Sansa
It was a little unnerving to think that she felt more alive now than she had ever felt her entire life. And it was possible only because she was dead. She could laugh at her situation if her situation wasn't so serious. Nearly seven Knights… well trained Knights… were laying on the blood covered floor with their throats, eyes, as well as patches of skin ripped off their bodies. Sansa had her eyes wide open with her lips curled upwards with some may call a maniacal grin. Blood covered her face… the red liquid trailing down her cheeks. Blood covered her nearly shredded dress, both her own blood and the blood from the men laying at her feet.
And here was when Sansa realized she could still feel pain… many of the knights slashed her body after surrounding her with fear on their faces, their sharp blades ripping through both her silk Southern dress and the skin below from where blood flowed freely down her chest, back, shoulders, legs and abdomen. In turn, Sansa was attacking them by pure instinct since she had no martial training; but she resolved to learn once she was back in the North.
Just before the Knights attacked, their fears lessened when Sansa demanded to know Joffrey's location. In fact, they mocked her when she told them… in a calm but shaky voice… that they would all face the fate of the dead who were already in the room. They laughed at her. And then she showed them her fangs, and the brutal battle began. Blood flowed freely down onto the floor… blood streaked along the walls from throats being ripped out and swords slicing her body. There were times when the strikes were so bad that Sansa would scream in pain and rage before… to everyone's amazement… her injuries… no matter how fatal… would close and heal.
By the time it was over, only Sansa was left standing in the room. She looked down at the bodies around her before looking down at herself. She was covered in blood… her dress was ripped with healed scarless skin showing through the tears to the dress. Her skirt was in tatters as well and hanging around her bloody legs like ribbons. Sansa looked at the blood on her hands before she licked off the red liquid off each finger and then turning towards the sword, Ice, laying on the floor. Sansa picked up the sheathed sword before walking though the door and into the hallway with her bloody footprints imprinted on the floor.
'I can heal… I can heal these cuts quickly,' Sansa thought to herself as she strode down the hallway towards the sounds of people speaking in hushed tones in the distance. That she had this uncanny ability to heal injuries to her body was something Dracul hadn't mentioned. And Sansa wondered what else he left out before turning her into this creature.
And just then, Sansa felt hunger once again.
'I have only just fed,' Sansa thought to herself as she continued down the hallway. She could hear hushed words being spoken behind a door in the distance.
"Hide…. Hide well… Northerners are in the Keep and those savages would kill us… rape us… enslave us… so hide!' Sansa wanted to chuckle as she came upon that door – and then walked past it. She could hear the sounds of silent weeping and praying to the Seven as she passed by a few more doors.
'Those soldiers must have come through here,' Sansa thought to herself as she continued talking longer strides down the hallway. She could hear more weeping and prayers from the doors she went past… all were the sounds of women and some children. She could smell their fear, sweat, tears, blood… and she could hear their racing hearts as she continued past.
As she continued walking, Sansa wondered about the location of the Royal Family while the sounds of metallic thuds could be heard coming towards her. She knew from the sounds of their footsteps that guards were getting closer and closer towards her location. Sansa did not know if these particular guards were just patrolling due to the so-called Northern threat in the Red Keep or if there was another reason.
'It does not matter, I suppose,' Sansa thought to herself as the guards – all Lannister redcloaks – strode into her line of sight after making a turn into the hallway. All of them – all eight of them – stopped suddenly and stared at her with horror etched onto their faces. Sansa could hear their hearts racing faster and faster. Sansa's hunger rose as a small smile formed on her face before she recalled Dracul's words; that she could control people. She already controlled the children in the passageway by hiding her presence from them; and now she had the chance to use this strange ability on adults.
Sansa steadied herself and focused on the guards who were now coming towards her with their swords drawn.
'Do not be scared,' Sansa thought to herself before she spoke out loud, "stop!" Amazingly, the guards stopped in their tracks – their faces were showing their surprise. Sansa then commanded, "drop your swords."
Their grips eased and the swords fell onto the floor with several metallic KLANGs! Sansa eyed two of the guards and made a mental decision to feed on them before she turned her attention to the others. She would have her answers this time. Time was already being wasted; she needed to have her justice and she needed to go North to tell Robb that his own bannerman was a possible traitor.
"Where is Joffrey? Where is the Royal Family?"
Sansa nodded at the answers given to her. Monotonous answers with wide open eyes staring back at her as if they had been taken hostage. "The Royal Apartments in Maegors Holdfast," Sansa said before walking towards them. 'I wonder what would happen if I…' Sansa wondered what would happen if she forced the guards to change the way she is seen by them. She concentrated on thoughts of being wrapped in a shroud of darkness… and she saw how horrified the guards became as they lay her eyes upon her. She then thought of herself as a being of shadow with large wings and smoking bright red eyes that was slowly rising above them.
