The Mad Queen

Chapter Sixty-four: The Castle

I am standing in my Grandfather's estate. As usual, it seems with these visions. My father is younger than the other visions. I frown. So far, my visions have been following a story. This seems to be out of place from that. My grandfather gives my father a puppy. It is a beautiful little husky. My father's face lights up with a massive smile. He hugs Sebastian. His small frame not even making it past his hips. The man doesn't react. He just looks down at his son with a disproving glare.
"Train it. Make it obedient. It will protect you," he orders. My father grins and begins to run off with the puppy chasing him.

The vision changes. I am in the gardens again, but they have changed. My father, now older, walks along the path with a now full-grown dog next to him. The husky is beautiful and looks up at him with soft, protective eyes. My father grins and strokes the dog's fur. My grandfather appears.
"How is she?" he asks. Matthias smiles.
"I have trained her to do more!" Matthias grins. "Sit," he says and the dog sits immediately. "Lie down," he orders and the dog follows. "Sit. Stay." He begins to walk across the garden and the dog stays where it is with its tongue hanging out happily. "Come!" She jumps up excitedly and bounds over to my father. He crouches down to meet her and strokes her fur. She licks his face and he laughs.
"You seem very fond of her," grandfather says. Matthias looks up at him.
"I love her," he grins.
"Good," Sebastian says. "Come with me," he orders. My father frowns and stands up. My grandfather leads him to the dungeons, the dog following behind him. She is whining now, nervous.
"I am about to teach you a lesson about love," he says. My father gulps nervously. My grandfather grabs the dog by the collar and drags her into the cells. She tries to fight but too quickly, he has her chained to the wall. She is barking and yelping as he pulls on the chain.
"What are you doing?!" my father shouts and goes to run into the cell. My grandfather holds him back before giving him a knife.
"Kill her." My father freezes.
"What?" he asks, his face pale.
"Kill her." My hands shake and my eyes are wide.
"No," Matthias says with defiance. My grandfather stares at him with no expression on his face. Finally, he nods.
"This is your last chance. You kill her. You kill her quickly and painlessly. She will feel nothing and she will pass without knowing fear. Or you coward out of the killing. I do it and as she dies a slow agonising death whilst you watch. You or me? Your choice." My father has tears streaming down his face and his whole body is shaking. He looks down at his dog and takes the knife. She whimpers at him, looking into his eyes. He kneels down slowly and presses his face against her. She licks away his tears and nudges against him. He sobs and lifts the knife. He presses it against her fur. She whimpers again and he puts it down.
"I can't," he cries. Sebastian sighs and he feels arms warp around him. His mother. She drags him out of the cell and holds him against it, making sure he can watch.
"You made your decision, she is about to suffer because of you," my grandmother says to my father. I feel sick as I watch what is about to unfold. He is screaming in her arms but she has wrapped her legs around him. Stopping his arms and legs from moving. Then, she forces his eyes open. He must only be eight. Not old enough or strong enough to fight back against her. He is screaming and crying as my grandfather picks up the knife. The dog growls at him and is crouched low with her ears pinned back. He knocks her back with one slam against her face. He then pins her by the neck to the ground. I retch and cry as he begins to cut along the fur of her leg. Her screams and yelps of pain burn my ears as he tears her skin from her body. My father is sobbing as my grandmother makes him watch.

It takes a long time for her to die as my grandfather skins her alive. I can barely watch. My breathing is fast and tears stream down my face. Finally, she stops breathing and there is nothing but a bloody mess on the floor. My father is breathing heavily. His skin is stained from tears and his body is shaking.
"Let him go," Sebastian says. He crawls slowly into the cell over to the dog and strokes at her face. He sobs some more, his body shaking violently.
"Love makes you weak. Because of your love, she had to suffer when she could have gone peacefully. I hope we don't have to do this again, Matthias."