Sometimes she imagined her hands around her neck, squeezing with all her might. The joy she would feel as she watched the life drain from that wretched woman's eyes, perhaps she'd claw and grab, squirm and kick. Try to free herself, but she wouldn't. She'd suffocate, she'd die and Hatice would smile and laugh.

Because she would be gone and she would have no more fear in her life she would have no more of that pain. She'd finish what her late Valide had started, she'd do what Mahidevran couldn't. The woman had tried numerous times, from beatings, poisonings. Never once was she successful, Hatice partially blamed herself for that. She'd felt pity for Hurrem at first the woman had been scared and was only doing what was told, sure she was rebellious but Hatice was as well. She saw a bit of herself in Hurrem.

The want to be free to spread her wings, soar with no restrictions.

The childish innocence she so wanted to grasp onto like a lifeline, Hurrem was like her.

No, that was a cursed thought. Hurrem was a slave, she was then and she would still be now. She was a Sultana by blood, born into this privilege and it was sickening to think she once considered that vile snake a friend.

Someone to look after.

No, if strangling her didn't work she'd have a concubine kill her.

Catch her off guard while she roamed the halls of the harem, her head held high acting like she owned the palace. Like the Harem was truly hers, and she'd be grabbed by her hair, pulled to the ground. A dagger in her back, she deserved to die on that cold floor alone and slow. Blood pooling around her, staining the luxurious dresses she had no right to wear or to own.

She would die alone.

Maybe Hatice would walk by seeming like a savior.

Only to kick Hurrem's dying bloody hand away from her like the filth she was.

Filth, that's what she was. No amount of jewels and dresses and complicated hairstyles could cover that up. She was a vile human inside and out, a true devil. Her soul was black ink and it infected all those around her including her children.

After Hurrem died maybe she could repair the damage done to her niece and nephews, reveal to them how much of a monster their precious Valide was. How her cruelty has damaged everyone, stained their hearts and souls. Slanders, everything that snake had said was slanders.

Slanders about her, Ibrahim, Mahidevran, Mustafa-

They'd understand, they'd listen.

They would accept it because they had to, she would make them.

Accept it like she had, she learned the hard way.

That the fiery redheaded Alexandra was not her friend, she gained Hatice's trust just to slander her husband. Get closer to The Sultan, gain wealth and power, trample all of her rivals. She didn't want to see it. At first she figured Hurrem was misguided and confused on where she stood in the hierarchy.

She was at the bottom.

She'd been nice about it and the two grew close, they'd go on walks around the palace grounds. Hurrem would tell stories of where she came from, teach her a bit of her mother language. Hatice enjoyed hearing about her younger sister most, sisters were a blessing. One Hatice appreciated, Hurrem agreed.

She missed her sister, and Hatice felt sorrow for her.

But now she wondered, how much could she bring up those old wounds?

Boasting about her own siblings and the joy they brought her, watch Hurrem as she remembered what happened to her own. How she'd been ripped from her arms along with her parents. Watched them be murdered by bandits as she was dragged away to be sold to the palace.

But nothing ever seemed to work, she always kept her head up. She had thick skin and that Hatice would give her credit for. Nothing she said or did worked, and she was forced to stand back and watch her family.

Her dynasty fell apart in the hands of the Russian Witch.

Hatice bit back a disgusted growl and slumped down on her bed, fingers gripping her dress. She couldn't stand it, she couldn't handle this anymore. "Sultana?" Hatice looked up to see Gulfem standing in the doorway, concern ever present on her face. Gulfem had been hovering over her like a hawk as of late, Hatice knew she worried about her. They'd been inseparable for more years than she could count. But with all the ideas whirling around in her head, she felt more in the clouds...or in hell than usual.

"Gulfem," Hatice said standing up.

"Sah Sultan is asking for you."

Of course she was, Hatice crossed her arms and turned her back to Gulfem and fixed her eyes on the window. "Tell her I'll visit with her later, I'm not feeling well." It wasn't a lie, she really wasn't. Her head was pounding and her stomach was twisting.

always stress...

