Amanah sat in front of her vanity putting on makeup. She enjoyed the weekends. She would hang out with her minions and relax. She didn't have classes and didn't have to worry about useless people's expectations. Humans were useless. Well not all of them. She thought of Romeo and seductively licked her lips. She would snag him and make him bow down. Her favorite pastime was to break strong men and make them drooling, whimpering messes lusting after her body and favor.
Romeo was a challenge she was determined to conquer. There was no way in hell she would let her sister continue to monopolize him. He belonged to her. Soon, she would put them in their places. Her path to the throne was secured. She would turn her sister and Romeo into examples to remind everyone who was in charge.
A knock on her door brought her attention to the present.
"Enter," she ordered.
One of her father's personal guards entered with a bow. "Your Highness, His Majesty demands your presence in his study."
Amanah put down her lipstick and stood, brushing away imaginary dust from her skirt. "Coming."
He stepped aside as she swept from the room and went to her father's study. She smirked when the guard opened the door for her with a bow. She wanted to laugh. She knew that Serenah didn't get this kind of treatment. Feeling even better at that thought, she sat on the closest couch.
Her father's inscrutable look didn't faze her. She'd learned from him how to handle people. The one who speaks first loses. She was not prone to losing. A few minutes later, he smiled and sat opposite her on the other couch.
"Good job, my daughter. You will make a fine queen one day."
She preened at his words. "Of course, I will. You taught me to be the best."
He chuckled. "True. That's why I can't understand why you are lower in rank than Serenah in your class rankings at school."
"What!" growled Amanah, shocked by her father's words.
"Your sister is ranked third in your senior class while you, my beloved daughter, are ranked sixth."
Amanah stared at him, her thoughts roiling. There was no way her useless younger sibling ranked higher than her at school. It wasn't possible. Someone was lying or playing some joke on her father.
"Has it been confirmed that this statement is true? I don't think it's true. I've never heard of the school having a ranking system of any kind."
"I was surprised to hear it, too. However, the information comes from a reliable source."
"Reliable source? Who, my sister?" Amanah sneered. It sounded like something Serenah would concoct to get their father to pay attention to her.
"Not your sister. At last night's dinner, Romeo explained about the rankings and your standings in your class. He is ranked first and made a big deal over your sister being in striking distance of his position. He called her his rival in the rankings. He did it to get me to praise your sister, which I did not do. I made sure to remind her of her place and punished her once we were home. How dare she rank higher than you?"
"Did you check to make sure Romeo wasn't joking with you?"
Her father nodded. "I called the principal and got verification. Romeo spoke the truth about all of it."
Well, this is unexpected, she thought angrily. "How did Serenah get ahead of me?"
"Her classes."
"What? That makes no sense. We take the same core classes."
Her father shook his head. "Apparently, you take different levels of the core classes."
"What the hell!" she snapped. "Let me guess, Serenah's classes are worth more than mine."
"Yes."
She slammed her fist on the armrest and had the satisfaction of hearing it break. Just like she needed to break her sister. She had to tear her down. She couldn't allow Serenah to be higher than her in anything. Ever.
"Change Serenah's classes so that she has the same as me. Then we can make sure she fails them. I'll rise and she'll fall," Amanah mused, an evil grin spreading across her face at the thought of the miserable look Serenah would have. "I bet Romeo will discard her if that happens. He likes intelligent girls after all."
"I already have a remedy and your sister has been informed of her role in it."
Amanah eagerly leaned forward to hear her father's plan.
"Your sister will do all your homework starting today. She is to help you score higher. I expect to see all A's for you by the end of this semester."
"I bet my dear sister protested," gloated Amanah. Cheating would offend her sister's moral sensibilities. Not that she cared. She always did what was best and helped her get ahead. Morals were for the powerless.
"Well, I'd better get the homework to my slave--I mean sister," she chortled at her sister's plight.
"Before you go. I have one more piece of news. You will intern at Lancaster's law firm beginning Monday."
"What!" she yelled, jumping to her feet, squealing in happiness. She would get a chance to steal Romeo from her sister.
"Lancaster has an intern program where he offers the top ten students a chance to learn work-related skills at his firm. You, Serenah, and Alaster, were all invited to participate."
"Serenah and Alaster? Why didn't you stop them from going?"
"The deal was all three of you or none of you."
"Whose idea was that? Serenah's?"
"No, it was Romeo and his father who stated that. My hands are tied. I don't like it any more than you do. I'm giving you permission to sabotage Serenah. I expect you to outshine her and Alaster. Don't disappoint me, Amanah."
She flinched at her father's flare of power. She wasn't strong enough to take the throne from him yet. She would soon. After all, she had her own plans running in the background.
She stood and curtsied. "I will not disappoint you. Look forward to my excellent results," she murmured.
Her father's assessing gaze raked her from head to toe. He grinned and made a waving motion, dismissing her from his study. She hurried from his study to her room. She grabbed her backpack and went to her sister's room.
She opened the door without waiting for an invitation. She smirked at Serenah's startled expression.
"Hello, little sister," she sneered and tossed her backpack on the table.
It hit Serenah's books and knocked them to the floor.
"Hey!" Serenah protested, rising from her seat.
Amanah shoved her and laughed when Serenah stumbled back and nearly fell.
"Did I say you could get up, sister? Father said you will do my homework. I brought it to you. I expect you to get it every day from my room after school. You'd better make me look great in front of my teachers. I'd better climb higher than you. I'm the only one worthy of being at the top with Romeo."
"This isn't right! We don't even have the same answering or writing styles!" Serenah protested.
Amanah stepped up to Serenah, raised her hand, and slapped Serenah hard enough to knock her off balance. Serenah yelped, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Amanah.
Amanah grinned. Her malicious expression promised a world of pain for her sister. It was time to put her twin in her place which was beneath Amanah's feet.
Before Serenah could recover, Amanah grabbed her long silver hair and yanked Serenah toward her. She let a punch fly, connecting with Serenah's stomach with a loud pop. Serenah's breath whooshed out and she doubled over with a groan.
Amanah wasn't done. She hooked her leg behind her sister's and tripped her, sending Serenah to the floor with a whimper. She kept her hold on her twin's hair, wrapping it even more tightly in her fist until Serenah screamed in pain.
"Let go! Please, stop it, Amanah!" Serenah tried to claw at Amanah's grip on her hair.
Amanah swatted Serenah's hand away and kicked her in her side. This pulled another pained cry from Serenah. She leaned down and whispered in her sister's ear.
"I'm going to make your life a living hell until you beg for death. Then, right before I grant your wish, dear sister, I'll take Romeo from you and make him my toy. You'll get to watch the thing you covet the most be owned by me. Loving me alone. You will be nothing more than a forgotten afterthought."
Serenah sobbed and Amanah gloated, pleased she had reduced her younger sister to tears. This was how it should be. The weak and useless should despair and curse their lot in life. She yanked hard, forcing Serenah to her feet.
She moved to her side and hissed in her ear, "Remember useless bitch, I will be Queen. You will grovel at my feet and do as I order. Understand?"
When Serenah didn't respond fast enough, Amanah grabbed her by the throat. She choked Serenah until her twin fainted. Amanah frowned. Her twin was weak and pathetic. She flung her to the floor and laughed when Serenah's head hit the edge of the chair. Blood trickled down the side of her face.
"Good look for you, little sister. Broken and useless." Amanah giggled as she left the room.