Sansa chuckled as the guards stared upwards towards the roof at something unseen before screaming in horror as she imagined shadows rising up the walls and then covering the entire hallway in darkness. In their minds, they were standing before a shadowy being – a tall shadowy being – rising above them with red smoking eyes, blood red lips pulled back to reveal a set of sharp teeth. Sansa liked this feeling of power as the guards started to turn around and run from the imagination Sansa forced into their minds.
'I suppose these guards have weak wills,' Sansa thought, 'at least what remains of my dress is sufficient. Though I will have to find a new dress before leaving Kings Landing.'
Before the guards could run further away, Sansa thought, 'but first, I will need to feed', before leaping at them. And she fed on the last two, leaving the rest of the guards to escape. After all, who would believe them and their stories of a bloodied girl who slowly took on the form of a tall shadowy being.
"And now," Sansa spoke calmly after having drained the two guard dry. She gripped Ice in her hand before continuing, "I am coming for you, my Prince." As she strode onwards, killing and feeding on any guards or knights she encountered, Sansa also wondered about the Tyrells. After all, she was set aside by the Lannisters for Margaery Tyrell, 'do they deserve Stark wrath? Do they deserve my anger? I should be glad that Lady Margaery will marry the Prince, but they did not act to free me from Kings Landing. They did not do anything to help prevent my betrothal to Lord Tyrion.' As she continued, Sansa resolved to figure what needed to be done about the Tyrells.
'And if they had rescued me, all I would be is the girl who could hold the North… Winterfell would belong to the Tyrells through my marriage to any of their sons.' Sansa suspected the Tyrells were not kind to her for the sake of kindness. If anything, being imprisoned in Kings Landing had shown her that everyone wanted something in exchange for something else. 'I wish I wasn't an idiot. I wish I did not go to the Queen. Maybe we would be home in the North by now if I hadn't'
Tyrion
Tyrion knew that his father detested the very fact that he – the so-called Imp – had to stay in one of the larger family suites for their protection. Tywin had already told him that he should be in his own chambers so that if the Northerners come across him, then they could do House Lannister a favour and get rid of him. Instead, Tywin stated in no uncertain terms that the only reason he was staying in the larger royal suites with the rest of the Royal Family was because he was, in fact, a Lannister. That was nearly an hour ago, and Tyrion was still seated at a small table with a more than half-finished bottle of Arbor Gold and a full cup of the exquisite liquid.
At another table was seated his sister who had a nearly empty cup of the same Arbor Gold in her hand while staring out a window towards the star filled night sky. Joffrey – prick that he was – demanded he sleep by himself. So, he was given one bed while Tommen was asleep on the other bed in the opposite room connected by a door to the left of his shoulder. In the back of his mind, he was glad that Myrcella was safe in Dorne… at least safer than in Kings Landing. There was only one entrance to this large suite and it was covered by the Kingsguard, as was the length of hallway outside the door which was covered by numerous red-cloaks.
Even Bronn and Podrick were guarding the Hallway, together with what remained of the remaining men from the Mountain Clans who travelled with Tyrion from the Erie. His father, after speaking to his gathered children and grandchildren, returned to his office in the Tower of the Hand under heavy guard as well. And that is where he would remain until this Northern infiltration was dealt a deathblow.
Tyrion hated the silence in the room as he glanced at his sister; after all, the bitch had ordered one of the Kingsguard – Ser Mandon Moore - to try and kill him during the Battle of Blackwater Bay. He was sure of it. He couldn't help but wonder if she made any plans to have another of the Kingsguard kill him after this day was out. But the day was too early to get into a battle of wits with her. So, Tyrion turned his attention back to the drink on his table. He picked the cup and took a swig while worriedly thinking about whether he had been wrong about a group of Northerners infiltrating the Red Keep and stealing Sansa's body away. While a part of him was still sure a group of Northerners somehow infiltrated the castle, another part of him was thinking how they had known to look for Sansa's body in that chamber. Especially since the letter announcing her death had not been sent to the Northern contingent still encamped close to Riverrun. The letter was due to be sent later in the morning just before he would leave with Baelish and Sansa's bones.
'Who would steal Sansa's body?' Tyrion thought, 'I must have made a mistake, I realize that now. I only assume father has not thought of the same thing or else he would have sent me back to my chambers in anger with the wish that the Northerners find me.' Tyrion wondered what the Tyrell's would have gained by sending back Sansa's body, 'nothing to be gained. Besides, they do not know she has passed away yet. Father would be informing them of this event after Sansa's bones has been sent away.' He then wondered who else could have stolen her body, 'and who could have the knowledge of the hidden passageways?'
His thoughts then focused on Varys. The Master of Whispers must know about the hidden passageway; this was something Tyrion suspected but had no proof. 'And what use could he have in stealing away Sansa's body? How about any Lannister vassals in Kings Landing? No… no vassals of House Lannister would betray us.'
