Chapter 25.

GRACE.

I was having a terrible day. First I was arrested, and then I was thrown into the zoo – can you believe that? Me, of all people, in that disgusting place? All because I shot someone. When grandfather was still alive, that would have been water under the bridge. Can't get away with anything nowadays.

And to add the finishing coat to my eventful day, that spineless half-brained pain in my ass, Magnus, got fifty of my men killed.

I wasn't in the zoo anymore – I threatened to use the guard's children as paint if they kept me any longer than they already had – I was in grandfather's office. His former office. This office was unrecognizable, so much so that it hurts running my fingers over the barren white walls and the boring white couch. The black carpet the only splash of color in this torture chamber. Apart from me, of course.

I sat down in my leather chair, the stuffing was hard and uncomfortable, it squeaked with every movement. My red dress flowed over its sides, black hair running down my shoulders. God I was going to tear Magnus a new one when I see him.

The clicks and clacks of his heels echoed through the corridor and into the open door. He paused at the entrance, his shark like grin fading, blue eyes evaporating. At least he had those eyes, they were sharp, intelligent, a burst of beautiful Oregon blue in his otherwise bland face. Bland office, bland city, what happened to all the colors and beauty that grandfather had put in? What happened to the Roman style archways in the city? The wrap around gardens at the base of every building? The joyous tweeting of birds flowing through the air, painting the blue canvas of the sky a multitude of colors, all gone.

Well, grandfather had painted his own canvas. I remember that day, when the General came over for coffee like every other Sunday. And the sharp bang and the explosion of red covering the family room. If he wasn't already dead, I'd kill that man myself.

"Grace…I wasn't expecting to see you so soon," he said, shutting the doors behind him.

"Yes well, I wasn't planning on coming so soon," I drawled. "But when I saw the clown show you were running over here I had to step in. I mean, what the absolute fuck are you doing in the Gray, Maggie?"

I enjoyed the twitch on his face. I enjoyed the subtle clench of his jaw and the flex of his fist. I used to call him that whenever he would come over with the General on Sunday's. He'd take care of me and push me on the swings, or paint with me. Simple times before that damn Fallow clicked off the safety on his gun.

He cleared his throat and tugged at his color. He sat down on the couch and folded his legs, his hands wrapping around a clear glass of liquor. "Well, Grace, we've been preparing to attack for some time now."

"And killing fifty of my soldiers was part of that plan?"

He looked away. "That was misinformation."

"Misinformation," I echoed. "Right. And what does that mean?"

"That Hera knows about Jin."

I nodded. "Good. And that means?"

He slammed back the glass and filled it again. "That we should be attacking as soon as possible."

"I like that answer," I said. I stood up and walked towards the window, the Gray was shrouded in darkness, the distant rainbow of colors coming from the Rogue intrigued me – it was so beautiful, so enticing and artistic that I just couldn't help being a fan of Hera's. Shame that I'd have to kill her, in another time we would have been best friends. I turned towards him and said, "But yet, you're still not attacking."

He bit his lip. "We don't know the Gray that well. Attacking blindly wouldn't be a great idea."

"We have buildings everywhere and our technology can scan the entire city. Apart from Hera's territory and her buildings, that sneaky bitch," I said.

"And apart from the tunnels we only have the bridges," he continued.

"You were meant to build several roads, remember, Maggie?" I said, cupping his face. My metallic rainbow painted finger nails pressing into his skin.

"The legislation to build them was only passed a week ago."

I chuckled. "My, you are extremely disappointing." I sat down next to him, the view out of my office window looked over the white canvas of my island. Blank and untainted, it was ugly, but it was clean. I was going to paint it and make it my own, maybe I should give this board in a suit more credit. "You know what I think? I think you're afraid."

"I'm not."

I shrugged. "A fish can tell itself that it can fly but it won't be able to. You're uncomfortable with Jin not taking orders from you, am I right? Am I getting warm?"

He clenched his jaw.

"I'm as hot as can be," I muttered. "Well, if the Gray is ours by this time tomorrow, then I'll take him out of the picture. Would that be better for you? Would that make you happy, Maggie?"

His eyebrows shot up his pale forehead. "Tomorrow? We wouldn't be-"

"You better get my soldiers ready. Because I've had a really bad day, Maggie." I stood up and walked towards my leather chair. "And I'm certainly not in the mood to play games with your right now."

He nodded and brushed back his hair. "Fine." He began leaving the office, his ringed fists clamping onto the door handles.

"Oh, and one more thing," I called. "Hera. Don't kill her. I want to have a little chat with her first. Old friends and such."