I am standing in the grand entrance hall of my grandfather's estate. On either side of the large wooden doors, the Baylon house banners hang. My father must be thirteen at least in this vision. He stands on the marble stairs, his mother's hand gripping his shoulder. My Grandmother looks beautiful. She is the perfect picture of how a woman should look and hold herself. Her long black hair falls in thick waves, ending just above her bottom. A style which is still the height of fashion even now. Her light brown eyes are surrounded in soft bronzes and her lips are painted a delicate pink. The royal blue dress she wears perfectly fits her torso and the skirt falls to the ground in layers of shining silks. My grandfather appears from a corridor off of another room. He looks at my father.

"Don't speak unless spoken to," he tells the boy. Father only nods. His dark hair has been smartly styled. He wears a red coat embroidered in gold. The coat falls all the way to his knees, showing little of the fine black trousers he wears. His calves are covered in high, polished leather boots the same brown shade as the leather belt that goes around his waist. My grandfather looks over him, his eyes slowly taking in the boy before him. My father visibly looks uncomfortable as he tries to avoid eye contact with my grandfather. Finally, my grandfather nods in approval.

"This is an important meeting. If it goes well, the throne is just that little bit closer," Sebastian Baylon tells my father.

"Do you understand, Matthias?" My grandmother asks. My father nods his head quickly, gulping. The two adults look at each other before getting ready for the arrival of their guests. A few moments later, the doors open and a messenger walks in.

"My Lord. Prince Hanlon Drake, the King Brother, has arrived." Sebastian nods his head to the men standing on either side of the doors. In unison, they open the doors up completely. Beyond is a large set of stones leading down into a large stone square. The centre of the square is decorated with a large horse fountain. Around the square is perfectly cut grass and bushes. Leading away from the square of stone is a long, straight road that ends at a set of black gates in the distance.  Coming up the road is a large, white carriage drawn by four great warhorses. My father and his parents move away from the foyer of their manor house to stand atop of the steps that lead into their home. They watch as the carriage draws up to the front of the house. A staff member is quick to open the door of the carriage when it stops.  A man gets out of it slowly, a cool smile on his face. He is not a particularly tall man and is slightly chubby. In fact, his fine green coat seems to be that tiny bit too small and clings too tightly to his protruding belly. His golden hair is neatly groomed and tied into a little ponytail. He looks over the three of them. They quickly bow or curtsy as he walks up the steps to greet them.

"Lord Baylon," the man says cheerily. My grandfather stands up, towering above the Prince. Unlike the prince, my grandfather is slim and tall. The black coat of leather he wears only seems to emphasise that.

"You've met my wife, Renee...Drake," he pauses before speaking the surname, an annoyed look passing over his face. In the Dulavelle family, the only people allowed the Dulavelle names are those who are ruling. Any siblings of the King has to change their name to their partner's name when they marry. Meaning that even though Prince Hanlon was the Prince of Vivelle, he didn't have the name. His title also wouldn't pass down to his children.

Renee elegantly steps out of the carriage, her green dress flowing around her.

"Lady Renee," my father says, bowing his head slightly. "It is nice to meet you again." She just smiles before looking unimpressed at the manor house.

"This is my son, Leander Drake." I recognise the boy instantly. His gold hair and smug smile. He is the current Lord Drake and High Councilman of Military. My father and grandparents nod their heads in respect again.

"What a... lovely... home you have," Prince Hanlon Drake smiles though I can hear the patronising tone in his voice. My father doesn't react to the obvious disdain and just stares coldly at the man.

"We have business to discuss, do we not?" he asks.

"Yes, we do," the Prince replies as he follows my family inside.

The King stands up on the small stage in the centre of the arena, his councilmen standing next to him. The King wears a regal coat of emerald green with shining gold buttons going down the centre. A long green cloak hangs down his back. His black hair is smooth around his head, decorated with the golden crown. His councilmen beside him wear their robes of dark red.

