Craytia's mother walked toward Aysha, the sound of her heels clicking on the tile floor. Craytia turned around to see Aysha sitting next to the noble she had specifically warned her against. Nothing was going the way Aysha had expected it to that night. The one time she needed things to go her way, it was spiralling out of her control.

She sat down next to Aysha. The old man was looking down and cowering in her presence. They were in an endless cycle of predator and prey. One day you were the predator. The hunter. You were standing above everyone else. You felt strong. You were strong. Until someone bigger than you comes along. Until a smarter hunter comes along. And then you become the prey. You stop being as strong as you were.

The woman slightly turned her head to the crowd and raised her voice, and said, "You may resume."

Craytia took a seat beside her mother and glared at Aysha. Aysha didn't care how Craytia felt. She had to end this all.

Aysha took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was a newfound determination in them. Life threw obstacles at you, and that was something you had to learn. You couldn't throw a fit over it. You had to roll with it and find a new way to overcome it. Aysha had found a new way to overcome it.

Aysha had found a way to overcome it. With the new determination she had, there was also a darker emotion behind it.

Paranoia.

The only way Craytia would've known what Aysha was planning was if Craytia had set it all up from the beginning. She had to have known that Aysha had overhead her conversation with her mother. For all she knew, Craytia poisoned the popcorn that Aysha had eaten to find out what her plans were. Maybe she was just pretending to dislike her mother to confuse Aysha, but she wouldn't fall for it. No, she wouldn't. She'd kill them both tonight. She'd take their title and become Jewel of Orenda and she would stop the Blood Trials. Yes, she would.

In Aysha's brown eyes was a supposed hunger to accomplish her goal. At least, it's what she thought. It was racing through her mind, but underneath all those thoughts was pure bloodlust. The feeling of being soaked in their blood. The red, hot crimson liquid all over her skin that guaranteed her kill. The enjoyment that came with seeing their eyes wide in fear. She wanted justice and she would get it, or so she thought.

"Craytia, you didn't tell me that you were bringing your little...pet along," Her mother stated cooly.

Craytia gritted her teeth. Aysha was proud. She'd been right all along, but Aysha didn't notice the way that Craytia looked at her. Her face was tensed up with what might've been annoyance to any other person looking at her, but it was actually worry for Aysha.

The old man had left the table a while ago to go talk to his wife. Aysha let out a soft sigh that wasn't audible.

"Well, Aysha, how have you been enjoying things so far?"

Aysha didn't immediately reply. Craytia's mother clapped her hands. A corner of her lips was lifted in amusement. "Craytia, dear, have you told her what you wanted her to do yet?"

Aysha's blood turned ice cold as she noticed Craytia looking away in what seemed to be shame. Shame? No, that couldn't be right.

Craytia's mother let out an exaggerated sigh and slid a knife across the table to Aysha. She put her hand over her chest and feigned concern, and told Aysha, "My dear daughter here already has the information on your parents. I'm sorry to break it to you, and I know they seemed like good people. After all, a child's parents are their heroes, but your parents were just as murderous as you were. It seems like they had a few enemies that wanted revenge and they got it...."

Aysha did her best to shut the woman's words out. There was no way that any of that was true. She saw the fear in her parent's eyes when she stabbed her father. She'd heard them crying in hope that their daughter wouldn't be a murderer. No, none of it was true. Her parents had been good people. There was no way that her parents could've had enemies that hated them to the point of killing them.

"Your parents killed people, Aysha, and Craytia wanted you to kill someone's parents. You should be glad that I told you these things, but nothing comes without

Aysha felt her entire body go numb. Her mind had gone completely blank as her body reacted on it's own. She picked up the knife and stabbed Craytia's mother in the heart multiple times. She had to have the feeling of the blood on her skin. She was going to change things for the better. There was no way that her parents had killed people. They had been good people. Honest people.

Craytia tackled her to get her to stop, but Aysha simply dug her nails into her face and slammed her head onto the floor. She stabbed Craytia in the head, the blood pouring out.

Aysha dropped the knife and stumbled back. She'd finally come to her senses and realized what she'd done. It was a gruesome sight, and Aysha felt nauseous.

A voice whispered in her ear and confirmed all her thoughts, You're just like them.

She was.

She really was.

'Author's Note'

Wow! I actually finished! This was more of a short story to depict the actions that led to her being what might look like being a "villain" in another's eyes. I hope that I was able to portray this. 

Do you guys think my writing improved? Do you think the description of surroundings and characters have improved as well? Let me know! I'm open to constructive criticism and I will do my best to employ it.

Comment your thoughts of the story in general or any questions you have for me or the story! :)

I love you all, I want you to be loved, and I hope you are loved! 💕 

-DiTrix