Page 92 of Uprising

I guess this really is a big deal then. That my mother is such a significant clog in this fucked up machine that he has to take action, he has to ensure she is found, and quickly.

Rose

The room is rammed. The buzz of gossip, of laughter, of pointless conversations fills the air around me. I stare at the perfectly done up faces, at the pristine hair, at the expensive clothes and even more at the expensive jewels.

I wonder if they can see it.

I wonder how they can’t.

How they’re all so totally oblivious to this.

But I guess that’s what money does. Money and Power. They’re all so obsessed with obtaining it, with flattering those who have it, they don’t want to look beyond all that gilded façade to see the horror of what created it.

Only this city is not so gilded now is it? Roman has put paid to that. And yet it doesn’t seem to be enough. Even with all the power cut, even with the severe water shortage we’re now facing, none of these people around me seem to give two hoots.

No one here seems to know my mother is missing. I guess Darius did another number on the press, ensuring that little fact was kept out. No, he wouldn’t want anyone to know his mother-in-law, the famous Carla Capulet was MIA because that really would send a message that our perfectly built empire is crumbling into ashes.

I blink, feeling like there’s something inside me actually dying. I can still hear it, the sounds, the horrific noises of what they did to Sofia.

What I failed to stop.

And I realise with a rancid feeling in my gut that it wasn’t the first time.

That Darius goes drinking with Otto a lot.

My stomach twists. How many times have they drugged her? How many times have they done that?

I watch as he’s talking, as he’s working his charm on the two women in front of him. We’re at another event, a hastily prepared one that is meant to give calm. Meant to reassure. It feels like everyone here is pretending that the city isn’t descending into chaos as we speak.

I can’t stay like this.

I can’t continue like this.

I have to do something to bring him down myself.

I steal my breath because I tricked Roman didn’t I? I played the judas well that time. It wouldn’t take much effort to do it here. It really wouldn’t.

I just need to plan it right, to ensure that when I make my move, Roman is ready, that Ty passes on the message and then we can end this properly.

“Rose.”

I jump just a little as Katie smiles at me kindly.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” She says quietly.

“It’s okay.” I reply. I was too fixated on Darius, too fixated on escape to be paying attention to what was going on around me. I need to be smarter.

She narrows her eyes slightly. “You look like shit.” She says.

I let out an exhale. I have enough makeup onto rival a cosmetics store. I’m wearing Valentino and I’m covered in diamonds. I do not look like shit.

“It’s your eyes Rose.” She murmurs. “They give you away.”

“They better not.” I reply. God, if they do, if Darius sees, he’ll punish me for that too. He won’t let me back out until I’ve learnt to pretend better.

“What the fuck is he doing to you?” She asks.

I bite my lip, forcing back the tears. My mask feels like it’s so damn fragile, like any minute my perfect façade will shatter and all I’ve been through will be for nothing.