In the darkest hour of the night during the annual ball at the Kingsbury Royal Palace, heavy rainstorms tore through nearly every part of Ingary. The black sky was home to dusky, gloomy clouds booming with thunder and quick flashes of light slicing through the sky. Safety could only be found inside the Palace, but not for everyone.

The light from the crystal chandeliers in the ballroom dazzled and distracted the guests from noticing the true chaos outside. Most were seen dancing in pairs to the melody of the grand symphony. Others stood gawking at one another, complimenting the attire and appearance of their fellow aristocrats. Only a select few noticed the absence of their newest cohort.

"Justin, dear." A woman in a shimmering gold gown sang as she approached the Prince. Her hours of applying makeup hid her real age in a magical, yet unappealing manner. "I've just noticed your leading lady has yet to make an appearance tonight."

Prince Justin, in his elegant yellow suit and typical flashy smile, held a glass of champagne to his lips. He took a calming sip before replying, "She had a previous engagement tonight. It was very urgent that she be there."

The lady pursed her lips and pouted. "Well, tell her she'll be missed. We just adore that little girl and can't wait for the day when you finally pop the question."

Just wrapped his arms around his back. "She will most definitely be missed."

The sound of thunder rang louder as the glass doors to the Palace Gardens sprang open. The room filled with gasps and then silence as a rattled woman rushed through the crowd of dancers with a soaking wet dress weighing her down. Her darkened blonde hair moved side to side and the guests stepped back to avoid ruining their own attire.

"Justin!" She rushed into his arms and cried in his embrace, making it difficult to tell what had been drops of rain or tears.

The aristocratic woman smiled and clapped. "Oh, how romantic of you, Lettie! Leaving your other plans because you just had to see your beau. I love it!"

Lettie paid no mind to her. "Justin, I can't stay here."

He wrinkled his eyebrows. "But you've just arrived."

Lettie removed herself from the embrace. Her makeup bled down her cheeks and blackened her blue eyes. "Yeah, and I would have been here a half hour ago if that terrifying witch with the crazy pigtails didn't try to kill me!"

Lettie had begun drawing the attention of the guests, their curiosity running amuck. Most didn't appear to understand what she meant by her words - given that Kingsbury was such a peaceful city to live, her accusations seemed nearly impossible.

Justin held her arm just below her shoulder and directed her out of the ballroom. "Darling, why don't we get you out of those wet clothes, yes? Maybe a cup of hot tea will help calm your nerves."

Lettie persisted on her claims as he forced their exit from the ballroom. The hallways were dimly lit. "You need to press charges against her. I swear, Justin, Noe was out to kill me. She chased me through the gardens and I thought I was done for."

Justin nodded, but he showed very little emotion to her words. He continued their walk as a ghastly thought pressed her mind. "I think... I think Madame Suliman has something to do with this."

Justin casually halted. "Suliman?" Lettie nodded. "Why would she want to harm you?"

Lettie licked her lips. "I think it has something to do with my sister, Sophie. You remember that she was supposed to marry Owen, but since that didn't happen, I think she's trying to hurt Sophie through me."

"What makes you think that?"

"She's been seeing someone lately." Lettie sighed. "A wizard, I think, because she's too scared for me to meet him. I think Suliman wants to get back at her in some way for never even wanting to marry her son."

Justin stepped in front of her. He held her shoulders with gentle hands. "Lettie, I think what you need is to relax. Let's get more comfortable, we can talk-"

Lettie pushed away from him with force. "I don't want to be comfortable, I want you to listen! Suliman's little witch freak just tried to kill me and you want me to calm down? I want you to take this seriously."

"I am, sweetheart. I am." Justin held his arms out and pulled her closer. Lettie sighed in his embrace. Her heart was still racing from the adrenaline. She could feel each beat pulsing through her veins, like a series of gongs repeatedly sounding inside her body.

