The knocking turned to furious pounding, so hard it shook Cassandra's closed door. "My Lady, please let us in."

Cassandra rolled away from the door. "Go away."

"We can't. The Queen demands we tend to you."

On any other day, Cassandra would give in to the servants' pleas for fear of their punishment if they didn't complete her mother's orders. But today she wouldn't let their plight sway her. If they were beaten for her unacceptable behavior, so be it.

She refused to go through the mockery of accepting the former Queen of Sparta into her family.

The sounds of the servants disappeared, and Cassandra sighed. She'd wait some time, then sneak away to perform more prayers, just to soothe her agitated nerves.

No god cared about her situation or Troy's demise, or else they'd have kept Sparta's queen in Sparta. She'd wasted months hidden away trying to please beings who'd turned their backs on her long ago.

Cassandra damned every god she'd worshiped. When Troy fell, she hoped they did, too.

Just then, Cassandra's door swung open, and Cassandra sat up.

Hecuba waddled in; her round, low-hanging stomach hindered the quick, angry walk she'd clearly intended. She rested her hands on her widened hips and glared at her daughter.

"Why don't you want to get ready? You can't go to the celebration as you are."

"I'm not going."

Blotchy, red patches broke out on the Queen's face. "Why not?"

Cassandra wanted to tell her mother about the surprise Priam had alluded to in his last message, but Apollo's curse would keep Hecuba from believing her.

Instead, she pressed a hand to her forehead and lied through her teeth. "I'm not feeling well."

"Illness."

"No..."

Hecuba shook her head. "Then get up."

"But I—"

"No. I've indulged your melancholy for far too long. Stop this. You will get up and join your family."

"No, I won't."

"I command you, not as your mother, but as your queen."

Her mother's sharp tone felt like a slap. Unwanted, tears gathered in Cassandra's eyes. Her mother had never spoken to her like that.

Cassandra wanted to blame Hecuba's pregnancy but knew it had nothing to do with her mother's harshness. No, Cassandra had pushed the Queen to her breaking point, and she'd no longer deal with her daughter like her child, but more like a servant if she continued refusing.

Hecuba snapped her fingers. "What say you?"

Cassandra bowed her head. "I'll comply."

Without further comment, Hecuba exited the room, and the handmaidens filed in. They bathed and dressed her faster than Cassandra liked, but she didn't complain or struggle. She understood why they moved so quickly.

The servants had just finished her makeup when Deiphobus arrived to escort her to the main hall. He clasped her arm and listed several ways he'd punish her if she ran or ruined the celebration. Deiphobus assured her their mother had already approved his suggestions.

They entered the decorated hall, and Hecuba ushered Cassandra to her spot between Helenus and her younger brother Troilus. The Queen surveyed her extensive line of children (minus Creusa and Aeneas. They'd yet to return from visiting his father), nodded, then stood at the end, near Hector.

She clapped her hands twice and calls from the servants echoed outside the hall and the palace. Music followed.

Cassandra gripped Helenus' hand, and her twin kissed her cheek; whispered how excited he was too. More tears threatened to fall, but she held them back. Cassandra wouldn't give any god watching the pleasure of seeing her crumble.

To the disapproval of his advisors, Priam raced into the room with the agility of a man four decades younger.

He pulled Polyxena into his arms and kissed her face until she howled. He squeezed her tight, then placed her back on the ground, and moved on to his other children.

For both his sons and daughters, Priam had a tight hug and kind words. None of them denied his affection, not even Cassandra. Though she'd been occupied all autumn and winter with her own goals, she'd found time to mourn her father's absence. They didn't have much in common, nor talked often, yet his presence gave her stability she hadn't realized she loved until he'd gone.

The King reached his queen, and both were in tears as they embraced. Their lips locked together with frightening hunger, and by the time they separated, both could hardly breathe.

Priam ran his hands over Hecuba's swollen stomach and asked many questions about her health and the pregnancy.

When the Queen had satisfied his curiosity, Priam smiled at his wife. "Are you ready for the surprise, my love?"

