The Prophecy

Chapter 23

Hope's POV: I tapped my brush thoughtfully before adding a bit more blue to the canvas as I heard my door open, causing me to turn around to see Aunt Rebekah walking into the room. "I thought I may find you here", she said, walking further into the room as my gaze returned to the painting.

"I want to be left alone", I told her coldly, causing her to sigh.

"Hope, you can't stay locked in your room forever. You have a Kingdom to run-"

"You think I care about any of that", I threw back. "I don't....I don't care. Now leave me alone", I demanded as I starred down at the painting, tracing over Lizzie's features silently. "Never in my life have I felt so...humiliated", I mumbled to myself as the reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks.

Blinking the tears from my eyes, I threw my paint across the room before kicking over the canvas as my body trembled. "I knew...I knew that there was something off about her from the way she walked, t-the way she acted...from...", I trailed off as my voice cracked. "I was reckless", I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. "I allowed her into my kingdom. Into my home...", I breathed. "I allowed her into my heart and she broke me...", I sniffed, wiping away a stray tear that fell down my face. "I'm pathetic...", I mumbled, causing Aunt Rebekah to send me a sympathetic look.

"Hope, you are not pathetic", she told me pointedly.

"Then why do I feel like this", I asked her tearfully. "Even after everything she's done", I asked, causing her to send me a confused look.

Right...they don't know.

"That servant girl...", I said. "She jumped in front of Lizzie, taking the sword for her", I told her.

"The suit of armor shatters when two swords collide", she whispered in realization.

"There's something else", I admitted, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Hope, what is it", she asked me worriedly.

"I think Lizzie killed my father", I choked out as her eyes darkened.

"Are you sure", she asked.

"I...", I trailed off tearfully.

"Hope, this is a very serious crime, and if you think-"

"They're the twins", I revealed, causing her face to drop. "She's not even a real Princess", I sniffed. "What does that make me? Am I always destined to be alone? To fall in love with lairs", I asked her sadly. "I messed up, Auntie Bex", I cried, causing her to pull me into a hug as she armed her arms around me reassuring. "I'm so stupid", I sniffed.

"Hope, falling in love with her doesn't make you weak or stupid", she told me firmly.

"But-"

"It makes you human", she pointed out. "And that pain you're feeling now? That's called hurt", she explained. "I felt it too...many times", she admitted, causing me to pull away to look up at her. "Your father's felt it too once", she said, causing me to scoff.

"Now I know you're lying", I sniffed, wiping at my eyes.

"It's true", she hummed. "Not too long before he met your mom, he was captivated by the Princess of Light. Same as you", she said, causing me to scowl in disgust.

"He was in love with Elena Salvatore", I sneered, causing her to laugh.

"God, I hope not", she snickered, causing me to frown in confusion.

"Believe it or not, Hope, the Gilberts hold no claim to the Kingdom of Light. Elena is no more than a street rat that happened to marry a Prince", she scoffed, causing me to frown.

"Then-"

"Her name was Caroline", she admitted. "Caroline Forbes", she stated.
______________________________________

Josie's POV: I scrunched up my nose as blinding pain ripped through my stomach, causing a whimper to escape my mouth. "Did you get it", I overheard someone say as I cracked my eyes open to see two blurry figures standing outside the cell.

"With everyone so distracted with the King's murder, it was almost too easy", someone stated, handing something over.

"The last of the white oak. The only weapon capable of killing an Original, and its finally mine", they laughed.

"I don't know if I can do this anymore, K", the other admitted, causing me to furrow my eyebrows as they grabbed them by the collar.

"You don't have a choice. You're too deep in this to turn back now", they warned.

"So everything's going to plan", the other asked.

"Yes. This time tomorrow, the last of the royal family will be dead", they said as my eyes fluttered shut once more.