Joanne's pretty fair face smirked down at me," So we're here again, are we?"

I jumped up and realised that unlike last time, I had no weird tubes and wires poking out of me, all the herbs were gone, all the blood vanished. It was the same room but now I had chance to study it in greater detail.

The bed I lay on was a gigantic bed fit for five people, and the pillow under my head was made of duck feathers and worth more than my new purple room, back at home.

The light blue carpets on the floor looked like something from Cinderella, and the walls were full of colourful but pale flowers and fields.

The light-weight pretty light green, baby blue and pale pink curtains were drawn partially open, revealing the two sides of America. Rich and Poor. And in the far distance, from the bed I could just make out a Forest, if I had a window on the other side of the wall, I glanced at the pinky-blue wallpaper opposite the window, I would be able to see the other side of America.

The ceiling was a dome shape painted in white. I pulled my aching bones together and sat up.

"Hey Joanne,"

"Wouldn't you like to know the results of your Test?"

Panic flooded through my veins and for a moment I failed to register that if I was a Red I wouldn't be here. When I realised, I grinned soundly, wondering how on earth Abigor had managed it.

He kept saving my life for reasons beyond my knowledge. Why was he even on our side? Wasn't he supposed to be President's son?

Then I thought of the President himself, and my vision swayed as I thought of the people he'd killed while I was out. Not even one, did I save. Astoria, Darian and Alarie deserved to be in this ward more than I did. So much more. And sweet innocent Deborah... She didn't deserve this world at all.

"What happened?" I tried to sound excited, happy, but I didn't put any energy in.

Apparently I looked like a drunk mouse, so I didn't do very well there. I smiled, "Okay just nervous."

"Well I suppose you know, you aren't wearing a ring are you?"

A heavy burden weighed down on my ring finger and I almost screamed, jumping off the bed in horror. I was panting with shock and I could barely look down at my hand to see what rested there. I was about to sob, my eyes blurring with tears-

The diamond ring was there, shiny beautiful wealth radiated from it, the diamond was the centre of a gold ring.

I breathed out deeply and realised I was being a fool, I should have realised that it would hurt a lot more with a black ring.

Looking for an escape from the burning in my head, a Cleansing telling me off for who knows what, I sank back into the bed and offered Joanne a relieved smile.

She looked a little nervous but did a quick nod," Silver."

"Yeah."

She began to scramble away, her posture small but I whispered quietly," Joanne, thank you."

She turned around, her pale pink nurse dress swaying as she moved, she looked slightly like Florence Nightingale. I told her so but she glanced at her blue ring as if she knew something terrible was going to happen if she said one more word. I caught the gesture, and we said our goodbyes.

I cleared my head and rooted in the files of my mind for some good memory.

Astoria grabbed my wrist and held on firmly as we neared the gates of the Daily Entertainment, I was about eleven then.

"Sweetheart, you are like my little sister, you, me, Alarie, Debbie, even that nuisance Darian, are a family together. So the rules are darling, you don't go into here for our reasons ever again, got it? Don't listen to the stupid boys okay?"

"I'm not an idiot As, and I'm not five," I rolled my eyes, I was tiny in my lavender dress and pointy shoes," I went with Darian and Alarie twice! And I kept guard while they saved Kali! So three! Don't be Mum Astoria!"

Sure, the Daily Entertainment was something that terrified me out of my guts, confused me and saddened me. But this world was so sad and all we could do was buy a selected few some borrowed time.

I sighed and put on a pleading expression coming closer to Astoria and further away from the disgusting black wall.

I was viewing myself from third person now, and saw that at the time I had waist length caramel-dark brown hair and greeny-blue eyes with a touch of hazel, just like I did now.

"Puhlease?"

Astoria put an arm around my waist and lead me farther away from all the depths of darkness and into the safer territory of the Greens. Green grass climbed up small but very nice looking houses.

