He made me an entertainment to his kind. He made me kneel everytime the show ends, for the crowd of Silvers to see. He made me fight against 10 other Silvers, and made Silvers from House Skonos heal me, but not fully. He made his message clear to the Scarlet Guard.

Surrender, for I have the upper hand. I have your greatest mind. Your most lethal weapon.

But he is a fool. I know that Cal will not let him win. I know that he will save me, for the countless times I have saved him. Atleast that is what I tell myself.

The presence of the
Silent Stone isn't so suffocating anymore. Its power may not affect me, but it is a firm reminder that I am alone. That I have given up to the monster living in the hollow shell of a sweet boy I cared for.

How many months have I been in the clutches of the Silver king, I do not know. All I know is that Cal is going to save me. Late or not, I know he will. It's all I can hope for.

I think of Julian, and how he would be anxious to get me back. Or Mom and Dad, Gisa - and Kilorn. That childish boy whom I grew up with. I know Farley will waste no time in saving me. She hates me for what happend to Shade. I know she'll howl in laughter when she hears that I surrendered.

I hear Maven's heavy footsteps, heavy for they bear secrets. He carries his lies around, throwing them about, if he wants.

Though my gaze stays on the dirty ground, I can tell - feel - that the king's burning gaze is on me. His heartless laugh averts my gaze to his pointed features. "Pathetic. A fool, that's what you are. And now, I assume you rely on such faith on my brother to save you?" He counters, his hand resting on the rusty bars of my cell. He looks at me, waiting me to reveal my hope, but I won't give him that satisfaction. Not anymore. "How ironic. Here you are, back from being a hopeless Red, as you started out to be."

"You still haven't learned your lesson, have you?" He sneers. "Stop dreaming as if anyone would save you. Your days are numbered. No one can get past the gates, without you. So, why hope? I told you not once, but twice to hide your heart, Mare,"

"But not once did you listen."

I don't bother to argue with him, but instead glue my eyes at the rusty door that's crawling with disgusting bugs all over.

"What, have you gone mute being stuck in a cell for so long? Has the Silent Stone made you mute?" He continues his chatter.

But I do not answer. My voice will not be wasted on fools like him.

After what seems like an eternity, he gives up trying to make me talk. He exits my prison with ease. Making me envy of why I cannot slip away like that so easily.

A tray of food waits for me on the other side of the cell. A cylinder metal container holds my water. Rust crowds its surface, and the water itself has dust swimming in it, due to the long period of time it has not been touched.

My shallow breathing is the only noise that occupies the room. I sit there, quietly, waiting for the time I get to my feet and fight Silvers without my ability, and get healed only to get hurt once again.

And, I can't help but wonder, how would things be if it were different.