The Sovereigns

3.

The morning Jay discovered his sister was dead was the second-worst morning of his life.

They'd found her body out in the middle of the city of Versailles, which was ridiculous, because everyone knew that Ruth hated the city. Besides, she couldn't get out into the city without a pass, which hadn't been procured. And the strangest thing was that she was found with a bullet-shaped hole in the back of her head.

They'd called it a mugging gone wrong. Jay knew that wasn't true.

Jay Mikhail Hart, servant to the Sovereign Kingdom of Gallia, walked in the halls of the Western Versailles quickly, doing his best to make it to the servant pathways before his agony showed. His twin, Kaz, followed closely on his heel. Twins were especially rare, identical nearly impossible, which was likely why Jay and Kaz were both assigned to take care of the heir-apparent, just as their sister had been. The heir-apparent was Jay's master. And he, and his family, were nothing to the Sovereigns.

Hence the reason his sister was dead.

The twins entered the servant halls and Jay glanced over. In comparison, Kaz had done a worse job at concealing his grief to Jay. His twin looked like a disaster, hair ungelled and shirt misbuttoned. Jay willed his brother to stay calm. If Kaz got angry, Jay knew he'd do something, something stupid, like expressing his anger. And that would kill them both. The Sovereigns would execute the families of anyone that opposed them, regardless of their involvement. He couldn't risk losing his brother. Of the two of them, Kaz was the most vocal, the leader, but without Jay, they would be nothing. And without Ruth, they were nothing.

They were just servants and criminals.

Jay and Kaz reached the servant commons for the servants of the heir-apparent. It was tidy but bare, white walls and poorly constructed furniture set around the room. There were only a few servants in the quarters, most preparing for the massive swarm of contenders to enter the Western Versailles.

When the twins entered, conversation slowed as five pairs of sympathetic eyes met theirs. We're sorry about your sister, they said. We're sorry for your loss.

Kaz was the first to respond, growling to Jay, "I'm going to the room. Get me if you need me."

"Okay," Jay said, but Kaz was already gone. A few moments later, he heard a door slam. Shivers ran up Jay's spine and he closed his eyes.

He heard footsteps and opened his eyes tentatively, meeting the eyes of one of the other servants, Lila. She'd worked with Ruth, and her nose looked red from crying. She put a hand on Jay's arm. "I'm so sorry."

I'm sorry too.

He nodded.

She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Can I get you anything?"

Ruth. I want my sister back.

He shook his head.

Lila squeezed his arm then dropped it. "Okay. But let me know. We're all here for you."

The other servants nodded and echoed her words, but Jay hardly heard it. He only walked over to an empty chair and sat down, putting his head in between his hands. He closed his eyes.

I hate them. I hate the Sovereigns so much.

Someone shook Jay's arm and he shot up. "What?"

A kind laugh. Lila. "You fell asleep," she chuckled. He met her eyes. "You've got someone looking for you."

His eyebrows crossed. "What do you mean?"

"There's someone on the docks looking for you. She said you knew what it would be about."