There were no high-class around, everyone had gone to watch the Sunday Entertainment, and the Oranges and Reds spent these days mourning or going to watch their loved ones die-

No thinking about that, a hard firm voice drilled into my brain and I winced. I hated Cleansings.

Astoria smirked," You can only go in there when you are at least thirteen like me and Darian-"

"Alarie's twelve!" I whined.

Her beautiful blue seas softened," And are you even twelve?"

"But you guys went there from yea-rs ago!"

"C'mon sweetie, you're going home-"

Her eyes immediately softened and I glanced in her direction, sure enough there was her twin, looking rather different at first sight thanks to Astoria's make up and high heels and Darian's shadowed appearance. But yes they were twins, same deep blue eyes, pretty chocolate brown skin and curly beautiful chesnut hair.

Darian spotted me and shot me a grin," Fara, Debbie has a list of wants she wants you to 'think about' for her tenth birthday."

I rolled my eyes, that was Deborah, then said excitedly," So what did you do today?"

Alarie was walking behind him and they exchanged glances, Astoria's face tensed and she looked at her twin in fiercely," What?"

I giggled and pointed at Alarie mouthing b-i-g t-r-o-u-b-l-e then I ran off to knock on the pretty blue and white flowery cottage where Astoria lived-

There was a knock on the door, day dream over.

I blinked in disbelief but the dream was gone. I sighed and watched as Joanne re-entered the room with a dubious looking Blue in hand. It was Deborah, flashing me a grin and then continuing to chatter to Joanne. She looked prettier than ever, a pink blush falling on her caramel skin, her fiery red locks were tied in a high cherry blue ribbon. Her hazel eyes lit up with a sort of glow, even though I could definitely sense some sort of strain.

"Yeh, I'm assistant of Purple Miss Lola Parks-"

"Cut the crap," Joanne said in a cool and quiet voice," I know who you are. Talk to Miss and be done Deborah."

Joanne pointed at the watch, her face set in annoyance and disappointment at herself. I knew it would cost her but I had to know, I pointed at the door and then her.

She did a small nod and I pointed at the door," Get lost Blue, let Lola's assistant tell me how Lola is. Hurry up Blue."

Please tell the other ears to go, please. Five minutes, I made the words scrawl over my eyes as I looked at Joanne intensely, she nodded as if woken from a trance, her eyes promising I would get the minutes.

I sighed in relief as I heard some muffled voices from outside, Joanne's sweet but firm voice was taking the lead. I focused my intention on Deborah, a small burden leasing from my heart to see that she was alive and well. I could scent trouble and a little sadness from her, but her happiness meant everyone was alive.

" How are you Debbie ?" I said keeping my voice down.

She grinned, happiness that she couldn't hold back any longer shone out of her. I couldn't be grim any longer.

"Who is it?" I laughed, getting off the bed to see her properly, the world wasn't dizzy anymore and the air was beautiful and clean. I breathed a sigh of relief then turned to smile at Deborah.

She blushed beetroot," Is it really that obvious?"

I giggled and ruffled her immaculate fiery hair.

"Nice to see you're happy for a change?"

Her posture stiffened, and she drew herself taller," Yes."

She was like a different person, tall firm and strong. I couldn't help bursting into laughter again.

Deborah rolled her eyes and her hazel eyes smiled into mine," It seems your Prince saved your guts. Again."

"I hate being damsel in distress, and I'm not in the mood to be any more. I hate this place," I sighed," And the Entertainments are still going on?"

Deborah's eyes darkened and she shrugged, but I knew what game she was playing and waited for her to speak.

Finally, her voice murmured," It's worse, so much worse. The recruits you guys sent out haven't come back or gone anywhere or heard from at all."

A heavy silence set upon us, but I couldn't leave the one and only thing that had been pressing on me unsaid-

"How is Astoria, Darian?" I said quietly.

"They look a lot healthier, and I saw Jenny in the cottage her and Astoria used to live in, along with Ralph."

