Chapter 15: Jealousy is a Murderous color

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I stormed into the living room of the seraglio just in time to see Yuri dump a bag of dead scorpions on Princess Aksham. I reined in my temper and leaned on a pillar to watch events unfold before me.

"Pranks have their limits!" Yuri shouted. "His Majesty was in my room! What if he was stung?! You are no longer a child, stop these immature pranks!"

"Even so…you have no right…" Princess Aksham started. I honestly hated this princess. She wasn't really a danger, just incredibly annoying with her pranks.

"Right? Serving and protecting his majesty is the duty of everyone in the palace. If you do not understand that…Then leave!" Yuri said with full authority in her voice. The princesses all stalled, fear finally beginning to show on their face.

"I told you she would be fine." Ilbani chuckled lightly behind me.

"Yes…I suppose you did, didn't you?" I concede, leaning back on the pillar. "These women, they have wakened a lioness…haven't they?" I muse.

"She still isn't as scary as a wildcat." Ilbani teased. I turn to him with a mock scowl.

"Am I really a wildcat?" I questioned him.

"More of a panther. But a wildcat all the same." Came the offhanded reply. I thought back…perhaps I was a wildcat. How had I let my temper rise so easily? I was better then that. I was the Gal Meshedi. I had toppled empires. Yet I lose my head over some jealous vixens? I shook my head. Perhaps Yuri had the right idea, to ignore it all and keep going with your head held high. I glance at Princess Aksham's shaken face and laugh. No…I quite like scaring these princesses. Yuri might be content to sleep as a lioness, but Ilbani was right, I was a wildcat. I will strike quickly and unquestionably.

I stretch my arms over my head and turn around. "Let's go back to our room. I'm sleepy." I say with a yawn. Ilbani followed, that dratted smile still on his face.

"Ishtar! We have medicine for Ishtar!" A ruckus was arising outside, my curiosity pushed me to the gazebo where Yuri and His Majesty were standing, waving to a massive crowd. Each and every one of them…bringing medicine for scorpion bites.

I laugh and turn toward my room once more. No matter what happens, no matter what rank, Yuri is the one that outshines them all. Yuri is the one who people hold dear to their hearts. She doesn't need money, power, or rank to gain respect. Ilbani is right. Perhaps I worry too much.

"Princess Adda Sharlato is the main candidate for Queen?" I ask, thinking of the said princess. That Princess of Assyria was quite silent, she kept her nose out of Princess Arksham's pranks, and stayed out of my way when she could. She was too mysterious. I didn't have a firm grasp on her intentions, her plans or her capabilities. Was she like Princess Aksham who contributed to childish and harmless pranks? Or did we have another Nakia on our hands? The mere fact that the Queen Dowager agreed with Princess Adda Sharlato and not pushed her own niece, Ishin Saura was a red flag. That woman never acted pointlessly, she always had some kind of plot. But as far as I know, Nakia would gain nothing from Adda Sharlato taking the throne. If Ishin Saura were to gain the King's favor and the throne, Nakia would have had power over half the palace. If Adda Sharlato were to be chosen she would actually lose power. So why? We know she sent dark water into the Seraglio…but who accepted it?

I huffed and pulled my bowstring back, smiling as the arrow hit the target from across the courtyard. My distance was increasing. And honestly, I had to let off some steam before I let lose an arrow into one of those women in the seraglio. Rusafa whistled a bit as he looked at the direct hit.

"You've gotten better." He commented.

"Hmm." I sigh, my mind on other things.

What was Nakia planning? An assassin in the seraglio most likely. But Princess Yuri is usually heavily guarded, if not by the three sisters, but often she was with His Majesty himself. Killing her would be difficult for a princess who knew not how to handle a knife. Even if that princess was controlled.

"Yuki. It's dark. Come inside." Ilbani's smooth voice rang out behind me. I looked up to see that it was indeed dark out. How long had I spent worrying? I sighed. I'll have to figure out who has the dark water tomorrow. I waved goodnight to Rusafa and pattered back toward Ilbani.

"Stop worrying. We will find out who has the dark water soon enough." Ilbani said, ruffling my hair. I huffed. I was really starting to believe that he could read minds.

"Oh don't pout at me. Come along, little wildcat." He teased. I stuck my tongue out at him as I followed behind.

"Princess Aksham has been murdered?" I cry at the news. Who would want to murder Aksham? As far as I could see, she was not particularly favored by senate or His Majesty…so why her? His Majesty and Ilbani were questioning the maids to if Princess Aksham had any enemies.

