My fingers tremble ever so slightly as Lucian guides me gently to our bed after the medical team did a thorough check up on me and practically forced fed me some medicine from Cixin.

He kneels down at my feet and stares up at me looking worried but it feels like I am staring through glass. I'm still wrapped in my bubble of numbness, even though Lucian is right here he feels so far away.

Everything and everyone is so distant. It still hasn't sunk in yet that I will never see Cassandra again. That I just tried to kill Lazarus and failed miserably.

"Aria, I'm so sorry about what happened," Lucian says in a voice filled with disappointment. "I know how much you cared for her."

His voice is earnest, desperate, almost pleading as I watch him try to break through the invisible barrier between us. He squeezes my hands and I look down at him, not wanting to focus on anything else.

The blue in his eyes burn through me like the ice in the south. He is sitting by my feet, holding onto my hands and staring up at me with a vulnerability I've never seen, only felt. Even now, despite everything that has happened he still manages to surprise me.

What would the Plutonians think if they saw their leader kneeling at the feet of a human girl? Why is it that I am thinking about this and not him?

My lips quiver ever so slightly as I feel my walls slowly crumble before the person I love with all my heart. All my hatred and anger dissipates into the air around us like vapor.

Lucian represents everything I hate and yet he is everything I have always desired. Him sitting here like this just further reinforces that he doesn't care about me being human or him being Plutonian.

While to me he is a Plutonian, he is the Trinity, to him I am just Aria and that is the very thing I love the most about him.

His stare, his touch, his cautiousness, it goes against everything Lazarus wants. It goes against what most Plutonians stand for and it pushes me to finally give in to the despair I've been trying to shut out all night.

A single tear rolls down my cheek and I squeeze his hands back. He looks down at my them cautiously, looking hesitant to move but when I start sobbing loudly he jumps up and pulls me towards him.

I lean against his chest and drown my sorrows against him as every memory of Cassandra bubbles its way up into my mind. Her beautiful face shines as the brightest image in my head and it only makes me cry harder.

She didn't deserve any of this. All she wanted was to be happy. Was it so wrong for us to want to be happy?

"I'm so sorry, Aria," Lucian mumbles again while he strokes my back soothingly and I clutch on to him like my life depends on it.

After awhile my tears finally dry up and I have no energy to cry anymore. My head begins to throb and I suddenly feel like falling into the deepest slumber.

"It's my fault," I croak. I lean back to look at him and he wipes my wet face and nose with the cloth in his hand.

"No, it isn't. We both know who was behind this," Lucian says sternly.

"He only did those things to her because of me. Because he wanted to punish me," I sniffle slightly and Lucian wipes my nose again.

"Yes and he punished you because you are with me. This blame game is not going to help anyone and there's no point in it. You need to rest and take care of yourself now," He stares at the marks around my neck and his face scrunches up in anger. "I know you weren't thinking when you went to Lazarus's place but why would you do such a thing, Aria? You know what he's capable of. What would have happened if I hadn't arrived in time? If I hadn't come with Luna?"

I bite my lip feeling slightly stupid and guilty.

"I swear you make me so worried sometimes," He runs his fingers through my hair and then cups my cheeks. "I love you so much, Aria. I wouldn't be able to take it if anything happened to you."

This time Lucian pulls me to his chest and wraps his arms around me possessively. "Please never do that to me again. I beg you."

"Do what?"

"Put yourself in danger."

"I just hate him so much," I say.

"I know but what you did was rash and now he's going to try to get you punished."

I pull away to look at him only to see him staring at me pensively.

"Don't worry. There is something I have been working on for awhile now. I think it will come in handy."

"What is it?" I raise my eyebrows curiously but he pushes me onto the bed.

"Let's just say it might be even more lethal to Lazarus than Luna calling off their engagement," Lucian strokes my cheek and stares down at me lovingly. His silvery white hair falls over his eyes and I push it away to look at him. "You need to rest first."

"Lucian, do you think we could ever be free of him?"

"We have to try. I'm not letting anyone punish you, let alone lay a finger on you. You stay here and rest, okay? I need to prepare for the next war council meeting."

Lucian kisses me on the forehead and I close my eyes, soaking in his affection feeling thirsty for it. He releases me and walks out of the room leaving me to stare at the door. Not wanting to move a muscle or entertain another painful thought, I close my eyes and then succumb to the only other solace I have besides Lucian, sleep.

***

"Pleasant day everyone," Commander Bardotta says into the speaker, his voice sharp and alert despite the somber mood in the room.

"Pleasant day," We reply in unison. General Lyra, General Ursae and the Trinity are already seated in their respective seats and I can't help but stare at Lucian's silver head, hoping that he knows what he is doing.

It's been a week since Cassandra passed away and Lucian and his team have been busying preparing his case against Lazarus in order to defend me after I was charged with attempted assault on the Trinity. A crime punishable by death.

My case is of course rather complicated with both Lucian's and Lazarus's involvement so the law enforcers have been going through the tedious process of actually gathering enough unhampered evidence to be presented before the judicial system and the generals.

However, so many things have happened over the course of a few days that my case seems to have been put on the back burner for the time being.

General Grievous died about two days ago while he was in the intensive care unit. The entire planet has been mourning for him ever since and most missions have been delayed because of it.

Also, aside from working on Lazarus, Lucian has been busy interrogating the rebels and he was able to extract some information regarding the their mysterious leader. Although they themselves have never met him, there is increasing evidence that all these rebellious events have been orchestrated by a Plutonian.

Commander Bardotta begins by summarizing all that has happened so far. I listen intently, hanging on to his every word and then General Lyra speaks.

