacted too
slowly.
A girl stood behind her, eyes surrounded in galaxy war paint, tapping a knife against
the crescent on her wrist. She flicked her wrist and a rope tied around Chasity. Blood Moons.
Crew whimpered, Chasity grit her teeth together.

10

“Who are you?” Chasity grumbled, writhing against the ropes.
The girl didn’t answer, pressing a knife against her neck and placed a finger to her
lips, pulling it away when Chasity tried to bite her.
She tutted under her breath, stepping over Chasity and crouching next to Crew,
placing a finger under his chin, making him look up.
“Don’t touch him,” Chasity said through gritted teeth.
But Crew had seemed to relax for some reason, closing his eyes and falling asleep in
his aggressor’s arms. The girl lifted him up, laying him down on her mother’s bed and placing
the blankets over him.
To Crew, this would have been a bad dream in the morning.
“What did you do?” Chasity asked, her gaze not breaking away from the intruder
until she was a good distance away from her brother.
“He’ll be fine,” the girl said, waving her off.
She walked toward her mother, pressing her fingers to her neck. She huffed, taking
out her blade and pressing it against her neck.
“Stop!” Chasity bellowed, though the girl only laughed.
“She’s not dead,” she said. “Not yet at least. You have about an hour before she
does.”
“Why?” Chasity asked, tears falling, though she hadn’t realized she had until the girl
reached out and wiped them. Her touch sent shivers down Chasity’s spine.
“Boss’ orders,” the girl shrugged. “We don’t get new people often.”
“Who’s your boss?”
She scoffed. “Like I’d tell you.”
“Why my mom?”
“Did you want it to be you?” the girl asked. “I heard you tell Duke you didn’t like
her. Did you a favor.”
“That didn’t mean you had to kill her,”
“Made it easier for me to find a target,” the girl said. “If I’d killed you while you
were with Duke, I’d have to kill him too.”
“He’s a member isn’t he?”
“No,” she said. “He completely despises us. After what I did to his sister three years
ago.”
“That was you?”
“I just told you it was,” she said. “But you’re wasting time. Talk to your mom while
you still can.”
The girl sat on the bed, stroking Crew’s hair.
Chasity ignored it, turning her head to face her mother.
“Mom,” she said. “I don’t know if you can hear me.”
Chasity waited a few moments, before her mother gasped for air.
“Chasity,” she said, reaching out to touch her cheek. “I’m going to be okay.”
“Mom,” Chasity said, her voice breaking.”:Mom no.”
She took a shallow breath, her chest rising and falling with a wheeze.\
Then it stopped and all Chasity could hear were the soft snores of her brother.
Chasity sniffled.
“You done yet?”
“You’re a monstser!” Chasity said.
“I wouldn’t say that,” she shrugged. “There are worse people than me. My friend
likes cutting off people’s limbs.”
“You killed my mother!”
“Someone was going to,” she retorted. “You’re lucky it was me. I don’t make
people suffer.”
“You made me suffer!”
“So do you want to join or do I just wipe your memory,”

11

“I’m never going to forget this,”
“I can make you forget,”
Chasity rolled away from her, though she still caught up with her.
“I take that as a no,” she said, pressing her finger to Chasity’s neck, the same way
she had done to Crew.
“Night, night,”
Chasity fought to stay awake but soon sleep took over and everything turned black.


AMOUR KNOCKED ON Chasity’s door, waiting for the girl to come out so she
could take her to school like she’d promised. Once, twice, three times. But she didn’t receive a
response.
“She’s probably still asleep,” Karma said, leaning against the wall. “You did wipe
her memory no?”
Amour rolled her eyes, Karma smiled.
“You’re worse than me,”
“No I’m not,”
“Yes you are,”
‘No I’m not,”
The door opened and Chasity beamed at them, shouldering her pack.
“Hi Mo,” Chasity said. “Have you seen my mom?”
“No sorry,” Amour said as Chasity shrugged, leading Crew toward the elevator.
Amour huffed, pushing Karma’s arm away and entering the elevator. Chasity
hummed to herself, watching the numbers go down until they reached the bottom floor.
Chasity happily skipped out the door, going into Amour’s car. Karma opened the
door for Amour, though she ignored it, pushing past him.
Amour drove down the street, turning left, then right and then left, pulling up in
front of the three school buildings, conjoined together but blocked by locked doors in between.
“Bye Mo,” Chasity said, holding onto her backpack’s straps as she got out of the car.
“Bye,” Amour said with a smile.
“See you Mo,” Art said.
“Bye Artie,”
Art stuck his tongue out at her. Chasity and Art tried waking up Crew but he didn’t
bother to get up.
Amour huffed got out of the car, poking him awake. Crew smiled, bopping her on
the nose before skipping up the steps of the elementary school. Amour slid back into the
driver’s seat, pulling away from the school and driving toward the coffee shop.
Karma’s gaze never left her face.
“What?” Amour said finally, parking in her reserved spot and turning to look at
him..
“Nothing,” Karma shrugged. Amour turned away, pulling the key out of the ignition.
She opened the door, shutting it behind her. Karma circled around the car, wrapping
his arm over her shoulder. Amour shrugged it away, placing her hand on the door knob.
Karma placed his over hers.
Amour turned to look at him but before she could speak, he leaned down and
pressed his lips to hers. Amour’s eyes widened but she returned it. Then it clicked in her brain
what was happening, pressing her hand against his chest and putting a distance between them.

“Mo-,”
“I’ll see you later Kar,” Amour said, entering the shop and letting out a huff of
disappointment.

12

FIVE


PERFECTIONISTS & NARCISSISTS

“AMOUR,” GEM COOED, POKING her arm as she stood at the counter, waiting
for their customers.

“Gem,” Amour said flatly, turning to look at her friend.
“You and Karma, huh?” Lucky asked, as he propped his elbows on the counter.
“You two are the worst,” Amour said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “We’re
not,”
“Do you want to be?” Nerissa asked. The three of them worked for the Blood Moons
with her. Most shops were run by them anyway.
Amour didn’t respond, busying herself with fixing the napkins.
“I take your silence as a yes,” Lucky said with a grin.
“I hate all of you,”
“We love you too,”
“You’re not supposed to be working today,” Nerissa said, taking off Amour’s apron.
Amour rolled her eyes, sitting across from them.
“Go on Mo,” Lucky said, waving her off. “We got this.”
They grinned, watching her walk out of the shop.
Amour mumbled in annoyance when she noticed her car wasn’t in its spot. Karma
had taken it. Where to, she had no idea.
Amour continued on her way on foot, walking past the ice cream parlour, the skating
rink. She stopped when she noticed that her car was parked outside the parlour.
Amour opened the door, hearing the little bell say ding!
Amour ventured inside, feeling the sharp contrast from the outside and inside.
Amour looked up at the fairy lights that hung off the ceiling, the hearts that adorned the walls.
“Amour,” Karma said, sitting next to her.
“Karma,”
Oceana, Star and Vara ventured into the shop, all three of them a giggling mess.
They caught sight of Amour and Karma, making a beeline toward their table. Oceana sat next
to Karma, though Amour had jumped out of her way before she crushed her. Star and Vara sat
at the two remaining seats, leaving Amour standing. Amour crossed her arms over her chest.
“Amour darling,” Oceana said with a pout. “How are you?”
“Great,” Amour said with a forced smile.
Oceana turned her attention to Karma, running a finger down his chin, “How are
you?”
Karma pushed her hand away and she pouted more if that was possible.

Karma offered Amour his seat, aiming to get up, though Oceana pulled him down.
Karma huffed, grabbing Amour by her waist and seating her on his lap. Amour draped her arm
over his shoulder.

Oceana’s grin faltered momentarily but it quickly returned.
“How are you?” Oceana asked again, glaring daggers at Amour.
“Great,” Karma said, pressing a kiss to Amour’s cheek.
Oceana forced a smile.
“Yeah,” Oceana said. “Are you coming to my party tonight?”
“We are,” Amour said, intertwining her and Karma’s fingers.
Oceana’s mouth formed into a thin line, snapping her fingers and bidding Star and
Vara to follow her out the door.
“I’d kill ‘em all for you,” Karma whispered, his breath nipping at her ear.
“Yeah?”

13

Karma hummed. Amour saw the flash of a camera, as Patience sent a picture of the
two of them to the rest of their friends. Amour pulled out her phone, watching the string of
messages. Amour bit her cheek, putting it away.

“Do you want to get out of here?” Karma offered.
“Sure,” Amour said, leaping off his lap.
Karma sat in the driver’s seat, Amour in shotgun.
“Mo I’m sorry,” Karma began, turning to look at her. Amour only smiled.
“What for?”
“Mo—,” Karma said, his words lost, as Amour tugged at his collar, bringing their
faces mere inches away from each other.
“Karma,” Amour said, running her finger down his chin. Karma relaxed against her
touch, drawing himself closer to her, pressing his lips to hers. His hands traveled down her
back, resting on the small of her back. Her fingers tangled in his hair, each trying to get closer
than they already were. His lips danced down her chin, down her neck, nestling at her collar
bone. Amour giggled, returning the action to him. She pressed her lips to his one last time,
before pulling away, her forehead resting against his.
“I love you,” Karma breathed.
“Yeah?” Amour asked teasingly. “I love you too.”
“So it’s me and you huh?”
“Me and you against the damn world,”



AMOUR HAD GONE ON to Art about all the things he could and couldn’t do
while she was gone.

“Mo,” Art said. “I’ll be fine. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,”
Art eyed her outfit, “That’s mom’s dress.”
“I know,” Amour said. “I liked it, so I’m going to wear it.”
“I like it,” Art said.
“Thanks,” Amour said, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Don’t die.”
“I’ll try not to,” Art said with a shrug. “It’s the eighth.”
“I know,” Amour said, shrugging her shoulders. “Bye Artie.”
“Bye Mo,” Art said, smiling at her and shutting the door behind him, with a few
clicks.
Amour teetered in her heels, walking towards the parking lot, tapping on the
window. Karma beamed, unlocking the door as she sat down.
“Took you long enough,” Karma said. “You look great love.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself,”

Oceana’s house was extravagant to say the least. She had more than two hundred
rooms, a pool, a theater and much more. Amour hated it, but it made it easier to find targets.
They needed to pick one out of a thousand, and it wouldn’t be hard. Amour was just glad it
wasn’t left to her this time. It was Delight’s job today. She was to pick a target and execute
them.

Chatter filled the air. Karma offered her his arm and she accepted it. A light
illuminated on the stage as Oceana emerged in an atrociously glittery silver ensemble. She
smiled, raising a silver microphone to her mouth.

“Thank you all for coming!” She exclaimed, pausing for applause. “We have special
guests with us here tonight and they should be arriving in just a few moments. Until then, chat
amongst yourselves.”

She stepped down from the stage, mingling with the crowd, looking expectantly at
the door. Hoping that she could put her money where her mouth was. She wrung her hands as
she spoke with them, completely forgetting what had happened hours before. She gripped
Amour’s hand momentarily before going closer to the door. Suddenly all chatter stopped, as
they all watched Oceana open the door.

14

“I present to you,” Oceana said. “The King and Queen of Ourania!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd as the two smiled and waved, the crowd parting to
make way for them. They sat down on two thrones that had appeared magically. Or perhaps it
had been there the whole time and Amour hadn’t noticed.
“Thank you, thank you,” Oceana said, aiming to hush the crowd. “Your applause is
appreciated. But let them speak first.”
She forced a smile as she handed the mic to Electra, whom she seemed jealous of.
Though many were. What a life it was to be of royalty. To have everything catered to your
needs. But the black bloods of Ourania possessed great power, while the red bloods of Ourania
and Astraea were cast aside by the reigning blue bloods and black blood respectively. While
the blue bloods stood for all that was good and beautiful, the black bloods stood for
destruction. They possessed innate abilities that the blue bloods didn’t. Though Omen was a
part of the Ouranian kingdom, they were a group of people with blue blood in their veins and
had no intention of returning to Astraean rule. They possessed the sinister tendencies of the
black bloods so it worked for all of them.
Electra’s eyes twinkled in amusement as she handed the mic to Leo. she scanned the
crowd, taking in all their faces as they each smiled eagerly at her. However, Amour didn’t feel
eager at all. There was nothing different from her than there was Electra. Sure they might not
have the same blood running in their veins. Sure they lived in completely different worlds. But
they were very much the same. Both had fathers who were completely against everything their
mother’s stood for. Both had had to make difficult choices with said parents. But they’d made
it out in the end had they not? It was hard to see that the two were the same age. Amour was
hardly sure if Electra even remembered ever meeting her. To her, she was no different than
anyone else, at least that’s what Amour believed.
Electra had no use for caring for all of them. She just had to see what made them
more in her favor. What could she do that left them all on her side?
Amour didn’t envy Electra like the rest. She saw them as equals and planned to keep
it that way. Leo smiled, addressing the crowd with a well-planned speech before proposing a
toast. They all raised their glasses as Oceana declared her nonsense and they took a sip of the
mead in their glasses. Amour noticed however, that Electra did not. The crowd returned to
normal and the King and Queen disappeared among them, acting as normal as they could. But
Amour knew that they’d have to be here for a reason. That they hadn’t just shown up for
Oceana’s stupid party. It was bigger than that. They were here for them.
To get to the bottom of the rising crime rates in Omen. To get to the bottom of
which sub organization had done this. Not because they wanted to, but because their newfound
allies in Astraea had ordered them to do so.
Amour couldn’t quite understand how and why Electra had gone into power, nor did
she care. She faintly remembered something about a Courting, where she and Leo were
introduced and married a month later. Amour didn’t think she could live the life that Electra
did. Having your fate chosen for you, having your destiny written in stone, every part of your
life planned. Nor did she want to be in her shoes. Having to go against her own family for the
sake of the blood that ran in her veins. Having to choose between right and wrong. Having to
choose between her mother and father. Though Amour loved both of her parents, they were
both corrupt to the core, each out for their own goals and incentives, never for others’ benefit.
Amour had other things to worry about. She didn’t care about politics. Yet she
hadn’t ignored Ourania’s call to action when they were attacked by Astraea. She hadn’t
forgotten that Ourania had incited this by taking over Omen. But the people of Omen wouldn’t
have answered the call had it been from their former rulers the Astraeans. No, Omen had not
liked their former rulers, they quite despised them. But there was nothing that she couldn’t do,
that they could do to get what they wanted. Happily submitting to the conquering of the
Ouranians.
It wasn’t betraying her blood. It was going off of what they thought was right. The
war had ended only the year prior. Things still hadn’t gotten as well as it used to be.

