Heartless by Rahma Ahmed

“I can’t stop me,” Leo said. “And she hasn’t said anything. She hasn’t thought
anything. So I know that she doesn’t.”

“Who are you to know what she really thinks?” Chasity asked. “She could be
blocking you if she’s the one who taught you.”

“I’m much better at it than she is,” Leo said. “She doesn’t like doing it. I do it
constantly. I have more practice, therefore I am better. But that’s besides the point. There has
to be consequences for you, huh Chasity?”

“No,” Chasity mumbled.
Leo laughed. “You thought you had a choice? That’s cute.”
Leo held the gem in front of her. Chasity’s eyes crossed as she tried to focus on it. It
was a deep shade of purple, glitter seemed to surround and follow it as it moved. Then she
realized that wasn’t glitter. It was magic. Chasity backed away, Leo smiled the smile she
hated. Raising it up into the air, mumbling things to himself, he lost focus however, when he
heard the door to the basement open. He quickly put the purple flame out, sticking the gem
into his pocket.
“Hi Ellie,” Leo said, pressing a kiss to Electra’s cheek. “I thought you were going
home?’
“I know, I am,” Electra said, resting her hands on his shoulders. They had a mental
argument, each staring into the others eyes to see who would look away first. It had been Leo.
Electra smiled, pressing a kiss to his cheek, before she headed back the way she came. She
raised her hand, the gem in Leo’s pocket travelling to her hand.
Leo’s mouth gaped open, “Ellie it’s not what it looks like.”
Electra smiled to herself, examining the jewel in her hand. “Isn’t it?” Electra asked,
coyly, tossing the jewel back and forth between her hands. “This could kill you just as much
as it could kill her. It drains you, weakens you until you’re nothing.”
“Woah,” Karma said. “That sounds-.”
“Dangerous, reckless and stupid?” Chasity offered, Leo glaring daggers at her.
“That sums it up quite nicely,” Electra said, tapping a finger to her chin. “I’m taking
it.”
“Elllie,” Leo whined, taking a hold of her hand. “No.”
Electra raised a brow as wisps escaped the tips of Leo’s fingers, curling around her
wrist. Electra didn’t look amused in the slightest, her eyes glowing a bright red, causing the
tendrils to dissipate. She narrowed her eyes, a smirk on her lips. “How-.”
“Let’s say that I am stronger than you,” Electra said with a sly grin.
“You heard that?” Karma asked, wringing his hands.
“I heard a lot of things,” Electra said, tossing the jewel back at Leo. “I’ll see ya later
Leo.” she draped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him into a hug, which he returned. She
pointed her eyes back at him before disappearing down the corridor and up the stairs, the door
slamming with a BAHM!
Leo returned his attention back to Chasity, raising the jewel and continuing
chanting. Karma kept a reasonable distance between him and Leo, sitting on a crate in the
corner.
Leo raised the jewel, tapping it on Chasity’s forehead. It burned like a fire. Chasity
winced, backing away from it which caused Leo to press it harder against her skin. Whatever
he was feeling right now, the anger, resentment, flushed over Chasity, her eyes flashing a
rainbow of colors before returning back to their normal chocolate brown .
“Now Chasity,” Karma said. “It seems you’ve made your choice, have you not?”
“This isn’t it,” Chasity said, her stubbornness being pushed aside. “I’m not, you
can’t make me!”
Leo stared down at the rock with a growl. Electra had switched them. Leo didn’t
waste a minute, disappearing in a swirl of shadows, returning with the real jewel in his grasp.
He pressed it to her forehead, this time her eyes stayed the same shade of purple as the jewel.

47

SEVENTEEN



YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER

AMOUR SAT IN HER ROOM, staring up at the ceiling and at the night sky she
had painted on it. It made her feel like she was outside when she didn’t want to be. It reminded
her of when she was a kid, with her dad and her mom and Art, when things had felt in some
sense normal. Now that she looked back, she realized that nothing had been normal even then.
She had just been oblivious. She wished she could return that sometimes. When life had been
so simple. When her problems hadn’t been so wide scale. When everything had been okay, or
she had thought it had been at least.

In reality, the world she had lived and thrived in was nothing but an illusion, an
oasis she had created for herself and no one else. If she imagined everything was okay, then it
would be eventually. Little Amour had manageable problems, she gave in to her conscience.
Present Amour had no way of managing her problems and she didn’t care in any way about
what her conscience had to say in the matter. She acted on a whim. She acted with whatever
her heart and mind felt was right at the moment.

She had started out innocent, a flower blooming in sunshine and certainty. Now she
was a wildflower, blooming with certainty, sure, but she had different ways of reacting to the
sunlight. She hated the sunshine people of Astraea with a passion. She hated how their lives
were handed out to them, that they had made people of Ourania feel insecure about
themselves, prosecuting them for not fitting their ideals. For being different. Amour felt
embarrassed that Women had ever been a part of them. She was sure not many of them wanted
to relive that past. They just wanted to be able to achieve the same things that the Ouranians
could. That wasn’t too much to ask was it?

Amour still had to carry the child for Gem and Ivory and her own. She usually spent
most nights unable to sleep without feeling guilty about something. Apparently she had more
of a conscience than she realized. She had completely destroyed the lives Gem and Ivory had
lived just because of them trying to save her life. But then again, they had only wanted her
awake because they worried for the life of the child that they were yet to meet. Amour was
sure everything would be fine if she had slept for two weeks. Right now, she barely slept at
all. Those two weeks would’ve substantiated for what she had now.

But she couldn’t feel bad about anything anymore. It wouldn’t do her any good. She
had to do something to change how she felt, make things the way they used to be. But she
supposed that wasn’t quite possible.

She stared at the ring on her finger, twirling it round and round between her fingers
before placing it back on. She still couldn’t believe she had done that. That she had decided to
follow through with that promise. That she hadn’t backed out of it in the heat of the moment.
Not saying that she wanted to, by the way. She quite adored Karma and all that. She just
hadn’t expected to do this as soon as she had.

But people here got married after a day of knowing each other, so she supposed this
was more tame in a way.

“Hey Mo,” Karma said, entering the room, shutting the door behind him. He
shrugged his jacket off his shoulders, tossing it on the floor, kicking off his boots and laying
down next to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Alright I think,” Amour said, leaning her head on his shoulder. How was your
day?”

“Eventful,” Karma said. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You don’t have to,” Amour mumbled, shutting her eyes. “Unless you want to. Then
go ahead.”
“It was just weird you know?” Karma asked, as Amour nodded. “Seeing magic at
work is pretty cool and also terrifying. Like the power they have in their hands could easily

48

kill anyone around them and themselves in the process. That’s not something I’d want to
have.”

“Yeah,” Amour replied. “I quite enjoy the way I live right now. I wouldn’t want to
change it.”

“Have I told you how much I love you?” Karma asked, pressing a kiss on top of her
head.

“A few times yes,” Amour said. Karma laughed, stroking her hair.
“Well I love you more than I can say,” Karma said. “No matter how many times I
say it, it will never be enough.”
“You’re so sappy,” Amour giggled, poking his cheek. “It’s cute though.”
“You think I’m cute?” Karma asked teasingly fanning his face, “Amour I’m
blushing. You’re beautiful.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” Amour mocked in a high pitched voice, fanning her face.
“Karma I’m blushing.”
“Oh hush you,” Karma said, wrapping his arms around her, resting his chin on top
of her head. “You’re so cute and tiny.”
“I am 5’4, I am average height for a female. I am not short,” Amour retorted with a
roll of her eyes.
“Compared to me, you are,” Karma said, stroking her lips with his thumb. “I’m a
foot taller than you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Amour said, her lips inches from his. “You’re just
abnormally tall, I am normal.”
Karma closed the gap, pressing his lips to hers and pulling away repeatedly. The two
made out for a few moments, dissolving into a fit of giggles.
“I adore you,” Karma said with a lopsided grin.
“I adore you more,” Amour said with her own goofy smile.
“No me,”
“No me,” Amour said, resting her head on his shoulder, shutting her eyes once
again.
“You think you can sleep today?” Karma asked, soothingly stroking her hair.
“We’ll see,” Amour replied, feeling his arms wrap around her waist.
“Sweet dreams,” Karma mumbled, pressing a kiss to her temple.

It was funny how her dreams were never sweet when those words were uttered to
her. But nonetheless, she didn’t decide what she was dreaming tonight. It didn’t truly make
sense to her. She saw two children, around the age she was when she came to Omen: sixteen.

She heard the familiar hum of electricity, as an orb zoomed past her. Amour sighed,
jogging after it, going deeper and deeper into the forest. She reached out and touched it, her
eyes flashing a rainbow of colors as the voice of Queen Scarlet filled her mind. How the dead
woman could still do this, she had no idea.

“My life force is tied to the kingdoms,” the Queen replied, startling Amour. “As soon
as the two kingdoms reconcile, then I will truly be put to rest.”

“But this is all your fault?” Amour stated, though it sounded more like a question.
“I was naive and selfish,” she said. “I know what I did was wrong now. But back
then I thought it was right. I didn’t think anyone who was that strange deserved to be treated
with respect and dignity. I did turn on my own sister for that. Outed her to the world, well she
outed herself I suppose. But anyways, I can’t change what I did. But I can influence what you
guys do. They may have ended the war, but they didn’t end it. Do you understand?”
“I think so?” Amour said.
“It’s hard to explain,” Scarlet said. “What happened to my sister did not occur for
several more generations, several hundreds of years. With Electra. I love her dearly, but the
girl could care less about this. She doesn’t seem bothered by the prospect of another war. But
I suppose that since it’s been going on for so long, people miss how it was. It became a habit

49

to constantly be at war. Constantly killing, threatening, deceiving. The Strains are just as
wicked as the Ouranians, maybe even more. They may not have the powers that they do, they
just are mentally deceiving, believe that they're superior.”

“What do you want me to do about it?” Amour asked. “I’m one person. I can’t
change the world.”

“You should know better, Y you can influence it,” she insisted. “You can change
the world. You have the world’s leaders at your fingertips. Serene did quite fancy you, even if
you stabbed her in the back. You can fix that though! Make amends with Serene. Go to
Astraea. Go back to your roots. That’s where you’ll find your answers. I have another
warning for you, even if it’s not for you.”

“Of course you do,” Amour muttered. “Lay it on me boss lady.”

EIGHTEEN


HER FAULT

“BOSS LADY?” The Queen mused. “I quite like the ring. But you shall still call me
queen, are we clear?

“But you’re not Queen anymore,”
“I can still retain the title,” Queen Scarlet retorted. “Can I not?
“I mean no one’s stopping you I guess,” Amour shrugged. “But you're dead so...I
don’t know.”
“Are you ready to hear it?”
“Changing the subject I see.” Amour said, waggling her eyebrows. “I don't think
so,”
“Nonsense! You are ready,” she said. “Here goes nothing,” she cleared her throat,
“Pardon me a moment. I must remember how they go.”
“How can you forget how it goes?”
“I am only human,”
“You’re a dead human,”
“My statement still stands,” the woman stated. “Ah it’s coming back to me, here we
go!” she cleared her throat one more time:
“The heart of chaos
Has the final call
Bring more loss
Or peace to all
Give into his power
Or to undoubtedly concede
Save them in their final hour
Or to give into his greed
Become increasingly loveless
Or remain forever luckless.”

“I didn’t understand any of that,” Amour said. “Did you?”
“I can’t tell you what it means,” said the Queen. “For I do not know what the future
holds. I can tell you that this isn’t for you. It is for someone you know. Someone you love. But
that is all I will say. What other questions do you have for me, Amour?”
Amour thought long and hard about a question she could ask the woman that wasn’t
cast aside. One popped in her mind instantly: “Who were the kids I saw at the beginning of
this dream?” Amour asked, hearing the grumble of the Queen, who took a sharp intake of
breath, if that was even possible for her to do.

50

“I can breathe Amour,” she said. “Just not in the way you can. To answer your
question, you will know in due time,” she said. “I have already said too much. Until next time
Amour.”

She should’ve known better than to think the woman would ever give her a direct
answer. This was always how it worked, even if this had only happened once before. This
dream hadn’t been as eventful as the other one. It hadn’t frightened or shaken her to the core.

But when she woke up, she felt like she hadn’t slept at all. She turned to her side,
seeing that Karma had already left for the morning. She squinted at the clock. It was well past
noon. Amour closed her eyes again, not wanting to get up and go. The light however started to
bother her so she reluctantly got up and went and got ready for her day.

“It feels so weird being here without Gem,” Lucky commented, leaning against the
counter, staring at Amour with her purple eyes.

“Very weird,” Nerissa agreed, tapping her nails on the counter. “It’s also been a lot
less busy. Don’t know why though.”

“Gem was their favorite barista,” Lucky shrugged. “She’s been here for nearly
fifteen years. Of course they’re not going to show up if she isn’t here.”

“Boss man said we might have to close up shop if this keeps going,” Lucky
informed. “I don’t want that to happen. I’ve been working here since I was sixteen. That was
ten years ago.”