"I think General Grievous's passing has affected all of us greatly. Another admirable leader has now returned to become one with our great universe. It has shown me how short life can be and that it is time for me to focus on other things. I would like to announce my retirement today. May we be blessed with leaders who are more competent and compassionate than we ever were," She smiles at Lucian and then Luna.

"I would like to retire as well," General Ursae says, looking broken and exhausted like she'd aged considerably in the last few days.

The commanders look at each other in shock and I see a commander with a crooked nose speak up in a nasally tone.

"Your honors. Are you sure about this?"

"We have already discussed this. General Ursae wants to live out her life in her nursery and I would like to manage my restaurants personally from now on. Our husbands gave their lives to their jobs and we want to spend the rest of ours cherishing our good memories of them in peace," General Lyra says. Her tone is final and it shuts the commander up immediately.

"So I suppose that automatically makes me first in command," Lazarus says in a smug voice making me scowl.

The room is silent and the commanders neither disagree or agree. Lucian then speaks up and I clutch the material of my pants painfully.

"Actually, I would like to contest for the position of sole commander."

I watch as all the commanders freeze in place, looking like frozen dolls.

"What gives you the right to say something so absurd?" Lazarus bursts out in anger but Lucian remains calm. He turns to Pollux and gestures for him to take the floor.

I watch Pollux make his way to the lectern and set up his computer. He fiddles around with it's buttons and suddenly the entire wall in front of us is filled with pictures and documents.

"This is preposterous! I demand you to stop!" Lazarus is shaking with rage. He looks like he is about to throttle Lucian.

"All matters pertaining to leadership must be transparent and fair. Is that not what we have been taught by our forefathers?" Lucian asks the commanders and they have no choice but to agree. "I will not allow our empire to be ruled by a serial rapist and murderer. It will be our greatest demise."

"You dare accuse me like that?" Lazarus raises his hand ever so slightly.

"These aren't accusations. They are facts," Lucian says. "Please begin, Pollux."

A slightly nervous looking Pollux then begins to illustrate Lazarus's every crime for the past few years. He tells us in detail about how each of his paramours have died, eleven of them in total. Twelve if you count, Cassandra. The commanders listen on and I can tell that some of them don't look so surprised or bothered even but it is only when Pollux starts presenting the proof to each crime do they actually look interested.

But the tipping point is when he presents a case about a dead commander which surreptitiously links back to Lazarus. I look forward to hearing more, hoping they were able to find proof that Lazarus killed his own parents and Lucian's father but Pollux doesn't bring that up.

I don't realize that I am tapping my foot frantically until Remulus hits my thigh lightly. I quickly stop and we sit in tumultuous silence, waiting for the commanders to say something.

"You want to bring a case against me, you're going to have to go through the judicial process. Everyone here knows that. Till I am proven guilty by our law enforcers it's fair to say I am first in command by birth right and you Lucian will serve as second in command," Lazarus says and to my dismay I see some of the commander's nod their heads

It seems Lazarus's pockets run deeper than I thought.

"That is true," Commander Bardotta says, looking conflicted.

"I suggest we wait to announce leadership. This news is quite alarming and we absolutely can't have our first in command to be associated with such things," General Lyra says.

"I would like to suggest a fight in the pits. May the best fighter win, may the stealthiest take over as sole commander," Lucian says and everyone stares at him in shock.

Including me.

"What? Have you gone mad?" Lazarus berates and even Lucian's mother looks shocked.

"PG Lucian, there are other ways to demonstrate leadership and do you expect PG Luna to fight for her place as well?" General Lyra says sarcastically.

The entire room fills with discussion until Lucian stands up and speaks loudly.

"There is no better and fairer way than a fight in the pits. Evidence can be buried, votes can be bought but not a good old fashioned fight. What do we always preach to the humans?" He looks at the commanders and then the generals. "That the fights in the pits were meant to draw out the strongest and smartest to serve the great Plutonian army. Why should it be any different for us? Our entire species represents superiority and strength, so shouldn't our leader be the epitome of both?"

It goes without saying that Lucian has hit a nerve with his last statement because some of the commanders sit up straight, looking proud while the others begin to shift uncomfortably.

"I disagree. This is the stupidest idea and a waste of our time," Lazarus says in annoyance.

"Would you rather have a commander ever ready to fight for our empire?" Lucian turns around to face the entire room and then he gestures at Lazarus.

"Or a commander too cowardly to face a simple challenge?"

Lazarus's face turns red with rage and he bunches his hands in anger.

"But your honor, this has never been done before," Commander Bardotta says. "It is not according to custom."

The council members all speak up at once and everyone is conflicted about the entire thing. Remulus stares at me, gauging my reaction but I am still in shock and apparently so is he. It seems neither of us knew that Lucian was going to do this.

"I think it is a good idea," Luna speaks for the first time today. It is highly uncharacteristic of her and soon everyone is staring her way.

"I am not interested in the position of sole commander nor do I want to bear the responsibility. I truly believe in what PG Lucian said and I can't be the only one in the room who wants a sole commander who is willing to fight for his right to lead us," She leans back and turns away from Lazarus who is openly gawking at her.

"I agree as well," General Ursae says suddenly, siding with her daughter and then General Lyra nods her head hesitantly.

Soon a couple of other commanders follow suit.

"Fine, so be it," Lazarus says haughtily. "May the best win."

Commander Bardotta closes his mouth which has been hanging open this entire time and then he announces the conclusion to the entire discussion.

"It is settled then. PG Lazarus will fight PG Lucian in the pits for the position of sole commander to lead our nation as our sole Commander General. It is truly an unexpected turn of events and I have no doubt that it will be a historic moment for us all."

Ahhh things are slowly coming together! What do you guys think? Let me know :) :)