Tyrion continued to keep silent as he took a drink from the cup before turning his attention to the thick wooden door, beyond which there were muffled voices in the hallway.
"By the Seven!" he heard one of the Kingsguard, Boros Blount, say with what seemed to be fear in his voice. "You… you are dead…" it was that muffled statement that had both Cersei and Tyrin look at each other in confusion just before they snapped their heads towards the door once again just as sounds of fighting and yelling could be heard through the walls and door.
"What the hell…!"
"Blount! Get back here!"
"Kill her!"
"Help!"
"Surround her… get up and surround her!"
"Blount! Fuck him! Swords at the ready!"
Tyrion glanced at Cersei whose eyes were on him… a confused expression in her face.
"The gods help…"
"Kill her!"
"My Lady, how are you…"
"Boy get away…!"
Tyrion could hear the CLANG of swords and armour – as well as the footsteps of the men fighting – through the door. He could not help but wonder why Bronn was calling for Blount, 'isn't he out there fighting? Did he run away? Why was everyone else yelling? Why did the rough voices of the Mountain men sound so terrified?'
GAH! Squelch! SHRRIIING!
Tyrion froze at the sound of what seemed to be raw meat being torn just outside the door. He could also hear the sounds of metal being twisted just as Cersei rushed to an awakened Joffrey who was complaining about the noise. At the same time, Tommen rushed out of the room where he was asleep, with tears running down his cheeks. He said the sounds woke him from his slumber and that he was afraid. Tyrion watched as his nephew rushed to his mother who was holding onto Joffrey who, in turn, was ordering his little brother to stop crying.
"Those Northern savages are outside fighting my men," Joffrey sneered while Tyrion thought to himself, 'your men?' Tyrion wanted to chuckle, at least if the situation was not so dire. Joffrey continued to say, while puffing his chest out like a peacock, "I should be out there fighting, my skills are good enough to match any Northern savage."
"Yes," Cersei placated him while gently stroking the back of Joffrey's head while holding a still crying Tommen close to her bosom. "But you are the King, and as such you have your Kingsguard to fight and destroy your enemies. There is no need for you to fight on your own."
Tyrion had a witty retort ready. But before he could dare his idiot nephew to fight the Northerners in the hallway outside, there was a heavy thump against the door. The whole room was silent – except for Tommen's quiet sobbing and a whine from Joffrey who was glaring at the door which thumped once again.
And suddenly, everything was quiet. There were no sounds from the other side of the door; including a distinct lack of fighting sounds.
'Did we win?' Tyrion thought as he turning head towards the look of fear on his sister's face. Suddenly, there was a loud BANG from the direction of the door. Tyrion and the others turned towards the door just as it fell off its hinges and down to the floor with a loud THUD! Tyrion didn't have a direct line of sight through the door, but Cersei did… as did Joffrey and Tommen.
And the scream… the blood curdling scream from Cersei's lips would haunt him for the rest his days.
"Cersei! Stop screaming like a wild…" Tyrion was running over to his sister who was still staring out the door while Tommen was screaming in fear and crying. Joffrey had his eyes wide open for a second before he too screamed in fear. In a moment, just before reaching the corner post of the four-post bed, Tyrion got a good look at the figure standing in the doorway… and the blood rushed away from his face. He came to a stop and just stood there… his feet planted on the floor. He couldn't move as he stared at the barely dressed figure standing at the entrance to the room.
The figure was covered in blood from head to toe… literally. His eyes travelled from the blood on the figure's face to the blood – blood that still looked fresh – around her mouth, cheeks, chin, throat, chest, and down to her abdomen. There were strips of silk and cloth, also covered in blood, covering most of the figure's body.
"Sansa?" Tyrion whispered as his eyes returned up to her face… to the reds of her eyes surrounded by white. 'What happened? She is dead…. Father and Cersei saw her body. Everyone saw her body… so… so…' By now, the screaming from Cersei, Joffrey, and Tommen had stopped as Sansa licked her lips while staring at Cersei. She then pulled back her still bloodstained lips to reveal what looked to be sharp fangs covered in blood.
'Is this a trick of the light?' Tyrion thought as he stared at the fangs while stumbling back towards his table and away from Cersei and the children. He saw Sansa's eyes shift towards Tommen, and Tyrion swore there was a look of pity on her face before she turned her attention towards Joffrey who was breathing hard. He swore the reds of her eyes shone brighter while the shadows in the room, slowly covering the flickering light from the candles, started to rise up the walls. He swore that Sansa growled at Joffrey who whimpered as he held on tight to a still silent Cersei.
And just as suddenly, the shadows were gone and light from the candles returned. But Sansa's red eyes and fangs remained. Tyrion mentally yelled out, 'How could she have fangs? FUCKING FANGS!'
