Traitors

On the eve of the last night before King Russell pulls his men, Liana paced her room. Then, there was a knock on the door. She jumped in surprise.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Princess."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Liana walked to the door and opened it.

"Mikhail."

"Liliana."

She had allowed him to call her by her full name, if he wanted to, but only in private.

She stepped aside to let him in and shut the door behind him.

"Preston still isn't giving up. He got the King's letter yesterday, but still disagrees with the orders."

"Will he be a problem?"

"I don't know. Princess..."

"Yes?"

"Your father and brother are on their way here."

"What?"

He nodded solemnly.

"They'll arrive tomorrow, around midday."

"But, but I've been trying everything! Sonicans have alienated Mainlanders. Preston can't stop the mages from using their magic; he's tried and it's failed. They're disobeying his rules. I can't do anything else unless I unleash war again. And I'd rather not do that."

He looked at her sadly.

"I think you should leave Sonic. Tonight."

"No, but I-"

She sighed.

"Maybe you're right."

"Can't you block the other mages from seeing you and where you are?"

"Umm, I should be able to, in theory. I haven't ever tried it, but I can mentally block other from reading my mind."

"I hate to say it, Princess, but you've run out of time. You need to get out before the other mages realize..."

"My deception," she finished.

He nodded. "Yeah."

She hung her head sadly.

"Vander will hate me for this, if he finds out. He already does now."

Her blue eyes met Mikhail's green ones.

"If I were to agree to leave now, where would you suggest I go?"

"Try to block the others. You don't want them to be able to track you, obviously. Once you've "disappeared," I can help you get to wherever you want to go."

"Let me try."

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Envisioning an invisibility shield around her, Liana hid herself from her fellow mages.

"Did you do it?"

She opened her eyes.

"Yeah, I think I did. So what now?"

"Come with me."

They left her room and headed down towards the kitchens.

"Why are we going to the kitchens?"

"There's a passageway out of here. But it's near the kitchens."

"How do you know about this? Even I don't and I've lived here for thirteen years!"

"Because, Princess... I'm the spy."

"True."

She followed him as they wound their way past the cooks and into the passageway. The corridor was dark.

"Princess?"

She lit a small flame in her hand. Light filled the damp space.

"Lead the way."

"There's transportation at the end."

"Did you always think I'd fail?"

"No, but I couldn't leave anything unchecked."

"Yeah, sure."

They continued walking.

"I must admit, I kind of would have liked to see you come out on top. Unfortunately, Preston is just as stubborn as you are."

"Tell me about it," she grumbled. "You didn't go to school with him for ten-some years. That's why I complained to Harmon when he told me we were betrothed. He went to our Father and said that I had no desire to be with Preston. Granted, Father said it was early, and we were young, but still."

They came out at the other end of the passageway to find an angry Preston and a disappointed Vander. Liana stopped, shocked. Mikhail stood at her side.

"So even my own spy betrays me?" Preston demanded.

"Sir, I can explain."

"No, need. I know everything."

Mikhail turned towards Liana. She shook her head at him, innocent.

"I didn't say anything, I swear. Do you really think I wish to die again?"

"Sister, how could you? So many mages have died because of your insatiable ambition. I can't believe you start this whole fiasco."

"Vander, I-"

"No, you don't get to speak."

He snapped his fingers. She opened her mouth to retort, but no sound came out. Shock filled her features before she glared at her twin. Mikhail walked towards the others.

"I'm sorry, Princess."

Realization dawned on her as her eyes widened.

He had been pretending to help her, gaining her trust, all the while relating everything back to Preston and Vander.

Still unable to speak, she knew this was the end.

"Liana, your actions are going to be reviewed by the Gathering of Mages. Justice will be served to you," Vander said solemnly.

Her whole body shook as sobs nearly overwhelmed her. This was to be her fate, her sentence back to Hell.

"You brought this upon yourself, Liana," Preston said grimly.

She looked away from all of them and heard a distant, familiar hissing noise. Liana froze. They three men watched as her body completely stilled, then tensed. She looked up and shook with insurmountable fear. Her eyes were wide as saucers, panic evident in her pupils.

"Liana?" Vander asked, concerned.

He snapped his fingers, allowing her to speak again. She opened her mouth, and they thought it was to say something. But instead, she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Again.