For My Deadly Sins

DEATH

I had been stabbed. Blood flowed in torrents on my dress before finally pooling at my feet. A small trickle had already made its way to my pristine white rug, staining it a dark red. Still in shock, I hadn't registered the pain when all at once it came crashing into me brutal and unrelenting. My knees buckled at impact and gave away as I collapsed to the carpeted floor. I numbly stared at the sword that protruded from me, its silver blade now covered in blood and gore. My body cried in agony as my murderer twisted the blade, driving it deeper, closer to my heart. Bracing my hands on the ground on either side, I took in huge gasping breaths as I tried to prolong my existence a little longer, the air thick with the coppery smell of blood and the the heavy presence of oily contempt and gluttonous envy.

But Death was inevitable.

I suppressed my flinch as she leaned into me, brushing her lips against my ears in a lovers caress. My bones recoiled at the touch. Traitor, traitor, traitor' they screamed. "How does it feel, Your Highness, to lose everything you had?"

I didn't respond to her mocking as I stared at the ground in disbelief and anger. I closed my eyes and breathed in slowly trying to subdue the pain that coursed through my body.

She laughed cruelly, amused, taking pleasure in my pain. My eyes watered as she yanked on my hair. pulling my head far enough to meet her soulless emerald eyes.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you."

She didn't intend to kill me immediately. The blade was strategically stabbed to ensure I was too bleed to death slowly, steadily giving her enough time to make sure I understood very clearly, her motive.

"Thave no interest in making idle chat with a traitor." I spat out disgusted.

"But you can't die till you know why I'm kiling you.-" she paused dramatically.
"I'm killing you because you stole everything that was rightfully mine. My throne, my title, my money.... my lover. You have done nothing for this kingdom, cowering from war, preaching about 'peace' among the kingdoms, our very enemies and yet everybody worships you like you're some sort of a hero?" she looked at me. incredulous, "Can you believe how ridiculous that is?"

You're jealous and you're disillusioned to an extent it's almost funny." I said with a huff, the least I could manage without spilling out my guts.

Her eyes flashed with rage as she fought a battle of wills in her mind. I knew there was nothing she would've liked more than to end me then and there but her thirst for revenge won out as she breathed in deep and quelled her anger. Smiling, she said, "For someone who is due to die, you certainly have some daring."

"What can I say-" interrupted by a fit of cough, I continued, "-I don't have to answer a traitor such as yourself. After all I'm the empress till die." I threw a bloody smile in her direction.

I had been so invested in my kingdom, my role as a ruler but still I gave her everything she wanted, everything, whille I slaved away for the former emperor. And yet, such contempt and ire had brewed over the years, till it churned like the tide at sea, unstoppable and stubborn, corrupting her heart from within. If only I'd looked past that glittering facade of blond hair and emerald eyes, maybe...just maybe....

But a jealous heart was one made of stone.

There was no point wondering what I should or shouldn't have done, I realised as I laid bleeding to death. I was already gone. And this woman. this murderer, dressed in similar ilk to mine of ivory, was going to take my place at the wedding. I stared at her in surprise, "What makes you think Aurin would accept you?"

She eyed me, "Did you think he actually loved you? Aurin-" she said with a dreamy look, "-is one talented actor and a very intelligent plotter. After all, ten years ago, it was his brilliant mind who devised this plan."

WHAT?

"Why would I believe someone like you?" I growled.

"Why would I have any reason to lie?" she retorted.

It...It couldn't be...not Aurin with his bright smiles and soft kisses, who lit up my darkness, who'd given me a reason to live. Aurin my future, my other half, my soulmate had...had...
I couldn't even complete the thought. Darkness clouded, my vision and my breathing turned labored as I shook my head in disbeliet. No, I refused to believe it. Not my Aurin, not him as well.

"Maybe because you've proven to be just as fake as your mother. Or maybe because you like creating your own fantasies when reality doesn't fit your direction anymore. Or maybe because you just had to have everything I did and now you're just trying to believe your own narrative." I stated.

She rolled her eyes. "If what I'm saying is a lie then how do I know that the reflexes on your left is slower than your right and that you had been stabbed in your back once before and the second time would prove to be fatal?" Bile rose in my mouth. Everything she'd been saying was true and everything she'd been saying, I'd told Aurin.
She continued with a grin, "Do you know what he told me about you? He said you look like a gypsy with your dark skin and dark hair and dark eyes. Your hair is rough and coarse, he hated having to touch it because it felt like sandpaper. Your shoulders are so broad, he always felt he was sleeping with a man. Everything about the way you looked made him want to regurgitate. And I'll not even begin with her personality." She offered me a simpering smile and continued pompously, "The list could go on and on, darling, I wouldn't even be able to stop. Aurin hated every moment with you. He was so fed up with acting he loved you, he'd brought the wedding a few months early just so I could finally end you."

No...

My head hung in defeat to hide the tears that slipped out, the pain that intensified was no longer just of a stab wound but also of a broken soul. I stared at my sword again as she cocked her head to the side, victorious, "The mighty Empress has finally fallen. Goodbye Petrah. I hope you burn in hell.".

No. This is not how it should end. As I lifted my hate-filled eyes to her, l'd resolved I would not go down before l'd had my say. Mustering all my remaining strength, swiftly I pulled out the blade from behind me as she sashayed to the door.

I laughed hoarsely as a cold determination enveloped me and I brandished my sword at her, my faithful sword wielded at its last moments of glory, its diamond pommel glinting in the sunlight. She froze in her tracks and slowly turned to me. Her eyes widened as she took in the sword that was now pointed at her and she took a shaky step back.
Time slowed as seconds stretched to hours. The universe itself held its bated breath as it had been waiting for this very moment.

I flashed her a broken grin, "Well then, I'll see you in hell, dear sister." and plunged the sword into my chest, hastening my departure from existence. If I had to die...it would be by my own hands.

I was not afraid when the jaws of death grinned at me and I let it swallow me whole.