*Ana*
"No, it-" My voice falls as something in my throat makes breathing hard. And in that moment, the kitten's still and lifeless eyes flash back at me.
Suddenly, the eyes change. The dead, cold eyes are now a bright blue. Two beautiful eyes look back at me from the box.
They are Nicoli's eyes. I choke and cover my mouth.
"Your Empress! " Abina turns back to me, still pleading for help. "Please, no-" and reaches for my dress. "I didn't-"
"What have you done?" I step back, almost sick to my stomach.
I can't even bring my eyes to look at Abina. I'm angry with her, but I'm also angry with myself. It could be Nicoli looking at me from the box, Nicoli's beautiful blue eyes.
I might as well have been the one to kill the kitten. I shudder and suck my tongue to the roof of my mouth to stop a scream.
"Take her away." Queen Belinda's words cut through like breaking ice.
"What, wait?" Abina lets go, but her eyes flash from me to the guards who move for her. "Wait, no- listen. It's wrong. I'm not the one who did this, it- Lord Mykhol? Please-"
"Just stop." Mykhol's words are almost harsher than my stepmother's. He pulls me into his side as he glares down at her. "You've been caught red-handed."
"But Lord Mykhol, it was you who-" For a moment, a look crossed Abinas face before she threw herself back at me.
"Your Empress, please!"
"The vampire will be put to death for endangering our crown prince." Queen Belinda orders, and the guards give a stern nod of their heads.
"No, please!" Abina cries as the guards move in. She curls up her legs with wide eyes. "Anything but that!"
"Death?" The word brings me back. Did she say death?
"Your Empress!" Abina turns back to me with haunting eyes. But it's too late for me to do anything as the guards are here. They are swooping in to pull her off the floor.
"Your Empress, please!" Abina reaches out as they drag her.
"Ana," Mykhol throws a protective arm over me to help avoid her touch.
"YYour Empress!" Abina kicks and pulls at the guards, throwing her fangs out as a last attempt.
"No, I beg you! Your Empress, have mercy! Please!" Abina's cries break through my fog, and I blink awake. My mouth is dry, and I can't move my tongue.
It is my fault. A voice in my head hisses.
What have I been doing all this time? I should have been aware. If I were the kitten- If I had paid more attention., none of this would have happened.
I let myself get carried away. I've forgotten myself getting wrapped up in my father, in Nicoli- I closed my eyes to everyone but Nicoli.
Only Nicoli. I clench my hands tight till I feel my nails cut through the skin. I was a fool. I dared to forget.
I could have hurt Nicoli. The thought shakes me, and I can't look up anymore. How could I? I am responsible.
"Ana?" I almost didn't hear Mykhol's voice over Abina's screams, but I felt his stare more than anything. It's enough to make me look up at him. Whatever he sees makes him turn to Father with anger.
"How is this?" Mykhol bares his fangs. " Do you insult us by punishing our own? You have no say in this matter. Abina is our servant and ours to deal with. It is not our way-"
"This is Dawny, Lord Mykhol." Queen Belinda's voice slightly lifts. "And we will see to it as we would with any assassin. Death."
"Death?" I tremble in Mykhol's arms. Will they kill her? Like the kitten?
"Mykhol," I squeezed his arm. Mykhol stiffened his arms around me as something crossed his face. He said nothing but held me tighter. He turned back to continue yelling.
"It's our subject. You have no say-"
"Stop." I didn't realize I had the strength to speak, but my hands moved up on their own. "You will not take her."
"Your Empress," Abina whimpers as I stare down the guards. They look from me to my Stepmother but stop. I push away from Mykhol.
"Ana, what are you-" But I'm already walking. I stop to stand before Abina.
"Your Empress, have mercy," Snot is dripping down Abina's nose. Her eyes flash wild and broken before growing dull. It's pitiful and weak, and my stomach churns. Even now, I believe her. I think she didn't do it.
But no one else believes her. I bite my lower lip as I turn to face the room.
I look over the faces of the nobles and servants gathered. They look back at me with a mixture of emotions. I can recognize some. They are all too familiar to me: fear and disgust.
They do not see me as Princess Anastasia anymore but as a monster. The sight cuts deep inside, making me want to sink into the floor. But I can't afford to.
I suck in the bleeding sensation before I turn back to face forward. My eyes purposely avoid Nicoli. I don't want to see his expression. I'm afraid to.
What if he is looking at me the same way? Could he look at me with the same disgust and fear? If he did, could I blame him?
It is my fault. So I can't bear to look.
"I will not have you harm one of my citizens." I freeze my face into a firm expression. My voice is much steadier than a moment ago, and I manage to keep eyes on both Father and stepmother.
"Empress Anastasia?" Queen Belinda sharpens her tone, looking from me to the guards and back. Her disgusted face is clear and easy to read. " You mean you're blatantly going to have her walk?"
"She's going to let her go?" I hear the murmur run across the room as people shift. It makes me lift my head higher.
"No. I am not. We will set punishment according to Nochten traditions. I will see to it she pays accordingly." I stare back at Stepmother.
Staring at her, I feel the full force of her eyes. She has such terrible grey eyes. They look beautiful, yet they are cold. They are as cold as that day back when.
