The Princess and the Writer

CHAPTER FOUR

Upon arriving home, Anne headed straight for her room and locked herself inside. Only then did she allow herself to relive the events of the evening. It only brought on a new wave of tears. Had she ever been treated like that before? No, not by everyone at the same time, and not like that. She felt humiliated and low, and she wished she hadn't been born to such rich parents. Unwilling to remain in her torn skirt any longer, quickly changed into her comfortable pyjamas and tossed the garment in the trash.

To think that all this time Walter had just been pretending to be her friend so that he could use her like everyone else. To think that he had knowingly led her on while he was with Sandra all this time. Looking back, she had noticed that they were together most of the time and took the liberty to hold hands when no teacher was around, but it had never occurred to her that that could mean more than friendship. She was such a fool. She sniffed. So it looks like Sandra wins after all; Sandra and everyone else. Anne was certain now that she could never be anything she dreamed and her story was just that; a story. It all seemed pointless to her now.

With that in mind, Anne fished her book out of her bag and took it with her to her desk by the window. She was mad now; mad at herself for ever thinking up that story in the first place. Hope is something she should never have given herself. She opened the book, grabbed her pen and began to scratch words into it so hard that the paper tore a little.

"Where is the book of spells?" Nadira demanded when Chelle and Lupa were brought before her.

Neither said a word despite the many Bayas around them. Lupa had led the Zuris in a good defense, but Nadira's people outnumbered them. She had formed an alliance with a neighbouring clan, promising them a taste of the power of the book once they helped her get rid of the princess and acquired it.

"Do you not know that your princess is dead?" she demanded again.

"Think again!"

Nadira turned in consternation to find Nena behind her, glowing as ever, looking as she did that first time she used the book.

Nadira took a step back.

"But...you are not carrying the book," she stammered out.

Nena walked to her calmly. "You may need to hold the book, but I do not. Where is Teral?"

Her fiance emerged from the cover of three Bayas and walked to her. Nena was relieved. He was unhurt.

"Are you alright? I was worried," she said.

Teral stood next to Nadira and linked his arm through hers.

"Worried? And why is that? It is not like my beloved would harm me," he casually said.

"What?" Nena gasped.

"When we broke away to form our own clan, Teral volunteered to stay behind to spy on you for us and help us capture you." Nadira was smug as she talked. "And capture you he did."

"Mind your tone, Nadira," Chelle declared. "The princess is much stronger than you think."

Nadira walked up to Nena till she was inches from her. She arched her brow.

"Is she?" she asked.

Then she plunged a dagger into Nena's belly, earning a gasp from the princess. Contrary to everyone's expectations, even Nadira's, the princess dropped to the ground lifeless. It was an anticlimactic end to a gloriously lived life. She was no longer princess, no longer powerful, no longer hero. She was nothing.