Third Person's POV

Alex stared at the Prince for a long time, forgetting that he wasn't supposed to look him in the eye. At that moment, he felt no fear. The news of Eve being his blood related sister was too great a shock.

A few minutes later, Alex stood up, bent over Eve and kissed her lovingly on the forehead. "Wake up Evie baby," he whispered under his breath. "I need you, a lot of people here do."

He then straightened up, gave a bow to the prince and walked out. Alex refused to entertain whatever the Dark Prince had said. He wouldn't accept it until he was proven.

How could she be my sister?! He thought furiously.

He always took her for his younger sister but saying she was biologically related to him gave him goosebumps. It was a quivering, unbelievable revelation. A revelation he couldn't accept just like that.

There was something very wrong about that fact.

He remembered the day he found her like it was just yesterday. He remembered everything. Eve wearing the huge cloak, the gash on her head, her scared, curious expression, everything. How could the prince drop such a huge bomb?! Nevertheless, why the hell would he lie? He didn't sound like he was lying but then again Alex didn't know anything about the mysterious Dark Prince.

He shook his head and took deep breaths. He wasn't going to dwell on it now. He only wanted for her to wake up.

"You look like shit. Better than yesterday but still.....shitty." Kyle was also walking down the same way. Alex noticed that Kyle's witty words did not match the tone of his voice nor his expression. Kyle had dark circles under his eyes and he looked worn out too.

"Me? When was the last time you looked in the mirror?"

"Twenty minutes ago. I look great."

"You know Kyle, you don't have to wear an armor. We are all not okay. You look like crap too." Alex muttered. He had no strength left. He wanted to be strong when he visited Eve and he was. Sadly he came out completely drained out of all his energy. Physically and more mentally.

"Whatever," Kyle mumbled. Alex felt guilty. He was being completely ignorant to his brother's feelings.

"I'm sorry I'm been such an ass these past few days. Where are you headed?"

"You're always an ass, I prefer you that way. No need for apologies and I'm headed for our room," Kyle smirked. Alex could see it was forced. Kyle was just wearing a mask. He was trying to be his normal self but it was getting harder for him to do that. His actions and words seemed forced.

"I should apologize. Really. I never realized how this affected you. I'm sorry that it was Henri. Our Henri. I know you love her very much Kyle."

"Don't worry. I'm getting over it. You apologizing to me, makes me extremely uncomfortable so quit it. I'll be fine," he tried to make his tone light but Alex could see the pain and grief in his eyes. He loved Henri with everything he had.

A love like Kyle's was hard to stop. It was a flame that was extremely hard to extinguish. He still carried that feeling inside of him. His love for Henri still burned within him. It wasn't easy for him to accept and acknowledge that Henri actually did what she did and did not return his affections or feelings at all.

"Come on, let's go." Alex dragged Kyle inside the room.

The moment they entered their room, Tonya sighed in relief. "We can finally eat now. I'm starving."

"Thanks for waiting." Alex muttered. This brought about a wide smile on Beth's face. India and Tonya gave her a knowing look. Alex talking again was a huge deal.

"Yeah, thanks for waiting girls. I know I wouldn't have." Kyle took his portion of dinner and filled his plate.

"We know," Beth scowled. Everyone filled their plates after that. That night was the first time they all ate together after what seemed like ages. Only Eve wasn't there to join them.

She would have loved this, Alex thought.

"Hey you guys still hungry? I'm gonna finish the meat." Kyle looked around. He asked but it didn't seem like he was going to share.

"I'm waiting, Alex? Tonya? India? Bessie? One, two, three. It's mine!"

They all shook their heads and Beth glared at Kyle. She didn't know if he was deaf or he just decided her name was Bessie.

"We should do something tonight, before going to bed," Tonya spoke up putting away the plates. Either Ms.Odelle or Mr.Percival would normally come to collect them later on.

"I'm tired," Kyle mumbled. "And full."

"I'm a little sleepy myself." Alex went to his bed.

"No!! None of you are sleeping now. None of us have been getting any sleep and I don't think tonight's going to be any different. Gather around, now." Tonya commanded, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed.

"We are not doing any witchy rituals right?" Kyle asked sounding a bit worried. Tonya shot him a look which made him to keep quiet. He dragged his feet to sit on the floor but far away from her. India and Beth followed soon after. Alex was last. He looked like he would rather do anything else. Same as Kyle. All of them knew where this was going.

Once they were all in seated in a circle, Tonya cleared her throat. She was nervous but this had to be done. For the good of all of them.

