Leander opens the door and my father jumps back in fear. Leander looks over my father with wide eyebrows.

"Matty," he grins cooley. "What brings you here at this hour?" he asks. My father gulps and licks his lips nervously at the young man standing above him.

"Erm," he begins and clears his throat.

"Well, hurry up," Leander snaps.

"Lord Tonra," he begins with a squeak. "He told me to get this message to Princess Yasmine," he gulps. Leander frowns and takes the letter from my fathers shaking hands.

"So you're bringing it to me?" he asks. My father nods his head.

"I thought he was acting strangely. He gave it to me very secretly, probably thinking I would be too scared to report it to you," my father stutters. Leander smirks and opens the letter. There is a tense silence as he reads it. The further he gets down the letter, the more his frown deepens.

"Well," he finally says. "Isn't this interesting," he smirks and folds up the letter. "Thank you, for bringing this to me, Matty," he replies. "I'll be sure to deal with the situation appropriately," he tells him. "You did good, boy," he smiles and taps my father's shoulder. My father winces and quickly steps away.

"Meet me here tomorrow morning," he orders then laughs. "Don't worry, for once, I won't be taking my anger out on you."

"What are you planning?" father gulps.

"Now now, Matty. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. Just have yourself a nice little sleep and be ready," he grins and slams the door in my fathers face. My father begins to walk back down the corridor. His body straightens and he squares his shoulders. All fear disappearing from his face as a cruel smirk replaces it.

The girls all sit for breakfast. Sitting with them is Lord Kristoff. There is an awkward silence. The only noise coming from the scraping of cutlery on plaits. The door opens and Amalie walks in. Her eyes immediately dart to Rayana, who smirks. The girl is styling a high necked dress today. Fallon sighs as Amalie moves to sit on the other side of Kristoff.

"Get out," Cordelia orders, not even looking up from the book she is reading in her space on Kristoff's other side. She glares at the group.

"You don't have as much authority as you think," Amalie snaps. Cordelia sighs and looks up from her book bored.

"She can stay," Kristoff says. Amalie smiles smugly and goes to sit down. 

"You were given an instruction, cousin. From a princess. Lord Kristoff is not the King yet," Fallon says, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.

"It doesn't matter if I am the King yet. I am still..."

"Guards," Cordelia sighs. They move toward the table quickly. "Remove her," she says.

"Don't you dare..." Kristoff is interrupted by the guards ignoring him and taking Amalie's arms.

"What are you doing?" she snaps at them as they begin to drag her away. Rayana catches her eye on the way out, giving her a warning glare. She stops struggling and allows herself to be lead out.

"What do you think you're playing at, girl?" Kristoff asks. Fallon lazily turns to look at him.

"It's princess to you," she sighs. "Like Cordelia said. You aren't the King yet and at this rate, you never will be," she grins standing up. He stands up quickly and the rest of the guards make slight movements to prepare to intercept.

"Isn't it strange," Fallon smiles. "Before Illyana left, none of them would have listened to us at all. However, the longer that Illyana is gone, the more likely it is she will return victorious," Fallon sighs. "The more they think that Illyana will be the queen, the less they listen to you." She smiles and turns to walk out. Shae and Ray both follow after her soon after that. Leaving Cordelia and Kristoff alone.

"Why did you do that?" he ask. "To Amalie?" he growls. She looks at him.

