“I don’t even hate you. That would imply I cared.” The breeze gently circled around us, making me almost forget the horrible world I lived in. It wasn’t even my fault. All I wanted was some peace in my life, some stability. Part of me ached for it, missed it even, but then you can’t really miss what you never had. Lexia softened her grip on my arm. An awkward silence hung between us. “Just because you tried to kill me doesn’t mean you have to try again,” I whispered. “If you never cared about me, why would you want to kill me?” Her hold increased again, and her nails dug into my skin. “It’s the way it’s supposed to be. If I didn’t kill you, you’d get the crown. It’s our fate as royals.” “I don’t want the crown! I want a sister,” I said, close to crying. Her eyes were silver, the gaze within them so strong it hurt. “Well, that’s not my goal,” she said bitterly. I was being so pathetic. “You’ve always ignored me. Until now, and you want to kill me to earn the title of the Queen of the Night! What about the Queen of the Dark? Or the Queen of the Stars?” “Look. There’s me, you, Lily, Pearl, and Karene. Two of us have to... you know...? Maybe it’s selfish for me to want, but I just really have to. That’s why I'm explaining to you, to let you understand before you die. This is a favor.” Her expression was so calm I wondered if she was even human. I didn’t want this fight, didn’t want any of my sisters to die. When I was younger, I was the weak one, the rejected one. Even if I gained the throne, no one would ever want me. Memories flooded my mind, times where people left me alone, excluded me, teased me. Tears threatened to come, but there were more pressing issues. She was going to kill me? “Lexia!” I screamed, my voice getting caught in my throat. “I’m not sorry.” Desperate, I clutched her other arm as tightly as she clutched mine. “I don’t even count! I’m nobody! When I was born, no one even fed me!” “Stop it. Look, I was close with Pearl and Karene, and we knew we had to win. We even made plans together, and promised we’d stay by each other’s sides. So it has to go along with them. We take promises very seriously.” I was probably fuming. “You’ve had a plan to get rid of me all along?” “Well...” She hesitated. “You wouldn’t be a good Queen anyway.” “I don’t want to be a Queen! Look at how much burden is on Mother’s shoulders. Look at what she goes through every day.” “I know. You just want a sister. But you’re a threat, and I have to do this.” She handed me a cup of something that smelled awful. “For me?” I wanted to take the poison, I really did. But would I really leave this world nameless as I came? “No.” She quickly forced my mouth open like she was feeding food to a baby, mouthing, this is your destiny. I tried to focus on her beautiful face, perfect beyond all the other Princesses, but it proved to be useless. All I saw was the dark soul behind it. Lexia slowly brought the cup up to my lips. The liquid inside swirled with dark red and purple, a really weird color combination somehow. I was shaking. I could hardly believe this was real, that she would be ending my life in this breezy meadow. Was this it? When was I was gone, would anyone really miss me? No. So everything would be fine once more. I wasn’t scared of death. I was born a nobody, would die a nobody, and I was at peace with that thought. The drink touched my lips, but I didn’t dare sip from it. In an instant everything turned into a blur. The world seemed to be covered by a mist, and my sister’s features were indistinguishable. I closed my eyes, preparing myself for whatever was going to happen beyond this. Oddly enough, nothing really hurt. I could still breathe. Can you breathe after you die? I wondered. I felt the cup lift from my mouth. Slowly, I opened my eyelids and looked around me, gasping. I was in the same place as before, only I was alone. The liquid was spilled on the grass, next to its container. … what had just happened? ~-~-~
I looked down at the girl laying in front of me, blood quickly pooling beneath her, eyes shut and fists clinched tightly her nails pierced the skin. Rage burned in my heart. I just killed Karene and gained the title of Queen of the Dark. But that wasn’t enough, and I couldn’t care less about the title. I wanted Lexia. She was everything I ever fought for. I’ve changed since the last time she saw me, the day she offered me the drink. I took it, if only just for her. But now, I wouldn’t do it. I’m trying to be stronger, and at the same time, I've realized how I've became more violent. Now I was on my way to Pearl, who recently eliminated Lily. That was unfortunate. Although I was never close to her, I didn’t really want Lily to die. I wanted to be Lexia’s only, and since the two were never close, I thought it’d be better to spare her life. After this, there would only be two Queens. I didn’t want peace, not anymore. I didn’t want the crown, either. I just wanted Lexia. I’d make her the Queen of everything. While it’s impossible to know if she’d like me then, I’m just so overly desperate I don’t know what I'm aiming for. But I was so close to death once, I've decided to not live my life the way I was again. I was a nobody, but it’s time to stand out, fight for who I love. I know what I'm doing. Nothing will stop me. ~-~-~ “No way.” Pearl glanced at me. Her eyes were blue, like mine, but hers were a paler shade. “You’re not alive. Lexia said she killed you.” “She didn’t,” I said. “She just ran away.” She drew in a sharp breath. “Well that job will be left to me,” she whispered, cautiously taking out her pearl encrusted sword. I knew she was watching to see if I would attack, but I didn’t. Instead I began to pace around her, wondering what I should do. The land here was very fertile and grassy. We were outside the Star Palace, where Pearl had fought Lily a few days ago and won. The only threat was probably me. Technically, I was also Queen of the Dark, but we all knew it was possible for the same girl to get two crowns or three, if she only had less than two sisters left. I realized that there had to be one girl at the end, which sometimes terrified me. Lexia would never stop seeing me as her competition. She wanted power, not me. I don’t even know how to explain her anymore. All of a sudden, Pearl lunged at me with her sword outstretched. It took me off guard, and I could feel my heart beating rapidly as I reacted to what had happened. She cut a bit of my arm on that attack, but I drew out my own sword without a second thought and blocked her next hit. We went on, and I barely hurt her, likely due to the fact that my sword was dull as a cutting board. She got a few cuts, but nothing serious. Finally, the blade brushed against my chest and I didn't know how to defend it anymore. After all, my heart was already broken. My breath was rushed and tense, but I was trying not to die, and that was enough for now. “I’ve already died once, I won’t die again.” I stepped back, and she stepped forward, along with her sword. Her blonde hair framed her face perfectly and there was an evil smile on her face. I wanted to kill her, I really did. But then, we were sisters. We've shared a few memories together, unlike how Karene and Lexia barely even talked to me. Just the same, I cared about Lexia much, much more. [ Part two: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/627459386/ ]
