agenda from them both if I am ever going to get my family put back together.
Two days before my marriage to the emperor, the usurper shows up in my home completely unannounced. I am playing with Vala in my sitting room when he suddenly appears in front of me. I find his unexpected arrival odd because I didn't see the flash of light that usually coincides with someone teleporting. It was more like he just materialized out of nowhere.
“Good evening, Annalisse,” he says, his eyes roaming over every inch of my body with undisguised carnal interest. Further proof to me that the person standing before me is not Auggie.
“Good evening,” I reply, as Vala sits up on my lap, staring at the emperor like she'll pounce on him if he dares to try to touch me.
The emperor looks around my sitting room like he is seeing it for the very first time, taking in every detail before returning his gaze to me.
“It's a pity, you know,” he says with a heavy sigh of regret.
He doesn't complete his thought, and I know exactly what he wants.
“What's a pity?” I ask, providing the slight prod he seems to need to finish what he was about to say.
“It's a pity how your life has turned out,” he finishes. “You were given everything a person needs to survive in this world, yet, look where you are. Forced into a marriage you don't want. Exiled from your father and friends. It just seems rather pathetic considering all the effort that went into placing you where you are now.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
The emperor makes a clicking sound with his tongue like he's chastising me for something I said.
“Come, come, Annalisse. I think we both know what's going on here. You don't have to hide your knowledge from me. You know what I am.”
“I know you're an imposter,” I say vehemently, not being able to control my temper. “Where is Auggie?”
The person masquerading as my friend narrows his eyes on me looking slightly confused.
“Don't you know?” He asks.
“How am I supposed to know what you did with him?” I demand. “Where is he?”
I watch as the man's expression transforms into one of sudden realization. He begins to laugh. It's not a joyous sound but one filled with scorn.
“I can't believe they didn't tell you anything!” He howls, completely amused by my ignorance of what's really going on.
“Then why don't you enlighten me,” I say, becoming annoyed by his mocking. “If you're so smart, why don't you share your vast store of knowledge with me?”
The man is finally able to bring his mirth under control and looks at me with no pretense of friendliness. He hates me, that much is certain. I just don't know why he hates me.
“What fun would that be?” He asks. “Why would I give up the upper hand I have over you? Plus, you really don't need to know anyway. You won't be alive long enough to do anything with the knowledge.”
My body tenses and Vala begins to growl.
“You leave her alone,” Vala threatens.
The emperor chuckles.
“I've lived longer than this world has been in existence, my little robot friend,” he says to Vala in disgust. “It will take more than you to end my life. Of that, you can rest assured.”
Even though he didn't want to give up any information that would help me, he just did.
“How can you be older than the Earth?” I ask, hoping to coerce him into opening up a dialogue. “I think you're lying.”
“How limited your mind is,” the man says condescendingly. “I can't believe Andre raised you to think so inside the box. There are powers within this world that are beyond your limited imagination. And I'm one of them.”
“Prove it,” I say. “Just what kind of powers do you presume to have that would amaze my limited intellect?”
The man stares at me, and I can see that he's trying to decide whether or not to entertain my request. Before I know it, a whip made of what looks like lightning appears in his right hand, crackling with a supernatural
Two days before my marriage to the emperor, the usurper shows up in my home completely unannounced. I am playing with Vala in my sitting room when he suddenly appears in front of me. I find his unexpected arrival odd because I didn't see the flash of light that usually coincides with someone teleporting. It was more like he just materialized out of nowhere.
“Good evening, Annalisse,” he says, his eyes roaming over every inch of my body with undisguised carnal interest. Further proof to me that the person standing before me is not Auggie.
“Good evening,” I reply, as Vala sits up on my lap, staring at the emperor like she'll pounce on him if he dares to try to touch me.
The emperor looks around my sitting room like he is seeing it for the very first time, taking in every detail before returning his gaze to me.
“It's a pity, you know,” he says with a heavy sigh of regret.
He doesn't complete his thought, and I know exactly what he wants.
“What's a pity?” I ask, providing the slight prod he seems to need to finish what he was about to say.
“It's a pity how your life has turned out,” he finishes. “You were given everything a person needs to survive in this world, yet, look where you are. Forced into a marriage you don't want. Exiled from your father and friends. It just seems rather pathetic considering all the effort that went into placing you where you are now.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
The emperor makes a clicking sound with his tongue like he's chastising me for something I said.
“Come, come, Annalisse. I think we both know what's going on here. You don't have to hide your knowledge from me. You know what I am.”
“I know you're an imposter,” I say vehemently, not being able to control my temper. “Where is Auggie?”
The person masquerading as my friend narrows his eyes on me looking slightly confused.
“Don't you know?” He asks.
“How am I supposed to know what you did with him?” I demand. “Where is he?”
I watch as the man's expression transforms into one of sudden realization. He begins to laugh. It's not a joyous sound but one filled with scorn.
“I can't believe they didn't tell you anything!” He howls, completely amused by my ignorance of what's really going on.
“Then why don't you enlighten me,” I say, becoming annoyed by his mocking. “If you're so smart, why don't you share your vast store of knowledge with me?”
The man is finally able to bring his mirth under control and looks at me with no pretense of friendliness. He hates me, that much is certain. I just don't know why he hates me.
“What fun would that be?” He asks. “Why would I give up the upper hand I have over you? Plus, you really don't need to know anyway. You won't be alive long enough to do anything with the knowledge.”
My body tenses and Vala begins to growl.
“You leave her alone,” Vala threatens.
The emperor chuckles.
“I've lived longer than this world has been in existence, my little robot friend,” he says to Vala in disgust. “It will take more than you to end my life. Of that, you can rest assured.”
Even though he didn't want to give up any information that would help me, he just did.
“How can you be older than the Earth?” I ask, hoping to coerce him into opening up a dialogue. “I think you're lying.”
“How limited your mind is,” the man says condescendingly. “I can't believe Andre raised you to think so inside the box. There are powers within this world that are beyond your limited imagination. And I'm one of them.”
“Prove it,” I say. “Just what kind of powers do you presume to have that would amaze my limited intellect?”
The man stares at me, and I can see that he's trying to decide whether or not to entertain my request. Before I know it, a whip made of what looks like lightning appears in his right hand, crackling with a supernatural
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