I can't help the involuntary smile that plays upon my lips. My bed feels empty but I'm still happy. The bond tingles every time I think of Jared. I grip the covers in excitement. I can't wriggle or move for the next few hours or the stitches will come out. The scar ache is still there but I barely notice it.

It's been a week; a week since the first ball and a week from when the problem first started. I can think of the memories, I have Jared now. I think back to the first night.

We enter the double doors in our linear formation; Ally, me, Jared. I'm stunned by the grand splendour of the room as we hover on the overlooking balcony. Below stands the army of white; flawless, smart and completely inhumane. We stick out like sore thumbs.

"Dimidium 1, Lara Hall and Jared Miller" A Leto to Jared's right announces. He nods us forward and Ally begins to descend down the vast staircase.

The red carpet down the middle appears regal and majestic. The luxurious glass chandelier that hangs in the middle of the ballroom lights the entire room; it shimmers and glints almost as much as Ally's twinkly dress. Jared's arm encircles my waist and nudges me to start moving. I try and push it off before remembering the Leto Rex's observing gaze has fallen upon us. I lift my chin up defiantly, ready to face anything the Leto throw at me.

The Rex and the Guard convene at the other end of the great hall. Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, the entire Leto crowd turns and stares at us. Hundreds of soulless eyes gaze curiously at us and I feel Jared's grip tighten around my waist. I smile reassuringly at him as he scowls at the throng of trespassers. A few seconds pass and not one Leto moves.

"Music" The Rex commands.

The sweet sound of the ancient pianos and violins swirl around the room and the Leto immediately turn back to each other. Upon his raised platform the Rex stares directly at Ally and she seems enraptured with his gaze.

"The Leto Rex requests the presence of Dimidium 1, Jared Miller and Lara Hall" A Leto on the right of the staircase announces. 

Jared nods and we begin to move through the packed crowd of Leto's. Without having to slip and slide between them, they part like the Red Sea in the fallacious book about the 'Messiah'. He came down from the Heavens again but was quickly turned away. Religion died when the technology took over. People no longer believed in the spiritual God; the wireless connection answered all their questions. He attempted to save our souls once again though but by that time it was too late. We were too far gone.

We reach the Rex and Dimidium 1 bows. I glance curiously at her and suddenly long for Ally's cheerful banter. Carlisle Kappor stands alongside the Rex in a black tuxedo identical to Jared's. He gives me a reassuring smile.

Everything seems so cold and distant as the Rex stares at me emotionlessly. He gazes at my face, then the floor and then my face again. He does the same with Jared who begins to bow. I quickly tug him up not letting him surrender to the leeching species. The Rex smirks.

The Rex smirks.

The boy with the sandy mop of hair lies dead on the floor. The needle in my neck. The arrogant smirk.

I gasp in horror. The Rex killed an innocent boy and his family. The memory of the whole scenario comes flooding back.

"Lara Hall it appears the sedation is wearing off" The Rex states. "Do not be concerned human, we have disposed of the Mendosus. He will never disobey the Leto Rex again"

"What is a Mendosus?" Jared asks.

"Jared, a Mendosus is a faulty Leto, it's brain is not wired correctly" Carlisle interjects.

"You monster" I whisper. "He didn't need to die; his family didn't need to die. You're Leto's, you designed to help. Why didn't you help him?" My voice crescendos.

The whole room falls silent, only the appealing music still plays. Every single cloned face in the room turns to stare at the brown-haired human arguing with their Rex.

"There can be no help for a Leto that disobeys the Rex. Lara Hall, there are no second chances". The Rex speaks. I tense and start to vibrate with fury at the heartless wired creature in front of me, wanting nothing more than to rip his regal robe to pieces.

"Lara, let's dance" Jared says. His arm encircles tightly around my waist, forcing me to proceed forward to the dance floor.

I glower over my shoulder at the seemingly satisfied Rex. I scowl at Jared as he pulls me into the middle of the ballroom. He places my right hand on his shoulder before placing his hand on my waist and gripping my left hand in his.

"I don't want to dance" 

"I know but I didn't want you to kill the Rex" Jared replies smoothly.

"Since when?"

"Well not tonight at least" He grins.

I continue to scowl as he lets go of one of my hands and twirls me. The surrounding Leto's begin to applaud. Jared returns his hand to my waist.

