Khalid stepped away from the flaming door and slowly made his way to stand before her.
Octavia could feel his presence like a force pressing on her chest. Still, she kept her eyes down, refusing to meet his gaze.
"You really are determined, aren't you?" he asked, voice low and smooth.
His dark eyes lingered on her face. She remained still.
"Mica," he called without raising his voice.
"Yes, Master," Mica answered quickly, stepping forward and bowing.
A quiet moment passed before he said, "Bring her to the hall. Nine o'clock sharp."
"Yes, Master," Mica replied. He took one last look at Octavia, unreadable, then turned and walked away.
Later that evening, the two sisters sat together in silence.
"Octavia," Mica said, breaking the stillness. "Are you sure about this? You still have time to leave. I can talk to one of the guards, try to convince the Master..."
Octavia didn't answer directly. Instead, she reached up and gently touched Mica's hair.
"Why did you do your hair like this?" she asked quietly, brushing her fingers over the dyed pink strands.
Mica chuckled and touched it as well. "Don't you like it?"
"It's beautiful," Octavia replied, smiling faintly.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, it felt like they were little girls again before the world turned cruel.
"You've changed," Octavia said softly.
"I did? How?"
"Your ways… everything. You're bolder now."
Mica looked down, a small laugh escaping her lips.
"Well… I had to blend in," she said. "When I first came here, it was hell trying to earn my place. Khalid doesn't hand out acceptance. You fight for it."
She shifted on the bed, her voice firm.
"His clan is one of the most powerful in the underworld. Everyone wants to be part of it serve him, fight for him.
But it comes at a price.
"Back then, we were twelve. Only three of us were chosen. I did things I'm not proud of dirty jobs, dangerous jobs. I had to prove I could be one of them."
Octavia watched her, absorbing every word.
"I had to change, act like them, fight like them, even eat like them. I'm not the same girl you knew back home. And honestly… I'm proud of who I've become."
Octavia sat quietly, her chest heavy with unspoken thoughts. There were so many questions inside her about the X-family, their rules, the punishments, the power plays but fear held her tongue. She wasn't ready for the answers.
Instead, she asked the one thing that had been on her heart for days.
"How's Dad?"
Mica looked up slowly. "He's fine," Octavia replied after a short pause.
"And Agatha?" Mica smirked. "Still being a pain in the ass?"
Octavia shrugged. "She was really sick for a while. But she's better now."
Mica's expression shifted, her voice quieter. "Does Dad ever talk about me?"
Octavia hesitated, then shook her head.
Mica gave a soft scoff and looked away. Even though she expected it, the confirmation still stung. So much for a father.
She rose to her feet, brushing invisible dust off her pants.
"Come on," she said, offering her hand. "Let's take a walk."
Octavia stared at the outstretched hand like it was foreign.
"I… I don't think I want to. There'll be too many people out there," she murmured.
"Don't worry about that. You'll be fine," Mica urged, but Octavia didn't budge.
"It'll be nine soon. Let's at least take a short walk," she coaxed again.
Octavia swallowed hard. The question she'd been dreading spilled out.
"What… what happens in the hall?"
Mica's expression hardened. Her voice was flat. "You insisted on staying, Octavia. So you'd better be ready for the worst."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Octavia alone with the weight of her decision.