"Lord Tyrion," Sansa spoke, bringing Tyrion out of his own thoughts and into the present. Tyrion stared into Sansa's eyes and gulped… he should run. He should run out of here. The only thought in his mind was to run. He glanced at Cersei, Joffrey, and Tommen; and he immediately felt ashamed. He didn't care much for Joffrey and Cersei; but Tommen wasn't corrupted… he still had his innocence. And they were still his family. Like it or not, he was a Lannister.
"Lord Tyrion," Sansa spoke again. Tyrion focused on her while trying to come up with a witty retort. Before he could say anything, Sansa continued, "I have already killed and fed on…"
"Killed? Fed?"
Tyrion whispered both while Joffrey, now seemingly back to his idiot self, yelled out that it was impossible.
"And if you fed on people… well, that shows you Northerners are savages!"
Tyrion and Sansa were staring at each other while Cersei was begging Joffrey to remain silent. The little tyrant continued to yell out that he was the King and that he was never wrong.
"Shut up!" Tyrion finally yelled out while snapping his head towards Joffrey. He then turned towards Sansa and spoke, all the while trying to keep his voice steady. "You… you died, Lady Stark."
"Yes," was the reply. It was so nonchalant that the answer threw Tyrion off for a moment. 'How was she so at ease… she was dead and now… now she feeds on men?' Speaking of which, what happened to the men out in the hallway. "My Lady, the men standing guard out in the hallway…"
"They are no longer a concern," Sansa spoke as beads of fresh blood rolled off her hands and arms and dripped down to the floor. "My Lord, I think you should take Lord Tommen to Riverrun and…"
"NO!" Cersei yelled out before Sansa turned her head towards the blonde, "my son is the King and he will not be…."
"After I am done with the Lannisters," Sansa spoke while glaring at Cersei tightening her hold on Tommen, "there will be no need for a Lannister Prince…"
"I AM THE KING!" Joffrey yelled out as he squirmed out of Cersei's hands and rushed on all fours across the soft bed. He then skipped off the bed, grabbed the sword leaned against the wall while Cersei, Tyrion, and Tommen yelled at him to stop. "And I will skin your traitorous hide…" Tyrion watched in horror as Sansa simply stood still, her face wincing slightly as Joffrey stabbed the entire length of his blade through her abdomen – he could see the bloody point of the sword jutting out through her back. Joffrey remained where he was… now laughing as he pulled out the sword and then rammed it into Sansa's abdomen once again. Tommen was screaming as blood fell from Sansa's wounds onto the bloody floor… the blade still struck through her while Joffrey screeched how he would be leading the armies of Westeros against Robb Stark.
"And after I cut off his head, I will bring it back to Kings Landing and hang it over my bed!" Joffrey bellowed, "and I will do the same to your bitch mother and your brothers! I will end your traitorous House!"
Joffrey was screaming in her face, Tyrion could see his grip on the sword tightening as he pushed the sword further into her body. However, there was something wrong with what he was seeing… judging from the tattered remains of what could only be Sansa's skirts, how was she not injured in any way? It was certain her legs were covered in blood, but there were no slashes or stab wounds. 'The guards and knights she supposedly killed would have done all they could to protect us, and they would have cut her to pieces if necessary. So where are her cuts? Where are her injuries? It is as if she has not been injured in anyway which is highly impossible.'
GACK! Tyrion focused his attention back to the present as Sansa shot an arm forward towards Joffrey's neck. He could only watch as her fingers wrapped around his neck before – to everyone's surprise – lifting him off the floor.
"Joffrey!" Cersei yelled as she hopped off the bed. Tyrion yelled out for his nephew as well before rushing towards him and Sansa. Joffrey was kicking his legs wildly in the air while grabbing Sansa's arm with both his hands. Tyrion could hear Joffrey gasping for breath in between begging for Sansa to free him. 'From threatening to kill Sansa… again… and threatening to kill the rest of the Starks,' Tyrion thought just before he and Cersei stopped cold at the tone of Sansa's voice.
Tyrion looked on as Sansa pulled the sword out from her abdomen with her free hand before freeing it from her grip. The sword fell onto the blood already pooled on the floor with a thud. Tyrion's eyes then noticed movement on Sansa's body, and his eyes focused on the stab wounds. Stab wounds that should have been fatal. In horror, he reeled back and watched as the wounds closed off by themselves and, before long, there was no evidence of any wound whatsoever.
'What…?' thought Tyrion as Sansa spoke.
"As I was saying, Lord Tyrion," the redhaired girl said while looking at Tyrion, "you will take Tommen to Casterly Rock and…"
"No!"
"Cersei, shut up," Tyrion growled at his sister who head spun towards him with a snarl, "your son is in her grasp. She could…" Tyrion could not believe what he was about to say next, "kill Joffrey right now. She is holding him off the floor, do you not realize the strength it would take to accomplish this?" And that was another issue, how had Sansa's acquired this strength? Sansa was just a girl… she never displayed any physical strength all the while she was a 'guest' of the Lannisters. So why now? He looked away from his sister, who was grasping one of the posts on each corner of the bed, and turned his attention back to Sansa.
