"Losing the people, I care about, wasn't something I thought would happen. Want to end this journey of mine, but the pup in me won't let me."

"The will to live, I fight for. With my lover, the beast by my side." - Ava Knight

...

"This, is something strange to us all."

"Gathering for a befitting but sad burial for one of us. We were once coerced into eliminating ourselves for points to live."

I chose my words carefully as I spoke the girls and audience, that showed up for Emily's burial.

Personally, organized it as the Knight. She deserved that much.

"After I became Knight, I improved the rules of the game, scrapping out the killings."

"However, I forgot my own best friend needed me, with the lurking evils in this castle." I sniffled in hurt, saying. "It's all blood, with bones, an eye for an eye. Tooth for tooth." I admitted, truthfully from my experiences.

"Emily was an angry kid."

"But we won't deny that beneath her, was a strong, brave girl, who sacrificed her live, to save her friends. To think of it, she was the first who stood up for each girl here. Even if she was badly punished for it."

Some girls chuckled, remembering when she dared to step forward and confront Lydia. I smiled weakly too, before carrying on.

"She defended her course. However, some accomplices which I won't mention, took advantage of her emotions. Manipulating her to come for me, with Satandra." I explained.

Tania reacted to her lover's name being mentioned, but I ignored it. "All masked, I didn't even realize it was her. And when I did, it was too late."

"She would forever live in our hearts. Forever Emily!"

"Forever Emily!" Tania supported.

"Forever Emily!!!"

The entire audience chorused. A round of applause was given, as I closed my speech.

I walked away from the center, going down to hug my mate.

"T-tried to brace myself up, s-so they don't see me as weak...I--"

"Shh, it's okay." he comforted sweetly.

Piper, who was just across, ran to hug my legs, holding on to my pinky and crying profusely too.

She seemed nervous of being around the beast, but too pained to let go of me who she was familiar with.

"We are sending her off to the Moon Goddess now." Nynaeve came forward, announcing. "Any last goodbyes, should be made now."

My hands trembled, as I stepped forward. Some other girls, including Tania, did too.

I opened the white cloth she was covered with, swallowing bitterly at her pale face and body. Her strawberry blonde hair had begun to wither. Lips, chapped with her both hands on her chest.

"I'll miss her, Ava. I wish she could come back. I really wish Aunt Emily would come back," Piper sobbed.

"Me too..."

"Me too." I added again, pressing my lips firmly.

We were the last to let go, and when we did, some men carried her body to the where it was going to be cremated.

The entire sight of it was just so aching. I had to hold on to Caspian with Cassie and Piper just on the other.

After the day the accident happened, Francesca and Cicilia were de-ranked by the beast and sent to the dungeons.

Jaskier caught Satandra, discovering she was the second assassin that night.

Hers wasn't with good intention though. She hated me, and wasn't hiding the fact.

She was to be with them, too with whatever sentence that awaited her.

"Goddess of the Moon, I set this soul to the sky. And plead that you accept her, so her life may be prolonged with you. As your daughter,"

Nynaeve said, chanting some spiritual words. The furnace lit almost immediately.

The minute Emily was placed inside, I began to sob really hard. Trying to brace myself up, and hiding my emotions was no easy job.

Hated the fact that I won't see her again.

In this lifetime...

Perhaps in another...

Hoped we would be friends again. Sisters, if possible.

My mind wandered helplessly to the first time I met her. How much of a loner and angry kid, she had been... But she had trusted me.

And I betrayed that trust.

I hated myself right now, so much.

Remembering our moments together. Right from the first time...

"I mean no harm; I just want to help."

"Did I ask for it?"

She had scowled with water, dripping down her hair. Shivering from being beaten and punished for rebelling.

"My mum said to help whoever seems to be in need of it."

I remember approaching her, only for her to drift away frightfully.

"Try not to touch me, I have a dilemma with touches."

She had sighed out. She was a hard kid, but beneath that personality, had lied someone soft. Some sweet and emphatic girl who eventually became close to my heart.

"O-Okay, sure..."

I reminisced how her hands shook unsteadily.

And how it took a long time before she could actually open up to me.

"I'm Emily."

"Emily, you can call me Ava. You don't have to worry cause I have good intentions...like a friend."

"Promise to have each other's back?"

She had said, extending a hand.

"S-Sure,"

Have each other's back?

I definitely had her back and she had mine, with Piper's. Yet... I killed her with my own hands. I eliminated my Emily with my own hands--

"Look at me, mate."

At first, it was like I was dreaming. But when his hands held my both shoulders, I realized I wasn't. Not in any way.

It was Caspian and he looked really worried. His eye bags from his sleepless nights were still evident, and I wasn't helping. But it wasn't my fault. I was trying, I just couldn't forget.

"I want to punish them. They, that are responsible. Please grant me this opportunity, please..." I pleaded with him.

Not that I already didn't try.

The minute I discovered who sent Emily, I went to Francesca's room, waging with my sword to kill her.

"Francesca!!!"

"Ava, no!!"

Luckily, Caspian stopped me.

I struggled at his hold, instantly. "Let me be, at this very moment. I must give this witch the fight she deserves. She deserves no mercy! Only death!" I remembered snarling.

"And what kind of Knight would you be? They are in superior ranks, remember?"

"I don't care! Not a bit, Caspian!" I said with my paws extending angrily and my eyes red in fury and tears.

"But I do."

"You? Since, when did you? You never cared about me even fighting Lydia! So why would you now?! Why!"

Our pup. You need to be calm for our pup.

He had mind linked me, saying.

"Listen Ava, listen to me!"

"No!" I growled in hurt, crumbling down to my knees in agony when I remembered I shouldn't put my baby in danger.

Another part of me, wanted to block it all out and do all I can to avenge my friend. I wanted my revenge at that moment, that exact second.

But Caspian dragged me out to his chambers, so we could privately talk.

"There is only one way, in which you can eliminate them with your hands and no one would question." he said, with his to my chin, looking at me with her silver-grey eyes.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time, only if you would accept."

"I.Won't.Be.Your.Concubine." I seethed out immediately.

"Not asking you to be. Marry me, Ava and be my Queen."

***

Hello there, really apologize for the late updates. Was thinking of making the updates on Mondays and Fridays. Let me know your thoughts on the improvement, like you asked.

Ahead chapters on Goodnovel, Radish or Owonovel