*Ana*
"Maddie?"
I blink, taking in the sight of her. It is Maddie. But then again, at the same time, it's like looking at a stranger.
This Maddie is different from the one I know. She's changed overnight. Her smiles are long gone, and her constant chatter is dead silent. Even those bright brown eyes are now just a shadow of what they once were.
And they won't look up at me.
"Maddie?" I call again softly.
How could they do this to you?
They beat her severely. Enough for a bruise to bloom over an eye, and her lip is cut and swollen. There's dried blood caked up under her nose.
"Your Empress," Someone speaks. It's Mykhol. I didn't even feel him come to my side. But I see him now.
He is not looking at Maddie but at something in the crowd.
"We found something."
Mykhol gestures from the side for Someone to step up. The crowd separates to allow a man to pass through. He holds something in his hands.
My letter. I recognize it almost immediately as he comes closer. It blares brightly against his dark roads like a light in the darkness.
But what is he doing with my letter?
"Why…do you have that?" My words drip out slowly, thick and dumb. But not my eyes. My eyes are fast, and they dart from the letter to Maddie. And before I know it, I'm shaking my head.
"No," I turn back to Mykhol. "No," I go again with more force.
"I don't understand. What does any of this have to do with anything? And why is Maddie- This is wrong." I look back at her.
"There is some kind of misunderstanding." I know it is. This is a terrible mistake.
"Maddie isn't-"
"Your maid was caught tampering with your mail, Anastasia." Mykhol's voice freezes me as the man stops before him to hand over the letter.
"Tampering?" The words sit poorly on my tongue. Did he say that Maddie?
"No, she-" But Mykhol lifts the letter up to the room.
"Upon investigation, we discovered a hidden message."
A sharp gasp runs across the room before people cover their mouths. Faces grow pale before eyes dart from the letter to Mykhol and then me. My stomach pulls in tight at each glance.
I shake my head again.
"What message?" I ask, looking at Maddie and then Mykhol.
"What are you-" Talking about, but words dry up when Mykhol turns it over. His finger points to the spot where the stamp was.
It's gone now. But not the drawing.
"No, that's not-" No, that's nothing. I shake and dart my eyes to Maddie. But she still won't look at me.
Why won't she look at me?
I don't know why, but it doesn't matter if she does or not because I need to correct this.
"It's not a message. It's a spell."
"A spell?" Mykhol raises a brow.
"Yes." I nod, going on. "It's a spell. For luck."
"For 'luck'?" Mykhol looks back at the drawing.
"I wanted Prince Nicoli to write back to me," I explain.
"I thought I'd need it. So I asked her to help me."
"You really asked for that?" Mykhol softens his face.
"Yes," I don't have time to be embarrassed. I know it's incredibly childish, but the situation is dire.
Maddie is hurt. And they think she's a spy. If I just explain myself- but when it looks like I am getting through, something hardens in his face.
"Is that what she told you?" Mykhol's eyes look not at me but at Maddie. " Is that the lie you used to trick her?"
"Cousin, no, it's not-" A lie, but Mykhol is shaking his head with a look that makes me grow small.
"You trusted her blindly. Instead, she has used you."
"What?" I choke.
Maddie used me?
No. That's not true. I shake my head. It can't be.
Maddie wouldn't- Maddie is my friend.
"Maddie would never-" I steal a glance over, but Maddie turns her head. Even with her swollen eye, her good one is cast down.
"Maddie?" I call as her face pulls tight. She keeps looking down.
Is she purposely avoiding looking at me?
"A secret message was found underneath the stamp." Mykhol, meanwhile, turns back to the court. His voice was clear and loud.
"I have the evidence right here."
"My god!" Aunt Funda moves closer to Uncle Charles. Uncle looks at Mykhol.
"What does this mean? And to who?" Uncle's voice sounds stiff. Mykhol makes a slight twitch but carries on.
"We don't know as she has yet to confess. But after further interrogation, we will-"
"No." I swallow to try to stop shaking. Something is daring to crawl up my throat- I don't know if it's a cry or scream.
But I won't do either.
It can't be true.
No. It isn't. I refuse to believe this. Maddie wouldn't betray me. She wouldn't do that.
I know she wouldn't. She would never. Maddie cares about me. She wouldn't do something like use me.
Because if she did, then that would mean everything was- I don't finish it. I don't want to. I look back at Maddie.
Go on, tell them. I yield with my eyes. Tell them they are wrong. You won't never hurt me. You wouldn't use me.
Please. I am begging for even a simple shake of the head, which could work.
Just tell me you would never do this. I hold my breath, waiting for the simplest of signs.
Just tell me, Maddie. Please.
I wait, but nothing happens. There is no sign. Nothing. Maddie keeps her head down.
"Maddie?" I call to see her turn her head further away.
When she does, Something breaks from inside. A tear escapes down my cheek.
"Maddie, please."
Mykhol takes my shoulder.
"Empress?" Mykhol prompts, but I keep staring. My eyes are glued to Maddie, but her form is changing into a blurry blob because of the tears.
"Anastasia?"Mykhol tires again. His voice was softer. His hand gives a testing squeeze before he leans down.
"Ana?"
I shudder and blink, breaking out of the trance.
"No torture." I swallow down. My eyes are still on Maddie, but I am not looking for any sign,
"I forbid it."
"Your Empress, but-" Now, both Aunt Funda and Uncle Charles turn to us. They shoot nervous looks at Mykhol for some reason.
"Then how would you like us to go about it, your Empress?" Mykhol speaks for them.
"She's a spy. She must be working for Someone. We need to find out what she's said and to who-"
"No."
Mykhol stiffens a little.
"No? But, Anastasia, we need to know who she is working for. She is from Dawny. Perhaps it is-"
"There will be no investigation."
"Your Empress?" Mykhol bulks with a change in tone.
"We have to find out who she's working for and how much she has told-"
"And we will." I step forward, breaking away from his hold, and stop directly before Maddie.
My eyes are bone dry now, so I can make her out clearly. Maddie becomes the only person I can see. Everyone else disappears around us.
Just the two of us. Like it used to be, I remember those bright summer days.
But the cold air freezes my hands now when I stand before her. It is no longer Summer. And will never be again like it was.
Never again.
"I will ask directly."
Maddie lifts her head. Her eyes are swollen, but I see the tale-tell sign of tears. She's been crying up till now. She was just trying to hide it.
Maddie. I shudder but manage to stop the same urge.
I will not cry anymore.
"You're going to answer me honestly." I take one last step. I can almost touch her, but I don't.
"Yes," Maddie, on her part, despite her swollen face, manages a small smile. The cut on her lip runs red as it rips. A tiny bead of blood bubbles up, but she keeps smiling.
The smile is the saddest thing I think I've ever seen her do.
"You're a spy."
"Yes." A tear slips down Maddie's cheek.
"Is that why you were so kind to me?"
"Yes," Maddie answers finally.
"Was everything…a lie?" Not just the messages. But every conversation? Every hug.? Every laugh?
Was it all just an act?
I hold myself steady as Maddie falls silent for a long, long pause.
At last, I hear her speak softly.
"I'm sorry."
A single tear breaks free to travel down my cheek and pool under my chin. When it falls to crash into the floor, it's mere inches from her. It will be the last time I will ever be close to her again.
"Take the traitor away." I give my final command and close my eyes as I hear the guards move to take her away.