"My Lady, you were saying?"
"You will return to Casterly Rock as the head of House Lannister," Sansa said staring at Tyrion, "you will tell whoever is in charge…"
"My father, Lord Tywin, is the head of House Lannister!" Tyrion glanced at the outburst from his sister who continued, "release your King!"
"I hold the life of your son," Sansa said with a snarl… Tyrion never thought he would ever have heard Sansa speak to anyone this way… before continuing as she lowered Joffrey until his feet touched the floor, "and I cold snap his neck with a flick of my wrist."
"My Lady, what is it you want?"
"You come after Lord Tywin, do you not?" Sansa asked as she turned her head towards Tyrion while Joffrey was trying to kick out at her without success before going to slapping at her arm with his hands.
Tyrion heard Joffrey gasp before begging for his life once again before answering, "by all rights and laws, I would be the head of House Lannister after my father."
"As if father would…"
Sansa interrupted Cersei and said, "you were the only one of your family to be kind to me. And Tommen is innocent in this… but he still needs to see what will happen if the Lannisters cross House Stark once again. After we are done here, you will take Tommen and return to Casterly Rock with whatever remains of your Household Guard."
"You speak as if I am already the Head of my House," Tyrion said with eyes narrowed in confusion.
"The Lannisters will never again seek the Iron Throne. Your House will never harm the North or my family again for the rest of time," Sansa spoke with a coolness in her voice as she stared at Tyrion, "if you, your family, your descendants ever seek the Throne or harm the North… I will travel to Casterly Rock and finish what I started here."
"My Lady, threats are…"
"Why did you kill my father when you swore he would be sent North," Sansa said, ignoring Tyrion, as she turned her head away from him and faced Joffrey, "tell me, and I will release you."
Tyrion pressed his lips together while trying to keep down his anger at the situation. He needed to keep a level head. The things Sansa was saying… the threats – if they can be called threats – were impossible. Just fanciful thinking of an angry girl. But none of that explained how Sansa had this much physical strength or how and why she healed so quickly. He took a deep breath and said, "you swear to release him?"
"Yes," Sansa answered Tyrion while glaring at Joffrey.
"Swear to release Cersei as well," Tyrion said much to his own surprise, "I despise her, but she is still a Lannister. And my sister."
"No," Sansa said while staring at Joffrey. Before Tyrion could say anything, Sansa growled at Joffrey before saying, "why did you change your mind?"
"Baelish!" Joffrey gasped. Tyrion was surprised at hearing Baelish's name being spoken, what did he have to do with all of this? "It was Baelish. The night before the confession, he came to my chambers. He told me I would be seen as weak if Stark was released without any punishment."
"You sent him to the Wall, that was his punishment," Sansa growled as Tyrion's attention remained on Joffrey while trying to think why Baelish would interfere.
'Baelish must have known the North would retaliate,' Tyrion thought, 'so why?'
"The people needed to see him punished for treason, and if they did not, then I would be weak," Joffrey was now pleading, "please let me go… please…. I answered your question… and…"
"Did you send the assassin after my brother?" Sansa asked as she stared at the whimpering boy who had tears traveling down his cheeks. Suddenly, Tyrion could smell the stench of piss in the air before he focused on Joffrey and the liquid travelling down his pyjama covered legs and flowing down onto the floor. He noticed the look of disgust on Sansa's face as she asked once again if it was Joffrey who sent the assassin after Bran. Joffrey gurgled out a "No" before Sansa turned her head towards Cersei who was staring at her in abject fear; an emotion Tyrion thought he would never see on the face of his sister.
"No." That was Cersei's answer. Tyrion knew he did not try and kill Bran; in fact, he wanted to find out who was responsible for the young Stark's near assassination. Just as he needed to know who it was that pushed the Stark boy out the window of the Broken Tower at Winterfell months ago. Tyrion guessed that Sansa knew Cersei's bias towards Joffrey and that the latter would never want her golden lion to come to harm.
'And so Sansa would use Joffrey as a tool to discover the truth of why Lord Stark was killed instead of being sent to the Wall,' Tyrion thought, 'and now I need to find out why that whoremonger pushed Joffrey to behead Ned Stark.'
"I have heard the rumours as well, you know," Sansa said while staring at Cersei just before she tilted her head to the left and looked over her shoulder. Turning her head back to Joffrey, and then to Cersei, and then to Tyrion, she said, "we are about to have guests." Sansa growled, just as voices and footsteps could be heard outside in the hallway, and then picked up Joffrey by the throat again and then rushed into the room to the surprise of Tommen – who screamed in fear, Tyrion who stepped back even more until he bumped his head against the edge of the table where he was seated minutes ago, and Cersei who was clasping her hands together over her lips while staring at Joffrey who was struggling and kicking his legs in the air. Everything happened for a moment before Sansa put Joffrey down again… the blonde gasping while mumbling that Sansa promised to release him.
