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chapter thirteen, Heads Will Fall

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A HORN IS HEARD IN THE DISTANCE and Clarke, Nova and Murphy are still locked in the room. Nova is seated down in a chair tapping her foot on the ground aggressively. "The Conclave must be starting" Nova states as she looks out the window of Lexa's bedroom and keeps looking over at the black blood that stains the sheets.

"Cool. You see anything? Oh, come on. What? Bunch of Grounders fighting to the death to see who gets the A.I. drilled in their brain, that doesn't sound fun to you?" Murphy questions harshly and Nova scoffs as Clarke looks at all the blood on the bed and bangs on the door trying to open it.

"We need to make sure that Aden wins" Clarke says as she continues to bang on the door when it opens and Titus walks in making Nova stand to her feet quickly.

"What, you come here to finish the job?" Murphy asks as Nova and Clarke stand on either side of him. "No. I'm here to fulfill my vow to Lexa. Put these on" Titus says throwing each other them coats to wear.

Nova looks at the coat weirdly and looks over at Murphy. "Look, the door we were banging on for the last 24 hours is open. Let's use it" Murphy mumbles to Nova and Clarke. Clarke throws back the coat to Titus and looks him up and down.

"You got your commander killed. How are you still free?" Clarke asks and Titus sighs looking uneasy. "I'm the only Fleimkepa. Now, please. If you go now, you can slip in with the crowds arriving for tomorrow's conclave" Titus says giving them an opportunity to leave.

"You heard the man. All right. Let's-" Murphy suggests. "I need to see Aden first" Clarke says and Nova nods in agreement. "He needs to win this conclave" Nova states and Titus sighs.

"That's out of the question. The Natblidas have begun the Purification Ritual" Titus states and Nova let's out an annoyed sigh.

"That sounds kind of private, Clarke" Murphy says and Nova looks over at him annoyed. "Where?" Nova and Clarke question in unison with Titus eyeing them both.

Murphy, Nova and Clarke enter the room where the night bloods are conducting the Purification Ritual. Aden scatters some red powder on Lexa's dead body and Nova watches as Aden whispers

"May the Spirit of the Commander choose me."

Titus signals Aden that Clarke wants to talk to him. Aden walks over and greets Clarke. "Would you like a moment with her?" Aden asks and Nova looks to Clarke who shakes her head.

"I'm here to see you. You made me a promise to support my people" Clarke states and Aden nods his head. "We all will. No matter who the commander chooses. Lexa made each of us vow it" Aden states and Nova puts a reassuring hand on Clarke's shoulder. Nova hears the door open and sees Roan and Ontari enter the room.

"You" Ontari mumbles as she charges at Nova and Aden tries to prevent it but gets pushed off instead. Ontari holds a knife to Nova's neck and Nova quickly grabs her blade and holds it close to Ontari's stomach.

"Put the knife down, Ontari" Roan demands and Ontari turns her head to look to her king.

"Your mother is dead because of her" Ontari argues, and Roan gives Ontari a deadly look. "You will obey your king" Roan states and Ontari turns her head to look at Nova, but Nova shows no fear because she is not afraid.

"An unfortunate fact we have her to thank for, as well. No matter. When I am Heda and the king bows to me, you and every last member of Skaikru will die" Ontari says and heavy footsteps walk up behind Ontari and Ontari slowly gets off Nova revealing Iris removing her large hood.

"You mean when I'm Heda" Iris states and Ontari looks Iris up and down in slight fear knowing exactly who she is.

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TITUS LEADS CLARKE, MURPHY, AND NOVA to Titus's room where blood paints the floor. "We need to talk about Ontari. She wasn't trained here. Why would you let her into the Conclave?" Clarke questions and Nova clears her throat.

"And Iris. She left her conclave years ago" Nova states adding onto Clarke's statement.

"They still have the blood of the Commanders. It is their birthright to compete for the Flame" Titus answers and Nova sighs before she notices Clarke looking at the chip in Titus's hand.

"Is she really in there?" Clarke asks confused making Titus nod. "Of course, she is" Titus answers as he puts the chip inside a container that is then wrapped around by a blanket with "Commander" on it.

"Why does it matter who wins?" Murphy wonders. "The flame deepens what's already there. If the spirit of the Commander should choose Ontari, the Ice Nation will control everything, and the Skaikru will face her wrath" Titus says and Nova widens her eyes.

"Ice nation would control everything?" Nova questions and Titus nods his head.

"So, how do we make sure Aden wins? He was Lexa's choice, you know that" Clarke says and Titus shrugs. "Then we let her choose him" Titus answers as a horn blares in the distance. Nova and Clarke glance at each other in confusion.

