A COURT OF PAIN AND SORROW (ACOTAR FANFIC)

An Heiress and her Step-mother

"Your father wishes to talk to you," Echo said walking into Verna's bedroom.

"Next time knock." Verna said, she then looked at Echo stomach. She had put on some weight, and now everyone knew she was pregnant. "D-does it fill weird?"

"Sometimes." Echo said smiling. "May I?" She looked at the side of the bed next to Verna.

"Sure." Verna said. "Though, I will blame you if father yells at me."

"You can do that." She laughed. "But to answer your question, it does. When he moves, that feels the weirdest. And then I'm reminded that I'm growing another person inside me. That is the weirdest part of all. Like right now I have a penis inside me."

"Eww." Verna said. "And h-how do you know it's a boy? It might very well be a girl. I would like a sister."

"I know." Echo said. "And something tells me you all ready have one. Though not by blood. Don't give me that look, Verna, your secret is safe with me. It's not my job to tell them. Though, be careful. There is a beast beneath the floors, a snake. And when cornered she attacks."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Circe." Echo hissed. "She is planning on killing me, I know it."

"Echo . . ." Verna said slowly. "She is not going to hurt you."

"No." Echo laughed. "Not me. Him."

"The babe?"

"No." She laughed once again. "Your father. She is planning something. But once he attacks. . .she strikes. Don't trust her. I see her writing letters and burning them, letting them fly in the wind." She shakes her head. "Your father wants to talk to you." She then rose on her black slippered feet.

"Why?" Verna asked.

"Some business men are here." She said waving a hand. "He thinks it's best if you talk to them."

"Other then him?"

"Oh, no. He will be there Verna, it's just that he believes that you should be by his side." She whispered. "Father and daughter. The present and the future of the Spring Court."

Verna sigh before she stood up, and walked over to her and said, "You go. I do not wish to."

"I can't." Echo said.

Verna felt a little sick, She knew that it was because she stood up to fast. Knew that she should probably run to the bathroom incase She was sick. But if Verna was sick here. . .it would probably make Echo prettier to look at.

"Sure you can." Verna yelled. "You've taken everything else away from me. Why don't you take the court as well."

"They want to speak to you." Echo said crossing her arms, over her black gown. "It's best if they talk to you."

Verna sighed before walking out of her own bedroom.

"Verna?"

"What!?" She said turning around.

"You have not heard the news?"

"What news?"

"Vivienne lost her baby."

"Oh." Verna whispered. Even though her and Vivienne had only spoken once in her whole life, she felt sad for the female. "Is this why you have been holding onto yours none stop? Like it can be—"

"Verna, you don't understand." Echo whispered.

"Understand what?"

"This is the start of how the story ends." she sighed. "We are getting closer to the end and none of us are safe. I know how this story ends," she whispered. "I know that I won't live long enough to see the birth of this child. I know that yours...." tears where in her eyes. "I know that yours and Nyx's love story will be one for the history books. But I also know it will end it pain and in sorrow. I cannot change the future, and that is the worse part of this."

"About what?"

"At the end of this." She sighs. "Someone's father is going be dead. And it's to you to pick who, yours or the child—"

"Enough." Verna hissed as she walked away.