The ballroom is huge, filled with Silvers from every different house. Their colors blind and draw attention, making beautiful seas of rainbows. I walk carefully, making sure not to get noticed like all the others. My phone and earplugs are tightly held in my right hand, I check every passing minute to see if they're still there. I haven't tried calling anyone yet, because I want to be alone when I do that.

Cal left long ago. He went to sit with his family. Now they're all wearing black and black and red and silver, which I know are the colors of the Kings house. The princes attire in plenty of military medals on their black tops; it makes them look even more important than they already are. Maven looks nervous, scared even. He deserves it, though.

"The right of Queenstrial is always a joyous event, representing the future of our great kingdom and the bonds that kept us strongly united in the face of our enemies. And I am so sorry for having to postpone this feast" The King says, his eyes reeking the crowd, grabbing everyone's attention. "As we all say two days ago, there was an incident. A red girl fell into the arena, bringing all electricity and lightning with her. We did not have the time to question her or her abilities before she killed herself, and later that day we were welcomed with another surprise."

The Queen finds me in the crowd. Come forward, she whispers in my head. I cringe and do as said. The crowd notices and their eyes follow me as I make my way to the front of the room. Take the empty seat, I sit down before the whole crowd, where all the Queenstrial girls are already sitting. I know why I'm sitting here, but they don't. Evangeline is next to me, her cold eyes boring into the side of my head. I never thought she'd be this intimidating in real life.

"This girl is Novalia Macanthos, at least from what we've been confirmed. She is daughter of Rhett Macanthos and Asena Blonos, I do not know if any of you remember these great warriors, but we certainly do. Lady Novalia was a miracle, she is able to break through things like a Stoneskin, but her skin does not turn into stone. Instead she somehow inherited her mothers abilities of always healing, and it created the girl she is now." The Queen says. I play with my earphones in my lap, trying my best not the react to her lies. "She was saved by a red family, and she grew up thinking she was one of them. Now, we know she is not. The King and I were very great friends with Rhett Macanthos and Asena Blonos, and we were the only ones knowing about their baby to come. We promised to take care to it if something would ever happen to them, but when Novalia was born, we could not seem to find her. Now that she is found, we will keep our promise. Therefor, lady Novalia Macanthos will join house Calore and wed my youngest son, Maven Calore."

Maven stands up on wobbly legs and tries to hold eye contact with me, I give him the most hateful look I can manage as I stand up to face him. "Lady Novalia. In the eyes of my royal father and the noble court, I would ask for you hand in marriage. I pledge myself to you, Novalia Macanthos. Will you accept?"

I take in a long breath. The Queen squints her eyes at me, not expecting me not to answer right away. Unlike Mare, I have nothing to lose if I say no. She can't kill my family, or send me to conscription. At least I hope she can't.

"I –" the Queen senses my resistance and forces her into my head, I hiss in pain. Say yes, or I will make sure you regret being born. "Yes, I accept."

When maven sits down again, I see Elara giving him a friendly smile. I know it's fake. Cal stands up, now it's his turn to reveal whom he is to marry. I already know it is Evangeline, so slide back in my chair and unlock my phone. While Cal talks on I look through my apps. The ones in need of Internet wont open, but games and my photo gallery will. There are no photos left, and when I go to my contact list, there are no phone numbers. My breaths increase slowly, leaving my fingers numb. Where is everything? By accident I click on one of my audiobook-apps and my heart stops in my chest. I hurry to plug in my earplugs and then I click the play button. Nothing happens; the reader of Red Queen doesn't say anything. Disappointed I pause the book and turn of my phone, eyes itching with tears to come. Everything is gone, every evidence of my life before this. I sniffle and avert my attention to the prince's speech, but I can't hear anything. The ballroom is dead quiet, and I can't hear a single breath but my own. I look up to see Cal standing in front of me, a well-taught smile plastered on his face. He's looking at Evangeline at my side; she's also smiling. None of them are moving though, just like no one else in the room.

"Hello?" I whisper to no one. "Do you usually do this?" I get no answer, not even a blink. Slowly I stand up and walk forwards a little, to my surprise I get no reaction.

"Hello!" I say again, this time louder. The silence is killing me, and it's starting to feel just like it felt in the library two days ago. It's like everything around me is paused. "Oh my God!" I yelp and unlock my phone. The audiobook is paused just as I left it. Hurriedly I play it, and just as I suspected, the room comes to life again. I scream and pause it again, my heart beating hard.

"Oh shit!" I grunt. "This is fucking crazy ..." I step up to Cal and touch his cheek, no reaction. I undo Evangeline's pretty braids, no reaction. A glass of water tossed over Maven, smudged lipstick on Queen Elara and an upside down crown on the King, no response. I laugh out loud at my brilliance, then I sit back down in my chair and hit play on my phone.

a/n: Okay so this chapter was fun! What do you think about Nova's new ability? :)