"No matter how much you complain, you will be standing on that altar beside me in a week. The Queen will hypnotize you, manipulate you, hell, she would do anything to make sure that we will get married. You don't have a choice." he spit out and the world seemed to have arrived to a halt.
You don't have a choice.
It was all she heard, and it hit her like a bullet. She wasn't free to choose. It wasn't her decision. They were deciding for her and she felt as if somebody was blocking out all the air from her lungs.
Alastor noticed her getting paler with each second, and worriedly approached her. "Eva, are you alright— "
"I'm fine." she managed to speak out as her chest continued to heave up and down rapidly.
Inhale.
Exhale.
In and out.
She counted from one to ten and then back in reverse order until her breathing resumed to normal, and she was able to breathe again properly.
"Did you ever think." she began and looked up to see Alastor standing closer to her than before. "Did you ever wonder that Theodore might come and save me at the very last moment?"
He shook his head, puffing up his chest and suddenly feeling proud. "He came to visit a day ago. If he had sensed you here, he wouldn't have left now, would he?"
Eva froze, feeling fear creep back into her heart but she managed to push it back for the time being. He told her to let go. She needed to trust him.
"We'll see," she spoke, confidence oozing out of her tone. Her belief in him was so prominent that Alastor's hands formed into tight fists by his side. "You should know by now," she spoke and leaned in closer as her voice lowered to a whisper. "Theodore will find me, and when he does, I won't look back again."
Standing up, she took a step sideways and walked off to the bathroom, closing the door shut behind her with a sharp click.
Alastor stood there motionless for a few minutes before slowly exiting the chamber and heading towards the training grounds. He needed to let this frustration out and decided that he would picture his opponent's face to be that bastard.
He must have had her under a spell, he thought to himself and gritted his teeth. Black magic would be an obvious thing to use since he was such a monster who didn't have a heart to feel with. He didn't deserve an angel like Evangeline, and she was just blinded by attraction, he decided and stormed off to find a worthy competitor.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Eva found plenty of time to think about what Alastor had said to her. If they were to force her by her magic, what could she do to fight them?
Nothing.
She would obediently march up to the altar and get married if a spell prevented her from running away. Her whole life would be ruined if she married Alastor, and she still had to take revenge for her family. It couldn't end so soon.
The best solution, she thought to herself with a deep sigh, was to listen to their orders and march up that platform silently without any objections. The only thing she could do was trust Theodore. He was the only way she could escape from this forceful arrangement, and she was sure that he wouldn't just abandon her to marry Alastor.
He wasn't like that and even now, she wondered if he was searching for her far away. There wasn't any way she could send a message to him unless...
Eva stood up, feeling energetic and alert all of a sudden. If her idea worked, then he would reach her in no time if he got it. It was a risky move but he was her last thread of hope to escape from here.
Opening the door, she stepped out and waved to a maid hoping that she would approach her.
The maid was not too young and neither too old. Eva gave her a wide smile which immediately set her at ease as she bowed to the lady and stared at her face.
"Is there something on my face?" Eva asked with a laugh, though it sounded too dry.
"No, not at all milady. It's just that you look familiar to someone who used to live here." explained the maid and fumbled with her fingers.
"Who?"
She looked hesitant, but nonetheless expressed her thoughts. "The previous woman who was supposed to be the Queen. Princess Ember."
The previous Queen? Her biological mother? Her mother's name was Ember? Eva felt nostalgic, hearing it spoken out loud from a maid's mouth and wondered if she really looked similar to her mother.
"Thank you." she beamed at the maid and asked, "Can you do me a favor?"
"I'm at your service, milady."
"Can you please find Lord Alastor and tell him that Eva is wanting to speak to him? Please relay my message to him as quickly as possible."
"Sure, my lady." the maid complied with a smile of her own and departed to search for the Lord, who could not be found anywhere inside the castle.
After a while, Eva saw the door creak open as she saw Alastor's happy face enter her sight. He looked delighted that Eva had called him and couldn't wait to know why even though his face was profusely dripping with sweat.
"I want to tell you that I agree. I will marry you," she spoke, and it almost felt like the words were being forced out of her mouth; the man didn't seem to realize it.
Alastor beamed happily and wrapped his arms around her petite frame so quickly that Eva almost stumbled back. Her arms lay limply by her side as she made no move to return his gesture.
"Thank you," he spoke and took a step back, gazing at her face as if she was the most beautiful thing he ever beheld.
"I just wanted to arrange a few things since it is my marriage and there are a few things I wanted to— "
"Hey, hey." he stopped her and said with a chuckle. "It's your wedding, Eva. Tell me how you want it to happen, and I'll make your wishes come true."
My wish is to slaughter the murderers of my family, can you make it happen? Eva silently asked him and shook her head.
"I only wanted to see fireworks on my wedding day. Before the bride arrives, I want the sky to light up."
Alastor looked confused by her request. "Don't fireworks usually occur after the wedding ceremony?" he remarked, and Eva internally rolled her eyes.
"Oh," she tried to sound disappointed and lowered her head, her lips forming into a pout. "It's ok then, I— "
"No, no." he once again interrupted her with a shake of his head. "I'll make it happen. You don't have to worry. Any other requests?"
"Yes, can you make a few fireworks in the shape of a bird? I am quite attached to animals and would like to see them on my wedding day," she spoke with a beautiful smile on her face, and Alastor automatically nodded his head, yielding to her every wish no matter how absurd it sounded.
"Whatever you want," he spoke and she smiled, patting his shoulder stiffly and retreating into her corner, taking a seat on the bed.
Now, Theodore only needed to notice her signal and she would finally be free.
All she needed to do, was let go...