"I told you," she snarls and leans closer. "I will not be sharing you," she snaps and closes her book, standing up herself. "You promised me that you would no longer court her, yet still you show her favour. I have made myself perfectly clear. You either chose me and get the throne. Or you chose her and get nothing," she snaps and turns from him, walking away. He stands up and rushes toward her, his face reddening with anger. The guards in the room grab him before he reaches her. She turns and glares at him. "Whether you like it or not," she spits. "Fallon is right. Every day, people are beginning to realise that we could soon have a Queen and they want to be in her good books when she arrives." She wraps her fingers tightly around his chin so he is forced to look at her. "You cannot afford to be seen playing about with the Baylon whore. If you aren't willing to put in the effort, then neither am I and I'll fucking hand Illyana the throne with you chained up at the foot of it, understand?" He glares at her, his mouth twisting. She sighs and lets go of him, gently touching his cheek. "I love you, Kristoff," she sighs and kisses his forehead. "I want this to work and I want to be your queen," she smiles and strokes some of his hair away. "But, you're making a fool of yourself and I can't bear seeing you fall so low," she sighs and gives him a soft kiss on his lips. "You don't want to lose me, do you?" she asks, her spectacular forest green eyes staring into his. He gulps and shakes his head. "I didn't think so," she replies her voice soft as she kisses him again. "Think about what I've said. Come to me to apologise when you have," she smiles and lightly taps his shoulder before turning to walk away.

"You did what to him?" Giovana asks with a laugh as Cordelia finishes summarising her breakfast chat.

"You heard," Cordelia laughs and kisses the mer on the lips.

"I wish I was there to see that puppy look he must have been wearing," she chuckles and Cordelia frowns.

"I am so close to having his complete devotion," she sighs. "One day, I'll have him so wrapped around my finger that he'll worship the ground I stand on. But that fucking bitch keeps getting in my way and ruining my work," she spits. Giovana kisses her shoulder and moves up her neck. Cordelia closes her eyes and lets out a moan.

"I don't think you have to work particularly hard," Giovanna mutters as her lips find Cordelia's. Cordelia laughs and pulls away.

"You've obviously never met Amalie," she replies. 

"I don't particularly want to." Cordelia laughs.

"We are two opposite people representing two things that Kristoff lusts after. Amalie isn't afraid to participate in all his depraved fantasy's. I dread to think about what the two of them have done together," she shudders. "I swear they both get off on pain and other people suffering at their hands," she gulps. "I, however, am the pure, innocent princess," she chuckles. Giovanna raises an eyebrow.

"Innocent?" she asks. "I don't think so, my love," she chuckles. Cordelia taps her shoulder jokingly and laughs.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" she asks. Giovanna smirks and kisses Cordelia again. 

"I think you know exactly what I am saying," she replies. Cordelia laughs and leans into Giovanna's arms.

"I am a game to Kristoff. He is getting more kicks out of the chase," she sighs. "I can only take it so far before he expects me to give in to him," she tells Giovanna. Giovanna's grip tightens on Cordelia's arm as she looks away from her. Cordelia reaches for Giovanna's cheek and pulls her face to look back at her. "I have to give myself to him at some point," Cordelia sighs. "It will be his reward for doing exactly what I say," she chuckles. Giovanna shakes her head and smiles.

"That's one heck of a reward," she replies. "I'm sure he'll never step out of line after that," she agrees. "I just don't like the thought of you being with him," she gulps. "I know I can't talk, given my profession, but him..." she shakes her head. "I don't like the way he thinks he owns you."

"He may have thought that once," Cordelia nods. "But when I'm done with him," she grins. "He's going to worship me," she tells her.

"Just be careful. That man is a loose cannon," Gi warns.

"I know that," Cordelia sighs. "Now, let's stop talking about him. I'm here to spend time with you. It isn't often my grandfather is distracted enough for me to be able to safely make this journey," she says and kisses Giovanna deeply.

"As you wish, your majesty," Giovanna whispers in Cordelia's ear as she begins to remove Cordelia's dress. Cordelia shudders at the cool, soft touch of Giovanna's fingers against her skin. Even giggling when Giovanna reaches her ticklish spot.

The sound of a crashing stops the girls in their tracks. Cordelia's heart leaps into her throat and the two stand quickly.

"Stay here," Gi orders as she pulls on a robe.

