A Trial Of Emperors and Empresses

Chapter 13 - Evangeline

Who was it? What did they want?

Evangeline collapsed into her bed. Her legs were tired from pacing, her body aching from no sleep and nails bitten down to the nail bed with worry.

Shakily breathing, Evangeline swept her hair away from her flustered face and into a bun. She looked in the mirror and back down at her nails. They would grow back soon.

The rustling wind and eerie silence brought Evangeline back to the manner at hand.

"Do not fail me." Said the projection. Her mother's thing and fragile figure loomed over Evangeline. The dark and shadowy echo of her mother's voice rang in her ears.

Evangeline groaned and shook as she slowly got off of her bed.

The projection of her mother stood slightly straighter. Then it struck.

The pain was blinding and searing. Pain shot all across Evangeline's face as she clutched the spot that was hit.

Evangeline felt some warm and liquid; blood. But a moment later, it was gone. Evangeline sighed with relief. Then she felt the spot.

The permanent scar would always be there. That wasn't going to change. The thin line that streaked from her cheekbone to the bottom of her cheek felt rougher than usual.

Her mother, emotionless and harsh as usual as she towered over Evangeline. Before she disappeared, she turned to say something to Evangeline.

"Do not disgrace our family name. Win this, and do not surrender no matter what. For if you do, you will not live much longer anyways."

***

"Welcome to the third Trial. You will judge and give verdicts with your fellow kingdom candidate. You will notice that another of each kingdom has left. They have been eliminated following the events of... You will also receive the chance to watch the others give their verdicts.
"Evangeline Mirrors and Shawn Via."

Two large thrones of silver sat in front of a long velvet carpet. Evangeline sat down on her throne and the cold metal of the seat.

Aisling wandered as the doors opened and a man is marched in. He was dressed in rags and his whole self tattered and shabby.

"My Lord, my lady." He begins. "I beg of you, your mercy for your humble servant."

"I am a poor peasant from the West. At home, or rather, on the streets, I have 6 children and a wife to feed. There is no work for me because of my race, and no compensation from the palace. I snuck into the palace to steal some bread from the kitchens for my starving family. Please forgive me."

Shawn cocked his head back and forth. "I hav met verdict." He announced.

"So do I." I call.

"Go ahead." Aisling prodded.

Shane clears his throat. "You are a monster. A filthy, dirty, worthless piece of garbage that is wasting my time and stinking up my home."

Several looks are shot his way. He ignores all of them.

"I sentence you to the chopping block."

Gasps ring across the room. When they die out, Evangeline says

"I disagree. What's worthless is that verdict. No matter how true that statement is, you are still our subject and a member of our glorious empire. But, just because Sir Shawn is acting entitled, does not mean that you can." Evangeline argued.

The man nodded.

"I expect your to curtsy or bow when you greet me."

The man gulped and nodded, bowing so low that his head nearly touched the floor.

"I sentence you to 2 weeks in the dungeons. No matter how harsh your conditions are, stealing from the palace, no matter what it is, is a very serious offence."

People mumble their agreement. Then the Western Kingdom begins.

Evangeline tapped off on her fingers who was left. Her and Shawn of the North, Warden and Ariana from the West, Lauren and Katya from the Centre, Mark and Phoebe from the East and Max and Amaryllis from the South.

Evangeline blanked out, too worried and focused on her own problems to deal with others' issues.

***

"You have a guest." Briana said, setting down a stack of linen sheets and picking up a new pile of laundry. Her ice cold eyes were even colder in the dim light of the room.

Evangeline nodded. "Send them in."

Briana nodded again and left, leaving the door slightly open. Evangeline heard whispers. A moment later, a tall man with dark hair, violet eyes and a pale complexion stood there.

Evangeline scrambled out of her seat, making sure it wasn't another hallucination.

"Richard?"

Richard nodded slyly and plopped down onto her bed. "It's me."

He reached out to touch her, proving that he was real. But Evangeline still found herself flinching. Projections were fully capable of, and have before, harming her.

"I'm real, Eva. Don't doubt me?" Richard said sadly. Evangeline shook her head.

"What are you doing here?"

Richard shrugged. "Each kingdom is supposed to send a representative for the final Trial. I was chosen for the Northern Kingdom."

Evangeline laughed coldly. "Were you now?"

Richard nodded. Evangeline smiled. "Good. Because now you can watch me win."

Richard shook his head and stared Evangeline in the eyes. His gaze was serious, with no warmth.

"You don't get it, Eva. Failure was never an option. Not with mother. We weren't going to be anything less than Empress or Emperor."

Evangeline shook her head. "There was no guarantee that we could be chosen."

Richard stood up, quickly and ferociously. "Don't you understand?! It was rigged! It was rigged from the start!"

"What?" Evangeline asked, breathless. Time seemed to have stopped as she and Richard stood there, staring at each other with baited breaths.

"Mother rigged it. She made sure that one of our names would be drawn. If it was you, I would have to volunteer. I..." His voice trailed off.

It was true. While volunteers couldn't be made from anybody, an immediate family member who qualified for the role, could volunteer.

"I was scared." Richard finished, looking down at his hands. Tears had formed around his eyes and Evangeline found herself blinking back down of her own.

"Is that all?" She asked, steadying her voice. Richard nodded.

"Yes."

Evangeline smiled darkly, grabbing her sword and strapping the sheath to her leg. "Then goodbye."

Richard nodded, getting up and hurrying out of the room. He left Evangeline alone. Leaving her desperate, angry, confused and frustrated with everything and everyone.