"Katroina?" Caleb frowned, releasing Harriet's shoulder from his grip.

Harriet was confused, too.

Katroina's arm rested across Abigail's shoulders, and she looked... Relaxed. As did the dark mage. They looked at each other, perfectly sync, and then back at Harriet, Caleb and Mina. Amused.

Then she got it, and felt herself smile inwardly.

"D'you guys think we should go? Bodies'n all."

Abigail jumped, and nodded slightly. "Probably."

Katroina let go of Abigail, instead grabbing her hand and walking down the corridor. "This way."

She stepped over a body, and felt slightly bad. "You do know we haven't agreed to killing Darian?"

The dark mage looked back at them, "Your friend has, sweetheart."

Kadriq?

What is it?

You're going to kill Darian?

He didn't answer. "Damn it." She ran a hand through her hair, and noticed the others had gone on without her. Kadriq couldn't have agreed to help the rebels. They weren't... They weren't traitors. The voice in her head disagreed. Kadriq was the fucking Chosen One. He was meant to be working with the King, not with a bunch of people from the wrong side of town. And of course Mina would follow, she just had to protect the Chosen One. Caleb, hopefully, wouldn't do anything. Plus, that would mean going against the General, and the army and the people who rescued him.

But what if he did join them?

Then what? She would... She'd be lonely again. She hated to admit it, but the others had become her... Lifeline, almost. They kept her sane. Of course, anyone could do that. Except they did it better than anyone else. So where they went, she went.

She was meant to be their leader, but she followed.

They had stopped in front of a door, and Abigail pushed it, holding it open for them.

And Harriet didn't know why she hadn't questioned the dark mage, who had tried to kill her.

But then again, she wasn't trying to kill her now.

Kadriq was sitting in a chair in the corner, his head in his hands. He looked up when they entered, and scrambled to his feet. Harriet narrowed her eyes at him, but he looked away.

Kadriq, what the fuck?

Not now.

The room was freezing, but it wasn't. That's when she noticed the gems in the walls, and raised her hands to her eyes. They were the same size, same colour, same pattern. The room was designed to hold people like them, she realized.

She looked back at the Chosen One, and saw that the amulets were off his wrists, but there was no glow in his eyes. Of course there wasn't. Like the others were her lifeline, magic was his.

Harriet raised her arms to Katroina and Abigail. "How about you take these off? I don't think I'll be much of a threat here." She nodded to the wall.

"Smart." Abigail noted, and walked over, running her hands over the amulets. Her magic was... Toned down. Calming. Which was odd for darkness. Darkness was usually harsh and cold, not soft and... understanding. But that was the dark magic of the government.

And it wasn't just darkness, it was... Everything, really. The Palace and the Courthouse were partially made of magic, and they were always cold. Except none of the people that lived there noticed it. She was sure this place was mostly magic, but it was unlike the official government buildings.

With a soft click, the amulets fell into Abigail's outstretched hands. "Thanks." She said, revelling in the brief respite before yet another barrier was placed over her magic.

She did the same for Mina, and then stood back behind Katroina, looking around the room.

Silence.

How about now?

He gave her a dirty look, and she simply shrugged.

"So... Are we just going to stand here?"

Katroina gave an exasperated sigh, and looked back at Abigail. They seemingly had a conversation with their eyes, before Katroina turned back to them.

"They have the perimeter, so we stay here tonight, grab your shit tomorrow and get out of here."

"Wouldn' it be safer if we just get out now, before they get more defenses up?"

The dark mage pressed her lips together and shook her head, "That's what they'll expect us to do."

"We're not that predictable." Caleb interjected, and Abigail gave him a wry smile.

"I would not be so sure of that." Katroina glanced a hand on his shoulder, before walking to the other side of the room and opening a cupboard. She punched four numbers into the safe, and it opened with a high pitched 'beep'. Reaching in, she withdrew a sword which she threw to Caleb. He caught it, and unsheathed it,  seemingly inspecting the blade.

It would make sense for him to get a weapon.

"I trust you have made a decision?" Katroina said, locking the safe again.

"On what?" She asked, her mouth dry. But she knew what it was about. Darian.

"You know what." Abigail replied, from where she was leaning against the wall.

"The King. Right."

"If it's anythin', I'll do it."

Caleb gave Harriet a sideways glance before nodding. "Your call. Harriet?"

Everyone was looking at her, so she looked up, and focused on Katroina. She shouldn't say yes. Saying yes would be easy, and it would be treason. She could not kill Darian. She would notice kill Darian. And Caleb. She couldn't force him to go against Laar... But it didn't seem like he'd be forced.

But she needed them.

"Fine."