15

Bonds were still being forged. Bonds were still being tested. Each side seeing how
far the other was willing to reach before they were so tired. Each trying to push each other's'
buttons and seeing how far the other would fall for them.

Not far enough, thought Amour with a bitter smile.
Amour sank deeper into the crowd, her and Karma splitting apart and waiting to
hear who Delight had chosen as her target. It obviously wouldn’t be the King nor the Queen.
The Blood Moons quite fancied them and their change of pace from the old rulers. They
seemed more at ease, yet were more in control than any other ruler had ever been.
Amour bumped into someone, giving them a quick apology, before she realized she
had bumped right into the woman she had been thinking about.
“Hi Amour,” Electra said. Amour must’ve shown signs of shock because she added,
“Of course I remember you. You’re quite hard to forget.” she smiled, “I love your hair.”
“Thank you,” Amour replied, suddenly feeling more subconscious. “How are you?”
“I’ve been better,” Electra replied, her eyes scanning the crowd., watching as
Oceana desperately tried to entertain the crowd. “Is she always like that?”
“Usually quite worse,” Amour shrugged. “She’s full of herself. Has tons of mirrors,
thinks she’s the most perfect of them all.”
“So she’s a perfectionist and a narcissist?” Electra mused, causing Amour to grin.
“I guess she is,” Amour giggled,

SIX


NO PRESSURE

“DO YOU LIKE BEING QUEEN?” Amour asked, trying to break the ice.
“It’s something alright,” Electra responded with an unforced smile, something
Amoir wasn’t quite used to. “It’s a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I can’t really
get along with my sister.”
“Oh right,” Amour said. “She’s the Queen of Astraea right? Selene was it?”
“Yeah,” Electra nodded. “They want her to give up the throne to my other sister
because she won’t cooperate with anybody but that’s besides the point. How are you? I
haven’t seen you since…”
“Since the battle of Omen,” Amour offered with a curt nod. “Yeah. Surprisingly, we
didn’t lose any of our people.”
“Yet the death rate now is higher than it's ever been,” Electra’s eyes glimmered with
curiosity. “That’s why we came here anyway. Everyone knows that. I have to fix it because
Selene won’t.”
“That’s a bummer,” Amour said. “This should be Selene’s problem. Even if we’re a
part of Ourania and all, you guys deal with more crime than she does. And when they try to
justify why…”
“They say it's in our blood,” Electra said. “But that wouldn’t apply here. You guys
have blue blood just like them.”
“I never understood why your siblings had blue blood and you had black,” Amour
said. “I mean, I know your dad is a black blood, but why didn’t any of your other siblings have
it too? Hell, your twin sister doesn’t. That doesn’t make sense.”
“My grandma calls me a ‘special case,’” Electra shrugged. “Whatever that means.
Everyone has tried to figure out why. The doctors, the scientists, the press. But none of them
found anything. So I’m just me and they don’t need to understand why I am what I am, you
know? You’re kind of delving from the question. How are you?”
“I’ve been better,” Amour said with a coy smile as Electra cracked a smile.
“That’s my line,” Electra said. “But in all seriousness, how are you?”
“I’m alright,” Amour said. “It’s just, I thought my dad died five years ago but it
turns out he faked his death.”

16

Electra nodded, encouraging her to continue. Amour had no idea why she was
opening up to her. Maybe it was because she knew she wouldn’t tell anyone. Maybe it was
because she trusted her. Or maybe it was because a small part of her hoped that something
would change if she told someone. That someone would knock her out of the dream she was
having and bring her back into reality.

Her father couldn’t still be alive. Why would he have left all those years ago? Why
had he convinced his mother that he was gone, causing her to convince everyone else? Even
his own band of misfits didn’t know it. Amour was yet to tell them anyway.

“My mom checked herself into a mental hospital recently,” Amour said. “They said
she wasn’t fit to take care of Art so now I do.”

Amour quite liked how Electra’s focus didn’t delve anywhere else and how she gave
her all of her attention. She didn’t get that quite as often as she would have liked but she
couldn’t complain.

“That all?” Electra asked softly.
“Yeah,” Amour said nodding as she filled her cup. “Do you want some?”
“I’m good thank you,” Electra said. Her tone was something that Amour wasn’t
used to. She wasn’t used to such open displays of kindness, that politeness. But she supposed
Electra had been conditioned to do so. Sometimes she forgot that they were the same age, born
on the same day, February . “I’ll see you around Amour,”
“Bye Queen Electra,” Amour said with a curtsey.
“You don’t have to do that,” Electra said. “We’re friends.”
“We’re friends,” Amour repeated, still in awe of that. “Well then see you around
Electra.”
“Bye Amour,” Electra said, making her way back toward the stage, sitting on her
throne, as a drunken Oceana tried to put the crowd at bay, failing miserably. Amour couldn’t
help but crack a smile at the woman’s expense.



“YOU DIDN’T TELL HER ANYTHING, did you?” Karma asked as the two
drove toward her apartment.

“What would I tell her?” Amour asked. “‘Oh by the way I’m part of the reason why
the death rate is so high here? Have faith in me.”

Karma grinned, glancing down at his phone.
“Hey ,” Amour said. “Eyes on the road. I’m not trying to die because you were
sending a damn text. Who are you talking to?”
He turned his phone away.
“You’re going to ruin the surprise,” Karma said.
“What surprise?” Amour asked. “I hate surprises.”
“You’re going to like this one,” Karma said. “And you only hate surprises because
you hate not knowing things.”
“That is valid, yes,” Amour said. “But what is it?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you Mo,” Karma said. “Besides you can wait a
few minutes.”
“But I don’t want to wait,” Amour mumbled, slumping in her seat and staring out
the window. “Will I like the surprise?”
“Well you’re Mo,” he said. “And I know you don’t like surprises. But I’m sure
you’d like this one for once.”
Amour perked up, “Did you get me a unicorn? I’ve always wanted one.”
“Noted,” Karma shook his head. “But it’s not a unicorn. It’s something less
magical.”
Amour thought of possibilities, her mind racing at top speed trying to decipher what
the surprise could be. But she grew tired of trying and seceded.
“I don’t think I’ll like it,” Amour grumbled. “But enough about surprises. Did you
notice that Electra was a bit...I don’t know the word I’m looking for.”

17

“Off?” Karma offered. “You could say that I guess. But I didn’t know what you
knew?”

Amour tutted under her breath, blowing a bubble with her gum. She had felt off,
Amour supposed. Then again, she didn’t quite know how Electra really acted. She’d just
gotten to know her during the war effort, that they had succeeded in obviously.

But Amour still could sense that the woman was hiding something, she just didn’t
know what. And she hated not knowing things, almost as much as she didn’t like surprises.
Which brought her back to the impending one.

What could be a surprise she liked? She despised them. Her heart beating at
alarming lengths whenever she was. But that was normal.

“Give me a hint,” Amour pestered, as he only smiled.
“If I give one, you’ll be able to guess right off the bat,” Karma said. “So no.”
Amour slumped back once more, staring out the window and making a show of how
disappointed she was. Karma stopped the car, walking around the door and opening hers,
placing his hands over her eyes.
“Why can’t I walk inside without seeing?” Amour pondered aloud. “Is it not in the
apartment.”
“It is,” Karma said. “But I’m still covering your eyes.”
“That seems sketchy,” Amour said, as they entered the elevator. Karma pressed the
button, the door shut in front of them.
Amour remained quiet, letting him lead her out the door, down the hall, into the
living room. He uncovered her eyes, placing his hands on her shoulders. Amour blinked,
taking in her surroundings. Nothing seemed different right off the bat. It looked just as it had
when she came.
“You have to find the surprise,” Karma informed. “Somewhere here.”
“I don’t think that’s how it's supposed to work.” Amour muttered.
She opened doors, shutting and closing them. She opened the door to her room, the
kitchen, the closets. She entered Art’s room, pausing as she did so.
Art sat on his bed, reading a book and seeming oblivious to the fact that Amour had
arrived. Or maybe he knew and knew not to acknowledge her so that he didn’t ruin the
surprise. He was never good at keeping secrets. Amour looked next to him, the words that
were going to leave her mouth had gotten caught in her throat.
Sitting next to Art in his tailored black suit, decorated in checkered patterns, the man
Amour hadn’t seen in nearly five years. She had thought he’d died, at least that was what her
mother had made her believe. But after receiving the letter from him she had known it hadn’t
been true but had waited to see if her mind was playing tricks on her. Maybe she had been
going through the stages of grief again and had gone into denial, imagining what had been
written on the letter.
But here he was, sitting here like he had never left. Amour’s bottom lip trembled, as
she rushed into his arms, burying her head into his shoulder. He stroked her hair, smiling
down at her, pulling her shoulder length.
He examined how much she had changed in their five years apart and she had very
much. She still looked just as he remembered. Amoure green hair, same pink eyes, just like
him.
She was still the Amour he remembered,
“You came back,” Amour said with a grin.
He placed his finger under her chin. “I’m not going anywhere this time. Besides, art
said he’s going to take me to see your mother tomorrow. Isn’t that great?”
“Not greater than having you back here,” Amour said. “I actually liked this
surprise.”
“I told you,” Karma said with a smirk, pressing a kiss to her forehead,
A small voice spoke in Amour’s mind, No Pressure Amour darling.

18

She had no idea where the voice had come from, but she pushed it aside. She spent
most of the night with Art and her father, Love, catching up on the time they had missed with
each other.

SEVEN


CONQUER YOURSELF

CHASITY STARED AT THE HEADLINE ON THE NEWSPAPER for the
millionth time, trying to make sense of it. Oceana, heiress to the fortune of Omen, found dead.

Oh Amour would have a field day. She didn’t know much about Oceana but she
knew that Amour despised her for reasons Chasity didn’t know.

All of her prized possessions will be distributed evenly to all of the owners of
businesses in Omen as decreed by King Leo.

She found it odd that nothing was ever done to find the people that committed the
murders. She still felt resentment toward the officers because they told her that they couldn’t
find who killed her mother because there was no substantial evidence left on the scene.
Whatever the hell that means. So Chasity was left to grieve in solitude, making a point not to
arrive at the party Oceana had held the night before her death.

She didn’t like parties and she also didn’t want to be initiated as the new girl of
Omen. She was so sure that they would leave soon after coming but now there was nowhere
for her to go.

Her mother was dead, her father was M.I.A. There was nowhere she could go. The
social worker came to visit them periodically, offering them therapy but they declined.

Chasity didn’t need it, she just needed to find answers.
Chasity was shocked out of her thoughts when there was a knock on the door, she
got up to open it, though Crew had beat her to it.
Crew clapped his hands together, wrapping his arms around the woman who stood at
the door. Her emerald green eyes glimmered with amusement, her black hair braided elegantly
over her left shoulder, a smile forming on her lips.
“Hi,” she said cheerily, patting his head.
Chasity pulled him back, smiling broadly. “Queen Electra! What brings you here?”
“The town’s therapist sent me here,” Electra said with a shrug. “Leo’s doing the
‘detective work’” she rolled her eyes. “So he sent me here to ask a few questions, if that’s
okay with you.”
“Yeah,” Chasity said, moving out of her way. “Come in.”
Electra looked around the home, taking things in before taking hold of the hand that
Crew was offering her.
“I built a castle out of blocks, just like yours,” Crew smiled. “Wanna see?”
“Crew—.” Chasity began.
“I would love to,” Electra said, smiling at him as he lead her to the next room. She
examined the castle he had built, crouching next to him. “That's an amazing Crew, it looks just
like mine.”
Chasity knew that it didn’t.
“Can I see your castle one day?” Crew asked hopefully.
“Totally,” Electra said, ruffling his hair as she sat down on the couch, moving a few
stray blocks to the side.
“Sorry,” Chasity said. “I wasn’t really expecting anyone—.”
“It’s fine,” Electra said, waving her off, as Crew perched himself on her lap, going
about the things he wanted to see. In her castle and Chasity's surprise, she listened.
“That's a really cool Crew,” Electra said. “But I’m going to talk to your sister now
okay? Go and play with your castle okay? I’ll come check it out with you yesterday.”
Crew obliged, picking up more of his blocks and stacking them onto the castle.

