.

Two days passed before the Queen arranged for another meeting. Me, Eve, Prince Phoenix and the King himself were going to attend. This was just getting bigger and bigger.

My brain refused to function properly. I didn't even know what was going on in Evie's head. She didn't say a word the whole day yesterday. She just followed me around the garden robotically and when the Prince came to pick her up, she simply obeyed, like a good servant. I hated seeing her like that. I know we're still servants anyway but she was being unresponsive again. No matter how hard I tried to make her talk or laugh, I only got back a slight nod. Nothing more.

Dinner time was getting closer and my nerves were all tangled up.

"Relax already!" Beth scolded. "It's going to be fine. You'll probably get a better explanation of how things are going to work from now on."

"They're most probably going to discuss about us leaving for Golden Haven Beth! That is just scary. I don't know what kind of a future I'm going to have. At least here, fate was already written." I told Beth. Then Tonya sat up.

"That's the best part! Think about all the grand stuff which could happen! You're the son of..." I didn't allow Tonya to finish her sentence.

"That is not confirmed. We only know that Eve is my biological sister and we're twins. That's all-"

"Whatever happens you're still fae Alex!" Tonya continued.

"So what. I don't feel any different. What the hell am I going to do once they drag the two of us before King Sindrion Celeste and Queen Aurora?"

"Bow!" Kyle blurted out enthusiastically. Like a kid who knew he got an answer right in class.