“I like this job,” Nerissa added. “It’s the only job I’ve ever had that I enjoyed.”
“What do you think Mo?” Lucky asked, though the girl was too deep in thought to
notice. Lucky let a sigh escape her lips, propping her head in her ends.
Amour knew that the two of them were thinking the same thing. That it was her fault
that Gem wasn’t here. They didn’t have to say it out loud. Amour just sensed it. The way that
their gaze flickered from her to the picture of Gem propped on the wall. This was her fault and
she didn’t need them to keep reminding her. She knew that Gem had done what she had done
to save her without thinking of consequences. But Amour felt bad for having to put her
through that situation. She couldn’t keep thinking of the what-ifs, that wouldn’t change
anything. She had to look into her problems and face them head on, whatever they were.
Amour mumbled, propping her chin on her head, staring out the window. She saw a
shadow pass by, which startled her out of her thoughts. Lucky and Nerissa followed her gaze,
pausing their conversation halfway.
“What is that?” Nerissa pondered aloud, as Amour walked closer. Nerissa took hold
of her elbow. “Mo, you don’t go toward the danger, you’re supposed to go away from it.”
“I thought it was the other way around?” Lucky asked, frowning at the two.
Amour slipped out of her grip, walking toward the shadow, reaching her hand out
and touching it. It shimmered out of existence for a moment, before reappearing and taking
hold of her wrist.
“Mo!” Lucky said, pulling her back.
Amour looked down at her wrist, seeing a new message:
Come to the abandoned house at midnight, alone.
Just as fast as it had appeared, it disappeared, neither of her friends catching sight of
it.

NINETEEN


LIKE YOU

WHEN AMOUR GOT OFF WORK, it was around ten at night. They had jinxed
themselves, a few minutes after they’d made the proclamation that no one would show up,
hundreds did. She realized that many had the bands around their wrists, signalling that they
were visitors. Why people would want to visit Omen, she had no idea.

51

But many had flocked to come see Oceana put to rest, her boyfriend, Ugo, in a mess
of tears, before he was taken away by Oceana’s friends, Star and Vara, leading him away.
Amour didn’t feel an ounce of guilt about it. She didn’t like Oceana and she died knowing
that. She knew it was bold of Delight to go for her, but she had and she wasn’t complaining.

Amour didn’t quite care about it, she supposed she was in fact heartless. But what
happened happened and she couldn’t change it even if she wanted to (she didn’t).

Amour stared at where the message had been on her wrist, narrowing her eyes. But
it wasn’t there. The message had etched itself in her mind. What Leo wanted, she had no idea.
She didn’t question it, taking her time as she walked through the streets, seeing how deserted
they were. Then she realized it was an odd day, the seventh day of the month.

Amour toyed with the heart on her neck, noticing something inscribed on the back
that she hadn’t seen before. V + A 4 ever. She smiled to herself, running her fingers over it,
before tucking it back under her collar. She tugged her jacket closer to her chest, a breeze
blowing past her. She did like the cold, though the time for snow was coming to an end, not
that Women usually got that much. She enjoyed this time of year. A few days until the new
year.

She walked through the darkness, walking past street after street, making her
journey toward the pier. Time was going so slowly, she didn’t want to go there early; she also
didn’t want to be late. What a dilemma she was facing. She slowed down her pace, only a few
blocks away from the pier.

She didn’t usually find herself coming here much, mainly because it was on the
other side of town. Also, she didn’t like how privileged people here were. With their lavish
mansions, many housekeepers and nannies for their children. The life that they lived was
meaningless to Amour and they saw people like her as meaningless to them. They usually
used the east end of town as their personal charity projects so that they didn’t have to pay
taxes, even if their taxes had doubled under the new rulers who were trying to make it more
fair for the less fortunate. That was something else Amour liked about Electra and Leo. they
cared about everyone, even the people who thought their voices couldn’t be heard.
bounced on the balls of her feet, rocking back and forth and trying to warm herself up. She
then stopped, crossing the stretch of land that connected to the pier, staring down at the semi-
frozen ocean.

She didn't need to stress herself over things like that. But the more she stayed inside
her thoughts the more she started to question herself and wonder why this all happened. She
didn't know why she was letting this bother her more than it should be. She then walked across
it, opening the door to the abandoned building.

Voices could already be heard as they walked in. Amour has almost thought she was
losing her mind, the corridors littered with doors, heading toward the sound of the voices. The
paintings seemed to follow her movement, their eyes following her, causing her skin to crawl.

The halls were littered as if it had been looted. That should've been a warning sign
but they paid no mind. The light flickered but she paid it no mind, entering the brass door and
wandering the hallways. She heard a commotion in the hallway. She entered a random room,
peering out the door before shutting it abruptly. It was a trap. She knew she shouldn’t have
come here.

The doorknob jiggled and she placed the chair in front of it.

who.” "I know you're in there." A familiar voice said. "Someone's in there. I don't know

Amour huffed in annoyance, pressing her back to the door.
"Come on," The person said. "Don't make this harder than it should be."
The door was opened and the person paused, placing a hand over their heart.
"Hi Mo," Karma said with a grin which she didn't return. "How are you?"
"I'm fine thanks," Amour said. "What do you want?"

52

"Well that isn't very nice." Karma said. "I don't quite remember doing anything rude
to you."

"You're hilarious." Amour said as Karma cupped her cheek with his hand.
"I'm sorry." Karma said. "I didn't mean for us to leave like that. I'm sorry. Please
forgive me Mo."
"Okay." Amour said. "Stop looking at me like that."
"I very much like looking at you like that." Karma said, stroking his thumb over her
lips. "Oh I've missed you so much my darling."
Amour sighed, tugging him by his collar and pressing her lips to his. He chuckled
softly, returning it, as her fingers ran through his hair. His hands rested on the small of her
back. She pulled away, resting her forehead against his.
"So does that mean you missed me too?" Karma asked as Amour rolled her eyes.”
"Of course I missed you,” Amour said. "Even if I saw you last night. You're really
annoying but I missed you."
"Thanks." Karma said. "I try very hard to be annoying. It's my speciality but this
wasn't how I wanted to see you today." Amour shrugged. "But I suppose you could help me?"
"Help you?" Amour asked with a raised brow.
"Help me take over the world,” Karma said like it was no big thing. "And then we'll
be together."
“Thought I already agreed to that,” Amour said. “But sure.”

Amour blinked and Karma had vanished. How could she have imagined all that?
This house was playing with her. She didn’t know what part of it was. She hadn’t liked it
when she had come in, and she didn’t like it anymore now. Amour felt like something was
watching her, but when she looked around she saw nothing. A sigh escaped her lips as she
headed deeper into the home, even if her instinct was telling her not to. She ignored it, staring
at where the message had been on her hand. She entered a room, finding Karma and Leo
waiting for her there.

“Amour hey,” Leo said, coming out of the shadows, beckoning her toward them.
“How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Amour said, pushing her hair out of her eyes, sitting between the two of
them. “What about you?”

“I’m doing swell,” Leo said, tapping the table with his fingers. “We’re skipping
town.”

“We’re what now?” Amour asked, pushing the hair from her eyes once more.
“We’re skipping town,” Leo repeated
“I heard that,” Amour nodded, twirling a strand of her round and round her finger,
unwrapping it and doin it again. “But why?”
“We got a battle to win,” Leo said, shrugging, the tapping of his nails speeding up.
“They’re signing the treaty today, to officially end the war. But we’ve gathered people from
all over both kingdoms and got them to say they object when they ask for it. I would love to
see it happen.”
“It’ll be the entertainment of the day,” Karma said, pushing a strand of her hair
behind her ear. “And you’ll get to go to Fortune like you wanted.”
“I wanted that?” Amour asked, racking her brain for the words, a frown setting on
her brow. “I don’t remember ever saying that.”
“You implied it,” Karma said, smiling at her. “Besides I’ll get to see where you
grew up.”
“But first,” Leo said, raising his hand in the air. “We’re going to go undercover and
seize a town, for fun.”

Leo backed away from the makeup brush, narrowing his eyes at it.

53

“Why?” Leo asked, pushing her hand away.
“You need the mask silly,” Amour said, bringing the brush closer. Leo gripped her
wrist, pushing her hand away..
“Right the galaxy paint,” Leo said, his brow setting into a frown. “I made that. I
didn’t imagine using paint.”
“It’ll only take a second,” Amour said, as the boy sighed, giving in. Amour tapped
the brush onto the palette, going through the assortment of colors and offering him a mirror.
”It doesn’t look bad,” Leo conceded. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Amour said with a smile. “Come on. We got a town to take over.”

"You're under new rule now!” Leo proclaimed as soon as they had taken control of
the nearest town to them, Destiny, raising the Ouranian flag. "Astraea can’t protect you
anymore and there's nothing you can do about it. Now go on. Flee just like all the others."

They didn’t cower, they fell to their knees and begged. Karma placed a knife to one
of their throats, a yelp built into his throat, but he didn’t dare let it out. The others got the hint,
bolting for the doors. Karma smiled, glaring down at the captive, before he released his hold,
the man bolting for the door just like the others.

"Cowards,” Karma said with a cackle. "None of them ever pick a fight. They always
run. It does get boring. They thought Selene could help huh?"

"They think she's trying to but she isn't." Amour said with a shrug. “She could care
less.”

"Selene’s a great actress." Leo said. "Making all these people believe that she's
helping them solve their problems when she is the problem."

Amour shrugged, wondering how her old friend was and how her wedding had
gone. She had probably forgotten about her hadn’t she? She probably did. It was something
she would do. She was still mad at her anyway. Then she wondered why the thoughts had
even come to mind, burying them deep inside of the cavern that was her mind.

"Come on,” Karma said, taking her hand as they walked through the halls of the
abandoned building. They walked onto their ship where the Blood Moons and their other
chapters cheered at their victory. Another town down, many more to go.

Amour smiled to herself, swinging their hands between each other, leaning her head
on his shoulder and staring out at the crystal clear water. Karma pressed a kiss on top of her
head. She didn’t feel as bad about this as she had before. Maybe this was for the better. Maybe
this was their only way of survival. She didn’t feel guilty anymore and she liked it. With each
day, she grew increasingly heartless, she didn’t need to lock herself in her fortress. She’d
given into his hate and molded it into her fate. But she was happy and okay with it.

She wasn’t afraid of herself anymore. She had learned to become who she wanted to
be, not what the old Queen wanted her to be. But as she did so, she couldn’t ignore the
nagging voice of the Queen in her mind. Telling her that what she was doing was wrong.
Telling her that this wasn’t what they had agreed to.

“What you are doing is wrong! This isn’t what you agreed to!” she paused, shaping
her words carefully as to not come off in the wrong way. “I once found another that was quite
like you,” her voice rang through her mind. “But she wasn’t who I thought she was. She
betrayed me. Then I found another, a boy this time. He did the same, lusting after the power
that they offered him. Leaving me, just like she had. Just like they all did. That is how I died is
it not? They killed me, just as I realized that I wasn’t the key to the end. I never was the key.
As much as it hurts to admit it, I was the one who started it yes, but I couldn’t end it. I wasn’t
the key. You are.” Amour didn’t think, not giving the former Queen the response that she so
desperately wanted. “Amour please listen. You’re my only hope. You’re our last hope. Amour
you can’t do this. You can’t leave me too. You can’t. Amour please. I believed in you. I still do.
I want to rest and you’re the only one who can let me.”

Amour ignored her, shutting their link down for the moment and focusing on the
task at hand. The Queen wasn’t worth her time anymore. It wasn’t what Amour wanted; it was

54

what she wanted. Amour could now see right through her lies, or perhaps that was what her
conscious wanted to believe to put herself in the right. She had never been a hero. She wasn’t
anyone’s hope. She was their worst nightmare. Just a few years and they had lost the Amour
that they had known. The Amour that they trusted. The Armor that she used to be. The Amour
she had once believed in.

She was far from the girl she had been all those years ago. She had met a few people
and they had changed her so drastically. They had changed her to be worse than both her
parents combined. Some called her the devil incarnate, some feared her. Some hated her. But
none of them bothered her anymore. She had found out who she was and she wasn’t going to
let anyone change her. She was in too deep.

Amour felt the weight on her shoulders had been lifted when she had shut the link
between her and the Queen. The Queen was only using her for her own benefit. So that she
could rest. Whatever that meant. Amour didn’t believe that she had ever meant for this to help
her in any way. This had been for her own gain, not her own. She was using her just like she
had used them all. She had been betrayed for a reason, because she wasn’t trustworthy. She
had died for a reason, because they had seen past her lies. They had seen her for who she was.
Now no one could save her.

Amour could only save her if she wanted to, which she didn’t. She was her own last
best hope. She was her own key. She was the one who could end it all. But she didn’t quite
want to do it the way the Queen had intended. She was shaping her own path and there was no
going back now.

TWENTY


WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

AMOUR’S HEAD THROBBED, like she had taken a blow to the head. She could
still hear the whisper of the Queen in her mind and she tried her best to suppress it. She didn’t
need the woman to try and change her mind, she had already made it up. There was a sense of
freedom running through her veins right now. She didn’t have the Queen chastising her every
move, her every thought. She was free to do it herself and she didn’t quite know how to handle
the feeling. She had been under the woman’s influence for a few months now. She didn’t
know how to feel now that she wasn’t.

Just to be clear, she did quite enjoy the freedom. She liked that there wasn’t
someone in her head other than herself anymore. But she hadn’t had the freedom in so long,
she had no way of controlling it.

When they arrived in Astraea through the town that they had conquered, nobody
questioned their arrival. They quite literally turned the other way. They cowered in the
presence of Leo, who had taken the mask off of his face, walking a reasonable distance in
front of them. Amour looked around at the place she had called home for a total of three years,
the longest she had lived in a specific place before Omen which had now taken the top spot. It
felt weird being back here, where she had made many memories. Where she had stabbed
Selene in the back. She found it ironic that Selene had chosen this place as their place of truce.
She had chosen it for an obvious reason, Amour knew that. There was a method to her
madness after all.