The voices were getting closer now while Tyrion noticed Sansa's back was to the curtain covered Myrish glass doors that led to a balcony overlooking the city and Blackwater Bay.
"By the Seven!"
"Loras! Take Margaery away from here!"
"Where are the guards?"
"Where is the King?"
"Lady Olenna, you must get away… the Keep has been…"
Tyrion could now see at least eight Knights and guards of House Tyrell staring into the room while more were rushing behind them towards what he could only assume were the bodies of the Kingsguard and Lannister Guards.
"Let me through!" demanded a voice Tyrion recognized as Lady Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns. The old woman, wearing a black robe, pushed though and came up to the front of the Knights and guards standing at the doorway. They were on guard with their swords in their hands while Olenna turned her head towards Tyrion with her eyebrows narrowed, and then to the back of Joffrey's head, and then she took a step to the left and frowned at Sansa, and then at Cersei, and then at Tyrion once again. "What is the meaning of this? One of your Kingsguard… a coward who ran after yelling at us about a monster in the form of Sansa Stark… urged us to run away. None of us could decipher his meaning and…"
"My… my Lady, I assure you that…"
"There are more men available now," Cersei interrupted Tyrion who noticed the gleam in her eyes as she turned her head towards Sansa, "release the King. Now!"
No one moved. Other than the horrified whispers in the hallway, the room was silent.
Sansa.
The room was silent. Well, except for the thundering sounds caused by the racing heartbeats from the Royal Family and the Tyrells. Sansa thought this was a good piece of luck, after all she was initially going to see and speak with the Queen of Thorns herself… but only after she found something nice to wear. 'We can speak now instead.' She glanced at Joffrey and enjoyed the feel of her hand around his neck, she could feel the pulsating vein running up the side of his neck. The scent of blood was exhilarating rushing through his body. No matter what reservations she had about these new abilities, they were pushed to the back of her mind as she stared at the look of fear on Joffrey's face. Her mind flashed back to the day in the Throne Room where she was beaten on the orders of the blonde Princeling. The look on his face as he enjoyed yelling out orders to hurt her in front of all the assembled nobles… oh how she wanted to rip that face off his head.
And now Sansa had that chance.
She glanced at Tommen hiding behind Cersei and pitied him. He was innocent in all of this… he and Myrcella were the Lannisters she did not want to hurt. Sansa glanced at Tyrion before her eyes returned to Joffrey just as Lady Olenna yelled out at her men to rescue their King.
"Grown men afraid of a nearly naked girl! Help your King!"
Sansa squeezed Joffrey's neck once again before lifting him up into the air just as Tyrion yelled out loudly for everyone to stop moving. Joffre started to kick his legs everywhere… even at her. And while she did feel some pain from his kicks, the impacts were not strong enough; Besides, her arm wasn't feeling tired as Joffrey's struggling body hung just over the floor. Sansa felt as if she could hold him up by the neck the whole day.
Everyone in the room stopped, including the Tyrell guard after Tyrion's order. Sansa remained staring at Joffrey as she asked, "My Queen." Sansa put all her disgust into her voice when she said the word "Queen" as she glanced at Cersei. "I have heard the rumours of your children's parentage. Who is their father?"
"How dare…!"
"Who is their father?" Sansa squeezed Joffrey's neck as continued to glare at Cersei, "their real father."
Sansa glared at Cersei whose heart was racing and her blood flowing fast through her body. Sansa could smell the stench of wine and sweat coming off the Queen as the latter glared at her with lips pressed. Sansa watched Cersei's eyes glance at Joffrey who had stopped struggling and was gasping for air now.
"Don't be stupid, Child," the Lady Olenna said, "of course…"
"Who is the father of your children?" Sansa asked Cersei once again, ignoring the old woman. Sansa had hoped that Cersei would see Joffrey in danger and immediately reveal whatever was the truth. But Cersei still refused. So, Sansa stared into Cersei's eyes and then commanded her using her voice… just as she had commanded the Lannister soldier from earlier into revealing the location of the Royal Family, "the truth now. Who is the real father of your children."
"Jamie!" Cersei immediately answered before her eyes went wide to gasps from the Tyrells who were close enough to hear her, including Olenna Tyrell.
Cersei brought her hands up to cover her mouth with a look of surprise on her face as Sansa said, "you watched as I was betrothed to a bastard of incest?"
Cersei mumbled "Yes" through her hands while staring at Sansa in surprise.
There was something else Sansa wanted to know; she didn't think it was possible that the Lannisters themselves were responsible for Bran's fall and near murder in Winterfell. After all, the Royal Family were in Winterfell under Guest Rights and there was no way they would harm a Stark while being protected under the very same Guest Rights. Would they? But from what Sansa had experienced in Kings Landing so far, there was no such thing as honour among the people here.
