father?" Akila asked, ho

again, this time w

u would be the queen, and I would be the queen's father. I

e embarrassed, and the next, you're fat

o be dıscreet and fast. Go to your room now. Pack just lıttle thıngs wıth you

on her lap. Her eyes wıdened wıth shock. Her heart beat rapidly and dangero

er stomach dropped aga

la. Not now...p

this?" Akila's voic

ng dangerously. Her father's smile twinged down a bit at

ds and kept it. Aila pinched her thighs, squeezing hard enough to draw pain a

, and you're just throwing it on me? Am I your daughter or jus

s, awaiting her father's usual self. Aki

laced with the commanding and authoritative tone th

things right now and be prepared tomorrow morning! And God hel

t clenched and tears running down h

her yelled, "listen

rted, making a chill

tapping her legs rhyt

ghters. We're never good in your eyes. We're never enough. And for

nted, "I would never marry the king. And none of you...

, Akila!" Her m

ki

ki

lence pooling the room.

pinching her thighs with her head bowed to

nothings to pacify him and not lash out. "I would ta

lowly, she raised her head and reopened her eyes

y he said, "You would talk to her, and speak sense into her before tomorr

n and directly into her brown ones- the ones she got from her mothe

out looking at me wh

asp and marched out of the ro

irl and convince her. She's not ruining this for me in any way. If I

to her!" her mother said s

n the straightforward child, the not-too-pretty child, the

e said yes and agreed even if she didn't want it. She hated his wrath, his stiff belt on her ski

he prettiest one. With curls like her mother's and pure black eyes so black t

aning her eyes and r

m if she doesn't talk to Akila, and h

to her. And this time, she had to, if it would make their father smile

________

Aila in her bed as she stood up. She unlocked the window and opened it,

n three times now. And I've been packing without you. I was

es on the floor, with her clothes neatly folded in one. She smiled sadly as she saw her sis

ng like that? It c

e box in her hand on their little table before holding

. The only time Akila held her hand this soft and stared at her like this was w

can't and won't help you. You know fath

ff. "No. No. We're not running away.

terestingly at Akila, "What better solution did you find

ponded immediately, tak

ht in the eyes, "Do you remember the dark magic

from her sister. She stepped back fro

what did

ila snapped a bit

I just met the witch and talked to her. I don't want to go. You

cut in, her voice

oice reduced to a whisper,

er heart dropping to h

my body, Aila. And yo