Snippet #2072364

Christine's hands shook as she was lead into the throne room. How had this happened? All those years of careful planning...all gone down the drain. It was over. There was no way to get out of this anymore. She felt tired.

Her mind drew a blank when her gaze met James'. She barely registered the question she was asked. She stared blankly at the Lord who had asked her. Slower than time could go, she met each of the gazes that looked at her, finally coming to rest on Rivera.

Her little half-sister. This was her fault. If she had never been born, then Christine would have taken over the Dukedom. But she had been born...Her hands clenched, and finally, she brandished a finger at Rivera.

"You weren't supposed to live! They were supposed to kill you, not kidnap you. I was supposed to be rid of you!"

The room went quiet, all eyes on the sisters. What was that gleam in Rivera's eyes? Pity, sorrow? Victory? Christine couldn't place it. She simply stood, shaking with rage.

"You mean the men who ransacked the castle and took me when I was five? You were nine. You couldn't possibly have been behind that."

"Just because I was a child does not mean that I was helpless. I knew my situation, my station. I knew if I didn't get rid of you then I would never have anything. I would have been cast out as a bastard. Even if the Duke had handed it to me, so long as his true Heir lived, the people would never have accepted me. I would have been overthrown, and you would have been put in my place!"

"So you plotted to have me killed, failed, and now plotted to have me branded a traitor and put to death."

"What else could I have done?"

Rivera looked at Christine sadly. It could have turned out so differently. She bridged the gap between them, and pulled out the daggar she kept sheathed at her waist. She placed the handle in Christine's hand, guiding it up to her own throat, and lett go. "You want me dead so badly? At least have the guts to do it yourself."

Christine stared at her, horrifed. Rivera could not be putting her life in her hands, not after everything she had tried to do to her. She dropped the blade, backing away. "I...I could never--!" She fell to her knees.

Rivera looked down at her, and then at James. "Well, your Majesty?"