19

“How are you?” Electra asked softly, her tone surprising Chasity.
“I’m okay I guess?” Chasity answered, though it came out more like a question.
“Well I think I am. It’s just been so much, you know?” Electra nodded, encouraging her to
continue. “It’s just, my dad was never here. I’ve never met him. And my mom had to always
make us move because she likes to find a place where she could call home for us. So she
brought us back to the town where she grew up. And I thought we’d leave just like we did all
the other places. But we didn’t. Because she’s gone now. She’s not coming back.”
Chasity looked down, blinking her eyes rapidly.
“You know it’s okay not to be okay, right?” Electra said, placing her hand on
Chasity’s shoulder.
“I mean yeah,” Chasity said. “But I have to try to be okay. For Crew’s sake. For my
own sake.”
“And it’s okay to get help,” Electra said. “You shouldn’t put all the burden on
yourself. I’ve done that before, it doesn’t work.”
“So what should I do?” Chasity asked. “I don’t quite like the therapist. She doesn’t
seem genuine in any way. She doesn’t care about the losses the people in this town face. She
just wants the money.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Electra said. “She lost her own son a few years ago. She
knows how you feel and she does want to help you.” Electra closed her eyes, opening them
again. It probably was her imagination, but she could’ve sworn that her eyes had changed
colors for a moment. It had changed just as quickly, so she didn’t know if what she’d seen was
true. “So it’s okay for you to get help, talk to someone about how you feel and you’ll feel
much better.”
“But talking about it won’t bring my mom back,” Chasity paused, looking up at the
sky. Chasity looked at Crew, who continued to play obviously with his blocks. It had been
easier for him to accept the loss of their mother than Chasity had thought. Perhaps that was the
point the girl had made about the killing. Chasity wasn’t supposed to remember, but she did.
Crew didn’t, not even asking once about where their mother had gone.
Chasity wondered if this was meant to be a cruel irony. She had told the girl that she
hadn’t wanted to join her cause. Maybe this was her punishment. She vaguely remembered the
girl saying she didn’t take no for an answer before she passed out. She wanted to find out who
the girl was and give her a piece of her mind.
Most of all, she wanted closure. And she wasn’t going to get it until she got answers.
The gears were turning in her head, but they weren’t clicking together. Something about that
girl had felt familiar, like she had met her before. But she didn’t know why it did, why she felt
a sort of dejavu when she thought of it now.
“Do you remember what happened?” Electra asked. “Or did you forget like the rest
of them.”
“It feels hazy,” Chasity frowned, trying to think about it which only seemed to make
it worse. “I can remember bits and pieces of it but I can’t really say for sure what happened.”
“Just tell me what you remember, okay?” Electra offered as Chasity nodded.
“Okay,” Chasity said. “I came home and there was no one in the living room, which
I found odd. So I checked all the rooms, and I found Crew curled up and scared. And I saw a
girl, don’t remember what she quite looked like, but she had a crescent on her wrist over her
regal mark and she had galaxy paint around her eyes. And I don’t really remember what she
said to me, but I saw my mom and she died in front of me, and said for the first time in my life
that she loved me. She asked if I wanted to join her. I said no. Then I passed out.”
Electra processed what she had just been told, nodding.
“What happened when you awoke the day after?” Electra asked.
“I just realized my mom wasn’t there and I asked my neighbor Amour if she’d seen
her and she said no, so I thought I’d see her later in the day,” Chasity said, quaking a brow.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t know how she would’ve known where my mom was. But
usually when my mom goes out she leaves a note on the table and we go on with our day. But

20

when I came back from school, there was an officer there and her name was…what was her
name?” She snapped her fingers. “Her name was Esperanza. She told me my mom had been
reported dead and asked if I knew anything about it, then I told her what I told you. She jotted
it down and I never saw her again.”

That was a problem with much of the police in Omen. They never did more than
what they did for Chasity and she knew that it wasn’t enough.

“That’s all I needed to know,” Electra said, standing up. “I’ll come check on you
later Chasity.”

“Thank you,” Chasity said, pulling her into a hug before freezing and releasing her.
Electra smiled at her, ruffling Crew’s hair, promising to see him soon. She was a lot more
down to earth than Chasity had thought she would be.

“And Chasity?” Electra asked as she walked out the door.
“Yeah?” Chasity asked.
“I’m going to tell you something that someone once told me, okay?” Chasity
nodded. “‘No matter the trials you go through, no matter how hard things get you just have to
remember to conquer yourself.’”
Chasity shut the door behind her, slowly sliding her back down the door and placing
her head in her knees.


“DELIGHT REALLY SHOT FOR THE MOON HUH?” Karma said, as she sat
on the couch with Amour, across from the King of Ourania, who was the head of their
organization, in secret.
“She did,” Amour said. “I’m not complaining.”
“If you truly hated Oceana, like you say you do—.” Karma began.
“I do,” Amour added in. “Well did.”
“Then you would’ve killed her yourself.”
“I hated her,” Anour said. “That doesn’t mean I have to kill her.”
“Well she’s dead now,” Karma said. “So we're moving past that now. What are we
going to do now? People in Astraea and Ourania alike are trying to figure out why our town is
as crime infested as it is. How do we get them off our trail?”
“They do all care that much,” Leo said. “They’re not just reacting because the
people told them to react. Selene actually believes she can change what’s happening here. But
I think we need to spread operations out all over Ourania and eventually Astraea so that they
don’t seem so suspicious of here and that we can scatter them all around.”
“I thought the war was over?” Amour asked.
“The battle was won,” Karma said. “The war was never ended.”
Leo nodded. “Electra and Selene haven’t found a treaty that works for both of them.
Ellie could care less, Selene's Just a difficult person.”
“Does she know?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t want her to worry about anything more than she already
is. She has the treaty to worry about. I told her I’d take care of her.”
“She’s pregnant isn’t she?” Amour blurted, as Leo blinked.
“How’d you—?”
“I had a feeling,” Amour said. “Does anybody know or—.”
“Just me and her, and now I guess you two,” Leo said, stroking his beard. “So don’t
tell anyone.”
“Secrets safe with us,” Amour said. “How far along is she?”
“Four months,” Leo said. “She uses magic to hide it. So that the paps don’t bother
her about it like they did her mom.”
“That’s nice and all,” Karma said, placing his feet on the table. “But we have other
pressing things to talk about and Mo your dad’s waiting for you outside.”

21

EIGHT



GLORY DAYS

AMOUR STOOD IN FRONT of the Omen Institue of Psychiatry,
standing at the top of the spiraling staircase that led the door, her father and brother behind
her. She sort of felt bad for letting her mother check herself in. maybe she could’ve helped her
herself. But she knew that her mother needed the help, that whatever she had seen had been
too much for her. She hadn’t asked her what she had seen, she hadn’t wanted to pry. But from
what she had heard from the nurses on the phone, her mother had seen and heard more than
she could bear and her father going missing had been her tipping point.

She wanted to know more. She wanted to be a help toward her mother even though
her mother hadn’t had the capacity to be a help towards her. She tried imagined ways that
wouldn’t tear her mother down anymore. That whatever had scarred her hadn’t happened and
they could’ve lived happily ever after.

But Amour had been harboring her mother’s secrets for years.
The secrets had become a burden upon her just as much as it had her mother. But
Amour wasn’t sure if she could share them with anyone, not until her mother was ready to do
so. Her mother’s reputation was much worse than her father’s. Sure he was a sociopathic
murderer and perhaps that was worse, but her mother had her own reputation to uphold. She
dealt drugs to people in Astraea. It would give them a few minutes to feel just how a
blackblood felt on the regular. And to say it angered them that they couldn’t feel that way all
the time was an understatement.
The blackbloods harbored abilities that they could imagine. The bluebloods weren’t
equipped for it and when they took the drugs, they were broken inside. Slowly, very slowly,
their insides became fried, working at highspeeds to maintain their normal body functions.
Usually it was too much and it would kill them. When too many people came calling liars on
her mother, that was when they skipped town. The people were too broken inside to remember
to go after her.
Her mother was at the top of that monopoly, making millions upon millions for the
work she did. But if she had kept the money for herself, they wouldn’t have lived the way they
did. Her mother only knew bits and pieces of the life her father lived, believing
wholeheartedly that he was a detective and that he was going into what was causing these
deaths while protecting her from being caught. They worked together in that sense, otherwise
they barely spoke. That was part of the reason her father was never home.
Her mother had usually gone drunkenly about how it was her fault and when she
was younger, Amour had believed her. But now she was a part of the world of chaos that her
parents had created, caught right in the middle of their web of lies. Though she hadn’t taken
part of her mother’s business, she still did get paid for it per her mother’s request. And she was
a part of her father’s killing squad, finding blackbloods and bluebloods alike that the King of
Ourania saw as a threat to him getting his way.
You could say that King Leo was corrupt, though the monarchy had been that way
for years. It had only been created to combat the monarchy in Astraea. Astraea had once been
a part of Ourania but the disparity between the two blood types caused them to separate and
wage into centuries of war. Today, they were more close to reconciling than they had ever
been. That had only been because both Astraea and Ourania claimed Electra as their own and
she hadn’t had the heart to choose between them, even if she was more clearly a part of
Ourania.
She was the only exception, the only person in Astraea born of black blood. Like her
grandmother had said, she was a special case. The rest of the kingdoms weren’t as simple.
They had hatred in their bones. Each side thought their lives would have been better had they
been born into the other side. But her mother had assured her that that wasn’t the case.
That she couldn’t change who she was and that was okay.

22

They entered the building, following the receptionist’s directions toward her
mother’s room.

“Hey Amour!” Electra said with a wave. Amour found it odd that she’d find her
here, but she recalled faintly the newscast from this morning had said she’d be here.

“Hi!” Amour said cheerily. Electra’s grin faltered as Amour realized that she had
taken notice of her father who was glaring at her. Amour elbowed him in the side. “I’ll see you
later?”

“Yeah,” Electra said with a smile, walking past them and continuing checking on the
inhabitants of the rooms that didn’t seem to get any visitors.

Finally, after struggling to understand the receptionist’s directions, they found their
mother’s room. They stood in front of the door for a moment before knocking.

“Come in,” the soft voice of her mother echoed through the brass door. They opened
the lock latched onto it, five in total before entering the room. Her mother smiled at the sight
of her children, before curling up in a ball and screaming at the sight of their father. “GET
HIM OUT!” she wailed, backing into a corner, rocking back and forth.

Her father raised his hands up in surrender, backing out of the room. Their mother
slowly began to relax. She unclenched her fists and pulled Art into an embrace, stroking his
hair. She was still shaking. Art embraced her, long and hard, whispering into her ear and
trying to calm her down. “You’re okay. You’re okay. I’m right here. You’re okay,” repeating
that enough times until she finally relaxed, before collapsing into a fit of sobs. Art looked up
at Amour shrugging his shoulders as if to ask, What am I supposed to do?

Amour shrugged her shoulders in turn, thinking of something that would get their
mother into a somewhat sane state. It didn’t make sense that the mere presence of their father
had set her off like this. The nurses had been so sure that she was doing better, that maybe she
would be able to get out this month if she passed all their required tests. But this, this made it
harder.

“Mommy,” Amour said, taking a hold of her shoulders. “Look at me,”
Slowly but surely, she looked up, her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Mommy I love you,” Amour said, her mother sniffling. “He won’t do anything to
you okay? I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Her mother’s breathing steadied, nodding her head.
“J-Just a f-f-few months ago I was reliving our g-glory days,” Her mother said.
“Now I don’t know if I can trust him. He’s insane!”
“Says the one in the asylum!” her father called from the other side of the door, her
mother freezing up again.
“Dad!” Art chastised. “Go get coffee or something.”
They could still see his silhouette through the glass pane, before he huffed and
stomped toward the cafeteria.
“See now he’s gone,” Amour said. “It’s just you me and Art, okay?”
She nodded, closing her eyes and counting to ten.
“What’d he do that was so...,” Art began, struggling to put it in a way that didn’t set
her off.
“What did he say that scared you so much?” Amour asked. “You wouldn’t be
panicking if he hadn’t done anything. Did he hurt you?”
“No,” her mother said, frowning. “He almost did, but he didn’t.” she paused when
they heard distant shouts. “Art go check on him.”
Art grumbled, getting up and going toward the sound of the chaos.
Her mother turned toward her, lowering her voice, staring directly into her eyes. “I
know what he got you into my Amour. And I can’t do anything to get you out of it. He
purposefully set it up for you. When you went out to check on Art, both of you witnessed the
monsters he helped create. Having one of them convince you to join him.” her mother
shuddered, taking a shaky breath. “Convincing you that the monster loved you. They’re just
using you my Amour.” she gripped onto her hand, spiraling now. “I don’t want you to become

23

like him Amour. Your father’s a sick, sick man. When you get the chance, I want you to run.
Run far away from here, somewhere where he can’t reach you. But I know that’s growing less
and less possible. He has people everywhere. He has people in all the places you’d suspect and
where you wouldn’t.”

