Two Of The Same Piece || Book 1 (The Beginning)

CHAPTER 38

"I swear my loyalty to you, Princess Ravenna. Always and forever." Rave screamed as they beheaded another one of her entourage. Josephine was so cruel, she had Rave chained to a post. She forced Rave to watch as all the members of her entourage were beheaded. One at a time.

Rave cried and screamed, not just for the human lives lost, but for the fact that most of the members of her entourage had been with her since she was in the high deserts. They had travelled the world with her and now, they died because of her. All of them, even before death, swore their swords, and their lives, to her.

"I will gladly serve you in Violeta's court, your highness." Messa, the old chef who had cooked for Rave since she was a child, smiled at her sadly. "I am afraid I won't be able to see you married, princess. Escape from here and marry Aurilean. Be happy."

Rave struggled against the bonds so hard that it scrapped her skin off. "Josephine, Please! Stop this!"

"Go on with it. Why are you talking so much?" Josephine just waved her hand and that cursed sword fell again.

Rave turned away as the blood sprayed on her. Bellan lives lost because of her. She had failed to control Ib, and now, over a hundred lives lost. She marked each of their faces in her memories. Each of those lives would be avenged.

"When I kill you, Josephine, I will do it over a long, long time. I will make you feel pain so deep that it will be all you know. You will never get to live a single moment of your life in peace." Rave snarled.

The floor was painted red with the blood of her people. But all Rave felt now was rage. Rage so burning hot that it suffocated her. She wanted to hurt Josephine. She didn't just want to kill her, she wanted it to hurt.

"You will? How poetic." Josephine walked over to Rave. "Won't you make a great character in a story? How about it? The princess who failed?"

"You will pay for this with your life, and with your kingdom." Rave snapped. "Do you think you will get away unscathed? Do you think Rina will protect you? You will be the first to fall and your fall will not kill you. I will."

"All these promises of death sound wrong from the mouth of such a pretty princess." Josephine grabbed Rave by her hair. "This would all sound much more threatening if you were uglier."

"I understand why a simple-minded creature like you would think that all my power lies in my beauty." Rave chuckled. "It's sad to see such a failure of a queen. Thinlinyte queens have always been paragons of virtue, but look at you."

"And aren't Bellan princesses good fighters?" Josephine laughed. "I've seen children who fight better than you."

"It is true that I am not the greatest fighter, but at least I have common decency. It takes humanity and decency to make people love you, Josephine. Two things you do not possess." Rave said.

"What need do I have of them? I am a queen, I rule with authority and fear. Not love and kindness." Josephine scoffed. "Don't tell me you of all people believe in ruling softly and lovingly."

"A ruler needs to be both soft and hard, dumb and cunning. You are too much of one and too little of the other." Rave shrieked as Josephine slapped her. It burned in her face like a brand, but Rave found it in her to laugh at Josephine. "And here is why you are a failed queen."

"What does a bastard like you know of queendom? You are merely meant to be a bedwarmer to a king. You will bear his brood and die an insignificant death." Josephine told her. "That's all you will ever be."

"Neither of us will ever be insignificant." Rave shook her head. "I will be known as the best queen that Rayner ever had, and you will be known as the queen who failed her own kingdom."

"You still have a lot of confidence. Maybe I should bring Leo to the chopping block as well." Josephine smiled at her. "Wouldn't that be nice? Let's see what you have to say then."

Rave felt her heart stop. "You wouldn't dare to! Harm Leo and I swear to the gods, up and down, that I will kill you with my bare hands."

"Tell me, Rave, no." Josephine shook her head. "I'll let you choose. Should I cut Leo open for you or should I just execute him? Huh? Traumatize Leo for the rest of his life or let him feel the sweetness of death?"

"Don't even think of touching Leo!" Rave struggled against her bonds. "I will rip you apart, you whore!"

"That's not what I asked." Josephine slapped her again.

Rave only felt the panic in her. "Don't touch him. Do whatever you want to me, but leave him out of it."

"Oh, but that's no fun." Josephine laughed at her. "I know you'll be fine. No matter what I do to you. But Leo? If I hurt Leo, I will hurt you more. You can take all the pain in the world, Princess Ravenna Mina of Bellayong. But you can't take watching Leo suffering in your place."