Hecuba nodded, and the King ordered Paris to enter the hall. A gladdened cry escaped the Queen when her son stepped into the room, but her glee abruptly died when the woman tangled around Paris' arm came into view. Hecuba's breath caught, as did almost everyone's in the room.

The woman, the former Queen of Sparta and Troy's destroyer, was the loveliest woman alive. Her loose golden locks fell past her bottom and caught every bit of light in the room. Her white skin held a rosy glow that brightened her already luminous blue eyes. Her balanced features looked sculpted by a god.

She had a few years on Paris, yet she didn't appear much older than Cassandra.

In an instant, Cassandra's awe at the woman's beauty vanished. Only hate remained and turned Helen into the most hideous creature on earth.

Cassandra pressed her hand to her mouth to contain her outrage.

Hecuba shook her head and gazed at her husband. "Is that who I think it is?"

Before the King could answer, Paris ran with the woman toward his parents. "This is Helen, my Queen," he said as he stopped in front of the King and Queen. "She loves me and has run away to be with me."

Hecuba frowned. "But you're married to King Menelaus."

"He's not worthy of me," Helen said, her head raised.

Priam laughed. "Isn't that the truth."

"What does that mean for us?" Hecuba asked.

The King patted his wife's hand. "Don't worry, my love. Helen has blessed us with her decision to live here."

The Queen didn't look pleased but didn't push the issue. She grinned at Helen and embraced the younger woman. "I'm glad to meet you."

Priam waved at Cassandra and her siblings. "Come, children, and welcome Helen."

Cassandra's siblings surged forward, and all wore smiles of admiration. She watched as one after the other offered a kind word, kiss, or a hug. Cassandra noticed her brothers leered at Helen when they thought no one looked, and each glared at Paris.

Their open hostility shook Cassandra. One woman shouldn't have the ability to tear apart a family so quickly.

"Are you the shy one?" Helen called as she pointed at Cassandra.

Her captivating tone held no malice, yet Cassandra's blood boiled as if the woman had insulted her.

"Not usually," Deiphobus said, and her family had a chuckle at Cassandra's expense.

Hecuba gestured to Cassandra; her grin strained. "Don't be rude. Say hello."

With each painful step she took toward Helen, Cassandra's fury mounted. By the time she reached the vile woman, her nails had dug marks in her palms from how hard she'd clenched her fists.

Helen opened her arms.

Impulse overrode sense, and Cassandra struck the woman in the face.

Silence filled the room.

Delirious satisfaction sliced through Cassandra, and she hit Helen again, harder, intending to tear the woman to pieces.

All at once, Cassandra's family burst into activity.

Her younger siblings cried out.

Priam and Hecuba demanded her to stop.

Hector and Deiphobus pulled on her arms, but nothing halted Cassandra's assault.

She wrapped a fist in Helen's hair and continued to pummel the woman with blows. As she beat Helen, Cassandra screamed about how selfish and idiotic the former Queen of Sparta was and about her pure hatred for the ridiculous woman.

Helen begged for mercy while, in vain, she tried to protect her face.

At last, Paris wrenched Cassandra away from Helen. He shoved her, and she fell to the ground.

His intervention only angered her more, and Cassandra lunged for Helen again. She didn't get far.

Helenus arms circled around her waist, and he held her close to his chest.

Cassandra struggled, but couldn't break free.

"Get her out of here!" Priam shouted.

"Her gentle face is a lie. She's a monster. She'll destroy us all," Cassandra cried. "Purge her from Troy!"

No one listened as Helenus pulled Cassandra from the room.

All converged around Helen, who sobbed against Paris.

Seeing her broken and bloodied brought a full-bodied laugh from Cassandra.

Helenus shook his head but didn't comment as he took her to her bedchamber. He left her there with a disgusted look, yet Cassandra didn't care.

Helen couldn't want to remain in Troy now. She'd flee back to Sparta, and none of Cassandra's dire prophecies would come true.