"Anyway now we can talk privately and it seems". He eyes the crowd. "That this might be a pretty good opportunity to prove we are attempting to complete our conditions" He raises his eyes suggestively.

I exhale heavily and nod my head in agreement. Over Jared's shoulder, I can still see the Rex eyeing us. 

"You could tell me a little more about yourself?" Jared asks.

"There's not much to tell" I reply curtly. Who knows what he could question me on? I don't want stumble into a rough patch unprepared.

"There must be something you can disclose about yourself. I thought that was what friends do?" 

"You think we're friends?"

"You don't?" Jared responds. He almost sounds hurt?

"I don't know, apart from Ally and my family I've never had one" I shake my head. 

"Well what would you consider us then? Allies?"

"I guess so" I purse my lips.

If being friends involves revealing my personal secrets, I think it would be safer if we were allies. I notice Jared's smile droop slightly and for some reason it pains me knowing that I am the cause.

"Where did you learn to dance so well?" I ask as he twirls me again.

He falters. "Lena taught me"

His eyes fall to the floor revealing his downcast feelings. I feel my throat tighten at his desolation. He's still a broken man but how do I cheer him up? I place a finger under his chin bringing his eyes back level to mine.

"I like strawberries"

'What are you talking about?' He says.

"Friends tell their secrets to their friends, I am correct?"

Jared grins before twirling me once again.

"My middle name is Aurora. I love to run. I wanted to be a Doctor when I was yonger" My beautiful dress flares out as I spin.

As my twirling comes to a halt, I'm brought back into the sway of the music by Jared. I pratically glide over the floor as we waltz. 

"Do you trust me?" He asks suddenly.

"Why?"

He grins. I gasp as he dips me to the floor, praying that he doesn't drop me. Jared swiftly draws me back up, holding me close to him, his lips pressed to my ear.

"I was just checking Princess" He smirks.

The Leto's begin to clap again and follow our example of dancing. Just like how they copied everything else about us. If the company were not so lifeless, this ball could be mortal; human.

"Thanks for the warning" I answer trying to regain my breath.

He laughs at my shocked state as a finger taps him on the shoulder. Jared turns, opening his body to the prescence of Carlisle Kappor.

"Mind if I cut in?"' Kappor asks.

"Yes" Jared scowls.

"It would be my pleasure Carlisle" I smile.

Jared looks vaguely put out as Carlisle slides in and replacing him. He rests one hand against mine and the other on my hip. His wrinkled hands are the only part of his body that appears ancient; his maroon veins protrude through the clingfilm layer of skin. Jared exhales loudly before sauntering off to a table laid out with champagne and various sorts of wine. Of course there aren't many of them seeing as there would only be three of us drinking.

"Sorry" I say sheepishly as Carlisle and I begin to waltz.

"It is not a problem Lara for it is I who should apologise to you. I'm deeply repentant for my behaviour towards you earlier; Jared and I should not have left you out of the loop in the way we did"

"It happens a lot" I sigh heavily. As we jitter around the floor robotically, I long for Jared's graceful posture and style.

"He's a good lad Lara, he doesn't want to hurt you. I'd say you'd be perfect together" Kappor wheezes. It seems the exertion of our slow rhythm is too much for him.

"Would you like to sit down Carlisle?" 

"Definitely not!" He exclaims. "The skill of conversation is enhanced by the nimble art of dance"

I successfully hold in a mocking snort of derision at the idea of our rigid movements being 'nimble'. Though Kappor's eyes may be old, they definitely don't miss the amusement that twinkles in my eyes. 

I clear my throat. "What did you mean about Jared not wanting to hurt me? How does his illness affect me?"

"Because it may mean Jared can't love you back. I I know is that this can affect you emotionally for many reasons child" His sombre tone doesn't fade.

"Carlisle is his illness contagious?"

"No it is not" Carlisle's manicured brow creases into folds.

"Then I see no reason why it should affect me. There is no illness that prevents you from loving someone"

"Apart from the case of the broken heart" Carlisle replies.

"Is that Jared's problem? Is that it?" I dive on the piece of information. Carlisle merely shakes his head in response.

