𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗

Figure

Snow fluttered around the windows out of the big stone castle. The snow swirled creating the illusion of a winter landscape outside. A red tailed hawk nestled into a nearby snow covered tree. Slowly the bird flapped its wings as its brown beaded eyes watched a red haired girl standing next to a raven haired girl in front of a wooden door. The hawk watched as the two girls embraced in a hug.

"I'll see you later than?" the red haired girl called out, turning to face a raven haired girl. The raven haired girl nodded her head, as the red haired girl turned to leave. The hawk flapped its wings following the red haired girl.

The red-headed girl was dressed in an elegant misty rose dress, it flared past her knees. The dress flowed around her wild and free as she reached out a long slender hand twisting open the brown wooden door and walked down the white halls. The sound of high heels clicking on the marble floor filled the room.

Slowly, the red haired girl took a left turn down a hall that felt like it should have been familiar but it wasn't.

This is the right hall right?

The girl looked around trying to spot something familiar, as she paused, the hall dimmed as if the sun had been plucked from the sky. The room began to darken, then bright lights exploded like burning fires blinding the poor girl.

A few moments later, the lights slowly lit up, revealing a small hallway. The sacred girl's heart began to race, as she tried to move, but all feeling in her body was gone. The hawk swooped in towards the girl, but was blasted away, his left wing colliding with the cold stone wall. All he could do was watch in horror.

Her body felt numb and cold, like a sad lump of coal.

It felt lifeless.

As if all her life had drained from her body.

A hot breath on her back sent shivers down her spine.

"Who's there?" she shouted, her voice rang through the room.

Silence.

"If you don't tell me what you want I will tell her father, who is also the king," her voice wavered just a bit.

Again only silence. She whipped her head around-the only part of her that still had feeling-, coming face to face with a figure wearing a black hood. She wanted so terribly to pull the hood off, just to see who it was.

"You don't need to know my name. I only need to know yours-Princess Cordelia Lucille Elsher, of Navvoy, the northeastern kingdom," The words creeped out of the hooded figure's mouth, and sent shivers down Cordelia's spine. "And you only need to know my message."

She stared at the person frozen with fear and shock, her eyes wide.

Was this a threat? Was she going to die?

The girl's heart raced.

"You will never be queen," the voice hissed, slittering closer, something cold pressed against Cordelia's throat.

"I will be queen. The youngest twin is always the queen," the red haired girl snapped, as she tried to lift her arms, but they stayed glued to her sides. Come on "And you're losing my interest, and that's very dangerous," she said, rolling her eyes. It was a dagger wasn't it? She averted her gaze downwards to see it was indeed a dagger, being pressed against her neck.

"Did I stutter..." the voice paused, "if I did, I can promise you that you won't be Queen." The voice sneered. "And you don't seem dangerous."

"I will too. And I'm more dangerous than you think. "

"Maybe.. I.." The voice trailed off, "should tell them your little little dirty secret that you have," the voice chuckled. "And I doubt you're that dangerous," they cooed, Cordelia felt the cold dagger, being pressed deeper into her throat. It was going to leave a cut. But she would deal with it later.

What secret did they know?

It's probably a bunch of lies.

"He will believe no such thing. Anyways, do you not have anything better to do?" she hissed, annoyed. she wondered what her father would do, if she told him about the threat.

"Hm, maybe he will. And warning you is important," the voice replied calmly, wagging their finger in Cordelia's face.

"Show me your face," the girl replied calmly.

"No, but maybe I should tell your dad that you're the reason so many things have happened to the kingdom," the voice said as they turned on their heels.

"He won't believe it. And anyways you might need me for whatever this plan of yours is."

"Do we though? I bet Grace and or Elise are their names? Would be great for the plan."

"Remember when I asked for your opinion? Me neither," Cordelia tried to keep her fear from showing.

"I don't need permission to threaten you."

"I don't know what your problem is, but I'm guessing it's hard to pronounce."

"Just know, this sarcasm will hurt you in the future," just before the figure turned, a gust of wind blew the hood, falling down, revealing the figure's face. She gasped as she caught a glimpse of the long dark brown hair, and a glimpse of the figure's face. Quickly the figure pulled the hood back up.

"You-" Cordelia couldn't form words, as she knew who the figure was, she felt her entire world was upside down. "No.. it can't be," she stuttered. "You're supposed to be gone! I trusted you!" she finally managed to scream.

The figure shoved her, causing Cordelia to fall onto the hard cold stone floor, hitting her head against the stone floor. Out of the corner of her eye she watched as the red tailed hawk from before, launched itself at the figure. A loud scream left the figure's mouth as they disappeared, slowly the room faded away, revealing the hall she was in. Cordelia gingerly brought her hand to her throbbing throat, discovering a large cut. Blood dripped down her face. Tears poured out of the girl's eyes like two waterfalls.

Suddenly she realized life isn't about living, it was about surviving. Slowly she rose to her feet. She wasn't going to be the scared little princess like they thought she was. She would fight back. She wasn't going to let them scare her, she glared at the wall, as she turned and headed back to her room. Time to plan. She thought silently. She wasn't going to let them hurt anyone she loved again. Slowly Cordelia wiped her tears away, and headed away. She didn't want to be a scared little Princess like every Princess she knew. She wanted to be different. She would be different.

If anything was to change, she realized she had to do it herself.

That included, learning to fight back, and letting him go.

She couldn't lose hope. she had to fight.

She had to fight to keep the sun.

She had to keep hope that the gods would

protect them all.

She stopped at her bedroom door, before taking a deep breath. She had to do this for everyone she loved. Their names and faces swarmed around her mind.

Matthew. Oliver, her twin. Father. her siblings. Mother... Lucie. Lysandra.

Matthew..

Matthew's face flashed through her mind, his perfect smiles, perfect golden brown eyes... she just knew she had to do this for him... and for the throne. She couldn't let the throne be taken away from her, it was just within reach, if she reached just a bit farther she'd just be able to reach, and gain her kingdom back. The hawk flapped his injured wing, landing on the girl's shoulder.

Cordelia looked up, her eyes full with sadness as the betrayal she suffered ripped her heart open.

"Hello, Nandor," Cordelia spoke softly. The bird just chirped.

Edited 8/16/23

Word count: 1304