Distinctly Different

Chapter 32 ~ Execution

“What’s going on?” Arabella inquired taking in the sight of the rulers of Amstia with sadness. At the sound of her voice the King turned to look at her and glowered at her even as he struggled to try and break free of his captors. He thought she was in this with her mother and blamed her for this.

“You have perfect timing,” her mother stated. “It just so happens you came here in time to see the King and Queen executed.” Hearing her mother’s words the King’s eyes widened and he became submissive as he thought about the fact that he would die soon.

Arabella struggled to keep her disquiet to herself as she saw her mother was serious about murdering the King and Queen. She hoped Rowan had found her father and were close to the castle. They would have to get here soon to save the life of the royal family. Her mother was on a murderous rampage, sights filled with only her big dreams of making things better for werewolves.

“Don’t do this,” the King pleaded, at the end he began coughing. He swallowed weakly and all Arabella wanted to do was get him a drink of water. He would die soon, was it that hard to give him some water to relieve his thirst?

“I’m not going to listen to you,” her mother replied standing up from the throne. The King made a surprised noise in the back of his throat as he recognized the dress she was wearing. Arabella stared at it with new eyes and realized the fitted white dress with a beaded bodice; the dress was similar to ones that she remembered the Queen wearing. It seemed along with taking over the castle her mother was also stealing from the closets as well.

“I hope you are dethroned in a similar manner as we were,” the King spat in anger. Her mother laughed as if he had said something hilarious.

“I’ll make sure I won’t,” she replied. “Hmm, I want you and your family to suffer, maybe I should bring them to watch you die? What is your opinion?” The King paled and he sputtered in shock.

“Please, don’t do that to them,” he whispered having lost all of his fight the moment his children were mentioned. Arabella’s mother placed her hands on her hips as she considered his plea. She didn’t look as if she would do as the King asked though.

“Mother please,” Arabella interrupted. “It’s his dying wish, the least you could do is honour it. Leave his kids out of it; they would be forever scarred by seeing their parents killed. Can you give him a glass of water as well? He’s parched, if he’s going to die then why not relieve some of his pain until then.” The King regarded Arabella with a mixture of surprise and confusion. He didn’t understand why she was being nice to him if she was working with her mother like he thought.

“Well his children wouldn’t be scarred forever,” her mother countered. “They’d only be scarred for however long until they themselves are killed. But…I suppose I’ll agree to your terms, if you do something in return.”

Arabella eyed her mother suspiciously. “What are we talking about? It depends on what you would have me do in exchange.”

Arabella’s mother tilted her head in response. “Don’t resist me anymore,” she answered. “Accept what I’m doing and join me, we’ll rule the Kingdom together, of course I’ll have the most power,” her mother added as an afterthought.

Was it worth it? Should she agree to her mother’s terms and conditions? As she regarded the King’s state her mind was made up. The rest of the royal family were suffering too they shouldn’t have to see their family die on top of that. When the royal family is safe she would disobey her mother and do what she can to help but for now she would consent.

“Fine, but I want the rest of the royal family to be taken care of better as well,” Arabella responded. Her mother sighed but nodded. She nodded to the guards and one of them went to get water while the other took over completely watching the King and the Queen. A glass of water was handed to the King and he drank it with relish.