"People of our great Capital," my father shouts, his voice echoing around the arena. "It has come to my attention that a dangerous message is making its way around the city." Fallon clenches her fist. "May the True Queen Rise. Down with the False King," he mocks as the councilmen chuckle around him. "What a silly message," he shakes his head. "May I remind you what plagues the minds of our princesses and the woman you would call your queen? Madness!" Rayana takes inhales and bites her lip. "Do you really want a person on the throne who is not sound of mind?" he frowns and the crowd murmurs in response. The Princesses hearts race and Fallon grits her teeth as she glares at her father.

I hate that man. The thought goes around and around in her head as she sneers.

"Over the last few months, my daughter has been attempting to complete the True Trial. As is her right. It was written within the very contract of the Trials. My dear child believes she has what it takes to unite these lands and to rule. She is not the first Dulavelle daughter to attempt the True Trial. All those who have attempted it have failed, yet still, my daughter is determined. Do not mistake that as bravery. It is selfish. All participants on the Queen's trial before this one have all known that the Trials ensures the best and safest future for Vivelle. They understand that we cannot afford to have another Mad Queen and they sacrificed their lives and their sisters for these lands. The fallen princesses are Vivelle's heroes!" he shouts. Shaelyn looks up at Fallon. She squeezes her sisters hand softly, but Fallon's eyes do not move from the king.

I hate that man. I cannot wait for Illyana to run her blade across his neck. The thought sends a twisted grin across her face. I hope I am there to watch.

"Princess Illyana, though she thinks she is doing good, is arrogant. She discards our traditions and laws that have been put in place to protect you! She thinks that she can do a better job of leading a nation than all the kings before her! I chose Lord Kristoff to wed the Queen Victorious because he knows how to lead. He understands the tough decisions that have to be made when running a country. He knows how to spread resources and money. He knows how to communicate with the races of these lands. He is a man who has trained his whole life to be the King. Princesses Illyana, though talented with a blade as you all saw, has no skills that are required to rule. That is why she struggles now to find allies and must resort to what she knows how to do. Weild a sword." He stops talking, allowing silence to fill the arena as everyone watches intently. Finally, he sighs.

"I did not want to have to share this with you," he says with a shake of his head. "Ever since Princess Illyana left, I have had my most trusted soldiers searching these lands. Not to try and stop her, but to keep an eye on her progress. They have reported back to me some troubling news. Your True Queen is not a kind, caring innocent you believed. For my men found a heard of centaurs not far from the Westland Woodlands of their home. They were all slaughtered. Even the women and children," the crowds all gasp as shocked whispers echo around the arena. Fallon closes her eyes and takes a long, slow deep breath. She opens her eyes to see her father looking around the arena with a grim expression. "A single survivor told my men that when they were loyal to me and the rules of Vivelle, she flew into a rage. She killed them all because they wouldn't follow her. Do you really want a queen like that?" He stops. Shae feels a hand grab her arm. She looks up to see Ren.

"Is that true?" he asks with a snarl.

"Of course it fucking isn't," Shaelyn growls and shrugs of his hand, looking back to the Arena.

"Now," he begins with a sigh and the Princesses eyes widen as a row of shackled prisoners are lead into the arena. They wear nothing but dirty brown robes and chains. Chains that attach to shackles at their wrists, ankles and necks. Connecting them each other in a long line. They are lead up the stage by the prison master.

"These people have been spreading that dangerous message across this city," the King says. "It is a message I cannot allow to continue. Though the punishment may be harsh, it is for the safety of the people of Vivelle that I must do this. The message must die." One of the prisoners spits on the Kings face. The crowd gasps in shock. Instead of slapping him and having him beaten as Fallon expected from her father, the King lays a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry that you were manipulated," he sighs before stepping back and nodding his head. From another passage, a group of soldiers march in. They step in unison, their armour glinting in the morning sunlight as the heavy sounds of their metal boots slamming into the ground thuds around the arena. Everyone holds their breath as the soldiers all get onto the stage and stand behind a prisoner each.

"I am sorry you had to witness this, but it is a necessity in order to protect you," the king says before giving the order. The sound of metal against their sheaths as the soldiers pull out their blades rings across the space. Fallon's throat dies but she doesn't look away.

