The Price of a Crown

Note: This story contains sexual violence and physical violence/murder

My head swam, darkened. Blood dripped onto my frostbitten hands, burning them into numbness.

I pushed myself up as the shackles bore themselves further into my wrists. The skin, already stuck to the metal meant to keep my powers away, tears, sending more blood onto the puddle beneath me.

Grub slammed a kick into my ribs, pushing me back down. His drunken laugh echoed against the damp walls, sending a shiver up my spine. I gritted my teeth refusing to let my tears fall. The creak of the metal door shut with a finality. No one was coming to save me.

“Get up.” He commanded and with a fistful of my hair tangled in his fingers, lifted me to my feet. As a jailer, it was his job to torture me, to conduct my trials. His hatred for us skin changers, made it all that much easier.

This is the last test, Wyn. Your freedom is around the corner.

Was it only last night that Bay whispered those words to me? Grub tugged on the chains wrapped around my wrists, pulling me from my thoughts, and led me toward the table.

“Scream for me, Wynnie?” He cooed, and I could feel the heat of his bare chest against my back, as he ripped what little bit of cloth I had wrapped around my torso. I bit down on my tongue and held in a breath, waiting for him to just get it over with.

“No, fighting? You starting to like the pain?” He snarled, disappointment crossing his face for a split second.

“Go to hell.” I whispered, a hoarse weak sound rasping in my throat. He seized my arms, pulling me closer. I could smell the alcohol in his breath, reeking of decay. Decay I’ve been forced to taste.

“Oh, I plan to and you’re coming down with me.”

He leaned in.

Think fast. Don’t hesitate.

I lifted my leg as hard and fast as I could. My knee landed against his thigh and a curse escaped his lips as I slipped under the table.

“Nowhere to go, Wynnie.” He singsonged and my heart pounded at the pet name. Tears filled my eyes and the lump in my throat threatened to choke me.

I wouldn’t freeze this time. I wouldn't freeze this time.

I tugged at the splintered wood from the bottom of the table, ripping off what I could but only small pieces came out. I groaned, scooting closer to another splintered piece, thick enough to shove into his throat. Damn you! Come off!

He pulled my chains and his hands traveled up my legs, grabbing at my bare thighs, squeezing as hard as he could. I yelped, the pain seared through me as I kicked at him trying to break free. I dug my nails into the crook of his arm, drawing blood until he let go.

“I love it when you fight,” He cracked his whip, heel landing on my chains jerking me back. I shoved a foot into his crotch and tugged at the wood, tearing my skin up as splinters jammed under it. Still it refused to budge. I tugged again but only a small creak of splitting wood gave sound and I was dragged away again.

He landed punch after punch into my face and stomach. My breath escaped me and the dark corners around my eyes threatened to pull me under.

I groaned in pain, the burning, bruised feeling traveled through my stomach as he tried to lean in for a kiss. The dizziness cleared a little and with what strength I had left, I shoved the splintered wood into his jugular.

A gurgling sound escaped from him. Blood splattered against my face, before pouring out like a fountain bathing me, drowning me in a thick metallic taste.

Dead. I let out a breath of relief and scooted myself out from under him.

Though I couldn’t feel it, I was shaking and soaked in red warmth, staring at his gaping throat, little pieces of splinters sticking out.

Pull yourself together, Wyn. This is what you’ve trained for.

Bay’s voice whispered in my head. Just one small step forward, do what you have to.

Keys.

I took the keys from his pocket. With a turn, the shackles clicked but didn’t fall to the floor. Blood from months of torture has caked them onto me. I twisted the metal and screamed when it ripped and left my wrists and ankles bloody and raw.

I peel off my drenched skirt and shuffle into Grub’s clothes, finding his tunic thrown across the table where he left it. Tucking the keys into my pocket and reaching for the lantern, I poured oil across his body and dropped a torch on him.

A small chuckle escaped from me when I left his cell. Guess he didn’t fulfill that promise, he’s rotting in hell all on his own.

I blew out the lantern and recognized for the first time since I arrived here, I didn’t smell the stuffy stench of human feces but instead the sweet aroma of freedom. No more trials, no more death.

Darkness welcomed me into a hallway lined with metal doors, hiding the men and women long forgotten. I slipped into the hidden hall screaming fire as guards started running past me.

Coming to my door, I turned the key in the lock and chains rattled against the stone floor. Morri whimpered.

“Hey, it’s me.” I whispered, inching closer as my feet sloshed through a puddle of gods knew what.

“We’re getting out of here.” I hurried to put a key into her shackles but it didn’t click. Shit. I switched to a different key and tried to twist it.