Amour had strayed away from the group, letting them get into their positions and
exploring the city. To her surprise, it hadn’t changed one bit. The streets were the same, the
shops were the same, the people were the same. She found it surprising that her old friends
still lived here. Franky and Rainy’s mansion still stood and from the looks of it, they were in
there. Amour hurried past it, now wanting to explain to them why she had come here until she
was ready to face them again. She had betrayed them as she supposed. Even if Franky had
very much stabbed Selene in the back just as much as she had, he had stayed to sort things out.
Amour had not, being propelled into a new town after her mother’s work had caught up to her.

55

She was still surprised that no one had caught her yet. Then again, her parents were good at
covering up their tracks and keeping themselves under the radar. Amour supposed that was
how she had learned to do that, from years of keeping their lives a secret.

As she wandered the streets, she felt a chill run down her spine. She was now
standing in front of the very place she had called home. They hadn’t quite taken all their
things, so it was still full of their things, nobody wanting to live in the home even though it
was deserted. It was the only thing the town had left of their dark past. It was the only thing
that reminded them of the horrors her parents had bestowed on them.

But they still didn’t say a word, remaining tight lipped when they were asked
questions by authorities. They kept to their code even if they didn’t want to, explaining to the
authorities as to why the house was ‘haunted’. It wasn’t, but once enough of them said that it
was, they had started to believe it. All stayed away from the house of the Patrons as it was so
affectionately called. Amour’s heart hammered in her chest as she walked up the steps, turning
the door knob. She entered the home, a chill coursing through her. She started to wonder if the
house was in fact haunted.

She wandered its halls, entering room after room, finding them exactly as they had
left it. She entered the final room at the end of the hall, her own. She turned the knob, pushing
the door open. To her surprise, the room wasn’t abandoned. At the window stood Selene, who
didn’t bother to look at her.

“Funny to find you here after all these years,” Selene stated flatly, the bitterness
evident in her tone. “Did you finally come to get your things? Or did you come to reopen the
scars you left behind?”

“Well hello to you too,” Amour replied with a roll of her eyes. “Bitterness doesn’t
quite suit you Selene.”

“You’re too funny,” Selene said, though she didn’t quite laugh, turning sharply on
her heel, narrowing her eyes at Amour. “You destroyed everything that I built. My friendships,
my reputation. They flocked to you instead of to me. If you’d never come here, none of this
would’ve happened. They won’t tell me what your parents did, but I know they had to do
something. The fear in their eyes when so much as mentions their name. What is your family
hiding Amour?”

“Hell if I know,” Amour said with a shrug. “You’re changing the subject. I don’t
quite remember doing anything to you. Would you care to enlighten me?”

“You,” Selene said, jamming a finger to her chest. “You are unbelievable. You don’t
remember what you did to me? That’s hilarious Mo.”

“You are not my friend anymore,” Amour said matter of factly. “Therefore you
cannot and will not call me Mo. Don’t you have a treaty signing to go to? I’m sure Electra’s
waiting.”

“She’s the one who invited me, didn't she?” Selene said, running a hand over her
face. “She keeps pestering me about fixing our friendship, which is something that I will never
do. After what you did to me, you think that I would ever trust you again?”

“Are you asking me or yourself?” Amour asked with a coy smile. “I'm no therapist
Selense. I’m not here to listen to you vent your problems.”

“Then what are you here for?” Selene asked, narrowing her eyes at her, backing her
into a wall. “You’re not going to ruin anything more for me. This treaty signing will go on
without a hitch, so help me-.”

“Why would I help you?” Amour asked teasingly, as Selene facepalmed.
“You know what I mean,” Selene said in a low growl. “You will not ruin this for
me. You will behave. And when it’s over, I don’t want to see your face again.”
“Someone’s bitter,” Amour said with a lopsided grin. “I didn’t plan on staying
anyway.”
Selene studied her for any detection of lies, before catching sight of the bump that
was growing in her belly. She feigned surprise, glancing up at Amour with false shock written
over her features,

56

“Amour,” Selene said, placing a hand over mouth. “You didn’t tell me you were
expecting.”

“I wasn't planning on it,” Amour said with a shrug. “Didn’t plan on seeing you today
or ever.”

“You’re too funny,” Selene repeated, once again not laughing. “When did this
happen? With who?”

“Well it’s not quite mine,” Amour said with a shrug. “I’m carrying it for a friend and
for myself.”

“I had no idea you had a heart Amour,” Selene gushed, placing her hand over her
mouth before she zoned out.

“You’re too funny,” Amour mocked, chewing on her lip, snapping her fingers in
front of Selene’s face. “What’s on your mind Selene?”

Selene’s gaze snapped back toward her, waving her hand dismissively, her bitter
demeanor returning. “None of your concern Amour. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t
mean I’m dropping this.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to,” Amour shrugged, glancing at the clock. “Don’t you
have to be somewhere?”

“Don’t you have to be somewhere?” Selene retorted, heading out the door, before
deciding against it. “I’m not letting you out of my sight, let’s go.”

“You know someone might think we’re friends again,” Amour said, pulling her arm
away.

“They will think no such thing,” Selene said, raising her chin definitely in the air.
“Like I said, we will never be friends again.”

TWENTY ONE


READY

AMOUR SAT IN THE CROWD, in the clear sight line of Selene, who said she
would be watching her like a hawk. She zoned out as the former Queen Cerise of Astraea,
Electra’s mother and the former king of Ourania, Quince, bickered like they had in old times.
Their children, Selene and Electra for the Queen and Leo for the King sat looking embarrassed
for themselves and waiting for them to stop bickering. The former King of Astraea, King Hero
was noticeably absent. The former Queen of Ourania, Queen River, stared up at the sky,
wondering why she still put up with this petty rivalry. If the two were still bickering, this
treaty would be ineffective.

Amour shifted from foot to foot, waiting impatiently for something to happen.
Electra’s grandmother walked on to the stage, walking in between the bickering pair and
beaming at the crowd.

“Hello dear people of Astraea and Ourania alike,”
The minute she began speaking, Amour knew that this conversation would go on
much longer than it needed to be.
“I am so glad that you could join us here today for such a momentous occasion,” she
continued, pausing for applause. “Thank you. Today we end a feud that had been going on for
centuries. Today we have two sisters who have agreed to reverse the curse placed on us by the
first two sisters of Ourania, when the two kingdoms were united under one name. But soon,
Queen Scarlet and Princess Electra didn’t quite agree on the direction the kingdom should go,
so they started a war and Ourania split into two, for what we now know as Astraea and
Ourania. Today, we may be joining together in a push for peace, but we are not reuniting the
kingdoms. They will run codependently because it was what we have grown used to. Today
we drop the hate we have toward each other and open the door for peace. Thank you for
coming here today, I appreciate every single one of you ...”

57

Amour zoned out, as the woman continued repeating the same things over and over
again while the crowd ate it all up. They had quite liked this Queen more than they had
Electra’s mother and more than did Selene in the present. If they had their way, Electra would
be Queen of both kingdoms and they would be reunited once more. Both kingdoms adored the
young Queen because she reflected both of them in a way. She had been born in Astraea and
had the blood of the Ouranians. She was the epitome of perfection that they were looking for
but they wouldn’t dare say it aloud, in fear of how Selene might react.

Selene had been jealous of her younger sister for years, feeling that she was favored
because of the attention she received for the magic she possessed. She had used to vent to
Amour about how she sometimes wished she had the powers so that the attention would
always be on her, like it used to be before Electra had come into her life. But now, Selene
wasn’t jealous, she wasn’t envious, she wasn’t sympathetic, nor was she empathetic. She was
glad she didn’t have the powers because of the toll it had taken on her sister. Magic was a
burden and she was glad she didn;t hold it for herself. She was glad that she hadn’t gotten that
burden and she was happy that she didn’t.

Electra, on the other hand, had been envious of her sister for years, feeling that she
was favored because she was more normal than she was. She wasn’t constantly told to be
someone that she wasn’t because their mother was afraid of what people would think if she
was herself. Electra had spent years being afraid of herself and becoming who others thought
she might become. But she had grown acceptant of who she was and had embraced it, not
letting her family restrain her from it. She was different and she had grown okay with it.

The two didn’t know what the other thought of them, thinking that they wouldn’t
understand if they did. If they did tell each other, they would’ve realized how silly they had
been, how pointless their jealousy of each other had been, how pointless their envy had been,
when they had felt the same way about each other. Their grandmother banged the mallet on to
the table, looking down at the crowd with a pleasant smile, finishing her rambling and
instilling anticipation into the awaiting crowd, “The treaty process will now begin! Are you
ready?”

TWENTY TWO


ROOTING FOR YOU

AMOUR TAPPED HER FOOT impatiently on the ground, as the elderly woman
slowly read the treaty that would be signed, explaining its contents to the people before they
could go on with the process. Cameras flashed, Amour blinked. On the platform, Electra and
Selene sat next to each other, their husbands, Leo and Victor, had a hand on their shoulders
smiling for the camera.

After a few moments, she called out to the crowd the signal that they had been
waiting for, “Does anyone object?”

An uproar sounded, one at a time, the people that they had banded together called
out their objections. Leo’s smile broadened as did Jaime, the two had mutually agreed that the
treaty would not under any circumstances be signed today. The former Queen looked at the
crowd in shock, placing a hand over her mouth. She regained her composure, a smile returning
to her face. “Then the treaty will not be signed today.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a panging headache ran through Amour’s
mind. Her vision doubled and then blurred. Her heart raced rapidly inside her chest, as she
tried to keep her balance. The voice of Scarlet rang through her mind. Karma held onto her
arm, stabilizing her.

“Mo?” he asked, placing a finger under her chin. Her eyes changed colors rapidly
before settling on a milky white. Karma squinted. “Mo? Can you hear me?”

58

They were close to the stage and Selene noticed them, and with protest from her
grandmother, she dove into the crowd. There was no one left on the podium other than her
grandmother at the moment, the others having gone off to who knows where.

She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, staring at the two of them for a
moment.

“So you’re Mo’s baby daddy,” Selene asked, rocking back and forth. “Duly noted.”
“What do you want?” Leo asked, waving a hand in front of Amour’s face.
“Whatever. Tell me what’s wrong with her.”
Selene squinted, taking in the color of Amour’s eyes, paling ever so slightly, her
eyes widening. Karma noticed.
“I don’t like that,” Karma said, narrowing his eyes at Selene. “Tell me what’s wrong
with her.”
Selene laughed nervously.
“Has she told you that she’s been hearing a voice in her head?” Selene asked, though
Karma shook his head.
“She never said anything about that,” Karma replied, his brows furrowed. “Has she
told you that?”
“Well,” Selene said, drawing out her words slowly and carefully. “When she used to
live here, it was a common occurrence. She’d claim to hear a voice, telling her things,
controlling her dreams. We didn’t pay attention to it, thinking she was just playing with us like
she usually did. But soon, it got progressively worse and worse. Whenever she blinked, she’d
see and describe things to us. We started paying attention. The doctors didn’t see any
abnormalities in her. So we went to Electra. We used the earrings she wears now to see into
her mind. And she hadn’t been lying. There was a voice and she wasn’t going to go away any
time soon. That would be my great-great-great so many greats, grandmother. The first Queen-
.”
“Scarlet,” Karma finished for her. “Why didn’t she say anything?”
“If you haven’t noticed,” Selene said. “Amour doesn’t like talking about herself
because she thinks it’s a burden of sorts. She’s more focused on other people’s problems than
her own.” Selene looked down at her. “Look where that’s gotten her. But I know how we can
help her. We just need to find Electra. That shouldn’t be too hard.”

It was in fact, rather hard. There were too many people clashing against one another
for them to catch sight of said girl. They dodged past the people, the opposition and the
supporters. Curses and threats were being thrown both ways. Neither side wanted to back
down.

“If we go to a higher point,” Selene pondered aloud. “We might be able to see her.
The cell signal’s down here.”

They walked up the spiraling staircase that led to the balcony, scanning the crowd
for the dark haired woman. They found her almost instantly in the sea of colors, sticking out
like a sore thumb.

“ELECTRA!” Selene called her sister. Electra’s attention turned to her instantly.
“WHAT?!” Electra called, cupping her hands around her mouth.
“MEET ME IN THE LIBRARY!” Selene called.
Electra flashed her a thumbs up, making her way through the crowd.
“Come on,” Selene said, beckoning for Karma to follow her. Karma’s gaze flickered
to the walls adorned with jewels, causing it to glimmer when the light caught on it. Selene
walked in front of him, her pace much faster than he thought it would be. He jogged to keep
up with her, the weight of Amour slowing him down a bit.
Selene led him through hall after hall, twisting and turning in the maze like castle. It
reminded Karma how much he despised castles. He couldn’t imagine Amour walking through
these halls like she had described to him. He didn’t see her fit here anymore. She wasn’t who

59

she was when she had come to Omen, she had changed. For better or for worse, he couldn’t
quite tell.

Wish I could change how you saw yourself, Karma thought to himself. Then this
wouldn’t have happened.

But she hadn’t told him, so there was nothing he could do for her. He felt a tad
envious of Selene. But from the looks of it, Selene disliked Amour for whatever reason,
though she was still insisting on helping her. They entered the library, the doors opening
without them touching it. Selene led her deeper and deeper into the library, pulling a book out
of a book shelf and catching sight of a room hidden within the walls. The book case closed
behind them.