And then nothing. No pulse, no heartbeat, no life. Pain emanated from a spot on her upper back and coursed through her entire body. She tried inhaling, but her breath stopped midway and pinched at the source of pain. The air she desired was right in front of her, yet she couldn't grasp it. A liquid trickled down her back, mixing with the rainwater.

Justin laid her in his arms in a way where she could see him perfectly. He pulled the sharp knife from her back and she jolted from the sudden change. Her body shivered - she was going to die.

"Justin." Lettie coughed out, but her plea would get her nowhere. He wanted her to die; he sent the witch to kill her and when she didn't, he chose to finish the job. It wasn't Suliman - it was her love.

Justin sighed through an eerie smile. "I'm so sorry it had to happen this way, darling. Unfortunately for you, you're not the Hatter sister I'm in love with."

Lettie's lips trembled. "B-but-"

"I gave you everything you wanted," Justin said, caressing her cheek, "you just couldn't give me everything I wanted. And what I want is to be with Sophie forever."

Tears fell down her cheek and he wiped them away in a loving expression. She wanted to push away from him, but her strength had been stolen - and soon, very soon, her life would vanish as well.

"Sh, don't cry, love." Justin whispered. His lips were close to hers, almost in a taunting way. But he refused to kiss her. "I know this is hard for you to understand, but I'll let you in on a little secret."

He leaned close to her, coiling her blonde wet curls behind her ear. She could not stop shaking in tantalizing fear of the man she once loved. His lips grazed the edge of her ear as he whispered in a sadistic tone, "Everyone in your life, everyone you have ever loved, will pay the same price until Sophie is mine forever."

Lettie bit her lip, clenched her teeth, used every ounce of movement she could before she felt numb. Her limbs were limp; her eyes grew heavy; her breath was cut short. And in one slow motion, Lettie Hatter dropped her head never to awaken again.

A purple gust of clouds blew in a swirling motion near them. Justin looked up and saw Lettie, clean and perfect and beautiful as she was. She wore the same dress, though she was not stained by the rain or the blood that still bled from the corpse on the ground. The Lettie before him waved her hand in their direction, and with a touch of magic vanished the Lettie in Justin's arms from sight as well as the blood that tainted his pristine suit.

He stood up. "Well then, love. I guess we better make plans to see your sister one last time."

The lively Lettie curved her smile. "If Sophie can't possibly see what I see in you, then I have no other choice but to tell her about us myself."

"And if she still refuses to marry me?"

Lettie took two steps forward and rested her hand on Justin's cheek. "Trust in me, Justin. I have something against her beloved Howl that not even she can dismiss."

It seemed fitting to Howl to see a starless sky with heavy clouds circling the Palace. Night had come and gone and returned by the time they approached the gates. With the Witch's old age and Suliman's guards posted at nearly every corner, it was a miracle they hadn't been caught yet. Howl knew a few spells of disguise and distraction, however Suliman surely prepared herself for those. The second they were in her city, no one was safe.

The Witch licked her cracked lips. "I can't wait to get in there and teach that Suliman a lesson or two."

Howl gawked in his aristocratic disguise. "That's why we're here? I thought we were waiting for our comrades. We're not ready to approach Suliman, not with only the two of us."

The Witch cackled and held the skirt of her distorted gown. "Is that why we're in these cheesy disguises? You always knew how to make yourself look more beautiful than you really are."

Howl rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered why he agreed with Sophie to invite the crazy witch into the castle in the first place, but save for a few of her snide comments she was at the very least bearable.

He just didn't want her to make matters worse for them.

The Witch hobbled like a penguin over to the gate and addressed their presence to the guards. Howl held his breath as the gates opened, surprised by the amount of obedience from the guards. It seemed odd that they would allow residents, even those who appeared to be the wealthiest of them, to enter the Palace at a time like this. It wasn't ideal to have guests in the Palace during a time of war, especially with the amount of secrets lurking inside.

