Blood and War

act one

Murad was furious, his whole body shook in pure utter rage. He could still hear the echoes of his mother's cries and how his sisters had fallen to the ground, their heart-wrenching screams permanently imprinted in his mind. He would have nightmares full of their mournful cries.

Out of everything that could have happened, he had not suspected this to occur. Thoughts on how the sultan would be able to live let alone sleep with the guilty conscious kept him up at night. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined this. 

He would never fail to remember how the Janissary had came, carrying his beloved brother who lay lifeless in a white sheet.

If he was being honest he was the last to react, he  had just stood there in horror as his sisters, mother and Gulfem sultana weeped over the body of Mustafa. How his brothers favourite efsun and fatma nearly fainted at the sight and how sumbal aga rushed to take the children away from the devastating sight.

He had stood there as Bayezid came, his eyes glossy with tears unshed and a look of sadness in his eyes. He bowed his head as the funeral took place, his head remind bowed until everyone had left, still weeping for their dead prince. He didn't leave until sunset. 

The days turned into weeks and weeks until a full  month went by, Murad had cried in silence. Fumed and broke furniture in private and planned life changing schemes whilst hidden in his four walls. 

Murad only had one thing on his mind as he spent the weeks leading up to the first month of his brothers passing.

Since a brother was taken from him, a son taken from his mother and his heart ripped from his chest. He would pay his enemies back with the same price. A life for a life. He wouldn't rest until he had taken revenge, and he wouldn't allow anyone else to rest until he had taken what was owed. 

After a full day of being locked in his chambers, he finally requested for his family to visit him.

He only waited a few hours until everyone had arrived, his mother clothed in black with her grey streaked hair loose and messy. His three sisters came in a similar state apart from Gulfem sultana, who even with the dark circles under her eyes had come in a plain looking dark blue dress. 

Murad greeted each family member, then he dismissed his servents and closed the door. 

Sitting at his desk he leaned back into his seat and said in a firm voice, not caring what anyone thought or who would disagree. He had made his choices and wouldn't back out of it. 

" I will speak plainly, I have nothing to hide. After a lot of consideration I have decided that I will not allow the red haired witches blood to sit on the ottoman throne. The throne is mine and only mine, it should have been my brother's but unfortunately our enemies plotted against us and we came out defeated. But the war isn't over yet, I have a plan and I am only going to ask once. Will you as my family support me"? 

After a long silence, a small but firm voice spoke up, gently a hand smooth and warm covered his own. Hazel eyes met with hazel, then the owner of the eyes spoke.

" Yes, always" 

The decision had been made, there was no turning back