"No way," Cordelia replies, pulling on a robe of her own. They race downstairs. A scream leaves Gi's mouth at the sight of one of her workers dead on the floor. Her throat slit and blood pooling around her. Cordelia grabs her hand and pulls her out of the way of knife that was just hurled through the air toward them. The rest of the workers are huddled in corners or under tables as I loan man stands in the middle of the room. He wears a long black coat and his hands are carrying two great big swords. Blood splatters his sweaty skin across his face. His brown hair is a tangled mess.

"Giovana," he sighs then frowns, seeing Cordelia. "With another?" he asks. Giovanna shakes and steps down.

"Let them go, my love," she smiles nervously, holding up her hands. Cordelia doesn't move as she watches with wide eyes.

"I don't think you're in the position of making demands!" he shouts and reaches for another girl. She screams as he pulls her hair and drags her along the floor.

"No, don't hurt her!" Gi screams and rushes toward them. Cordelia lets out a scream of her own as he backhands Giovanna across the face so hard she goes flying to the floor.

"Watch her die you revolting Mer whore," he shouts and slits the girl's throat. Cordelia goes running down the stairs over to Giovanna. Gi screams again and brings her shaking hand up to her mouth as she sobs.

"I fucking told you!" he shouts, swinging the knife around. "I told you what would happen!" he screams stepping toward Cordelia and Giovanna. He glares at Cordelia.

"Were you with her?" he asks, his voice shaking with rage. Cordelia gulps, her breathing fast as her heart races in fear. Her stomach does flips in her stomach as she tries to think of how to deal with the situation. She could disarm him. She has the training for it. Almost as though he knew what she was thinking, he reaches for another worker and holds the blade against her throat.

The girl lets out a shriek as her body shakes in his grip.

"Shhh," he whispers in her ear. "The pain will be all gone soon," he speaks softly as she cries. "I just want your bitch of a boss to know what it felt like," he snarls. "The pain I felt every night when she took another man into her arms," he growls. Cordelia stands up slowly, holding her palms out.

"Just relax," she says, her voice melodically soft. He shakes his head.

"Does this look like a situation I can relax in?" he shouts as Gi reaches for Cordelia.

"Sit down, Cor," she begs. "Hide," she presses further. "Just take me. Do what you want and let my girls go," she speaks to the man.

"Absolutely not," Cordelia growls and stares at him.

"So she's with you know?" he shouts. "After I gave her strict instructions to save her body for me? Why can't you follow simple instructions, you stupid mer whore? Why don't you understand?" he shouts, his voice rising frantically. "You are mine. I paid for you and now I own you," he growls. Cordelia shakes with rage as she analyses the situation. She looks at the wide eyes of the scared prostitutes. She gulps and steps forward.

"Why would you want her?" Cordelia asks, her green eyes locking with his.

"Because she's mine?" he shouts. "Now fucking shut up and don't come any closer or I'll slit this whores throat and then yours!" he says, tucking roughly at the girl and stepping away from Cordelia. Her body begins to calm as she stays locked onto him. The shaking in her hands stops and she smiles softly.

"But she is nothing," she says, her voice coming out so smoothly it is almost as though she is singing.

"What are you doing?" he asks, confused and shaking his head as though he is trying to flick something out of his way. His eyes lock onto Cordelia's and she steps closer.

"Why wouldn't you want me, instead?" Cordelia asks. He gulps, his head still shaking.

"Cordelia," Gi growls behind her and Cordelia holds up her hand. The room silences as Cordelia steps forward again.

"I... I don't... I want her?" he asks. Cordelia smiles.

"Don't be silly," she chuckles, her laugh like music. His eyes lock on her as fog fills his mind. Everyone begins to disappear around him as he focusses on Cordelia. All he can see is her. Those green eyes and bright red hair. Then there is her soft, beautiful smile and flawless pale skin.

"What's going..." he begins and gulps, his grip loosening on the girl as he only focuses on Cordelia. She smiles again.

"That's it," she says softly. His eyes fall on her full pink lips and then down her body. Gazing at the way the robe clings to her curves. He gulps and stairs back into her eyes. He loses his voice, seeing the spectacular beauty of the woman before him.