"W-well…Princess Aksham used scorpions on Ishtar once…Ishtar was very angry…" A maid wailed.

I snap at that. Of course. She was killed by scorpions. Not a usual murder weapon of choice, but a perfect one…for framing Yuri after the incident in the living room with the scorpions.

"Do you have proof? If not then don't gossip. Are there any others?" His Majesty rebuked. Of course he would not entertain such a notion.

"U-ummmm Ereshkigal…she was not fond of the Princess. Even threw a knife at her!" The maid stuttered, unsure. His Majesty turned to me in surprise at that…I smiled impishly.

"I didn't hit her." I grumbled.

"Well where were you last night?" He sighed. I think he was completely aware that I could and would throw a knife at one of the princesses eventually. He also knew that I wouldn't use scorpions if I wanted a princess dead. I had so many other weapons at my disposal for that.

"I was practicing my bow late into the night with Rusafa. And I was with Ilbani the entire night afterwards." I say with all certainty. With an alibi with a general and the King's advisor, even the senate shouldn't be able to touch me. But that left Yuri. Did she establish an alibi? She has gone off on her own pretty often since the women moved in. I left the funeral procession for Princess Aksham and went to find Yuri. I needed to warn her not to go out alone anymore.

"AHHHHHH!" I heard a scream echo from inside the seraglio. I rush in to find…Princess Ure. Floating in the pond, dead from strangulation.

"This rope…it is Princess Yuri's." Hadi mumbled. They are trying to frame Yuri! I know it now. Nobody would gain anything from Princess Ure's death. She was all but invisible among the princesses. I even felt a pang of pity for her, she was not even a part of the running, yet she was caught in the crossfire.

Yuri had been told to stay in her room. Much to my relief. It gave me time to sort everything out, time to see if I could find the real killer before more blood was spilled. I walked down the hall to only be stopped by the head of senate…and some guards.

"Princess Yuki Ereshkigal. You are to stay in your room, until more is learned about these murders." He said, the guards stepping up. I narrowed my eyes, this was not for my safety… if he got guards, he was ready to force me to comply.

"What is going on here?" I snarl and the guards pushed me toward my bedroom. I had a solid alibi, what was he thinking?

"General Rusafa has denied that you were in his presence the night Princess Aksham was murdered. It is well known that you dislike many of the princesses and women that have recently made their home in the seraglio." He said I heard a slight waver in his voice. Ah, so that's why he needed the guards. Apparently, some people still fear the goddess of darkness.I will admit I felt a pang of pride in that. Being feared was a pretty good insurance policy for gaining information. He shut the door to my room after I was shove in my the guards who looked as fearful as he did. I heard him instruct the guard not to let me out, or anyone in.

I seethed. Rusafa? Why would he lie about training with me? Was he working with the Queen? No…during our time in Arzawa, he could have killed me anytime and just said I was a casualty of war. He wouldn't have waited for this elaborate rouse. But he couldn't have killed Aksham either. He was with me. So why would he lie? I shook my head vigorously; I had to think of a way out of this mess. I know there is a guard outside…what could I do?

Did Ilbani know Rusafa lied? I needed a message out to him…

"Nenatti!" I suddenly realize. The fox in question lifted her head and yawned sleepily. I quickly composed a note on a clay tablet. I couldn't bake it, so I pray that the trip would not blur my words too much. I took one of my dresses from my trunk and began to tear it apart. I fashioned a miniature sling and slung it around Nenatti with the tablet that I wrapped in the cloth to try and protect the words from smearing.

"Nenatti, go find Ilbani." I say, nudging her out the window.

Ilbani's POV

I walked down the hall with Rusafa. There has been endless work since Aksham and Ure's murder; I actually haven't seen Yuki around today.

I looked down as a small creature threaded around my legs and sat at my feet.

"Nenatti? Where is Yuki?" I ask, a panic rising. Last time Yuki sent Nenatti alone, she was on her way to Egypt with Ramses.

"Oh? What's this?" Rusafa reached into the makeshift sling on Nenatti and removed a clay tablet. I check Nenatti again for any other missives as Rusafa read the tablet. He suddenly handed it to me and walked off.

I looked at the unbaked tablet and read it myself.

Ilbani,

I am confined to our bedroom with no visitors. I am being accused of the murder of Princess Aksham and Princess Ure. Please watch after Yuri, I think something is wrong. - Lied about- Watch -Queen- Yuri in trouble.

Yuki.

