Orca paced back and forth across her room, her teeth clenched together. Why had she killed River? Sure, Orca was protecting Torrent's life, but there were other ways she could have done it. Enchant this necklace to teleport its wearer to the Summer Palace,Orca thought. Or enchant it to make River fall unconscious as long as she wears it. There were plenty of other options! But no, I just had to choose the one which killed her. First she had used her magic to kill Sunscorcher, then her own sister. There was only one option: Orca had used too much of her magic, and had lost her soul.

She wondered what to do. Obviously, there was only one choice, if she truly wanted to protect her family, death. But Orca didn't want to die. She shuddered at the thought, and she caught a glimpse of the bracelet she had enchanted to protect her soul, still in her claws. What good that did her. She flung it away, being gently stopped by the water and sinking to the floor.

Maybe she didn't need to die after all. Sure, she had to be more careful when making her enchantments, but she didn't particularly feel evil. And think of all the good that an animus dragon could do for the SeaWings if she was queen! The war could be over in an instant, and no more SeaWing lives could be lost. With the right spell, every war, ever, could be over!

She thought back to River. With River out of the way, it's not like there was anyone else to challenge her mother. Sure, there was the egg in the nursery, but it wouldn't be ready to claim the throne for another seven years. And if things kept up as they were, that would be seven more years of war. Seven more years of dragons dying, of families losing brothers and sisters. An image of Rift passed beneath Orca's eyes. If she became queen now, all of that would be over.

Orca felt almost giddy about it. She hadn't expected, or even considered challenging her mother for the throne for many more years, she was just barely seven right now, and any fight against Coral would be doom for her. But Orca had magic. With the right spell, it would be easier than eating a fish.

Orca looked back at the golden bracelet she had thrown away. She picked it up; it would now serve another use. She could make her scales harder than diamond, or slipperier than an eel, but that seemed too roundabout. Why not just make the enchantment direct?

"I enchant this bracelet so that Coral can't harm me," she whispered, ensuring her victory. She felt a chill through her scales and smiled. She was sure to win her fight and become queen. What could go wrong?
Orca opened her bedroom door, and left it. She looked back to the door as she locked it. Tomorrow night, she would be sleeping in her mother's quarters. She smiled excitedly, and turned to leave the labyrinth beneath the Deep Palace.

After a long swim, Orca reached to Coral's bedroom and knocked on the door. Her mother opened it for her, looking at her daughter as if nothing had changed. But it had, Coral just didn't know it yet. Orca was finally ready to claim her birthright. What is it, Orca?Coral asked in confusion. It wasn't often her daughter came up to talk.

I'm challenging you for the throne, Orca flashed back. Coral stared in shock, still taking in what Orca had said. I'll see you outside the Deep Palace at the break of dawn.

Orca shut the door in Coral's snout, and gleefully swam down to her room. Things were going perfectly. She would be queen by sundown tomorrow, and Pyrrhia would be in an eternal peace within the week. Nothing could go wrong, unless . . .

Animus magic is passed down through families, Orca remembered in a sudden shock. Torrent, Angler, and Moray don't have it, and neither did River nor Rift. But what if her new sister did.

Her heart racing, she rushed towards the royal hatchery. An animus princess, her sister. Someone who could challenge her and become queen herself. Orca shuddered. She was able to control her magic, and keep her soul intact. What if her sister wasn't the same way? What if she was like Albatross?

She reached the royal hatchery, just outside of the Deep Palace. There was one guard on duty that Orca needed to get past. She picked up a small strand of kelp and quickly enchanted it to make the holder unnoticeable to others. She felt a small shiver as she did it, but ignored it.

Orca entered the dark hatchery, and looked for the egg. It was sitting alone, all unprotected and vulnerable. Small green spirals were on its surface, barely visible against the darker green of the eggshell. She picked it up and nestled it in her claws, examining it with fervor from all angles.

She gritted her teeth. "Egg, flash light if you're going to be an animus," she whispered into the water.

Orca paused for a moment, and a smidgen of relief washed over her when suddenly a burst of light lit up from the egg. The light spread across the hatchery, and lighting up the empty stone halls. Orca trembled. She should have known. Since, animus magic was passed through families: any one of her mother's possible children, or her own future children, could have it.

Kill it, a small voice whispered in the back of Orca's head. She knew that was what she should do, just to be safe. The dragonet was her sister, and could challenge her for the throne. Once the dragonet was old enough, it would kill Orca without a second thought with or without her magic. Why shouldn't Orca do the same to it?

Orca raised her claws, ready to slam the egg into the stone walls. Yet, Orca hesitated. This just seemed wrong. The dragonet was innocent, it hadn't killed anyone yet with its magic. It was also Orca's sibling. Like Torrent, Rift, Angler, and even River.

Orca set the egg down and put her claws to her face. She couldn't do it, but she knew she had to. Not just for her sake, but for all of Pyrrhia's. The dragonet would be an animus, and one of those in the Sea Kingdom was surely enough. It had to die. She thought out the enchantment in her head, and spoke it aloud.

"I enchant the stone floor to turn into an inconspicuous statue of myself, which attacks royal heirs to the throne when no dragon is looking."

Bubbles appeared from the rock below, and the stone morphed, unnaturally twisting and twirling into a perfect replica of Orca herself, carrying a spear. The statue was a dark green marble, with blue sapphire eyes glaring straight at Orca herself, as if her own magic was judging her. Orca's name was engraved in flowing letters at the base, far more perfect than any dragon could write.

Orca left the room for a moment, and waited outside for a few minutes, looking at the guard, who remained unaware of her. He was a young SeaWing: determined to fulfill his duty of protecting the royal family. When she became queen, she would make sure he was pardoned for her own actions.

Orca turned back to the dark room, and re-entered it. Eggshell was strewn all about the room, and Orca turned away, not wanting to look. The statue was just as she had left it. Guilt flooded her mind. Three dragons I've killed now, and two of them my own sisters,she thought to herself in shame. Well, wasn't that just how things were in Pyrrhia? Sister against sister, mother against daughter? As an animus, a descendant of Albatross, and a princess in line for the throne, the death of her family wasn't a choice. It was engraved in stone, it was her destiny.