"A lot has happened lately. Too much in fact. We all think we can recover and come out of this ourselves, individually but no. It's not that easy. I know I can't do it alone. Those horrifying experiences still haunt me day and night. I refuse to believe I'm the only one going through it. I don't wanna do it alone and I don't wanna be alone in this and why should I? Why should any of us? We're family. And I mean India and Beth too," she looked at each one of them. "We went through it together and we can only come out of it....together. I know we've all been bottling up everything. It doesn't have to be that way. We are going to be here for each other, supporting one another. So, tonight we're going to let it all out. Each and every one of us-"

Beth groaned, India fidgeted with the hem of her night blouse. Alex just stared out the balcony. Kyle looked as if he wanted to run away. That's when Tonya hit the floor with a loud thud with her hand.

"We're doing this. A couple of sentences from each one will be good enough. Come on."

~~~~~~~~~~

Prince Phoenix's POV

I brushed her hair back and twirled some of it between my fingers. I always liked playing with her hair. The fiery red strands were so soft. A bit more of her face was exposed. Now only the left corner of her face was bandaged covering the long, deep gash. The bruises on her left cheek were a light red now.

It was early morning. I had no paper work for the day so I decided to stay with my Little Flower. Sometimes, I would read to her. I found some of the books that were sent to her when I was away for the war. I would occasionally read a passage or two, hoping she could hear me and if she did I hoped it would soothe her. Today I picked out another passage from one of the books and began to read it. I took her small hand in mine and rubbed her knuckles.

I read for about five minutes before putting the book away. I absentmindedly played with her fingers gently stroking them and massaging her hand.

A few moments passed when I stiffened and held her hand tightly as I heard someone knock the door. "Come in."

It was Percival bringing in my breakfast. "Anything new my Prince?"

"No." I neither took my eyes off of her nor did I release her hand.

"Don't forget to eat your breakfast, please Prince Phoenix," I was annoyed at his tone but said nothing. Percival then walked out. I wasn't eating full meals for the past week. I simply lost my appetite. For both food and blood. I relaxed on the chair and looked up at the ceiling letting out a sigh.

Just as I was about to get up. I felt a very light twitch. My eyes widened as I looked at my hand which covered hers. I thought I had imagined it in my head but still I felt it. I loosened my hold on her hand and gently stroked her knuckles again.

There it was again. I saw slight movements in her fingers which anyone could have easily missed. I was already drowning in pure ecstasy and I was grinning from ear to ear. I then dragged my thumb across the back of her hand. I felt the light squeeze again. Before I knew it, I bent forward and peppered her face with butterfly kisses.

Warmth spread inside of me. That very second I felt heat on the right side of my face. I turned around puzzled. As I looked out the windows, I saw that it was a ray of sunshine passing through them, I walked towards the windows and saw that there were many small rays of sunshine piercing through the thick grey clouds.

This is what immense joy does huh?

I looked up at the sky in awe. The bright gold penetrated through the dark grey. For the first time in my four hundred and twenty seven years, I actually admired what my powers did. What they could do. It was the first time I actually saw beauty in them.

All this, it was because of her. She brought this out of me. She brought light out of the darkness which always consumed me, darkness that had considerable amount of control over me all my life. My powers were so great that I always believed they were greater than the master who possessed them.

Only two centuries after I was born, did I have some basic control over my dark powers. I was still unable to fully understand them. To keep my powers under my control is to be able to understand them first. They were connected to my emotions and the emotion I am best known to have is anger. So wherever my unfathomable gifts went, destruction followed. That was how it's always been and I've learned to live with that and occasionally enjoyed it. Most times it made me untouchable. The screams of other beings fueled my powers even more. Inflicting fear on others were at times entertaining.

However, as the years passed, as the world kept changing, I wanted something more. I wanted to be something more than the dark monster who lived behind the walls of the castle. The desire and amusement of witnessing other beings fear me gradually wore out. I wanted to experience a normal life. I wanted what others had.

They were ordinary. Simple.

I knew I would never get a taste of it. I am who I am and I will forever be....me.

Then she walked in. An odd human, a servant who found joy in talking to white roses.

After looking at the sky, my feelings for her only grew.

I strode back and sat on the chair close to her. I then took her hand in mine again. I would wait until she woke up.

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

India's POV

"I don't know what to say." Kyle was lying on the ground, hands behind his head. We've been doing this for three nights straight. I understood if he didn't want to say anything at all. I nudged Tonya. She looked at me then at Kyle.

"Alright it's ok-"