It seemed no one had been in this room in a few years. It was left exactly as it had
whenever the last person had been in there, dust collecting over all the things. Karma rested
Amour on a bench in the corner that was littered with blankets and pillows. It seemed they had
been here before.

Amour fidgeted, turning from side to side. Karma stroked her hair which seemed to
relax her for a moment. Karma stared down at her, tears brimming in his eyes. He didn’t want
anyone to see him in such a state so he blinked his eyes rapidly, pushing them back in.

He was supposed to be Karma, the heartless, loveless murderous psychopath that
they saw him as. To them, he had no emotions. There were rumors that he had been born
without a heart. There were rumors that he did what he did not because his father had made
him but because he enjoyed it. They didn’t know the real him, they didn’t know him at all.
And the only person that did, was passed out in front of him.

Electra entered the room, the door disappearing and molding into a wall. She took in
her surroundings, her mouth gaping a little bit, rushing to Amour’s side.

“What happened to her?” Electra asked, her eyes scanning the unconscious woman.
“She passed out,” Selene informed. “I think it’s the voice.”
“The voice never left,” Electra mumbled, flipping through her spell book. “The only
way for her to leave is for her to get what she wants.”
“What does she want?” Selene asked, looking over Electra’s shoulder. “I don’t
remember what you said about it before.”
“She wants peace so she can rest,” Electra informed, nodding her head, “The only
way for that to happen is to sign the treaty, which we can’t do now.”
“There has to be another way,” Selene insisted. “She has to be able to get out of her
head eventually.”
Amour gasped, sitting up abruptly and taking hold of her head, mumbling to herself.
“Mo,” Electra said as Selene winced. “Are you okay?”
“GAHHH.” Amour replied, slumping back down. Before they could say a word, she
sat back up and screamed a blood curdling scream. No one flinched, no one panicked, each of
them looking at her with empathy and hoping she would be okay. Tears started pouring out of
her eyes uncontrollably but her eyes were still white, so they knew that there was nothing they
could do. She couldn’t take notice of them. She was in her own world and they couldn’t get
her out no matter how hard they tried.
Amour curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth, repeating the same thing over and
over, “Get out, get out, get out.”
The voice in her head didn’t listen, continuing to torture her so that she could get
what she wanted. She didn’t want her to go back on her word ever again. The uprising, the
opposition, it was all her fault, she would pay.
Electra frantically searched through her spell book, trying to find a particular spell
that could fix this temporarily. She had no control of the woman’s spirit. If she could get her
out she would. But she couldn’t and she felt she had failed Amour somehow. Something
caught her eye, seeing a spell that has been hidden away. Her heart hammered in her chest, it
was the answer. She knew the answer and it was Karma, that is if he was in fact the love of
Amour’s life.

60

She shut the book, placing it in front of her, and taking an earring out of Amour’s
ear, she held it up, “Who wants to read her mind? I’m not doing it again.”

She offered it to Karma who obliged, taking out his own earring and replacing it
with hers. His eyes turned the same milky white that Amour’s were. He was in the forest
again, the one from his dreams. Then he realized that this was the dream he and Amour had
both had before the turn of recent events. He realized that the woman had probably been trying
to warn Amour against him. That she had wanted to drive her away from him as much as she
could. But if the spell was right, she knew someone who could, Karma himself.

Karma pushed forward, taking in his surroundings and walking toward the sound of
the voices. That had been a mistake. He didn’t know what he was seeing at the moment, nor
did he know how to describe it. Amour was tied to a tree, the spirit of a woman circling
around her as she replayed the dream over and over, trying to break Amour into believing and
working for her once more. I am rooting for you Amour! She insisted.

Amour was defiant, shutting her eyes, before they were forced open by the woman.
The vision repeating over and over that when she closed her eyes she could still see it. Amour
shook herself, trying to break free and break the cycle. Tears streamed down her cheeks just as
they had in real time. She shook violently, mumbling to herself as she tried to set herself free
to no avail. Karma fished through his own pocket, fiddling with the knife that rested inside of
it.

Neither of them could see him, neither of them took notice of his presence if they
did. The woman was berating Amour, trying to convince her that her path was the obvious
choice. Trying to convince her that Karma would only hurt her in the end. Trying to convince
her that she would never hurt her. That this wasn’t for her own gain. This was for Amour, just
as much as it was for herself.

Amour shut her eyes and this time they weren’t forced open. Karma decided it was
time to make his presence known, making his way closer to where the two were, shouting to
the crazed spirit, “Back away from my lady ya banshee!”

TWENTY THREE


IMAGINE

THE SPIRIT'S HEAD DID a 360, much like an owl, turning to look at Karma
with a glare painted on her features. All around her crackled with light, blinding him
temporarily. She howled like a banshee, swooping down next to him. She took a hold of his
collar, lifting him up a few meters above the ground, narrowing her multicolored eyes. Karma
was unfazed, yawning in boredom.

“Don’t you call me a banshee boy,” the ancient queen snarled, showing her teeth
mangled with time. “I was the Queen and you shall show me respect just as you do to others.
Do we have an understanding?”

“What did you say?” Karma asked mockingly, tapping his ears. “I didn’t quite hear
you over your screeching.”

“Why you little=,” she grunted, dropping him to the ground. It wasn’t a serious fall,
so he brushed himself off and stood his ground. She lunged at him, aiming to slash him with
her talons. He blocked her with the hilt of his knife, sending her spiraling away. She grunted,
disappearing and reappearing in front of him in a flash of lightning.

Karma laughed a hearty laugh, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“What are you laughing about?” she asked, glaring at him, red surrounding her aura
now.
“Oh nothing,” Karma said, ceasing his laughter. “It’s just funny how low you’ve
fallen. You were someone so respected but you let a few things make you more selfish. You
thought everything revolved around you. That you were the answer. Oh, that part’s the

61

funniest part. Why would the problem be the solution? That doesn’t make any reasonable
sense. What was going through your mind when you so much as thought that it would work?”

Karma laughed once more, continuing his lecture. “It’s funny because so many
people looked up to you back then, but now when they look back now, they feel
disappointment. Disappointed that you did what you did. Disappointed in everything you did,
that’s why they killed you is it not?”

“They killed her?” Amour asked, with a frown.
“They stabbed her right through the heart,” Karma said, cracking a smile.
“And that is exactly how I WILL KILL YOU, Karma,” the spirit snarled, growling
inhumanly. “Right through the heart.”
“I can’t die in a dream.,” Karma said with a shrug. “What you do won’t affect me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Scarlet asked. “It has done something to Amour has it
not?”
“Get out of her head you banshee,” Karma replied. “Your voice is so irritating it’s
actually funny.”
“Funny?” she growled. “None of this is FUNNY! THIS IS SERIOUS KARMA. And
if you cannot take it as such, I will escort you out of this dream right now, you ungrateful
swine.”
“You ungrateful hag,” Karma retorted. “They killed you because they knew you
couldn’t do anything. You believed in people who turned on you in the end, just like Amour.
No one can save you but yourself. You have to accept that you can’t do anything and then you
will be able to rest. Then you’ll leave us all alone and we can forget about you in peace.”
“How dare you?” she snarled, latching onto his wrist, until it turned a sickly shade
of purple. She let go, launching herself at the wall.
“See,” Karma continued. “You’re in now way human anymore. You’re a monster.
An echo of who you once were.”
“TAKE IT BACK!” she howled like a child. “TAKE IT BACK NOW! You
ungrateful child! I’ve done so much for ya blasted people. But did you thank me? No! You
killed me! You damned Blood Moon! You’ve existed for thousands of years but you’ve
resurfaced now stronger than ever. And I will not have it. You cannot turn another of my
champions against me. She is my last hope. If she doesn’t do anything…I will disappear.”
“I don’t think anyone would care or know,” Karma shrugged. “You’ve been long
dead and no one ever took you seriously”
She snarled, clawing at where her heart used to be.
“Gah!” she exclaimed, whimpering. “I cannot disappear boy! Then you all will! If I
am not laid to rest, the world as you know it will vanish! Poof!”
“Relax ya old hag,” Karma said, raising his palms out. “You can’t force someone to
do something for you. Then it won't be genuine and you won’t go to rest properly and we all
disappear with you. You have no idea how stupid that sounds.”
“It is the truth,” the spirit mumbled, her voice barely audible, a whimper escaping
her lips. Karma then realized that she was more scared of them than they were her. “I do not
know what to do.” She slumped down, the ropes around Amour breaking. “You can go if you
want. If you don’t want to help me, you’re free to go. Even if you know what will happen.”
Anour brushed herself off and Karma rushed over to help steady her. She smiled at
him and he couldn’t help but notice how the former Queen looked longingly at the two of
them, like she was reminiscing about her own life.
Karma delta feeling inside of him, something that he hadn’t felt in years; he felt bad
for the woman, he felt guilty. He didn’t like the feeling but he knew that they had to do
something. They couldn’t just leave her like this. Amour seemed to have read his mind, a sigh
escaping her lips.
“How can we help you?” Karma asked. “Without ending the unending war. We tried
that and it didn't quite work.”

62

“You tried?!” she growled. “You tried? You ruined it on purpose! But no matter.
There is another way. Get out of her head and we can fix it. Me and her. Then all will be
well.”

Karma didn’t let go of Amour, narrowing his eyes at the woman, knowing that he
shouldn’t trust her in any shape of form.

“I have to know what you’re doing,” Karma replies, the smile falling off the
woman’s lips. “Before I leave her with you. I don’t trust you.”

The woman looked down, at the hole where her heart used to be, “Funny. That’s
what they said when they killed me. That they didn’t trust me. That I was a tyrant. I suppose I
was. I was naive and thought I was doing the right thing. Now I realize I wasn’t. You can stay
I suppose. Take me to the golden river.”

“What now?” Karma asked, though Amour paled.
“Amour knows,” she said with a sly smile, circling around the girl. “Take me to the
ruins of my castle, where I got into your head.”
“Time out,” Karma said, making a t with his arms. “How’d you get in her head?
Were you not always there?”
“I waited years for the right person to come to the ruins,” Scarlet said, stopping
moving abruptly. “Years and years. I found some, but they betrayed me, left me to rot. Then I
found Amour, I knew she was the right person. She had such a great heart back then, you
ruined it.” she narrowed her eyes at Karma. “But you also got her to trust you, something she
never had in me. Something that no one ever had in me.” she hung her head down low,
expecting pity from them. She did not expect however, for them to break off in a fit of
laughter.
Karma wiped a tear from his eye, stopping laughing abruptly, his face turning
serious.
“Well then what are we waiting for?” Karma asked, taking Amour’s hand in his.
“Let’s get going before it gets dark.”
The spirit narrowed her eyes at him, snarling.
“I don’t trust you,” she said, turning his words for her against him.
“That’s too bad,” Karma shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me. So are we actually going
to the river or mentally?”
“Actually, idiot boy,” the woman mumbled, glaring at him.
Karma removed the earring, gasping as he sat up. He turned to Amour, who’s eyes
had returned to their normal pink, as their friends, well excluding Selene, looked at them in
relief.
“Guys!” Electra said cheerily, clasping her hands together. “You did it!”
“We didn’t do it yet,” Karma said. “We have to go to the river.”
Electra’s smile faltered, her gaze flickering to Amour. “Like. the river, river?”
“The river river,” Amour agreed, with a nod of her head.
“Well we better get going then,” Selene said, getting up to her feet. “Before it gets
dark.”

The four of them trudged through the forest, the one that Karma noticed was from
his dream. He pushed it aside, squeezing Amour’s hand reassuringly as they made their way
through the forest. Through the dark and monstrous looking trees, which some of the
townspeople deemed had faces, they continued on their way.

The two had somehow stranded away from their friends, as they continued to walk
through the forest, toward the river. A little orb flew past them, before making a beeline and
flowing into Karma. Amour hadn’t noticed.

“I know your secret,” Karma said in a singsong voice. Amour’s blood stopped cold
in her veins. Wasn’t that how her dream had started? Would this be different? “Why are you
keeping secrets from me?”

“I’m not,” Amour replied, looking over her shoulder. “Are you okay?

63

“I’m fine,” Karma brushed off, though Amour took notice that his orange eyes were
now blue. “You made your choice huh?

“What are you talking about?” Amour asked, realizing she hadn’t said what she had
in her dream. “What choice?”

Karma circled around her, blocking her path, resting his hands on her hips, smiling
down at her..

“I thought we agreed not to help her,” Karma said with a pout. “I’m sure there’s
another way of getting her out of your head.”

“There’s no other way,” Amour assured. “That’s what she said. That’s what Electra
said-.”

