"You're willing to talk about this now? Why not before me joining?" I spit at her. She shushed me immediately.
"For many reasons, Ember. Believe it or not, I wanted your sister to live," her voice broke.
"Is that your way of telling me she's not going to live? Because honestly I had to hear it from Madden who somehow got stationed in the palace," I replied, stomping hard.
"Would you rather me send a letter? Olivianna would just tear it up anyways," she pointed out.
"Did King Anderson tell you I was able to go and say goodbye? Gabriel will be coming too."
She nodded, "I was told before coming here and I think it's a bad idea."
"I don't care what you think," I shook my head. "I changed my entire life for that child and I will not sit here while she withers in a hospital without saying goodbye to her. I have to see her."
My mom didn't reply as we approached the palace. Two guards opened the doors for us and we both stayed silent as she followed me to my room. As we walked in my mom stood, glancing around the room.
"What's wrong?" I asked, plopping down on my bed.
"Nothing, just reminiscing," she stated. "Nice balcony." She walked out on to it and I got the hint. I followed her out and closed the door behind me.
I leaned against the railing and said, "So I have a few questions and I need the truth."
She stayed silent.
"I mean it. You had a choice once and now it's my turn. I need to know what I'm getting myself in to," I said almost melancholy. She stared down at me and nodded.
"Why exactly did you leave?" I asked.
She hesitated only momentarily, "We had spent many lessons on how to throw a party. Me and my partner through an outdoor party for the royalty of Havana. It was going so smoothly, so wonderful which is perfect when there's only 4 girls left. Theres no room for a mess up. Anderson was there and he was pleased along with his parents. The dancing had just begun when a guard approached me. He told me that Anderson needed a moment with me away from the crowd, that he was on the back side of the garden. I, of course, wouldn't say no," she laughed, looking out at the garden. I could picture a younger her frolicking through the rows of tulips, reaching the hedges waiting for the guy she loved.
"Once we reached the backside of the hedges," she pointed to the exact spot. "I was taken."
I turned to her, "Like me?"
"You were taken?" She asked horrified. I thought it was public knowledge that I was. I'd been photographed on the way home. Fliers were surrounding towns, how did she not know?
"Are you going to win this Ember? Are you going to marry him?"
I nodded, slightly. Tears formed in my eyes.
"And you're going to accept, even knowing what they want?"
"I don't even exactly know what they want. I'm confused about it all," I admitted, tears falling down my cheeks.
"Listen to me, because I'll only say it once. I could be killed for what I'm about to tell the you because obviously it's being hidden for some reason," she whispered, quickly.
"They want you to take over for their leader when their leader is gone. They'll want you to train and train-"
"For what?" I half yelled. She brought me closer to her.
"For a rebellion," she said softly.
"But they only asked me to convince Gabriel to help them, which I can do. I know I can-"
YOU ARE READING
The Selection
Romance(COMPLETED STORY) "I love you," I whispered softly. He stopped kissing my fingers immediately, gaping at me. "I really do. I don't know why and I don't know how it happened so quickly. It's like one day I had my entire life planned out with this bo...