"You see me?" she asks. He nods his head and drops the swords. "You want me?" she asks, her musical soft voice ringing through him and making him shudder.

"Gio..." he begins and stops again. No. She was right. Why would he want Giovanna at all? The woman before him is... perfect. She is everything. A beauty that he had never seen before. Everything about her is... He needs her. His life is nothing without her. She laughs and it sounds like pure bliss in his ears. He begins to move toward her. She flicks her hair away from the bare skin on her shoulder and smiles.

"I could be yours? Do you want that?" she asks. He gulps, his heart racing in his chest with pure awe. So much so that if she were to ask, he would get down on his knees and pray to her. She is a goddess. She is everything. The only thing he could ever desire. 

"You just have to do one thing for me," she continues, her voice still so soft and melodic. It is the only thing he can hear. It is the only thing he wants to hear. He looks back into her glowing green eyes and nearly crumples, overwhelmed in the mix of spectacular green shades.

"Anything," he mutters, seeing only her in the room. She is the only thing he ever wants to see.

"Pick up the knife," she tells him. Without breaking their stare, he reaches down and slowly pulls the knife up off the ground. She laughs and he shudders. "Good," she gins and he is almost overwhelmed with joy at the thought of pleasing her. Cordelia smiles and readies to say her next instructions. Her heart races in her chest. Not with fear. With excitement. Her whole body tingles as this strange feeling of power fills her. The control she has over him makes her whole body almost quake with sizzling, exciting energy. The next words that come out of her mouth are so beautiful sounding. Slow, soft and pure. Like the voice of a goddess.

"Run the knife along your throat," she says. The actual words a complete contradiction to the delivery of them. He smiles and in a quick movement, slits his throat. No hesitation. No blink of fear or regret. He does it with a smile on his face. His body falls to the ground, blood pooling around him quickly as he chokes on his own blood. He doesn't move to stop the bleeding though.

Noise and vision begin to appear around Cordelia once the spell is broken. There is a shocked silence as Giovanna stands up slowly, clasping Cordelia's hand. She still shakes as she does this. Cordelia is completely relaxed, though her eyes don't leave the body of the attacked.

"How did you do that?" Giovanna asks. Cordelia gulps.

"I guess I have the Mer gift," she replies with a gulp, her mouth drying.

"And the Siren's," she says, her voice breathless. "times a hundred," Giovanna gulps.

"What are you talking about?" Cordelia asks, looking to Giovanna. 

"Mer can enchant people to join us," she says. "Which will lead to their deaths. We can't actually command anyone to completely end their own lives," she says with a shaky voice. "That is the sort of control that takes years of using our powers on an individual to achieve. Even then, their brains usually still manage to block something like that," she gulps.

"I don't understand," Cordelia says beginning to panic.

"Everything about you then was enchanting. Like a drug. Your voice, your appearance," Giovanna gulps. "You weren't even aiming at us and I could feel the pull toward you," she tells her. "You have the gift of the mer and the sirens, that's for sure. But on a level that not even their royals have," she gulps and hugs Cordelia's still body. Cordelia tries to wrap her mind around it.

"I have The Gift?" she asks, though not to anyone in particular. She replays it over and over in her mind again before smiling. "That will be very useful," she smiles. Giovanna looks up at her and smiles.

"You could use some practice, to really use the skill on demand and not when your life is in danger. Luckily for you, I am a Mer and know how to train the magic," she smiles. Cordelia grins and feels a wave of excitement tingle in her belly. It then disappears as she looks around the room.

"We should talk about this later," she sighs. Gi looks around, the magic wearing off as reality sets in. Tears spring to both girls eyes as they take in the bloody bodies from the slaughter.

"My precious girls," Gi sobs and reaches for all of them.

"Don't worry, Gi," Cordelia says. "I'll get this all sorted. You just take them out of here and away from the violence. I'll have this place cleaned up and new security sorted for you." Giovanna walks over to Cordelia and gives her a light kiss on the lips.

