Elara POV
I paced the floor of my chamber. My silk skirts hissed against the cold stone.
I heard the whispers through the heavy oak door. The servants were talking. They said Thomas caught Morgana in the northern forest. They said the royal physician was dead.
"A simple job I could do in the blink of an eye." I hissed to the empty room.
"This stupid girl got caught doing it."
I gripped the back of a chair. My knuckles turned white. I hope the whispers I hear are not true. If Thomas has Morgana, the thread leads directly to me. This stupid girl wants to destroy me.
I do not tolerate failure. Morgana was my shadow. Now she has become a noose around my neck.
I walked to the center of my chamber. I stopped in front of my mirror. My face looked pale. My hands trembled. I tried to smooth my hair. I needed to appear calm. I needed to maintain my mask.
If the rumors are true, my life is in danger. Alaric is no longer the man I controlled. He is a hunter.
The heavy doors to my chamber flew open. The wood hit the stone wall with a loud crack.
Alaric stood there. He did not wear his crown. His golden eyes glowed with rage.
"Alaric." I said. I tried to make my voice soft.
"You look tired. What has happened?”
I did not move. I did not show fear.
He did not speak at first. He walked toward me. Every step was a threat. He stopped an inch from where I stood.
"Where is your maid, Elara?" Alaric asked.
His voice was dangerously low.
"I do not know where she is." I said.
I met his gaze. I did not blink.
Alaric grabbed my wrist. His grip was firm. I gasped.
"Don’t you dare lie to me." Alaric roared.
"Thomas caught her. She was trying to kill the physician. She was trying to bury the truth in the dirt."
"I know nothing about it." I sobbed.
I looked into his eyes with innocence.
"Why would Morgana do such a thing? Someone must have tricked her." I lied.
He leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my skin.
"Your tears are useless now." He said. "The game is over Elara.”
I forced my hand out of his grip.
"You have been accusing me without evidence for days." I said.
I smoothed my dress.
"You blame me for everything that goes wrong in your kingdom. It is beneath you, Alaric. You are chasing ghosts because you cannot control your own kingdom."
He looked at me. His eyes widened. I felt the rage radiating off his skin.
"The evidence is in a prison cell." He said.
His voice was a terrifying whisper.
"Thomas is beginning the interrogation. When Morgana speaks, you will be brought to book. You will be exposed in front of the entire kingdom."
“I am leaving now to watch your shadow bleed. Enjoy your last night of freedom." Alaric added.
He pushed past me. He walked out of the chamber. He did not look back.
I stood there in the silence. I had to act. If Morgana talks, I die. I cannot let them torture the truth out of her.
I waited till it was dark.
I grabbed a dark cloak. I pulled the hood over my head. I took a small leather bag. It is full of gold coins. I moved through the secret passages. I reached the palace prison.
A guard stood at the gate. I stepped out of the shadows. I did not say a word. I held out the bag of coins. The coins cling.
"I was never here." I said.
The guard took the bag. He tucked it into his belt. He nodded once.
"I understand, my Lady." The guard said.
He turned the heavy key. He let me into the cell block. The air was damp. It smelled of blood.
I walked past the empty cells. I reached the end. I saw Morgana. Her hands were chained together. A wood was placed on her neck. Her face was bruised. It was swollen.
"My Lady." Morgana said faintly.
Her voice was a dry rasp.
"Oh, my love." I said.
I rushed to her where she was. I knelt down in the straw.
"Look what they have done to you."
"They have tortured me." Morgana whispered.
She coughed.
"But I did not say anything. I can never betray you."
"I know you would never betray me." I said.
I brought out a small bowl of water. I had hid it in my cloak.
"Take. Drink. You look thirsty."
I held the bowl to her lips. She drank greedily. She did not see my other hand.
I reached into the pocket of my cloak. I removed one of Morgana's silver hairpins. It took it from her dresser. It was long and sharp.
"Thank you, My Lady." Morgana said.
She finished the water.
"It is alright, My love." I said.
I leaned in close. I pressed my cheek against hers.
"I will get you out of here. I promise."
“Will you get me out of here tonight?” Morgana asked.
“Yes I will. I can't watch you suffer. I can't let them torture you like this.” I replied.
"Thank you My Lady. I will be forever loyal to you." Morgana said.
I gestured to hug her. I smoothed her matted hair.
I found a soft spot on her neck. I drove the silver pin deep into her throat. Morgana stiffened. Her eyes flew open. She tried to breathe, but her lungs filled with blood.
"M...my l...ady." She whispered. Those were her last words.
The light left her eyes. I pulled the pin out. I took her cold hand. I placed the hairpin in her palm. I closed her fingers around the metal. It looked like suicide. It looked like she chose death over the Alpha's questions.
"I am sorry." I said to the corpse.
"This is the only way I can get you out of here."
I walked out of the cell. I did not look back. I signaled to the guard. He locked the gate.
I moved back through the shadows toward my chamber. My hands were clean. The witness was gone. I have survived the night.
