Joanna looked up as another young man appeared in the council room—literally appearing out of thin air. She shivered at a cold breeze washing over her and looked around. A wave of fear flooded her and she took a step back as he walked towards her. She looked over at the guards, not understanding why they didn’t intervene and help her. Joanna froze in place as she was grasped in an unseen hand that prevented her from moving. Then he was on her, grasping her head, forcing her to look up into his startling blue eyes that looked vaguely familiar. She raised her own hands, laying them on his wrists, intending to try to break free, but she froze as his voice echoed in her mind.
I’m sorry for the cruelty, Mother.
Confusion flooded her as this one called her mother, just like the one pretending