In unison, the soldiers raise their weapons.

"The True Queen will Rise! Down with..." The shining blades slamming into their necks stops the shout short. Like the rest of the crowd, the Princesses flinch as blood sprays across the stage and heads fall from necks. They land on the wooden stage with a thump, some even rolling onto the ground. Then, the bodies slump and fall in bloody heaps.

"This message and support for my daughter is a disease. One that corrupts and destroys. In order to protect the masses, the infected must be exterminated," he finally says after a few seconds of the crowd taking in the bloody, dismembered bodies.  Rayana's stomach churns. 

"Now," that the unpleasantness is over, I have some nice news to share. Another carriage comes from the castle. In a few moments time, Princess Fallon, Princess Cordelia, Princess Rayana and Princess Shaelyn will be joining us! The only good thing coming out of Princess Illyana's attempt at the True Trial is that we all get to spend more time with my other beautiful daughters!" he shouts. The crowd begins to clap and cheer, still shaken by the brutality just displayed.

"Shit!" Fallon mutters. At the same time, the three girls begin to move through the crowd. Shae feels a tight hand grip her arm again. She looks up at Ren in a panic. She really had to go.

"We will help you," is all he says. Shae can't take in what he is saying as Rayana drags her away. Luckily, they weren't too far from one of the tunnels that lead out of the arena. Once out of the crowds, they take off running. Their black robes twisting around them as they make their way through the dark passages to try and find the royal entrance. They manage to sneak past the guards and find the small private room where Cordelia is waiting. Upon seeing them, Cordelia lets out a nervous breath.

"Thank fuck you're here! Where the hell have you been?" she asks with a shaking voice.

"Business," Fallon replies. Cordelia reaches into the coach and pulls out three bags, throwing them quickly to the girls. They open the bags and pull out the fresh dresses that are inside. They quickly strip off their robes and their simple dresses they had worn throughout the night. Replacing them with the softly coloured silky ones that Cordelia had brought for them.

"Thank you," Shae says, her voice and body shaking from the adrenaline of trying to get ready in such a short time. They shove their other dresses back into the bags, throwing them into the carriage.

"No worries," Cordelia sighs as she quickly helps Shae with her hair that is knotted. Rayana and Fallon both hurridly run their hands through their hair, trying to get rid of the knots and dirt.

"Is there any dirt on our faces?" Fallon asks, rubbing at her face.

"No, but there is blood on your knuckles," Cordelia replies. Fallon wets her fingers with her tongue and tries to rub the blood away. It hardly works and she sighs.

"Looks like I am standing with my hands behind my back then," she gulps. She takes a deep breath and tries to calm her nerves. She looks at Cordelia. Unlike the three girls rushed appearance, Cordelia looks every part the princess. Not a strand of her rich red curls fall out of place as they hang down her back. Her skin has a slight sparkle to it and a soft floral scent surrounds her. The dress she wears is a beautiful pale lilac which glitters even in the dim light of the room.

Just as the princesses finish, there is a knock on the door.

"It is time, Princesses," a servant says. The girls look at each other before leaving the passage. Rayana begins to shake.

"I don't think I can go out there again," she whispers to Fallon, her voice sounding higher in pitch. Her breathing quickens as she begins to panic.

"Ray," Fallon growls. "Calm down."

"I can't face them again," she almost shrieks. "I can't stand there with everyone in the city looking down on me!" Fallon shakes her and looks into her eyes.

"Ray," she says. "You have to be strong here. You are with the three of us, you aren't alone. We will look after you," she assures her sister. Rayana nods her head and takes hold of Fallon's hand. Fallon can feel her sister shaking. 

They walk slowly to the entrance of the arena. Reluctantly, Fallon lets go of her sister's hand. They were, after all, still playing the part of waring sisters. The crowd erupts as the girls enter. They walk slowly to the stage. The bodies are already gone with only patches of blood remaining.

The girls wave and smile at the crowd.

