*Ana*
As the courtroom doors come into view, I can hear something. Someone is crying. No, it's not just crying; they are sobbing deep, shaking sobs. And they sound young.
Who's crying? My chest tightens as we come closer. The sobs echo and have a lingering pull of desperation to them. Whoever is crying, it must be for something important or something terrible.
Someone starts to speak. I recognize it instantly because it sends a shiver down my back. Only one person can initiate such a reaction of fear from me. I feel my breath catch as we stop to open the door.
"This is not about a break of customs. This is about trust." Queen Belinda turns her head when the doors open. There is no announcement, but everyone is waiting for me because they look over at once.
Immediately, I can feel the air freeze. Eyes upon eyes are watching me. The crowd roams eyes over me and my uncovered hair distantly. It's like I am something foreign.
What's going on? I wonder after them. Everything seems off somehow. And it isn't just them.
Nicoli! I spy him next to Father. He is okay. I am relieved. This isn't about him.
"Nicoli- '' I move, but Maddie takes my shoulder. "Maddie, what are you-" but now I notice it. Something else is wrong. Nicoli's eyes are puffy and red.
Has he been crying? I look on with great concern. Again, I wonder what has happened.
'What's wrong?' I mouth, but he does not answer. He does something even odder. He looks away from my gaze.
Nicoli? I watch his blue eyes turn to the floor and stay there. His little head leans in closer to Father's legs. Father touches his head, but he is also different.
Father? I see another pair of blue eyes avoiding me and looking at the main speaker.
"Empress Anastasia," Queen Belinda starts. "We've been waiting for you so that we may begin."
Begin? I look up at Maddie, but her face is grey and still. She drops her hand from my shoulder to stand perfectly still. Her eyes are fixed on the person in the center.
"Please," Queen Belinda throws up a finger to point over the room. I follow to see the woman kneeling. Mykhol is standing next to her. He controls his expression to appear collected. However, the one next to him is a complete mess.
I know her. I recognize the quivering woman as she lifts her head. She has red hair- a vampire. No, she is Mykhol's maid. From the look on her face, I can see she was the cryer.
"What is this?" Why is she sitting on the ground? And why is she crying? I have so many questions. I look at my companions, but neither Mykhol nor Maddie look at me. They stare after Stepmother instead as if there is more.
"Now," Queen Belinda announces with a slight curl to her lips. She motions for Julia to step forward. A box is in her hand. "Let the trial begin."
"Trial- ugh," As Julia draws closer, a distinct smell wafts. It is vile and heavy. It smells like iron and sewage.
It's blood- something dead is in the box. I learn and quickly cover my nose and mouth. But it's too late. A bad taste fills my mouth and makes my head throb. It's so cruel that its smell makes it hard to breathe.
Why bring something like that horrible thing in here? I take shallow breaths through my hands. What's all this about?
"I didn't do it!" Abina shouts abruptly with tears down her cheeks. She shoots a lookup to Mykhol desperately.
"It was there when I woke up. I swear-" She shudders and looks around the room for help. When it became clear that no one would, she turned to Mykhol.
"Please, my lord. I speak the truth!" Abina grabbed his robes. Mykhol stepped back almost instantly to make Abina cry out with abandon. "My lord…"
"I can't help you," Mykhol says coldly before lifting his eyes to meet mine. There is some expression that switches mid-glance. "Anastasia,"
"What is this?" I ask, not just to Mykhol. "What's happening here?" I look over the crowd for an answer.
No one answers me. They only watch on. Their silence squeezes my stomach till I feel sick.
Mykhol? I look back to see Cousin make another expression I don't understand. Then, he steps forward as if to address the room.
"You expect us to stand here as you throw accusations like this?" Mykhol starts to walk. He crosses the room to come to my side.
Mykhol sounds cold and on edge. If I didn't know him better, I would say he was angry. But why would he be angry?
Now, beside me, I can see Mykhol looks disheveled. His hair and robes look rashly put together. That's not like him. Cousin is always mindful of his appearance, but not today?
"Cousin?" I check more quietly and search his face. Mykhol softens as he meets me. But again, I see that expression. Is it fear? Is Mykhol afraid? But of what? I don't understand.
