Chapter 50: What You're Involved In

**Melissa**

I stared at the text for a few seconds. “Look down”?

With my heart beating, I glanced below the balcony. I gasped, covering my mouth.

Dean stood there wearing a white shirt and gray pajama pants. His phone hung from his hand. The lights from the yard illuminated the smile on his face.

“You could use some better guards,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” My voice came out lower than I intended. It’s a miracle he heard it at all.

Dean casually shrugged. “I wanted to see you and make sure you were alright. If we can’t sleep, then we can not-sleep together.”

I leaned over the banister. The breeze tossed my hair in all directions. That was… so cheesy. Where did a thought like that even come from?

“Can you come down? We might need to go somewhere else. Your guards will be arriving soon.”

“Hold on!” I lifted one leg and placed it over the railing. “You’re strong, right? Keep your arms right open!”

“Yeah I am, but…” Instead of finishing his sentence, he opened his arms and walked closer until he was right where I needed him to be.

I leaped off the balcony.

Even if Dean couldn’t catch me, this wasn’t the first time I snuck out using this method. I knew how to minimize the impact of the fall. But I had no fear. I knew that everything would be alright.

He caught me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck right away. Dean held me close to his chest. I heard him sigh in relief.

“Don’t do that ever again.”

I giggled and looked up. “Now that I know you can catch me, what’s stopping me?”

Dean returned my smile. The tightness of his hold made me feel secure and desired. All thoughts left my mind.

I held his jaw and pulled my face forward. Dean closed the distance. When our lips met, I was no longer cold.

Despite the windy night, he was the breeze that blew me away.

__________

*Two days later*

I adjusted my robe as I walked through back alleys. No one should be able to see my face. As soon as I arrived at the main street, I blended into the crowd.

Dad will be back tomorrow, so I have to make my move tonight. I kept my eyes on the stone-paved sidewalk that my feet took turns navigating.

I wasn’t the type to lower my head in a crowd, but what choice did I have? Getting to my destination was more important than my pride. Once I get there, I’ll find out the answer to what I need to know.

Just a quick in and out. If I’m lucky, there might be a way to use those rebels. If what I’m hoping is correct, then maybe I can convince Sirius and Dean won’t have to be involved in any of this.

*Would he spare you the time of day if he knew what you were involved in?*

I physically shook the thought out of my head. He doesn’t have to know, at least not now. Once it’s all over and new policies are in place, he’ll see why I made the choices I did. Then he will be on my side.

I will never forget what Chester did to my mother. Regardless of how strong he is, my father is too much of a coward to avenge his wife.

After a few more minutes, I arrived at a bar on the edge of the city. The same bar that I could see from my bedroom window. Who would have thought that a rebellion meeting would be held in such a public place?

When I entered the bar, I was immediately hit with the smell of rum. A guy stumbled past me to the door, the scent coming off him in waves. I was amused and bothered by the realization that some people could get this wasted when it’s only 9:30 PM. I shook my head and wandered further in.

The lighting was dim and yellow. I could spot a few office workers at a table in the corner with beer bottles in hand. A woman dressed in casual clothing slurred the lyrics of the song playing over the speakers before taking a sip of her tequila. I will never for the life of me understand the lure of alcohol. I hated the smell. Brandy on the rocks was the last meal my mother had before her execution.

Maybe that has to do with my distaste for it. Despite that, I will take a sip at parties to keep up appearances. No one needs to know my weaknesses, and they never will.

I walked past all of them and made my way to the bartender.

He raised his head briefly once he sensed someone standing then. After staring at me for a second, he went back to cleaning off the counter. “What can I do you for? We’re out of ice, but you’re free to order anything from the freezer.”

I rested my elbow. “The sun rises when no one wants it to, but it will rise regardless.”

He stopped and looked at me a second time. I kept my expression stoic. It turned into a staring contest. I won.

He sighed. After a while, he pushed his back in and motioned for me to follow him with his fingers. “Come with me.”

Wow, the phrase actually worked. When Ester told me about the passcode I thought it made no sense.

He led me to a midnight black door behind wine red curtains. He knocked twice, once, then twice again. The lock on the other side turned, producing sounds that could only be created by metal rubbing against metal.

It swung open. The fluorescent lights hit me in the face. The bartender grins. “Welcome to something that could change this world for the better.”

After saying that, he ushered me in. The door closed behind me and I realized he didn’t follow. In front of me, a group of people greeted me.