PRINCESS LAVINIA is young, innocent and cursed with a past she cannot escape. Despite her broken past she has never stopped seeing beauty in the world, until a shadow from her past forces her into isolation. Leaving the world she once knew behind.
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Everything was in slow motion.
They brought the glasses up to their lips and took a sip of the dark, crimson liquid.
Choruses of cheers echoed off the walls as the King and Queen locked their wrists and drank each other's glasses. They smiled at the crowd, waving elegantly as they all started to file out.
Once everyone was clear of the ballroom, they walked towards us. Their gown and tailed coat, falling behind them as their soft steps echoed off the floorboards. They drew Octavius and I into a deep hug before hugging me separately. The Queen whispered in my ear and I nodded, smiling slightly as my dad leant in and kissed my cheek. They shook hands with River and Ace, gushing thankyous before releasing their hands and pulling them into a tight embrace. River and Ace smiled as they pulled out of the hug, waving goodbye before they walked out of the room.
The rest of us were smiling. Not one of us daring to be the first to turn around. Octavius wrapped his arm around my waist, drawing me in for a quick hug before going back and standing with our parents. Dad squeezed my hand one last time, before dragging Octi over to the drinks table and chatting to one of the cleaners...
Then in the blink of an eye, everything went to hell.
Mum's eyes widened as her face drained of colour. Her usually flushed cheeks, turned an ashy, grey. Her bright, blue eyes sunk deeper into the cavern underneath her eyes. Her body began to fold over and in a second her body began to convulse. Her hands and limbs shaking sporadically as the rest of her slammed into the tiled floor. Her fingertips faded to a light blue, as a similar shade of foam appeared around the thin corners of her lips. Eventually pouring out of her mouth. I stood watching. Unable to move, as her limbs slowed down. Her body now lying still on the cold, hard floor.
My knees dropped to the floor, my hands were at her chest, immediately beginning CPR. Her body jerked with every movement, alongside her Ribs cracking with every compression. 30 compressions, two breaths. Repeat. Make sure every compression is two thirds deep. Keep going until a heartbeat is present. Stop when it's been too long. Stop when her brain has been without oxygen for too long. Stop when she's in the garden.
5 minutes. 8 minutes...
10 MINUTES.
No heartbeat.
Her dull, glassy eyes stared back at me, Her face pale and lifeless.
She was gone.
I sank back on my heels. Silent tears streamed down my face as I brushed her flyways behind her now blue tinged ears. Her hands, ankles, neck and face were covered in ashy blue lines.
A soft, calloused hand perched on my shoulder, their weight dropping down beside me. Soft sniffles echoed off the walls as Octavius placed his head on my shoulder, crying silently as he gripped my hand tightly. Dad dropped down next to us, wrapping his large arms around us as he stared at his wife's lifeless corpse in the middle of the empty ballroom.