"Mykhol, please explain-"
"Stay close to me," Mykhol whispers as he takes my hand. It feels warm in mine despite how early it is. Did he already feed? However, the fact is quickly forgotten as Mykhol continues.
"The Empire of Nochten will not allow such insults like this." Mykhol ends with a snarl. His fangs flash as he does.
"Cousin?" What is he doing? I am shocked, but so is the room. An audible gasp of terror rips over the crowd of nobles. Their faces pale as they turn nervous and look over us. My mouth runs dry as I shift in my spot.
Just yesterday, these were the same people who smiled at me. Now, they look at me as if I am something horrible. The terror on their face cuts more profound than any insult I've heard. They look at me differently now.
Why? The question rings in the back of my mind. Why are they looking at us like, I hate to say it, but like we are Monsters?
"Enough!" King Alexander's voice booms to shake the room. His voice shuts Abina up, and she wilts into herself. He looks to Mykhol, then to me. I shiver at how cold and distant his blue eyes regard us.
"Empress Anastasia," King Alexander begins. All the usual warmth in his voice is long gone.
He's not calling me daughter. I hone in on the fact. Something is wrong here. Is it something I have done? Is he angry with me?
But what could it be? And why is there a box? And Abina—my head spins as Father's voice rips through my ears.
"Have you been informed of what's happened?"
"No, fa—" I pause as the room stiffens. It suddenly doesn't feel right to say it, so I correct myself.
"Your majesty. I have not. What has happened?" I glance at both Maddie and Mykhol. Maddie steps back as Mykhol only holds onto my hand.
"Oh no!" In the center of the room, Abina begins to weep again. I watch her body shake as she holds her face in her hands. I frown at the sight. Whatever it is, is it enough to warrant this strong reaction? What did she do?
"Has this maid done something?" I pose. The question seems to spark a soft murmur to run through the nobles. It seems that I guessed right.
"What have you done?" I look from the sobbing maid to Nicoli. His eyes are still on his shoes. I suddenly have a terrible suspicion about whatever was involved, Nicoli.
It must be why he won't look at me.
"Tell me what happened." I rose to meet Father's eyes."What's this maid done?"
"I've done nothing!" Abina cries out. She now looks desperately at me. "Please, your Empress! Believe me."
"Abina," I can see she is beside herself. Whatever it is, Abina isn't acting. Or at least it didn't seem like it.
It can't be that bad. I sympathize with the crying teen. Her tears remind me of myself back when.
I cried, and no one came to help me either. But I push the hard memory deep inside. I don't have time to dwell.
"Tell me." I need to be back in the present. Abina is one of my subjects. I need to understand what is happening."What has this maid done?"
"Ana," Mykhol tightens his hand around mine. I try not to tremble. I don't want him to know how unearthed I am. I need to be strong."What's in the box?"
"Yes, it's time, you see." Queen Belinda turns with a practiced poise to take up her husband's arm. Then, she leans closer to nudge him gently. "It's time, my husband."
"I…very well," Father closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Julia, Come forth."
I see Julia come to a perfect stop before me. Her hand rests on the box lid, but she does nothing as if waiting for the final say.
I don't want to see this. I steady my legs as the smell leaks out. I don't want to know whatever it is, but I must. I need to find out what has happened.
I look up to see Father. He looks at it as if wanting something. Is it my permission? Do I have the final say?
If that's so, then "I'm ready." I go but squeeze Mykhol's hand. I am shaking, but Mykhol's hand hides it. He is the only one who knows. On the side of my eye, Mykhol makes another expression, almost like a smile.
"Open it." Father's voice is cold as he speaks. All the cheer and love I know seems to all be wishful thinking.
Everything moves fast and slow in one take. I can see myself standing, and yet I don't feel anything. My soul seems to float over me as Julia moves. A vague smile is almost missed on her lips as she pulls the top off. The smell oozes out like water, flooding over my head. I am drowning, but I can't even open my mouth to scream.
I see it before I can understand what I am seeing. The white fur is now dark and brown. The pink tongue sticks out in a frozen gesture of pain. The little pink bow is gone, not that it had anywhere to stay around because the neck and body are missing.
The only thing in the box is the severed head of Nicoli's kitten.