"That is the least of Jared's concerns" 

"In any case it won't touch me because I have no romantic attachments towards Jared" I shrug. Though I voice these words, I feel uncomfortable; as if they are not the truth. 

"My child I have seen the way you are together so forgive me when I say that I do believe you do have some form of romantic attachment for him" Carlisle smiles.

"Its irrelevant anyway Carlisle" I glance over his shoulder to Jared. He scowls at the crowd around him. I sigh. 

"Like you said, he may not ever love me" 

"Anything is possible my child" 

"Carlisle, I'm 19. Why does everyone still insist I'm a child?" I huff, indignant at the idea of being thought too young and immature.

I've got humanity in my hands. I see the Leto Rex staring at Carlisle and I, his rigid smile brimming with dispassion. A Leto to his right also watches me. Though clearly a member of the Guard I don't recognise him. He wasn't at the Leto dinner.

"I'm sorry Lara, compared to me you are nothing but youthful. The old brain isn't what it used to be" He says tapping his forefinger against his temple.

"I forget sometimes that the Caritas are more emotionally developed than any other beings"

"A little too emotionally developed" I mutter under my breath.

"Lara, what I meant to talk to you about your room before Jared and I got caught up in our chat was that I need you to do something for me"

"What is it?" I enquire.

He twirls me like Jared did earlier only without his fluidity and ease. It's more of an uncomfortable turn. As I rotate, I spot Jared with his eyes fixed on me loitering by the drinks table. A few Leto's are trying to communicate with him but he remains as impassive as ever.

Typical Jared.

I face back to Kappor and rest my hand back on his shoulder.

"Lara, I need you to bring the humans back" He says calmly.

I stay silent for a minute. The only way to bring back the Humans is to fall in love with Jared and for him to fall for me too. We both know that's impossible. Though his behaviour has changed slightly, he's still the same unloving man. I'm about to tell Kappor this as steadily as possible when I'm touched on the shoulder by a bony finger.

The Leto Rex waits composedly behind me with the Leto that had previously stood to his right. His eyes spark maliciously as he lingers silently.

"Lara Hall, allow me to introduce the Royal Leto Auctor" The Rex introduces.

"Don't trust anyone." Carlisle whispers into my ear.

The Rex and the Auctor could've been twins with their omniscient smirks. I'm snapped out of my flashback and into my bedroom. That was the night the problem sparked off and it was all because of the Auctor. I shift uneasily under the covers as I think of the second ball before the tingling starts again. However it's not the bond this time; it's the stab wound.

It's the night of the second ball. I'm clothed in a white peplum dress with twinkling bracelets decorating my wrists; my closet also doubles as a jewellery shop. My hair is pin straight and falls to my waist. After the last 'formal' dinner, I'm more prepared for this one.

Tonight is the banquet ball which includes communication, telepathic or not. Wearing a white dress means I will be less visible and therefore the prospects of a conversation with a Leto are less foreseeable. Jared will also be dressed in white in protest of the forced interactions.

I step outside my door and press the control pad to shut it.

"Ready?" A husky voice calls from behind and my hand is grasped.

"Yes" I smile at Jared. His jet black hair contrasts starkly snowy suit as we set off to the banquet room.

Half an hour later, I'm masticating on a piece of celery, too unsettled to eat anything else. The whole room is silent as the Leto's remain fully engrossed in their telepathic communications. Only the sound of my chomping teeth fills the empty void. The humans sit in a line; Carlisle, Jared, me and Ally. Dimidium 1 only appears when the Rex or her mother addresses her.

Ally's is the clone of her mother. Identical blond hair, blue eyes and sweet face. However Ally only lacks two of her Leto mother's qualities. One being her towering and imposing height. The second being her inability to love, feel or possess any sort of soul.

Only the occasional few whispers have been communicated between any of us. Even our hushed voices are too loud for this silent conversation. We are blended in with the Leto for this event as we assemble in the united army of white. Our costumes cannot hide all our differences though; we are still play acting the role of the civil and the perfect. Something that three of us are most definitely not. We are not with the Leto.

From the opposite side of the table, the Auctor glares at me. He's always watching. Whether from around the corner, from the balcony or even from the doorway of the library; for the past week I've been unable to escape him. He wants something and being the Leto Auctor, he won't stop until he achieves it.

Unable to bear his constant scrutiny anymore I slide backwards in my chair.