“Mom it’s fine-.” Amour began, though her mother raised her hand to shush her.
“I wish I’d been a better mother to you,” her mother rambled. “I wish I could’ve
saved you from the crumbling world your father and I created. I can’t change the past but I can
change the future. Promise you will get out of this? For me?”
“I promise,” Amour said hastily. “But mom what did he do to you?”
She waved her off, “That’s not important. I don’t want to add that to the burden that
I’ve put on you. I wish I could take it off of you, but your father he’s out of control. He took
the reins from me, that’s why he faked his death. To get the attention off of him so that he
could take control. But the power that he has, he doesn’t know what to make of it. And I’m
afraid of what he’ll do. The kingdoms will be back at square one. There will be strains upon
all of us. Your father will help wage the war the King doesn’t want to give up. But if you’ve
listened to anything I’ve told you, if you wanted to do anything to fix the mess we’ve made:
you have to tell the Queen. She’s our only hope, the warning…”
“There’s another one?” Amour asked.
“Yes, yes,” her mother said, pushing it aside. “There’s always another one. Once
one unfolds, another commences. But that’s besides the point. I know the King doesn’t want
her to know because he doesn’t want to place a burden on her shoulders but you have to
realize he is the burden. He’s making it impossible for her to create any changes because of
him trying to fulfill his father’s blasted destiny. So tell her.”
A knock was heard at the door, so Amour hesitantly walked toward it, taking a
breath of relief when she found Electra at the door. From the look on her face, it seemed that
she had been waiting for the right moment to knock, even if she had quickly masked it.
“Amour...hey,” Electra said with a smile. How she could smile so much, Amour had
no idea. Amour motioned for her to come in. Electra’s eyes scanned the room, before they
rested on where Amour’s mother sat, trying to fix up her appearance for the Queen. “There’s
no need for that. You look amazing.”
“And you...you look just like your grandmother!” her mother said, smiling at her. “I
meant your grandmother on-.”
“My dad’s side,” Electra said. “I get that a lot. She’s something.”
“Speaking of your dad,” Amour said. “Does he know anything that Leo’s doing?”
“I didn’t know what Leo was doing until I heard you,” Electra scrunched her nose.
“But now that I think about it, they do talk a lot more than they usually do. And they change
things before I actually can see what they were looking at. So I don’t know.”
“Does that change anything?” Amour asked.
“Even if it did, I can’t do anything about it,” Electra shrugged.
“You’re not thinking of divorcing or anything right?”
“I can’t do that even if I wanted to,” Electra said. “Which I don’t. I’m not going to
overreact over him keeping things from me. That’s on him. He would’ve told me eventually I
guess.”
“Why can’t you though?” Amour asked with a frown.
Electra looked up at her, her green eyes a maroon color now, “I could’ve before I
conceived a potential heir. Now I’m stuck with it. He knew what he was doing when he did
it.”

24

NINE


WHERE TO BEGIN

CHASITY WRUNG HER HANDS, staring up at the building where
Electra had informed her she would be today, Women's Institute of Psychiatry. And no, she
wasn’t here to get help for herself. She just wanted to see her and detail anything else she
could remember.

She entered the building, holding onto Crew’s hand, walking up to the receptionist
who didn’t bother to look up when she arrived at the desk, “What do you need today?
Checking in?”

“No,” Chasity with a forced smile. “I’m looking for the Queen. She told me to meet
her here.”

The woman rolled her eyes, clicking the earpiece on her ear, communicating to
someone on the other end. “Room 12a, twelfth door on the left.”

Chasity followed the woman’s directions but the walls seemed to circle around and
going to the left didn’t lead her anywhere near 12a. She didn’t want to return to the desk and
get embarrassed by the woman, so she continued down the winding halls, following the
random signs that eventually led her to her destination. She knocked on the door, waiting for a
response. It opened and Electra smiled at her, “Chasity! You came.”

“I did,” Chasity said, rocking back and forth. “How are you?”
“I’ve been better,” Electra said, motioning for her to come in. “How are you?”
“I think I’m better than I was before,” Chasity said, taking notice of her
surroundings, her gaze landing on Amour. “Hey Amour. I haven’t talked to you in a bit. How
are you?”
“I’m doing alright I guess,” Amour said, forcing a smile. Chasity’s vision tunneled,
as she saw something from a few days prior, when her mother had died. Chasity glanced at
Amour in horror. “It was you!”
“What was me?” Amour asked, innocently.
“You, you killed my mom!” Chasity said. “I remember now.’
“Amour is that true?” her mother asked, not sounding as surprised as Chasity had
hoped.
“I would never,” Amour said, both Electra and her mother raised a brow. “Okay.
Fine. I did. But I didn’t have a choice, okay?”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” an unfamiliar girl said, entering the room, shutting the door
behind her.
“Who are you?” Chasity asked.
“Amour knows,” the unknown girl said. “Or at least I hoped my dear old brother
told you about lil’ old me?”
Amour stared at her blankly, unable to place the face to any name.
“The name’s Kitty,” said the fiery haired girl. “Karma’s sister. He hasn’t said a thing
about me? I’ll have a word with him. But anyway, I can help you.”
“Why would you do that?” Amour asksed, Chasity elbowed her in the side.
“Don’t be rude Mo,”
“Yeah,” Kitty said mockingly. “Don’t be rude Mo.”
“I’m not being rude,” Amour said. “I’m just asking why you’d do that. What’s in it
for you?”
“What’s in it for me?” Kitty pondered aloud. “Where to begin. Well I do get to
humble Karma. He’s my dad’s favorite just because he did what he wanted him to. ‘But why
Kitty, why don’t you want to fulfill your family legacy?’” She said in a mock deep voice.
“Because I don’t want to be a dad!’ Karma made him happy when he did. I am left in the
shadows. He doesn’t even acknowledge my presence. Have you met him?” she didn’t give her

25

time to answer, answering herself. “ You probably haven’t. Karma may be his favorite but he
knows better. My dad would literally kill you, or like you. I’m not really sure with you.”

“Um thanks? I think?” Amour said.
“I’m not saying you’re not likeable,” Kitty rambled. “I’m just saying that he’s very
particular about things like that. Karma’s never had a girlfriend though, at least he never told
me if he did. But that’s how my dad is to my boyfriend so I’m pretty sure he’d be the same
way to you. You seem likeable, tolerable, possible sister-in-law material.”
“We’ve only been dating for like two days,” Amour said. “Slow yourself.”
“But Karma’s obviously into you!” Kitty gushed. “And I’m not opposed to it.”
“You talk a lot,” Electra noted, as Kitty nearly leaped out of her skin.
“Oh my gosh!” Kitty gasped. “You’re Queen Electra! Should I like curtsy or
something?”
“You’re fine,” Electra insisted.
“Well alright then,” Kitty said. “But can I just say, that you’re like my hero and all.”
“You think I’m a hero?” Electra mused.
“Better than most people,” Kitty shrugged. “I mean you’re not always a hero and
you’re not always a villain. So you’re like an anti-hero.”
“An anti-hero?” Electra asked. “I’ll take that. It has a nice ring to it.”
“So anyway,” Kitty said. “Not that I was um eavesdropping or anything—.”
“You obviously were,” Chasity said. “But go on.”
“Congratulations,” Kitty said to Electra. “And I swear I won’t tell anyone.”
Electra only smiled at her, sitting down on the chair, her eyes flashing in a flurry of
colors.
“Are you okay?” Amour asked, placing her hand on her shoulder.
“Fine,” Electra said, squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m fine.”
“Her emotions are all jumbled,” her mother informed. “That’s why her eyes are
changing so rapidly. It happens when you expend too much magic or you’re stressed. Which I
suppose you are both?”
Electra sighed, opening her eyes once more, “You could say that, I guess.”
“But we’ll all be fine,” Kitty said. “I’ve come to the rescue.”
“No offense or anything Kitty,” Amour said as the girl nodded. “But I don’t really—
.”
“Trust me?” Kitty interrupted. “I get that. But what would you do if my brother
knew that you knew what he knew and that you were plotting to destroy it? He’d be pretty
mad.”
“But he already knew that I knew,” Amour said. “I was there when he talked about
it. Even if I don’t know much about it, I still know the gist of it, just not much about the
details.”
“Your job is to get more details,” Kitty said. “Chasity, Amour’s mom, Queen, you
act oblivious.”
“What about me?” Crew asked, playing with the laces of his shoes. “What do I do?”
“You keep a secret,” Electra said. “For me.”
“And you’ll take me to your castle?” Crew asked hopefully.
“Yes I will,” Electra said, bopping him on the nose. “I have to go, but I hope you
feel better Chas, Amour’s mom, Mo.”
“Can I come with you?” Crew asked, Electra smiled down at him, ruffling his hair.
“It’s fine by me,” Chasity said with a smile. Crew jumped up and down, taking hold
of Electra’s hand as the two disappeared down the long and puzzling hallway.
Amour pressed a kiss to her mother’s temple as she drifted off into sleep.
“I love you Mommy,” Amour whispered, placing a blanket over her.
“I love you too my Amour,” her mother mumbled.
They slowly shut the door behind them, as the three girls made their way out of the
confining, maze like building, before they went their separate ways.

26


“THANKS SO MUCH DAD,” Art said. “I didn’t even get to spend any time with
mom.”
“And that’s my fault?” their father retorted.
“Both of you shut up,” Amour said, tired of hearing the two bicker. “We’re still here
so you can still talk to her.”
Art stood in front of the door for a moment, before turning the knob. He spent a few
minutes there, before coming out.
“She wants to talk to you dad,” Art grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest, their
father pushing past him. They pressed their ears toward the door, straining to hear what they
were saying but couldn’t make it out. The door opened and they fell over, their father glancing
down at them.
“Still eavesdropping I see,” he said, helping them up. They made their way out the
door and into the car, Art and her father continuing to bicker. Amour ignored them as she
drove, but soon the bickering became unbearable.
“Both if you shut your mouths,” Amour snapped. “Or you’ll walk the rest of the
home,”
“Are you threatening me?” her father asked in pride.
“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.” Amour said, through gritted teeth, her grip
tightened on the steering wheel. The two shut up almost immediately, neither wanting to walk
the ten miles or so back home or see Amour get angry.
Amour enjoyed the quiet, not used to them being like that for too long. She knew
what had caused their tension but she had no idea how to alleviate it, taking on the next best
thing: making them shut their mouths so that she could for once hear her own thoughts in her
head. But hearing them made her question things. All that she stood for had been uprooted by
the news her mother had shared with her.
The fear in her eyes as she detailed how she truly felt about the path her father had
taken. How she was glad she had taken herself off the path to destruction and how she feared
for Amour not to take her steps. Amour had no idea how she could remedy her situation and
had pushed the thoughts out of her head. She instead put her focus on the road in front of her.
But as the cars seemed to not be moving, she delved back into her own thoughts, her mind
racing a mile a minute. Thoughts that she could not fathom why her mind had brought up,
bombarded her mind.
She had no idea where she stood at this particular moment. She still couldn’t grasp
the newfound reality that had been tossed her way, but she was trying to. Hearing the soft
pitter-patter of rain on her windshield sent her deeper into her thoughts, the silence drowned
out.
She didn't know how she was supposed to feel. Did Karma really love her or was
this all a game for him? Could she trust Kitty, who she now realized looked and acted a lot
more like Karma than she realized. Would she have the courage to confront her father,
demand answers? Would she find out what Karma and Leo had spoken about like the others
wanted her to? The more time she had for her thoughts, Amour realized why she didn’t like
silence. It only sent her into a spiraling out of anxiety. It let her get into her own mind, which
was never a good thing.
“You guys can talk now,” Amour said after a moment of calming her mind down.
Art quirked a brow as if to say, Is this a trap? “It’s not a trap, I swear.”
Both looked at her skeptically, before they began to speak once more, bickering
about things Amour didn’t quite care about. Amour couldn’t complain, the noise was better
than the silence. At least this noise wasn’t her bickering with herself in her head.

27

TEN


PAVE THE WAY

“WHAT ARE YOU GUYS EVEN GOING ON ABOUT?” Amour asked.
“Nothing,” they said at the same time. Amour rolled her eyes.
“It's obviously something,” Amour stated flatly. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be
screaming Bloody Murder.”
“Dad’s just being dad,” Art shrugged, sinking into his seat.
“What is that supposed to mean?” her father questioned, narrowing his eyes at Art.
“Nothing personal,” Art said. “But you’ve always done something when we go out.”
That wasn’t a lie. As far back as Amour could remember, her father had always
done something outlandish that usually got him into trouble. He always somehow got out of it.
“Is that true Mo?” her father asked.
Amour shrugged her shoulders. “He’s not wrong.”
“Unbelievable,” her father muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and staring out
the window. Amour let out a breath of relief when they arrived home a few minutes later.
Once they entered the apartment, their father stormed into his room, Art did the same and
Amour was left alone, seating herself in the living room and watching television aimlessly.
“Hey Mo,” Karma said after entering through the door, draping his arms over her
shoulders and pressing a kiss on top of her head.
“Hi Kar,” Amour replied, scooting over so he could sit with her. She smiled at him,
running her fingers through his hair.
“You seem extra perky,” Karma said, leaning against her hand. “Why is that?”
“Can I not be perky?” Amour asked with a laugh.
“You’re only perky when you want something,” Karma said, lifting his head up.
“What do you want?”
“I don’t want anything.” Amour insisted, as he placed his hands on either side of her
face, pulling her closer.
“You sure,” Karma asked, teasingly brushing his lips with hers.
Amour hummed in response, as he pressed a kiss to her lips, smiling at her.
“How was your day?” Karma asked, propping his head on his hand, staring at her
intently.
“Great,” Amour said. “My mom’s getting better I think. How was yours?”
“Great,” Karma said with a smile. “Me and the king talked about things.”
“What sort of things,” Amour asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Can’t talk about it,” Karma said.
“Why not?” Amour pestered, poking his cheek. He forced a smile.
“I just can’t Mo, drop it,” Karma snapped.
“I met your sister today,” Amour stated softly.
“Oh no,”
“She was nice,” Anour said.
“Where did you see her?” Karma asked. “I haven’t seen or talked to her in ages.”
“The asylum,” Amour said.”I think she checked herself in.”
“Why would you say that?”
“The doors say people’s names,” Amour said. “She walked with me to hers.”
Karma sighed, running his hand over his face, placing it over his mouth.
“Why would she—?”
“She talks a lot,” Amour said. “The nurse kept having to give her a shot of
something.”
Karma’s eyes widened. “What color was it? The liquid in the shot I mean.”
“Red. Why would you—.” Anojr stopped herself. “Oh.”

