Night had fallen by the time Nikolai returned to the throne room. He'd been with Nastasia in her bedroom ever since the attack, doing his best to help her remain calm while she tried to grasp the gravity of what had happened.

He'd expected more screaming and fighting from her, but it was as if she'd turned to stone. She hadn't spoken a word to him since the attack. She only sat there in silence, staring into the flickering embers of her fireplace with a dark gleam in her eyes.

Nikolai had only been persuaded to leave her side by the arrival of Josephine and Elise. The two women had been busy helping tend to the wounded and ensuring Josephine's father was safe. They claimed to have done all they could and they were now better put to use keeping an eye on Nastasia.

And, it seemed Volya was asking for him. Mischa had been waiting outside to walk with him. Now, they had reached the last stretch of hallway. The mutilated corpses of the murdered Guards had been removed already, but the puddles of blood still remained.

"Where's Yuri?" Nikolai asked at last, the first words he'd spoken to Mischa since that morning.

"With Daryn. He was injured during the attack and Yuri didn't want to leave him alone until he saw a healer."

Nikolai blinked in surprise and glanced at Mischa. "What? How badly? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"It wasn't fatal," Mischa replied quickly. "One of the Andrian soldiers caught him in the side soon after we broke into the throne room. Daryn pulled through until the fight was over but refused to let the Mages and healers treat him until others with worse injuries were healed. He was just going to see Danitza when we came up to get you."

Nikolai let out a slow breath and nodded. "Let me know how he recovers."

Mischa bowed his head and fell still as they reached the open doors of the throne room. Nikolai entered slowly, looking around for his brother. He spotted him not far from the thrones, accompanied by their mother.

Nikolai hurried over to them. Maria noticed his arrival first. Nikolai had barely reached them before she threw her arms around him in a crushing embrace. He returned it with a sigh of relief.

"Are you all right?" Maria asked, her words muffled by his shoulder. "I heard you were injured."

"I'm fine. Someone healed me while I was with Nastasia," he answered quietly. "Were you caught in the fighting?"

Maria shook her head as she drew back. "Most of us were being guarded by Andrians. We managed to break past them and came here, hoping to help, but when we arrived, the doors were sealed and your Mage friend was still trying to find a way in."

"Well, I'm glad you weren't here for what came next."

Maria pursed her lips, a worried look flooding her gaze. "I saw the room go dark and heard the screams. It was Nastasia, wasn't it? Her magic? It didn't reach out here. She must have kept it contained to the throne room."

Nikolai nodded. "Yes, it was her."

"Is she all right?"

"She's..." Nikolai trailed off, unsure of how to reply.

Maria squared her shoulders and fixed him with a firm look. "Then I'm going to check on her. Do not fight with your brother while I'm gone." Nikolai grimaced and Maria strode away.

When she was gone, he faced Volya. "Well?"

"There's no sign of the King or Queen," Volya reported. "It appears Queen Serafima escaped with the Emperor and they took the King hostage."

"Is there any way to know for certain?"

"I already do. Apparently, the Soothsayer's vision was not affected by Nastasia's magical outburst. He says he saw King Gavriil try to shield the Queen from the magic just as Kazimir grabbed her arm and a portal opened for them. All three vanished into it. The coward could've done something more than hide behind the thrones," Volya spat.

"He's an old man who's only gift is foresight and knowledge. He might've just made things worse if he'd gotten involved. At least we know the King was alive when they took him." Nikolai crossed his arms, then massaged his forehead with one hand. "I can't believe Queen Serafima would betray her own family like this."

"Mother always said she was ambitious."

Nikolai just nodded, then hesitantly turned towards the spot where Alexei had lain. The Prince had long since been moved, but just like in the hallway, his blood still stained the floor. "Where is he?" Nikolai asked softly.

"The Royal Mages took him to..." Volya paused and heaved a sigh. "To prepare him for vigil and burning." Nikolai started as his brother laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Nik. I know he meant a lot to you. He was a better brother to you than I've been." Nikolai said nothing, and for a moment, silence fell thick between them until Volya broke it once more. "How is the Prin...how's Nastasia?"

"In shock more than anything." Nikolai combed his fingers back through his hair with a groan. "We'll have to tell her about her father. With him gone and Queen Serafima a traitor, the kingdom will look to her as our leader."

"And likely the other rulers will as well. They'll want answers. Many of them are already angry." Volya crossed his arms, a frown tugging on his lips. "We're going to have to work fast if we don't want them to side with Kazimir." Nikolai cast him a confused glance.

"This was only the beginning, Nik; you know that. Kazimir won't let this failure sit for long. As soon as he's reorganized his army, he'll go to war with each and every one of us unless we side with him. If we're going to stand a chance of defeating him, Nastasia will have to make sure the other kingdoms align with us, not him."

"I'm well aware of that," came a cold voice from the open doorway. Nikolai and Volya both turned as Nastasia stalked towards them, Josephine and Elise following close behind. They shot Nikolai an apologetic look but did not speak.

Nastasia halted in front of Volya. "Is Vadik Kamenev still secure in our dungeons?" She asked.

Nikolai could barely suppress his shiver. That was not his Nastasia speaking. Her voice was much too cold and flat. It scraped over him like talons upon a pane of glass. "I believe so," Volya replied. Nikolai wasn't even phased by his brother's disregard of protocol. He was more concerned by the shadows clenched from Nastasia's fists all the way up to her shoulders.

"Take me to him," she commanded.

