Elise looked at the water and saw its beauty. On this particular night, she could not sleep and found herself staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was filled with many thoughts about the recent events. She wondered if there was anything that would be able to calm her mind.
She remembered the secret passageway her mother had shown her. Elise got out of bed and made her way towards the corner of the balcony and opened the walls leading her to the cave. Despite the lights guiding her down the stairs, it was a little alarming being there alone. But when she reached her destination all of that fear faded away. She smiled
"It really is beautiful" Elise made sure to carry a blanket to place on the ground. She sat and stared at the water. It appeared to have no end, her hand began to move around in it.
"I thought it would be cold"
Just then she heard the bell and immediately got to her feet. It was the sound that no one wanted to hear. Elise was about to run up the stairs when she stopped and looked back at the water. Her first instinct is to be with her family but, her mother's words replayed in her head.
"I can't just turn my back on them. Why would she say to do such a thing if it was not the only option she saw."
There was a long silence of internal battle
"Please forgive me, mother." Elise ran to her room, closed the passageway and picked up her arrow and bow.
In the Library
As soon as the flame was out, Eon pulled Renner and led them in the direction of the desk where they hid. The brothers know this room like the back of their hands because they have played many games of hide and seek. Along with the occasional hiding from their tutors. Eon knew that he needed to calm Renner down before they could decide their next move. They heard the footsteps walking around the room, but they knew they could not stay in one place. Renner and Eon had a secret language they used, where they would create words using their hands. Since they were in the dark and could not see, they had to feel. Eon started to sign in Renner's palm hoping that he understands. They needed to separate and try to outsmart the masked man and escape the room. They jumped when they heard the room being torn apart, chairs and lamps were thrown across the room.
The boys knew what they needed to do. They moved from the desk and began to crawl on the floor, they wanted to get as close to the door as possible. Until they heard the bell, Renner decided to take a chance and use the distraction as an opportunity to open the door. He reached for the handle; at the same time it the handle moved down and the door was pushed open where they saw their grandmother.
"Boys, what are you doing here, didn't you hear the bell?" she saw them on the floor. She walked in to get them to their feet when the masked man grabbed her and held the dagger to her neck. He took the lamp from her, placing it on the table, illuminating the library just a little.
"Close the door little prince" were the first words the twins heard from him, Renner did as he was told, the brothers looked at each other and stood to their feet.
"Now step away from it and go to that corner." They were sent to the other side of the room. The man blocked their path to the door.
"Let her go" Eon spoke to the man while seeing the fear on their grandmother's face.
"Boys, don't say that. Please let my grandsons go. Take me. Kill me. Just please leave them out of this"
"None of you are leaving. Tonight is where it ends for all of you"
During the time the brothers were hiding under the desk. Renner had picked up the letter opener, it was in the exact place he knew it would be. He thought maybe it would be of use, he had to do something.
"Grandma, run" Renner threw the dagger and the three made their way towards the door only for the path to be blocked again. His ear was bleeding
"You little brat, I can't wait to kill all of you"
"You will do no such thing, Renner, Eon, run," she said while running towards the man, he held the dagger in front of him. Her Grace Anastacia grew up as some might describe as a traditional queen. She did not have any combat training, her teachings involved art, music, dance and food. The brothers did not know her plan but they knew she could not fight alone.
But what they saw was not her fighting. Her Grace was sacrificing herself, the blade pierced her stomach. The man was shocked at what he was witnessing. He tried to remove the blade but she gripped his hand with all of her strength to keep the blade in her possession. At this point, she gave him two options leave the blade in her, or continue to fight her for it. Either way, she gave Renner and Eon enough time to leave the room.
Her actions were all in the noble cause of protecting her family. What Her Grace did not consider was that this would be the second time they will witness another grandparent dying right before their eyes. Renner could not keep it in, he screamed which came out as high-pitched. The masked man let go of the dagger to cover his ears while fumbling backwards to steady himself.
The door was pushed open to reveal Elise. The scene that she was looking at was something out of a horror novel. Her brothers were scared, her grandmother lying on the floor with a dagger in her stomach; bleeding and a masked man who was responsible for it all.
He had finally regained his composure when he realized there was an arrow pointing at him. Elise aimed her arrow at him and released it.