28

“Yes oh,” Karma said, standing up and pulling Amour to her feet. “We’re going to
break my sister out of there.”


“I’M SORRY SIR,” the receptionist said in monotone. “But we can emit his patient
unless they want to be and they’ve passed our tests that seem like they are mentally well
enough to roam our streets.”
“I’m sorry sir,” Karma mocked. “But she isn’t old enough to make the decision for
herself. She’s fourteen!”
“Precisely sir,” the woman said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
“That’s why your father did it.”
“My father did what?!”
Patients that roamed the lobby jumped at the sound of the booming voice.
“Sir you’re causing a commotion,” the woman said. “I’m sure we can settle this
calmly, so you can cut the dramatics.”
They were now the only people in the lobby.
“Mo, cover for me,” Karma said through gritted teeth. Amour sighed, fishing
through her bag, before clicking a few buttons, the security system came undone.
“Sir what are you doing?” the woman asked in confusion, clicking buttons on her
computer. “The security system is down.”
Karma only smiled, glancing at the woman for a moment, the doors shutting around
them. Amour produced a knife, tossing it toward him as he pressed it to her neck.
“Now I didn’t really want any problems,” Karma said. “But you give me no choice
ma’am.”
“Please,” she whimpered out, gasping for breath.
“I think I can solve this on my own,” Karan continued. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”
The woman fell limp on the floor.
“Watch her while I get Kitty,” Karma growled, jogging through the halls. Amour
looked down at the women, crouching beside her and taking a hold of her cold hand.
“I’m sorry,” Amour mumbled, blinking her eyes rapidly so that tears didn’t actually
fall. “This wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”
Amour sniffled, wiping the unshed tears from her eyes, reaching out and closing the
woman’s eyes. She stood back up, looking around for any onlookers, before Karma returned
with Kitty not far behind him. Once they left, Karma lifted the body of the dead woman,
placing her inside of a bag, tossing it into the river.
Kitty's mouth gaped open as she stared at him in shock
“Karma!” She exclaimed as he only shrugged
“I did what I had to do,” Karma said, pulling her into a hug. “Why’d dad put you in
there?”
“For this medicine,” Kitty lied. “It made me feel weak , like they were draining me
of my energy. It was something they usually gave the black bloods to temporarily take away
their magical ability, I usually don't talk. Then they wouldn’t give it to me.”
“They shouldn’t have given it to you,” Karma muttered. “It could’ve killed you.”
“You’d be perfectly fine with that,” Kitty retorted. “You’re a damned murderer.”
“I wouldn’t want to lose you,” Karma insisted. Kitty lifted up her hand to hush him.
“You’re my sister.”
“That never meant anything to you before, did it?” Kitty said, looking down at her
boots, Karma opened his mouth to speak, to hug Kitty and put her hand up once more.
“Whatever, forget up about anything I just said. You’re really good at it. Let’s blow this
popsicle stand.”

29

ELEVEN


EXTRAORDINARILY YOU

“SO DID YOU FIND OUT ANYTHING?” Kitty asked later that evening,
startling Amour from her near slumber. She’d forgotten that she’d agreed to share a room with
the girl while Karma slept in Art’s room per her father’s request.

“He didn’t tell me anything,” Amour said, flopping onto her stomach.
“Why not?” Kitty asked. “Does that not make you suspicious in any way?”
“I mean it does,” Amour said. “But if doesn’t want to tell me, I can’t pry it out of
him.”
“Or can you?” Kitty asked with a devious grin.
“I just said I couldn’t,” Amour said with a frown. “What are you talking about?”
“Black mail is key ma’am,” Kitty said. “And I have many things I can blackmail
him with. I’ve been stacking them up, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
“I don’t quite know how I feel about that,”
“Oh sweetie,” Kitty said. “There’s no particular way you have to feel about it. It just
is what it is. Besides you can still be with my brother even if you’re stabbing him in the back.”
“That makes me sound like a horrible person,”
“You’re not horrible,” Kitty said. “You’re just extraordinarily you. Even if you’ve
done some stupid things in the past, this is the present. You are who you are now. Nothing
matters about what you did before and what you’ll do in the future. You just have to be in the
now.”
“You’ve been reading too many psychiatry brochures haven’t you?” Amour teased.
“It was the most boring time of my life there,” Kitty admitted. “I actually liked
spending time with Karma more than I did being in there. Gosh I can’t believe I just said that.
You can slap me to see if I’m dreaming?”
“You’re not dreaming,” Amour said. “But I will gladly slap you.”
Amour slapped her cheek and Kitty shook her head wildly.
“Thanks Mo,” Kitty grinned. “I need that. So anyway, what can we do other than
blackmailing, because you don’t seem keen about that?”
“Why would I want to blackmail someone?”
“Why are you acting like you’ve never done it before?” Kitty asked. “Karma is not
special. Put your feelings aside and think about yourself. What does Amour want? Do you
want to go on with this, see if you're just a ploy in Karma’s plan. Or do you want to back out
and go back to how things were. Because it is your choice. I am not going to force you to do
anything, m’kay?” Amour sighed, placing her head in her hands.
“Go on with this obviously,” Amour said. “Who do you take me for?”
“Well then,” Kitty said. “If you can’t get information. Let’s hope that Electra can.”
“Uh huh,” Amour said, closing her eyes. “Night Kitty.’
“Sweet dreams Mo,”

Amour’s dreams were anything but sweet. She was running and she didn’t know
what from. She heard a growl as she ran through the forest, her only goal was to get away.

“Amour,” called a familiar voice. Why it sounded so familiar she had no idea.
“Amour,”

The voice was much closer than it had been before. She turned to take a look,
catching sight of a man in a cloak, stalking behind her, with familiar orange eyes.

Karma.
“I know your secret,” he said. “Why are you keeping secrets from me?”
“You did it first,” Amour thought to herself, pushing her feet to go faster.

30

“Why are you running away from me?” Karma asked innocently. “I would never
hurt you. Stop so we can talk.”

But the voice in her head told her it was a trap, so she continued running.
“You made your choice huh?” Karma said, making a tutting sound, before
disappearing into the trees.
Where’d he go? Amour didn’t know. Suddenly, there was a rustle of the leaves and
Karma landed in front of her, a grin on his lips. He was blocking her path. He took hold of her
shoulders, pulling her closer to him.
“Are you afraid of lil’ ol’ me,” Karma cooed, placing his finger under her chin.
“Why would I be?” Amour retorted.
“If you weren’t afraid, you wouldn’t be running, would you?”
This dream felt way too real, Amour thought.
“I’m not running away,” Amour said. “I’m leaving.”
“But the fun’s just beginning,” Karma said. “You brought this on yourself Mo. You
chose my sister’s plan over us. You let her get in your head. I never let her do that. Because
guess what Mo? She’s worse than me. She wanted more and my father was afraid to give it to
her. She’s insane, that’s why I put her in the asylum, not my dad. I had to get rid of her, I just
didn’t have the heart to kill her. I’m not completely heartless. Not like you. But maybe while I
had the chance, I should’ve killed her.”
“She’s insane?” Amour asked. “If she’s insane, you’re off the charts. I trusted you.
You said you loved me-.”
“But Mo, I do-.”
“You,’ Amour said, jamming her finger into his chest. “You lied to me. You were
the one who kept secrets first. You never told me what you really were doing. You used me.”
“Kitty’s the one that’s using you,” Karma said.
“You’re only with me because my dad told you to be, aren’t you?”
“It’s not like that Mo,” Karma said. “I mean at first that’s how it was. I was
supposed to get you to join your dad’s cause because he couldn’t do it himself. But I got to
know you for five years Mo. and I realized that you weren’t just...you weren’t just someone I
had to recruit. You were my friend and I realized I loved you.”
“I don’t believe you,” Amour said, pushing him away. A sparkle of light caught her
eye, as she followed it.
“Mo I wouldn’t-.”
Amour continued, following the light until it stopped over a tree stump. She reached
out and touched it. Her eyes glowed the golden color, Karma caught her before she could hit
the ground.
Lights flashed through her mind as a voice echoed through her ears.
“You’ve arrived Amour,” the disembodied voice proclaimed. “Took you long
enough.”
“Who are you?”
“You mean, who was I?” the voice sighed. “I was once a woman of great dignity
and power. But I let the power consume me, I let my hatred consume me and I started the war
between Ourania and Astraea. I’m surprised it’s still going on.”
“You’re Queen Scarlet?”
“I am,” she agreed. “But I am not here to chat with you. I’m here to give you your
warning.”
“My what now?”
The voice stopped, a buzzing rang through her ears, words filling her mind:
A girl born in a state of chaos
Must make a heart wrenching choice
Become her own boss
Or lose her reigning voice
Loose the one she loves

31

Or give into his hate
Put herself above
Or mold this into her fate
Become increasingly heartless
Locking herself into her fortress
Then the light dissipated, as Amour found herself back where she had left her dream
off: in Karma’s arms.
“You okay Mo?” Karma asked, worriedly staring down at her.
“I’m fine,” Amour huffed, standing up, dusting herself off.
“Are you sure?” Karma asked.
“I’m sure,” Amour said.
“Well then,” Karma said, walking toward her, placing his hands around her throat.
“I did lie, Mo. I don’t love you. You were right.”
“You’re bluffing,” Amour said with such certainty.
“Are you sure about that? Karma asked, his grip tightening. “What if this all was a
lie? What if I said all that just so you would come back with me? So you would come home?”
“Exactly,” Amour said. “What if.”
Karma smiled. “I adore you Amour. But.”
“But what?”
“I adore the power more,” Karma said. “I’m not letting you get in between that and
me.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Amour asked in amusement.
“I’m going to do what Kitty couldn’t do perfectly,” Karma said. “You’re not invested
in her cause. You’re not invested in mine. You’re in limbo and I’m going to break you out of
it.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“Your necklace,”
Amour stared down at the heart on her chain. “What about it?”
Karma didn’t answer, his free hand taking hold of the necklace. Electricity ran
through Amour’s veins, as the green heart turned red. Amour’s eyes fluttered closed, the
electricity running rampant in her brain. Once he let go, she felt better but she also felt that
something was off.
“How are you feeling Mo?” Karma asked with a devious smile.
“Better,” Amour said.
“Help me find Kitty,” Karma said. “Let me squash her little rebellion.”
Amour’s dream then faded out into darkness. She wasn’t sure what her answer had
been.

Amour awoke to someone trying to shake her awake. She got up quickly, slamming
her head into the other person’s. Her vision focused, rubbing her forehead as she looked to the
person who had shook her. Kitty.

“Sorry Kitty,” Amour said. The girl winced.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m fine. Were you having a nightmare?”
“I don’t know what I was having,” Amour said. “It felt so real.”
“What did?”
Amour pondered if she wanted to recount the dream. She decided not to.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Amour said. “What time is it?”
“Around noon,” Kitty said, looking at her worridley. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” Amour assured. “I just have to get to work. I’ll talk to you later Kitty.”

32

TWELVE


MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

AMOUR WAITED TABLES at the coffee shop, pondering her dream and trying
to make sense of what it may. The more she thought about it, the more confused she got. Gem,
Lucky, and Nerissa helped her. The shop was more busy than it usually was. The four of them
hadn’t spoken since the last time she was in the shop.

“There’s a meeting today Mo,” Gem said, as the two of them took their break.
“I heard,” Amour said, taking a sip of her coffee,
“What do you think it’s going to be about?” Gem asked. “We haven’t had a meeting
since-.”
“Since ‘my dad died’, I know,” Amour said.
“Why’d you use air quotes?” Gem asked.
“Turns out he’s not dead,” Amour said. “He faked his own death. I don’t really
know why.”
“That’s odd,” Gem agreed. “But it sounds like something he would do, doesn’t it?”
“I mean he already did it,” Amour shrugged. “He didn’t explain why he did.”
“I’m sure he had his reasons,” Gem said, poking her arm. “But enough about that.
How are you and Karma? Are we going to hear wedding bells ringing anytime soon?”
“We’ve been dating for like what?” Amour said. “A year. So no, you’re not.”
“By the way,” Gem said. “I have a proposition for you.”
“I don’t like where this is going,”
“It’s not what you think it is,” Gem said. “At the meeting today, I’m going to ask
you a favor.”
“So you already know what it’s about?”
“Partially,” Gem said. “I’ve been planning this for ages. But promise me you’ll say
yes.”
“I’m not going to agree to something I don’t know about,” Amour stated flatly. “But
if I like your proposition, I promise to accept it.”
“I’ll take that as an answer,” Gem said with a smile. “You’re a really great friend. I
don’t know if I’ve ever told you that.”
“I’m sure you have,” Amour said with a shrug. “Are you ready to get back to
work?”
“I’m never ready,” Gem said. “But let’s get back to it I guess.”
Gem draped her arm over her shoulder, leading her back to the counter where
Nerissa and Lucky switched roles with them, going off to take their break while they got back
to work. Amour took people’s orders, paying no mind to the opening and closing of the door.
She heard footsteps behind her, someone placing their hand over their shoulder.
“How can I help y-.” Amour paused mid-sentence. “Hi Kar. what’s up?”
“Can I talk to you?” Karma asked.
Amour chewed her lip. “Yeah, always.”
Karma took hold of her hand, leading her outside the shop and onto a bench in front
of the shop. She crossed her leg over her knee, looking at him, “What’s up?”
“I had a dream,” Karma said. “And I wanted to see if you could make sense of it for
me.”
“Okay,” Amour said. “I think I can do that.”
“I had a dream, that you were running away from me.” Karma said. “And I didn’t
know why, I just felt something pulling me after you.”
Amour paled. They couldn’t have had the same dream, could they?

