The moonstone floor reflects the moonlight right back to the stars. My pulse pounds in my ears.

Tonight I am becoming Queen. Queen of Halegrave. Queen of Evil.

The realization never hit me that hard until I climbed the winding old creaking metal staircase up here. When Drystan told me just yesterday, I was pleased that my time had finally come. But the true weight is still setting.

"Your highness," a male voice questions from behind me. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," I say simply and take a breath trying to calm my racing heart. One last breath as Princess as I prepare to become Queen.

The dark iron doors creak open slowly but sturdily. The crowd opens in front of me. They all stand. The room is exactly how I remember it. The moonstone floor stretches before me and it ends in a waterfall falling off into the bay below, and there are pillars made of the darkest obsidian.

Rows and rows of people all stand and face me as the doors fully open. There is a dais in the middle of the pool of water. Celeste, Drystan, and Jarek stand there. Celeste is beaming toward me, but Drystan just gives me a curt nod and stares past me looking lost. Jarek gives me a proud smile. He is handsome. That is the only way to describe him. His platinum hair shines in the moonlight and his dark clothes bring all the more light to it.

My gaze drifts to the corners of the room searching for Ivy. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her slip into the room from a smaller door. She doesn't catch my eye as she takes her place in the front row.

"Her highness, Princess Ravenna of the Halegrave Kingdom."

My legs move without my mind even thinking up the motion. I stride slowly and thoughtfully forward to Brother Edvard on the platform. My onyx dress swells around me making me a black dot against the pale moonstone.

As I approach the platform, Drystan catches my gaze but he still looks so lost. It kills every part of me to know that he is in pain. I want to pull him aside and have him pour out his soul to me just so I could ease the pain.

Celeste stands on my right side once I sit on the throne. She wears a blood-red satin dress with bits of black lace around the edges.

I make it up the last three steps and turn facing the crowd. So many people. Lord's and Ladies of the six houses each there sons and daughters by them. The council has had say over my choices for the kingdom since my parent's death because I was not crowned yet. Mistress Blackthorne stands towards the front of the benches with other professors.

"Please be seated," Brother Edvard states. The room fills with rustling as the people take a seat.

"Let us begin with the coronation of Her highness, Princess Ravenna. The duties and her oath. We are gathered here this night to coronate a new Queen to the throne. After the late Queen Hecate and King Abigor,"

"May they rest in the stars," the crowd echos solemnly. 

"Passed on, they left their two daughters with us here and tonight, their eldest will take the throne." He turns to me his dark hair glinting with moonlight. I rehearsed this part of the ceremony over and over with Celeste this morning so that the movements are second nature to me now. My feet find their way to stand in front of the throne behind me.

"Princess Ravenna of Halegrave, do forever promise to sit upon this throne and look after the people of the Evil side of the world with pride, ambition, and the knowledge that Good is below us in their merciful ways."

"Forever," I state loud and clear for everyone in the room to hear, but I hope it goes a little farther to the edges of the forest as Goods forces surely gather themselves for war. I want them to know of the beast that they unleash not even know it existed.

"Then please sit upon the throne." As I let my weight relax into it the wisdom of the previous rulers seems to push and pull at me urging me in so many separate directions.

Brother Edvard reaches to the pedestal next to the throne and calmly takes the Sword of Ashes from its ebony sheath. He holds it up to the moon and for a second its reflection of the moon blinds me leaving spots floating in my vision.

"With the Sword of Ashes will you defend this kingdom from Good?"

"Forever," I respond steadily. He hands it to me.

"With this sword will you promise to defend the bridge between world so that Good can never use it against us?"

"Forever," I say feeling the weight of his words and this oath bearing down upon me.

Finally, he takes a silver crown from a velvet cushion. It glints brightly in the moonlight making moonbeams dance along with my vision. He places the crown upon my head. The power it holds sings through me. Coursing through every bit of my soul and being. 

"With this crown do you promise to rule the people of not just Halegrave but all of Evil throughout this world and all others."

"Forever," I answer my voice swelling with confidence. Each item reflects the moon because it is the polar opposite of the sun, just as Evil is as distant from Good. 

"Then all hail, Her Majesty, Queen Ravenna of Halegrave." The people... no my people kneel before me.

"Long may she reign," they chorus. 

"Long may you reign," Brother Edvard whispers from below me. Before I can stop it, the glint of a silver dagger flashes before my eyes before it pierces for my core.