The Lady's Secret (School for Good and Evil)

My Snake (Sophie's POV)

I watched as the ring was dissolved into the fire. I knew that I should have been horrified by the sight, but somehow I couldn't make my soul feel scared of Japeth. Instead, it was something far worse.

I loved him.

Agatha looked at me, aghast. It took all of my power to not smile at the thought of her and Tedros losing.

I should have been asking myself what was happening to me, but instead I was asking myself, where has this Sophie been?

The Sophie that wasn't on Agatha's side.

The Sophie that wasn't good.

The Sophie that loved Japeth.

My eyes shifted to Tedros, gaping up at my Snake.

My snake.

It felt so good to think about it. To know that he was mine. All mine.

Slowly, the gold crown started lifting off of Tedros's head and floated in the air. Inch my inch it crept towards Japeth, sealing his victory as the One True King. It gently landed on his head and the Kingdom Council leaders bowed down to him.

"All hail King Rhian!" one queen called as other voices joined in, creating a chorus of love for their new king.

The chants however, ceased when Japeth's voice boomed throughout the courtyard.

"I am not yet the One True King," he said, eyes searching through the crowd. "For that I will need my beautiful queen who stays with me no matter what!"

Butterflies exploded throughout my stomach.

He was talking about me. Our eyes met and I could feel a blush forming in my cheeks.

I swallowed hard, willing the color on my face to fade, but it did nothing as I smiled back at him. I turned my head, locking eyes with Agatha and I couldn't help myself as I smiled wickedly, my eyes clouding over with evil.

I was evil after all. And even though Japeth was playing the part of his good brother, I knew he was evil too.

Slowly, I started forward, intent on standing beside my love. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, it was all I could think about.

Boom, boom, boom, wait-

A face.

Not just a face.

Hort's face.

I redirected my course towards him. The boy stared at me and I stared back, tears in both of our eyes.

I could so clearly see that this boy was in love with me. His face was streaked with tears of happiness and love.

Mine were tears of revenge.

I knew I loved him before, but now... I didn't care what happened to him. This boy didn't matter at all to me.

My eyes shifted back to Japeth, waiting for me, and I realized; That was the only boy that mattered to me.

The Snake.

My Snake.

Hort reached his hand out for me and I felt something click in my brain. I stepped forward and smacked his hand down. It dropped limp at his side as he gazed at me, confusion taking over his face.

I seized his jaw, jerking his head down and putting my lips to his ear. "No one will ever love you, just like I never did."

I pulled away, watching his eyes fill with tears, his heart broken.

"You just weren't enough for me," I hissed.

Hort looked into my eyes, searching for the old me. But he wouldn't find it, even if he looked as far back into my soul as he could, the old Sophie was gone.

I swiveled around to face Japeth and my heart soared with love. I scrambled across the garden, all eyes on me.

My snake reached his hand down for me and I grabbed it, pulling myself onto the carriage.

I watched Japeth pull out a golden glowing finger, his magic still concealed by his brother's color. He started to scrawl in the air with messy handwriting, golden letters taking over my field of vision. Quickly, Japeth threw his hand up into the air, sending the writing plunging through the sky.

I watched as the words seemed to become liquid gold, raining down over our heads.

Amazed, I reached my hand up, catching golden flakes in my palm. I snatched at the air again and felt something cold and smooth fall into my waiting hand. Surprised, I looked to Japeth, but he just nodded at me, causing my stomach to erupt with butterflies again.

I brought my hand down and opened my fist, revealing two gold rings. One of them was a plain gold band and the other had an enormous diamond sitting firmly atop the gold.

Japeth grabbed the jewel-encrusted ring off of my palm and slipped it onto my finger. "Sophie of Woods Beyond, I take you as my wife and Queen," he boomed over the crowd with a small smile towards me.

My heart fluttered as I picked up the remaining ring and slid it onto his ring finger. "Rhian of Foxwood, I take you to be my husband and King," I repeated to him, though my stomach dropped when I couldn't say his real name.

Japeth gave me a knowing smile as he looked at our intertwined hands. Then his eyes moved to the crowd of people waiting before us. "To my Queen's request we won't seal out love with a kiss. Instead we will seal it with a kill."

I should have been surprised, angry even, but all I could think was the name I knew I was going to say.

Japeth continued as he looked at the appalled faces of the Kingdom Council. "You may ask why, but you must remember, my new Queen is evil. I, the greatest good, and she, the greatest evil, will wed to bring the entirety of the woods together. And if you contradict me, the One True King, you will suffer the consequences."

My mind was going so fast, I could barely keep up. I just needed to say the name. One name and it would all be over. One name.

"The kill?" I reminded him.

"Yes, the kill," Japeth resounded. His eyes roved over the crowd of students and teachers. "As it was your request, you may choose, my love," he cooed.

"Tedros," I said immediately.

The guards holding the once-king moved forward, bringing the struggling, blonde boy with them. His hands were clamped together with metal behind his back and his mouth had a gag. I almost laughed.

Japeth jumped down from the carriage- almost more graceful than I did, though I doubt anyone could beat that, even my gorgeous new husband.

"I trusted you!" Tedros howled.

My eyes met his. "What a bad decision you made, so-called King."

His face went pale as I lit my finger glow, sending a ray of pink across his skin. I felt the magic pouring out of me, though I don't know how I did it. A stage with a huge chopping block and an axe appeared. The second my finger glow extinguished, the guard shoved Tedros forward.

He struggled, but I had already lunged towards him, my foot on his back keeping his head on the chopping block.

Japeth stood beside me, holding the axe. I could see Tedros mouthing three words. Probably pleading to himself, I thought with a smirk.

Japeth swung the axe into the air and gasps came from the crowd as if they almost didn't believe this was real. I turned back to Japeth just in time.

With a grin, he let the axe fall.