I stare at the short message. There were parts rubbed off of the end, understandable due to the fact that the clay was uncooked. But the parts erased looked like crucial parts of the message. I looked closer. Were those…fingerprints? It looked like someone had purposely swiped a finger across the words, mutilating them beyond reading.

I looked down at Nenatti; she paced back and forth impatiently. Nenatti was much like her mistress. She would not let just anyone touch her, let alone get the message long enough to cross out certain points of information. But…why just cross it out? Why not just take the entire message if they had their hands on it?

I growled in frustration. Nothing made sense anymore. I decided there must have been immediate danger to Princess Yuri. I need to find who lied about what.

"Ilbani! Princess Yuri! She-she's been accused of the murder of Princess Ishin Saura!" Hadi ran to me, breathless. Ishin Saura? Nakia's niece? Did that woman have no heart at all? To spill her own family blood for power…

"What is the situation?" I say in a calm voice.

"Princess Yuri was knocked out, and when she woke, Princess Ishin Saura was laying on her with Princess Yuri's knife in her chest!" Hadi wailed.

Damn! I was too late. Yuki knew something was going to happen. They were framing Yuri! Yuki was still suspect to Aksham's murder because of what happened at the picnic not so long ago. I rushed to find His Majesty. This was definitely a tough spot.

Hadi's POV

Princess Yuri and Princess Yuki were being confined into their own respective rooms. They were both heavily guarded; sneaking out would only cause suspicion anyway.

I paced back and forth as my younger sisters watched, jittering with worry. Princess Yuki was the one that thought of plans, not us. Princess Yuri was the one who would take action. We merely followed. Now what?

I heard a growl at my feet. I looked down to see Nenatti. How had she gotten…the window! I quickly checked the sling on her back. A clay tablet was wrapped in cloth. I couldn't help but grin. Leave it to Princess Yuki to find a way out of lock down. I quickly unraveled it and read the unbaked clay tablet.

Hadi,

Something is wrong with Rusafa. Don't know what yet. Please keep an eye on him. Make sure Yuri does not try to sneak out of her room NO MATTER WHAT.

P.S watch after Princess Alexandria. The palace is dangerous for little princesses.

Yuki.

I re-read it again. Rusafa? But what could be wrong with Rusafa? Why him?

I actually haven't seen him at all recently…I squish tablet in my hands. Crushing it into a ball of mush. Princess Yuki has trusted us with important information and warnings. They must not be ignored.

"Ryui, stand outside Yuri's room, do not let her out at any cost. Shala, hunt down Princess Alexandria and stay by her side." At my command, they both dispersed. I headed out myself to find Rusafa. Princess Yuki had left her trust in us. We couldn't let her down.

I checked through the palace. No sign of the archer. Where could he have gone?

"A….EEEEEEK!" I heard a scream and rushed to its source. On the way, I found Ilbani and His Majesty rushing in the same direction.

I walked into the room and gasped.
Princess Sabeha…was dead. A broken vase seemed to be the object of murder. I looked away from her blank eyes…the gaping wound on her head.

"…What is she planning?" I heard Ilbani mumble from next to me. He caught my questioning look.

"Princess Yuri and Yuki are both locked up in their rooms and have been heavily guarded. This murder…is proof that they are innocent." He explained. Of course, both of them had solid alibis. That was good for us…but why would the Queen Dowager do such a thing?

Yuki's POV

"I-I offer you my humblest apologies, Lady Ereshkigal." The head of senate said, bowing his head to me.

I nodded my head in acknowledgement, but did not say a word. I know that it was necessary, but I had lost time I could have used trying to gather evidence. I was still pretty upset.

"Please, My Lady, we are the senate…we must make these choices and-" He continued with a waver in his voice.

"I know. I am a strategist remember. I understand your reasoning." I interrupted him. He cowed and scurried away quickly.

"Hmph. He wasn't nearly as frightened when apologized to me." Yuri commented behind me, watching the man scuttle off. I turn to her and smile warmly.

"It's cause you're so cute, it's hard to see you as scary." I say, pinching her cheeks. She slapped my hands away good-naturedly.

"Cut it out! We need to find out who the killer is." She scolded me. I thought for a second.

"Well the killer had already done a nice process of elimination for us. It's not like we have many choices now." I say. Princesses Adda Sharlato, Selto, and Alexandria. I shuddered as I thought of innocent little Alexandria caught in the crossfire of this. If this continued, she could be next. I hope Hadi got my message and one of the sisters was with her right now. It seems all the princesses were killed only when there were no witnesses.

