Until Death Do Us Apart

The Quarrel

Our moment is gone and we break away from each other ashamed of someone catching us in the act.

William acts cool. This time it’s me. I fell into my own trap.

Damn it! (We should seriously consider swearing part, Yara.)

I look up to finally see the intruder. It’s Sophia.

“I can see you’re a talented dancer,” she states coldly. She’s switching her glances between me and William so I honestly don’t know whether she talks to me or to him.

“You’re excused,” she looks in my direction and I turn around, heading back to my room.

“Not you, William,” Sophia hisses poisonously and he watches her closely.

The moment I leave the hall I suddenly remember I had left my weapons there. No one will give me any extra. They were given to me and I have to guard them, because they’re my only protection here.

I decide to return. Before I can knock on the door, I hear pieces of a conversation.

“William, you have lost your mind!” It’s Sophia’s voice. “This is against the rules! I’ve entrusted you with her training, because I thought you’re competent. I haven’t done it for any other reasons. She’s mine, not yours!”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” he wiggles out of her accusation. “We’ve just danced. Nothing more,” he emphasizes. “You want me to teach her, so I did as you had wished!”

“Mind your words, William! You haven’t seen what I have.” Sophia barks out.

“What have you seen?” he asks and there are flames of joy in his voice.

“You were inseparable. She was hooked on you, and you,” she emphasizes, “YOU have enjoyed it,” Sophia announces bitterly.

“Heh…” William smirks. “And if I did so what?” he teases her, however there’s a trace of anger in his voice.

“You think I’m jealous?” she laughs in disbelief.

“Are you not?” he taunts her.

“No, no, William, that would be pathetic!” she twitters with unnatural calmness. “Yara is no one and that’s why I have chosen her,” her words are daggers and her hatred twists my guts. “She’s a sweet innocent girl and she doesn’t know a thing about intrigues. She is incapable of playing two faced games. She can’t even lie. Heh, she still doesn’t know much about our world,” Sophia exclaims.

“Don’t pretend you haven’t told her, Sophia,” his voice is full of anger now, “don’t try to deny it. You think I’m stupid. Who do you think I am?” he spits.

“I have told her only about the fact that certain creatures exist, nothing more! I’m the princess, I can do that.”

“Not only did you tell her, but you’ve also shown to her. Be cautious, Sophia. Yara is not a low-level creature. In fact, her blood levels were quite high.”

“Is this a threat?” Sophia barks out impatiently.

“Have you tested her inclination?!” William raises his voice. “No, you haven’t. Don’t shout at me then.”

“Do not forget your place! Do not forget about who I am,” Sophia’s icy voice breaks everything in its reach. Although she’s not screaming or yelling her voice is cool, royal and intimidating.

Even I shiver a bit. I can feel the coldness creeping inside my bones. Suddenly, it gets even worse.

“And you don’t forget who I AM, I can help you recall if your memory serves you bad! I can show you, right here, right now!” William’s lethal voice darkens even the corridor.

Does she know he’s The Blood Prince?

“I want you to train her not to get involved with her. I want her to become a lethal weapon, a professional and heartless fighter. I want her to master every art, including court behaviour and other important activities, every possible detail, except lying! She must stay true!”

“Otherwise, she’d be better than you, Soph?” he chuckles.

“Your games are pathetic,” she laughs. “Do I have to remind you that it was you who had lost Selene. It was you who is responsible for this situation. Do I need to tell you what happens if we don’t unite our bloodlines?” Sophia blurts out.

“Enough!” his voice is thunderous.

Sophia pauses for a moment.

“I’ll train Yara. She will be my masterpiece; you don’t need to worry. However, I have a request. I want something in return,” William insists. “I know you have Selene’s dress from that night in your possession. I want it, that’s my condition,” he declares.

“Who told you? And what will you do with them?” Sophia is clearly annoyed.

“That’s my business, not yours.” William’s cool tone is giving me creeps.

“I’ll give it to you when Yara’s training is over. You have two months to finish it with her. I don’t know how you’ll do that and I honestly don’t care, but I want only her and no one else. She will be my guard at the annual royal ball,” Sophia announces.

“Deal,” William agrees while his voice has sharp subtones.

“If you fail, William, I won’t give you any dress. If Yara’s not ready, she’s useless to me, plus she knows too much so you’ll have to kill her with your own hands.”

“Deal!”

“Find out her inclination in secret and tell me,” Sophia commands with almighty voice. “I count on you,” she smirks.

I hear the steps and I’m looking for a place to hide. There’s none.

What am I going to do?

The steps are almost at the door and in a very last minute, an idea crosses my mind. I just knock on the door. The steps suddenly stop. I knock once more and it’s Sophia who opens the door.

“Yes?” she asks and there’s a strong trace of irritation in her voice, because she looks at my dress.

I haven’t realized I’m still wearing them. I completely forgot about this one. She however stares at me as if she envied me. I bet her clothes are far more precious, expensive, luxurious and beautiful than the one I wear, but I can’t get rid of the feeling.

“I had forgotten my weapons,” I tell her in truth.

Luckily, I haven’t spent much time with the eavesdrop so the time for reaching my door and then returning would probably fit so they wouldn’t suspect me.

“Go and fetch them then,” she commands. “And don’t forget to ask William about your training,” she adds.

I enter the hall.

William gazes at me. I know why, but I pretend I’m oblivious to his stare. He hands me the weapons and for a shore moment our palms touch. His touch is burning me. He twitches with his arm.

“Go and get changed, Yara, meet me in fifteen minutes in the weaponry,” he announces.

“Why?” I ask, because I need to preserve my face and my innocence of not knowing a thing.

“Let’s say the conditions have changed. Don’t ask other questions, just do it,” he orders and leaves.

I hurry to my room to get changed into Xena’s clothes.

I’ve been always aware of how it goes at court. There’re no shortcuts and you can get burnt easily. Every step you take comes with a price. Sometimes, you know it, sometimes you don’t.

This time, I know the price. If I want to survive, I have to expose my skills, because if I don’t, I die.