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I raised up out of bed covered in sweat with a scream. Another nightmare plagued my dreams like all the nights before.

"Your highness, are you alright?" Oliver burst in with his sword drawn.

"Yes I'm fine, thank you." I said and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"Nightmare?" He asked and I nodded.

"Was it about the demon again?" He asked and I nodded again and hugged my knees to my chest.

"You have nothing too fear, your highness. I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Thank you. That will be all." I said and watched as he bowed to me. After he left, I got up and decided to get dressed. I wanted to be up early enough to see my trainer before mother got up.

So quickly as possible I got dressed in my gown with my training pants underneath as normal.

"Have a good day, your highness." Oliver bows respectfully and opens the door to the servants passage.

"You as well." I say and make my way through the passage quietly.

"Princess, your mother is already up and entertaining this morning." Lyra whispers angrily as we pass each other.

"Thank you for the information." I whisper back and head in the direction of the kitchen. I could easily sneak into the dining room and annoy her enough to send me to my room for the day. Simple plan.

As I get to the kitchen all of the staff bow respectfully to me. Before they could speak I shushed them and looked out the doors window at my mother and her guest. They were more preoccupied with the food and themselves to see me.

"No one saw me, understood?" I say to the staff. They all nod and I take a deep breath before exiting the kitchen.

"Good morning, mother." I chime with fake excitement before taking my place at the table.

"Raven, this is King Karim and his servant Sean." She smiles deviously.

I turn to the King and smile sweetly before the horror sets in. My trainer sat tied to the chair in front of me.

"You thought I wouldn't find out about your secret meetings?" She asks.

I couldn't even find the words to describe how angry I was. She took the knife in front of her and slit his throat without batting an eye.

"Such a shame. He was to become a knight in a few days." Karim takes a sip of his drink with a smile.

"Oops. He bled all over the table." She giggles.

"Why did you do that?! He was innocent!" I raged.

"Planning to overthrow the Queen is punishable by death." Karim says, his voice echoing off the walls.

"Go to your room. You'll be there until you learn some respect for your mother." Mother says.

I couldn't even argue. I had nothing to say that wouldn't get my throat sliced open next. I quietly made my way up to my room, tears beginning to form as the horror of my mothers actions set in.

"Are you..."

"Not now please." I silence Oliver and close my door quietly.  I didn't feel like speaking. I just wanted to not exist for a while.

I stripped down and headed towards my bathroom.

The tub filled slowly with the hot water as I gathered the energy to submerge myself.

I no longer wanted to be a part of this world. I was tired of feeling like a prisoner. Tired of my mother controlling my life...just tired.

*

When I woke up, i felt dizzy and out of place. The air around me felt different.

"Raven.." I look over to see Oliver sitting at the edge of my bed.

"What's going on?" My throat felt raw as i tried to speak to him.

"Just rest, your highness you've been out for a while." He says to me softly as he dabs my forehead with a towel.

"Why did you save me." I sob as realization sets in.

"I promised your father that I would protect you, always." He says with a smile.

"Even from myself?" I sigh.

"Always." He says.

I just turn away from him and close my eyes.

I let myself slip into a dark place and I felt stupid for it.

"I'm going to be taking over your lessons from now on." He says.

"No, no one else will get executed because of me."

"Too bad, your lesson starts bright and early tomorrow." He gets up from the bed.

"Why are you risking your own life?" I turn to him.

"I serve you. And as soon as you take the throne, I'll be more than happy to repay the Queen everything she deserves." He leaves with a smile on his face.