“But what if they lied?” Karma mused, placing his finger under her chin.
“What would they gain from that?” Amour retorted, finding that this was a tad
different than her dream. Had she been able to change it in a way?
“A lot more than you think,” Karma said. “Are you afraid of me, Mo? Or maybe the
voice in your head is driving you insane, like your mother.”
“My mom is not insane,” Amour snapped, a smile curling on Karma’s lips.
“That’s the Amour I adore,” Karma said with a smile. “ The fun’s just beginning.
That woman brought this on herself Mo. You let her get in your head. But you can get her
out.”
“She’s been in my head for years,” Amour stated flatly. “Everyone tried to
understand how to get her out, everyone tried, but they knew that there was only one way.”
“That one way could get you killed!” Karma snapped, before he lowered his tone,
smiling down at her softly. “I don’t want to lose you.”
You said you trust me right?” Amour asked him, as Karma nodded.
“Of course I do Mo,” Karma answered quickly. “Why’d you ask?”
“I love you,” Amour stated calmly. “I do. And if you trust me, you’re going to let
me get her out of my head the only way I know how. And if you don’t, that’s on you. I’m not
going to let it stop me.”
“Well then,” Karma said, walking toward her, placing his hands around her throat.
“If that’s how you really feel, I did lie Mo. I don’t love you. You were right. Maybe I’ll rip
your heart out right now, prove them all right. That you are heartless.”
“You’re funny,” Amour said, though she didn’t laugh. “You wouldn’t.”
“Are you sure about that?” Karma asked, his grip tightening. “What if this all was a
lie? What if she’d done all this to take you down with her?”
“Exactly,” Amour said. “What if.”
“I adore you Amour,” he smiled down at her, his grip slackening. “But-.”
“But what?” Amour asked, knowing what the answer would be.
“I adore the power more,” Karma said. “I’m not letting you get in between that and
me. The forest only chooses the most loveless, the most heartless. I suppose I beat you to it
then? Or it chose you first. Give in to them Amour. Let the power consume your soul. Forget
about everyone else. Make it about you.”
“So I should forget about you then?” Amour asked coyly, though the smile remained
on Karma’s lips.
“Since the day we met, it was always you and me against the world,” Karma said
with a grin. “You and me against the world. But if you choose the voice over me, it’s all over.
She wants you to go to the river for herself, not to free you of her, but to embed herself into
you. Do you want to let her do that? Or will you finally let the dark inside of you take ahold of
you fully? Prove ‘em all right Amour. You are heartless.”
Don’t listen to him, the voice said. You are much more than that part of your life.
Don’t let him get in your head.
That was a bit ironic.
I lied, she gave in. I could leave your mind no matter the circumstance, when I
wanted to. But I didn’t lie about the world ending. If someone doesn’t put me to rest in the

64

next let’s see...in about two years, when a new century unfolds, the world will end. The
warning I gave you, what path will you take?

What path would she take? Amour wasn’t quite sure anymore. Both sides were
A girl born in a state of chaos, the voice repeated. Must make a heart wrenching
choice….
Amour had been born into chaos she supposed. Both her parents led unstable
lifestyles and she had grown accustomed to it. Saving them from their angry customers.
Keeping their secrets with her to the grave. No matter who she befriended, she had never told
them the life her parents lived unless they were already affected by them. Then they would
look at her with anger and resentment, nose raised high and forget that she existed.
Her heart didn’t feel like it was wrenching per say, she just felt like whatever choice
she made would be the outcome of her future. What did she want?
Become her own boss, or lose her reigning voice
She didn’t want to lose her voice, but she also wasn’t the boss of anything. She was
a follower. She did what others wanted her to do. Yet she didn’t give the time to ask herself
what she wanted.
Lose the one she loves, or give into his hate
She didn’t want to lose Karma and she had also learned how to deal with his radical
ideas. She didn’t let them bother her as much as they used to, letting him feel what he was
feeling, do what he wanted. But did she want to live that way forever.
Put herself above, or mold this into her fate.
If she put herself above, she would still have to deal with Karma in another way,
he’d be her enemy. She didn’t want to deal with that fate. And she had already been putting
herself first. It had taken her pretty far, but she was still lacking something that would make
her choices more helpful to herself in the long run.
Become increasingly heartless, locking herself into her fortress
Either way, she hated that she would always be considered heartless. She didn’t
want to lock herself away, she didn’t want to deal with that.
She zoned back in, Karma snapping his fingers in front of her face.
“You spaced out there,” Karma said with a shrug. “You think your warning was so
bad? Mine is worse.”
“Is it now?” Amour asked coyly, knowing she could get him to tell her his even if
she already knew it.
“I had another dream,” Karma said. “Which I assume you didn’t because you don't
seem to know.and dI was in this very forest. The same dream as last time but instead, I got my
own warning, which is much more burdensome than yours.’
“Then tell me,” Amour retorted. “If it’s such a burden, lessen it.”
“Karma narrowed his eyes at her, squinting to see if he detected any lies. When he
didn’t, his shoulders relaxed, before he recited it off the top of his head:
“The heart of chaos, Has the final call
Bring more loss, Or peace to all
Give into his power, Or to undoubtedly concede
Save them in their final hour, Or to give into his greed
Become increasingly loveless, Or remain forever luckless.”
He waited for her to process it, before he asked, “What do you think it means?”
“Dunno,” Amour conceded, with a frown. “I didn’t know what mine meant when I
got it. You just have to give it some time.”
Karma nodded, taking her hand in his, “I'm sorry that I said all that to you. I don’t
know what got into me. I felt this cold feeling like something was in me. I still feel it.’
“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Amour assured, leaning her head against his chest, as he
rested his chin on top of her head. She shut her eyes, thinking long and hard, ordering the
woman to leave her mind. To her surprise she did, appearing in front of them in a ghostlike
form.

65

“I suppose you were not my champion,” she conceded. “But I know I will find
someone.”

“Can I suggest someone?” Karma asked with a malicious grin. “Her name’s Chasity.
She’s in confinement at the moment. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind your company.”

“Excellent,” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “Can you imagine?. It was nice getting
to know you Amour, even if you didn’t quite consent to it.”

And with that, she was gone.

TWENTY FOUR


FAKE SMILE

AMOUR FELT A IF a weight had been taken off her shoulders and that for the
first time in a while, that she could actually breathe. The two of them wandered the forest,
finding that they had gotten lost and had no idea where they had come from. They found
themselves at the river, where Selene and Electra stood waiting for them.

“What took you so long?” Selene demanded, standing up with her hands on her hips.
“Good news,” Anour said. “We never had to come here in the first place.”
“How is that good news?!”
“Because apparently, the river would’ve bonded her to me,” Amour said. “Whatever
that means. And she could’ve left a long time ago if she wanted to.”
“So she’s gone?”
“I mean, yes, no, kind of?” Amour offered, with a shrug. “She’s out of my head at
least.”
“So you’re just going to let her torment another poor soul?” Selene retorted, crossing
her arms over her chest. “That makes you no better than her in the sense.”
Amour shrugged, a smirk on her lips. “That isn’t my problem anymore.”
“Then who is it?” Selene asked defiantly, jutting out her chin.
“I thought you guys were going to be friends again,” Electra pouted, standing up.
“Why would I ever want to be friends with her after all she’s done to me?” Selene
asked, glaring at her sister.
“That’s not what you said when he thought that she wouldn’t wake up,” Electra
retorted. “Don’t act like you don’t care. Because you know you do and you know it. And I
know deep down inside, you want to be friends again.So get on with it already. You may have
heard of each other in the past, we may have resentment toward each other, but your friend
wants it to happen again. You don’t let one little thing ruin a friendship that had been going on
for years. So suck up your pride and become friends again.”
“I’m not doing that,” Selene said, her mouth in a thin line. “After all she's done to
me, she had the audacity to come back here. Waltz right back into my life when I didn’t want
her to ever come back.”
“ guys,“ Electra said, her hands resting on her hips. “Come on. You know you want
to. So did it. Amour?”
“I don’t know her,” Amour deadpanned. “And it’s. going to stay that way. I didn’t
come back here for you, not everything is about you. You always make it seem like the world
revolves around you when it doesn’t. You make every little thing about you. Oh Amour, you
ruined my reputation. Oh Amour you ruined my life!” Amour mocked in a high pitched voice.
“I do not sound like that!” Selene hissed.
“Do to,”
“Do not,”
“Do to,”
“Do not,”
“Guys,” Electra said rather calmly. “Come on.”

66

“Sorry, no,” Amour said, shaking her head. “I’m not going back down that rabbit
hole.”

“Are you insinuating that I’m insane?” Selene asked, placing a hand over her mouth.
“If I’m insane, you’re off the charts.”

“That sounds familiar, Karma commented, before he raised his hands in surrender
when Selene glared at him. “What’s your problem?”

“What is my problem?” Selene asked. “What is my problem? Your little demon is
my problem.”

“Aww that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Amour said, which caused
Selene to lunge at her. Amour raised her hand, sending her flying toward the tree.

“How—?” Selene grunted as she stood up. “How did you do that?”
Amour stared down at her hands , a frown on her face. “I have no idea.”
“Of course you don’t,“ Selene said, with a laugh. “You never do.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Amour narrowed her eyes at her.
“Whatever you want it to sweetheart,” Selene said with a shrug. “I have something
to tell you guys.”
“What is it now Selene?” Electra said, her mood soured when she couldn’t get the
two to reconcile. “There’s always something with you.”
“I know all about the Blood Moons,” Selene said matter of factly. “And I know that
they organized the group of objectors. And I know that you’re a part of them.”
“You figured that out all but yourself?” Karma asked, sarcasm sealed into his
words. “Good for you.”
“The guards are coming for you as we speak,” Selene said, clasping her hands
behind her back.
“Selene you did not,” Electra said through gritted teeth. “You can’t do that.”
“I can and I will,” Selene replied, a grin on her face. “I never trusted you Amour. All
you did was use me.”
“I mean, it took you long enough to figure that out,” Amour said. “But you’ve
underestimated me again. The guards aren’t coming for me, they’re coming for you.”
The guards took that moment to come barreling through the forest, for a moment,
Selene was sure she had been right, that her own guards wouldn’t defy her orders. She’d been
wrong and was shocked to find that they had the simple moon on their wrists, the symbol of
the Blood Moons.
“No,” Selene said, as they pinned her hands behind her back, binding them with
unbreakable chains. “No!”
“Yes,” Amour said, placing a finger under her chin. “I guess you were right not to
trust me. It was not nice knowing you Selene.”
“Unbind me now!” Selene demanded, though her guards didn’t listen. She turned to
Electra. “El, please. Help me.”
Electra started her right at her, shrugging her shoulders, “no.”
“No?” Selene challenged, glaring daggers at her. “Did you just say no to me?”
“Someone had to,” Electra retorted. “We both knew that the treaty wouldn’t work
because we hadn’t agreed on anything. We were literally going to sign a blank paper just
because you didn’t want to compromise. You wanted to lock up all the blackbloods.” Amour
flashed her a fake smile. “But the jokes on you Selene, you’re the one who got all tied up in
the end. Get her out of my sight.”

67

TWENTY FIVE


BLOODLINE

AMOUR HAD BEEN OFFERED a place in the castle, which she declined. She
didn’t want to be there after all that had happened. So she found herself at the doorstep of her
old home, though she couldn’t make herself go inside. Her conversation that had happened a
few short hours ago with Selene replayed in her mind over and over.

“Funny to find you here after all these years,” Selene stated flatly, the bitterness
evident in her tone. “Did you finally come to get your things? Or did you come to reopen the
scars you left behind?”

“Well hello to you too,” Amour replied with a roll of her eyes. “Bitterness doesn’t
quite suit you Selene.”

“You’re too funny,” Selene said, though she didn’t quite laugh, turning sharply on
her heel, narrowing her eyes at Amour. “You destroyed everything that I built. My friendships,
my reputation. They flocked to you instead of to me. If you’d never come here, none of this
would’ve happened. They won’t tell me what your parents did, but I know they had to do
something. The fear in their eyes when so much as mentions their name. What is your family
hiding Amour?”

“Hell if I know,” Amour said with a shrug. “You’re changing the subject. I don’t
quite remember doing anything to you. Would you care to enlighten me?”

“You,” Selene said, jamming a finger to her chest. “You are unbelievable. You don’t
remember what you did to me? That’s hilarious Mo.”

“You are not my friend anymore,” Amour said matter of factly. “Therefore you
cannot and will not call me Mo. Don’t you have a treaty signing to go to? I’m sure Electra’s
waiting.”

“She’s the one who invited me, didn't she?” Selene said, running a hand over her
face. “She keeps pestering me about fixing our friendship, which is something that I will never
do. After what you did to me, you think that I would ever trust you again?”

“Are you asking me or yourself?” Amour asked with a coy smile. “I'm no therapist
Selense. I’m not here to listen to you vent your problems.”

“Then what are you here for?” Selene asked, narrowing her eyes at her, backing
her into a wall. “You’re not going to ruin anything more for me. This treaty signing will go on
without a hitch, so help me-.”

“Why would I help you?” Amour asked teasingly, as Selene facepalmed.
“You know what I mean,” Selene said in a low growl. “You will not ruin this for me.
You will behave. And when it’s over, I don’t want to see your face again.”
“Someone’s bitter,” Amour said with a lopsided grin. “I didn’t plan on staying
anyway.”
Yet here she was, staying. Amour found that ironic. How she had been so adamant
to leave as soon as she got here. How quickly that changed/ now she was running an
opposition to what, she had no idea anymore.
But something deep inside of her felt she was doing the wrong thing. That she was
going against all her morals to appease her friends, her Karma. But she knew that there was no
way out of this. She was far into the deep. But a part of her didn’t completely hate it. A part of
her wanted to do it and that scared her more than she cared to admit. She didn’t know who she
was, what she wanted anymore. She had lost a sense of who she was a while ago but realized
she hadn’t noticed until it was far too late.
In the next year, the two kingdoms would be at war, perhaps even longer. Word had
spread quickly and enraged Astraeans had filled the streets in front of the castle where Electra

68

and Leo had seeked refuge. Both Electra and Selene’s guards had taken to protecting these
rulers, which enraged the Astraeans further.

