Viviana

"Tara," I breathed, staring at my sister. She gazed at Thorel and me with a forlorn look in her glassy eyes, breathing hard as a savage grin came over her face. Her papery skin seemed to burst open, and I gasped as the frozen side of her face began to rupture. 

"We're saved!" she shrieked. A lone tear slid down her face, mixing with the blood that already covered it, staining her cheeks and the front of her dress a brilliant crimson. 

"Uh..." I trailed off, not sure how to respond to her. She certainly didn't sound like herself. She had never been so emotional when we were children. She had always been calm and firm as a rock, moving through life's twists and turns with a kind of ease that was displayed by no one else. Although, I shouldn't have been surprised. After everything she had been through, one would be shocked if she was mentally sound. 

"You need to calm down. You'll hurt yourself," I said with concern, gesturing to her face. "Please, I don't want you to suffer any more than you already are." 

"You call this suffering? Vivi, you don't understand. I'm the happiest girl in the Empire. I'm practically in Heaven. Here you are, the two people whom I care about more than anything else in this universe, standing in front of me, unharmed. I'd gladly sit in this godforsaken hole for eight more years, if it meant I could experience this moment." 

"Oh, Tara, you're a goddess," I shook my head, involuntarily sinking to my knees in reverence. It was simply astounding- unfathomable- how such a perfect being could have such a miserable existence. 

Tara laughed at this, quietly but surely. The sound went straight to my heart, cutting easily through the fury and injustice that had rendered it hard and protected. It was the most beautiful laugh I had ever heard, like the sounds of a string orchestra, the ice cream truck, and Christmas all mixed into one. If everything else about her had changed during our time apart, this defining characteristic had stayed miraculously the same. I thought about our days out on vacation in the Kilaenaian countryside, when this very laughter had rung from every hill. Thorel had called it a "blessing to the ear," quoting an ancient Old Lessaenite poem to insist that-

"Every time you laugh, an angel starts to sing," Thorel whispered to himself, completing my thought. 

"And every time you smile, the sun shines a little brighter," Tara responded, completing the quote just as she had so many years before. 

"You remember," Thorel stated simply. 

"How could I forget? You and Vivi...you're my whole world, now. You're all I ever think about. All I have left to live for. So many people tried to get me to give up and apologize to the Queen, including the Flames themselves. They told me that I was waiting for something that would never come- that I was wasting my time. Yet, I always knew that they were wrong. I've always believed that even bad things happen for a good reason. And you two are the best reason I could hope for." 

Speech seemed to come a little easier to her now, although it was clear that she was still fighting to articulate her words. She sat on her knees, clearly working extremely hard to keep herself upright. It seemed as if she could almost wipe out the Icehearts with the sheer willpower that she possessed. 

It was ironic that the Empire had been patiently waiting for me, their "hero," when their real savior had been with them the whole time. She may not have had my Aura, but Tara was the kind of person I wished I could be. 

"Well, we can talk later," Tara added with a smile. "Let's get out of here, first." 

Thorel's joyful expression instantly dropped off his face. 

"I...I- we can't," he stammered. 

"Why not?" Tara crossed her arms. 

"I'm so sorry," Thorel shook his head. "I'm not the knight in shining armor that a princess like you deserves. As much I want to...I...I can't be. I may be strong, but I'll never be brave. Not the way you are." 

"Thorel, what are you saying?" Tara pursed her lips. "You mean...you aren't here to save me!?" 

"No! I didn't even want to come here! Vivi forced me. I knew that I'd be a disappointment. I knew I'd just add to the pain you're already feeling...and now, I have." 

Tara looked away for a few moments, digesting his words. Then, readying herself, she spoke. 

"It's stupid to think that, just because you're a princess, a man is going to walk into your broken life and fix it. We all have to put our own existences back together...princesses included. It was wrong of me to expect you to have the means to get me safely out of this cell right now. That's going to take time, and planning." 

"So, what do you suggest?" I raised an eyebrow. "Keep in mind the fact that I'm an undercover agent for the Flames, and Mom's trying to prove that Thorel committed a crime. That means he's going to be under constant surveillance." 

Tara paused in thought, quickly analyzing the situation. "You're going to blow your cover sometime, anyway. You might as well do it now." 

"This isn't sounding like it's going to be a very good plan," I said apprehensively. 

"Just hear me out," Tara smiled. "Half of the Imperial military is on Rhena, digging under the Flame base in an attempt to find Eleanna Myers' alleged hidden treasure. In two weeks, the entire city will be out in the open for the Festival of Lumys celebrations. People- including the Icehearts- are always less cautious during the Festival. That would be a perfect time to make a move." 

"Yeah!" Thorel chimed in. "There would be people, booths, and parades everywhere. No one would even come close to noticing us in that commotion!" 

"Then, it is settled," Tara said darkly. "On the third day of the Festival Lumys, the Icehearts shall fall." 

Saralee

I smirked as I watched Tara, Thorel and Viviana plan their entire escapade out in the dungeon, right before my eyes. Despite myself, I began to mentally chastise them. 

Seriously? Who makes an illegal plot right in front of a security camera? Couldn't they have been a little less enthusiastic, and used their brains for a moment? 

I was starting to get bored. They were making this too easy. 

"Shall we kill them, Your Highness?" Armetorius inquired. 

"No." My long fingers traced the elaborate, embroidered patterns along the armrest of my chair. "I do not plan to be so merciful."