Bridger's eyes snapped open, and was met with the glare of his sister, who was holding an empty cup. The contents of said cup were now spilled all over him. "What was that for?" He glared at his sister.

"You wouldn't wake up," she said, slamming the cup on his nightstand.

"You could've tried to wake me up without spilling ice all over me," he grumbled.

"Bridger you could sleep through World War Four and not wake up."

"I'm off duty today, Everleigh."

"Nobody's off today," she sighed,"Didn't you hear?"

"What happened?"

"The Queen's orders," Everleigh stated as she tied the apron that completed her uniform,"No explanation."

Bridger instantly recalled the letter he read two days ago. He had given the letter to his superior, since he was not authorized to enter the mailing room.

Everleigh sighed as she tied her thick black hair into an intricate braid. The Queen deemed it necessary for all servants and guards that would be in the eye of the public to be good looking. In fact, when she had been selected to serve the Queen, she had to go through a two week 'training' because the Queen claimed that Everleigh was "incapable of behaving like a proper servant."

Surprisingly, after her training was over, the Queen, for some odd reason, had chosen Everleigh to be one of her personal servants.

"Do you have any idea what this is about?" Everleigh asked Bridger as they walked to the Throne Room, where all the palace staff were instructed to gather.

"No I don't," Bridger lied. He had a suspicion, but he knew that if he told Everleigh and he was wrong, they could both get punished.

Bridger couldn't risk them hurting his sister. He'd been drafted four years ago, when he was eligible at eighteen. He'd been shocked when he saw his sister strolling down the palace corridors alongside the Queen.

Since they were siblings, Everleigh moved into his quarters later that night. Everleigh told him everything that had happened to her. She claimed on her eighteen birthday, palace officials showed up on their families front doorsteps and took her away with hardly any time to say goodbye to their parents and siblings.

Contact with anybody outside of the palace was forbidden, and it Bridger worried about Everleigh. Sure, not being able to talk to his family was hard for Bridger, but he knew it would be unmeasurably harder for Everleigh. While Bridger was independent and often alone, Everleigh was like another parent to their four younger siblings. Bridger could see the pain in her eyes when they talked about their old life, before the palace.

But that was two years ago, and despite his wishes, he know that there was nothing he could do about it. They had each other and that was enough.

It had to be.

§§§

The entire palace staff was in the throne room, awaiting whatever was coming.

Everyone was there, but the Queen and prince, who Bridger suspected were taking their time, knowing nothing would start until they got there.

Despite the fact that the entire palace staff was there, from cooks to advisors to even news broadcasters with all their equipment, the massive throne room was not crowded.

Three swift 'bangs' echoed throughout the room, followed by the chief guard shouting "Places!"

The room scattered, hurrying to their assigned places. Bridger kissed Everleighs forehead whispering "Be
safe Ever," before she took her place with the rest of the Queen's servant's, on the left side of the throne.

Bridger had just gotten into lines with the rest of the guards before the wide throne room doors opened and the Queen sauntered in, the Prince trailing behind her.

She took her time waltzing across the room to her throne before sitting down, the Prince sitting at the slightly smaller throne to her right, before smiling at the crowd.

"Hello my subjects!" She smiled, seemingly in a good mood, " I do hope you enjoy what's about to happen as much as I will!"

The room stirred, whispers of people guessing what the Queen was talking about.

"Silence!" she shouted, "I've gathered you all here today because we're having..." she abruptly stopped speaking, leaving the audience waiting, before shouting, "An execution!"

The room stirred yet again. In all the four years Bridger had been on duty at the palace there had been many executions, only two of which Bridger had witnessed. They were usually done quickly and quietly, with a little audience.

He had never heard of an execution this important.

The Queen didn't let the crowd stirr for long before continuing to speak. "While I am...not pleased with the subject of execution, he has betrayed my trust, and I'm looking forward to it all the same." She finished, a wide smile on her face.

The throne room was eerily quiet. That was until wide doors on the left side of the room opened with a loud 'clang'.

Three people staggered into the room, black vails over their heads. The Queen always forced the family of the executee to watch as they are killed, and due to her flair for dramatics, she made them wear black vails over their faces stating that "it simply added a nice touch."

"I'm sure you all are eager to see who the executee is ," the Queen stated after a moment of silence, "Bring him in," she told the guards by the door. They opened the door again with a loud 'clang' and in stumbled the unlucky victim of the Queen.

The throne room erupted in gasps. But not Bridger. He had expected this.

Governor Esposito.

He stumbled as he walked. Bridger guessed that he had been tortured not long before. He tried to run to his family, who had removed the vails as the Queen told them too. The guards holding the chains around his wrists pulled him back away from his family and he fell on the ground.

Esposito's wife, who also appeared to be pregnant, stood clutching their daughter and son tears streaming down all of their faces.

"Governor Esposito has betrayed my trust, and failed to protect New Italy," the Queen stated, glaring at Esposito, "He has been found guilty to harboring fugitives in his province, and will not give up where they currently reside."

The room erupted with gasps again, but the Queen quickly cut them off, "Governor Esposito you have been stripped of the right to live, and you execution will be nationally broadcasted," she stated," I have let my son, Prince Alexander, choose the method of which Esposito will be executed," The Queen stated, smiling at her son, "Let's begin."

The Prince nodded, signaling the guards. The guards removed the chains around Esposito, and pushed him to the ground.

Esposito stayed silent, staring at his family as the executioner, clad in black clothing, strode up with a large axe.

The executioner glanced at the Queen, who simply nodded, before lowering the axe, cutting Esposito's head clean off in only one swing.

Esposito's wife wailed as his head came rolling to her feet.

The Queen laughed maliciously as screams echoed through the massive Throne Room.

§§§