Page 79 of Uprising

This part of the house is so desolate. Unwanted. Forgotten almost. I think it was once servants quarters but now, beyond the cleaners, no one else even comes here. There’s no furniture. Nothing but the parquet and the view from the windows, which are like little arches springing up from the floor.

I guess I’m relieved Lara isn’t here, that she’s not witnessing any of this because I know every second will have petrified her.

Today I will have to play nice. Today I will have to do whatever Darius wants, because he’s too close to losing control, too close to doing something really fucked up and I don’t want to be the one that pushes him over the edge.

I grit my teeth, mentally trying to come to terms with that.

Darius kept me awake for the rest of the night. Kept me entertaining him, if you will. Turns out he’s not put off by blood. That he didn’t even bat an eyelid. Perhaps that’s why he’s in such a foul mood, he’s tired and he usually sleeps like a log. I guess he has no conscience to haunt him for all the terrible things he’s done.

I lean back, resting my head against the window frame. The coolness of the glass is soothing. My eyes feel heavy. There’s a dull ache in my head. I just want some peace. I just want one moment where there’s no sound. No noise. Just silence.

“Rose?”

I jerk awake, unsure for how long I’d drifted off for. My neck feels stiff, my back is at a funny angle, my fingers are still throbbing and my stomach feels on fire from where it’s ripping itself apart. I don’t have any meds to take away the pain. Darius took great delight in refusing that.

I sit up straight seeing Ty crouched with a look of concern.

“You okay?” He murmurs.

My eyes dart behind him, to where the door is open all the way across the space.

“He’s in a bad mood.” I state.

Ty nods. Only his lips curl slightly which makes me frown.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

“Roman’s causing shit.”

“What?” I gasp.

“They took out the new barn yesterday and now they’re ambushing the militia, turning half the streets into a warzone.”

“How is that possible?” I ask.

He grins. “He’s working with the gangs. Turns out Darius has pissed all the scum of this city off enough that they’re mobilising against him.”

“But Darius will just send in the militia. He’ll just kill them all.” I state. I know that’s what he’ll do. It’s what he did before me and Paris got married, the last time the gangs rioted, which on reflection explains the timing doesn’t it?

“Not this time Rose. There are too many of them and the militia are taking heavy losses.”

“Can they get here? Can they stop Darius? Stop all of this?” My heart starts beating so fast, god, could this be it? Could it be over?

His face falls a little. “They wouldn’t get close.” He murmurs. “The only reason they’re able to win where they are is because it’s the poorer districts, the streets are narrow, it’s ideal territory, but here, there’s too much security, too many people this end with too much power for Darius not to ensure it’s guarded.”

“So how does it help then?” I reply.

“It’s guerrilla warfare. Psychological. If they can take certain areas, build their own strong hold that will help, but it’s sending a message, planting a seed that Darius is not a Governor they can trust to keep people safe.”

I let out a huff. It doesn’t matter what Verona thinks of Darius. He rigged the vote. He’s got enough power to ensure he won’t be toppled like that.

“It’s a start Rose, we have to start somewhere.”

I fold my arms, I guess he’s right. Maybe I need to learn patience. Maybe that’s what this situation will teach me.

“Your dad is missing.”

“What?” I practically go dizzy with the speed at which my head spins.