Just a forewarning: this chapter can be triggering, since there is a rape scenario towards the end. Nothing graphic, just implied.


It never came back to her. Even months later, Levana's memory remained a blank slate. She eventually regained very basic knowledge, like her own name and age and how to count to a hundred, but the bulk of her six years of life escaped her completely. She had to become reacquainted with her nanny, with her sister, with her parents. The king and queen didn't dare have her out in public, not with a face pulled out of a fire. The princess was confined to her own rooms, far from everyone else's. When she came out of the hospital in her hovering gurney, Channary was ecstatic to have a private chamber all to herself. Once her hip finally healed, she could have all the fun she wanted without hindrance.

At first, Levana didn't question why she wasn't allowed to leave her room. She spent most of her time sleeping, colouring, or reading a book to the best of her abilities. When her eye refused to work properly, a servant would come and read aloud to her. On occasion, she would be taken outside for a walk in the deserted gardens. However, she eventually began to desire freedom. She was getting bored, being by herself all day. She wanted a friend to play with, and maybe go on an outing of some kind. She wanted to see this carnival.

"You're staying in your room until you can learn to use your glamour properly," Jannali would tell her.

Levana had been told that this woman was her mother; she was little more than a stranger, though. The last time she heard this, she had been sitting on the floor in the queen's chambers. It was a rare occasion when she was allowed into the queen's presence. Jannali stood in front of her mirror, fiddling with her crown and jewelry. She was apparently preparing for a gala. Levana didn't know what a gala was.

From where she sat, Levana could clearly see the queen's reflection. It was perplexing; in the glass, Jannali had brown hair and darker skin, while on the outside, she was a pale phantom. Levana tucked her knees to her chest and brushed her hair back. "Mother?"

This word felt foreign on her tongue. She didn't like it.

"Yes, Levana?"

"Why do you have two faces?"

Jannali cocked her head, slient. "Because I don't want people to see who I really am," she finally responded.

"Why not?"

"They hate the real me."

Levana sniffed. "People seem to hate me too," she croaked.

"Well, look at yourself." Jannali waved her forward. "Your face is a disaster. It's no wonder that they don't like you."

"But it's not…it's not my fault!" Levana pressed her hands against the glass. She was sobbing now.

"They don't care about that."

"I'm not ugly," she whined.

"They think you are. Now, whether or not you decide to care about what they think is entirely up to you." The queen began to walk away, her eyes blazing with annoyance. She really had no desire to go to that stupid party.

"Mother, don't go!"

"Why not, Levana?"

The princess wiped her good eye. "I don't want to be alone again."

"I have to go. They're waiting for me."

"Mama—"

"Goodnight, Levana. Your nanny will take you back to your room."

Jannali squared her shoulders and strode out confidently into the hallway, ignoring Levana as she pulled at her skirt. The girl begged desperately for her mother's attention, but she was scooped up by her waiting nanny and carried away.


It was a brilliant project. Marrok had to admit that he couldn't have thought of better himself. Sage Darnel spoke proudly as he showed the king every last detail of his newest experiment: genetic splicing between a human and a wolf. The result, a vicious and determined soldier, was beyond impressive.

"The court will be very pleased with this weapon," the king drawled. He tried to show enthusiasm, he truly did, but it was nearly impossible for him to muster any kind of energy in regards to his job.

This answer did not seem to satisfy Darnel. "And you, Majesty? Does this weapon please you?"

Marrok nodded. "Your work over the past few years has been very impressive. I thought I'd let you know that you're being promoted to the position of Head Scientist by the end of the month."

The doctor's entire face lit up, and his blue eyes brightened. "Oh, thank you, My King! It truly is the greatest honour—"

"Yes, yes." His happiness made Marrok sick to his stomach. "I'll discuss this project at court and you'll be informed of when you'll receive your requested funding."

Darnel bowed. "I only wish to serve you and our glorious country, Your Majesty."

These words did nothing to improve Marrok's mood. He knew he was wallowing, but he couldn't find a way to make it stop. Every time he saw Levana's ravaged state, he could barely hold back tears. The fact that she couldn't remember him at all made it so much worse. He was about ready to give up.

It usually took him hours to fall asleep at night, so he'd made a habit of watching Jannali's shoulders rise and fall as she dozed off. He fought the urge to wrap his arms around her in search of comfort—he was just as upset at her as he was at everyone else. He wasn't even sure why he agreed to let her sleep with him at all. Like the king, she too was furious at what happened, but not because her daughter was harmed. Not because Levana would now be ruthlessly mocked at court, forced into a life of endless misery. Jannali was simply angry that she had lost her murderous protégée. With Levana's memories wiped, all the training had gone to waste. She was a failed experiment and Jannali had wasted her time.

The fact that this was all she cared about enraged Marrok. Levana was more than just her toy. Now, he found himself questioning if Jannali had ever cared about her at all.

"Baby, are you still awake?"

Marrok tensed. He could feel her warm breath against his neck as she moved closer to him. "Yes," he whispered.

She nuzzled her face against his neck. "Let's fool around."

"I'm not in the mood."

"Well, I am." Jannali began to nip at his skin, her hands slipping beneath his shirt.

"Jannali, stop! I don't want this right now," Marrok barked. He tore himself from her grip and moved to the edge of the bed.

"Oh, come on!" Jannali began to whine. "It's been so long—"

"Do you care about me at all?"

Jannali grabbed his wrist. "Of course I do."

"Well, it doesn't seem like it; you'd listen to me if you did. I said no. No sex right now."

"You know that I can have anyone I want," Jannali countered, her voice edged with anger. "If you don't feel up to the task, I can just go and roll around with Lord What's-His-Name. I'm sure he'd be eager to oblige."

The king sighed. "Is that a threat?"

She gripped his waist and turned him around before he could stop her. She climbed on top of him and pinned him down by straddling his waist. He stared up at her, bewildered. Despite the dark, he could see the furious glint in her eyes. "Fuck me, Marrok, or someone else will."

His heart pounded and he found it hard to hold back tears. It was just like the night they had first met—despite wearing a silk nightgown, she looked exactly like the terrifying murderer he had encountered on the street all those years ago. As if she suddenly had the same thought, Jannali grinned and pulled his face up to hers. She began to kiss him ferociously, her every touch bruising and violent.

Marrok shoved her away and began to cry loudly. "GET OFF OF ME!"

For a moment, Jannali sat on the mattress, stunned at his outburst. She snarled and got on her knees, her face red. She then slapped him so hard that he nearly fell onto the floor. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Get out," Marrok shouted, his voice quivering. His body trembled with fear. "GET OUT!"

They both jumped when a guard knocked, obviously concerned. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

They stared at each other with an incredible tension. Jannali's nails dug into the sheets. Marrok was only glad that she was clawing the bed and not his skin. Her breathing was heavy as she thought of what to do next. Eventually, she climbed off the bed and stomped out of the room, slamming the door loudly behind her. The guard didn't say anything other than that; Marrok assumed that the sight of the raging queen had been enough to shake him into silence.


Only two chapters left! Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this (short) chapter!