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she glided into the vapid hallway, the crystalline walls distorting her
reflection into something far more sinister. Her feet made no sound
on the smooth tiles as she sailed along, the elegant spectre, towards
her checkmate. Could she really do this? Before she had time to cast
a doubtful shadow she had arrived, casting the amphitheatre that
swelled and stormed with aggression into a serene silence. Without
hesitation a sea of heads bowed in respect as if the heaviness her
heart held was dragging them down with her. They too knew about
the plans of the younger royal and were as divided as Cassandra’s
own heart. But they were not the ones that mattered. Her sister had
gained support in the shadowed reaches of the nation, amongst the
bitter and vengeful who felt wronged by the sadistic movement. It
would not be long before her nightmarish ideas became a reality,
murdering not only the people but the very morality of their country.
This was necessary
, Cassandra told herself.
I must, to save my people
. She
lightly shook her head as though that would rid her of the grief and
guilt she was drowning in. After what felt like hours of suffocating
doubt, the guest of honour arrived. A solitary tear rolled down her
cheek as she stared into the eyes of the sister she loved
so much.
‘Nadia de Valdove,’
My dear little sister, I beg for your forgiveness
.
‘For your crimes conspiring against the people of our Nation, and
your dangerous plans for the future,’
This no longer is a simple game. People’s lives are at stake. Please try to
understand
.
‘As Sovereign of our great land,’
But I know your heart and all it contains, and thus I know...
‘I, Cassandra de Valdove,’
That as your sister, and as your friend...
‘Hereby sentence you...’
You cannot be allowed to continue your madness, at any cost.
‘To death.’
‘
Sacrifice
12