Chapter 6

I'D been escorted back to my dungeon by a regular guard, not a Council one. I was sitting on that hard, stone bench, tapping my feet anxiously against the floor.

The sick feeling in my stomach didn't feel like it was going anytime soon.

It was still morning, which meant that Ivy had the whole day to punish me. To me, all it meant was that I had no idea when she would come, and I was kept in suspense.

Which was probably part of her plan. I couldn't stand it. I got up and began pacing back and forth in my small cell, my hands clasped nervously against my stomach.

Footsteps, soft and quick, echoed down the stairs.

I stopped pacing to see Maple running down. "Maple!" I cried in relief as she reached my cell.

"What happened?" She asked breathlessly, putting her hands over mine, through the bars.

"It failed. I failed." I choked.

"Oh, El," she breathed, "What are we going to do now?"

"I don't know." I shook my head. "There's today, and then, tomorrow night, she'll kill me," I said.

"Maybe she won't," Maple suggested, clearly not believing it in the least herself. I only gave her a flat look. Maple sighed, "I can't lose you, Elvina." She lowered her voice, "Should we run?"

"Not a chance. You remember what happened last time."

"I won't let you die. I'll do something — anything." Maple said, and I could see the tears sparkling in her eyes.

"How touching," a smooth voice proclaimed. Maple whirled around, and I looked past her to see Branch, Ivy and Forreston.

My heart dropped to my feet.

Forreston leered at us.

"Do anything? What will you do, maid?" Branch said mockingly.

"Yes, maid, what will you do — especially since you've been helping us?" Ivy said, voice taunting.

My eyes shot to Maple, waiting for her to refute it, to deny it — but she stayed silent. I stumbled back, my eyes growing wide.

Maple had betrayed me.

"El, please, listen — " she started, but I chook my head.

"Were you helping Ivy?"

"I was El, but I had a reason — "

I scoffed, pushing the pain and hurt inside. Ivy would only enjoy it. "Leave, Maple."

"El — "

"Leave!"

"You heard what the Princess said. Take her away." At Ivy's command, two guards came up and grabbed Maple's arms, but she wrenched away, running up and grabbing the bars of my cell.

"I didn't betray Juniper, I didn't breathe a word of your plan — "

The guards regained their grip on her and I watched as she was dragged away, sobbing, her eyes pleading and guilty.

I didn't know what to believe. Was she telling the truth about not betraying Juniper?

I turned my attention back to the other three, their faces smug. I willed my own face into a neutral mask as Branch unlocked the cell, so Ivy could walk in.

"You ungrateful little —" It appeared she couldn't find a word strong enough for me. She held up her hand and I flinched away, but her blow caught me across the face, and I staggered back to the wall.

"How dare you?" She hissed, coming closer. "Now, you were just punished yesterday, so I'll spare you this time, seeing as you only have two days left."

The words were mocking, even more so because of her sweet voice. I didn't say anything, choosing to stare into her eyes, the same as mine.

Something flickered in those green facets, and she took a step back, shaking her head. "Enjoy the rest of your days, daughter."

She turned on her heel, walking out sharply. Branch spared me a disgusted glance before following her, and I sagged against the wall.

She had let me go.

"I don't think so, sister," Forreston spat, and I turned my eyes to him. Ivy hadn't harmed me — but Forreston?

"Mother might have spared you, but I won't do the same," he said, stalking into the cell.

"Forreston, don't do this," I said. There was nowhere to run.

"I think I shall. This is for mother, Princess."

He pulled out his whip, and my hands began trembling. His eyes were outraged, indignant, but I didn't understand. What had I ever done to Ivy?

What had I done to make her hate me — hate my sisters — so much? I was ready to be a perfect daughter when I was young, I couldn't understand why we were put in the dungeons or why screams came out of my sisters' cells when Ivy went in, but I tried to fulfill my duty.

I paid attention to all the lessons my sisters had taught, the lessons on how to be a Queen, how to hold myself with poise and how to help the elves. The things Laurel had been taught, that she passed down to the rest of us when the tutor stopped coming, after father's death.

I'd never done Ivy any wrong.

***

I didn't know exactly when I woke up, but when I did, a simple green gown was laid out.

Maple had come.

Mechanically, ignoring the pain all over my body, I slipped it on and left my bloodied, yellow gown on the floor.

I'd probably been out a whole day, which meant that today was — the last day of my life. Ivy would kill me today.

Tomorrow I would turn sixteen, but I'd... never get to. Oh, Nalvia. I'd be dead. Dead.

It was hard to think that in twenty-four hours, I wouldn't exist anymore. Though I didn't feel far from dead right now.

And after I was gone, Forreston would be crowned King. Arrangements for his Coronation had been going on. I was glad I wouldn't have to see that, at least.

What time was it? I had to find out, at least, how many hours I had left. I didn't expect Maple to come and help me anymore, not now I knew she was my enemy.

My enemy.

Nalvia, the girl I'd known since childhood, who I'd played with and laughed with and cried with — that girl had ended up only playing the part of my friend. It all made sense. The way she'd been able to sneak into my room, my cell — I should've realized earlier.

It didn't matter. I banged the bars of my cell, making a ruckus they could probably hear all the way at the top of the stairs.

A guard came running immediately. My eyes dropped to the keys at his hip.

I walked up to the bars, and he did the same. Without looking away from him, I let my hand slip through the bars and slowly drift towards his belt, while I kept him talking.

"What time is it?"

He leaned his head to the side, pondering, giving me time to grab the keys firmly to stop them from jingling. "Late evening. Couple of hours till midnight, I guess," he said finally, obviously knowing why I had asked.

I let the stunned expression on my face show for a moment, as I held the keys behind my back, the guard not even noticing as he turned and marched back to his post.

Thank Nalvia he didn't notice.

I slipped my hand through the bars and bent it to reach the lock. Luckily, the keys went in. I twisted, and the lock opened. I pulled it out quietly and pushed the bars open.

I heard a shout.

My heart nearly stopped. After a few agonizing moments, I realized they weren't shouting about me at all. I heard the guards from the stairs running back upstairs.

I listened carefully and heard someone shouting, "The rebels! The rebels are inside!" I inhaled sharply.

A rebel attack.

So, that was the first major change. Big plot twist! Surprising? I thought it would be more realistic to add this. Don't forget to:

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