Eden's First Daughter

Chapter Seventy-Eight

 "That's... disturbing," Melanie sighed "They just kept rewarding her good behavior to get her to help them?"

"Pretty much, but... to be honest," Colette began skeptically, "I think she's being smarter about it than they realize. She's doing what they ask, yes, but... she's too clever to just keep giving them what they want without something being in it for her."

"And if she's doing little things behind their backs..." Lucinda chimed in.

"Then she's clearly plotting something," Colette nodded.

"Or she's just trying to survive and make the most of it while helping some of the others a little," Aurelia stated bluntly, and everyone looked at her worriedly "Think about it, she has their trust enough to live at least a little more comfortably than we all were, she's probably just trying not to lose her mind knowing she can't get out of there."

"But maybe she can," Colette said hopefully.

"It's been fifteen years, you'd think she would have found a way by now," Aurelia sighed "If she can walk freely sometimes, she could easily attack the doctors and get out on her own, so why hasn't she?"

"Her mother's down there," Lapis shook her head "That's why they know she won't try, they're using her as leverage against her."

"Fuck... I didn't even think about that," Colette sighed.

"Hold on, didn't Sean say Augustus gets advice and predictions and shit like that from her?" Melanie asked curiously.

"Yeah, sometimes, why?" Colette said in confusion.

"When Lorelei was here yesterday, she mentioned that Morozov Palace was on lockdown because the New Order had reason to believe that the Alliance was going to target it after that message they sent out," Melanie explained nervously.

"You don't think..." Lucinda began skeptically "You think Gwen helped make the message but phrased it hoping that Lilith would figure out what Augustus was planning so they could prepare in time?"

"Sean did say that Gwen had a way with words and that Augustus liked that about her..." Colette muttered, "It's not that far of a stretch to think he would ask her for help with that."

"Not a far stretch indeed, lovelies." they heard a man's voice from the doorway of the lounge, and as they turned around, they saw a hooded figure casually standing there "Especially considering that the palace was attacked this morning."

"Who the hell are you?" Lucinda asked worriedly as she gripped her chair.

"What the... how the hell did you get in here past security?" Melanie asked in shock as she recognized his voice.

"My kind has free reign in hospitals, you can probably assume why," he stated casually.

"... you're a reaper?" Lapis asked as she glanced over the edge of her glasses.

"That's right, snake." he smiled as he lowered his hood, locking eyes with Melanie "Hello sweetheart," he said softly, and she glared at him as she took a deep breath.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jace?" she asked solemnly as she shook her head.

"Checking in on an old friend," he said calmly as he politely held his hands together "I'm sorry to have startled you all, I thought it was too early for everyone to be awake, but here we are."

"You know this guy, Mel?" Lapis asked worriedly, seeing the conflicted look on Melanie's face.

"He's my ex-boyfriend," Melanie sighed.