Ralph was Astoria's stepfather who Jenny, the twin's mother, had married so it looked as if he was the Father. Darian's father was killed last year leaving her with a stepmother, Kallie. She wasn't 'evil', and neither was Ralph, but they could never be the parents both twins dreamed for. Now that the pair had been sent down to be a Yellow or Orange it was Deborah's duty to check on them.

"How are they doing?"

"Ralph's his great, rambling self as usual, disappointed at Astoria's Orange still but he's almost over it, and Jenny's pretty weak for her twins. Oh and Kallie is not very good at being grieving wife," Deborah filled me in.

Then I had to ask what was weighing on me-

"Alarie's fine," she said before I asked and then a sad smile set on her face," He really misses you Fara."

"Tell him to stay safe Debbie, and... and tell him-"

Understanding dawned on Deborah's face and she placed a hand on my arm, pity danced in her hazel eyes but she quickly locked it away.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered ducking her head.

Confused I laughed," What's the matter Debs?"

She shook her head, then offered a very weak and pitying smile," Astoria says to be good, not get in danger and make it out alive. And she says that you're like her sister and if anyone harms you just yell her name."

I looked sceptical and smiled," So how about you and Darian?"

"What do you mean me and Darian?" She bobbed her head, confused.

Oh. But then-

The door banged open and Joanne put on an angry face at Deborah, eyes choking with sorries to her.

"Get out Deborah, our patient needs her rest."

"And tell Lola that she needs to stop being such a witch," I muttered in an undertone as if I was annoyed.

Ten minutes later, according to the pretty white watch hanging off the bright flowery wall, Joanne patted my hand," There's a celebration for you pre-Silver." Her brown-green eyes were lit with sparks of something bright I couldn't identify. Not just happiness or excitement but a touch of sad.

"And I'm expected to go?" I looked at her eager face, and she nodded quickly," It's your birthday party Miss!"

"Birthday or Silvery-ness graduation day hmm?"

She rolled her shoulders then smiled at me with excitement," You're gonna have the time of your life-"

I studied her bright flushed cheeks and eyes full of light. I wish she was going instead-

"Yes, with you."

I needed a distraction from all this mess, so why not go to my own party?

"A thousand reasons no, and if you're still not convinced..." She looked her plain pale brown nurse dress up and down.

I raised an eyebrow and put a finger to my lips as Joanne turned pink and opened her mouth to say no.

"You were my Nightingale, I'll be your Fairy Godmother."

I grinned and thought of the person who had taught me this and briefly explained this to Joanne, her eyes widening at the stories behind the names. Florence Nightingale, the first nurse that introduced nursing, fighting in the World War 1 in her own way, with her wits and skills, saving countless lives. Cinderella, the fable told to young children fifty years ago, the terribly treated young maiden who escaped her evil step mother and sisters by finding Prince Charming. I told her the story of the glass slipper she left at the ball that her Fairy Godmother helped her get into, she told her to come back before midnight and Cinderella lost track of time. The Prince looked for the lovely lady he had found at the ball using the glass slipper, and when Cinderella put it on, it was a perfect match.

"But what if two people in the kingdom had the same shoe size?" Joanne wondered out loud.

"I always thought that myself, and Grandma said that the Prince could never miss the real Cinderella because he obviously remembered her."

"But then why didn't he judge on facial appearances?"

"Cinderella had mysteriously disappeared, she could be anyone and the Prince needed more than his gut thought."

"But someone obviously had the same shoe size, couldn't he have married the wrong girl?"

I sighed, a smile in my voice that she had loved it so much," It was a fairy tale Joanne."

Joanne sighed, deflating," I wish it was that easy to find Happily Ever After. I don't think my glass slipper will be found."

I grinned," But what if you get a Fairy Godmother hmm?"

I waved a green pen at Joanne who laughed.

