I am so sorry it's been so long since I updated but I've been busy with school and a bunch of other stuff. Luckily for you guys, school is almost out and I have had a burst of writing inspiration. This chapter is shorter than usual- sorry about that- and to be honest, not the best I've ever written, but it's better than nothing. I will be updating again soon and thanks for sticking with me.


Cleo's dress had dried by the time Amaya came back accompanied by two rough looking guards who eyed her like a piece of meat. Cleo was glad for the time she had had to orient herself, providing enough energy to maintain a harsh glare in Amaya's direction. The other princess seemed unaffected as she walked around Cleo's chair, examining her. The two guards took their positions by the door as they smirked at her. Being in the center of attention never felt more nerve-wrecking.

"Comfortable?" Amaya asked tauntingly, leaning toward to whisper in Cleo's ear. "You could be given a comfortable bed and anything you want if you just tell me where the ring is."

Cleo scoffed. "And give up my leverage? No thank you."

Amaya appeared in her front vision with crossed arms and a smirk mirroring those of her guards.

"Of course not."

For a second Amaya stood there watching her, waiting for Cleo to respond. She offered only her silence. Not be fair, Amaya hadn't given her much to comment on. After the minute passed, Amaya shrugged.

"Fine with me. This is where the real fun begins," She held out her hand and Cleo watched as a small dagger was placed in her open palm. Amaya's hand closed around the handle before twirling it in her hands.

Cleo refused to be scared. The princess was less than intimidating, she had always been shorter and more petite than herself. Her cruel smile, on the other hand, placed her just below the Blood King in terms of fear inducing. Amaya had killed her own brother in cold blood. Luckily, Cleo had never been easily scared.

"Time for torture already?" She asked sarcastically. "And here I thought I'd be resting."

Cleo had to give the girl some credit, Amaya laughed at her joke as if this was just a casual conversation. Everything she did seemed casual, leading Cleo to believe she had done this many times before. The knife in her hand seemed like it had been created just for this very purpose. She briefly wondered how many deaths the dagger had caused before shoving the thought aside. She was not going to let Amaya get to her head. That was her private refuge and nothing would invade it.

"You've been hanging out too much with our dear Prince Magnus," Amaya laughed, referring to the sarcasm that Magnus had always worn proudly.

Cleo just shrugged. "I am married to the man."

She wondered how long it had been since she had shuddered at the word 'husband' or 'married'. To her surprise, it had been a while; her pride had reached the point where she no longer argued the fact.

"True enough," Amaya replied with a smile. If it wasn't for the dagger and the fact she was still tied to a chair, it might have seemed like a normal conversation between friends. "Shame you won't be married to him much longer."

Cleo must have looked confused because Amaya had to expand on the idea.

"You'll be dead," She further explained looking dead panned. The foreign Princess then burst out laughing once more. "Oh, just picturing his face as he finds your body, he'll be heartbroken!"

Cleo couldn't help but snort. "You seem to be under the impression we enjoy each other's company."

"You certainly seemed like you did in Limeros," Amaya replied smugly, causing an incriminating flush to appear on the back of Cleo's neck as she thought back to their passionate kiss.

This of course lead to her thinking back to her dream and their bittersweet embrace then. She still refused to admit that her subconscious had dreamed that up, there was no possible way that would ever happen. She wouldn't allow it.

"Emotions were running high that night," Cleo managed to steadily reply. "We both needed a way to release them. I'm sure you'd understand, after all you did the same. Mine just never got- or would have never gone... So far."

She knew it was stretching the truth but it caused Amaya's expression to flatter for a second, clearly not have been thinking about this particular idea. Cleo stuck with the thought as well, it was easier to believe it had been high emotions instead of pent up romantic feelings or sexual tension.

His words still stuck clearly in her mind however, making it hard for her to believe the lies she told herself. "In the shadow my father has cast over my entire life, you are the only light I can see anymore. And, whatever the cost, I refuse to let that light be extinguished."

She sure hoped that was still true because Amaya seemed like soon they would be getting down to business. Cleo was sure that it was not going to be pleasant.

"Either way, I believe your death would be the opposite of beneficial to lovely Prince Magnus," Amaya shrugged, regaining her mask in less than a second.

"But you won't kill me yet," Cleo reminded Amaya. "I told you before, it's either my death or the Kindred. And right now, I believe you want the Kindred, as well as the ring, more than you want me dead."

Amaya clicked her tongue, shaking her head in disapproval. "I wouldn't be so certain. As I informed you, Princess, I always get what I want."

"Which is my death," Cleo verified. The knife in Amaya's hand had made no move yet; the longer Cleo could keep talking, the longer she'd be able to stall.

"I want your death to inflict pain over the country. Even now, you still somehow manage to be Mythias golden princess. There are a few groups banding off from various towns, dedicated to returning you to your rightful kingdom."

"Jealous?" Cleo smirked.

Amaya's eyebrows knitted together in frustration as she pulled her dagger in front of her, pointing the tip at Cleo. "What's stopping me from cutting off that quick tongue of yours?" She asked threateningly.

Cleo froze. "You enjoy our little bantering?" She offered cautiously.

She let out an invisible sigh of relief as the dagger was lowered slightly.

"Fair point. We could have been great friends, you know. If it wasn't for all this."

"I actually don't believe we would have," Cleo informed her, unsure of how far she was willing to taunt Amaya as she stalled for time. "The minute I saw you, I knew you were up to no good."

Amaya tilted her head to the side as she considered this for a second. "What a shame," She finally replied simply.

In a flash, Amaya lunged forward with the dagger, stabbing it into Cleo's upper bicep with a growl. Cleo couldn't help but let out a scream as the knife suddenly penetrated her skin, leaving warm tracts of blood flowing down her arm.

"Where is the ring!?" Amaya demanded to know, her attitude suddenly changed as she glared down at Cleo.

She bit her lip to prevent crying out again as the dagger dug farther into her arm, refusing to answer. Water flowed to the brim of her eyes but she refused to let any fall.

The knife twisted and Cleo's eyes clenched closed. "Where is the ring?" Amaya asked forcefully again.

Cleo let the silence be her answer. If she opened her mouth to speak, she wasn't sure what would come out.

The knife was pulled cleanly out of Cleo's arm with a yank, making her wince with a sharp cry of pain. Amaya studied the knife a second, taking her sweet time, before wiping the blood on Cleo's purple gown. Cleo refused to look at Amaya's expression as she tasted blood from where she continued to bit her lip too hard.

"Most girls would give on just that small cut," Amaya commented offhandedly with a shrug. "Especially girls as spoiled as you... I guess you're just more stubborn then the rest, yes? Not that I mind, I like a challenge."

Cleo watched as Amaya cleaned the dagger at little more on her sleeve that wasn't bloodied with a forceful glare. She didn't trust herself to speak, her arm was in so much pain that it hurt to even think about it. Sadly, Cleo was thinking about it.

"Well, I had a lovely time," Amaya announced as the dagger was deemed spotless, winking at Cleo. "I'll see you tomorrow then sweetie. Your cut is not getting clean until then. You better hope infection doesn't set in..."