They approached the extensive staircase, an instant reminder to the Witch of the last time she walked up that torturous hike. She had worked so hard to earn the title of one of the most feared witches in Ingary, and Suliman stripped her of that in a matter of seconds. She wasn't sure if she was mad at herself for falling into such a trap or mad at Suliman for fitting her backstabbing reputation so perfectly.

The Witch huffed as they climbed the stairs, but she did not falter. This time, she refused to fail.

The foreman closed in on the Witch and Howl when they entered the Palace, his plastic smile giving no impression that he saw through them. "Good evening. Whom may I address you as to the Royal Family?"

Howl curved his smile. "Old friends."

The foreman dropped his facade. He opened his mouth, but Howl zipped it shut and revealed their identities. The guards posted at the entrance responded quickly, but Howl grabbed the Witch's arm and rushed her down the main hallway. He ran at top speed past confused guards with the Witch struggling to keep his grip. Howl turned to the right, but the Witch would not let him.

Howl came to a sudden halt when he noticed the Witch was no longer with him. He watched her hobble down the other side of the hallway, alone and vulnerable.

"Where are you going?" Howl shouted as he rushed in her direction. He could vaguely hear cackling laughter coming from her as she opened a door and closed it behind her. When Howl reached it, the Witch locked herself in.

And Howl was left alone with the guards drawing near. 

As much as Sophie desired to sleep, her worries would not let her rest. Right as she would close her eyes, horrible things entered her mind and forced her back awake. This happened at least five times before she gave up and decided to join Martha and Heen.

Both were seated comfortably in the small living room, Heen silently asleep on Martha's lap. At least someone could rest, Sophie thought. Martha brushed her fingers gently across his tan back, careful not to wake him.

"You're so good with him." Martha jolted when she spoke. Sophie thought she saw the hairs on her neck point out. Steadily and with great caution, she sat next to her, grasping the arm of the couch with force to ease the drop. Every day she felt heavier and heavier - and every day she grew closer to the due date.

Sophie cleared her throat. "I couldn't sleep."

"Probably no help from me." Martha softly whispered. Sophie didn't look at her, and Martha didn't mind. "I wish you had never asked."

"But I needed to know." Sophie said. Martha rested her hand on Heen, her mind floating away from where they were. Sophie couldn't imagine the things she knew, the things she'd seen. She could only watch her baby sister sit through the painful visions every day.

Sophie reached for Martha's hand, but her sister retracted and pulled it closer to her chest. Her visage was blank. "I've seen dozens of visions. Most of them are fine and really have nothing to do with me or even this time period." She tightened her fingers into tiny fists. "Lettie's was the first vision after learning to control my skill with someone I knew. Ever since then, it's been one after the other - you and Howl, Suliman and her wretched followers" - Martha sucked in a quick breath - "and Justin."

Sophie bit her lip. "I begged you to tell me. Now I know how much of a monster Justin really has become. I wanted to believe he had a good heart and was blinded by whatever Suliman was offering him, but this was his doing. Whether Suliman coerced him to do so or not, he feels no shame for the hurt he's caused our family."

Martha raised her chin, but kept her eyes forward. "You know, mother still doesn't know about Lettie."

"When was the last time you saw her?" Sophie asked. Martha shrugged. Knowing her sister, it was probably the day she sent her away to that school.

Sophie dropped her gaze. "She doesn't know about the baby."

Martha chuckled, though she wasn't remotely humored. "Yes, she does."

"What?"

Martha kept her eyes on Heen. "She lives in Kingsbury. Her new husband - or well, I guess they've been married for a while now, huh? Anyway, she's in with all the rich folks there and Suliman loves ruining our family."

"Suliman told her?"

"Through the grapevine." Martha crossed her arms and laid them over Heen. "Suliman won't tell anyone that Lettie is dead because of her, but she's so quick to announce your pregnancy to the world. She wanted to shame our family and by labeling you as an unwed pregnant woman, mother was completely embarrassed."

