"Are you sure?" Taemia asked for what felt the hundredth time.

"Yes Mia, I am sure," Cress said throwing her knives in her newly bought black satchel.

Taemia went back to her waffles, drowning them in maple syrup and pouring herself a cup of orange juice. She cut the waffle with her knife, stabbed it with her fork and paused.

"Are you sure that you are sure?"

Cress released an exasperated sigh. "Yes."

"Alright," Taemia muttered and lifted her fork up, ready to put the warm steaming delicacy in her mouth before pausing again.

"Are you sure that you-?"

"Yes! Will you leave it already?" Cress exclaimed in annoyance and Taemia lifted her hands up in defence.

"Okay. Don't freak out."

Cress nodded her head with a sigh knowing that she will freak out, no matter what.

Going back to Celysa was probably the stupidest plan she had ever thought of. She wasn't sure why exactly she was doing it but somewhere in her mind, she knew it had to be done.

She could not live her entire life with her nightmares. They had to go. Dawn had to arrive. She had to face her father. She had to ask why he had done it. No matter how scary it seemed.

And also, she had to make sure that her sister wasn't a 'bargaining chip' anymore. It was the time that the kingdom of Celestia learned that women cannot be treated as an object.

She had to make things right, if only it was for her sister.

"Are you done?" Taemia asked looking at the packed bags on the bed.

"Mostly. What about you?" Cress asked without turning.

Taemia shoved a rather large piece of waffle and proceeded to drink her last swallow of juice. After a second she announced.

"Done! We are ready to leave."

"Great." Lie. "I think we can catch a wagon at noon."

"Wagon?" Taemia asked her voice filled with surprise and then continued in a sheepish tone. "I am sorry, I sound like a rich brat don't I?"

"Yes, you do." Cress looked at her with a smile as she hitched her shoulder bag upon her shoulders.

"You didn't have to agree," Taemia said narrowing her eyes and grabbed a bag herself, placing it on her shoulder.

They left the room with bags and Cress gave her room one long look. It didn't matter how dusty and old it was, it was still hers.

"You are going?" Terry asked looking at her packed bags.

"I thought it was obvious," Cress muttered. "But yes I am finally leaving."

"What about your contract?" Terry asked trying to look casual as leaned against the wall, his deep green and blue eyes trying to look and not look at her at the same time.

Cress hitched up her shoulder bag higher. "I asked for my pending leaves. See you after three weeks."

She saluted and then shoved her hand into her pocket feeling childish.

Terry's shoulders seemed to lighten. "You are coming back?"

"Why? You didn't want me to?" Cress asked quirking up an eyebrow.

"Of course I didn't want you to come back," Terry said in mock exasperation. "But I suppose that I won't have to babysit a newbie if you do."

"Of course." Cress sneered and caught Taemia shuffling awkwardly in the corner looking like she wanted to say something.

"Well, we will be leaving," Cress muttered. "Just so you know, I'll be enjoying these three weeks."

"Alright," Terry said with a small smile playing on his lips.

"And I won't miss you at all," Cress said glaring at his smile.

"I'll miss you too," Terry replied and smiled at the surprised expression she wore.

Cress looked like she wanted to protest but Terry turned to her sister and spoke in a heavily accented Celysa.

"I bid you farewell and hope you have a safe journey." He says with a bow and Taemia beamed at him in a formal manner. Cress wasn't sure how she managed to pull that off.

"Thank you," Taemia said and dipped into a perfect curtsy.

"Farewell," Cress said and after a moment of hesitation stuck her hand out for him to shake.

Terry ignored it and opened his arms for a hug, Cress jumped back. She was aware that this wasn't the natural reaction when a person offered you a hug but she couldn't help it. The most she could offer was a brief handshake, her sister was different. Her sister was family whereas Terry was not family.

She changed her expression into one with a scowl that didn't look to serious and tried her best to look annoyed.

"I take back what I said. Fare badly, very badly indeed." Cress said in a sour tone.

"Does that mean that even I won't get a hug?" Dmitri said sounding betrayed. He held a hand to his heart dramatically. "I thought we shared something special."

Cress looks towards the voice to see Felix and Dmitri standing there, wearing clean shirts and pants. The only clue that they had just woken up was the bleariness in their eyes and the occasional yawns.

She stands for a second feeling unsure. They didn't expect her to show any kind of affection that was created by the society did they?

Her question was unanswered when Felix wrapped his arms around her causing her to stiffen. Her hand itched to grab her dagger which was hidden in the pocket of her dark coat but she forced herself to relax.

They were crooks. They were outlaws. Why did they still have to exchange these frivolous and ridiculous goodbyes?

Cress tried not to feel awkward as she felt herself being hugged by a tall guy, even though Felix's expressions and features give him a boyish look, he stood at almost five feet seven inches, one inch shorter to Dmitri and two inches shorter than Azazel. Terry was the tallest standing at six feet.

After what felt like ages, Felix drew himself back and Cress gave him an annoyed look.

"You know how I feel about physical contact." She said accusingly.

But the truth was he didn't, he just knew that she hated it but he didn't know the reason why she did. No one really did.

"I know." He said with a cheeky grin. Then his expression sobered up. "Don't do anything foolish."