“You were gone for only two minutes— you did it that fast?” Morri grabbed a hold of my hand. Two minutes? Barely? Of course she counted. She always counted.

“Yeah, he's dead.”

“Good, did anyone see you do it?” She pulled the keys away from me and fumbled with them, her weak fingers trying to find the right one.

“No. But they’re there now, we gotta move.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. How much time do we have?”

“A minute, no, well, a more exact number is like 46 seconds.” She coughed, “Why are your hands bleeding?”

“I’m fine.”

“Did Grub cut you?”

“No—”

She slammed a hand on my mouth and my heart stopped. Whistles sounded tunelessly through the crack in our door. She held a finger to her mouth, warning. I moved closer to the door, willing her heavy breaths to silence.

He grew closer. She stopped messing with the keys, tucking them under her shirt. I closed the door enough to be unnoticeable but not letting it click otherwise he’d hear it. God’s knew how much trouble we’d be in if they found out.

His footsteps inched nearer and I readied for a fight, gripping the dagger I filched from Grub. I steadied my breath, the way Bay taught me. I didn’t want to drive the knife into his throat. I didn’t want my little sister to see that.

His shadow inched nearer as the door started to open, I crouched, swallowing back my fear. Grub was dead, this was my only chance. I wouldn’t let empathy get in my way. It already did way too many times.

“Fire!” Screams of help and clanking against the thick metal doors echoed against windowless halls and his running footsteps echoed down the hall.

“Wyn?” Morri whispered, her voice close to my ear, chains free. “Where are we gonna go?”

“To take you back to your mother.”

“But I thought you said she was executed?”

I ignored her and sheathed the dagger. Questions like that wasn’t going to make this any easier. We had to move fast. I leaned over to gather up her bread and tucked it into my pocket.

“Wyn answer me?” Her voice hitched.

“Don’t.” I scolded, “Not right now. Listen, we’ll head toward Elde first, I have connections there.”

“Why won’t you answer me?”

“Gods, Morri! If we’re gonna get this plan to work you need to stop asking questions. Your mother is alive, yes! I lied, because I was lied to. We need to get out of here. We are getting out of here.”

“You promise?”

The pleading in her voice whispered against the stone walls in my heart breaking them down. My lips parted, ready to say the words I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep. The one’s that would only make things worse. But I couldn’t rip away her hope when it’s the only thing she had left.

I sucked in a breath and nodded my head, “I promise. No matter what, one of us lives.”

“Good. I trust you.”

I pulled open our metal door, creaking hinges lost on the commotion ahead. I led her down a series of hallways. I didn't remember where to go but as long as we stuck to the shadows we'd figure it out eventually. I clung to the only thing that kept me going all this time. I wouldn’t watch her die. Not here. Not yet.

We had to get out.

She trailed after me, her lungs wheezing as she tried to hold back the coughing. I offered her my hand as a support, internally begging her to not give us away. There wasn’t anything I could do if she coughed and we were found out except go against my convictions to make sure she didn’t see me kill anyone.

She pulled her hand away, “Don’t worry about me. Are we going out the east or west gate?”

“East.” I tried to round a corner but she pulled me back.

“Wait, not that way. Follow me.” She grabbed a hold of the lantern and started back toward our cell.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s guards coming down that way all the time, it’s lunch hour and your fire has them heading toward Grub’s cell. I know a better way out.”

We turned a corner and light from the fire I started, dancing across the wall, welcomed the end of my first mission. Then it came, faint.

Their stomping metal shoes, following a softer gait. My eyes morphed against my will, into their animal state and I could see him. Bay.

I slowed to a walk, panic rising. No, I can’t freeze up. I won’t freeze up. I shifted my weight and tried to force myself back into human form, but the desire was too strong, wanting me to change my skin entirely. Morri's small hand reached for mine, pulling me back into my humanity.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“You don’t tap your leg with your pointer four times when you’re alright, Wyn.”

“It’s—" I sucked in a breath.

“I’m scared too, Elwyn. But I want to be free, I want to feel the sun on my face again. I want to see mother— you promised me we’d do that.”

My heart turned cold. What if I failed to keep it?

“I know and I’m keeping it. Just go already.”

I shoved her and she continued to lead the way, her coughing echoing against the wall and she started to slow down. The weakness in her legs was getting worse as the muscles shook with use.

Another corner and then another. I didn’t recognize the way, but she seemed to know what she was doing. She murmured numbers to herself, counting each guard post and each cell we passed.

We rounded the last corner, sunlight streamed in through the gate, only two guards stood at their post. I signaled to Morri to put out the lantern and to look away as I walked up behind the bigger guard and slid my dagger across his throat. The other stared, nothing registering on his face, like he was expecting this. He pulled out his sword and saluted Morri?