Amour stared down at her hands, unsure of where the power within her had come
from. Perhaps it was because of Queen Scarlet in her mind. But then again, Queen Scarlet was
a blueblood and didn’t have the magic her sister had. Amour’s blood was also blue, so it didn’t
make sense to her in any way. She tested her hypothesis, taking a pin and pricking her finger,
watching the blackblood ooze from her finger. Amour frowned. This didn’t make sense. How
had her blood changed? Was that even possible?

Apparently it was, and Amour was finding it hard to grasp. She sighed, tossing the
pin to the floor, laying down on the couch and staring at the ceiling,

“Is now a bad time?” a familiar voice asked, standing at the doorway. She raised a
brow. “I had a key. And I heard you were back here so I came to see you.”

“Hi Franky,” Amour said, sitting up to look at him, before standing up and draping
her arms over his shoulders. Franky returned the hug.

“How’s dad?” Franky asked, though Amour only shrugged and Karma frowned.
“Fine I guess,” Amour replied. “How’s your mom, Pear?”
“Hates him with a passion,” Franky shrugged. “She didn’t know dad had another
wife or other children. Then it just clicked why he was never home. I don’t blame him. I
wouldn’t have stayed if I’d had the choice.”
“You did,” Amour corrected. “You said no.”
“I mean, I got forced to marry Rainy,” Franky said.
“Even though you liked Electra and she liked you?” Amour offered. “It’s a dilemma.
It’s still the same bloodline.”
“I guess,” Franky shrugged. “But it is not the same.”
“Time out,” Karma said, turning to Amour. “You never said you had another
brother.”
“I have two,” Amour corrected. “Chase and Franky. You never asked.”
“I didn’t have to,” Karma said. “I just assumed that you didn’t.”
“Assumptions don’t get you anywhere Karma darling,” Amour tutted, tapping his
chin, turning to Franky again. “How is Chase?”
“Alright I guess,” Franky shrugged. “He was a worse person than me so you know. I
feel a bit better.”
“Of course it does,” Amour said with a grin. “Didn’t he get Saffron? I hated her.”
“Why because Saffron was more of Selene’s friend before you?” Franky teased,
Amour laughed half-heartedly, “I never liked Selene.”
“What does he go by now?” Franky asked, though she raised a brow. “Dad I mean.”
“Love,” Amour said. “He faked his own death.”
“Of course he did,” Franky muttered, rolling his eyes. “So anyway, I didn’t ask how
you were.’
“I’m fine thanks,”
“I have a query-,” Franky began though he paused when the front door opened,
revealing Art.
Art hung his bag inside of the closet in front of the door. The others turned to look at
him as he stared with a brow raised.
“What’s up Art?” Amour asked her brother who just shook his head.
“I had a heart attack right after you left that’s what.” Art said. “They showed up and
I couldn’t say no. That’s rude.”
“Soft.” Franky said, which drew Art’s attention to him.
“Am not,”
“Who are they?” Franky said.
“Dad and mom,” Art replied, shaking his head. “Anyway, they were going to go see
your mom. I didn’t want to see how that ended.”

69

“I would kill to see it,” Franky shrugged. “But it’ll just end with bottles being
thrown, like last time. You know, my mom used to like you before she found out. Now she
keeps a picture of you and your mom hung on her wall and she throws darts at them.”

“That’s one way to pent out the rage,” Amour shrugged. “I for one do not blame her.
I mean he married my mom first but you know.”

“He married my mom first,” Franky corrected. “Your mom was his side chick. Well
now he is the only one but still.”

“How can we be sure of that?” Amour asked, arching a brow. “I’m pretty sure
there’s probably some other woman out there.”

“We can’t,” Franky answered. “Can I stay here for the night.”
“They torched your house didn’t they?” Amour asked in amusement.
“They rage hard,” Franky replied. “Rainy got locked up. All of her siblings got
locked up, except for Troy and Celeste.”
“They were El’s favorites so I’m not surprised,”
“Well?” Franky said. “Aren’t we going? And Art we’re going to talk later.”
“We’re not going to start the debate again,” Art said, shaking his head.
“What debate?” Karma mused, resting his chin on Amour’s shoulder.
“If I could choose between Amour and him, who would I choose,”
“Oh that debate,” Amour said, clicking her tongue. “It’s obviously me. He had the
choice of staying with you. He did not.”
“Oh hush you,” Franky said, waving her off as Amour rolled her eyes, leading him
up the stairs and opening a door.
“Voila,” Amour said, raising her arms dramatically. “Your room sir.”
“Why thank you madam,” Franky said as they laughed. “Good night.”
“Night.” Amour said as Franky closed his door. Amour walked toward her own
room, hearing Karma behind her.
She swung the door open and found that Art had in fact taken her suitcase up the
stairs. She paid it no mind and flopped onto the bed. She was tired and worried all at the same
time. Questions swirled in her head as she pondered the thought of sleep. It was as if her mind
didn’t know what that was and had forgotten that she did in fact need it to function as a normal
being. .
She pushed the thoughts aside. The bed dipped as Karma laid next to her. She
ignored it and tried to focus on the thought of sleep but she knew he was looking at her. She
rolled her eyes closed.
She needed sleep. She wanted to sleep. But it seemed her brain had forgotten her
tiredness and was trying to keep her awake. She hated when that happened. She was tired as
hell but sleep wouldn’t come to her no matter how hard she tried. Oh Insomnia, my old friend.
Her mind swarmed with thoughts and she could feel Karma’s gaze on her and after
deep concentration, she fell into a deep sleep.

Her dream was far from peaceful, she had grown accustomed to that she supposed.
She didn’t know what it was she was seeing. A cloaked figure. An ancient figure. Pulling her
into the void. Feminine. Her eyes reminded Amour of fires, never ending, forever burning.

Her skin crawled as the woman looked at her. Her eye sockets were flames, no pupil
or iris. She regarded Amour with a tutting sound.

“Amour, Amour,” said the woman, “I suppose you’ve returned? The time is in full
swing then. But let me warn you. I will stop you at all costs you hear me? I’m tired of being
first and last. If you know what’s good for you, you shall decline their plea. Or else you shall
feel the wrath of my fire. Keep to your roots and there won’t be hell to pay.”

“Amour.” she could hear Karma say. “Amour wakes up. It’s just a dream. Wake
up.”

Amour gasped for breath as she jolted up, almost bumping into Karma in the
process. Karma reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks that she hadn’t known she

70

had shed. She ignored the fact that he was shirtless and buried her face in his shoulder, as he
patted her back. She didn’t know why she was crying but she couldn’t stop.

She pulled away from him after taking in her surroundings. She wiped the tears that
remained on her cheeks and stared blankly at the wall.

“What did you see?” Karma asked gently.
“Fire.” Amour said. “Lots of it.”
“That doesn’t sound too good.” said Karma.
“It sure as hell doesn’t.” Amour said. “I don’t know. Some lady with fire.”
“Tell me in the morning.” Karma said. “You need to sleep.”
Amour very desperately wanted to sleep but she couldn’t work her way to it. She
was afraid of sleeping. Sleeping meant dreaming and she didn’t want that.
“Come here.” Karma said as Amour reluctantly scooted closer to him. She closed
her eyes, feeling his arm wrap around her waist, her head leaning on his chest, falling asleep to
the sound of her heartbeat.

TWENTY SIX


MAKE UP

WHEN AMOUR AWOKE THAT morning, she had decided to go on a
walk and survey the place she had once called home. She found herself in the forest that led to
the docks where she had once pushed Selene in to drown. That clearly hadn’t worked. Amour
took her time getting to the docks, taking in the scenery around her as she did so, taking a
stroll down memory lane.

Amour made her way through the woods that were considered haunted by the
kingdom's residents. Amour had never found trouble with the trees who were known to grab
you if you so much as showed any sign of weakness. They glared at her in silence but said
nothing more as she walked past them and started to smell the saltiness of the sea.

It seemed that the trees reached out to her, trying to pull her in, but she pushed the
thought aside. She wasn’t going to let the name of the woods scare her. The Wretched Woods.
The very woods they had been in the night before.

She stared down at her hands, still trying to comprehend that power that laid under
them. She couldn’t fathom where they had come from/. Had it always been inside of her and
she just noticed once the woman had left her mind? Or was it the new voice in her head, the
more malicious one, the voice of fire. She didn’t dare tell her friends, they wouldn’t believe
her. She had just lost one voice, she couldn’t have gained another so quickly.

Amour was pushed back by a strong wind. She blew her hair from her face ignoring
the sign and continuing to trudge forward. She scrolled through her phone as she walked,
coming to a stop at the docks. She waited for a bit, not really paying attention to the time.

Karma crept behind her, unbeknownst to her. She internally screamed but kept a
collected face, feeling her heart hammering in her chest. Karma chuckled lightly, pulling her
close to him, feeling her heart beating rapidly against his chest.

"Oh I'm sorry." Karma said. "I didn't mean to scare you Amour."
"It's fine." Amour said as he stroked her hair. He pulled her arm length, his eyes
scanning her.
"You look beautiful as always." He said after a moment, raising her hand up and
pressing his lips to her knuckles. Amour smiled at him as his finger traced over her ring,
resting a hand on her growing belly.
He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, smiling at her as he did so. Amour
smiled back, leaning her head onto his hand. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, before he
offered a proposition.
“Wanna check out that ship over there?” Karma asked.

71

"Sure." Amour said, taking his hand in hers as he led her to the ship. They walked
up the bridge that led to the ship. The boat creaked and groaned as they walked onto it but it
remained afloat. Amour took the band that she had placed on her wrist and was about to tie it
into her hair when Karma took it and did it for her. She smiled at him gratefully.

Amour took on the role of his unofficial tour guide and pointed out things on the
ship she had spent a lot of time on and what they were used for.

Amour had always enjoyed being on boats, though Art disliked the fact that she
could be splashed with water and it ruined his hair or outfit. Amour had no idea how he
thought of those things, but then again, he was Art and he usually didn’t make sense to her.

They mocked the dancing they'd seen on TV, both ending up stepping on each
other's feet and giving up, Karma spun her around, pulling her back to his chest. He pressed a
kiss to her cheek, trailing down her jaw and neck, leaving noticeable marks along the way.
Amour giggled as he did so, which only seemed to encourage him to continue.

He pulled away when he was satisfied with the result. The two sat against the mast,
talking for hours about nothing in particular.

"Well Amour." she said, though her gaze seemed entirely focused on Karma. "You
made a new friend eh?”

CHASITY had been yelled at by the ghost of her mother ever since Amour had left
hours ago. That was the moment Chasity knew she had gone absolutely insane. She blinked
rapidly, shutting her eyes tightly and opening them again. Her mother was still there. The
woman who had taken home in her head tried to calm her down, but it didn’t help much.

"Come on now Chastity." her mother said. "I won't punish you if you tell me."
Chasity knew that was a lie. She would punish her no matter what even if it wasn't
Chasity who had done it.
"Chasity?" She said, tapping her foot impatiently on the ground. "I'm waiting."
“You’re not real,” Chasity mumbled, shutting her eyes tightly. “You’re not.”
“He’s coming Chastity,”
“Who is?” Chasity asked, uncovering her eyes and staring at her mother.
“Your father,” her mother said flatly. “He’s coming to take you home.”
Chasity’s brain swirled at high speed, trying to understand what her mother was
telling her. They had left their father for a better life. Well he had left them first but it still
counted. Now that her mother was dead, her father would gain custody of her again. She
didn’t want that. She disliked the family he had created as soon as he’d left her mother, even
though he’d cheated on her for years until she found out.
Yes, Chasity knew all about her half-sisters, who were older than her by a few years.
Sage was twenty one, Lyric was twenty. So it showed that her father had been with this
woman longer than he had with her mother and hadn’t had the audacity to tell her about said
woman. She hated Cherry with such a passion, and her father didn’t feel bad about it at all.
She hadn’t told any of her friends about it, but she assumed that they knew. Not that
they were her friends any longer. They had used her, and had disposed of her when she wasn’t
worth it anymore.
“I can’t protect you from him,” her mother whispered sadly. “I have had Chastity for
years. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chasity said, her eyes like stone as she stared at the picture of
the culprit on the wall, framed by her father to beheld in the dungeon. “It’s Amour’s.”
Her mother’s gaze softened. “It is not her fault. She did what she had to do on
orders. She didn’t have a choice.”
“She did,” Chasity said. “She didn’t have to join them. She didn’t have to befriend
them. She didn’t have to believe them. But she did and there was nothing I could do about it. I
believed in her, I befriended her, I didn’t join her, look where that got me. If I’d joined, I
wouldn’t be in this mess.”

72

“Don’t think like that,” her mother tutted, circling around her. “I’m sorry I’m not
here for you when you needed me most, but I will always be with you, in your heart.”

“That’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard,” Chasity mumbled, though her words
were caught in her throat as the door opened and a heavy set of boots echoed through the hall.

Her mother stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the man in front of her with
anger and resentment. Chasity had seen that look on her face multiple times and it never ended
well.

“Chastity, sweetheart,” her father cooed, holding the hand of his wife. “It’s so nice
to see you after all these years,”

Her mother was fuming now, though neither of the people she was showing her
anger appeared fazed by it. Cherry only smiled at her mother, her eyes glinting with
resentment.

“It seems all that is left of your mother is her spirit,” her father mused, turning
toward her.

Chasity felt their gazes land on her and she truly wished she wasn't here. It made it
seem as if this was her fault which it partially was.

