"Finally... scared?"
His words were the shake she needed to get her anger to arise. Clenching her fists, she looked up defiantly into his eyes and felt her walls crumbling as she saw the emotionless mask he had put on for her. Her lips quivered as she tried her best not to let her tears fall in front of him.
'The last thing I need is to feel vulnerable in front of him...' she thought to herself and opened her parched mouth to speak,
"Why would I be scared? Do you think I didn't expect all of this?" she asked and saw as his mask shook in its place but didn't fall off yet.
"So, you are staying here knowing I'm a monster who tortures people?"
She couldn't hold it back anymore. Her hand rose and met in contact with his face.
Slap!
His face turned sideways slightly as she saw him clench his jaw and turn to look at her with an intense gaze.
"If I had the power to leave you," she paused, trying not to choke on her words. "I wouldn't waste a second in doing so."
Sidestepping him, she clutched her gown and ran back up the stairs, not wanting to look back or break her resolve. At this very moment, she wasn't scared of him but worst of all, she felt hostility arise in her chest along with despair that he hadn't explained the matter to her. Her slap seemed to have not affected him in the slightest and she clenched her fist so tight that her knuckles turned white with the force.
For the first time since she came here, she felt lonely. So alone. She missed her mother and sister but Theo had made her forget them when he was around and that was mostly all the time.
He was not here anymore.
A drop of water fell to the ground as she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, sniffing back her emotions. On her way to their shared bedroom, she caught sight of Lysander coming from the opposite direction. He looked as if he was hiding from somebody but his face brightened when he caught sight of her face.
"Angie! Hey— what's wrong?" he asked, and she detected a faint hint of concern in his voice. Lysander approached her and caught the faint streak of dry tear lines on her cheeks as well as her eyes which were red and puffy with wet lashes.
"Hey, tell me what's wrong. We're friends, aren't we? Best buddies?" he spoke, taking her hand and Eva giggled out despite her emotions that were all over the place.
"Nothing happened. It's just—"
"Did Theo make you cry? Where the hell is he? I promise I'll go talk to him and I vow to try my best to smack him in the gut without getting killed—"
Eva laughed out, feeling grateful to him for being here at this very moment. Her heart still felt heavy but her face no longer looked glum and somber.
"It isn't his fault," she spoke in a small voice and shook her head as if it was nothing.
"Eva, I've known him for years." he softly patted her head and Eva felt brotherly energy radiating off from him along with his warmth. But the warmth was not familiar and didn't soothe her in the way his did. "He pretends to not care but believe me, I've seen the way he looks at you when you're staring elsewhere. Now I'm not saying that you should forgive him instantly but... try to give him a second chance okay?"
Eva nodded, understanding his perspective as the King's best friend. "I'll try my best."
"Hey, if you don't want to talk to him, don't force yourself to," said Lysander, his tone and expression dead serious, and Eva felt comforted by his words.
"Are you going to your room?"
Eva nodded, confirming his doubt.
"Okay, I'll see you later Angie!" he exclaimed and Eva smiled at him before turning around and walking in the direction of the King's quarters.
Her vision was blurred as she twisted the knob open and entered inside, closing the door behind her with a click.
Inhale. Exhale.
In and out.
Her mother had taught her this trick when she was going into a state of panic and couldn't control her emotions any longer. But it wasn't helping. Her tears weren't stopping no matter how much she wiped them away.
It hurt.
Like hell.
And she didn't know how to stop her heart from aching.
Hell, she didn't even know why it hurt so much! A small sob escaped her lips as she hid her face in her knees and rocked herself back and forth like she used to do when she was a small kid.
She felt so lonely and desolate with no one around to comfort her or provide her with a warm hug. Wrapping her arms around herself, she stared up at the ceiling and smiled weakly as her tears continued to stream down her face, wetting her collarbones and the front of her gown.
A sudden knock startled her out of her misery and she hesitantly got up and approached the entryway.
"Who is it?"
"I have come to serve dinner, milady." a girl's voice came from outside the door and Eva peeked outside to see a maid standing with a tray laden with food in her hands.
"Who sent this?" she asked, hoping to get the answer she wanted to receive.
The girl fidgeted with the tray and Eva noticed a small trace of nervousness on her face as she didn't meet Eva's eyes, looking down at the squeaky clean floor.
"Was it the King?" Eva questioned and received the confirmation she wanted when the maid looked up into her eyes with a startled look.
Passing the maid a small smile, she took the tray from her hands and decided to ask another question to clear away her doubts.
"Is the King not in the castle?"
"No, milady. The King has gone to handle a matter elsewhere." 'So that's why he sent food in the room.' thought Eva and closed the door after seeing the maid leave.
Staring at the tray of food in her hands, she let herself smile and hope.
He did care even though he didn't want to show it.
'Why not do him a favor and teach him how to feel?' the devil on her shoulder whispered, taking advantage of her hidden desires.
'Don't do it, it's dangerous. He's dangerous!' her angel warned and Eva blocked them both out, concentrating on filling her empty stomach as she gazed at the Moon through the balcony.
She was afraid that if she taught him how to feel, she would end up falling harder for him than she already was.