How Shadows Turn to Ash

Chapter 11: Octavia

"ANTONIA!"

Octavia's voice was cut off by tears. Giving a cry of frustration, she fought, kicking and biting and collapsing to the ground, so the guards had to pull her over the stone floor. Her dress dragged so that pieces ripped and dirt-stained the delicate fabric. "You- you monsters," she hissed. "Let me go–"

One of the guards moved forward, and a sting crossed her face as he smacked her. Someone else's fingers twisted into her curls, dragging her forward. Despite the pain, she tried to pull back. Swearing followed, and another pair of hands eventually joined, picking up her legs.

"No!" She squirmed as she tried to kick them off her. More swearing followed alongside the opening of a door. "Get off-" she began, but the air left her lungs when thrown onto the ground. "Animals!" she yelled, sitting up to spit at them.

The anger was short-lived. When she looked around, her father and Antonia stood in front of a wall with several Revolutionaries gathered with their weapons. Friedrich gave her a tired look from his place at the front, hand on his axe.

"Where are the others?" he asked as another guard tried to heave Octavia up to her feet. She growled, jerking away from the touch. "Where is the boy?"

Trajan. Trajan was missing. So was her mother. Octavia looked around, but she couldn't see them anywhere. She looked over to see if Antonia or her father had an inkling of where they were, but both kept their expressions blank.

"We'll find them," another guard promised before slipping back out to the door.

Friedrich sighed, running a hand over his face. "I supposed we'll take care of them after."

Octavia felt her skin prickle. No. No, this couldn't be happening. How was it happening so fast? She had messed up. She should have done something last night. Look at what it cost them-

"Friedrich," her father said, voice surprisingly even given the weapons pointed at him. "I understand your position. I had hoped to barter with you before making any rash decisions."

"Your abdication hasn't done as much as I had hoped to ease the fighting, Julius," Friedrich said, turning to face her father. Octavia opened her mouth, but her father held up a hand to keep her silent. "Something has to be done."

"Let me speak to them. I will get my supporters to see sense." The words echoed over the chamber. Octavia held her breath, waiting for the response.

Dying had never been something at the forefront of Octavia's mind. It was an abstract thought. She had everything needed for a long life. Money, safety, good health, food, clean water... Death wasn't supposed to be a thought for many years.

And yet. Here she was. Octavia Thalestris, doomed to die after nineteen years of life. Would it hurt? Would it hurt forever? Or only just a moment? Fear closed her throat. She didn't want to die.

"You will speak to them," Friedrich repeated doubtfully. "Julius..." Octavia ignored the tears running down her cheeks. Instead she focused on glaring at Friedrich, heart pounding as he stepped closer. Someone shoved Octavia against the wall. "The only reason they support you is because they can manipulate you. You do realize that?" A flicker of shame touched her father's features before he looked away. "They don't want you as king. Those lords want power for themselves. You are the easiest person to convince to hand it over. Your word means nothing to them."

Was it not enough for their blood to be on his hands? Must he humiliate her father too?

"Stop it," Antonia hissed, fingers twitching. Her father grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"A new deal, then," he said. "Let my children live."

Octavia stiffened. She had told her father she planned to keep herself and Antonia alive, but... it felt wrong to do so if he was already condemned.

Friedrich sighed. "Your son is your heir. People would rally behind him. Your daughters could give birth to more heirs-"

"My wife and son are gone," her father said evenly. Octavia bit her tongue. Had her mother taken Trajan and used Octavia's plan to leave? Without saying anything? "They will not return to Romanov. I am sure of it." Fury touched Friedrich's eyes. He turned, possibly to yell orders to search outside the palace walls, but Octavia's father started speaking again. "As for my daughters...."

He looked at Octavia. The message was clear. You said you could save yourself, his eyes told her. Do it.

All eyes in the room turned to her. Antonia was pressed against the wall behind her, fists clenched by her sides. If Octavia didn't do something, her sister's magic would be revealed. She had to at least get her out of the room.

Damnit.

"My parents united Dualis and Romanov through marriage," Octavia said finally. "Perhaps this war requires the same solution."

Antonia gave a strangled, "Octavia!" but she ignored her, reaching out to also grab her father's hand. He ran his thumb over her knuckles and a bit of bravery trickled through her veins. She felt young again. Unable to even comprehend to the concept of danger with her father between her and any evil in the world.

"That solves your problem, doesn't it?" Octavia asked, meeting Friedrich's eyes. "It would show we are now solidified as one form of government. If Antonia and I marry Revolutionaries, our children won't dare to uphold the monarchy." Whispers flew around the room. Octavia suddenly felt the interest in the room rise, men gawking like vultures around a rabbit that had not yet died. She wasn't sure what Friedrich would think of it.

Not that Octavia planned for there to be an actual marriage. This was merely to buy her and Antonia more time to escape.

Based on Antonia's face, she didn't seem to realize that. "I will not be married off," she whispered. "Kill us and face the consequences."

Friedrich stared. Octavia met his eyes, and for a moment, she could sense something greater between them. A yearning for mercy. A plea to spare them. An inane part of her might have even thought that despite it all... her uncle didn't want them dead.

"I'm afraid I must reject your proposal," Friedrich finally said. Octavia's heart dropped as he lifted the axe. "But we'll start with your father. Julius Thalestris, third of your name and abdicated king of Romanov, I, Commander Friedrich Sa-"

Her father's hand was ripped away and feeling of safety along with it. A few of the guards rushed over, grabbing the back of her father's shirt and pushing him onto his knees.

"No!" Octavia yelled, but an arm looped around her waist, holding her back. Not now. Not while Antonia was still in the room. Please give her more time. Desperately, she looked around, fighting against the embrace to try and locate her sister. "Father-" she tried. The noise in the room rose as Antonia also fought back, but Friedrich's voice echoed over all of them.

"-sentence you to death."

"Please-"

"-can't do this!"

"Father!" Octavia tried, voice breaking on the last note. The windows had darkened, but Friedrich's axe swung before anyone noticed. The same sound as Savoy's death went through the room - a horrible ripping with a loud clunk.

Octavia stood frozen as her father's knees buckled, blood spilling down the front of his clothes before he fell forward.