"The victory horn" Titus mumbles as he leaves the room in a hurry. Clarke, Murphy and Nova following behind.

Titus pushes through the crowd towards the throne.

"Who sounds the victory horn!" Titus shouts. Nova sees Clarke get pulled back by Roan, so she stands next to her to keep her safe.

Nova sees Iris and Ontari stand in front of the throne covered in black blood.

"What is the meaning of this?" Titus asks as Iris and Ontari never leave each other's eyes.

"No one has won anything" Titus states as Iris and Ontari smirk at his statement. Ontari pulls Aden's decapitated bed out of the bag at her feet while Iris pulls another 4 heads out of her bag and drops them on the ground.

"Aden!" Clarke shouts softly trying to go towards them Nova holds her back.

"No" Nova says and Clarke sighs and stays away from Ontari and Iris's sight. "I will win this battle. I will be the next Heda" Iris says as Ontari's smirk drops into a fearful look but she quickly hides it to seem strong.

"We have to make sure Iris or Ontari never get ahold of that flame" Nova whispers to Clarke who nods her head slowly.

"Let's get out of here. Go" Clarke urges as she, Nova and Murphy leave the throne room secretly.

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MURPHY, CLARKE, AND NOVA SNEAK INTO Titus's sacred room to find the flame before Ontari or anyone gets it. "He keeps it in the pod. Just stay there. I'll be quick" Clarke says and Nova and Murphy keep watch. Clarke searches for the flame. She opens a brief case and takes out the fabric that says "Commander" on it.

Nova looks back at Clarke to see if she is almost done and when she does, she is hit in the face and knocked to the ground.

"Nova!" Murphy shouts grabbing Clarke's attention and coming out of the pod noticing Nova on the ground. Nova holds her nose as it bleeds out slowly.

"You killed her. I made the plan; Iris pulled the trigger, but it was you" Titus states looking to Clarke. Murphy bends down to Nova and helps her sit up.

"You made Lexa a promise, remember?" Clarke asks trying to stall and Titus shakes his head. "I want the kit" Titus demands and Clarke takes a deep breath.

"I know you don't want Ontari to get the flame. She murdered those kids, children you raised. Lexa's spirit would never choose to do something like that" Clarke says and Titus chuckles softly.

"Yes, yes she did" Titus states and Clarke shakes her head as Titus takes the kit away from Clarke.

"Iris and Ontari are the last natblidas, there will be a battle and whoever wins get the flame" Titus states and Nova stands up on her feet. Clarke notices Nova slowly pulling out her sword and looks to Titus.

"Then put the damn thing in someone else" Clarke argues motioning towards the flame making Titus angry and shove Clarke away. "You stupid girl! After all you witnessed here, you still think this is just a superstition. When someone without the blood takes the flame, the flame takes their life" Titus shouts angrily as Nova wipes her bloody nose.

"If night blood is so rare, then why do you let them kill each other? That has to be the dumbest succession plan I have-" Clarke starts to say until Titus grabs Clarke's neck and starts to choke her making Clarke gasp for air.

Nova widens her eyes and rushes towards Titus pushing her sword through his stomach making him lose his grip on Clarke's neck.

Clarke steps back slowly as Nova harshly pulls the sword out of Titus making him slowly turn around while holding his stomach and blood pouring out of his mouth. Nova hears Ontari and Iris arguing in the distance, and it seems to be getting closer.

"Murphy distract them" Nova says and Murphy sighs walking out of the room before Nova turned back to face Nova. "Clarke will protect that flame with her life" Nova states looking to Titus who slowly falls to one knee.

Titus nods his head in pain. "Go, Go hide" Titus says and Nova walks past him and hides with Clarke when Ontari and Iris burst through the room pushing Murphy to the ground.

Ontari and Iris notice a hurt Titus and immediately rush to him. "We need him! He's the only one who can put the flame in one of us" Iris argues as Ontari whips out her sword and points it at Murphy.

"Help her. Take him away to be treated" Ontari orders and Murphy obeys walking over to help Iris lift Titus up and leave the room with him. Ontari looks around the room before leaving and shutting the door behind her.

Clarke and Nova come out of hiding and look to each other. "We have to go. Titus will do the right thing and get Murphy out of here... if he makes it" Nova says softly clearing her throat.

Clarke nods and her and Nova make their way out of the polis tower without being seen.

They sneak a horse and Nova jumps on first to control the horse while Clarke rides behind her holding onto Nova's waist as they start riding away from Polis. They both hear a horn blow causing Clarke to look back and sees the Pyre is lit, signaling the ascension of Ontari or Iris.

Clarke pulls the flame out of her jacket and looks at it. Replacing it. Meanwhile, Nova rides on.