I just stared at him not saying a word. Tonya and India gave him slow claps.

~~~~~~~~

Dinner came quicker than anticipated. Once Odelle was finished with my Little Flower, I took her small hand in mine, leading her towards the great hall. The King, Queen and Alexander were already seated at the table. As we came closer, three pair of eyes fixed themselves on us.

"Evening." I muttered. Before I could pull a chair for my Little Flower, she was already taking a couple of steps to where her brother sat. I suppose she would feel more comfortable that way. So I pulled the chair on Alexander's left. Then I took my seat beside her.

The King sat at the head of the table of course. The Queen, to his right.

"Let's talk while we eat. I'm sure all of us are hungry," my mother spoke up. Breaking the tense silence. My father, the King kept looking back and forth between my Little Flower and Alexander.

"Stop doing that dear," my mother whispered to him.

"I am just getting a better view and trying to confirm some things," he said nonchalantly. "I am also taking a good look at the girl who captured my son's interest." He said teasingly. The Queen only shook her head at him and thankfully, he understood. I nodded at my mother appreciating what she did.

"Anyway I heard certain truths had recently been revealed to you. Important truths about your lives."

Alexander and my Little Flower remained silent. Neither of them looked up at the King. This made him look towards his Queen questioningly. My mother just shrugged at him.

"They're nervous." I said after some time.

"Why would they be nervous?" he raised a brow and then looked towards them. "Why would you be nervous? I don't want your blood." Came his weird attempt at trying to ease them. Both the siblings tensed up at once.

My mother simply sighed and signaled for the servants to bring in dinner.

Once the food arrived, it was even more awkward. The one beside me continued to play with the vegetables on her plate, slowly pushing them around. Fortunately, Alexander couldn't take it anymore.

"Why were we called for this Your Grace? Are you going to send us to Golden Haven?"

"Ahh, it speaks," the King drawled, taking a mouth full of meat.

"Are you thinking about sending us to Golden Haven Your Grace?" Alexander pressed on.

"We are not thinking, it is already confirmed," my father said firmly. The boy didn't talk after that. He probably didn't know what to say and he wasn't prepared to go. Neither of them were of course.

"We will take you to Golden Haven and you will meet with the King and Queen there. They are your parents after all and both of you are the heir to the throne." There was only silence after that. We all looked at the two siblings. Alexander was holding onto his sisters hand. Only then did I notice her breathing. It was short and heavy. Just as I was about to reach our to her, she stood up. My Little Flower slowly backed away from the table and looked towards the stairs that led to the floors below.

The servants quarters.

I took several small, cautionary steps towards her. When she noticed this, she was immediately alarmed.

I noticed the flowers on the table were turning brown. My father looked at them in awe.

"Eve, it's okay don't run." Alexander said standing up. She backed away even more and took another glance towards the stairs.

I knew she was going to run.

"Stay here. Do not follow me." With that I rushed towards my frightened Little Flower, scooped her up in my arms and left for my chambers.

All in the matter of seconds.

I made her to sit on the bed, hoping she wouldn't panic again. I knelt before her.

"Hey, everything is going to be okay. You have nothing to fear." I said soothingly. I wanted to caress her cheek but she flinched away.

"No!" she blurted out. We were both shocked for a few seconds.

"It is alright to feel this way....but you don't have to-"

"No!" the word flew out again. She pushed me and backed away.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Little Flower. I am not those-"

"M...m...monsters..."

It was softer than a whisper but I heard it. That made me realize that she was still horribly traumatized and all this big news was making her condition worse. Her mind was still polluted with the horrific experience she had.

"I know, but-"

A..all. All....you....monsters," she said with tears in her eyes. She never looked above my chest. Then she looked at her arms and started scratching at her thin bandages.

It didn't take me more than a second to realize what she meant. We were all monsters to her. I had hurt her before anyone else did anything to her. I reached out to her hands but she quickly moved away, still trying to rip out her bandages.

"Stop doing that. You're going to hurt yourself," she didn't listen of course. With tears in her eyes, she furiously tried to tear the bandages.

Were they not comfortable?

I grabbed both her hands to stop her. My movements made it worse. Struggling to pull her hands free, she let out a sharp cry.

"No!!!" Not entirely sure of what my next move should be, I pulled her to my chest and hugged her tight. She pushed and struggled as usual but I continued to hold her in my arms.

"I know I was a nightmare to you before this. I know I have deeply scarred you my Little Flower. Please hear me out, I'm no longer the same person, forget-"

"F...Forget?" she sniffed. I pulled back a little and saw that her eyes and nose were already red. "F...Forget?" she asked again. Her words were like a knife stabbing my heart.

"C...cannot forget. You...." she stopped for a moment and sniffed again. The tears ran down her cheeks. It was painful to look at her.

"Y...you....awful....cruel.."

I couldn't say much. She was right.

"I was more than awful or cruel. I treated you like you were nothing and I certainly, without a doubt, do not expect you to just forget about it. You probably despise me. I deserve every negative thought you have about me. All I ask is that you allow me to fix whatever I have broken. Please."

"A...Alex....want to see..."

"You just saw Alexander alright. I'll let the two of you meet up tomorrow morning."

She shook her head as if she didn't want to hear me.

"Want to-"

"Tomorrow Little Flower." I said softly.

"Want t..to go a..away." She mumbled through her tears.

"I don't understand," I held her now cold hands.

She replied by simply looking at the doors. "W...want to go...."

"You want to leave?" she nodded with her eyes cast down.

"I won't let you go back to the servants' quarters. This is your room now." She shook her head again and kept looking at the doors. She unknowingly started scratching her bandage again.

"Enough of this. Stop bothering your bandages, they're there to cover up and help heal the wounds-"

Just as I said those words, her lips began to tremble as she looked at her arms. "Are they not comfortable enough?" I asked worried. She shook her head sadly while staring at her arms. Her pretty eyes reflected the brokenness and sorrow within her. As I observed her more closely, I realised that the bandages weren't the problem. She wasn't looking at them but rather at what they were hiding.

Her scars.

At that very moment I remembered what they did to her arms and even her legs. The words they had branded on her skin.

"They.....will fade in time," I whispered to her though I knew it may not happen. I single tear slid down her cheek. "I am so sorry for not being there. I am so sorry for whatever I did to you. I never wanted make you suffer. My only desire now is that you allow me to mend your fractured spirit. Allow me to heal you inside out, to heal the cracks I have made in you." I took both her small hands and kissed them. I meant every word I said.

She stopped looking towards the doors. Her eyes were fixed on her hands that were being held in mine.

"C...cannot...forget," her soft whisper pained me but I accepted it. How could anyone just simply forget?

"You don't have to. Just let me make things right with you.

Your whole life is going to change soon. I'll see to that."

She said nothing after that.

