Roan and I stare at the large metal door in front of us. The word Eden is spelled out in large letters at the top. "You think Ares is here?" I look around unconvinced "What even is this place?" Roan knocks on the metal once more seeing if the man we just spoke to will come back. "It's uh, well a place where a lot of grounders go." He pounds on the door just enough to provoke the man inside to slide the metal slit open again. "I'm sorry but Ares isn't here, he left three days ago." Roan looks to me then back at the man. "and what about Emma?"

"Oh, Emma yes. She's here." He slides the metal slit shut then opens up the door for us. He's a small man. His shoulders are hunched over which makes him shorter and he speaks as if he's frightened. He actually seems kind and gentle something rare to see in a grounder. I don't think he's ever killed, anyone. He looks up at me stuttering through his words. "oh...we've never had you're kind here before." He gives me a friendly smile "It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about Skycru, granted not all of it good but I've heard a lot."

He grabs one of the lanterns hanging on the wall then hobbles over to the door closing it sealing us in darkness. There is an orangish glow that lights up the metal walls. "This way please." He leads us down a set of stairs. The sound of our feet hitting the steps echo off the wall then I start to hear something else. It seems to be getting closer with every step. Music? I look back at Roan who's looking elsewhere. He seems nervous I think him being so close to home makes him feel like this. We reach the end of the stairs and I was right.

The man puts the lantern on the floor then turns the latch to open the door. Music loudly fills the whole room as we're greeted by several grounders. I've never seen anything like this before. Many of them are dancing while the ones who aren't are drinking and mingling with everyone else. Roan pushes me forward urging me to walk inside. Two grounder women approach me looking me over "she with you?" one of them asks looking over at Roan. He gives an amused grunt "No. At least not in that way."

"Good. I'm Xandrea, this is Nova" Both women take to Roan's arms urging him to come have a drink with them. I have a feeling that they do this to every man that comes in here. I'm also guessing that they want more than just a drink. He peels them off "I'm looking for Emma." She runs her finger up and down his arm smiling then turns to the crowd "she's there." she points to a woman carrying a tray full of drinks.

"Much appreciated and I'll take those drinks next time ladies." he grabs onto my good arm leading me with him. "Drinks?" he looks back at me shrugging "Everyone has needs Clarke, but I thought you knew that." I roll my eyes at him pulling my arm free. I start to observe the people around me, some carry weapons some don't. Many men have women clung to their sides while getting very wasted from their drinks. Most of these grounders have different marks on their bodies.

They're all from different clans. Yet they're all acting as if their clans aren't at war. I stare at the two men at the bar laughing. One's from Treecru while the other is Ice Nation. Someone grabs my arm pulling me to their body. They reek of alcohol making me gag. "and how much are you?" he starts to laugh as he twirls a strand of my hair in his fingers. I'm about to reach back and punch him when he's suddenly pulled away from me. Roan holds him by his shirt "I paid good money for her and won't have some drunken trash ruin my fun." He shoves him off cause him to drunkenly somber off back into the crowd. I'm still processing what Roan just said then it hits me.

I grab Roan's arm forcing him to face me "Tell me you did not bring me to a whore house!" He lets out an uncomfortable cough pulling me to him so he can hear me clearly. "You said you wanted to find Ares."

"Well yeah...but this is just..."

"You want to find him or not?" He looks at me impatiently waiting for my answer. I let out a sigh nodding my head.

"Okay then stay close to me." he turns weaving through the crowd reaching the woman Nova pointed out earlier. Roan goes ahead of me speaking to her alone. The music is too loud for me to hear what they are saying. I stay alert just in case someone tries to grab onto me again. Roan walks back over to me followed by Emma.

"This's Clarke, Clarke this is Emma." She looks to me giving me a friendly smile."Hello Clarke. Welcome to Eden, where all needs are met." I scoff needs met indeed She smiles looking at me "Are looking for entertainment? Or a job perhaps?" I can't help my jaw dropping at her words. Roan jumps in answering for me. "Actually we're looking for Ares, don't suppose you know where to find him."

She gives us both a suspicious look. "What do you want with him?" I'm about to respond when Roan jumps in once more answering for me. "We have a job for him. Kinda personal." She looks us both over then lets out a sigh.

"Well, he's not here. Last I heard he's making his earnings at the cages." she turns to the table behind her placing the empty cups back on her tray. "I'd try there in the meantime I'll let you know if he comes around here." She looks to me "Nice meeting Clarke." her friendly voice has slightly lost its charm, especially when she looks at Roan. "Roan." She balances the tray on her palm and shoulder then brushes past us.

We make our way to the exit where Nova and Xandrea meet with us again. "Have a nice day." Nova says opening the door for us "come back soon." Xandrea says winking. Not likely.

Once we're outside Roan turns to me sighing. "It's not too late to stop this manhunt." He knows I'm not going to stop until I find Ares. He's scared. I can see it.

"He's in Ice Nation isn't he." Roan nods looking off into the distance. "We can't go there. I'm the banished prince and you're Wanheada. We'll be dead by the time we reach the gate."

"I didn't come all this way to turn back. I'm finding Ares."

I know we both want to admit that we're scared. If anyone finds out who we are we're dead. I know that. He knows that. He lets out a sigh "okay." He gives me a sideways glance "I think I know a way we can get in." He fully looks at me now "You're not going to like it though."