The halls in the dukes mansion dripped with glided lies and deceptive luxury, the very walls steeped in honey laced arsenic. I kept my pace measured as I followed the maid, each step echoing the new rhythm of my pulse-the one laced with shadows. As I approach the the double doors where behind them lies the very person that led my demise in my previous life, I heard faint familiar sounds of laughter and giggles, my stomach churned. These very sounds were the sounds I heard when I first drew my last breath in my past life. And in this life I promise to take away every ounce of joy and laughter coming out of their wretched lips.
"Don`t open I`ll do it myself " I told the maid who stopped and started leaving without bow or acknowledging me.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance Hmph!.. I`ll deal with that later, For now lets deal with two fucking boring idiotic fuckers.
I sigh and open the doors.
Ahead, Prince Leo lounged in the solarium, his platinum blonde hair shining and sunlight glinting off his polished boots like the knife he`d someday plunge into my back. His voice honey laced with arsenic.
"Althaleya, my dove... You look pale."
I almost laughed. Utterly disgusting. Pale? I had been corpse-cold when he last saw me.
Instead, I dipped into a curtsy-slow enough to let him admire the delicate hollow of my throat Where his blade will fail to slice this time.
"Merely overwhelmed by your concern, Your Highness."
Arielah materialized at Leo`s elbow like a poison vine slithering up his arm.
"Poor thing took quite the fall," She simpered, fingers brushing Leo`s sleeve too possessively.
Childish
I let my eyes flatter down hiding pupils slit like a viper poised to strike and reached for my sister`s hand with faux warmth.
"Oh sister... How lucky I am to have you ... watching over me." I say smiling at her.
And oh, how she stiffened at my double-edged words.
The maids came in with refreshments and I took a sit across from the prince in which in my previous life I never did, I would always sit next to him and cringe to him like a love struck fool. But just the site of him right now makes me want to vomit.
Ariela with saccharine sweetness, placing a hand on my arm "Oh dear sister,how dreadful it must have been nearly drowning in Marquis Albagard lake. Though one could argue you were always a bit... unbalanced"
Ugh.. this bitch!.. You clearly pushed me into the lake and you have the audacity of calling me clumsy?
Prince Leo chuckling into his tea"come now, Ariela. The poor girl can hardly help her gracelessness."
I think I'm about to break this tea cup because am kinda holding it just a little too tightly... Ugh!
"How kind of you both to remind me of my shortcomings."
Ariela with exaggerated concern leaning closer to me. "Perhaps you should avoid the social gatherings entirely until you learn proper etiquette... given your unfortunate tendency to stumble into trouble like some clumsy peasantchild?" A tittering laugh behind her gloved hand.
OK `sister` you talk too much.. time to get rid of you or I won`t get another time or day to talk to this bastard about breaking off this stupid engagement.
I lowered my eyes in feigned humility and I `accidentally` tip scalding tea onto her pristine silk bodice.
"Oh! forgive me my hands still tremble from the ordeal back at the tea party, please forgive my clumsiness... As you said earlier am still a bit unbalanced." I say feighing pity and remorse watching wide eyed and penitent spreading more tea allover her, As she shrieks.
Ariela abruptly stands and sweeps out the room and a tense silence descends, The prince regards me with a raised eyebrow, a crooked smile on his face.
"I can only pity your clumsiness, My dove." he says with a sly tone.
Lowering my eyes demurely, fingers tracing the rim of the now empty teacup.
"we need to talk about something"
"Hmm and what is it that you want to talk about." he answered leaning back into the couch a smirk on his face.
"lets break off the engagement.?
a beat...
Then another beat...
"Oh wait you are not serious!.. my dove..? Tell me this is some jest."
I don`t blink and my gaze unwavering and I tilt my head to the side my fingers trace the edge of a teacup-slow,deliberate.
"Not jest. Only truth." I say flatly.
Prince Leo`s smirk flatters, an eyebrow raising in disbelief.
"Break off the engagement? after all this time planning for our... blissful union.? After the contracts signed in blood and gold? And what reason could you have possibly have" He leans closer on the table. "Unless.. you`ve found another fool to deceive?"
"Reason? You want reasons, your Highness?" I exhale slowly through the nose. "I just don`t I don`t love you anymore." I say sternly.
Technically I don`t want to get married to you.. and ruin my fucking life so just understand and leave me alone its not like you even love me... ugh!
His disbelief turns into anger his charming venner cracking." You don`t love me!! yet just few days ago you were willing to wear my ring, and to go through with this engagement... why the sudden change of heart, Althaleya? what has bought about this ridiculous decision?.."
"Your Highness prince Le..."
"Do you think you`ll find a better match than me?.. I am a prince.. a match of higher caliber does not exist in all the land. Are yo delusional, Althaleya? you belong to me! and you`ll stand by my side and smile as I take the throne!!!"
"Prince Leo please.. list.."
"who do you think is going to accept an illegitimate child and dull woman like you.. huh? I am not breaking this..."
"LEONARD VADRONIA KALADIN!!!.. " I Shout as I flip over the delicate tea table with the strength I never Knew I possessed and with one violent motion! porcelain shatters and everything scalding liquid sprays across Leo`s pristine boots and his clothes as he stumbles back in shock!.
Silence drowns the room as he stares at me like I`ve grown fangs or a second head on my neck.
Ugh! that`s it!!! am sick and tired of this.. bastard..
"Don't mistake My silence for submission, I will NOT marry you. Not now. Not never!!!. Your arrogance sickens me far more than any poison ever could. "
I pause and straighten myself... " now excuse me. your very presence disgust me."
Without waiting for his reply, I turn on my heels and stride toward the door, my gown whispering like a funeral shroud behind me.. Just as my hand touches the door-
A flicker.
A shadow slithers from the spilled tea pooling at Prince Leo`s feet, coiling up his leg like a serpent sensing prey. He doesn`t notice it(yet). But I... I... I SEE.. IT No! I feel it. The mark on My wrist burns as the darkness whispers.
"Patience... little viper. He will soon kneel before you and beg for death."
And she doesn`t turn back. She doesn`t need to.