There were tears in her eyes. Tears that continued to stream down her face. Tears that then dripped off of her chin, onto her dress.
   She didn't wipe them away.
   "I—I don't know how to say this." Her words were jumbled, as her voice shook. "I can't believe you did t-this."
   I bit my lip, determined not to cry.
   "I don't want to hate you. B-but how can I not when you've done something like this?"
   Her hands trembled, as she reached out for me, then dropped her hands at the last second.
   The grief was displayed plainly on her face, and I tried to look away. But she grabbed my face, and jerked my head back towards her, sending stinging pain, as my neck twisted.
   I looked up at her in shock. It was the first time she had ever hurt me in my life.
   I wanted her to hit me. Punch me. Beat me, until I laid on the ground barely breathing. I would rather that, than the harsh touch that she had given me instead.
   Her sorrow was quickly turning to anger.
   "I trusted you as my best friend. Almost a sister. I believed in you. I trusted you. I loved you." She said the last part so softly, I almost thought I misheard.
   Her words sparked the memory.
Her standing two feet shorter than me, looking up at me, complete confidence and trust in her pastel pink eyes. She'd taken my hand. She'd looked up to me.
   Now, those beautiful eyes, that had once held such tender respect, were beating down upon me, with undeterred rage.
   "I never thought, that you would be the one to do this." Her voice was dark, and it pained me to listen to her.
   "Elisha, please. Give me one more chance."
   "No." Her tone chilled me. "I gave you your chance, and you used it to stab me in the back. You used it to save your own skin, and you didn't mind destroying my life on the way."
"I'm the last heir to the blood of..."
"That royal blood nonsense matters more than your best friend's heart? It doesn't matter. It's over now."
She looked at me, and her jaw tightened, her eyes blinking rapidly. I knew, deep down inside of her, it hurt her to say these things. She still loved me, as the best friend—soul sister—I had been to her.
My heart ached, as I remembered the things I'd done. How I'd shared information with the wrong side, to keep myself safe.
And I felt myself blinking away tears, as she turned away.
I couldn't help it. I reached out, and gently turned her back. She looked at me lamely, pain still laminated in her eyes.
My heart began to race, as I realized there was only one thing I could do to make it right. To make it better. To undo my acts of fault.
I leaped up, and simultaneously wrenched the dagger from her belt. It was a golden blade, engraved with symbols that spelled her name, in the ancient Derichan language.
It was a gift from me.
And what a pretty thing to end such an ugly mess.
Her eyes widened, sorrow dissolving into shock. Her arm reached out, to grasp me, but I spun away. She ran towards me.
I dodged her attempts to catch me, as I began to chant.
"O, power of the ancient bloods.
Rise up within me, and act my bidding.
With this dagger through my heart,
Let all my selfish actions fall to waste.
And let my sins be turned to right,
To end this misery, to end the fight."
My hand did not tremble, as I lowered the blade toward my chest.
Elisha screamed, but sound no longer existed, as I felt my soul slipping into the hands of death. There was no pain. No momentary feeling of loss.
I stood for a moment, and watched my body collapse, without myself going with it.
And finally my burden was lifted, and my spirit freed.