"How do you know?" Martha eyed her with a crooked smile, as if the answer was so obvious. And it was - Sophie just couldn't accustom herself to her sister's magic. She knew so much that no one else could, things she didn't need to be there for to know. Her mind was so complex with the ability to see into other's lives before their own experience.

It almost felt like cheating life.

Martha's lips trembled as she spoke. "Will you ever forgive me for this ability?"

Sophie raised her eyebrows. Her sister leaned in, as if begging for something Sophie didn't know she needed - or even deserved. Forgiveness for something natural, something completely out of her control. Martha always needed to heal relationships. She was a people pleaser; and when people weren't happy, she blamed herself.

Sophie shrugged. "What's there to forgive?"

"I know you, Sophie." Martha said. "Being the eldest has never been easy for you. You thought you would be cursed forever if you sought your fortune, but look what happened instead. You basically broke tradition."

"What does that have to do with your abilities?"

Martha exhaled slowly. "With you being the eldest, you dealt with a lot of our childish banter. I know there was a part of you that resented Lettie and me. We were given so much as kids and you always took the heavy responsibility. Lettie and I were able to get out of the house so early and do things we wanted to do. You were forced to uphold the family business. You were even going to marry Suliman's son because of mother. I never would have agreed to that."

Sophie adjusted her seating. She squirmed at the remembrance of Owen. His overbearing confidence and lack of respect for others and his narcissism - he was worse than Howl when it came to how much he pampered his looks. Even though she never wanted to marry him, she never wanted the engagement to end the way it did.

Sophie shook her head. "I was more stuck than being responsible."

"There was a part of you that felt like you had to, though." Martha said. "For our family or whatever mother convinced you it was for, you thought it was your duty. I know it; I've seen it in you before."

"I was the eldest." Sophie choked on her words. "I am the eldest. It was my job then and it's my job now to protect you and take responsibility. I've already failed Lettie, so please don't let me fail you, too."

Martha turned toward Sophie and held her hands. "You didn't fail Lettie. I did. This is what I meant. This ability is not a gift, no matter how many times Mrs. Fairfax says it is. It's only hurt everyone I care about."

Sophie's eyes glistened. "Martha, how can you blame yourself for something you can't control?"

"Because I saw it!" Martha jumped off of the couch, Heen jostled by the sudden change. He sniffed around and followed a smell into the kitchen. Martha stood with shaky arms and legs. "I saw Justin stab Lettie and Suliman take her face. I saw your wedding to Justin and the pain you felt standing up there with him. I saw Suliman's army moving into Ovela when you were living there. I've seen every plan Suliman has to defeat you and I cannot reveal a single one. If that's not betrayal, I don't know what is."

Sophie lowered her gaze to her belly. She remembered so often the times she lectured Martha and Lettie when they fooled around and made childish decisions. She remembered them accusing her of acting like their mother and being unfair. She remembered sacrificing so much to keep them happy and free from worry.

How could she blame Martha for doing the same thing?

"Martha." Sophie whispered. She could hear her sister shivering in fear. "I don't forgive you because there is nothing to forgive. This is who you are. You are learning what it means to be responsible and to make your own judgment calls. These are the things you deal with when you start becoming an adult and maturing. You've done nothing wrong"

Martha's lips quivered as she knelt down and cried in Sophie's lap. She held her tightly, trying hard not to imagine what life would be like without Sophie always knowing the right things to say. It was hard to imagine what life would have been like without two big sisters there to guide her.

Sophie ran her hand up and down Martha's back, letting her release all that she carried. Every vision, every time she saw something and its effects on others, added more weight to her shoulders. These demons from before weighed down and consumed every bit of her. She needed to know she didn't have to do it alone.

Heen scratched at the front door, sensing an oddly familiar smell. Sophie and Martha paid no mind to the dog's wheezes until they heard the door open. Martha immediately stood up in defense, but dropped her caution as she stared at the old woman in the doorway. Her clothes were ragged and torn and she appeared very faint.

Martha widened her eyes completely in awe. It was Mrs. Fairfax.