The lingering effects of violence, which lingered in the room like an unspoken truth, seemed heavy in the air. The metallic smell of blood mixed with the lingering gunpowder odor in the chilly air. Lily's thoughts were racing as she stood in the center of the confusion. The body of Kane was spread out on the ground, a dead pile of what had once been a fierce foe. She had dreamed of this moment for months. The day she would stand up to him, destroy his empire, and bring him to account for all that he had done. Now that it was finished, though, she felt nothing but emptiness.
She was left with a hollow aching that tore at her insides instead of the joy she had anticipated, the victory of avenging the wrongs done to her. In actuality, retaliation did not bring satisfaction. After fighting for so long, putting in so much effort, and making so many sacrifices, she discovered that the victory she had long desired was considerably less satisfying than she had anticipated.
