THE TARGET

  Food was served on the table, a large generous spread for our guests. As soon as the servants finished serving our food they left just as I had instructed, shutting the door closely behind them. We were all alone in the room, no guards, no servants either. Just us and Azar and that treacherous bitch Ravenna who kept looking at Ivan like he was a snack. I swear to the gods if she doesn't stop looking at Ivan that, I would forget all formalities and rip her head off clean from her shoulders, bound or not!

For a while, none of us ate our food. Everywhere was silent and all we did was just stare at each other with resentment and hatred, you could almost taste it in the air. I decided to break the tension by reaching for my food. My utensils made a loud clatter as I scooped the mashed potatoes and chicken in my mouth.