33

“What happened then?” Amour asked, Karma taking notice of her change in
demeanor.

“You had the dream too, didn’t you?” Karma asked.
“Maybe I did,” Amour said. “I don’t know what it means though.”
“What did Kitty tell you?” Karma asked.
Amour looked away, looking down at her shoes. She had no idea how to explain
anything. How to do it without putting Kitty under the bus.
“Hey guys!” Kitty said cheerily.
Speak of the devil, Amour thought ,and she shall appear.
Karma narrowed his eyes at his sister, “Do not hey guys with me,” Karma snapped.
“What did you tell Mo? Why would you make her think I don’t love her? What’s your damned
plan Kitty?”
Kitty looked at Amour with betrayal in her eyes.
“Don’t look at her like that,” Karma snarled. “She didn’t tell me anything. I had a
dream. And it told me you were hiding something from me. What’s your plan Kitty?”
“My plan?” Kitty asked. “I don’t have one. But if I did, it would be to end your
career. People don’t deserve to be killed by you. You and the Blood Moons kill with no
mercy. You don’t care who you kill. You don’t care if they had husbands or wives, you don’t
care if they had children. You just tear innocent families apart. For what? What’s your deal?”
“You convinced Mo to stop didn’t you?” Karma said, dangerously calm.
“I did,” Kitty said. “At least she’s sane enough to see that there was something
wrong with what you guys do. At least she could see the light. You’re a lost cause Karma. I
tried to stop you, but I failed. Now I have the chance to save others from falling into your
rabbit hole.”
“So,” Karma said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You tried to turn my love
against me? Save her from what Kitty? She’s far from being saved and you are too.”
“What do you mean by that?” Kitty questioned. Amour’s gaze flickered from the
two, seeing Lucky, Gem and Nerissa stalk behind her, grabbing hold of her.
“You shouldn’t fight fire with fire dear sister,” Karma said. “What made you think
Amour actually was going to help you? I knew everything. I heard everything. All thanks to
Mo.”
Kitty turned to Amour, tears brimming in her eyes, “You lied to me?”
Amour wanted to say that she didn’t, but when she opened her mouth, nothing came
out. That was when she noticed the necklace from her dream on her neck. When and how it
got there, she had no idea.
Karma sneered at his sister, as she seemed to shatter under his gaze.
“You’re mission was impossible,” Karma said to her. “It wasn’t possible for it to
ever work. It wasn’t possible for you to turn her against me. Now look what you’ve gotten
yourself into Kitty. I told you I didn’t want you dead but now you’re going to wish you were.
You’re going into the compound.”
“THE COMPOUND?!” Kitty shrieked, trying to free herself from their grasps, but
their grips were like iron. “I’m not going there! You can’t make me!”
“I just did,” Karma smirked. “Take her away girls.”
Kitty wailed as they shoved her into the waiting vehicle, where Esperanza and
Honor took her away. Locking her in the back of the van, peeling away. Gem, Lucky and
Nerissa gave a thumbs up, before returning to the shop. Karma placed a hand under Armour's
chin, turning her attention toward him. His eyes blazed like a roaring fire, his nails digging
into her chin.
“You told me you loved me,” Karma said. “Was that a lie?” Amour winced. “You
told me that you’d always stick by me. Did you even try? We’ve barely been together, and in
that time we’ve had more secrets between the two of us than we’ve ever had. I know I didn’t
tell you what me and Leo talked about, because I can’t. But you didn’t have to go off and
listen to Kitty’s babbling. She’s said things like that for years. There’s nothing she could do

34

even if she wanted to. There’s nothing you can do. She broke her oath, will you make that

same mistake.” Karma smiled. “I know the warning. I know you’ll have to make a choice. So

tell me Amour, is it me or is it her?”

“You,” Amour said. “it’s always been you.”

“Good,” Karma said. “I don’t want to hear that you do anything like this again. I

don’t want you to leave me. I don’t want you to lie to me. We’re going to forget this

happened, okay? And we’re going to move on from it. I just have to know you won’t do it

again, okay? Promise me.”

It couldn’t be that easy, could it? There had to be something hidden under that,

Amour couldn’t place what.

“I promise,” Amour said. Karma studied her expression, waiting for the slightest of

changes. When he didn’t find any, he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips.

“I love you Amour,” Karma whispered in her ear. “I hope you know that.”

“I love you too,” Amour mumbled.

Karma smiled, pulling her to her feet, “Then let’s blow this popsicle stand.”



“THIS MEETING OF THE BLOOD MOONS, has officially commenced!”

Quain declared, ``Let's take a role.”

“Amour …...…...………. Beau ...……...……….. Delight……….……….

Esperanza

Fortune ……….………. Gem ……….……….Honor ……….……….

Ivory

Jewel ……….………. Karma ……….………. Lucky ……….……….

Majesty

Nerissa ……….………. Patience ……….……Quain ……….……….

Rebel

Sargent ……….………. Thea ……….………. Unique ……….……….

Victory

Winona ……….………. Xenia ……….………. Yasmin ……….……….

Zula.”

Kitty’s name was noticeably absent, a murmur filling through the crowd. Quain
raised his hand for silence and after a few more moments they obliged. He hit the mallet onto
the table, taking a step back. A shadow loomed over them, but they saw no one. Footsteps
echoed through the silent room, their eyes focusing on the shadow that drew nearer.

Clap, clap, clap.
Her father clapped his hands, walking on to the podium. He fiddled with the hood on
his head, bringing it down. Roars echoed through the chamber, people stomped their feet. For
the first time in five years, the chamber had been brought back to life. He raised his hand,
turning his back toward them. Just as fast as it had filled with sound, the chamber was swept in
silence.
“I have returned!” her father exclaimed, turning toward them. “I have found a way
for things to be bigger and better. I have made our army grow tenfold. I may have left but I
had my reasons. I made our world stronger than it has ever been. In our first meeting in years,
I have opened up an opportunity that had never been there before. I made us whole again.”
They roared in approval.
“Long live our leader!”
“Long live our leader indeed!” the unknown man said, appearing on the opposite
side of the chamber. Murmurs filled the crowd, as the tension in the air rose. “My my my. And
I thought you would never show your face again.”
“You dare to show your face here, Aura?” her father asked. “You dare to show your
face here after all these years? You know what you did.”

35

“I do,” Aura agreed. “But do you not remember what you did? Do you not
remember why you ran away?”

“I did what I had to do,” her father said. “You however are still not welcome here.”
Amour still couldn’t place the face, the murmurs only increasing throughout the
crowd. Gem nudged her.
“Who is that?” she asked. Amour only shrugged.
“I don’t know,” Amour said. Gem nodded, nudging Lucky and Nerissa who gave
her the same answer. Karma’s grip on her hand tightened as he stared at the mysterious man
intently. Amour’s gaze flickered back from Karma to the man and to Karma again. They
looked exactly alike. Karma noticed, looking down in what looked like shame.
“That’s my dad,” Karma said. “He’s the leader of the Solar Flares. Which is the
rivaling group of the Blood Moons. They used to be one but they got into a fight. I don’t know
why he’s here.”
“There’s so much I don’t know about you, huh?” Amour said bitterly.
“Mo,” Karma said. “Now is not the time.”
“Karma my boy!” Aura proclaimed, gasps filling the chamber. “Why don’t you
come say hello to your dear ol’ dad who has missed you so much? Choose your side. Come to
me, or return to Love.”
Millions of thoughts seemed to race in Karma’s mind. He felt Amour’s steady gaze
on him, knowing that whatever the choice was, Amour would hate him either way. Karma
walked forward, letting go of Amour’s hand, standing in between the two men, his gaze
flickering from one to the other. After what felt like ages, he finally made his decision, turning
his back on his friends and walking toward his father.
“That’s my boy,” Aura said, placing a hand on his shoulder. His eyes darted through
the crowd, before it landed on Amour. “And you must be Amour. I’ve heard so much about
you. Let me ask you a question: would you turn on your father to join my cause? Or are you
your father’s daughter?”

THIRTEEN


SELF MADE

AMOUR HATED HAVING THE ATTENTION on herself. She hated feeling all
their eyes staring up at her. Whatever her decision was, they would be sure to follow suit. She
felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“Amour is smarter than that!” Kitty’s voice rang through the chamber, their
attention turning towards her instead. “She wouldn’t side with you. You’re a monster!”

“Calling your own father a monster now Kitty?” Aura tutted, stalking toward her.
“Now that just hurts doesn’t it?”

Kitty backed away, her back hitting the wall.
“Now what’s your choice Amour?” he asked, pressing his sword into Kitty’s neck.
“I don’t have all day and poor Kitty’s life hangs in the balance.”
Amour had no idea what she was doing at the moment. One second she was standing
on the balcony, looking down at the man, the next she was standing next to him, his milk
colored eyes staring up at her, her hand wrapped around his throat.
“Mo—,” Karma said. “How’d you—?”
Amour didn’t know how she had. But then she heard the voice of Queen Scarlet in
her mind and she relaxed. She had saved both her and Kitty, how she did, Amour had no idea.
“Do not Mo me,” Amour snapped, her grip tightening around Aura’s throat. Kitty
beamed at her in thanks. Amour’s eyes flowed pink in fury. “You chose him over me. You
chose this over us. You went about how I should put my trust in you but you can’t put your
trust in me.”
“Kill him Mo,” her father said. “Finish him.”

36

Karma looked at her pleadingly and Amour’s focus faltered momentarily, enough
for Aura to roll away, though she placed her foot on his chest. He laughed bitterly.

“If you kill me,” he said. “It makes you no better than me.”
“I’m not going to kill you,” Amour said, her hold loosening.
“So you’ll join me?”
“No,” Amour said, her expression turning free of emotion. “I’m not joining you. I’m
staying here. And I won’t kill you. They will.”
Amour steps back as the members that were closest to her, surrounded Aura, raising
their swords and stabbing it into him. He was not yet dead. Kitty walked forward, standing
over her father.
“Kitty?” he asked hopefully.
“Don’t Kitty me,” Kitty snarled. “I wasn’t enough for you. I never will be you. And
that’s okay. But I’m not going to let you do what you do. I’m stopping this right now.”
Kitty raised her sword, stabbing him in his jugular, killing him instantly. Karma
backed away, aiming to enter the shadows.
“KARMA!” her father’s voice boomed. “For your act of treason, we would usually
sentence you to death. But, if I did that, my daughter would hate me. So I sentence you to
indefinite time in the compound, effective immediately.”
Victory Sargent and Rebel took hold of him, as Karma thrashed in their hold.
“And Kitty,” he said. “For your act of bravery, I am reinstating you back as a part of
the Blood Moons. Now that that is taken care of, Gem would like to share something with all
of you. Gem.”
Gem and Ivory walked toward the stage, hand in hand. Her father shook both of
their hands, taking a step back. The two of them surveyed the crowd, as Gem cleared her
throat.
“As you all know,” Gem began. “Ivory and I have been married for ten years. In that
time, we tried and tried again to conceive a child. But it didn't work. The doctors tried
everything and anything. Spells to speed up the process, spells to start the process. But all the
measures failed miserably. With the help of our leader Love, we came to the decision that we
needed a surrogate. And who could we trust other than you guys?” They hooted with applause.
“Thank you. So we have chosen our surrogate if she chooses to accept. If she doesn’t, another
one if you will. Amour?” Amour was shaken out of her thoughts. “Would you please be our
surrogate? Only if you want to.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Amour said.
“You won’t do it?” Gem asked sadly.
“Oh no, I will,” Amour said. “You’re my friend Gem. I'd do anything for you.”
Gem walked toward her, pulling her into a hug. Applause filled the room. Amour
smiled, returning the hug.
“Thank you so much,” Gem sniffled. “You’re a life changer. Let’s get going.”
“Like right now, right now?” Amour asked. “I mean I know I agreed but I didn’t
think we’d be doing this like today.”
“We have to see if it works silly,” Gem said. “You’re going to be a champ.”

In the doctor’s office, Amour felt nothing like a champ. First of all, she never did
like the doctor’s, mainly because she didn’t trust the doctor with her life. She always felt
claustrophobic in that tiny space and she made her feel uneasy with all her needles and
machines. At the moment, Amour was hooked up to more machines than she could count. The
doctor had a mad scientist type of hair that stuck up in all directions. She wore goggles and
gloves, pressing button after button. Amour felt cold in the gown, feeling goosebumps prickle
her skin.

“I have a question,” Amour said, raising her hand.
“I may have an answer,” the doctor said in monotone, smiling at her.
“Is this going to hurt?” Amour asked.

37

“Oh nonsense sweetheart,” the doctor said. “I won’t feel a thing.”
“I think she meant for herself,” Gem said, squeezing her hand.
“Still no,” the doctor said. “Would you like for me to explain the process to you?”
“That’d be nice,”
“There is traditional surrogacy. That’s when a woman gets artificially inseminated
with the father's sperm. She then carries the baby and delivers it for you and your partner to
raise.”
“I realize now I should’ve paid attention in Health class.”
“The process that we are doing today is called gestational surrogacy,” the doctor
said. “It's a technique called IVF, that now makes it possible to gather eggs from the mother,
fertilize them with sperm from the father, and place the embryo into the uterus of a gestational
surrogate!”
“You sound a lot like WebMd,”
“Precisely now I got this information,” the doctor said. “Well anyway, I’ve never
done this before and you’ll be asleep.”
“You’ve never what now?” Amour said, as the woman pressed a mask to her face.
The anesthesia smelled like bubblegum and Amour was knocked out cold.
When she awoke, she looked around, grumbling.
“Oh you’re awake,” the doctor said. “Now let’s check if the procedure worked.”
She punched in a few buttons, before turning to Amour with a smile. “Congrats
Amour. It succeeded. You are officially expecting.”
“Great,” Amour said, before she promptly passed out.
Gem looked in horror.
“Just a side effect of the anesthesia,” the doctor said. “She should wake up in two
weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Gem asked. “What time of anesthesia are you using doc?”
“It’s the only way this can work,” the doctor shrugged. “You can take her home.
She’ll wake up in a state.”
“A state of what?” Ivory demanded.
“Panic,”
“I see why Amour didn’t quite like you,” Gem said as Ivory lifted Amour up. “See
ya later doc.”
“But wait!” the doctor said. “There is a way to wake her up earlier.”
“And what would that be?” Gem asked. “True love’s kiss and that fairytale crap.”
“How’d you know?”
“We’re getting out of here,” Gem said, slamming the door behind her.



