Shadow Cursed

Chapter 12: Anna's Revenge

...Meanwhile over in the Shadowlands...

Anna stood over the crystal ball watching. She furiously knocked the fragile glass globe off its wooden stand and it shattered on the ground. Walking to the edge of the room, she opened the doors to the balcony and stepped out.

Standing at the edge overlooking the remains of the kingdom, she cursed at herself. "If my sister hadn't got in my way, things would of been different." She still had the scar from the dagger as a punishment of her failure after they dragged her lifeless body back. She wouldn't stand to be a treated as a joke. "He still has faith in me though, all I have to do was get the amulet, and that won't be an easy task." The amulet was always around Isabella's neck, so she would have to kill her for it. Only she could get that close to her, no one else knew her weaknesses and strengths as well as she did.

Anna stared at the sky. The sky was a crimson blood red with black streaks, and starless as usual. What many would of thought as the underworld. To Anna, it was her home. The place she ran to when she was bleeding to death from the hands of her sister, Anna's almost fatal mistake. She never saw it coming, that she would retaliate and win. But she wouldn't allow her to do that again. She wouldn't let her live after the next encounter.

"Anna!" A voice came from inside the tower, and the messenger rushed outside through the balcony doors. "Oh there you are, he wishes to have a word with you this morning."

"Tell him I'll be there in minutes after I get ready." She was still in her night gown.

"He will be expecting you in the North Tower my dear." The messenger left after delivering the message.

Going back inside to the tower she found a black dress with a lacy bottom edge, and some black boots to go along with it. Slipping her black cloak over her head and wings to finish the outfit, she set off for the North Tower.

The walk to the tower would of been faster by flight, but the weather was still warming up and too cold. Her black wings were folded close to her under the cloak. No one was awake at this hour, it was still early morning. The sky was still a dark red, but it was starting to turn to its normal color.

Arriving at the gates of the castle after ten minutes, she was stopped by the guards. After telling them her name and business, they let her through and she hurried over to the North Tower. The stairs were deserted as she ran up the stair case to the top.

No servants stirred yet, probably still sleeping. What time was it now? She had no time keeper on her, and a watch was useless here. She left her time piece at her tower in her drawer where she kept it since it was a precious gift from her mother.

Out of breath she arrived at the top of the tower and opened the wooden door. He had arrived earlier than her and was waiting by the window. Anna stuttered, "I'm sorry sir! I was-"

Without turning his back, "No need to apologize. I would of sent someone earlier." He was observing the kingdom from the window. "You are aware she is coming to age."

"Yes, I've been watching her. He's come to find her after all those years." Anna's hand was in a fist. "But she doesn't trust him entirely."

His voice was demanding, "She must not discover the secrets in the amulet. You will get the amulet for me I assume."

"I've been working on a plan, and if it works I'll have the amulet and her buried in her grave very soon." She smiled, "She doesn't know that she's working quite well with me actually. She made the right choice through her stubbornness, and now she's following through."

He turned around revealing a too big hood covering his face, "Good, take care of her, and leave no evidence. You are dismissed now."

"I will not fail you sir, have a good day." Anna left the tower and fled back to the safety of her own tower where she could finish up the details of the plan. She would leave her sister begging on her knees for mercy, and spare none. Her revenge would be sweet.