Her mother grit her teeth together, placing her fists to her hips.
They were deceitful and only did things that they would benefit from at the end,
even if it left some other person helpless and in need. She didn't trust them and Chasity didn't
either. They had probably been waiting for her to die so they could pry Chasity out of her cold,
dead hands.
"Do not touch my daughter," She snarled, crossing in front of Chastity, though it
didn't seem to matter.
"Now sweetheart." He said. "Where’s the hello? Just because you’re dead, doesn’t
mean you have to be coldhearted.”
"Well." Her mother mocked. "I am just going to come here and not say hello. I don't
want to say hello to you. I didn't even want to see you. I just want my daughter and that's it."
"I don't suppose she wants you." he mused. "Did she not watch you die in front of
her? Did she try to save you? Did she ever say she loved you before you died?”
"Shut your mouth." Her mother said, crossing her arms over her chest. "What does
that have to do with anything? She doesn’t need to say it, I know she did.
"I guess you hit a nerve this time no?" he said with a shrug. Her mother lunged at
the man but Chastity pulled her back, muttering things to try and calm her down.

"I can't have my daughter consorting with the enemy. And you—." She pointed her
finger at him. "I don't even know where to start with you."

"I don't even know where to start with you." Cherry mocked, staring at her.
"Oh now you're going to get it." She said as she lunged at her. Chasity pulled her
back once more, struggling to keep her from going after her.
“Why do you care darling?” her father asked, though it caused her mother to grit her
teeth more. “You’re dead to me. Figuratively and literally. Chasity didn’t need you in her life.
She needed her dear ol’ dad and his amazing wife. When I heard from the Queen that you had
passed, I didn’t bat an eye. You meant nothing to me, you never did. My wife and I were
going through a rough time and I used you as a distraction. We had two beautiful children, but
then I realized I didn’t need you.”
“Did you not realize to tell mom you had another wife?” Chasity retorted. “You are
dead to me.”
Her father narrowed his eyes. “I suppose that will have to change, will it not? You
are going to come live with me and your new and improved mother.”
“She’s never going to be my mom, ever,” Chasity said. “And you’re never going to
be my dad. Is that not clear enough for you.”
“Now Chastity,” he said calmly. “Your mother has brainwashed you. You used to
adore me. You used to love me. I used to mean more to you than your mother.”

73

“Then you broke her,” Chasity said. “And you meant nothing to me.”
“Don’t talk to your father like that young lady,” Cherry said. “We already filled out
the blasted paperwork.”
Chasity brought out of her cell and brought toward them, against the pleas of her
mother.
It’s official, you’re about to be a part of our family. I suppose it’s time to make up
for the time we’ve lost, no?” her father mused, draping an arm over her shoulder, as Chasity’s
jaw clenched. She hated her frenemies.

TWENTY SEVEN


BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

AMOUR SQUINTED AT THE woman, trying to place where she had seen and or
met her. She wracked her brain and found nothing of importance, or of significance. She had
luminous orange eyes, her golden hair cascading over her shoulder.

“I suppose you don’t remember me,” the unknown woman shrugged.
“Understandable. I met you when you were a young little gal. About five or six years old. I
used to work with your mother.”

Amour still couldn’t place a face to the name.
“I don’t,” Amour conceded. “But um how are you?”
“I’m doing great, thanks for asking,” the woman smiled. “My name’s Honey.”
Hadn’t Karma said his mother’s name was Honey? Amour frowned, staring from
Karma to the woman and back again. The woman smiled at her knowingly, seeing what was
going through her mind.
“It’s exactly as you think Amour,” Honey said with a smile. “But don’t spoil the
surprise.”
“What surprise?” Karma asked, narrowing his eyes at the woman. “Amour hates
surprises.”
“It’s not for her silly,” Honey said with a laugh that ironically sounded like honey.
“I know Amour doesn’t like surprises. Something’s don’t changing. I’d like you two to meet
someone you probably already know. Follow me.”
The woman headed down the stairs that lead below deck. Karma turned to Amour,
brow raised.
“What was that about?” Karma asked, though Amour only shrugged, heading after
the woman. They followed her deep into the ship, going past room after room. It seemed she
didn’t live here alone as there were remnants of other people leaving here present. Each room
was open, as though it was to make sure they saw what was inside.
Amour felt she had been here before, like she had walked these halls and she knew
she had. She just didn’t remember any of the details and why this woman was here now of all
times.
It made her wonder why she knew her mother, why they had worked together. Why
they didn’t anymore. Amour pushed the thoughts out of her head, she hated them but she
couldn’t stop them. It was a bad habit that she couldn’t quite drop and it was something she
wished she could.
Amour stared at the pictures on the wall, though none of them screamed familiarity.
The woman opened a door, leading them inside. Karma stopped in his tracks, narrowing his
eyes at his sister.
“Why is Kitty here?” he asked, gripping on to Amour’s hand.
“I think you should sit down,” Kitty said, patting the barrel. “There’s much to
discuss.”

74

Karma rolled his eyes but obliged, sitting on a barrel next to Armor and one away
from his sister.

“I’m listening,” Karma said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What do you need to
tell me.”

“I suppose you don’t remember me?” Honey asked. “Does anything about me
remind me of anyone?”

His gaze flickered from Kitty to Honey and back again. “You look like Kitty.” he
paused. “Wait.”

“Hi Karma,” Honey said. “It may come as a shock to you because your father told
you I was dead. But I’m here. I’m your mother.”

Karma laughed hysterically, though it faded into a sigh.
“This has to be a joke,” Karma said, wiping a tear from his eyes. “Why would my
mother want to see me after nearly thirteen years? I was eight and Kitty was barely two.”
“I am your mother,” Honey repeated. “I’m sorry I left you. And I am sorry about
what happened to your father.”
“If you cared,” Kitty said. “You would’ve stayed. Not leave us with some insane
man who couldn’t take care of us even if he tried to.”
“I know,” Honey said, nodding in understanding. “I should've taken you with me, he
wouldn’t let me. I’m so sorry.”
“But why would Mo know who you were?” Kitty asked. “I hadn’t met her until this
year. And Karma’s known her for five.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Honey said. “You don’t remember living here?”
“I can’t remember anything past when I was ten,” Karma said. “That was when we
moved to Omen. Dad couldn’t stay here anymore.”
“That town ruins people,” Honey said. “It makes them forget the world around them.
It makes them forget themselves. Try something for me. Close your eyes and try to
remember.”
“Why would I do that?” Kitty asked. “You already brought me here against my
will.”
“I am your mother,” she said. “Therefore I have custody of you not that your father
is no longer with us.”
“How long have you been waiting to say that?” Kitty mused, though Honey looked
less than impressed.
“I know you have a lot of questions. I know you’re angry with me,” Honey
reasoned, choosing her words carefully. “But try this for me. Try to remember. Try it for me,
Karma, Kitty, Amour.”
Amour hesitantly closed her eyes, though she peeked at hte woman, afraid she
would do something , the others doing the same.
“I won’t hurt you in anyway, I promise,”
“Promises don’t mean anything,” Kitty mumbled, though she finally did close her
eyes. Karma was the last to do so, pointing a pair of fingers at his eyes and then at his mother,
before shutting his eyes.
“Just think long and hard,” Honey said, her voice calma and full of reassurance.
“Think long and hard, try to remember. Clear your mind. Just think, where was I thirteen years
ago.”
She reached out and touched each of their hands, a shock running down their spines.
Their eyes fluttered open, narrowing their eyes at her.
“You said you wouldn’t do anything,” Kitty snarled, though she had started to feel
lightheaded. “What did you do?”
“I’m helping you remember, and when you do, you’ll understand what I did for a
reason.”
Karma scoffed and that was the last thing any of them heard before they drifted out
of consciousness.

75

IN THE VISION, Amour saw a younger version of herself, about ten years old with
her hair set in two braids, she was also missing her two front teeth. So basically, to herself
now, she looked like a mess, even if her present self wasn’t that mentally well. Amour
watched little her trudge through the streets of Fortune, skipping through street after street
alone with no care in the world. She clutched a note in her hand, scrawled in the penmanship
of her father, which told her to visit her mother’s ship and get an assortment of things from
her.

Amour ignored the stares of many store owners, who each offered her something a
child couldn’t resist; Candy. Amour however, had a strong dislike for the candy that they sold
because it tasted more bitter than sweet. She reluctantly took a lollipop from an old woman,
free of charge, popping it into her mouth and taking another two for later. She smiled to
herself, savoring the taste of the strawberry against her lips and continuing her way to the ship.

Grown Amour wondered if the others saw the same thing and what the point was of
seeing this. But then her questions were answered as she collided with someone in front of her,
sending them both to the ground.

“Sorry,” they said at the same time, as the boy stood up and brushed himself off,
offering her a hand. She took it, as he pulled her up, smiling at him.

“Sorry,” he said, sticking his hands in his pockets and smiling sheepishly. “I didn’t
see you there.”

“It’s okay,” Amour smiled, pushing a stray strand of hair from her face and
continuing her journey toward the ship, hand in hand. She then realized that the two of them
were going in the same direction, slowing her skip so that she could walk in step with him.

“What’s your name?”Amour asked, offering him a lollipop. He took it, smiling at
her gratefully.

“Karma,” he offered, popping the lollipop in his mouth. “What’s yours?”
“Amour,” she replied, stopping at the intersection, pressing the walk button. She
bounced on her heels, rocking back and forth, unable to keep herself from moving. “Where are
you going?”
“To my mum’s ship,” he informed, shrugging his shoulders.
“I’m going to my mom’s ship too,” Amour informed as the walker flashed onto the
screen, signaling for them to keep walking. They walked briskly through the intersection as
the sign changed ever so quickly, letting the cars go speeding through.
Amour smiled to herself, walking more quickly to the docks, entering the Wretched
Woods. Karma hesitated, before following after her.
“Aren't these woods cursed?”he asked, though Amour only shrugged.
“I go through them everyday,” Amour said, smiling reassuringly. “So if it is cursed,
nothing has happened yet.”
Karma relaxed a bit, taking hold of her hand as they went deeper and deeper into the
woods. When they reached the end of the path, they could see the ocean glimmering in the
distance as the dull wind of the woods was replaced with the saltiness of the sea. Amour let go
of his hand, skipping down the docks and past the array of ships until she found her mother’s
at the very end of it. Karma followed after her, boarding the ship after her. She frowned.
“I thought you were going to your mom’s ship,”
“She works here,” Karma said with a crocodile smile.
Amour walked past the men manning the sails and went below deck, finding her
mother’s quarters before she paused, standing outside the door as she heard her mother
arguing with someone inside.
“You cannot leave,” she said with a snarl. “That’s a breaking of the code. Our
code.”
“I have to get away from him,” she said. “I have to.”
“I’ll get him to leave,” she insisted. You’re saying here.”

76

The unknown woman sagged her shoulders and let out a fine, before Amour decided
to tap on the door. The two women paused, stiffening before the door opened to reveal their
children, Amour’s mother draped an arm over her shoulder, ruffling her hair.

“What’s up kiddo?” her mother asked, though all Armor did was hand her the list in
her hand. Her mother released her hold on her, picking up a bag and handing it to her. “That
should do. I’ll be back tonight. Go home now.”

Amour smiled at her, taking the bag in her hand and heading off the ship and toward
the forest once more.

“Hey! Wait up,” Karma said, jogging toward her, holding the hand of his sister,
Kitty as a shadowy figure boarded the ship, though neither of them noticed, entering the wood
once more. Karma involuntarily took hold of her hand, though it didn’t seem to bother her, as
they made their way through the wood. A light flashed past them, drawing their attention
toward it, forgetting that their determination to leave the woods and following after it.

Amour reaches out to touch it, though it zoomed away, following after it. They
made it a game, seeing which one of them would be able to capture it first. Amour did, taking
it into her hands and staring down at it. Karma’s hands hovered over it, the two of them trying
to make sense of what it was. Amour narrowed her eyes at it, squinting and seeing the face of
a person, quickly dropping it into Karma’s hands.

“There’s a face,” Amour said, though Karma only scoffed, squinting at the orb and
nearly dripping it when he caught sight of it.

“Help me,” whispered the woman. “Save me.”
“Who are you?” Amour asked, keeping a reasonable distance between herself and
the orb. Kitty reached out to touch it, though Karma swatted her hand away.
“I am a Princess,” she said with a grin. “Or I was a princess. My sister trapped me in
here. She was so mean.”
“What’s your name?” Karma asked, curiously tapping the glass.
“My name’s Cerise,” she said, smiling at him. “Get me out please.”
Karma glanced at Anour who only shrugged and at the count of three, they dropped
it to the ground together.
“NO!” Karma’s mother screamed, catching the orb before it touched the ground, as
she and Amour’s mother both breathed a sigh of relief.
“What did I tell you about going into the woods, Karma?” his mother asked, fussing
with him. Karma blushed madly, swatting her hand away.
“Mom,” he mumbled, slipping from her embrace. His mother turned her attention
toward Kitty, lifting her up and balancing her on her hip.
“See,” the unknown man said. “They’re not safe here. We have to leave.”
Karma frowned.
“Leave?” he asked. “But we just got here.”
“I know,” his father said, ruffling his hair. “But you knew that staying here wasn’t
permanent. We’re going to Omen.”
“We are not,” his mother said, pulling him behind her.
“No one said you had to,” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “I have
custody of them because of your business.” He said with it such malice and hatred. “So what I
say goes. We’re heading out tonight, whether you want us to or not.”
“No,” his mother died, shaking her head. “You’re not taking them everything away
from me again.”
“It’s not safe from him here,” the man reasoned, pointing to Amour. “He has bad
influences. He could have released that witch and ended us all.” He took the glass from her.
“I’ll hold on to this. And sweetheart, I just did. It is what it is.”
Through it all, Amour’s mother hadn't said a word, taking it all in. Karma’s father
smiled at her, though she didn’t return it.
“How are you Darling?” he asked with a mock salute. “Still running your business
underground? Tainting towns as you go through.”