“Stand down, Wyn. Don’t ruin this family reunion.” His voice sounded near my ear and I could feel his knife gouge into my side. I pulled out my dagger and turned, but he wasn’t human. And the knife wasn’t steel, but rather claw.

“Father?” Morri and I asked at the same time, her hands shaking despite her attempt to keep them still.

“What do you want?” She asked him.

“What a way to speak to your father.” Bay feigned fake surprise and Morri’s eyebrows knit closer together.

“Wyn? What’s happening?” She came closer, leaning heavily against me, holding tight to my hand, clinging for life. Our father never came down the dungeons. That is not until my trials started.

I ignored her. “You gave up that right long ago, Bay.”

“I’m king, daughter. I can do whatever I please but it doesn’t change that we share blood.”

“Why are you here?”

“Short answer? Or long?” He registers my expression and guffaws, “Of course, I forget, always the short. I’m calling in the last favor.”

“You’ll have to kill me first—”

“What favor, Wyn?” Morri mumbled, desperation in her eyes.

“Oh, Elwyn Really? Don’t let your emotions guide you, you’re better than that.” Father chided. I didn’t respond. Morri searched my face, looking for understanding. For something in my eyes to give away what it is Father wanted.

He clicked his tongue, “I’d hate to have you both die on the same day.”

“You let her go!” I lunged at him, dagger pointed at his throat. Soldiers pounced but he held up a hand and they backed off.

“Why?” He whispered as his eyes searched mine and a sad smile crossed his lips.

“Ah! Say the words, Wyn. Say it.” He seethed, “You won’t pass otherwise.”

“Pass what?” Morri tried to pull me away from Bay, “What does he mean, Wyn? What do you have to pass?”

“What if I don’t care?”

“You don’t want to make that mistake.”

“Why? What’ll you do?”

“You know already,” He sucks his lip, “You still haven’t said the words, Wynnie.”

“Fine, but I do it my way.”

“Of course, as long as it gets done.”

I pushed him away from me and grabbed Morri’s arm. As I dragged her behind me her weak legs failed to keep up.

She bent over and coughed again, “Wyn, what did he mean?”

Another cough. More wheezing. She wiped her mouth and fell to the ground, her face turning blue as she failed to suck in another breath. My chest clenched up.

“No, come on. It’s just right there, you can make it.” I begged her to stand, wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting. She’s had these spells before, sometimes leading her to pass out from lack of oxygen, but I refused to let it be one of those times. This was our chance, I would save her. Father won't get a hold of her.

“Do something you idiots. Get her some medicine!” I shouted at the guards but they did nothing, just waited for my father’s orders.

He just watched, detached. As if waiting. As if saying this was my last chance or he’d do it his way. I hesitated. The soft leather of my dagger in my hand was supposed to comfort me. Was supposed to be the thing that secured my future. But when I looked at it, all that went through me was guilt and fear. I was too late, I couldn’t save her.

She caught her breath, eyes roaming between me and our father.

“I love you, Morri.” I murmured. It hit her then. Understanding crossed her face when she saw the dagger still in my hand.

“I’m—” she wheezed, “I am going— to mother aren’t I?”

I fell to my knees. Tears rolled down her face as she tried to stand but only fell back down.

“No matter what— one of us lives— right? That was— the— promise.” She coughed in between each word, making it difficult for her to breathe, “I always knew it’d be you, Wyn.”

I cradled her head and before I could think through it, the steel sunk into her chest and a sticky warm mess hit my thighs. She gasped and fell into my arms.

“I just wanted us to be happy.” She stammered, “To see the sun again.”

I tried to hold her up but she fell to the ground her body convulsing until it stopped and she wheezed in a breath. My ears registered a scream. Distant at first but as it got closer, I realized it was coming from me. Tears streamed down my cheeks hot and angry.

Her eyes closed, and the shaking kept coming as blood dripped in a trickle from her mouth.

“Morri, don’t go yet. Please,” I slapped her, “Wake up. Come on, wake up.”

Her eyes flickered open and she whispered, “I loved you.”

“No, Morri— please, I’m sorry. Don’t leave me.”

Her chest stopped moving and her eyes glazed over.

What have I done?

“A hard sacrifice, Wyn,” Father planted a hand on my shoulder, “But a necessary one. Morri was powerless and unable to live with our kind. You’ve passed your last test. Welcome to the animal side, my Queen.”

But it wasn’t a sacrifice, not when she was just ten years old.

It was murder.

I murdered my sister.