Another violent burst of laughter echoed through the room, loud and thunderous. Delighted, Althea slid the tip of her shoe beneath Lorelai's chin, lifting it so the princess had no choice but to meet her gaze again.
"See? Replacing your mother with me was the easiest part," the queen taunted, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "I had quite a bit of trouble erasing him..." She stopped abruptly, clearing her throat as if carefully choosing her words. "But don't you worry. This time, it will be easier. Once I'm done, he won't trouble you anymore."
Lorelai swallowed hard, the mix of her blood and saliva trickling down her dry throat. With the searing pain ripping through her head, she struggled to make sense of Althea's words. All she could focus on was the agony that consumed her. She would have done anything for it to stop—she was even ready to beg the queen.
She was ready to die if it meant an end to this suffering.
