Because Of You. . .

SURBHI, An old rumour haunted the halls of Yuva, sailing in hushed breaths. That a dancer came from the Queen’s womb, the Crowned Princess’s twin. A beautiful rumour only a few people believed, because there was this stain attached to dancers. It was a profession no one in Sudgal chose willingly, not if they had a choice or a promise of a better life. Most women in Yuva were either sold by their relatives or deceived by charming strangers. But I was more comfortable with this lifestyle. I was abandoned here, barely three days old, and these walls were all I knew. I didn’t dream of escaping to the outside world, or stumbling upon a love greater than the novels piling up the streets. It was all bullshit, by the way. My dreams were more realistic. I wanted to be the next Madame of Yuva. It wasn’t much power, but it could do terrible damage in the right hands. I was just bidding my time. “What are you doing over there, Surbhi? Shouldn’t you be dressed already?” Pia gasped, walking into my room. She’d been with me since I could remember, the only parent I’d known, even though she was but ten years older than me. “Am catching a breath,” I was standing by the window, fingers absently trailing over the cool satin curtains. Oblivious to the evening sun as it melancholically bathed the world in deep orange house, and the songs of birds as they raced back to their nests. Dreading my next performance. A private party for some ministers of royal court, not exactly a privilege. These particular men couldn’t keep their hands to themselves, thriving in entitlement and egos. I hated them. These men in power who got away with every wrong because of a seat in court or a prestigious position within the kingdom. If only I didn’t need them. The thing about dreams was they couldn’t simply be manifested by the sheer force of will. There had to be networks in between, crutches and a lot of IOUs. . . “Close those windows before you catch something worse,” I turned to her, my lips curled up in a frown. “Quit nagging me, Pia. Am old enough to pick my battles,” She scoffed “So you’d prefer a cold?” “Now you’re mincing my words,” “We have no time for this, quickly get ready before the Madame comes for our asses,” Ah, the Madame. There was nothing she hated more than losing, be it time or money. A respectable trait. But did she know I was after the keys to her little kingdom? Hungry for her power, saliva dripping with my lust. I guess, it’s the royalty in me, if the rumours were to be believed. Pia pulled me to the center of the room where three dresses hung delicately, waiting to be worn and appreciated. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the worst. It wasn’t my first time walking into a den of lustful creatures, but maybe I was nervous because a lot was on the line. A distant murmur, almost like a chaotic rumble of thunder reverberated through the walls, sending shivers of apprehension through me. Startled, my gaze found Pia, “Is it about to rain?” Pia ever the pillar of composure shook her head, “The rainmaker's forecast promised fair skies,” As if defying her words, the sound came again, gradually building up. I mused out loud on whatever weather phenomena it might be, and Pia indulged me as she fixed up my braids. I reminded her not to exert herself, her bad knee flared up whenever the winds changed. “Now who’s nagging?” There was warmth in her tone, and it made me smile. Our peace was abruptly interrupted by the sudden entrance of a servant, her overall disheveled and breathless appearance betraying the urgency of her message. “Yuva is under attack,” “What do you mean?” Pia asked but I remained unfazed. It was probably the government officials again, back for more extortion. This was why tonight’s party was important. . . And that sounded like the beginning of a bad speech. I pushed the thoughts aside, applying an extra coat of lipstick. There was something about red lips that drove men crazy. “. . . it’s a bloody mess out there with royal guards everywhere. They’re looking for the Madame, I think, and they’ll leave no stone unturned till they find her,” The servant rumbled. “Could this be about the rumours of affair between her and the king?” Pia asked, because that was more important than the chaos building up outside. “I don’t_” Before she could get her words out, an arrow pierced through the door and right through her skull. Pia instinctively shielded me, while I froze, watching the servant through the mirror as she fell lifelessly to the floor. This wasn’t a raid. There was a struggle outside the door, a clash of metals and more screams. And when the door opened, instead of a malevolent intruder, a woman walked in. Older with a streak of grey colouring a side of her head, in more gold than I could ever afford, and with more grace than I’d ever had. The Queen. “Y-Your Highness,” Pia trembled, her grip tightening around my wrist. The Queen smiled, a cruel thing on her, as she perched herself on my settee. Her guards dragged us to her feet. “About the Madame, we know not_” She held her hand up to Pia, her eyes not bating from me. The dread churning through my gut thickened. “Your resemblance to the Princess is uncanny,” Remember the story about twins? I’d made it all up. I was the child of no one, left to die outside the gates of Yuva. And I’d only crafted the story because of whispers I’d heard from a couple of palace maidens who stopped by regularly, and because I wanted to be regarded with intrigue. Another stepping stone into my goals. “Your Highness_” She cut me before I could speak “When I heard about the rumour of the Princess’s twin roaming the halls of a brothel, I wanted to cut out your tongue and scar that face that dared to look like my girl’s, but my priestess promised you’d be of use some day,” She said coldly. “Please spare us, Your Highness. Please forgive our ignorance,” Pia pleaded for my sake, sinking deeper on her knees. I'd never understood why she loved me. We weren’t related, and I was imperfect, made of flaws, ambitions and bad decisions. “The King is dead,” The Queen said remorselessly. It wasn’t news, and neither were we patriotic, but still we offered our condolences heartily. But they went by unacknowledged. “The Princess, my foolish daughter, eloped with some commoner, merely months to her wedding,” She seethed. I didn’t know much about politics, but a kingdom without a leader was doomed, especially now with a war raging up North, “That’s why am here actually,” “I don’t understand,” But I did, I just wanted to hear the words out loud. “You’ll take the Princess’s place, till she’s found. It shouldn’t take long,” I looked up, daring to meet her eye. “And if I refuse?” “You’ll die, but not before watching me skin this thing clinging to you,” The air in my lungs thinned, and my legs buckled under my weight. I was probably the worst person in the world, because at that moment, I worried more about my dreams than Pia. I’d never planned on this setback, neither could I recover from it, even if the Queen spared my life later on. “But_” “Does it look like you have a choice, girl?” She clapped her hands and her guards were onto us again, dragging us with them. The once serene corridors of Yuva were littered with blood and bodies. A nauseating yet humbling sight. Ash to Ash. Did I have a choice? I didn’t think so.