Hey my sweets! 

I'm here to apologize yet again for my writing for this chapter, my brain is still not functioning right. I'm feeling much better now though!

I promise I will go back and edit the chapters I did while I was sick so they will be easier and more enjoyable to read, but for now just bear with me please.

Anyways, lets get on with the chapter!

Please don't forget to like, comment, and follow for more updates!

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I stood silently and swept my eyes across my room, to make sure there was nothing out of place in preparation for tonight. 

-Knock, knock.

"Come in." I answered, but didn't turn my head to see who it was. I could tell it was Chrysta with the way she knocked on the door.

"It is time for dinner, Miss. If you don't leave now you will be late." She said as she bowed deeply.

I swept my gaze over the room once again, before nodding internally and heading to the dining room where everyone waited for me.

Everyone was already in their seats waiting for me to arrive. I hurriedly sat in my seat with a bit of surprise. This was not how it was before, instead of feeling nervous this change left me feeling satisfied. 

I could change the outcome of tonight.

As I stopped my thoughts and turned my attention to those around me, I realized that they were all looking at me with deep emotions in their eyes.

Ethan held emotions similar to pity and worry, and fathers eyes held guilt. No doubt from breaking to the promise he made to not tell them of my condition. 

Yet Seth's eyes held shame.

I couldn't understand why he would feel this way, but from this I could infer that he did not know of my condition... if he did he would make a huge deal about it.

I turned my gaze to meet the dukes, my eyes were calm and warm. I did not blame him, and he seemed to understand my intentions as the the tension he held in his face eased.

"How was your day everyone?" I questioned to ease the atmosphere. 

"Fine." Ethan and the duke answered at the same time.

However, Seth just silently shrugged while avoiding eye contact.

I felt awkward being the only one trying to carry on he conversation, so in turn I focused my attention on the meal being served. 

Although I knew change was good I didn't like this one.

The meal continued with the heavy atmosphere, only breaking once I finished my meal and was heading back to my room. I slowly walked back to my room, taking my precious time. I hardened my resolve while walking, even if I've died twice doesn't mean I'm willing to face it again.

Once I reached my room, Chrysta had already prepared my bath and night gown. I didn't waste time and quickly washed and dressed for bed. I didn't want my assassin to get impatient and barge in while I was in the bath.

Once Chrysta left for the night I settled myself in bed, completely surrounded in darkness. I calmed and hardened my heart while making even breaths. 

I made it look like I fell asleep.

I perked my ears listening for anything that would point to a presence. However, to my disappointment I heard nothing... until.

-Click.

It was the sound of my door locking, I would have missed it if I wasn't straining my ears to hear it.

My heart raced, I anxiously waited for any sign of his presence next to me. After what seemed like forever I finally heard low and barely audible breathing standing above me.

I clutched what was under my pillow waiting for the perfect moment. I knew he was going to make a move at any second, my heart raced with the high stress situation.

Not yet...

.

.

.

NOW!

I opened my eyes and the man over me was startled and flinched. I shoved what was in my hand in his face while jumping on him.

The powder in the opened pouch went onto his face, in turn getting in his eyes. Being surprised he gasped, breathing in the powder. 

Unfortunately, the powder dispersed when hitting his face and covered my hand. 

As expected of a trained assassin, it didn't take long for him to come to his senses even through the pain and try to kill me. I ignored my burning hand, trying to avoid the incoming knife. I jumped away from him, but even then he seemed to sense where I was and attack me. He grunted and groaned in pain, he sounded as if he couldn't breath but nevertheless he continued to try and kill me.

I wasn't paying attention and bumped into a side table knocking off a vase shattering it on the floor. The glass covered the floor and I was slowed down since I was barefoot. I continued to to doge and avoid him my feet bleed and my blood continued to cover the floor.

-Knock, knock.

"Miss are you alright in there?" Chrysta asked in worry from the door.

I was momentarily distracted from her voice, and I realized to late that the assassin was lunging at me. I was tackled into the ground covered in glass, I could feel the skin on my back shred.

"Uhrg! Get father!" I screamed.

I could tell the assassin was panicked since he began to attack me hurriedly. I grabbed the arm trying to strike me with a dagger. I used my elbow to hit him in the nose, but it didn't even seem to faze him. He eventually overpowered me and managed to bring the dagger down. 

-Stab!

"Uhrg!"

At last minute I managed to move slightly, but he still to stab me. The dagger that was now in my shoulder would have been in my throat if I hadn't moved. 

I quickly held the the dagger and his hand that was still in my shoulder, preventing him from pulling it out and used the window provided from him stabbing me and grabbed the dagger that I had tied to my leg.

Once he realized I was still alive, he forcefully pulled his hand away not even bothering to pull the dagger out. I felt my clothes drenched in liquid, I didn't have to look to know that it was blood.

-Bang, bang, bang!

The door was being hit, it was obvious the person doing so was trying to break it down. The assassin seeing this hurriedly pulled out another dagger hidden in his clothes. In a panicked frenzy he began slashing at me. I had been weakened from blood loss, I was sluggish and felt as if I was soaked cotton ball. 

-Bang!

"""Alina!"""

I turned in response to my name being called, but this was a huge mistake since it gave the assassin a opening. I moved as fast as I could, but it was too late as I watched the blade approaching rapidly.

-SLASH!

"AAHRG!"

I had moved enough to avoid fatal injury but from my eyebrow to my chin was a deep cut, I could no longer open my eye. I no doubt lost an eye, but I could no longer care. What mattered most was my life.

Before I could process anything, my body was spun and held in a protective position, preventing me from seeing what was happening. I could hear the sound of a struggle before a heavy silence.

"Call a doctor!!!"

"CALL THE SAINTNESS!!!"

Ethan and Father shouted out orders while Seth lay me down. Seth lay me down gently, as if I could shatter. I belatedly noticed he was crying, and to comfort him I was going to hold his face but stopped when I noticed my hand was blistered and bleeding. It would make anyone sick just by looking at it but Seth noticed what I was doing and leaned into my hand, no disgust could be seen in his face.

"You'll be okay... you be fine." Seth whispered to comfort me.

Ethan and Father came to my side and I could tell I didn't look good from the way their face darkened. I soon realized they were looking a my shoulder darkly, and I saw that the dagger was still in my shoulder. I could tell they didn't like it was there but they made no move to remove it, they didn't want to cause me more pain.

Without warning I grabbed the dagger and pulled it out before they could react.

"""ALINA!""" They all shouted in surprise and worry.

"I'm fine, there is worse pain." I said as I weakly threw the dagger to the side. It was the truth, my hand that was blistered hurt a lot more than pulling the dagger out.

However, I failed to recognize that the dagger in my shoulder was blocking the blood flow to a certain extent. Soon after my vision began to darken, and the sounds of the panicking men also began to fade as I sunk into darkness.