~~~~~~~~~

Since King Caelestinus was going to send Alexander and Eve to Golden Haven soon. The Dark Prince decided to execute his prisoners the next day.

The decision to make Eve watch the whole thing did not sit well with her brother. Alexander argued that his sister will not watch another violent act. The Prince however ordered that Alexander had no say in the matter. They kept arguing for a long time and finally they both agreed that Eve will not watch Henri's execution alone.

Speaking of Henrietta, Alexander and Kyle actually paid a visit to her in the dungeons. Kyle was in need of closure and so Alex went with him for support. The truth about Eve and Alex were revealed to her. She was too weak to understand everything but nevertheless she understood enough.

Kyle was there to figure out why she did whatever she did. He expressed his feelings for her and demanded her to explain the why's.

She simply looked at him and said she never loved him and it was always Alex and now, she hated all of them. There was no hint of remorse in her vengeful glare. Alex knew deep down she felt something. After all she was still a human being. However, she portrayed nothing but cold hatred. She even managed to give Kyle an odious look and cursed Alex, saying that her feelings for him and his betrayal towards her would cause him pain and haunt him forever.

Kyle gaped at her with hot tears in his eyes. Alex simply looked at his lost Henri. She was truly gone. He no longer recognized her. Since there was nothing he could do, he simply gave her a nod and stood up. His brother was still trying to figure her out.

Even in his distress, Kyle wanted to say more but Alex pulled him out. His brother didn't have to hurt more than he already was.

The more Alex thought about it, one thing became clear.

Henrietta did unspeakable things but she was still a sister to Eve and himself. Alexander knew that Eve was not a hateful person and in her current state, she would not be able to bear watching Henrietta get executed.

~~~~~~

The next day ended just as it began. Not many were present for the execution. Only the Royal Pure Bloods, the council members and all the castle servants. Tonya, Beth, Alex, Kyle, India, and Mr and Mrs Salvador were among those who stood in the front row.

Eve was made to stand beside the Dark Prince. He made her watch from one of the balconies on the left. It was three floors up but they could clearly see the ordeal.

As King Caelestinus began to read out the crimes committed by Esther, Henri and the guards, Eve's hands began to sweat. The Dark Prince brought his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He brought his lips close to her ear.

"I want you to watch this Little Flower. This is what I do to anyone who would dare hurt you in anyway." Eve let out a shaky breath but said nothing. Every part of her was frozen in fear.

Minuted passed by and soon, about twenty people walked out of the huge gates that led to the dungeons. They were all dressed in light red, the official prison uniform. Every single guard who worked with Esther was there. Every one of them who walked out, looked horrible. They appeared to have been beaten badly, their bodies battered. Some of them were still bleeding in random parts of their selves. Most of them limped their way to the guillotine machines.

The Dark Prince noticed how cold his Little Flower had become. He hoped for her to last for at least one execution.

The ones who went up first were the castle guards. Eve remembered each and every one of them. The whole situation brought back unwanted memories that she wanted to bury.

Eve stood there shell-shocked as she watched the first few being beheaded. The soldiers in charge came to take the bodies away and the next few walked up.

By the third batch, Eve finally found the strength she needed to move away from the gruesome scene before her. However, before she could even take the second step, Prince Phoenix held her in place, wrapping his strong arms around her small frame.

"I want you to watch the next batch," he spoke harshly. Eve could not stop trembling. All she wanted to do was run away.

How could her family and friends just watch without even flinching??

She looked towards Alex and saw that he watched the whole thing without any reaction.

"St....stop," the girl whimpered.

"It will be over soon. Just a few minutes." The King again announced the crimes committed by Esther and also her father, Marcus. Eve's eyes widened as she looked at the Lady who had her tortured.

A woman who was once the epitome of beauty, elegance, sensuality and confidence, now looked quite the opposite. Her skin held so many scars. There were even some on her once flawless face. She looked so much weaker and skinnier. Everything about Esther had changed except for the vile look in her eyes. They were hard and void of any kind of emotion. She glared at the King himself as the guards led her to the machine that would end her life. Her father who was right beside her, looked pale and beaten as well. Next to Marcus, stood the guards who raped her. Eve could not recognize them at first. Their features were so damaged.

They were all beheaded in a matter of seconds. That's when Eve fell limp in the Dark Prince's arms.