I am afraid of her. I realized it. I am afraid and may always be fearful of her. But now, it's not about me. It is between a ruler and a ruler. I can't back down.
"You have no say in this." I firm my gaze back at her. "I am Empress."
"So you are." Queen Belinda measures out her smile at me as if amused. But the look in her eyes is anything but joyous. "So you'll punish her when you return to Nochten?"
"I will."
"You vow on this?" Queen Belinda speaks as if it were just us. I can feel her cold grey eyes narrow down on me. I swallow back the shiver and stay firm.
"I do. I take responsibility as Abina is my subject. I will see that her punishment is set out immediately."
"And that is your word?"
"Yes." I returned to find Stepmother looking from me to Mykhol and back. A quiet aura fell over her before she nodded. A sad smile, one of the first genuine ones I've seen, spread over her face.
"A befitting resolution then, Empress Anastasia." Queen Belinda spoke softly. "I'll let you handle it."
At her words, the guards dropped Abina, who took no second haste. Abina rushed back to us as a refuge. She fell to her hands and knees to kiss the hem of my dress.
"Your Empress!" Tears glitter in her eyes as she repeatedly plants her lips on the hem. "Thank you!" Abina looks up at me with more admiration than I have ever seen. "You are my savior."
"That is not-" I am about to dismiss it as Stepmother raises a hand to the room.
"Though it is disappointing, this had to happen while housing members of Nochten court." Queen Belinda pauses to look down with a pout. "We, too, understand the nature of your kind. It can't be helped."
"Our Nature?" Her words freeze me up as something comes back to mind.
Queen Belinda only smiles at me before turning to the room. Around me, I see nobles nod and agree. They seem to grow more comfortable, as if something has lifted.
"Yes, it is regrettable," Someone said.
"Vampires must eat." Someone returns.
"Indeed," Queen Belinda turns back to smile at me, and I feel the shiver run down my spine. Her smile may be sweet, but her eyes betray her expression. They aren't smiling with her.
Something is wrong.
*Belinda*
He is not bad. Belinda smiled and glanced up at the teen. Mykhol met her gaze with only the slightest curl of his lip. He, too, knew the importance of hiding his expressions. It was a remarkable feat for someone his age.
Almost. Belinda had to note his little 'back talk.' But she could forgive him. Mykhol was in the passion of the moment. He was still young, after all, and not as seasoned as Belinda was at this.
But he shows potential. Belinda gave silent praise.
"Wife?" King Alexander, meanwhile, looked at her with uncertainty.
Belinda gently crafted her smile into a natural pout. It was a gesture perfected from years of practice to look flawless. No one but Julia could ever tell that it was just one of her many masks. Otherwise, it was untouchable.
"Thus, it's best to let you handle your maid," Queen Belinda continued as if all was agreed. She then controlled her tone as if to take a note of regret. "Though now is only a matter of compensation."
"Compensation?" Ana blinked in confusion.
"Compensation?" King Alexander repeated, equally caught off guard.
"Yes," Queen Belinda glanced at a side door opening. It was just in time.
Belinda inwardly smiled as she watched Julia step in with one of her other maids. Both were carrying things. One had a basket, and Julia had a bucket of water.
"Your majesty?" Maddie was the first to notice the maids. Her eyes darted to the king, who looked on just as clueless.
"Wife, what is that?" King Alexander turned with everyone to watch the maids come forth. They seemed fascinated by the sight. Ana, however, only turned from them back to meet her.
"But I said I'd take responsibility for my maid," Ana repeated. She looked so confused. She didn't notice the room part to let the maids come up behind her.
"I don't understand. She will be punished." Ana went on. "What compensation?"
She's not as quick as her mother, and Belinda noted the difference. Parsul would have instantly understood what was going to happen.
Ana is still young and trusting. Or maybe she was naive? Not all things can be passed down from mother to daughter.
Either way, how fitting. Belinda had to hide her growing amusement.
"There needs to be compensation, Empress Anastasia." Queen Belinda side glanced at her husband.
"Belinda?" Alexander looked back at her, but his face soon soured. It must have dawned on him what was to come.
'Belinda, don't do this.' Those beautiful blue eyes flashed to her. It was clear he disapproved. Alexander didn't want this and didn't want to be a part of it.
But you can't stop it, either. Queen Belinda took comfort in this. This was well within her rights as queen, and she could never pass up such an opportunity.
"The murderous act was committed in proximity to our crown prince, my son." Queen Belinda voiced and motioned for Julia.
Julia stepped up as the other maid opened the basket to pull something out—the white kitten mewed in discomfort.
"My kitten?" Ana turned to see her kitten and then noticed the other carrying a bucket of water.
"Wait, why is my cat here?" Ana blinked and reached for her kitten, but Julia raised her hand. The kitten cried as it wiggled in the maid's hands. The cat seemed to understand the situation, too. But the girl was still confused.
"What is this?" Ana looked back with big, clear eyes. "And what's the water for?"
Belinda couldn't hide herself anymore. Her smile finally lifted to an unhinged grin. It felt so good to finally smile, honestly.
"Like I said, there has to be compensation."