“TWO WEEKS?” Art asked, looking down at Amour. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what the doctor said,” Gem replied. “I mean there’s only one way to fix it.
We have to take her to Karma.”
“For what?” Art asked. “I don’t need that guy anywhere near my sister.”
“It’s the only way,” Gem said. “Besides, your dad said we couldn’t. He said to wait
for two weeks. But we have to find out how to wake her up soon. I don’t trust that doctor.”
“Fine,” Art said. “I think I know a way to get in without my dad knowing. Follow
me.”
Art led them around the back of the house, pulling a lever that opened a hole in the
ground.
“How long has that been there?” Ivory asked. “How didn’t we notice that before?”
“It has been there for as long as I can remember,” Art said. “Come on.”
Art plunged into the darkness and after a few moments Gem and Ivory followed
after him. They took a few twists and turns, as he came across a door. He tapped it, one, two,
three, before it swung open. Art motioned for them to move forward. Ivory placed hand over
Amour’s mouth when the girl began to make whimpering sounds.

38

“Shh,” Ivory said soothingly. “We’re going to fix this Amour, I promise.”
Amour showed no sign of hearing him, a frown crossing over her face, before she
became quiet once more. Ivory let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
“Just a few more steps,” Art said, tiptoeing through the cavern that led right to the
back of Karma’s cell.
“How do we get in?” Gem asked, tapping the wall, pushing against it before she
gave up. “It won’t budge.”
“It’s a wall Gem,” Art said bluntly. “It functions like any other wall. Nothing that
goes in comes out. But, I have a key.”
“You have a key to a wall?” Gem asked. “That is the oddest thing I’ve heard Art.”
Art placed a finger to his lips, pressing the ‘key’, which was actually a shimmery
rock, to the wall. For a moment, nothing happened. But then the wall disappeared with a flash.
They entered the padded room. It made Gem feel extra confined.
“Took you long enough,” Karma said. “What do you want this time Art?”
“You came here before?” Gem hissed at Art, who placed his hand over her mouth.
“Oh and you brought friends,” Karma said, turning to face them. “That’s lovely.”
Karma paused, taking in the scene in front of him. He walked toward them, glancing
between Gem and Ivory with gritted teeth.
“What did you do to her?” Karma asked, deathly calm. His orange orbs danced like
a flame, ready to erupt and engulf them all. He took Amour out of Ivory’s arms.
“You have to help her,” Gem said softly. Karma glared at her.
“I don’t have to do anything for you,” Karma said. “I had everything. I had Mo, I
had power. Now I have nothing, all thanks to you.”
“That was actually her but you know,” Gem shrugged.
“None of this is her fault,” Karma snapped, glancing down at her. “Not of it ever
was. What am I supposed to do?”
“Kiss her?” Gem offered. “At least that’s what the doctor said. True love’s kiss and
all that.”
“What makes you think she loves me?” Karma asked. “What makes you think I love
her?”
“Oh shut up,” Art snapped. “You two are inseperable, joined at the hip. Just because
you don’t agree on something, doesn’t mean you have to throw it all away. Your relationship
was self-made. You can’t just forget about it.” After a moment he added, “Just because I’m
saying this, doesn’t mean I like you. I tolerate you, there’s a difference.”
“Kissing without her consent isn’t right,”
“Since when did you care what was wrong and what was right?”
“Since I met her,” Karma sighed, leaning toward her. “I guess I’ll give it a try.”

FOURTEEN


DREAM BIG

FOR A MOMENT, NOTHING HAPPENED. They had thought they had done all
this out of vain. Art’s heart was beating apprehensively in his chest. He waited for a sign, it
didn’t matter how big or small. He just wanted his sister to be okay. He didn’t want her to be
like this forever, tears pricked in his eyes. He didn’t want to blink, afraid that he was going to
miss something if he so much as shut them for a second.

Amour meant the world to him. She was his rock in the chaotic sea. She had always
been there. He couldn’t think about how his life would be if she wasn’t with him. He couldn’t
think of how he would function. Amour had to wake up. He didn’t know what he would do if
she didn’t.

“See?” Karma quizzed. “This wasn’t going to work.”

39

But then it did. A yellow light surrounded Amour before she sat up. Her eyes were
like whirlpools, as she looked around wildly in panic.

“Hey,” Karma said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You’re okay.”
Amour seemed to momentarily forget everything that had happened, pulling him
into a hug. Karma stroked her hair, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Amour tensed but
she didn’t escape the embrace. She looked up at him, he looked down at her. Everything that
had happened came flooding back into her mind. Even so, Amour still didn’t want to let go.
“I’m sorry,” Amour mumbled.
“No, I’m sorry,” Karma insisted.
“I’m more sorry,’
“No I am,”
Amour smiled, a laugh escaping her lips before it faded into a sigh.
Mo we have to go,” Art said, tugging on her hand.
Gem and Ivory took a hold of Art’s arm, leading him into the cavern, the wall
shutting.
“What are you doing?” Art said, hitting the wall. “We can’t leave her here!”
“We’re not,” Gem said. “We’re just giving her time.’
Karma stared at the wall, his grip around Amour tightening, “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t,” Amour said, ignoring the alarms that had begun to ring. Karma’s hand
rested under her chin.
“Promise?” Karma asked softly, placing a chaste kiss to her lips.
“Promise,” Amour replied. He rested his chin on top of her head, pondering an
assortment of things. Sure he felt bad for turning his back on Amour when she needed him
most. When they’d gone on about the importance of trust. How quickly he’d broken it. But
now they were together again, no matter how temporary it was. He was happy she didn’t
completely hate him.
“Did it work?” Karma asked when Amour frowned at him. “The surrogate thing I
mean.”
Amour chewed her lip, “I think it did. I don’t remember. I woke up just to pass out.”
“I saved you,” Karma said. “You were barely breathing. Your skin was blue. I was
afraid—.” he paused, taking a shaky breath. “I don’t want to lose you Mo.”
“You won’t,” Amour assured, taking hold of his hand.
“Can you love me for the hell of it?” Karma offered. “Forget about everything that’s
happened. We’re going to start over. It’s you and me forever Mo.” Karma lifted the hand with
her ring, pressing it to his cheek. “That’s what we said all those years ago. I promised myself
to you and I don’t intend on breaking it.”
Amour froze at the sound of clapping, that echoed throughout the cell. She turned
toward the sound, finding none other than her father.
“They didn’t listen to me did they?” her father asked bitterly. “Art brought you here
against my orders. I’ll have to deal with him then.” He snapped his fingers, the door to the
cell opening. “Good job Karma. Bringing Amour back to life. Perhaps I misjudged you. You
are what my daughter needs.” he smiled sinisterly. “I’m going to give you another chance.
You’re going to swear your loyalty to me and this time, you won’t break it. Are we clear?”
Karma nodded. “Good. You’re going to bring any and everybody who was a part of Art’s little
plan to me. That includes the guards who played dumb and let him sneak through. My
organization will not fall because they trust my daughter more than they do me.” he smiled at
Amour. “And you my Amour. We’re going to start over. Forget that blasted Gem. You’re
going to kill that damn woman and her blasted husband. Or you bring them to me and I will
deal with them.”
The wall fell open, Gem and Ivory froze, glancing between the exit and their leader.
“Gem and Ivory!” her father’s voice boomed. “Fancy seeing you here. I’ll tell you
what, I won’t kill you. My daughter will give you your child when the time comes. But until

40

then, I’m going to torture the living daylights out of you. You’re going to wish you never
crossed me, do you understand?”

Gem and Ivory nodded, collapsing to their knees at his intense stare. He cracked a
smile, glancing briefly between them and his son. “And Art?”

“Yeah dad?” Art squeaked out.
“I like how you work,” her father said calmly. “How you can navigate these caverns
like the back of your hand. You thought I didn’t notice but I did. You knew more than I
thought you did. It’s time for you to accept your destiny Art. You don’t have to take over my
work, you’ll take over your mother’s. I’m sure she’d be proud of you.”
“Why are you talking about my mom like she’s…,” Art couldn’t bring himself to
finish the sentence, his heart beating a mile a minute in his chest. “You didn't ...,”
“I didn’t,” their father agreed. “I would never hurt your mother. I adore quite much.
I meant that she is proud of you. She just isn’t here to say it. Perhaps we shall pay her a visit,
you and me. I know you didn’t get to spend as much time with her as you wanted to.”
“What’s the catch?” Art asked, narrowing his eyes at his father. “There always is
one with you.”
“Have faith in me Art!” their father laughed. “There’s no catch. I’m not who I was
five eyars ago.”
“You’re right,” Art said. “You’ve changed. I can’t tell if it’s for the better or worse.”
“Only time will tell,” their father shrugged, flicking his wrist, chains taking hold of
Gem and Ivory. “Let the fun begin. Art, Amour, Karma, you’re dismissed.”
The three of them left the cell. Art looking behind them with a look of perplexion
before he disappeared among the swarm of people that seemed to have filled the small space.
Karma gripped on to Amour’s hand, leading her through the masses until they came in sight of
the night sky, the sky illuminated like blood. The blood moon had in fact risen tonight. The
two of them wandered the halls, finding themselves in the court room’s terrace.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” Karma asked, draping his arm over her
shoulder, resting his chin on top of her head.
“Not enough,” Amour grinned.
“I love you to the moon and back,” Karma said. “And much more. I know what we
should do.”
“What should we do?” Amour asked. Karma didn’t reply, searching through his
pockets, before he produced a small box, getting on one knee.
“I adore you Amour,” Karma said. “Since the day I met you, I couldn’t imagine my
life without you. For two years, you’ve worn that promise ring on your finger. For a year, we
were publicly together. I want to move one more step above that. Will you marry me under the
light of the blood moon?” Amour laughed.
“I swear,” Amour said, tapping his chin. “Was this planned?”
“Partially,” Karma shrugged. “Your dad talked to me a few hours ago. Said that if I
could wake you up, I’d get to marry you tonight.”
“That’s something,” Amour said.
“So what is it Amour?” her father asked from inside the courtroom. “Is that a yes?”
“I think it is,” Amour said, smiling at Karma.
“Well then,” her father said. “With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you
husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” he playfully shielded his and Art’s eyes.
Amour rolled her eyes, pressing a kiss to Karma’s lips.
“That’s my daughter!” her mother exclaimed, tears in her eyes. “That’s my beautiful
Amour.” Art and Amour’s mouths gaped open,“Mom?!” Art and Amour said at the same time,
both bolting toward their mother and crushing her in a hug.
“I told you she was alive,” her father scoffed, walking toward the three of them,
draping his arms around them. “Come on Karma,” her mother teased. “Your family now too.”
Karma walked toward them, draping his arms over Amour and Art’s shoulders. In
that moment, Amour felt happy. She didn’t know specifically what part of it had influenced

41

that feeling, but she was lying if she didn’t acknowledge that this was the happiest she’d been
in a long time.



CHASITY FELT THAT SHE WAS A MESS. She had just received news from
Kitty, Electra and Amour that they all had decided to back out of their plan. Chasity knew that
it wasn’t her fault. That they’d let the people around them dictate how they would see changes
made. But she still felt a bit betrayed in a sense. She had thought that they had truly turned a
leaf. But then again, she should have realized that there was no one in Omen that she could
trust. She shouldn’t have even thought of trusting a black blood when she couldn’t trust her
fellow blue bloods to keep their word. The people of Omen were an unpredictable bunch of
people. They did what they thought was right in the heat of the moment. They were all a part
of either the Solar Flares or the Blood Moons. Whoever they thought was more fit of their
support.

They all thought that they were important. They all thought that the world revolves
around them. But in reality, it didn’t. They couldn’t build a world over lies, that hadn’t worked
well between Ourania and Astraea. It was the only reason Electra was who she was today. It
was the reason why they all were the way they were. Because of a stupid belieft that the blood
that ran through your veins determined whether or not you were on the side of good or evil.
Even if both sides knew that they were both to blame.

Chasity had spent a month grappling this newfound news. In that time she hadn’t
seen Amour. Well she had, but the two hadn’t spoken. Amour hadn’t even acknowledged her
presence, which pained her.

She’d thought they were friends. She thought that they were thick as thieves, that
they were on the same page. But Amour only did things that benefited herself. In that sense,
she was undeniably heartless. But Chasity knew that she had a heart in there somewhere. That
it did tear her apart inside when she killed innocent people. But that part of Amour was long
gone, replaced by the cruel and unusual version of herself. Chasity would be lying if she had
said she hadn’t seen it coming. All three of her so-called allies had made the decisions on their
own terms, even if they knew they wouldn’t keep to their word.