"Here they are! My beautiful daughters!" he shouts. "One of your future queens!" Fallon hides her rage as she smiles and does a small curtsy to her father. He holds out his hand for her to take. She tries not to show any reluctance as she wipes her hands on the back of her dress before delicately placing it in his. He notices the staining of dried blood immediately. His dark grin telling her that he knew she wasn't where she was supposed to be during the night. He pulls her closer to him.

"What trouble have you been causing?" he snarls in her ear. She smiles back at him before replying.

"I have no good opponents in the castle since you sent them all after Illyana," she shrugs. "Sometimes fighting underground is the only way to maintain my skills," she tells him. He frowns before smiling back at the crowd again.

The girls stand there for about twenty minutes as their father waffles on about how they are true daughters of Vivelle. Finally, the King has finished and they make their way back to the carriage. Once inside, the five sit in awkward silence before the King finally sighs.

"So, were where the three of you last night?" he asks. The girls don't reply for a few minutes. Finally, Fallon gives him an unimpressed look.

"We weren't expecting to still be alive at this point. We are just enjoying life whilst we still can," she smiles sarcastically.

"By fraternising with the common scum?" The king asks with a snarl. Fallon shrugs.

"What does it matter?" Fallon sighs with a roll of her eyes. "As soon as your favourite returns home the Trial will begin again and you'll rig it for her to win. The castle is boring and I've had enough of walking around those fucking gardens and sipping fancy teas from pathetic china cups. I'd much rather explore the city where I can fight, fuck and gamble," she tells him. His face twists in a snarl but he doesn't say anything. Fallon leans back a smug look crossing her face before she crosses her arms and closes her eyes.

"What about the two of you?" he asks Shaelyn and Rayana. "I can't imagine the two of you trying to disgrace our crown like your older sister," he sneers. Rayana gulps and leans back into the chair. Shaelyn smiles.

"We just wanted to explore," Shaelyn sighs. "Like Fallon so delicately put it..." Shae says as she sends a glare to Fallon. "The castle is boring. We don't train anymore, we have no more lessons and nothing to do but mope around. Going into the city at night to run along the rooftops is exciting," she smiles. "Going at night means we won't be seen so we can't bring shame to the crown. Unlike others in this family," she glares at Fallon. Fallon shrugs and rolls her eyes. The King stays quiet for a few moments before sighing.

"I would order you to stay in the castle but I know you will just sneak out again. There are too many passages in that fucking castle and I can't be bothered to waste resources trying to find them. To be honest, I don't give a fuck about any of you whilst your bitch sister is still out there trying to do anything to make my life difficult and ruin this kingdom," he moans whilst running a hand through his hair. "What I do care about is the reputation of this family. Having Dulavelle daughters running around in the night, doing god knows what..." his eyes fall on Fallon. "Only adds to the many problems that I have to deal with at the moment. As the lot of you seem to be incapable of doing what the fuck you are told, I will be asking my father to come to the castle to try and get you under control." The four girls freeze and Fallon leans forward, looking at her father. This time he wears the smug smile. Fallon narrows her eyes. Their grandfather is a cruel man who makes it his mission to break people and bend them to his will. Fallon smiles at her father coldly and it takes him everything not to break her cold blue-eyed stare. Those icy blue eyes she shares with his father have always made him uneasy. Sometimes he would rather receive a stare from his father than his second daughter.

"Nice play father, I'm always up for a challenge," she smiles. Matthias gulps at the dark tone of his daughter's voice.

"He's broken you before," he snarls himself. "He can do it again. You are going to wish you never disobeyed me and went behind my back," he grins.

"We will see," Fallon replies, leaning back with a twisted grin, not taking her eyes off her father. Finally, he looks away and the rest of the journey back to the castle is in silence.

Fallon sits, looking out of the window and thinking of how she was going to deal with her grandfather. She made up her mind on at least one thing. If he goes after her sisters the same way he had whilst they were growing up then Fallon would make sure he suffers. She isn't a helpless little girl anymore. She is a Princess with the Lupine Gift. Her Grandfather will know his place or he'll end up with a knife in his chest.