~~~~~~

"We have nothing to take with us. I guess it's goodbye.....for now."

"For now," Beth repeated softly.

"You'll be back." Tonya waved at me.

I didn't see Kyle anywhere. He was still deeply affected by Henri's beheading yesterday. India was doing all she can to help him. Even the little prince didn't like to see him that way.

"Come on Evie is waiting to see you guys."

"Is she alright? You know after yesterday's incident?"

"She's shaken up a bit but she'll be fine. Maybe she'll feel better after seeing you guys."

With that we all went down to the main doors where Eve and the Dark Prince were waiting. His sister looked more like herself with the blue cloak around her shoulders.

Beth rushed down the stairs and hugged Eve like there was no tomorrow. She completely ignored the Dark Prince standing close to her.

Beth being Beth.

"I missed you so much!!" she squealed. The sound of her voice brought a deep frown on Prince Phoenix's face.

Evie hugged Beth for a long time. I smiled when I saw her eyes brighten up. She then hugged Tonya as well. There were tears in her eyes due to the understanding that the two of us were going to be separated from the rest.

Again.

~~~~~~~~~

Once they said their goodbyes, Eve and Alex were led to a sleek looking black car. They paused for a moment before they entered. Neither of them had ever seen this sort of a vehicle this close. "Stop staring and get in," the Prince commanded. After listening to his cold voice, Alex clumsily sat inside the car. He then reached out for his sister's hand. Before she could climb in, the Dark Prince took her by the waist and led her towards another car parked behind them.

"Why can't we go together?!" Alexander grumbled. He had suspected the Prince would do something like this. He always stole her away from him. "Your ride is full. Mr and Mrs Salvador will be joining you." Prince Phoenix said nonchalantly. He took his Little Flower and made sure she sat comfortably in his car. She on the other hand, scrunched up her cute nose and gave a confused look towards the car in front and wondered why she couldn't just ride along with her brother.

A few minutes later, she saw Mr and Mrs Salvador get into the other car with Alex. Before she could think of anything, the Prince came in and sat beside her.

They rode in silence for the first hour. Even the driver was quiet. Eve looked around the car, memorizing every small detail in it's interior. All of it was amazing to her. She even liked the way the car was moving. She was moving at a speed she couldn't describe but she didn't feel a thing.

'How is that?' she wondered.

The Dark Prince watched her, amused with her wide, doe eyes and the constant moving of her head. She simply could not sit still.

"You will get used to this," he murmured. Her eyes shot to his direction and her cheeks were covered with a soft red. He smiled fondly at her.

After he said that she looked down and fiddled with her fingers. The Prince gently held her chin. "You'll like the view outside better, Little Flower." She looked at his chest and gave a small nod.

"I hope you'll soon start to look me in the eye when we speak," with that he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

~~~~~~~~

"He will be here in a few hours. I don't know what kind of news he brings with him. What could be more important than our fight against the giant trolls?"

"They have been defeated for now."

"They will be back! In a much larger number. That should be our priority-"