She looked at me, expecting an answer. I didn't say anything for a long time. I just couldn't. Instead I opened the tray filled with food. It smelled good, yet she seemed like she wanted to throw up.

I didn't like the way things were going so I got up from my seat and went to her. I held both her arms and firmly pulled her numb body to a sitting position then adjusted the pillows behind her back.

"You must eat dear. At least for my sake." I don't think my words even reached her ears. I knew she didn't want to listen to me. I could tell that all of it was just too much for her to take in. Everything was suddenly moving too fast. So, she had to stop it. She wanted a way out of her situation.

"Eve? Eve you have to listen to me. I know whatever you're going through is hard and..."

"He didn't even want to see me or talk to me," she mumbled under her breath. It was so soft I almost didn't catch it but I did.

So it wasn't all the Prince's doing? Who was this someone else?!

"Sorry but I don't understand you." I sat closer trying to figure out what she was mumbling.

"Of course he wouldn't. Why would he want to talk? It's all my fault." Her hands were slightly trembling on her lap. I took her left hand gently in mine and gave it a light squeeze.

"Eve, who doesn't want to talk to you?" Her eyes suddenly shot up to mine. She then pulled her hand away looking frantically at her surroundings, talking in everything. As if she just realized where she was.

After some time her eyes returned to mine. "How long....?"

"Throughout the day it's almost half past eight. Do you feel any sort of pain?" I asked worried.

"No."

"Good."

It was back to silence.

"Who doesn't want to talk to you? Would you like me to teach that someone a lesson?" She just stared at me looking puzzled.

"Earlier you said 'He doesn't even want to see me or talk to me' so who is it?" Understanding filled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Mr. Percival. I didn't mean to rant."

"There's nothing to apologize for. You look so troubled. It is my advice that you talk it out. To share whatever it is that's eating you up."

"Why?" She asked timidly while fidgeting with her fingers.

"Because it'll give you some relief and make you feel a little better. You can't deal with so many things at the same time. Why don't you talk it out? And who better than me? I'm completely neutral and I give you my word that I won't tell another soul. I just....how do I put it? I hate seeing you like this." Again there was silence after my rambling.

All I heard was the girl breaking her knuckles one by one. I cleared my throat to tell her that it was okay if she didn't want to talk but her next word stopped me.

"Okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eeerrrgghhh why does she always have to be here?? I know she has to clean but why is she here like...all the time?!

"Henri? Are you done with the other hallways. You know if it's not clean enough Ms.Odelle would make you do it all over again." I tried my best to sound friendly.

"But I just cleaned them Beth! It's really clean okay, you can check for yourself." I could hear the irritation in her voice. "If you say so. What I'm saying is that, there's nothing much to clean around here anymore." I tried again.

"What do you mean Bethany? Let me do my job. Like you said, if it's not clean enough I'm the one whose going to get punished right?" She said wiping sweat off her forehead.

"Okay then." I plastered a sweet smile on my face while resuming my work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I told Mr. Percival everything. How things got from bad to worse with Alex. I left out details about Prince Phoenix but somehow I felt like he knew more than he was letting on.

While I was telling my part, he made sure I drank the chicken soup which was on the tray. After I refused to eat of course. Another reason why he made me drink it was because I couldn't talk properly due to my health.

Nevertheless, he patiently listened as I took my time.

"So...now he's really angry with me." I finished.

"Hmmm quite a story isn't it? But don't you think you're just a tiny bit dramatic?" I sucked in a huge breath as I placed my hand on my chest after he said that.

"Sir I...I didn't lie nor exa...exaggerate about anything. It was the truth!" Did I sound like a liar??

"Let me finish dear. Do you always jump into conclusions?"

"No?" I questioned stupidly.

"I sure hope so. Now, I said you were a little dramatic only because you are blaming yourself for everything. Why?"

"Because it is my fault. I went missing without giving him a proper explanation. He must have been extremely worried and...and...I just didn't do anything."

"Yes but he could've listened to you or asked for a proper explanation if he was really worried, don't you think?"

"He was really mad and....and I wasn't planning on telling him the truth so....."

"But then again, he doesn't know that dear. It seems like he has set his mind on blaming you and being upset with you."

"Well...Alex wouldn't just be mad. I must have hurt him a lot."