77

“I do what I have to do,” she shrugged. “Just like you and my husband do.”
“Doesn't he have another wife? Another life?” he mused. “I suppose you don’t want
to explain that to your daughter.”
“My daughter is a smart girl,” her mother said, narrowing her eyes at him. “She
understands why he did what he did. She does spend time with them, even if that woman
doesn’t know.”
“He didn’t tell his wife he has a new wife?” he mused. “But your husband doesn’t
matter to me anymore. I’m starting my own group and I’d invite you to join. But what a
scandal it would be if they knew. I wonder how they’d see you if they knew.
“Is that a threat, Aura?” her mother asked, her voice rising ever so slightly. “Like I’d
join you, pathetic bloke.”
“Now now, Darling,” he said. “My fight isn’t with you. So if you’d kindly step
aside—.” Aura tried to push past her and get to his estranged wife. He glared at her, walking
toward Amour and resting a hand on her shoulder. Amour turned to look at him as he smiled
and she smiled back.
“She’s the one,” he muttered, stroking her cheek.
“Do. Not. Touch. My. Daughter,” Darking demanded, stalking toward him, pushing
his arm aside. “What do you mean that she’s the one? The one to kill you no doubt.”
“That,” he said with a fond smile. “But something else as well. You’ll see.”
“I’ve never seen someone so happy to die,” Darling commented. “Why are you so
happy?”
“I’ve come to terms with it,” Aira shrugged, sitting down on the log next to Amour,
resting a hand on her knee. “All people die in different ways. Everything has to go back to
where it came from.”
Amour moved her leg, feeling uncomfortable around the man, her mother hauling
her up and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“I don’t know what you mean by any of that,” her mother snarled. “Do explain. I’m
not waiting for whatever it is.”
“You'll see,” he said mysteriously. “They’ll all see.”
He was consumed by flames, as her mother pushed her behind her, her stance not
wavering, her arms spread out to shield her. Amour peered under her arm, seeing that the man
had turned into a fiery beast.
“And they gave you custody of our children,” Karma’s mother mumbled. “Go
figure.”
“Times up,” he said, snapping his fingers as Karma and Kitty appeared beside him,
blocking their path from their mother. “None of the children will remember this day. But you
will be tormented by it. They won’t know if each other’s existence until the time is right.”
“What are you?” Darling asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “Is this the new thing
you have going or something?”
“The witch in the forest did this to me,” he said, returning to his normal self. “But
I’m not complaining. You will come to fear me and the Solar Flares, mark my words.” He
glanced at Amour, Karma and Kitty snapping his fingers. “Night, night children.”
And with that, everything turned black.

AMOUR SAT UP, gasping for air, looking at either side of her and seeing that the
others had done the same.

“Do you believe me now?” Honey asked, clasping her hands behind her back.
“How do we know you didn't just make that up?” Kitty asked. “And how did you do
that? Can I do that?”
“You cannot,” she said, shaking her head. “You do not possess the spirit of the
forest as you didn’t spend as much time as they did. And I didn’t fake it, that would be too
much work.”
“Of course,”Kitty mumbled to herself. “Yay me.”

78

“I believe you I guess,” Karma shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“I can take that for now,” she nodded, smiling at them. “You’ve grown into such
beautiful people.”
“Thanks,” Kitty said, brushing herself off and bolting out the door.
Karma was quick to react, running after her. Amour rolled her eyes, not bothering to
get up.
“Are they always like that?” Honey asked, turning to Amour.
“Usually worse,” Amour shrugged.
“Their father turned them against each other did he?”
“You could out it that way,”
“You killed him,”
Amour shook her head, “Karma did.”
The woman blinked in surprise but masked it from her face.
“So he was wrong about that,” Honey sighed. “But he was right about one thing:
you are the one. You can fix this whole world. “Save is from the misery that is inside
ourselves. Free us from the curse of the sisters. They both took. A liking to you did they lot?
First Scarlet now Cerise.” Anour looked at her with a frown. “I can see the fire within you.
But instead of sharing the burden, thinking they won’t believe you, you kept it hidden. But
you’re going to have to open the jar eventually. Cerise is worse than Scarlet. She won’t leave
you until she gets what she wants. Both want the kingdoms in peace. But not in the same
way.”
Amour stared up at the ceiling, taking her words in. She heard the commotion,
seeing Karma and Kitty circle around each other in the docks.
“I’ll go and stop them before they do anything,” Amour said, walking toward the
door.
“Amour,” Honey called as she turned to look at her. “You are exactly what Karma
needed. Please get them to believe me.”
“I can't promise it,” Amour replied with a shrug. “But I’ll try.”

TWENTY EIGHT


FIRE WITHIN

CHASITY HAD SPENT two months with her new family and she loathed it with
such a passion it wasn’t even funny. She’d met her new sisters and they hadn’t been like she’d
thought they had. They were much nicer than she had thought they’d be and had genuinely
wanted to get to know her.

She’d hated it.
She didn’t want to get to know them. She didn’t even want to know them. They
were related by blood but that was where it ended. One of them, Sage, was one of Electra’s
best friends, which made her hate her more. She’d only met Lyric for a day before she was
taken away by the guards. Their parents said nothing, not even batting an eye, focusing on
making Chasity trust them. But she didn’t and she knew she never would. Her father had lost
the role of being her father the day he left and chose this woman over his mother, even if this
woman had always been in his life.
It made Chasity feel that she wasn’t supposed to exist. That her parents had sired her
to make her live a life of torment.
Tormented by them, tormented by her friends, tormented by everything. She didn’t
trust anyone anymore, she couldn’t. Look where it had gotten her. The only company she
trusted was the voice in her head but she didn’t trust her at the same time.

79

This woman had chosen her as a second choice after failing to convert Amour.
Chasity hated being a second choice, a last resort but at the same time she had grown
accustomed to it. She knew what it felt to be ignored, to be unvalued. She still hoped however,
that Crew was okay and that even if she'd gotten a raw deal, he didn’t have to go through this.

Crew was her last best hope.
“He’s fine,” Scarlet asasured, her sudden reappearance shocking Chasity.
“Is he really?” Chasity asked her, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe he chose her over
me. I’m his sister for God’s sake.”
“He is young,” Scarlet said, her voice sending calm through Chasity’s veins. “He
chose her over you because he believed that she could do better for him. One day, he’ll return
to you. You just have to wait.”
“I’m tired of waiting,” Chasity grunted, tossing the orb back and forth between her
hands.
“Don’t drop it,” Scarlet warned. “You aren’t ready to see my true form. It will
surprise you. But anyway, Amour couldn’t wait either, and look what she got us all into. She
deepened the hatred between both sides, making people choose between family and friends,
but you, you are the last best hope to stop her. My sister has taken home in her mind, which is
not good in any way.”
“You do mean your sister, who was the Queen of Ourania, right?” Chasity asked,
though a hum ran between her ears.
“Not quite,” Scarlet stated flatly. “She died before she could become Queen. When I
mean by died, she was executed along with me because they didn’t trust either of us. Then the
two kingdoms dissolved into chaos. There was no definite line between right and wrong. Blood
is thicker than water, so many remained loyal to the blood running through their veins. But a
few strayed away, letting the dark and the light lead their paths. But no one is right or wrong
anymore. There is no good and bad. It is or it isn’t.”
“I’m going to pretend I understand what that means,” Chasity said. “Let’s hope we
can fix all this before it gets worse. That’s all we can do.”
“We will, just you wait,” Scarlet said, the sense of hope in her tone wavering ever so
slightly. “We have to beat my sister when the time comes. But you are not ready. There is a lot
of work left for us to do before we can confront her and Amour.”

AMOUR STOOD AT the balcony of her room, staring down at the chaos in the
streets as businesses were burned down, houses were surrounded by protesters, who were then
arrested by the guards. But no matter how many people they took away, more showed up.

It had been like this for weeks now and Anour has grown accustomed to the
shouting being her alarm clock.

“Hey,” Franky said, knocking on the close. “Need company?”
“Sure,” Amour said, scooting over to make room for him.
“What are we going to do about all this?” Franky asked, popping his chin on his
hand. L'or going to lie, it was much more fun and games when everything wasn’t in flames.”
“You rhymed,” Amour chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. “I don’t know what
we can do. We’ll get there when we get there.”
“I suppose,” Franky said, a sigh escaping his lips. “But on the plus side, I do like
fighting in the war.”
“You?” Amour laughed. “Last I checked, you couldn’t hold a sword correctly.”
“I’ve improved,” Franky assured, smiling at her. “And I haven’t seen or heard from
dad in weeks, you think he’s okay?”
“He’s probably fine,” Amour said with a shrug. “He always disappears now and
then.”
“Surprisingly,” Franky said with a roll of his eyes. “Our moms are friends now.”
“That’s still too much to take in,” Amour said with a smile, “But it was inevitable.”
“Where’s Karma?” Franky asked, propping his feet on the railing. “And his sister?”

80

“With their mom,” Amour said with a shrug. “Making up for lost time.”
“Fun,” Franky said, standing up. “I’ve gotta go meet with Leo and Electra and talk
about things.”
“Like you’re undying love for her?” Amour mused, though Franky frowned.
“You're not supposed to talk about that,” Franky said. “You promised.”
“Sorry little brother,”
“We’re the same age,”
“Didn’t you have somewhere to go?” Amour asked, waggling her eyebrows.
“I hate you,” Franky said, leaping off the balcony and entering the fray of people.
“Love you too,” Amour called after him, though he only shrugged, leaving her line
of vision.
Amour tapped her nails on the railing, seeing the screen in the plaza lit up as people
turned to look at it, seeing the King of Ourania illuminated on the screen. The protesters
booed, before freezing in fear and or respect, Amour couldn’t quite tell.
“Now that we have your attention,” Leo said, a crocodile grin on his face. “We have
some good and bad news. Which would you like first?”
There was an assortment of “good!” and “bad!” but Leo had already made up his
mind.
“Good it is then,” Leo stated flatly, the smile not leaving his face. “Queen Electra
has given birth to a lively baby girl. We’ve named her Ember Lily Delany.”
The crowd didn’t loathe Electra in any way for some odd reason but loathed Leo. it
wasn’t a surprise when they burst into a fit of cheers. Leo waited patiently for it to die down,
the smile never leaving his face.
“Now,” he said, slowly, deliberately. “For the bad news. Any and all opposers of the
unity of Astraea and Ourania under the rule of myself and Electra, will be detained.”
The crowd tried to disperse, but walls rose around them, as a cage of unbreakable
glass formed around them.
“If you agree to our rules, you will be released after inspection for suspicion,” Leo
said, as the crowd’s voices were drowned by the glass. Leo laughed, cupping his ear. “I can’t
hear you. This is effective immediately. To any and all Ouranians and Astraeans who have
remained by our side throughout this ordeal, we salute you and wish you well. And to the
others, we say you don’t quite have much time, the glass will drain you until you are no more
unless you know what’s good for you. Sweet dreams.”
And with that, Leo disappeared from the screen, the people stuck in the glass
panicking and hitting it, before realizing they should conserve the energy they had left, sitting
down with their knees to their chests, rocking back and forth. “Well this is fun,” Karma said,
sitting beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, as she leaned her head on his
shoulder, his other arm snaking around her waist.
“Lots of fun,” Amour agreed, as they watched fireworks light up the sky as
customary to royal tradition to do so when a child was born. Amour smiled to herself, liking
how the colors flashes rapidly through the sky.
“It’s finally going our way,” Karma said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’m going to
sleep. You can come in whenever you feel like it.”
Karma stood up and entered the room, though Amour’s focus was on the stars in the
sky.
“You are keeping to your promise are you not?” the voice of Princess Cerise said in
her mind.
“I never said that I wasn’t,” Amour retorted, pushing a strand of hair from her face,
staring up at the blood moon in the sky. That had to be a sign of sorts she supposed but she
pushed the thought to the back of her mind.
“Good,” Cerise hummed. “With your help I can bring Scarlett and her little brat to
their knees. And the kingdoms will remain as they once were, under Ourania.”
“That’s great,” Amour said. “Who’s her little brat?”

81

“The girl’s who’s life you ruined,” Cerise said fondly. “Good job with that.
Chasity.”

“Chastity,” Amour repeated, tapping her nails on the bench. “She chose Chastity
after she left me?”

“If she hadn’t left you, I couldn’t have joined you,” Cerise stated matter of factly.
“We’re an unstoppable team, Amour.”

“We aren't we,” Amour smiled.
“With you on my side,” Cerise continued. “We’ll have the kingdom under our lock
and key. And I will finally prove to the world that I was superior to my sister.”
“Yes you are,”
“Embrace the fire within Amour, that’s how you’ll keep them all in check.”
And with that, Amour was left with her own thoughts.
She would embrace the fire within. She would have her revenge on those who had
turned on her. She would do what was right, no matter the price.
She would because she was Amour, completely, utterly, undeniably heartless.

82