Monsters And Murderers

Part 5

Anastasia

I kept my face blank, devoid of emotion- hiding the storm that raged beneath.

I search within myself for any trace of sadness. In vain.

I was beginning to think I could no longer feel any emotion but hatred or fury.

That was okay, though.

I was starting to embrace it.

~*~

I stared at Cinderella, who smiled back in fake innocence. She was a monster. A murderer.

And I was willing to become one myself if it meant I would rid us of her.

In the corner of my eye, I saw my sister. I'd expected her to be crying, to have given up.

I'd been wrong.

She looked pained, yes. I could see it in her eyes. But her beady green gaze burned hot and furious, fixed on Cinderella, and, behind the post, I saw something gleam as she slipped it from her sleeve.

A knife.

The blade was half - coated with dried blood. Old Anastasia would have gasped, begged her to tell her what happened- had she been hurt? Had she hurt someone?

But old Anastasia died the second I saw my mother die.

I stared as she silently sliced through her bounds, keeping her expression even.

She proceeded to do mine, cutting me a quick warning glance that said 'don't do anything rash.'

My pulse quickened, but I nodded. Behind the post, she pressed the knife into my hand.

Cinderella was watching us intently, a small frown playing on her perfect bow lips. I grimaced, thinking maybe she knew what we were planning, when she yawned and turned away.

"Getting late, girls. I'd better get some rest. So should you. Big day tomorrow!" She smiled and drew a dainty hand across her throat.

You would think, facing one's imposing public execution, one would be scared. Not me. I just smiled as I imagined the hand she drew across her neck a knife, crimson spurting everywhere.

Cinderella raised her eyebrows, confused at my reaction. I could almost see her mentally shaking her head. "Goodnight."

She twisted around and headed for the door.

Just as she reached for the knob, Drizella pushed herself away from the marble pillar, motioning for me to do the same. The second we stepped away, Cinderella whirled round, alarmed.

Her eyes narrowed. "How'd you do that?"

Drizella spat out her gag and shimmied her hands. "Magic!"

And then we both barreled forwards, ignoring our screaming feet, knocking into her and sending her weapon spinning away. She let out a muted scream as she toppled backwards, cracking her head on the floorboards.
Cinderella flailed and fumbled for her sword as I hefted the knife high above my head-

Cinderella

Desperately, I stretched out for my sword, knocking her hand away and earning myself another few seconds.
My fingertips grazed the handle... I stretched further, every muscle screaming...

My hand closed around the hilt. I thrust my blade upwards just as she brought hers down-

Drizella

Two mouths open in a silent 'O'. One mouth open in a silent scream.

Time hitched, juddered, and stretched like mollases as I stared on in pure horror at this nightmarish scene-

Anastasia sitting over Cinderella, both of them with bloodied blades thrust through their stomach.

I didn't hear, feel or see anything as my heart was ripped in two. The only thing I could see- the only thing I would ever truly see again, would be that image sent straight from hell.

Fear and desperate, pitiful denial rooted me to the bloodstained ground, before
the curse suspending me in place broke and I stumbled backwards. Oh no. Oh no. Ohnonononono she can't be dying.

She can't be dying. I can't lose her too.

Just girls. They were both just girls. Both thought the other evil- both thought they were doing good. Like two sides of a war.

Finally, I regained enough sense to rush to Anastasia's side, frantically attempting to cease the flood of crimson seeping from her body. Gasps and sobs from three different people interspersed into one sad, broken melody.

Eventually, I had to give up and rested my head on hers, cries ruffled by her rust-red hair.

"Drizella?"

I barely heard her; her voice was merely a breathless squeak.

"Drizella- I- I love you."

I sat back, sobbing harder, but I smiled at her through the pain, through the tears.

I was about to say 'I love you too,' when Anastasia rolled over and those yellow eyes I'd always loved so much clouded over, and stared unblinkingly into mine.

I screamed and pounded the floor, again, again, harder, harder, until my fist was a bloodied pulp.

I was vaguely aware of Cinderella taking one last heaving breath, like a fish out of water, and leaving too.

Leaving.

Leaving me.

Leaving me behind.

And I was left behind. Left behind more hollow and empty than ever before.

I cried until my tears dried up and the pieces of my heart broke into more shards as I stared on at my sister's corpse.

Then there they were. Footsteps. Shit.

I needed more time, needed more time with her.

But Anastasia would want me to live.

I leaned down one last time to kiss her forehead, with one last tear slipping down my cheek and splishing onto her's.

Then I slipped out the door, casting one last glance behind me into the room, then rounding the corner just as tens of guards file into the room to find a prince, a monster, and a murderer dead in the chambers of the princess.

Hope you enjoyed my story! <3 sorry it was so short!! Please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed- I loved writing it for you guys!