Chapter 5
FIVE
LEAH
Framing the New Order for the queen and Fenrick’s deaths had been too easy. Most of the vampire soldiers were loyal to her already, and those who did ask too many questions were disposed of immediately.
Everyone understood New Hope was on the brink of war. The New Order had been a threat publicized in the paper. That’s what Leah loved most about the free media; they were willing to put almost anything into print, and people were all too eager to gobble it up like swine in their troughs.
Leah was sure to leave a bloody katana hidden in the palace garden to solidify her claim that New Order assassins had come in the night. Was it really so hard to believe? They had attacked the palace once before, practically blowing up the armory as they made their escape.
The day after the assassination of Fenrick and the queen, Leah was ready to give her speech to the gathered throng of mourners. It was an overcast day, perfect for the event. Leah ordered the soldiers to pack into the palace courtyard and beyond with as many New Hope citizens as possible.
Leah wore her favorite color of black on black.
Unlike her usual appearance of a plain robe, she wore a well-tailored dress with a black veil.
She stayed clear of any jewelry or flashy pieces to adorn herself with.
Things like this didn’t call to her anyway.
Leah couldn’t care less about money; she only craved power.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?” Commander Steel stood with one hand on the closed door that would lead her outside to make her speech. “You’ll have them eating out of her hand in no time.”
“By the end of the day, I’ll want the names of a new treasurer, as well as someone who can handle the media.” Leah straightened her back. “Both of these should come from the ranks of the vampire soldiers. I trust them more.”
“It’ll be done.” Commander Steel nodded.
“Open the door.” Leah didn’t even look at the commander. Her focus was only on appearing as despondent as she could. Already she had rubbed at her eyes until they were red. She added gentle dose of water she used to splash on her eyes to fool the foolish.
Commander Steel swung open one of the two doors leading into the palace for New Hope’s new queen. Leah walked out slowly. The light chatter that rippled through any large crowd hushed as she exited the building.
All eyes were trained on her now. It had been a shock for most to believe that the queen had a sister in the first place. It was something always rumored, but never proven. When Leah had made her claim, it had come with a ripple of backlash. Time to solidify her place.
Leah walked to a black podium that had been erected just outside the palace’s large double doors. She looked out into the crowd, making watery eye contact with as many of the influential citizens and politicians as she could.
When she was satisfied she had grabbed their attention, she began. “Many of you don’t know me. Others of you know me as Leah Noble. I was an advisor to the queen, as well as her sister.”
A few hushed whispers rose up as those who hadn’t heard of Leah Noble’s claim to the crown looked to their neighbor for direction.
“My identity as an Eckert was kept a secret in large part by my sister, the late queen. She thought it best I change my last name to protect me from being used against her. She was the best older sister a woman could have asked for, and my personal hero.
“Now, I realize many of you will challenge this claim and dig into my past. I welcome the endeavor. I have nothing to hide, and whoever searches for the truth will find that I am indeed the legitimate sister to our queen. I also understand that a new queen or king will have to be elected in New Hope, but for the time being, it is my place as her next of kin to maintain that mantle.”
Leah’s plan was working perfectly. Already there were nods through the crowd. Leah searched as many faces as she could to get a temperament for the crowd. It seemed they were content to go along with her words, like sheep led by their shepherd.
“Until an official election is put together, I plan on finding and punishing the cowards responsible for my sister’s death.”
At this, there was a round of applause Leah had hoped for. Wondering eyes soon turned to angry words and shouts about the slaughter of their beloved queen. Leah let the people’s anger level rise before she continued.
“We have been gathering intel since late last night when the assassins crept into your queen’s and treasurer’s rooms and stabbed them to death. Although the crimes were just committed late last night, we already have clues as to who the criminals are.”
“Tell us!” a voice from someone Leah had planted in the crowd roared in righteous indignation. “We want to avenge our queen.”
A few more shouts came from people Leah had handpicked to scream at this exact moment, and then, to her glee, shouts from the rest of the citizens as the crowd began its transformation into a mob.
“Please, please!” It took everything in Leah to not crack a smile. This was far too easy. “Everyone, I’m not here to start a full-out war. I’m here to give you information and to mourn my sister.”
The crowd died down, looking to one another, almost ashamed of themselves. Almost.
“We have found that the terrorist group working inside New Hope calling themselves the New Order is conspiring directly with Azra. It was the two of them that have colluded together to form our true enemy. Trust me, there will be plans to bring those criminals to justice, but we must first attend to our dead. Then and only then will we rid the world of these pathetic cowards who strike in the night.”
A roar echoed across the palace as the citizens of New Hope and the vampire soldiers standing at attention screamed for their new queen.
Things could not be going any better. Leah was ready to act. Her sister’s body could wait to be buried. She would bring the full weight of New Hope down on Azra—now.