Twenty minutes later we were outside two beautiful golden-silver gates, the floor here was a deep red, and the ceiling opened up to a murky brown sky. The large circular windows looked over the disgusting city outside, I looked away to the gates and the glowing lilac knob. Two dark haired men in heavy silver armour stood by the doors, eyes narrowed as they took us in.

Joanne stood next to me, shivering nervously and murmuring for the hundredth time," I'm not so sure about this Fara..."

I shook my head firmly like I did every time, ignoring her pleas and taking a look at her proudly. She wore a fairy blue dress, crystalized bluebells shimmered on its waistband. Flowery blue silks flowed down to her knees and cloud blue high heels adorned her small feet. A headband of bluebells were woven artfully in her curly brown locks. She had to, of course, follow her Colour, but that didn't make her any less beautiful.

I grabbed her sweating hand and stared angrily at her," You Blue, hurry up."

I held the hand tenderly though and gave her a quick apology through my eyes, nodding at the staring guards.

I refused to think of the agony in my head of not knowing how Alarie was, how Astoria or Darian were doing or if Deborah was still happy.

The gate was flung open and then the guards shut them behind us. I stared, stunned at what I was seeing, Joanne stumbled a step back.

The floor was a rich white and the walls were glittering with silver beams of light. Colours danced together on the shattered glass ceiling. White leather coaches and glass tables were set out neatly on the left side of the hall, windows had been left out this time. I shuddered, I was trapped again, just in a prettier cage.

Cream side tables hung around the right side of the hall, lemon misted drinks in long glasses stood piled together on the tables.

Hundreds of people were standing on the brightly lit dance floor, clutching glasses of lemon water. The rest of the party were seated on the left side of the hall. There were no people younger than seventeen, everyone clad in purple, the rare blue figures here and there.

Soft music was dominating the small talk, but suddenly the notes came to a stop. All the young and old turned to stare at me and Joanne. Joanne's face was a deep purple and I gave her a cold stare, which hid a meaning only she could see.

Let me help you be the Princess, do look small though. Please. I drilled into her brain.

How con you do that weird mind thing? I read off her face and then I did a small smile at our audience letting Joanne know it was meant for her.

Two dark haired, dark eyed purple misted men strode to the front, identical images of each other, only one was slightly taller. They were both dressed in rich deep black velvet coats and cream white shirts, black trousers made of the same velvet. I took a shuddering breath and nodded as easily as I could manage at the shorter one, forcing myself to bend down with the rest of the crowd for the slightly taller one.

An amused familiar version of Abigor's voice filled the air.

"Ah our son's sweetheart," his voice was sharpened with the edge of cruelty. I raised my head and cleared all my thoughts, locking them away in the black and blue box in the back of my mind.

"Faranza Sunstar sir," I coughed internally then met the coal eyes focused on mine.

"Yes I believe we've met." In my hospital suite, he didn't need to add. His face was wiped of anything to take notice, trained, calculating and cool.

I met his stance, and said in an equally polite voice," Thank you for this sir."

The crowd weren't even trying to pretend they weren't listening, faces stared at me, their excitement
evident.

"My pleasure."

The silence seemed to drag on, and I knew I had to break it- He seemed to realise that too.

"And the Blue?" He nudged a finger at Joanne in a way that made me want to crawl, as if she was a dead rat.

"My maid for now," my voice was full of determination. If he even tried-

"Many returns," he said in smoothly, his face unreadable.

"Thank you," I choked out.

The crowd parted immediately for him to walk to the golden haired, green eyed beauty, his wife Dania Killian. She radiated a warm glow, but still put up with that man-

Trying not to look disgusted, I hurried towards one of the pretty tables where lemon drinks sat. Grabbing one, I gulped down the sour sweet juice in relief, it was delicious. And it was my party wasn't it?

I spun around to take another one and a hand caught mine, I looked up and almost screamed at the annoying person standing there. 

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