"Did you push Bran out of the window of the Broken Tower in Winterfell?" Sansa asked in her commanding voice. She saw Cersei's eyes widen and her heart race even faster. 'Does a racing heart mean she knows something? Or was she… by the gods… did she push Bran?'
Over Tyrion asking her to release Joffrey, Sansa ignored him and waited for the answer to her question. She could tell even Olenna was waiting for an answer.
"No," Cersei said as tears gathered in her eyes much to Sansa's surprise.
"Do you know who pushed him?" Sansa asked before Olenna could ask a question.
"Jamie…" Cersei admitted to more gasps. After Sansa asked why she knew it was Jamie who pushed Bran, Cersei continued, "Jamie and I were fucking… we were fucking and your stupid brother discovered us. He would have gone to Robert and the big oaf would have killed us. It was either he die or… or us."
Sansa felt heat travelling through her entire body. She was enraged… this woman near killed her brother to cover up an affair. And affair that produced three bastards. Sansa pulled her head back and bared her fangs while releasing a bloodcurdling scream. The Queen and Ser Jamie were responsible for her brother's near death, Joffrey was responsible for her father's death as was Baelish… she was already starting to plan the latter's death. The Tyrell's stepped back at her roar before she snapped her head back to the fearful look on Joffrey's face.
"One more," Sansa growled at Cersei whose heart was racing, as were the hearts of Tommen, Tyrion, and everyone else in the room, "did you and your brother send the assassin to try and kill Bran?"
"No!" Cersei answer before Sansa looked away from her and turned towards Joffrey.
Sansa smiled at the frightened boy and said, "I swore to release you… and so I will." She lowered her arm until Joffrey's feet were resting on the floor. The boy had a look of relief on his face as Sansa loosened her grip around his neck; he expected her to release him. Sansa suspected that the moment Joffrey was released, the Tyrells in the room would attack her.
But only if she actually released Joffrey.
With a growl as she bore her fangs again, Sansa quickly pulled Joffrey to her by his neck and then used her free hand to tilt his head to the left. Once his neck was exposed – all the while hearing yelling from Cersei and Tyrion, along with screaming from Tommen – Sansa released his neck and immediately bit down into his neck. Her fangs punctured the skin while one arm was quickly placed around his back, and the hand that had tilted his head was now gripping the back of his head. Sansa could feel sweet blood rushing out of the puncture wounds as she made audible sucking sounds while the blood went down her throat. Her eyes were staring at the horrified expressions on the Tyrells, including the ones rushing into the room from the hallway to protect their King. They were now faced with a grotesque sight.
Sansa heard Cersei wailing while Tyrion yelled at her to stop. She could hear Tommen begging his mother and then the Tyrells to help. But there was no help coming. Sansa could hear Joffrey's heart slowing down as more and more blood rushed into her mouth. All anyone could do was just stare in horror. And once Joffrey's heart stopped, Sansa raised her head off his neck and let him go. Cersei wailed even louder – if that was possible – as Joffrey's pale and lifeless body crumbled down to the floor. Sansa wiped her lips with the back of her left hand as she stared at Lady Olenna who asked "what are you? What… what have you…"
"You swore to let him go," Tyrion said with a hint of anger in his voice. Sansa turned her head towards him and pressed her lips together before speaking.
"I said I would release him," Sansa said before looking down at the pale body, "I released him from his life in this world." She then looked over at Tyrion once again, "I never said I would let him go free."
"This is not Stark honour," Tyrion said angrily, "you killed a king…"
"A bastard of incest," Sansa spoke, "now take Tommen and go, my Lord. Take your household guards with you if you desire; your family never gave mine a chance to leave. Now I give you and Tommen a chance to live."
"Remember, My Lady," Tyrion said as he rushed towards Tommen while Sansa took a step back. She saw Tyrion look down at Joffrey's body before looking back up at her in anger, "a Lannister always pays their debts."
Sansa took note of the anger on Tyrion's face before saying, "and if the Lannisters attempt to call in any perceived debts, winter will come for your house. Remember that, my Lord." Sansa then looked over at Tommen staring at her with horror filled eyes while holding onto Cersei who was simply staring at the dead Joffrey with eyes wide open. Sansa turned her head towards Lady Olenna once again and said, "my Lady, House Stark has no quarrel with House Tyrell. You may stay here if you wish… or you can return to Highgarden if you wish." Sansa looked on as the Lady Olenna nodded her head before she continued, "as long as your guards do not stand between me and Cersei, as well as Lord Tywin, I will not attack any of you. But stand between me and them, I will kill everyone… including Margaery."
Sansa could sense there was some part of Olenna that did not believe her, just as she was certain the Queen of Thorns did not want to risk finding out if her words were true. 'She has seen the dead outside in the hallway.'