"I'm going to get some air. I can't sit here any longer" I whisper into Jared's ear. He looks a little worried.

"Would you like me to come?" He asks concernedly.

"No, I'll be back in 5 minutes" I shake my head.

"Leto Rex may I be excused" I address him loudly and clearly.

My cheeks burn as the entire Leto party turns to look at me as I wait for the Leto's answer. I feel impatient as the Rex takes his time deliberating, his sneaky and cunning persona dragging out my waiting time. Ally is insane to want this kind of attention.

"Lara Hall you may be excused" He prolongs his words. I waste no time in standing up. As I brush past Carlisle, he yanks on my arms.

"Look out for the Auctor" He warns. I nod before walking out of the room.

I stroll out into the corridor and spot the two glass doors of the balcony Jared and I met the Rex on. I open the doors and step into the cool night. The fresh air invigorates my senses from the stuffy banquet room. I lean on the wide balcony edge. The cool white marble raises the goosebumps on my skin. I didn't have time last time to fully appreciate the night sky and the other factors of the epic view. Below is a an enormous rose garden, full of neatly trimmed hedgerows and ornate statues. However the real view to be admired is the blue tinged night sky. The stars gleam brighter than ever and the moon glows with a silvery light. The space is so vast yet so full.

"Lara Hall" A chilling voice calls from behind.

I turn slowly and come face to face with the grinning Auctor. I begin to perspire nervously and my breath quickens. My heart pounds hard as the Leto approaches.

"Leto Auctor, how may I help you?" I choke out, after a huge gulp.

My eyes flicker all over the place as I mentally send distressed calls; no one will hear them though. For the first time in my 19 years of life, I'm jealous of the Leto. I want telepathic communication.

"Lara Hall, the female character evidence will die on the thirty second day after the conditions have been agreed to. Therefore the male and female character evidences will not be able to form and prove an established bond of love. The Human species will be eradicated in the Externium ships and the Leto will have full control and power over the Earth." The Auctor advances deathly slowly, drawing a knife out from behind his back. It has my name written all over it.

"Wait, wait. You're a Leto; you're designed to assit humanity; to help me!" I cry frantically. 

Could he be a Mendosus?

"Lara Hall, you are mistaken. I'm not just a Leto, I'm a Sicarius" He proceeds again.

The blade glimmers as my death draws near. I lose control and begin to tremble; this can't happen again. My tears stream down my face as I search for possible escapes routes. The only one left is the blade.

"What's a Sicarius?" I ask hurriedly. Maybe someone will help me. I begin to pray for a miracle; for the obsolete Messiah to save me. He's long gone though.

"Lara, no amount of procrastination will defer me from my purpose. I swore to my leader to make your death quick; that is your consolation" He smiles "However, my leader is not here and he therefore will never know".

I see the 8 inch glinting razor-blade once last time before it disappears into the left side of my stomach. It's not a death stab; but the amount of blood I'll lose will be fatal. I scream in pain and my knees buckle. It's exactly like last time only this time I am the victim. I sob in agony as the wound bleeds out my pain.

"Lara Hall, there are memories worse than the kind of pain you are experiencing at the present moment"

He yanks the knife out of my waist and I clutch at it. Another searing wave of torture passes through and I scream again.

"Does this remind you of anything Lara Hall? Perhaps a certain incident with your sister" He whispers darkly.

He places tests the tip of the blade on his forefinger. My blood trickles onto his hand.

"Izzy" I rasp. My tears flow rapidly and shallow breaths scrape my throat like sandpaper.

"Oh yes Lara Hall. Isabelle Hall." He hisses "She died in your place. It should have been you" He laughs.

"Please stop" I yell at him covering my ears.

I block the words but I can't keep out the memories. The Auctor raises his knife for the death stab and I close my eyes. I wait, the suspense builds. Thirty seconds passes and I'm still on the floor; alive. Maybe the Messiah did come and save me. Something clatters to the floor that sounds oddly like a knife.

I clasp at my side, letting out a strangled shriek. Blurring images flash through my mind, depicting scenes throughout the course of my life. My first memory of my mother, pictures of myself and Izzy rolling around in a meadow, a mass construction of silver obelisks, a classroom of children tapping frantically on their keyboards, the first Leto prototype, otherwise known as the Leto Rex, projected on every billboard and hologram and finally the memory of a handsome, cold-hearted man with the tantalising touch.

