The Violet Iris -The Beginning of a Legend

Betrayal

||This takes place just after Ley won a game against Iven, her fourteen year old brother who was undoubtably the smartest of the children. However, it takes more than intelligence to be a ruler, and Ley won. ||

After Ley had been let out of the Forter, her family congratulated her victory with a large dinner. Not quite a feast, but enough to have Andi jumping with joy.
But Iven had already left.

"There are only two battles left. Now that Iven's out, it's just you, Andi, and Marcus." Annelia said to Ley.

"Wow. Come to think of it, I'll be in a duel with one of you eventually." Marcus said, the realization somewhat of a shock. He laughed and spoke again, "Unless you both lose."
"You wish!" Zyph cut in with a laugh. Ley smiled at her brothers from across the table.

The conversations continued throughout dinner, but Ley noticed Marcus had grown particularly quiet. Surprisingly, no one else seemed to realize, or at least, if they did, they said nothing.

Ley watched as Marcus' eyes traveled from one sibling to the other, all of them distracted. Until he met Ley's eyes. He smiled, a fake, eerie smile that made her uncomfortable. Ley couldn't find the courage to smile back.

Hours later, after many in the family had dispersed, Marcus leaned towards Ley, out of earshot.
"Why don't you and I take a little walk through the palace? There are a few things I would like to speak to you about." He said, failing to hide the malice in his voice.

Let glanced at her parents. They were distracted, completely unaware of how Marcus was acting. Something about him had suddenly become unsettling, but this was her brother. She had nothing to fear, right?

"Alright." She agreed quietly.  Marcus stood and gestured for Ley to follow. They walked deep into the hallway before he spoke.
"So... in two days, you face the Kerimo. I'm assuming you know what that is?" He said, expecting a reply.
"Yes."
"Are you frightened?" He asked, a small, thin smile slowly spreading across his face.

"Well... yes. It's the most terrifying thing I think I've ever seen." Ley admitted.
"How much do you know about it?"
Ley glanced at her brother, somewhat confused about the sudden interrogation.

"I guess a fair amount. I don't know everything about it, but enough to fight it... I hope." She said to him.

"Well, did you know that they're nearsighted? They also have difficulty seeing things that aren't moving."
"No.. I didn't know that."  Ley gave a small laugh. "That important to know, I guess."
Ley hadn't realized that Marcus was slowing his pace, keeping close to her, yet just slightly behind her.
Then he spoke.
"Yes. So if you stand still on the field and do nothing, it won't kill you."
Ley actually laughed.
"Why would I just stand still?"  She asked, beginning to glance around to her brother whom she finally notice lagging behind. But she stopped and gasped as she felt a small silver blade pressing against the side of her throat. It was Marcus, his left hand holding her by her shoulder, keeping her in place, while his right held his dagger.

"Marcus... what are... what are you doing?" Ley asked shakily.
"Ensuring myself the throne." He said as he basically dragged her into a smaller hallway branching off from the main one. Ley's heart began to pound as she realized that there was no one around, and there was little chance of a someone finding them at such an hour.
It was just her and Marcus.

Ley tried to find words, to be the strong princess she always was told to be, but failed. She felt a hot tear fall down her cheek as Marcus spoke.

"In two days, at the game. You won't fight. You will stand there and do nothing. The Kerimo won't see you, and you'll live. It doesn't matter what Andi does. You will obey me. And if not... I'll kill you." He said as he pressed the dagger harder into her throat.

"I won't bow to a greedy prince." She said, praying that the slight hint of uncertainty in his voice was real. But although it she had been correct, he pulled the dagger even closer, to the point where she couldn't breathe.

"Don't underestimate me. I won't hesitate." He growled. Ley, with a deep feeling of defeat, shut her eyes as she accepted the truth.
Her own brother wanted her dead.

Marcus brought his arms down. "Oh, but you wouldn't dare tell, now, would you?"

He pushed past her and continued down the hallway. But as he walked, Ley saw him stop -for less than a second, but still, he stopped. Almost as though he wanted to look back, but couldn't bring himself to.
A king wouldn't look back.

Ley, trembling in fear and despair, slowly slid down the wall, crumpling to her knees and sobbing.