"Gather all the Princesses here!" Yuri suddenly called out to a passing King Mursili. I jumped a bit at that. By addressing it directly without any evidence…while the princesses were together, the one controlled could lash out unexpectedly and we wouldn't know which one. But…if we let this go on any longer, Alexandria and Yuri would be in tremendous danger. I nod my head in acceptance, following the royal couple to get the senate and Ilbani. Wait…Rusafa! Where had that man disappeared off? I had to straighten some things out with him.

I sat and watched as Yuri threw herself all over the King in front of the other Princesses. I had seated myself next to Princess Alexandria. Seeing her safe and sound took a weight off my shoulders. When had I begun to care so much for the little rascal? I watched the other princesses carefully. I have no leads on which princess had the dark water. But whoever it was, botched up Nakia's plan in the last murder. She was acting out of envy. Now we just needed to smoke out a jealous princess.

Princess Alexandria was peeking through her fingers in delight as Princess Yuri and His Majesty kissed. It wasn't her. Princess Adda Sharlato had her usual blank face on. I would rival her calm to Ilbani's. I can't be sure as to if she was jealous or uncaring at this point.

But then I caught sight of Princess Selto's face. It was a mask of fury; I could practically see the dark aura surrounding her.

"Ishtar. I demand you leave His Majesty's side. Out of the other four, you were the one I wanted to kill the most." She growled. I saw her move, and I grabbed Alexandria's arm and tried to shove her toward Shala behind me, but I was too slow. As a result, Princess Selto slung an arm over Alexandria's waist and dragged me along with her.

Now I was sandwiched in between the two princesses. My back pressed against Selto, her arm crossed over Alexandria's chest in front of me. Effectively pushing Alexandria firmly against my front and preventing me from moving much. Princess Alexandria shrieked and I whispered reassuringly behind her to try and calm her. We had to calm Princess Selto down, and Princess Alexandria's screaming would only incite her temper.

"If you touch me, they will die! I have killed four, two more is nothing!" Princess Selto shrieked, pulling us backwards. I stumbled as we reached stairs. She was trying to gain higher ground.

We stood, facing Yuri and an onslaught of guards. But it was Princess Selto that had the power, had the hostages. I hated being a hostage. I hated it in Mittani and I hate it now.

"Princess Selto, I offer an exchange. Let them go and you can have me." Yuri bargained. I glare at her. She can't be serious. She locked eyes with me with that stupid determined look on her face.

"No! Yuri, don't you dare!" I hiss at her. I felt the tip of the knife on my collar bone.

"Shut up!" Princess Selto snapped.

"You said you wanted me dead right? Don't spill unneeded blood."

"…Fine. You walk over here slowly." She said. I had to think fast, I had to get Alexandria to safety but keep Yuri away from Princess Selto. I felt the presence of the knife on my collar once more. Princess Selto had removed it from Alexandria to silence me and left it there, and her hold on Alexandria had also loosened, readly to let her go in exchange for Yuri…perfect.

As Yuri walked closer to us, I shot her a smile; her horrified face showed that she understood what I was about to do.

"Sto-" She couldn't finish her sentence as I roughly shoved Princess Alexandria out of Princess Selto's slack grip and into Yuri. Yuri quickly pushed the little girl behind her and told her to go back to where it was safe. I felt the knife cut across me from shoulder to shoulder as Princess Selto jerked back in surprise. I thank the heavens that she had not chosen to keep the knife at my throat and that she didn't fall back and stabbed in.

Yuri took the chance to kick the knife out of her hands, I kicked it out of Princess Selto's reach as it clattered onto the ground.

"NO!" Selto suddenly screamed in rage, grabbing Yuri. At the same time, I grabbed Yuri as well. Princess Selto leaned back, and all of us were falling off the wall.

Yuri shrieked in surprise. I didn't have time to think, Princess Selto Had Yuri in her grip and was facing her toward the ground. I grabbed both of them and adjusted so that I would somewhat cushion the fall.

I know that from this height, it wouldn't matter much, but I had to do something…anything!

I suddenly felt a gust of wind push us up. I watched as Princess Selto threw up some dark water.

"Kail." Yuri whispered. Of course. His Majesty had wind magic! As I watched the ground approach, I realized we were still going pretty fast. Not fast enough to kill, but…

"Uff!" I grunt, hitting the ground. My vision was blurry. I had lost blood from the wound on my chest and that impact was still pretty powerful. I saw the edges of my vision go black.

"…Damn." I mutter before I completely passed out.

Ilbani's POV

I rush down to find Yuki on the ground. She seemed to have taken the most impact from the fall. Princess Selto was fine, mumbling and trying to collect herself.