A furious roar breaks through my personal kinetoscope. I groan as my eyes open a fraction to see the Auctor on the floor with a seething Jared punching the life out of him. The knife lies a few feet in front of me. I glance down at my wound, the crimson blood staining my white dress. My hand is drenched in blood.

"Jared" I moan. I feel myself slipping and frantically lunge for the last strands of life. 

"Lara fight it" He commands from my side. I feel the gates of paradise, slowly draw open to welcome me. I scream in terror. 

"I don't want to die" I choke, clutching my side.

My dress is crimson now. A single tear courses down my cheek and I smile sadly at him, realising the my true fate.

"Lara, stay with me" He tries his old tactics. The haze doesn't move away; it only draws closer. I'm surprised though; its light not dark.

"It's not going to work"  I whimper. I can't bring myself to say goodbye.

My eyes flutter shut. I begin to surrender myself to my inevitable fate. The obscurity of death is almost with me before I feel tingles, sparks and electricity. I'm diverted from the gateway and pulled back into life. A firm pressure against my lips sets off the fireworks. My brain takes a few seconds to register that Jared is kissing me. My whole insides begin to quiver as one word flashes through my brain; love.

I pull away and just stare at Jared. My eyes take in everything about his beautiful face. My skin begins glowing and I clasp at my wound. Golden vapours release from inside me as the wound begins to heal. My skin slowly stitches itself back together. I stare at Jared in amazement and he smiles back at me.

"Jared Miller, I promise to love and cherish you from this moment onwards. I will be your bestfriend, lover or whatever you wish me to be. I am with you now." I declare passionately.

The words are like a script and when I finish, I exhale deeply, now able to speak normally as I stare at the man in front of me.

"Why did you do that?" I ask, the realisation finally hits me.

He pauses. "Because I like you Lara. I like you a lot even if you are a pain in the ass" He shrugs completely unromantically.

I roll my eyes. Not everything changes then.

"You didn't have to do this just because I was dying" I reply, realising how dire it sounds. The bond continues to tingle.

"Lara, I wanted-I want to be with you" He bites his lip with his pearly teeth and I almost faint.

"I thought you couldn't love me?" I ask, still trying to recover. This will be a long week for controlling myself.

"Well I was wrong". He declares.

Its my turn to bite my lip as I to try and contain my smile and happiness. Of course my glow shows it off anyway.

"You're not pretending anymore are you?" I smile contently. Jared shakes his head, a sheepish smile plays upon his lips.

"Do you want to be with me too?" He asks, not able to meet my eyes. He's nervous and its cute.

"Of course I do" I reply. He lifts his head to meet my eyes, his smile brimming with euphoria. He leans forward, careful to avoid my healing wound and pecks my lips. His soft lips cushion mine in loving kiss and I feel him smiling. I pull away, blushing profusely.

"You know you're it for me now?"

"Why the hell do you think I kissed you?" He grins.

I smile back as the bond fully connects and I'm left completely contented. My glow shines even more powerfully as I radiate my new found happiness.

I faze back into reality and out of my trance. That was last night and I'm still glowing. I hear the shower shut off. Every time I think of the Auctor, I tremble with fear. There's a 'leader' somewhere who's trying to kill me. If it wasn't for Jared, myself and the human race would be dead by now. That knife was just the beginning. They know exactly how to hurt me because it's how I hurt myself. I let my sister die.

I begin to flashback but the rollercoaster syndrome in my stomach wrenches my out of the pits of despair. Jared walks out of the steamy bathroom dressed in a pair of trackies and a grey vest top, his hair drips with water beads. He saunters over to the bed and I bite my lip with the excitement of his presence. This won't wear off for another week yet. He wipes a tear from my cheek and leans his arms on the bed.

"How's the wound?" He asks kissing my forehead.

"Sore" I reply.

He pauses as he climbs on top of the bed and sits against the headboard. He wraps his arms around me and I snuggle into his chest. It's exactly how we slept last night after the Leto Doctor had given me some pain relief.

"Lara?" He asks.

"Yeah?" I reply. His russet eyes study my face. They show nothing but the truth.

"I think I love you"