"I love you," she says and turns to take the weeping girls away from the bloody sight. Cordelia sighs and walks over to the man, still with a smile on his dead face. She grins before spitting on his corpse. After that, she leaves and finds some of her contacts. Explaining to them what happened, they work quickly sorting it all out. In just under two hours, Giovanna's brothel is just as it was before and like nothing even happened. Cordelia says a quick goodbye and leaves them to heal before heading back to the castle.

Rayana sits on Cordelia's bed, making Cordelia jump when she enters the room.

"What are you doing?" she snaps at her younger sister. Rayana stands up slowly.

"Your Gift. It finally appeared," Rayana states. Cordelia frowns.

"What are you..."

"Don't play dumb with me," Ray interrupts, looking at her sister. "It was more, wasn't it? More power than you should have." Cordelia licks her lips and nods her head slowly. Ray nods her head as well, thinking.

"What is happening?" she asks.

"What are you talking about?" Cordelia asks, looking at her sister with a frown.

"Our gifts," she says.

"Gifts?" Cordelia asks.

"All of us have them," she frowns. "Except they are strange. They are different and they are powerful. More powerful than the leaders of the races in which they come from."

"Wait, you, Fallon and Shae have gifts too." Ray ignores her.

"You have the gift of the Mer and Sirens," she says with a frown still. "Which makes sense that you would have both seeing as the two species are pretty much merged together," she mutters to herself. "I have the gift of the Fae, Shae the centaurs and Fallon the Lupine." Cordelia shakes her head in shock hearing this.

"That's all five of the possible gifts taken. The four of us have one," she looks at Cordelia. "Or two each. Except you don't have two gifts. You have just the one power. But it is a mixture of the beauty and voice of the Mer and Sirens. Made into one big ball of mind manipulating magic," she sighs.

"Ray, what are you saying?"

"I am saying," Ray sighs, exasperated. "That the four of us have magic from one species," she says. "However, that power is somehow massively and scarily heightened. We are able to do things that we should not be able too."

"So if the four of us have all the possible gifts we can have, what about Illyana?" Cordelia asks, keeping from smiling. The thought of all her sisters having such strong powers and the oh so perfect Illyana having nothing fills her with an odd sense of joy. Rayana's eyes widen.

"Illyana has them all," she says. The happy feeling leaves Cordelia straight away. "But not to the individual strength we do. She has all the gifts, but isn't as powerful in each of them as we are," Ray gasps and begins to leave the room, muttering about having to research and go back to where the answers are. Cordelia shakes her head, completely confused at what is going on. Ray pops her head back in.

"Cordelia," she says. Cordelia looks up. "I know what you're really up to," she states. "I've seen it." Cordelia freezes.

"Ray... I..." Cordelia stutters, her heart leaping into her chest with panic.

"No. I don't want to hear it," Rayana snaps. "But if you tell anyone of any of what I've said to you tonight," she begins. "I will make sure that Kristoff finds out about Giovanna," she threats. Cordelia's hands begin to shake as the two stare at each other. "Don't worry," Rayana continues. "I won't tell the others about what you're really up to. Not because I actually want to cover for you, but because this game you're playing works in my favour. Though Fallon already suspects," she sighs. "It is because of that, I'll let you continue your little power game because one day, it will be useful," she says, her voice sickly sweet as she speaks. "But don't take my threat lightly or the only person you actually have the heart to love will die a horrible and painful death. All it takes is one word to set everything into motion..." Ray continues and the two sisters stare at each other. Ray suddenly smiles casually and shrugs her shoulders. "Goodnight," she grins and leaves the room. Cordelia stays standing, completely still as she processes everything that Rayana just said. She thought all this time that she was the best player of this game. That Rayana was the weakest and most innocent one of the siblings. Yet as Cordelia's heart races with fear, fear caused by her little sister, she realises that she is not the best player at this game. Something has changed in Rayana. Somehow, she thinks that facing Rayana's wrath is worse than Fallon's.