They knew that Chasity was naive. That she would believe anything they told her
and take it to heart. But Chasity was tired of being used. She missed her mother and she knew
who had killed her. She’d been a fool to trust her in any way shape or form. She had stabbed
her in the back just like she had her mother. Chasity had been stupid enough to believethat she
had changed overnight. That she had become a new person.

Chasity wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Now she wouldn’t trust anyone
but herself. She was going to get back at her so-called friends and make them wish they had
never crossed her. She would make them take her seriously. Make them realize that they
couldn’t cast her aside when they had a bigger and better opportunity that only helped them.
She was tired of being stepped on and used. She was tired of getting battered and bruised and
left to rot. Chasity would show them how cruel she could get.

Chasity would show how it felt to lose everything even if she didn’t know how she
would do that quite yet. Chasity would show them, she would. She wasn’t going to let a
stupid promsie be forgotten. She wouldn’t let them put false hope into her and into Crew.

Speaking of Crew, the poor boy was still waiting for Electra to come back and take
him to her castle. But as time passed, he grew more and more frustrated. He stared longingly
out the window, waiting for a sign that she knew wouldn’t come. Finally he walked away from
the window, sitting next to Chasity but kept a significant space between them. Chasity looked
at him in pity, as he looked down, kicking his feet back and forth. It felt better to do that,
instead of thinking of the inevitable: that Electra wasn’t in fact coming back like she said she
would.

“I don’t think she’s coming back,” Chasity said bluntly.
Crew’s head snapped up, looking at her with determination in his eyes. “She said
she’s coming back. So I know she will.”

42

“You’d have to dream big,” Chasity said. “Then she’ll come back, that coward.”
“What did you call me?” Electra asked, as Chasity froze in fear. ‘Look at you
Chasity. Put your money where your mouth is. Look who’s the coward now.” she laughed. “I
did tell you I was coming back for you, didn’t I Crew. Did you tell her?”
Crew looked down. “Tell me what?” Chasity demanded, looking between the two of
them with narrowed eyes. “I’m leaving you,” Crew said. “To live with Electra. Sorry
Chasity.”

FIFTEEN


PICK YOUR POISON

CHASITY’S EARS RUNG, her vision blurred with unshed tears. This couldn’t be
happening. Not today at least. She’d thought she’d done everything that she could to make
sure that their lives still went as they normally had. She’d thought she’d done enough to take
on the role her mother had left. She’d thought she’d been enough. It turned out she was far
from it. She hadn’t been enough for Crew. She hadn’t met the high standard he had set for her.
She would never be her mother.

But it hurt that he’d decided to leave her for a complete stranger. They were bound
by blood. He had still chosen Electra over her. After all the memories they made together, all
the times she had spent as his older sister. He was leaving her for someone who resembled
more what he thought his mother to be. Electra reminded him more of their mother than
Chasity did. Even if Chasity was a spitting image of her, she wasn’t her. She never would be,
would she?

“Crew,” Chasity said, getting on her knees so that they would be at the same level.
“Why? I thought I was doing enough. I thought everything was fine. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Crew looked away, not having the heart to look his sister in the eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Crew mumbled. “I tried to tell you. You always said you were busy.
You always said that you had other things to worry about than me. So I wrote a letter to
Electra and she said I could come live with her if I wanted. I said yes. I love you Chas. you’re
the best sister ever. But I’m going. You can be as busy as you want to be. I’ll make it easier
for you.”
“Crew no,” Chasity said, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I am never too busy for
you.”
“I’m not changing my mind,” Crew said. “I’ll come and visit whenever.” he pulled
her into a hug. “I love you Chasity.”
“I love you too Crew,” she said. Pulling him arm length. “Please don’t leave me.”
“I have to,” Crew said. “You can’t take care of me anymore. You need someone to
take care of you. So Mo is going to come check on you from time to time. And I’ll be with
Electra and we’ll all be happy.”
“You,” Chasity said, jamming her finger in Electra’s chest. “You did this. You’re
taking my brother away from me as a final blow. You’re doing all this to spite me. You’re so
petty!’
“I don’t know what you’re going on about,” Electra said with a fake smile,
something Chasity had never seen her do. “But we’re going now. Come on Crew.”
Crew picked up his things, standing next to Electra. How Chasity hadn’t noticed it
before, she had no idea.
“Bye Chasity,” Crew said, waving at his sister, heading out the door. Electra waved
at her, her eyes glowing a bright purple, before she shut the door.
Chasity paused. She’d seen Electra’s eyes in many shades and colors. Red, orange,
yellow, green, blue. But never purple. She forgot her despair for a moment, grabbing the book
she had gotten from the library when she had started to see what made Electra, Electra. She

43

scanned it, her finger rested on the page. Purple meant possession. Purple meant some other
being, person, was controlling what she did and didn’t do.

Who would want to have control over Electra? Who would want to know everything
and anything she did? Who would want to keep her under lock and key?

It dawned on her and Chasity didn’t quite like it. The only person she could so much
as think of was Leo. This was all in his and Karma’s plan. They couldn’t have their wives go
on and ruin things for them. They had to keep them under lock and key. With Amour and
Electra, that seemed like an impossible task.

When they thought of something and liked it, it was hard to get them to stop. It was
hard to get them to stop believing that whatever it was would work. It was hard to tell them
no. Chasity knew that her friends wouldn’t abandon her for the sake of abandoning. There had
to be an underlying reason and there had been. It had been right under her nose the whole
time. Maybe she was as naive as they painted her out to be. She had to save them both from
themselves. She had to save herself from herself.

Chasity heard a sharp knock on her door, turning her attention toward it, peering
through the peephole. She sighed in relief as she opened the door,

“Hi Art,” Chasity said. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Yeah,” Art said. “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” Chasity said, wiping the forgotten tears from her eyes.
“I saw that they took Crew from you,” Art said. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” Chasity said. “I'll get over it eventually. So what’s up?”
“You have to get out of here,” Art said. “They’re coming for you.”
“Who?”
“Karma and Leo,” Art said. “You have to go before they get you.”
“Why should I trust you?” Chasity asked. “You and your sister are backstabbers.
You gave me false hope in something. And you justified her actions.”
“Look I’m sorry okay?” Art said. “But there’s no time we have to go.”
“We?” Chasity asked, quirking a brow. “Whatever. Give me a minute while I get
some things.”
Art waited impatiently for her return, a smirk on his lips.
When she did return, she opened the door, aiming to leave. But she came face to
face with a blade. She paled, following the sword to its owner: Karma.
“Good work Art,” Karma said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “You got her right where we
wanted.”
“You tricked me?” Chasity asked in disbelief but she wasn’t surprised. She
should’ve seen this coming. If she hadn’t been so emotionally drained at the moment, she
would’ve tried to fight being captured,
“Guilty as charged,” Art shrugged, taking a hold of her arm, binding her hands
behind her.
“Miss. Chasity,” Karma said in an announcer like voice. “You are being detained by
the Blood Moons for infantry and manipulation. We will break you. We will mold you into the
person we want you to become. Your group, Solar Flares, are no more. They have joined
forces with us. If you resist, it will only hurt you.”
“I’m not a part of the Solar Flares, whatever that is,” Chasity said.
“Are you resisting?” Karma asked. “Pick your poison Chasity.”
Chasity sighed, letting them lead her off to who knows where.

44

SIXTEEN



CONSEQUENCES

AMOUR HAD SPENT TWO MONTHS pondering the consequences Gem and
Ivory had had to face because they had tried what they could to save her when her father
couldn’t. How they had deliberately gone against his orders to help her. It almost made her
feel bad. Key word: almost.

They had only done it for the idea of having their own child. They didn’t care what
it took to get them there. Amour’s father had found her a new doctor who was medically
trained and not some rando in the alley. She had found out that while the procedure had
worked and she was carrying Gem and Ivory’s child, she was also carrying her own. The
doctor had been puzzled by it, saying that it was quite rare for this to occur. Then again,
surrogacy wasn’t something that most people in Ourania or Omen did. Amour took a moment
to process that, and when she shared the news with Karma, he had been beyond ecstatic.

Amour felt happy. Not just for herself, but for the world around her. She didn’t
completely hate it anymore, she merely disliked it. Now it was tolerable. Now she didn’t feel
bad for the things she did. It was her only way for her survival. Not an ounce of kindness left
in her heart. Kindness led to weakness, and weakness led to manipulation.

Amour was walking through the basement of the chamber, walking past rows and
rows of cells, each with someone inside who wasn’t willing to pay the price.each filled with
traitors, suspects, or innocent people. It didn’t bother her anymore. She had become stone cold
and there was no turning back.

Amour smiled to herself, as she stood in front of the cell that housed her former
friend. She stopped, tapping her boot on the stone floor. Chasity didn’t bother to look behind
her, whispering to the void, “What do you want Amour?”

“I don’t want anything,” Amour replied. “Have you made your decision?
“I’m not doing it,” Chasity whispered. “You can’t make me do anything.”
“I can make you do anything,” Amour said, twirling a strand of her hair between her
fingers, pursing her lips together. Her eyes glittered with amusement, studying Chasity.
“Stop looking at me,” Chasity said, growing uncomfortable with the feeling of eyes
staring at the back of her head.
“I’m not,” Amour said, looking up at the ceiling.
“I can feel your eyes on me,” Chasity shrugged. “You know this would be different
if you were behind the bars and I was the one outside looking in. you would feel just as I did.
You betrayed me.”
“You shouldn’t trust people you’ve just met,” Amour chuckled. “It never does end
well, does it?”
“You trusted Karma the night you met him,” Chasity retorted. “Look where that got
you.”
“Ditto,” Amour shrugged. “Things happen for a reason Chasity.” Chasity loathed the
way she said her name. With such mockery. “I chose the life that I live, but I don’t think
you’re going to have that luxury. If you'd never moved here, you wouldn’t be in this mess.
You’d have your mom, you’d have your brother.” Chasity winced. “Is that still a sore spot for
you? Get over yourself Chasity. It’s been a month.”
“Not long enough,” Chasity grumbled. “If you were in my shoes, you’d have a heart
for once. You’d feel things like I do.”
“I do feel things,” Amour retorted. “Just not as intensely as you. I don’t regret things
that I do. I don’t feel lost when people leave me.”
“If you lost your mom,” Chasity said. “If our roles were flipped and I’d killed your
mother, how would you feel? What would you do?”
“Easy,” Amour said. “I’d kill you and I’d feel better.”
“It’s not that easy,” Chasity said.

45

“What’s not that easy?” Karma asked, draping an arm around Amour. “Is she being
a bother?”

“No,” Amour said. “Far from it. Whatcha’ need?”
“I just came to check on you,” Karma said, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“I’m fine,” Amour said, waving him off.
“Can I talk to the prisoner?” Karma asked.
“Sure,” Amour said, freeing herself of his grip. She pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Knock yourself out.”
Amour walked away and Chasity wished she hadn’t. She didn’t quite like Karma.
She didn’t trust him as far as she could through him, which wasn’t far enough. She wondered
if Amour was right. If she’d never come here, none of this would’ve happened. But she
couldn’t change what happened because it had already happened. She only had the chance to
change her future, whatever that was, however long it was.
She turned around to face him, not trusting herself to keep her back to him. He could
kill her instantly if he wanted to.
“You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble Chasity,” Karma said, deathly calm.
“From getting Amour to turn on me now, you haven’t changed. And that’s too bad. We were
hoping you’d make this easier for yourself and for us-.”
“Who’s we?” Chasity blurted.
“That would be me,” Leo said, stepping out of the shadows. It was almost like he
was a part of them. He seemed to notice that she was confused, shrugging. “I am the
shadows.”
Chasity had no idea what that meant but she thought it would be better if she didn’t
talk. They couldn’t force her to. At least that was what she thought.
“I can make you talk if I wanted you to,” Leo shrugged, sitting down and looking
straight at her. Chasity raised a brow, staring at him in confusion. She had no idea he could
read her thoughts. He controlled the shadows not the mind. “Electra taught me how. It’s funny
you trusted people who didn’t have your back. Who used you for their own purposes. Amour
used you to forget about the trauma she caused you. Why you’d trust her after that I have no
idea. Electra used you to get your brother to trust her, so that she could take him away and
break you. Make you want to join us without explicitly telling you to. But you’re naive
Chasity. You should know that you shouldn’t trust a black blood or anyone affiliated with
them. But you don’t, that’s on you.”
Chasity took a moment to process the words that had left his mouth, shock coursing
through her blood. Disbelief dancing through her thoughts. How could she have been so
stupid? She had trusted people who were known to only use people to put themselves higher.
She should have known better. But she hadn’t. Now she was paying the price.
Chasity looked down at the ground, seeing the cracks that lined the floors. If they
were so big and bad, they could’ve had a decent space, could they not? Chasity cleared her
mind. If she wasn’t thinking, he couldn’t read her thoughts and use them against her.
“But what will you do Chasity?” Leo pondered aloud. “You don’t have the strength
to put yourself any lower. You don’t have the luxury. Would you like to build yourself back
up? Join us and maybe you will. Join the dark side, we have cake. I know you like cake.”
“I will never join you!” Chasity grumbled through gritted teeth. “You can’t tell me
what to do. Who to be. What to be. You don’t have a say in that.”
“Oh but I do,” Leo said, holding up a purple gem. “I have all the power that you do
not. Any more comments?”
“Electra’s eyes were purple,” Chasity said. “You used that on her didn’t you?”
“I will not confirm nor deny it,” Leo shrugged. “I’ve done things like this for years.
She doesn’t care anymore.”
“What if she does care and doesn’t feel she can say that she does?” Chasity asked.
“Did you ponder that?”

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