I woke up with a kick to the stomach and rolled to the side to vomit from the impact. My vision blurred from the force of the blow, but I managed to steady myself and stared at the guard in front of me, still in attack stance in case I retaliated.
— What do you want?
He didn’t answer, only stepped back, and then I noticed another guard at the door. He cleared his throat before announcing:
— Her Royal Highness, Princess Clarissa Greco-Bianchi, wishes to see you.
I watched the little princess step into the cell. She looked very different from the night before. Instead of the black clothes that blended her with the shadows, she now wore a pink dress that reached just above her ankles, and a silver crown that lit up the darkness of the cell.
— Hey, bow before the princess.
This time the man struck my back, forcing me to bow. I spat a little blood and refused to lift my head, fearing another blow.
— Leave us. What I have to discuss with the prisoner is private, I don’t want you nearby.
The two guards, though hesitant, could not deny a direct order from the heir to the throne, so they left. When she realized the sound of their steps had faded, Clarissa crouched to see how I was.
— How do you feel? Did he hit too hard?
She touched my face with a gentleness I’d never seen. Her hands were soft, and even through the pain I let out a cynical smile.
— Feeling pity for a witch? That’s not very royal of you.
She rolled her eyes, and I laughed low, still spitting a bit of blood.
— To answer your question, I’m fine, thank you.
I sat in the corner and rested my head against the wall, then gestured to the free space beside me and Clarissa sat down without a second thought.
How does this girl not lose her royal posture even while sitting in a filthy dress on the floor of a decaying cell?
— Honoring our agreement, I brought the papers you asked for.
Clarissa handed me an envelope and I opened it, unable to contain my anxiety. Inside lay a letter from the king narrating the whole situation; I swallowed hard and felt my eyes water.
“04/24/2020
Today we invaded a village of witches, killed everyone we could find there. Obviously there was a lot of resistance, including one witch who survived and is under my control — she may be useful in the future.”
The letter was short but very clear. Below it was a list of all those who could be identified; it was in alphabetical order, so I quickly found my parents’ names, then searched for Ben and found my brother’s name and my friends’. I clenched my teeth and then bit my lips hard until they turned purple. Clarissa placed a hand on my shoulder, not knowing what to do, and I brushed off her touch quickly.
— They’re dead. — I tore the paper as much as I could and threw it into some corner where I wouldn’t see it. — Now I truly have nothing left to fight for.
— I’m sorry, Melanie...
Clarissa seemed genuinely sad, and I snorted in irritation at the situation. I hated being pitied.
— So what? In a few weeks I’ll be with them anyway, won’t I?
I was smiling, but my heart hurt. I couldn’t believe my mother was dead. Everyone was dead.
I stood and began pacing back and forth to calm myself. When I looked at Clarissa she was curled up between her knees, and I furrowed my brow trying to understand what she was doing — to me she looked like she wanted to disappear, curling up like a ball.
— What are you doing?
— I’m sorry. Your family is dead because of us.
Her blue eyes started to fill with tears, and I panicked again and knelt in front of her.
— Please don’t cry, or they’ll blame me.
The tears streamed desperately and she wiped her face with her palm trying to control the crying, then began to sob while also trying to keep quiet so the guards wouldn’t hear her.
I didn’t know what to do, so I patted her back a few times, trying to comfort her enough to stop the tears.
— Calm down, okay? We witches have been hunted for generations; it’s not your family’s fault. — I considered it all her father’s fault, but I didn’t think this was the right moment. — Now swallow those tears and pull yourself together. It was my family who died, not yours.
She stood and wiped away the few tears that had fallen, and then, surprisingly, Clarissa hugged me.
— You know — she began — I was always taught that witches are evil people and that I should never go near them, that they all deserve to die. But you don’t deserve to die. I think you’re kind and gentle, Melanie. You’re a good person.
She left, leaving me perplexed by the situation. I furrowed my brow, confused, and clicked my tongue.
— What a crazy princess.
As I lay down, I let the stubborn tears roll down my face and dampen my rags.
I still couldn’t understand why my family and friends had to die. We had never harmed anyone. My mother, Morgana, was the kindest, most gentle woman I had ever had the pleasure to know. My father, Silver, was warm and always ready to help. Ben annoyed me — annoyingly often — but he was so smart and had dreams that deserved to be fulfilled.
I had blamed the moon during the whole time I’d been imprisoned, but at that moment it seemed to be my only companion, so I uttered my prayer, hoping Hecate was still listening to me.
— What does fate still want from me? I’ve lost everything, haven’t I? Why don’t you just take my life already?
I got no answer, and I began to think that perhaps the goddess had finally abandoned me. The moonlight burned my eyes and I felt they were yellow again. I began crying in despair and let my chest release all the anguish it had been holding inside.