Aella groaned as her eyes flickered open, and she stepped back in surprise. Her head moved from side to side as she searched the empty ballroom, lit only by a few flickering candelabras. A figure stepped from the dark shadows at the far end, covered in a dark cloak.

"Who are you?" she called out. The voice that answered was deep and cold, and goosebumps broke out on her skin as he talked.

"Do not be so hasty to accept the gifts of a murderer," the voice said.

Aella stepped back, searching for a door. Her hand reached to her hip, and she hissed as she felt the empty space where her holster would usually sit.

"You will never be one of the Founder's children, Aella," he said, moving closer.

"Stay where you are," Aella shouted at him. "Stay where you are."

The shadow stopped, still out of range of the lights. "You are not of this world, and you must remember that."

Aella turned, pounding on the gilded wall behind her. "Let me out," she screamed.

The voice continued, the volume echoing in the empty ballroom, dwarfing her yells. "Find out your heritage, Aella, and rejoin your family. Time is running short before all of us will die in the flames."

Aella closed her eyes and screamed, and jerked forward as her eyes opened.

She took in the dim bedroom and the closed doorway just beyond her bed. Her breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped down her body. She shuddered, moving to hold her head with her hands as tears began to fall. "They're getting worse, Chloe," she whispered.

Red light filled the room, and the mechanical voice of the Computer spoke. "I am detecting increased heart rate and perspiration, Aella. Would you like me to call the onboard physician?"

Aella shook her head. "No," she said, taking a deep breath. "It was only a dream."

"I shall have one of the staff bring you some refreshment, and I have lowered the temperature of the room," the Computer said.

"Thank you, that will be all," Aella said. She leaned back on the pillows, her eyes moving to the ceiling. She frowned and reached up to her chest, feeling the crystal beneath her nightclothes. She closed her eyes, and rolled over to her side, letting herself fall back to sleep.

***

Aella groaned as the alarm rang in her room, and she yawned as she opened her eyes. The blinds on the window above her head were open, and sunlight was pouring into the room.

"Approaching the Complex, Aella," the Computer said.

Aella pushed herself up so her eyes could see out of the window. Through the falling snow, the long, gray, slender line of the train tube sat above the dark waves and glaciers, curving from the mainland to an island in the distance. A dome sparkled above the entire island, the light blue skin of the protective barrier magnifying the dim light so that the inside glowed as if it were sitting underneath a summer sun. Her eyes widened as she saw the dark green lining the bottom of the barrier and the bright colors of the buildings. It looked like a tropical paradise, hidden within the confines of the Arctic glaciers.

She turned her head as someone knocked on the door.

"Your secretary has arrived," the Computer stated.

Aella frowned, and rubbed her eyes. "My what? Never mind, let them in." She turned around and sat up as the door slid open, and a middle-aged woman stepped through, a smile lighting up her entire face. The woman was dressed in a simple black suit, a red silk shirt peeking through the top. In her arms was a bundle of navy and emerald silks, heavily embroidered with colors of fire and gold.

"Good morning," she said, walking inside. "I am so sorry that I have to introduce myself this way, and so early as well, but you have a very busy schedule today."

The woman stepped forward, extending her hand. She moved so that the clothing shifted to her other arm. "My name is Ilsa, and I am to be your secretary until you have chosen your own."

Aella shook her hand, smiling. "I am delighted to make your acquaintance."

Ilsa smiled. "Sure you are after being woken so early."

Aella moved so that her legs were dangling off the bed, and she watched as the woman laid the pile of silks on the end of the bed.

Ilsa motioned for Aella to get up and Aella followed her instructions. The woman walked around her, looking her up and down, talking as she did so. "I must say congratulations on your appointment—you have been given a great honor by being selected to Apprentice within the Capitol. And I don't know what you did to gain sponsorship from the Founder, but you must be an exceptional young woman. I look forward to getting to know you."

"I'm still wondering the same thing, myself," Aella said, smiling as the woman moved back to the end of the bed.

"I believe you," she said. "Now, take those nightclothes off and I'll help you get dressed. You will go before Richard next for hair and makeup, and he will fuss at me if I don't have you properly dressed beforehand."

Aella chuckled. "He sounds like an interesting man."

Ilsa grinned, showing her white teeth. "Just wait until you meet him."

Aella quickly took off her clothing, letting the woman show her how to put on the intricate silk skirt by wrapping it around herself many times in various patterns.

"I will be here to help guide you through the ceremonies today and be your guide to the Complex," Ilsa said as she fastened the skirt with a jeweled belt. "We will be arriving within the hour, and you will be treated to a private breakfast with the Founding Family in the Complex before you move on to the signing ceremonies in the Capitol Building in the presence of the Quadrant Councilors."

Aella held her arms out as Ilsa slowly slid the delicate sleeves over arms and slid the jeweled bodice onto her slender frame. She stood as Ilsa began to button the shirt.

"After the signing, you will be given a security detail and you can spend the day touring the Capitol. The Ball will be this evening, and tomorrow you will join the other players when they head to the Game Center."

Aella sighed. "This is all happening so fast."

Inna patted Aella's shoulder. "I felt that way when I was assigned to the late Lady Diederek as an apprentice to her assistant secretary. I didn't have such an elaborate ceremony as you will have, but I did meet the Lady before we went through with the signing ceremony. I spent the rest of my day in the Libraries and Gardens. I would recommend those to you as well. They are quieter than the rest of the city and have amazing views. You can also get hologram projections of the major sights and choose what you would like to see in the future."

"You can set that up for me?" Aella said, turning her head to look at the woman.

Ilsa moved in front of her took her arm, fastening the small buttons of the slender band of fabric at her wrist, and nodded. She looked up at Aella and smiled. "I would be glad to."

The woman quickly moved to finish the other sleeve, then stepped back and smiled. "There," she said, motioning for Aella to move in a circle.

Aella spun slowly, feeling the cool silk move around her ankles and legs. She glanced down, seeing the rays and swirls of orange and scarlet thread that made it look as if flames were dancing down from her shirt, where the orange jewels glittered as if they were made of fire.

"Now," Ilsa said.

Aella looked up at her and raised her eyebrows.

"Now we go see Richard."