"So much so that he wouldn't even care to listen if your explanation seemed logical?"

"Mr. Percival, I'm a horrible liar. I said I couldn't meet him because I had extra work. That was such a dumb thing to say."

"He at least should've realized that and forced the truth out of you. To me it seems like the young man was convinced that you were in the wrong." Mr. Percival rubbed his chin while looking skeptically at the wall behind me.

I couldn't believe he would think like that. "W...what? You must be mistaken. Alex is not convinced. Even if you think he is, who would do that? Who has the time?!"

"You are one naïve little girl Eve. How did you live this long?" he chuckled.

I could feel my cheeks heating up. I wasn't naïve! What he said is just preposterous.

"My dear there are so many who would do anything just for some thrill. And yes many have the time to do so." He laughed lightly.

"So you mean to say that someone deliberately spoke ill of me to Alex so he would.....be angry towards me?" I asked confused.

"Maybe," he shrugged.

"Maybe Alex was actually hurt and just needs some time to forgive me."

"Maybe."

There was a long pause after that. I kept thinking about what he said, about how he thinks someone would talk badly about me to Alex.

No way.

Nobody would do that. What happened has nothing to do with anyone else.

With that thought I put it behind me.

"Do you feel better or worse."

"I'm not sure but I do feel lighter." I admitted.

"That's good! Drink more soup."

"I can't, please I don't want to throw up." I said arranging everything back on the tray. His shoulders slumped. I knew he just wanted me to be healthy but I really couldn't eat anything. "Oh alright, let it be, I'll take care of it." He got up and put the tray on the table again. Then he sat back to read his book.

Minutes passed and I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"So you will stay until.." I couldn't continue.

"Until the Prince returns? Yes." He must have sensed the fear in me because he immediately took my hand again. "I doubt he'll do this again."

"But he will." I whispered.

He gave me a sympathetic look. I know he cared but I hated that look.

"Come, I'll read something to you."

Mr. Percival went on reading a really old book about a man who fought for the freedom of humankind.

I listened to him for about ten minutes before my eyes began to feel droopy. They almost closed when the door suddenly opened wide. He came in, with his usual domineering aura. His steps were light and fast.

"Leave."

I immediately tried getting up but my body was just too weak. I was sitting up only because Mr. Percival pulled me up and put some pillows behind my back.

"Not you!" He growled out. I froze while Mr. Percival walked up and adjusted the pillows again so I'd sit comfortably.

"Bye now dear. I'll see you tomorrow." I was only able to give him a pleading look before he walked through the doors. The sound of the doors closing was then taken over by an eeriness I couldn't explain.

I looked down not daring to look at any part of him.

All I could think about was what had happened the day before.

Would he do it again? Was Mr. Percival right regarding how the Prince wasn't going to do it again?

All these thoughts and fear consumed my mind that I didn't hear what he was saying until he suddenly stood at the bedside.

"I said, did you eat everything that was prepared?" he gritted.

"T...the soup."

My throat went dry. My voice was breaking so I couldn't get a single word out smoothly. I kept thinking about how he would hurt me again. I had to get out of here now. What if he punished me for not eating?

"The soup? You just drank....the soup?" he asked as if I insulted him.

I remained silent after that not knowing how to reply. Moments later I heard him let out a heavy breath.

"Lie down."

"W...what?" my question was followed by a long stretch of silence.

"Lie. Down."

My body remained frozen. I suddenly felt very cold as panic took over. I must have delayed too long because I felt him come really close. I could feel his breath on my cheek but still I fixed my gaze on my lap.

I instantly backed away when he lifted his hand a little. He on the other hand reached behind me and pulled the pillow that was helping my position. He then gripped both my shoulders and slowly pushed me to lay down.

"Sleep."

He couldn't do this again. Why do I have to stay with him? Other royals don't do this to their personal servants. "W.....why can't I g...go back?" I whispered.

I didn't even know how I had the courage to question a royal vampire hybrid but I did. I wanted to be with my loved ones.

"You will sleep here because I command it. You're my Little Flower."

I shook my head while a tear slid down my cheek. I couldn't accept what he said.

He didn't care of course. The Prince firmly made me lay down before he held the sides of my temple again. Like before.

Seconds later, I was out.