Page 13 of Dust to Dust

We are locked in a palace, not a jail cell.Ghost corrected me with a sass to her tone.

Do you still think Titan is the prince coming to save us?Why else would she call the Kings' campus mansion a palace?

Shadows moved under the door signaling a change of shift. One guard replaced another as time continued to fade away in my cage. No matter how much I screamed or banged on the door, the guard didn't open it. I knew there must have been a camera inside my room but still hadn't spotted it. Then again, cameras can be hidden in any microscopic nook and cranny. I gave up my search and laid back on the bed. Deep inhales and slow exhales allowed me to regroup.

This isn't the end.I confessed to Ghost.

Repeating Anton's words, I voiced, "The end is the beginning." Did Anton meanmyend here would be my new beginning? Everything after that became too fogged for me to remember. I recapped the events since I had woken up but could not plot what I needed to do next. A bump in my road shouldn't affect me. I just needed a little superglue to put me back together before I could get myself back on track.

Back to killing a king.

Rolling onto my belly, I pushed myself up but passed when I spotted the new tattoo on my wedding finger.Did I forget to mention that detail?My head tipped to the side as my eyes stayed glued to it, maybe I thought it was a dream, but it couldn't be. The tattoo was still there. I opened my fingers wide on the soft white bedding, the skin around the tattoo felt slightly tender. In flesh-colored ink, scrolled writing now read Titan King. The bastard marked me. I would have preferred a large rock on my finger instead of the permanent reminder of a man who lied, killed, and tricked me. Biting down hard on my bottom lip, I started to dream of how I could mark Titan.

Karma baby.

Footsteps, too light to be a man, sounded down the hallway. I narrowed my steel gray eyes like a bullet in the barrel of a gun at the door. My senses were focused like a sniper hidden in the wild as I eyed my target. If only I had a real weapon, but then again, the best weapon was our mind, and I was about to destroy whoever walked through that door.

A hushed conversation began, and then I heard the heavy boots of the guard shuffle as the door unlocked. Little Mila stood on the other side, holding a tray of food. She nodded at the guard, and he nodded as she entered. Mila flashed me a small friendly smile as she came forward. The smell of chocolate chip pancakes and bacon wafted through the air, causing my stomach to stir.

“Hi Nova,” Mila hesitantly voiced. "I'm guessing you're hungry? It took a lot to convince Dash to allow me to bring you food. But they thought you could use a friendly face."

I tilted my head, "And you think you're a friendly face, Mila?"

Mila came closer and set the food tray on my bed; then, she stood tall and tried to fake confidence. It made me laugh out loud, but it didn't deter Mila.

"I'm not sure what to think anymore, Nova, or should I call you Elsa?"

"Aww, so the cat is out of the bag? I wasn't sure if Titan would keep this little secret all to himself. But now I can see that his lips have become too loose." I would stitch his lips closed again if I had a needle and thread. Pushing my weight forward, I grabbed the end of the tray and set it on my lap; I eyed the silverware, "A real fork and knife?" Was Mila that foolish?

"There's cameras." Mila added, then she scooted closer and lowered her voice, "You don't have to act around me, Nova. I know that whatever plan you tried failed, but I also know that your confidence and ego aren't bruised easily. I'm sure you're already plotting a new way to take the Kings down inside your evil head. I've been watching you a lot closer than you think." She edged as close as she could without causing suspicion, "There's a reason that you were my roommate, and there's a reason why you have been trying to manipulate me."

The chocolate from the pancake melted on my tongue. I swallowed a bite as I looked proudly up at Mila, "You're finally learning how to read the wild. Maybe you'll survive a little bit longer." I stabbed another pancake piece and brought it to my mouth. The way the chocolate melted as soon as it touched my tongue told me whoever the chef was, they didn't use cheap chocolate. Then I remembered how Titan snuck Elsa the expensive bar of chocolate so many years ago. Who was the real Titan King? Did he have any genuine feelings for Elsa? Why did he legally tie himself to me in marriage?

"I want to survive on my own," Mila stressed. She was being a bit selfish, I thought. Here I was, the prisoner. Mila's marriage was arranged, but she craved Dash's touch, so this castle was her playground, not prison.

And you don't crave Titan?Ghost probed.

Ok, seriously, Ghost, what the hell? You were with me when I was going to take them all down, and now you're back to being a moral compass?

I think there is more at play here. We lost the previous battles, Nova. If we are going to survive and win the war, we need allies. Titan might be that. Lucas King is our number one enemy. An enemy of our enemy is our friend. Titan can be that friend.

So maybe Ghost had a point. But I couldn't just let Titan think I'd submit to him. I cut another bite of a pancake and slowly chewed it. Mila waited patiently for my response. I was surprised at how much she had learned since I had taken her under my tutelage. She impressed me with her fast pace ability to be corrupted and to want to hurt others. Specifically Dash. "Do you still want to run, Mila?" I set my fork down but continued holding the knife, "Run as fast as you can. You can't outrun the gingerbread man," I finished singing the classic children's song. At that moment, I reminded myself of Marla, the crazy girl who lived across from my prison cell. Marla used to sing to herself throughout the day. "Don't you find it odd that so many children's songs and fables are about death and pain, stalking and chaos? Seriously what the hell were adults trying to teach their children? A gingerbread man chases them; a witch eats them in a candy-themed house. Ashes to ashes, the plague takes them all down. No wonder any child ever grows up sane." I shrugged, "Then again, maybe the adults are doing the kids a favor. The world is harsh, and if we teach kids that sooner, they are more likely to survive."

Mila sighed, "Are you still able to help me?" Once again, she was being selfish. Good for her. Mila needed to think about herself. I didn't respond until I had licked the whole plate clean.

"What's in it for me?"

Mila chewed her inner cheek before she thought of a response, "I could help you escape from here."

That made me laugh. "I don't want to escape Mila. I've got Titan right where I want him locked in a personal hell with me. Titan still holds the keys to my cage but make no mistake, Mila, I'm still the mother fucking devil, and I will sit on the throne of power before I die." I raised the knife, which was sticky with syrup, running my tongue across it; I licked it clean. "If I die, I will take Titan with me. Along with Lucas and probably the rest of the Kings. So you might as well sit tight, hold on and enjoy Dash King while you still have him." I sneered.

Mila looked more defeated than I ever had seen her. No rebuttal came as she started to accept my promise.

Oh my, it seems we're stuck with her Ghost.

My last speech was another test; Mila failed it. I sprang forward and punched Mila's right shoulder. She staggered back on the mattress, "What did you just do, Mila?" It took a moment for her to realize what I was referencing, but then she smiled, and it made me so proud because her smile was one of pure darkness. "I rolled with the punches."

I beamed, "And what are you going to do about that now?"

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