"I don't even know what love is anymore," he blurted all of a sudden. Alex focused on him. "I loved her. I would do anything for her. I loved her mind, body and soul. You wanna know the truth about how I feel right now, Tonya? I feel like shit. I feel like throwing myself out that balcony. I gave her all of me. I would die for her, any day, anytime. This whole situation is slowly tearing me apart!! I don't know how to deal with this. I go to Timothy's room for work everyday to forget but I can't!!" he sat up and buried his head in his hands. "I love her. Yes, I still do and I don't know how to make it go away. I gave her my heart!! I love her so much it fucking hurts!!!" Kyle yelled out. I gasped at his outburst.

Tonya was speechless but she wanted him let it out. Alex immediately got up and sat right next to Kyle, taking him in his arms. Kyle couldn't hold it in any longer. His shoulders shook as he cried in Alex's arms. Only his heartbreaking sobs filled the quiet room. Alex held him tighter and rubbed his back. He said nothing and just allowed him to cry it out. My eyes watered as I looked at them.

He always wanted to look strong in our eyes. How broken he must truly feel on the inside? Henri was his sweetheart. Probably his first love. The problem was, she still is.

Kyle was still sobbing when Ms.Odelle quietly entered the room. She stopped when she saw him in Alex's arms but she said nothing. She only gave him a sympathetic look before collecting the tray. She then walked out closing the doors behind her.

We sat on the ground until his crying eventually stopped. Alex continued to hold him though and Kyle didn't move away. His head rested on Alex's shoulder. Kyle's eyes were red and his face, blotchy.

"You said you didn't know how to make it go away?" Tonya asked softly. "The only way is for you to talk to her Kyle. You need that, just as how Alex needed to see Eve. Its won't work like magic and make you forget everything but it would be a start to help you get on with life. It could help you to move on."

"Do it when you're ready Kyle. It doesn't have to be now." Alex said firmly.

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

Prince Phoenix's POV

My parents wanted to have dinner with me but I refused. Again. I knew if I went, I would be bombarded with questions. Lots of bloody questions. It wasn't something I needed. The last time I saw my parents was the day they returned from White Winters Land. I told them that Esther was a dead vampire. The way I spoke told them that there was no room for arguments. The next day my parents actually agreed that she should be executed. They found out what she did to Mr and Mrs Salvador. Plus, my mother was waiting to punish Lord Marcus as well.

I later told them that I wouldn't be giving any of them easy deaths. My father wanted to object but I refused to listen to anything he had to say. He eventually gave up talking to me.

Since I refused to leave the room, I spent time reading the books on the small table. I've read all of them so I just flipped through the pages. Soon after, Percival walked in again. This time with dinner.

"Eat. Please. I can feed you, Your Highness."

"Why do you even say it? Do you really think I would allow that?"

"You are not eating! At least drink a cup of blood Your Highness," I ignored him, looking at the book.

"You have to be strong. If not for yourself then at least for her." I sighed.

"I've lost my appetite."

"Just one cup," Percival rushed over to the table and filled my chalice with blood. He then handed it to me. "Drink. Only then will I leave." He was determined to watch me drink it.

"Stubborn man." I muttered and brought the chalice to my lips. I took a small gulp and stared at Percival. "Happy?"

"The whole chalice Your Highness."

"Go. I'll drink all of it." He raised a brow at me.

"Go." He grumpily walked out, muttering under his breath. I got up and left the chalice on the table.

I'll drink later.

As I was about to sit I saw her eyes move under her eyelids. Instead of sitting on the chair I sat on the bed beside her. My heart beat spiked up. As I waited in anticipation, her eyes moved side to side faster. I took her hand in mine once again. There was a squeeze but this time a little more firm. My breathing got faster as I yearned to see her awake.

Moments passed and her eyelids began to flutter. She blinked multiple times before her eyes opened. Two bluish green gems stared in my direction.

I couldn't move. I just stared back at her. The room was filled with the sound of my heavy breathing. I couldn't believe it. My Little Flower was awake. I kissed the back of her hand softly. She continued to stare at me. She didn't move a muscle except for the blinking of her eyes. I stared deep into those orbs.

I stroked her cheek gently. She didn't flinch or move away. She just continued to stare at my chest.

I longer I looked at her, the more it dawned on me that she had just opened her eyes.

That's it.

She hasn't mentally woken up yet. She was numb. She just stared ahead but she wasn't looking at anything. I lightly gripped her chin and made her look up at me but her eyes never left my chest.

Was she still following the bloody law? Maybe it was already drilled into her head. Like all the other servants.

I brought my face closer to hers. She blinked but that was it. No other movements. Her eyes were hollow, without any emotion. They looked almost dead. I cupped her face and kissed the tip of her nose.

"You're going to be alright. I promise."

I then called in Odelle and the castle doctors.

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Ta daaaaaaa. That's all for now.

Since my followers have increased. I would like to know your name, age and the country you're from. Again.

And lemme know your 💭 💭 💭

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