Ava's fingers curled around the crystal crest, pressing it into her palm like a lifeline. She stared out the window, her voice sharp. "I'm going to make them pay."
Ariel sighed, crossing the room. "Ava..."
"No, don't," Ava snapped, turning her sharp eyes to her sister. "I don't want your lectures. I want justice."
"Ava, we will fix this," Ariel said, voice firm.
Ava let out a hollow laugh. "Fix this? How, Ariel?" She lifted the crystal crest, the one she'd been clutching when she fell.
"Are you going to fix a broken leg? A shattered name? The fact that I have nothing left except this useless body?"
Ariel's jaw tightened. "You're not useless."
Ava's grip on the crest tightened. "I can't even stand." Her voice wavered for a second before hardening. "The only hope I have left is what's rightfully ours. The throne. And if I can't have that, then I have nothing."
Ariel exhaled. "Ava, you need to be patient."
"Patient?" Ava scoffed. "They took everything from us, and you want me to sit here and wait?"
"You never even made it to the Forbidden Wall," Ariel said carefully. "Whatever happened, it wasn't there and it wasn't them."
Ava's fingers dug into the armrests. "And that makes it better?"
Ariel was speechless.
Ava's voice wavered, but her eyes stayed cold. "If you won't act now, I will. And if I can't... I'd rather leave Valeria than stay here watching them steal what's ours."
Ariel knelt in front of her, hands resting on the arms of Ava's wheelchair. "Then we'll take it back."
Ava searched her face, looking for doubt. "Do you swear it?"
"I swear it."
Ava's fingers finally relaxed around the crest, but the fire in her eyes didn't fade.
— — —
Ariel found Derek and Kathleen in the courtyard. The moment she approached, Kathleen folded her arms. "We heard."
Derek sighed. "It's messed up."
Kathleen's eyes narrowed. "Messed up? Ariel's whole life just got torn apart."
Ariel forced a smirk. "You two always have something to say."
"Because we care," Kathleen shot back. "Are you okay?"
Ariel shrugged. "I'm going to ruin everything for the Queen. And her perfect, pretentious daughter. If not for myself... for Ava. I swore to her "
"You know, for someone who just swore revenge, you look way too composed," Derek mused, leaning against a stone pillar with his arms crossed.
Ariel rolled her eyes. "What did you expect? A dramatic war speech?"
Kathleen scoffed. "No, but we expected something." She sat on the edge of the fountain, legs crossed, gaze sharp. "So? What's the plan?"
Derek smirked. "If it involves arson, I'm in."
Ariel huffed. "This isn't a joke, Derek."
"Who said I was joking?" He raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. "Come on, Ariel. You've never been the type to sit back and let things slide. What's your move?"
Ariel crossed her arms, fingers digging into her sleeves. "I'm going to ruin the Queen. And her daughter."
Kathleen's lips parted, then she let out a low whistle. "Oh, you're serious."
Derek studied her, smirk fading just slightly. "And how far are you planning to go?"
"As far as I have to."
Kathleen nodded approvingly. "Good. Because if you weren't, I was going to drag you into it anyway."
Derek grinned. "And here I thought I was the reckless one."
Kathleen shot him a glare. "This isn't about you, Derek."
"Everything is about me," he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Haven't you learned that by now?"
Ariel shook her head, but for the first time in days, her lips twitched into a small smile.
Kathleen rolled her eyes. "Back to the point—when do we start?"
Ariel met their gazes, something dark settling in her own. "Now."