In the night, Evette found it hard to sleep. When she finally closed her tired eyes, she dreamt a worrisome, dark dream. Her body started to sweat and she tossed and turned on her bed, clutching the sheets with strength.

The dream started out easy. It was an image Evette's subconscious could conjure up with ease, like she had been in the very same spot once before. She could feel the cool air slip under her coat and seep through her dress. The air touched her skin and she shivered gently. It felt so real.

The frost on the wind could be felt as Evette pushed her way through the lifeless bodies on the ground. She didn't cry as she laid eyes on the elven warriors who had fallen from the war.

The war. Evette was walking in the aftermath. She saw the crimson stains and she smelled the musky scent of insufferable pain. Watching and walking through cold fire; seeing the bodies through young adult eyes made it all too real, even when it wasn't any longer.

Up ahead, Evette spotted a fallen warrior who laid alone on the ground, away from the thousands of others. The fabric of his long, fabric cape that clung to his silver armor blew in the wind as Eve approached him. It was her half brother.

Evette bent down and pulled Argyle so his back was flush with the ground. He had fallen sideways, and the frozen arrow in his heart broke in half as Evette pushed him on his back. The bridle wood of the arrow had broken from the impact. The metal tip of the arrow remained in his stiff heart that no longer beat.

This wasn't how it went. It didn't end like this. Even in her slumber, Evette knew what she was dreaming wasn't real and, as she ran her hand over Argyle's cheek in her dream, she realized just how real the dream felt.

Dark auburn locks of hair tangled with blood, stuck to areas on Argyle's pale face. He looked peaceful in his state of mirrored death.

Evette felt a few tears slip out of her eyes, and they fell onto her brother's dented armor. She sniffled quietly as she laid his head in her lap, her eyes never leaving his closed eyelids.

"An honorable death," Evette whispered under her breath. "It was what you always wanted." She closed her eyes momentarily before her gaze returned to her fallen Argyle.

Evette placed her hand over her brother's chest and felt the cold of his metal armor. There was no warmth radiating from the metal, only a sickening cold. A moment passed in silence, and only the whistling of wind through trees could be heard.

"I'm sorry." Evette said and gritted her teeth as she tried to stop the waterworks. There was no use in trying.

Evette blinked, and stared blankly at her brother. He opened his eyes, the bright blue orbs cold and frosty. His eyes glowed as he glanced up at his sister. He said nothing as he laid still.

Eve thought she was imagining her brother open his eyes, but she realized that he was awake in the dream. He stared up at her blankly, his eyes a flickering blue instead of the deep brown she remembered.

• • •

Evette's head shot up, her breathing ragged and her heart pounding. She couldn't get the image of her brother's strangely colored frosty eyes out of her mind. She hugged herself tightly and wiped the sweat from her brow before getting up out of bed.

Evette dressed herself and braided her long hair back, before quietly tip toeing out of her quarters and down towards the exit of the castle.

The five guards that guarded the castle's entrance glanced at Evette skeptically. They stood silently, careful not to wake anyone who was still asleep in the castle early that morning.

"No one is allowed out of the castle before sunrise. King's orders." One of the guards spoke quietly.

Evette groaned, she rubbed her right temple and shook her head. She said nothing in response to the guard.

A voice spoke from behind her and she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Looks like we're trapped." Narcisse appeared behind Evette and she turned to meet his towering gaze.

Narcisse smiled slightly as he glanced at small Evette, her bottom lip twitched momentarily. "Maybe the king is readying a guillotine for you and your men." Evette found that remark funny. She watched as Narcisse's smile faded and he stood up straighter, clearly nervous.

Eve couldn't help smiling. This was what she needed in the morning, a dose of dark humor to get her day started. She had a feeling it was going to be one of the worst days of her life. Might as well enjoy it.

Clearing her throat, Evette suddenly said, "Dark humor." She cleared her throat again, earning a raised brow from the man before her.

Narcisse smiled again as he shifted uncomfortably. "I do believe, a woman of your status wouldn't usually make a jolly time out of a joke like that." Evette couldn't tell if Narcisse was being stern or simply impassive.

"We don't have a guillotine, if that makes you feel any better. . " Evette suppressed her smile.

"It doesn't, but thank you. Excuse me."
Narcisse nodded his head and turned away from Eve. She took a step forward guiltily, her left hand wrapped halfway around his large bicep before she could stop herself.

"Hey! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Evette apologized sincerely. She had been in Narcisse's presence less than a minute, and she had already made a fool of herself.

Evette felt conflicting feelings. While she did not care deep down what a human thought of her, she realized just how inappropriate her joke was. Would she have wanted a human to say that to her if she were visiting a foreign land filled with humans? No, she wouldn't have.

Narcisse shrugged off Evette's hand from his arm gently, all while attempting to unclench his tensed jaw. He breathed in deeply before saying anything.

"It's fine. I'm simply not used to your species. My father was killed in the war a long time ago." Narcisse's dark, chestnut eyes were big and clear. Evette could have sworn he was staring into her warped soul.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Eve gripped her left wrist with her right hand nervously. She exhaled.

