A Court of Lies and Liars

Chapter 1

She kept her head held high as she walked through the now familiar corridors. The corridors that she had been walking through her entire life. She swallowed once as she approached the throne room, hesitating for a brief second before walking inside. No fear, she could show no fear. She couldn't let them know that she was afraid. She was, of course. After all, who wouldn't be scared of the man that was her father. She swallowed again as she walked into the room, stopping a few feet away from where the King was sitting. Another hesitation, and then she was kneeling before him, dark hair falling in front of her face as she looked down at the ground.

Alyssia swallowed as she looked up at her father, her dark hair falling limp around her face. She looked away after a moment, dark eyes looking at the floor. Hate surged through her veins. Hate for her father, for everything that he stood for and everything that he had done. Her gaze remained on the floor, even when she heard footsteps walking towards her still figure, kneeling towards the now empty throne. Her throat bobbed, heart rate picking up as she felt icy fingers gripping her chin. She wanted to look away, wanted it more than anything but her father's grip was too strong. Of course it was, she thought to herself bitterly. He was the King Of Hybern, who had ruled for many years. What could she do against him?

"Well, have you decided, my daughter?" were the King's only words. Alyssia swallowed again, meeting the dark-eyed gaze of the king.

"My answer is no," she says quietly but not weakly. The same answer she had given him the last times he'd asked. The grip on her chin tightened, to the point of pain. She swallowed again as his grip continued to tighten. 

"What a shame" the king mused, looking down at her. "I wonder, what I could say to change that". Alyssia swallowed, dropping her gaze to the stone floor. She bit her lip for a moment, before stopping again. There was only one thing that he could do, one thing that he could threaten to get her to spy for him. And he couldn't know about it; could he?

"Bring him in" the king snapped at the guards. The order made Alyssia's blood run cold. She forced herself to repeat the words over and over. He can't know. He can't know. The king released her chin, and she almost sagged in relief. That was until the scent hit her. The familiar comforting scent that she knew so well. Once again her blood ran cold. The scent was tainted with blood. She forced herself to look up, to meet the eyes of her mate. 

Her throat went dry at the sight of her. She sagged between two guards, blood dripping down one side of her face. Cecelia's arm was twisted awkwardly, and from the looks of things, she could barely stand. She swallowed again, slowly looking away from her mate. She knew what the king's words would be even before he spoke. 

"You will spy for me, in the Night Court, or your mate will die". And you'll be forced to watch was what he didn't need to say. Alyssia blinked rapidly, trying to control her emotions. Her own conscience, or her mate's life. She blinked away tears. Once. Twice. Her throat bobbed once as she looked jump at the king. Looked up at the person who had made her life a living hell for as long as she could remember. She swallowed once, twice before speaking. 

"Fine". The word was rasped, her throat dry as her eyes wandered back to her mate. Her throat bobbed again as she looked away, fixing her gaze on the stone ground. The king stepped back, satisfied. She flinched as she felt hands grabbing her upper arms, hard enough to bruise. Her mind was spinning, spinning with the thought that if she failed to obtain the information needed, if she so much as tried to run away or feed false information to her Father, her mate would die. Only vaguely aware of the voices around her as she was pulled up to her feet, being pushed out of the throne room. Only fully aware of the words bouncing around in her head. If she failed, Cecelia would die, a very painful death.