Stabbing in the Dark

The palace is eerily silent normally the noisy filters in down the tunnels. The servants are probably hiding from Elena anyone found wandering the halls gets taken to her bathing chamber if they are lucky and she deems them unattractive or simply plain they get to live. Each night she has young maidens kidnapped from town; she selects the loveliest of them all. Then bathes in their blood and eat their flesh and hearts it's what fuels her power.

Her men pay off the families or at times simply kill them. After all, what can the dead say? If you were to ask my Master this, she'd tell you the dead say more than the living ever will. The curse Elena believes I still possess saves me from being brought before her, as far as she's concern, I'm too hideous to be bothered with.

When my grandmother learned about the curse, she used her last favor to get the Dark King to remove my curse. It was him who told me what I am, all Mother ever told me was that I was born different and Father could never know I was the child he left in woods to die. She reassured me she'd keep my true appearance hidden when the ten years where up she would strengthen her spell a curse of its own meant to keep me alive.

Unfortunately, Mother is gone and while I could ask the Dark King even the Queen of Assassins for help, I would rather not owe any favors. After the Dark King broke my curse, I continued to wear the crimson veil, he agreed for my safety Elena should believe her curse was still in place. Besides, he taught me how to glamour, should she ever remove the veil to show my atrocious face. The only problem it only lasts a few minutes my magics to weak.

Slowly the screams start to filter through followed by the scent of blood and fear. I ignoring reaching one of the secret chambers within the tunnels. The stone opens up when I place my hand over the runes carved onto it. Besides how to skin a man alive the Queen of Assassins taught me a variation of languages, dances how to sing like a siren and various customs and instruments. My zither sits to one corner the bamboo flute I got when on assignment in the Dragon Realm rests inside its box next to it.

The only mirror I own reflects the moonlight seeping in through the frosted window. Whoever built this chamber ensured the window couldn't be spotted from the outside by untrained eye. I change out of my clothes and into a nightgown of purest black draping the crimson veil over my head.

Even though Dahlia has no tongue it doesn't mean she couldn't betray me. I should never have left my cloak, mask, and leathers in that chamber where anyone could find them. Of course, I could always lie and say I wear the mask under the veil there's always the chance someone spots and reports it back to Elena. I contemplate sleeping here in the safety of the hidden chamber but I've been gone for too long.

Screams still filter down from the direction of Elena's chamber. There's no way for me to help them shell just find others. Carefully I unlock the secret door and move the drape of the dancing maiden. The chambers still dark, I seal the gate fixing the drape in place tucking the key into my robe pocket I head into the library. The tray of uneaten food still lays there. It seems Dahlia forgot to pick up the tray. I head back to my sleeping chamber making sure my dagger is still concealed in my robe I lay down to sleep.

***

"Won't we get in trouble?" a female voice whispers.

"His Lordship said he'd reward us if we bring him, Princess Veil, he'll protect us," another says.

They try to walk quietly but fail, for it is when we don't want to be heard that all notice. I can smell their fear mixed with excitement. At least once a week Elena's Consort sends his playthings on some ridiculous quest promising to reward them with riches and to some, he even promises marriage.

Sometimes Elena joins in killing the pour girls whenever she feels threatened by their closeness to her Consort. Only Elena can have it all.

Finally, one of the females build up the courage and runs to the bed intent on removing my veil. My blade is faster slashing past the fabric of the female's flimsy dress and cutting her wrist, she stumbles back falling on her ass. Her companion begins to scream tripping on her own feet as she tries to get out.

"Fools," I say, before moving too quick for their mortal eyes to see piercing my blade through her jugular.

The one who tried to unveil me still sits on the floor holding her bleeding hand. I rip her companion's throat out before moving towards her a predator stalking its prey she tries to stand only to stumble.

"What a mess you've maid," I say, tossing the throat at her, "tell me was the reward worth it?"

"I'm Lord Jonathan's favorite you can't hurt me," she says trying and failing to appear brave.

I lean down and take hold of her face with my bloody hand. She starts to shake her heart beats too quickly at this rate she'll die of fear. "Don't worry lovely," I say, before snapping her neck.

"What have you done?" Jonathan stands at the doorway his face drained of color. His entourage seems torn between staying by his side and running away.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" my voice like sweet acid I lift my hand slowly pulling the veil down. I glamour myself to look like the monster they make me out to be. What he'll see will haunt his dreams, that is if this scene doesn't already.

Elena burst in covering me with her back, "put that damned veil on, the rest of you out!" her voice doesn't leave room for a challenge. Of course, she wouldn't risk losing Jonathan where else would she find someone as sick as her. I fix my veil and tuck the blade into my sleeve pocket.

Color returns to Jonathan's face as he speaks, "Elena my Queen, look at what this wench has done?" his smile is sinister.

If only he knew I've gutted men like him for sport. "they came in while I was sleeping and took my veil off."

Elena turns to me her eyes searching finally they land on my bloody hand. "Out!" she doesn't look at Jonathan yet he flinches as if she'd hit him. He hesitates before leaving closing the door behind him.

Elena lights a candle and turns to me, "why?"

I tilt my head letting the veil fall my glamour in effect. Elena gasp taking in my hollow cheeks, the crimson scars that run down my face and onto my throat, the missing eye, decayed teeth, and two black horns protruding from either side of my forehead. This was the image I saw when she first cursed me, I broke every mirror in my chamber.

She recovers herself clasping her hands together she laughs. "How wonderful, my curse has taken root it seems even if I wanted to it would be too late to lift it," she continues to laugh stopping only to inspect her work once more, "tell me have you ever looked in a mirror?"

"Don't you remember?" I ask tilting me head once more coal-black hair swaying like a curtain, "I destroyed every mirror in my chamber. You made me a monster."

Her face is solemn now, "that's right I did this to you and I can do far worse," she takes a step towards me, "never forget that now I'll have to listen to Jonathan complain about his little whores."

"You're not upset?"

"Of course, not it's only a shame such good blood was wasted."

"Their hearts are intact," I say, "you could still use them."

She contemplates this for a second before kneeling to examine the bodies. "Guards!"

The door burst open and two of her guards' rush in.

"Take this to my bathing chamber," she instructs, "and have someone clean this."

Neither guard moves as they stare at me eyes wide faces as with as snow.

"Cover your damned face," Elena growls before walking over to her guards. She places a hand on each one murmuring an enchantment. The guards blink once then twice before recovering. They remove the bodies and avoid coming near me.

Dahlia and two other maids rush in and start cleaning up the mess. I walk over to the bathing chamber and lock the door. Using magic is always exhausting, I remove my sodden clothes and step in turning on the faucet I submerge myself in the cool water letting me lull me.

Once I start scrubbing the water ends up a pinkish hue. Let it drain away filling the pool with clear water I scrub my skin until it burns. When will this end?