Chapter 2

Richard's grip tightened around his sword. "That is because the people fear the power of the undead! It is only natural."

"Fear?" I sheathed my bone dagger and rose from the corner.

The chains coiled around me clattered as I moved.

I stepped toward the cell door. Helena and Richard instinctively backed away.

The look in their eyes was one I knew all too well. Fear.

"You are afraid, too, are you not?" I pressed my palm against the cold iron bars. Dark necromantic energy seeped from my fingertips.

The holy runes carved into the bars crackled and dimmed rapidly, eaten away by my power.

"Monster. You have truly fallen!" Richard Lionheart drew his longsword, its blade shimmering with holy light, and leveled it at me.

I gazed at that light. Once, it had been the strongest force within me. Now, it only seared my flesh.

"Fallen?" A soft laugh escaped me. "If this is damnation, I will take it gladly.

"At least I no longer have to feign loyalty to a country that discards me the moment it finds it convenient.

"And I no longer have to heal a pack of backstabbing wolves who turn on me without a second thought."

My words struck like a whip across their faces.

Helena turned ghostly pale. "Ava, please. For the sake of what we once had—"

"What we once had?" I cut her off. "Whatever existed between us was erased the moment you locked this cell door with your own hands.

"All that remains between me, you, and this empire is pure hatred."

I turned and walked back to the shadowy corner of the cell, seating myself once more as though they were nothing but a pair of bothersome flies.

A deafening explosion boomed from the direction of the city walls. The ground trembled beneath us.

Helena shrieked, "Th-the walls have been breached!"

Richard's face went pale. His gaze darted between the frantic princess and me in the cell.

Gritting his teeth, he said to Helena, "Your Highness, we are out of time! We must find another way."

He spun on his heel to leave.

"Stop," I said coldly.

Richard halted and glanced back at me.

I crooked my finger, beckoning him closer. "You want me to save your precious empire? It can be done. But you will have to meet my terms."

Helena's eyes lit up at once. "Y-you are willing?"

I ignored her and locked eyes with Richard. "Paladin, is honor and sacrifice not your creed? Well, here is your chance to prove it."

Richard frowned. "What do you mean?"

The shadows in the cell coiled around me, and a strange, mocking smile curled my lips. "Offer up your heart. Perhaps your beloved empire will survive."

"What did you say?" Richard seemed certain he had misheard.

Helena froze, her flicker of joy twisting into shock. "Ava, you have lost your mind!"

I settled back against the wall, making myself comfortable. "Do I look as though I am joking? Necromancy always demands a sacrifice.

"The heart of the empire's mightiest paladin, overflowing with holy power, that is the finest offering I could ask for.

"Kill him, hand me his heart, and I will do my part."

I spoke as if remarking on the weather, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

Richard's face went through a quick, ugly shift. Blood rushed to his cheeks, then faded to a pallor that bordered on sickly. His sword hand trembled, knuckles white around the hilt.

"You demon!" he roared. "I should have slain you long ago." He raised his blade, poised to strike the cell door.

"Stop!" Helena screamed, throwing herself in front of him.

She turned to me, her gaze cold and distant, as though looking at a stranger. "Ava, I cannot believe what you have become. Will you truly stand by and watch us die?"

I met her stare. "You begged me to save you. I named my price. It is a simple trade. What seems to be the problem?"

"You—!" Helena stood speechless, choking on her fury.

The sounds of battle drew closer from outside the city. The screams of civilians began to reach our ears.

Each cry struck Helena like a blade to the heart.