"Well, my Lady?" Sansa asked Olenna, "you have seen me feed on Joffrey, you have seen the bodies out in the hallway… will you stay out of my way?"
"Admittedly, I cannot explain what you have done to the King," Olenna said with disgust on her face, "perhaps Northerners really have savage instincts." Sansa pressed her lips together as Olenna continued, "and there is little evidence to show for Cersei's words so there is no way to determine its truth. And there is no way to know how the men in the hallway were killed."
Tyrion was silent as Sansa glanced at him. The anger on his face was still present as Sansa thought to herself, 'even though Joffrey was not Tyrion's favourite person, he was still a Lannister after all. I don not blame him for his anger towards me.' She then focused her sights on Olenna and said, "will you have me kill all the Tyrells guarding you in this room? Will that convince you Lady Olenna?" Sansa needed to finish this quick… she hid Ice in one of the empty rooms, and then she needed to find Baelish, and then she needed to find Tywin. And then she would leave Kings Landing for good with Ice. But first, there was the small matter of the Tyrells and Cersei.
"Take the girl into custody for the crime of regicide," Olenna said as Sansa growled and bore her fangs at the group of guards coming at her with swords drawn. And then there were screams and yells from the guards as Sansa imagined darkness all around them. Sansa made certain that everyone, including the Lannisters in the room, saw only darkness – she could hear Tommen calling out for help, Tyrion calling out for Tommen and Cersei, and Cersei begging Tommen to not let her go. Sansa could hear Olenna demanding to know what was happening while the rest of her guards were moving about in the darkness confused and daring not to swing their swords in the event they sliced or stabbed Olenna or any of the other guards.
Sansa, however, could see clearly for she was only imposing her own imagination… her own will… onto the others. She immediately attacked each of the Tyrell guards; injuring all of them in the room to various degrees – all of them lay on the floor unconscious but alive - before she walked to a confused Tyrion who could only make out gurgled screams in the darkness before there was silence.
"You will be the head of your House," Sansa whispered as Tyrion snapped his head towards her voice, "remember what I said, my Lord. I can end House Lannister in one night if my conditions for your release are not followed. Am I understood?"
"Yes," Tyrion said with anger in his voice.
"You have until first light to leave with all your Household Guard," Sansa said before she turned towards Olenna and then towards Cersei who was on the bed with her arms around Tommen, her head moving as she tried to search for Sansa.
"Guards!" Olenna continued to yell as she called for more guards.
Sansa ignored her as she walked towards the bed and then stopped next to Cersei whose back faced her while she held onto Tommen tightly.
"Guards!" Olenna continued to yell while Sansa placed a hand on Cersei's right shoulder. She felt Cersei's body tense immediately before getting onto the bed and moving behind the Queen who was now shaking.
Sansa could hear the blonde woman whisper, "please… please…"
"Tommen! Cersei!" Tyrion yelled as Sansa used her left hand to grab the top of the blonde's head and tilt it, exposing the side of her neck.
"Uncle! I'm scared!"
"Tommen!" Tyrion yelled. Sansa watched as Tyrion was cautiously making his way towards Tommen's voice, his arms spread out in front of him so that he would not crash into furniture.
Sansa chuckled before lowering her head towards Cersei's ear and whispered, "I'm no longer your little dove." Cersei whimpered before giving off a soft yell as Sansa bit into her neck. Sansa took in the blood gushing into her mouth and down her throat. Sansa tightened her hold and sucked harder while Tommen was crying for his uncle. Sansa took in all of Cersei's blood and then released her and got off the bed. Cersei fell to the side, landing on the soft mattress while still holding onto a crying Tommen. Sansa got off the bed and made her way around the bed and past Tyrion and then past Olenna. She walked into the hallway and then released the imagination of darkness imposed onto the minds of the Lannisters and Tyrells.
"Mother!" Tommen yelled out in anguish as Sansa stood still in the hallway staring into the room. She saw Tyrion rush to the bed, but not before glaring at her as he ran past the door. At that time Olenna turned and stared at the fallen Tyrell bodies in the room before staring at Sansa with a look of utter horror.
"Your guards are alive, Lady Olenna," Sansa said, "I have a few more people to see before I leave Kings Landing. If the Tyrells stand against me, I will truly kill them."
"I… I will give the order to leave you be," Olenna whispered while her eyes were still wide with terror.
"If any harm comes to the North by the Tyrells or your allies," Sansa said, "I will travel to Highgarden. Am I understood?"
"Yes," Olenna whispered. Sansa could hear more footsteps coming her way. She then nodded at the Queen of Thorns before rushing down the hallway. She needed to retrieve Ice first before getting to Baelish… but she needed to find out where he was located first. And then, she needed to deal with Lord Tywin. She was nearly done with Kings Landing. And then she would head home.
She needed to go home. 'I wish I had never left Winterfell.'
TBC