"You know me," Cress said but gave a nod.

"That's why I said it!" Felix exclaimed, his face breaking into an easy smile again.

"Idiot," Cress muttered but her eyes betrayed her as they shined at the expression on his face.

He sobered up and said. "Three weeks."

Cress couldn't help but smile as she said. "Three weeks. I promise."

Feeling someone staring at her, Cress turned to see Dmitri staring at her with an emotion in his eyes which didn't look happy. Cress looks at him somewhat awkwardly unsure of what to say.

"I knew it." He says in a tone that makes herself think of everything wrong she has done in her life.

"You don't care about me do you?" He whines making her sigh in exasperation.

She liked Dmitri as a friend, she really did but sometimes he was too much of a drama queen, too much... friendly maybe. Then again he was hired for this reason exactly. He was famous for being social and making important officials drink until they were spouting all of their secrets. Gathering a throng of people to arrive at the gambling den in hopes of winning money was just an additional benefit.

She had seen him at work. He would spot a rich man or woman by the gold or the diamonds they wore (he had taught her how to spot the difference between glass and diamonds) and then he would simply slip near them in his spotless clothes and a silver pin dotted by rubies that gave the impression of someone rich.

Then he would speak to a person who seemed more or less like a simpleton telling him or her about how he had managed to earn half a million Vils in just a night.

The men and women would catch the whispers of the words and march proudly into the trap and spend the night in hopes of winning a rigged game.

"It's not that Dmitri, you do know that I like you." She could stroke his ego, it needed that after her constant bruising. "It's just that I like Felix more than you."

Oh who was she kidding, she loved bruising his ego. He could stroke it when she was gone.

Cress and Taemia turned to leave and Cress found herself looking at Azazel. She hadn't expected him to come to say goodbye.

"Three weeks," Azazel said as if reminding her and Cress mentally slapped her forehead for assuming.

"Three weeks." She echoed feeling foolish as she did so.

Azazel looked at Terry before speaking a few words lowly. He nodded and with a last smile aimed at her, he left.

Dmitri glanced at his watch and with a curse word and the last goodbye he left. Felix followed him after reminding her to come back to Vilehelm and not do anything that he wouldn't.

"We need to go," Taemia said as she hitched her bag higher.

Cress nodded but before she could leave, Azazel spoke up.

"Money comes first."

Cress hid a smile as she replied to the Vilehellish phrase. "It always does."

***

The palace had changed but it hadn't lost its magnificence. Stretching over a hundred acres of greenery had covered it on all sides giving it a stunning image. Cress could imagine the horses having their hay tired after a day of galloping. The gardeners would be busy perfecting the already perfect gardens, trimming the edges of the shrubs until they all stood proudly at equal lengths.

It had taken them about three hours to travel and a look at the slightly warm rays of the sun told her that evening would fall in a few hours.

The pavements were tidy and the roads were straight. The wagon they were travelling in was spacious enough for Taemia and Cress to spread their legs out and have their toes touch the other end.

Taemia had fallen asleep claiming that the waffles must have had some sort of sleeping pill in them and Cress had been too worried to.

The first rule of Vilehelm was to see everyone as a crook, thief or lawbreaker. The dirty streets and polluted air was the perfect stage for the Vilhellish to play their part and disappear but this kingdom didn't look like the stage. This seemed to perfect and fake.

At least in Vilehelm, she knew the bitter truths but here everything felt like a comforting lie.

There was this sort of itch in her hands that made her reach for her dagger again and again. This place wasn't her home, not anymore.

Homes was supposed to feel comfortable, a place where you can strip off all your defences but the kingdom of Celestia only made Cress wear more of them.

The wagon drew to a stop near the entrance of the palace gates. Without a word, Cress tossed the driver a few copper coins.

"We are here," Cress said shaking Taemia awake as she grabbed the bags and lowered them onto the ground that felt unstable after the long moving wagon.

Taemia stretched and rubbed her eyes before grabbing the bags and climbing out and then they made their way towards the palace.

One ready to fight for her right and the other to make sure that her ghosts don't survive.

***

The crowd full of ministers and nobles fell silent as the grand opened to reveal two girls. One dressed in a messy but enchanting deep Violet dress that seemed to go forever and the other looked like she had been picked up from the streets. Her face seemed too thin and her clothes were ragged, dirty and boyish.

Zagan's eyes passed over her to Taemia with annoyance etched upon his face. The girl standing beside Taemia smiled and the gesture drew him to look back at her, his eyes widened as he took in the green-blue eyes and the dark chocolate brown hair. Shocked by seeing the girl he believed to be dead that he didn't even see her sister throwing him a malicious glare.

"No, that's not possible." He whispered to himself.

The man at the doorway began speaking in a loud voice. "Please welcome Taemia Tatterfell Cameria!"

"And." Cress began her voice audible to the man sitting in the farthest corner of the room "Diana Crescent Cameria."

***

YES! I DID IT! I UPDATED!

AND SHE IS BACK!

Any comments?

I'm sorry for the short chapter but the session is over and the new class is tough. I need to study a lot. The next chapter will be longer, I promise.

I'll edit this one later.

Yours realio and trulio,

Sadie Kane