The Beautiful Jade

A strange silence filled the dungeons of the imperial palace. No guards moved past the cells, their usual patrols having suddenly stopped. The prisoners huddled in their cells, even the stupidest of them recognizing the darkness of the night. The scent of blood wafted down the dungeon, suffocating those who could smell it.

The Fourth Prince stood tall, trying to hide the shaking in his knees. It had all gone wrong for him. The book passed down to him from his dead mother had disappeared, and his plans for the throne were ruined. Only the grace of the Emperor and Emperess spared his life.

A single set of footsteps echoed down the hallway, the light from the lanterns on the wall dimming as the footsteps came closer.

Finally they came to a stop outside the bars of the Prince’s cell. A man stood there, his face obscured by the cloth he wore around his face. His clothing bore no markings or coloring on it, pitch black as it was.

The man lifted a set of keys, and the Prince’s eyes caught the specks of blood that stained them. It could’ve been a trick of the light, but the Prince knew better.

“You can’t kill me.” The Prince said, his voice wavering. “The Emperor has ordered that I live.”

The man ignored the Prince, turning the lock and stepping into the cell.

The Prince lunged at the man, hoping to catch him off guard. He stumbled halfway through the lunge, falling to the floor. His hand moved up to grasp the knife embedded in his throat.

The man kneeled down next to the dying prince. He slowly removed the veil from his face to reveal a bloody smile. “The Emperor is dead.”