Volya barely inclined his head and started back across the throne room. Nastasia turned to follow him, but Nikolai caught her by the arm. "Nasi, what are you planning?" Her silvery gaze fixed on him, flashing like cruel blades of ice. He released her, but didn't retract the question. "You can't kill him. It won't fix things."

"Who said anything about killing him?" A slow smile curled her lips. "Sir Kamenev is about to become a valuable source of information to us." Nikolai stiffened as she took his hand into her own and squeezed it tightly. "Trust me," she whispered. "I'm all right."

Nikolai said nothing as she let go of him and followed Volya out of the throne room. "I'm not so sure," he murmured to himself, then set off after them.

•༻᯽༺•

Nastasia ignored the worried glances of her companions as they made their way down to the dungeons. Josephine and Elise were stuck fast by her side with Nikolai trailing behind, while Volya led the way. She could feel Nikolai's gaze boring into the back of her head, but didn't bother to acknowledge him.

She knew his concern was well meant and sincere, Josephine and Elise's too, but she wouldn't be deterred by it. This was something she had to do. Nastasia blinked rapidly as tears threatened to well up beneath her lashes once more. She'd refused to let herself think about what had happened.

Only that Kazimir had escaped and she had to stop him. The bitter rage she felt was keeping her fueled for now, but the moment she let go of it, she knew she'd break down over everything that had happened. Her mother had betrayed her. Her father was nowhere to be found. Her brother was...

Nastasia drew a careful, yet shaking breath, and exhaled from her mouth. Kazimir would answer for what he'd done. But first, she would learn what she could from his trusted Hand. The dark, winding stairwell gave way to a dimly lit and musky corridor lined with barred cells.

Instinctively, Nastasia reached a hand back to Nikolai. This was where he'd been taken after that final tournament only a few days ago. No doubt he wasn't pleased to be back, having only been freed that morning.

This morning, Nastasia thought. It can't have only been this morning.

Nikolai's hand gripped hers tightly and he fell in step beside her. Nastasia brushed her thoughts aside as they reached a secluded cell around a bend in the hall. Through the bars, she could see Vadik Kamenev.

He was seated on the floor, his knees bent and arms resting upon them. Chains were shackled to his ankles and wrists, and anchored to the floor in the center of the room. He lifted his head, noticing their arrival.

Vadik began to chuckle, his gaze sweeping over them. "I hear my Emperor's plan failed, but was not wholly without benefit. Tell me, your Highness, how does it feel to be the new Queen of Nyctoli, however short your reign may be?"

"I am not the Queen because my father is not dead," Nastasia replied. She clutched Nikolai's hand even tighter and stepped closer to the bars. Vadik cocked his head curiously.

"But I will act as one until he returns, so I've come to decide what to do with you. I would suggest we trade you for my father, but you can't be worth much to Kazimir if he left you in here when he had enough of an advantage to free you. Besides, who would trade a King for a useless Knight anyway?"

Now, Nastasia released Nikolai's hand. She gripped the bars of the cell and almost without realizing it, stepped through them. She heard surprised gasps behind her, but they barely registered. Nastasia glanced down at her hands and tilted her head.

The outlines of her body were blurred and her skin had turned semi-translucent, reminding her of the shadows that now swarmed her limbs. She studied herself a moment longer, then lifted her gaze to Vadik's. His eyes had gone wide with fear, and when she saw her reflection within them, she knew why.

Not only did she resemble her loyal wraiths, but the whites of her eyes had been washed black, leaving her pupil-less, moonlit irises glowing almost unnaturally. "Nasi," Nikolai called, his tone full of concern and warning.

Nastasia ignored him and drew closer to Vadik. He shrank back against the wall, though it did little to lengthen the distance between them. "Get away from me," he spat. "You are no Saint!" Nastasia raised her hands and shadows danced between her fingers. "You are a Demon!" Vadik snarled. "No wonder your predecessors were killed! You're all Demons!"

"Tell me what I wish to know," Nastasia murmured, stretching a hand towards his forehead.

"Demon!" Vadik seethed. Shadows crept down her fingers and swarmed over the Knight. He thrashed in his chains, desperately trying to fling them off.

"Nastasia!" Nikolai called again. "What are you doing?"

"Getting answers." She wasn't even sure he could hear her.

Vadik was screaming now. "Demon!" He howled, over and over again. "You are not Blessed. You are Cursed!"

Nastasia pressed her palm to his forehead and curled her fingers onto his hair. Vadik's eyes rolled back, exposing only the whites of them. Shadows flooded the cell in darkness and worried shouts echoed from the hallway, but Nastasia was deaf to them. Shadows brushed past her ears, whispering to her the secrets they had stolen from Vadik's mind.

On she pressed, sifting and searching until finally, a shadow brought her something she could use. Nastasia removed her hand from Vadik with a smile and he sagged against his chains, shivering and muttering to himself incoherently. She spun away from him and passed through the cell bars again without hindrance.

Once she was safely in the corridor, she felt her body return to normal, becoming solid flesh and bone once more. Nastasia blinked quickly and glanced between her friends. Josephine and Elise watched her with blatant fear in their eyes. Volya seemed wary, and Nikolai... His gaze held a mixture of worry, surprise, and horror.

"What was that?" He demanded.

Nastasia peered over her shoulder, eyeing Vadik once more. "It was necessary," she answered finally. She started down the hall without waiting for the others to follow.

"Nasi?" Josephine called. "Where are you going?"

Nastasia narrowed her eyes as she strode up the stairs, resolve already hardened within her. "I'm going to win a war."