Fighting back
In the utmost secrecy a meeting was being held in the dungeons of Polis. The intrincate system of catacombs formed a maze in which everyone became lost. Everyone, of course, except for those closest to the Commander, who was the only one who knew where each path leaded. The secret was passed on from one Commander to the next, and each Heda chose whether or not to reveal the secret to their most trustworthy blood raiders. It was a great honor to be one of them, but it also entailed great danger, as well as a burden that was unbearable for some. When the Commander died, they were all killed to make sure the secrets they knew died with them.
Lexa had decided not to bring Clarke to the meeting. If anyone had already noticed the slightest thing between them, a glance, their eyes locking, or even the way Lexa's muscles seemed to relax whenever Clarke got close even in the most tense situation, there was no way she would give them any more evidente of what they might be suspecting. It would be too dangerous.
Indra and six other raiders awaited in the dark room, a few torches were the only dim light that could be seen. Lexa took off the black hood that covered her. She was dressed in dark, poorly sewn clothes so as to not be noticed on her way there. Her fist hit the table and when she spoke, her voice was low and threatening, nearly a growl.
"You better know something."
Her green eyes fixated on her blood raiders' eyes, one by one. They all lowered their heads. Finally, Indra sighed. "Lexa, there is no way we can possibly..."
"It's Heda for you." Indra was cut by Lexa's sharp voice "You are the only people I trust, and yet you have all failed. You bring me news of devastation, but not a single name of those who cause it. Every mercenary in town has been doing the exact same thing, and still NO ONE KNOWS WHO IS BETRAYING US" her voice raised, the sentence ending in a scream
"Heda, there is something we've found out." Indra hesitantly spoke up "Raen says he overheard two people speaking of a bigger attack, something more direct..."
Lexa looked at Raen "What did they mean?"
The soldier shrugged "I didn't hear anything besides that, as far as I could understand, they were plotting to do something to attack not just the coallition or the city of Polis, but you personally."
A cocky, ironical half-smile showed on Lexa's face. "Let them try. Now, tell me about the other villages."
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The traitors awaited for their leader to speak to them. He was lost in a trance in which he could see what the shadow saw and communicate with it. He thought he was in charge. Everyone did. But the shadow knew he wasn't. He only saw what it let him.
The man opened his eyes after long hours of silence "The plan will work. The night will take over the day...but...we must be careful. That's all I can see."
That being said, he stood up and walked inside his tent while his audience started to play tribal rythms on their drums, dancing around the fire to worship their deity. The shadow's followers had everything prepared to execute their plan. They wouldn't see it coming until it was too late. A huge bonfire was lit in the deepest of the woods, sending smoke signs to those in charge of it. A smoke sign was sent back within the minute and the fire was quickly put off. No one but those meant to had seen it.
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The entire day had gone by and still Lexa hadn't heard the stories of every attacked or completely annihilated village. They counted over two thousand deaths, and the number would probably increase when they were done searching for the bodies.
They agreed that the best thing to do was to find a small group of people that each of them could trust, and leave one of them in every one of the villages surrounding Polis, which were the most likely to be attacked. There was the risk that they'd lose people, but it was the only way they could figure out to find who were killing them.
One by one, leaving long gaps of time between each other, they left the room through different hallways, so they wouldn't all leave through the same door. They weren't taking any risks.
Lexa arrived to the great tower when the Sun was starting to rise. She entered through the stables, hiding and walking as silently as she could. She finally entered her chambers, exhausted from the meeting and quickly undressed herself and crawled into bed, searching for Clarke's body warmth.
The bed was cold.
Clarke wasn't there.
Lexa's eyes flew wide open.
She jumped in her bed.
On her wall, there was a drawing of a spiral inside a triangle.
The shadow laughed and a cold shiver ran through Lexa's spine.
Then she began to yell.