I picked up Yuki and cringed as she groaned in pain. Because Princess Selto wasn't hurt, I have no doubt Yuki tried to cushion the fall for all of them, and received the brunt of the damage. I started back to bring her to the physicians while everyone searched for Yuri.

The twins, Kash and I were gathered around the bed as Yuki slept. She had cracked two of her ribs and sprained her ankle. The slash on her chest was not deep, but nor was it shallow. She had just added another scar to her collection. I sigh to myself. She won't be very happy that she can't train for a while.

Princess Yuri was still missing; there hasn't been any sign of her. His Majesty has threatened…to send a noble sacrifice to Teshub in exchange for Yuri. He had sent the message clearly. If Urhi does not give back Princess Yuri, then Nakia dies. Suddenly, I heard her start to stir and mumble.

She opened her eyes and looked at me with panic.

"Ilbani!...Yuri….dan…ger…..Hadi knows…Hadi!" She gasped in between breaths. She was not fully awake and I gently soothed her back to sleep. What did Hadi know?

"Hadi said something about looking for Rusafa. She said it was very important. She has been following him since Princess Yuki sent that message through Nenatti." One of the twins said quietly.

Rusafa…where had he been…? And why did Yuki sent two messages out? My message was tampered, who was it that had it before me…? Rusafa! That was it! He was first to have his hands on it! I had already seen there was a tablet, he couldn't just destroy it! That's why only some information was crossed out!

We all ran outside just as an arrow thunked into the wall in front of us. A piece of hay tied Princess Yuri's pendant to the arrow.

"The old barn!" Kash cried, rushing us all toward the barn. I stayed behind to watch after Yuki.

"Uhn." I heard her grouse as she tried to push herself up. I walked toward her and supported her as she tried to pull herself onto her feet. I knew there was no point in telling her to lie down.

"Ilbani…Rusafa was…" She began haltingly. They had to bind her ribs very tightly; no doubt it restricted her breathing.

"I know. They are all on their way to get her." I say soothingly. She tested some weight on her foot and cringed, letting out a hiss of pain. She leaned on me once more and hopped along side me as we made our way toward the shrine for His Majesty's ceremony.

"Yuki!" Princess Yuri's voice drifted down the halls as she raced up to her sister. Yuki's face relaxed completely as she saw that Yuri was unharmed.

"I have to go see the King…" Yuri began. But Yuki and I had other plans. We needed to make Yuri the Queen. And if she could not gain noble status, we must enforce her status as a goddess.

"Princess Yuri…are you a good swimmer?" I began.

I watched as Yuki limped up to the spring. Yuki's idea was to pray to her "father" to bring Yuri back with His Majesty at her side. It would reinforce the idea that they were both indeed goddesses when Princess Yuri came out from the spring at Yuki's call. By highlighting this, the people would demand Princess Yuri as Tawananna so the gods would not be angered. Even if the senate disagrees, "A land is ruled by the people." Yuki had told me. "If the people feel strongly enough, it has to be done." Yuki had to make it believable. She had to embody Ereshkigal as a temperamental, demanding goddess.

"Dear father Teshub in the sky." Yuki began, kneeling in front of the spring. "Father. I am lonely without my sister here. I demand that you send her back at once!" Yuki shouted up toward the sky.

"The mortals meant no disrespect for not wedding Ishtar with the King, they did not mean to anger you! But I am very lonely. So I demand her return now!" She demanded with a haughty look on her face. I chuckled. She was really selling it.

I saw the bubbles rise up in the water before Princess Yuri burst out at the perfect moment. His Majesty wasted no time rushing to Princess Yuri and throwing his cloak on her to cover her and then holding her closely in her arms.

"T-Tawananna. Long live Tawananna Yuri Ishtar!" A single voice called out.

"Tawananna Ishtar!" More voices joined in. It was not long before the entire city shook with cheers for Tawananna Yuri Ishtar.

The senate was trying to quiet them all down.

"If you silence them, you will have a riot on your hands." Yuki warned, they stopped in their tracks and let the people shout.

I gathered Yuki in my arms and carried her toward our room. I could tell she was utterly exhausted.

"Ilbani…do you think we did enough?" She asked quietly.

" Yes. We did. It's in their hands now." I say listening to the shouts behind us.

And there is Chapter 15!

Finally all of the women are going to be cleared out of the Seraglio! Thank god. I was getting sick of them XD

Thanks to everyone that reviewed! It means a lot!

See ya next chapter!

~Eternally Snowy