"Grey!", shouted Snow, only slightly paranoid. Her delicate feet made small slapping sounds on the granite floors.

Grey smiled to herself in the mirror, a wicked sort of one, and casually strolled to the door. "Yes, my dear cousin?" Grey said, her voice like honey.

By this time, Snow had already made it to the door, hunched over and out of breath. "Please... open t-the door..." she managed to stutter out in-between gasps of air.

Rolling her eyes at the other girls theatrics, Grey opened the door but only a crack. "Why are you making such a fuss, on your own coronation day nether less? Shouldn't you be up in your room letting the maids.. pretty you up?"

Snow slowly sunk to the ground, her simple, white gown billowing out around her. "My dearest cousin, since I trust you so, I've come to ask for your help."

Grey snickered a bit at this. Noticing Snow looking at her in confusion, she quickly spoke. "And whatever can I help you with, cousin dearest?"

Hesitantly, Snow peered around at the hallways. "I-I... Could I possibly come in..?"

Letting out a small sigh, and an eyeball roll in annoyance, Grey slowly opened the oak door and gestured to Snow. "Please, enter my princess."

"Oh! Thank you so much!" Gathering up her skirts, Snow rose from the ground and sat on the small chair in front of Grey's vanity.

Grey closed the door deliberately, gritting her teeth the entire way. Only hours from the coronation, when the kingdom would learn how much of a failure their beloved princess is, and she just has to stop by. The plan is almost complete, just listen to what she had to say, and usher her out. That'll do.

Feeling much better after her mini pep-talk, Grey took a deep breath and walked over to her plush bed. "Now, what's the matter? As far as I can tell, there is no reason for your frantic rushing around."

The expression on Snow's face almost made Grey feel bad about what she's done. Almost. It was like seeing a puppy after they got yelled at, sad and heartbreaking. "I can't, Grey. This whole... coronation thing." Snow looked down at her hands folded delicately into her lap. "I'm a total failure to my people, my parents, and myself..." Here she broke off and burst into tears.

Grey stood there, leaning against the bedpost, brooding. How can one person look so beautiful, even when they cry. No one can cry pretty. How unfair. "And what makes you say that, cousin dearest?" Grey purred.

"M-my powers... I can't even make a-a decent snowflake", Snow hiccuped, "h-how do they expect m-me to make a beati- ice sculpture..."

Grey had to fight back a smile the next time she spoke. "But you've been practicing so hard! Surely, you have improved! An ice sculpture should be no problem for you!"

After hearing this, Snow started crying harder. Grey sighed deeply and rolled her eyes at the pathetic princess. "Oh, my cousin, what a mess you have become. Do you need me to call the queen?"

Snow took a hitched breath. "N-no! ...Please, don't. She still thinks I'm getting ready with my maids." The air felt stagnant for no one spoke for some time. Grey almost did not hear the few words Snow whispered out next. "... I don't want her to know her beloved daughter is such a failure...."

Internally, Grey realized this was the perfect time to get rid of the princess, for good. "A failure, you say?", Grey purred out. Snow gasped and covered her mouth. "Hm, I guess you are right. Your ice element powers are barely stronger than those of an infant, and your big day is today. I wonder, what will the people think of you when they see their princess is nothing more than a pretty face? Quite a predicament indeed." Grey glanced over at the princess. She was still crying, but more quietly than before. In her ice-blue eyes, Grey could see her inner turmoil. Again, another twinge of regret went through her body and she almost confessed to the princess right there
and then. She ignored it and waited for Snow to do something other than cry.

A few moments passed, and all that could be heard was Snow's quiet sniffling and the clicking of the grandfather clock. Again, Grey took a deep, almost exasperated, breath and said, "My cousin, what do you plan on doing?"

"I-I don't knoow... I can't... I-I.." She stuttered out in between sobs. See? This is why she cannot be the next queen, she has no backbone and simply cries about everything. Grey thought. With a cunning smile, she plainly said, "Run."

With an audible gasp, Snow lifted her head up from her hands and looked at her cousin. "W-what do you mean?" Grey got up from her position on the plush bed and walked in front of Snow. "You cannot provide for your people, you even said it yourself. So why not leave so no one knows how much of a failure the princess is." Snowflake had stopped crying at this point and Grey could tell she was considering her words. The moment her icy-blue eyes cleared, Grey knew she had won.

In one swift motion, Snow got up and flung her arms around Grey. "Oh, my cousin dearest! I have no idea what I would have done without you! Thank you so for everything you have done for me, I will always remember it." Grey was shocked, this wasn't the reaction she was looking for.

Now, I can finally rule over thi- A sharp pain blossomed throughout Grey starting at her chest and radiating out. She looked down in surprise at the dagger protruding from her heart. Snow released her, laughing, "Oh my, what a surprise, huh? I beat you're wondering 'why?'. Especially when your plan was working out so well." Grey tried to take a breath but her lungs were filing up with her own blood.

"A master of the elements, huh? A very rare occurrence, how ever did you find one?" Snow smiled, cunningly. "And he was an excellent craftsmen as well. It's no matter now. You are going to bleed out here, confused and betrayed. My kingdom is mine, I don't know why you ever thought you could take it from me."

Numbness began to spread throughout Grey's limbs, and coldness began to follow. I-i... really can't believe this, she's right about that. Dying, though, I didn't think that was going to be the outcom- she stopped thinking when she heard the dark, oak door slam.

"Goodbye my cousin dearest, thank you for showing me the way.. "

Grey's world turned black, and her eyes closed shut.