Gulfem tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth but stopped when Hatice lifted her hand, siginaling for her to remain silent. She nodded and left the room, the door closing softly behind her.

Hatice let out a breath of relief and sat back down, the thoughts that had taken residence in her mind never quieted down. She felt as if her mind was a true battlefield, full of malice and pain. Ever since her beloved had died, she couldn't calm it.

Another noise at the door snapped her once again out of her thoughts, thinking it was Gulfem she stood up fists clenched. "I said I wished to be left alone!?" Hatice growled, the door opened and a concubine walked in.

"Sultana," she bowed quickly. "The letter had been sent to Hurrem Sultan, word is she's already packing to head to Shezade Selim." Hatice felt her heart jump to her throat, she'd nearly forgotten about this.

"She'll be prevented from going, surely." She couldn't help but pace.

The spy Concubine shook her head, "No my Sultana, she was heard saying she will go with or without permission, nothing will keep her away from her Shezade." Hatice stopped in her tracks.

"Make sure everything is ready, nothing must go wrong. She can not make it to her destination." She forced a smile, "And have my carriage prepared, I want to be there." The concubine nodded and quickly left the room.

She rubbed her hands together the anxiety now was a bit in her stomach, a part of her was hopeful this would finally rid the palace of its resident snake. But she remained mostly pessimistic, she had at least a thousand lives at this point. And this wasn't going to work, Hurrem would realize her son hadn't sent the letter, she'd track it and find out it was a fake.

She'd know Hatice was trying to set a trap for her and she'd stay at the palace where she would be protected.

"No," she whispered under her breath. "This will work, it must."

It had to.

"Tell them to go faster," Hatice barked out, her leg was shaking and her heart was hammering in her chest. Her maid seemed worried but obliged, hitting her fist against the roof of the carriage. The sound of a whip cracking signaled the order was taken and the carriage lurched forward.

They'd been on the road for what felt like hours.

She couldn't wait anymore.

She peeked through the window, it was dark and she could barely make out the outlines of the trees. "Are we close?" She asked. She knew the poor girl seated across from her had no answer for that question. She was just her servant, forced to accompany her. Before the girl could even think of a response or an apology for not having an answer the carriage halted, nearly sending Hatice to the floor.

"Sultana?" The girl asked.

"Shush," Hatice said quickly.

The sounds of fighting could be heard, a grin snaked its way onto her pale face and she threw the door open and just about jumped out the carriage. Hatice's eyes widened, Hurrem's Carriage had been surrounded, all her escorts slain. One of Hatice's men flung the door open and a familiar scream pierced the night and Hurrem was thrown out of the carriage and she fell to her knees.

Before the woman could even comprehend what was going on the man grabbed her once again by the arm and forced her to her feet and dragged her away from the safety of her carriage. Hurrem fought with all her might, Hatice as always admired it.

But she could taste victory on her own tongue now.

"Hurrem," she said loudly, not even bothering to hide her smile.

Hurrem's attention snapped to where Hatice stood and her eyes widened, "Hatice Sultan?" The man finally let her go and Hatice approached her, her head held high while she looked at Hurrems dishevled appearance.

"Selim will be disappointed when his dearest Valide doesn't show up." She sighed in mock sympathy. "But don't be afraid Hurrem, I'm sure our Shezade will have a speedy recovery from whatever ails him."

Hurrem seemed shocked, confused, all the above. It was a beautiful thing to catch her off guard. "A trap," she muttered, "you set me up?" She stepped back but the guard behind her stopped her from moving any further.

"It was well overdue Hurrem, let's face it. You've run out of lives."

She shook her head, "No. You-" before Hurrem could finish her empty threat the guard striked her in the head, sending her crashing to the dirt path beneath them. Hurrem cried out in pain and surprise.

Her time was up, and she was going to suffer. Suffer like Hatice had. 

(CREDS TO ORIGINAL AUTHOR!)