"Don't be. He accidentally shot himself with a crossbow." Narcisse chuckled, his smile revealing straight, close to pearly, white teeth.

Evette felt some of the tension in the air dissipate, the laughter replacing it's embarrassing glow.

"You-" Evette started to speak, but silenced herself the moment she glanced up to see Noel standing before the stone stairs that led to the second floor. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his long white hair fell onto his leather covered elbows; the brown leather faded to black as it reached his pale forearms.

With a low sigh, a shift in weight from one foot to another, and a confused glance, Narcisse watched as Noel stared Evette down in an unusual way. It was odd, the way his eyes shifted between Narcisse and Evette, his stance puffed and his guard visibly up. In that moment, Narcisse felt like he had realized something. Or, a small detail he couldn't overlook.

Noel placed his hand gently on Evette's shoulder, and it clicked. Partners in crime. Two souls that linked as friends, lovers even. Or, maybe they just looked out for each other. Narcisse couldn't tell fully. It was surely interesting, nonetheless.

"I hope I didn't wake you. I tried to be quiet." Evette said to Noel as she glanced up at him, his green eyes flashing at her once more.

"You didn't. I heard heavy footsteps on my floor. . ." Narcisse said nothing as he made eye contact with Noel. Darn his heavy boots.

"My apologies for. . ." Narcisse listened as a low hum came from the top of the stairs. Everyone paused again as they laid eyes on Maria, the Queen, in all her glory.

"Oh, don't apologize darling! I'm sure these two will get over whatever you did. Forgiveness is the key to a happy life." Maria placed a manicured hand on Evette's shoulder and her stepdaughter brushed it off without drawing attention to the action.

Evette stared into Maria's blue eyes. The sky blue orbs held so much, they had seen so much. Beautiful, but deadly. Impulsive, yet overly calculated. Evette had met her match the day Maria had stepped through the doors to the castle years ago. She bided her time, taking slow steps; removing one elf whom she didn't fancy at a time. Topaz Morgana Morene, Evette's mother, was the first to go. The chamber maid that the king once loved, the woman that loved her child more than life itself. Evette could no longer picture her mother's face. It had been so long since she had laid eyes on her short dark hair and felt her loving touch. Evette remembered details, like a blind person that could only describe. The small actions and the comforting words. Topaz'  skin was darker than Evette's, and her hair was darker too. The green of her eyes held flecks of blue, and if you looked closely enough, even flecks of light violet shades swirled in her big eyes. Laid to rest in the crypt below Tigerstar Castle, Topaz had remained in the ground, and as time passed, most had forgotten her name. Evette remembered what she could.

Poison. Evette had seen the blood her mother coughed up for many hours. The internal bleeding was incurable, and it killed Topaz from the inside out. The royal doctor had said that Evette's mother had fallen ill, and the symptoms she was experiencing hadn't been seen in an elf before. The doctor told Arwin and his only daughter that Topaz was sick from something she ate—careful to put emphasis on the lie that she had not ingested any poison. Evette knew the truth even if she couldn't prove it. She felt it in her heart.

Evette nodded her head, all while staring her stepmother down impassively. Everyone stood quietly.

"Noel," Maria began, and Evette's body stiffened. "Could you fetch the king's broadsword that is in the dining hall? You may need help carrying it, so please wake Ajay and Anton to help you. Ayden is already awake." She finished.

Noel hesitated, he was at a loss for words. Evette turned to him skeptically. There was a brief moment that Eve and himself shared that indicated their nervousness. Noel scurried up the stairs to obey his queen's command.

"Sterling, the girls will be ready in a few minutes. They will meet you outside. I will have your and your men's horses fetched from the stables." Maria said before she turned and walked away.

Narcisse seemed surprised. He nodded to Evette before stammering away, the guards at the castle door now cleared the way for him to exit. As the heavy doors were pulled open, Eve could feel the summer heat from the outdoors.

The castle doors closed and Evette was left standing alone momentarily, a blank look on her face. She remained quiet and listened as light footsteps approached from the stairs. Rosalie, Naomi, Coraline, Cierra and Morgan all made their way down the stairs, a few bags in hand. The girls were followed by two elven guards dressed in their usual shiny armor.

Eve met the girls at the bottom of the stairs. Rosalie suddenly wrapped her arms around Evette and hugged her before saying goodbye. For a second, Evette held her arms in the air in surprise before she returned the hug, being careful to not accidentally squeeze Rosalie too hard. Lord knows, she and the other girls were fragile.

Five hugs were exchanged between Evette and the rest of the girls. Confused Evette felt as if she didn't have a say in the matter, five hugs, and a forced smile on her end.

"Goodbye Evette! One of us may not be coming back. . ." Naomi let out a low squeal, her rather deep voice sounding higher than usual.

"Oh! I haven't even thought about that. What if the king doesn't like any of us?" Cierra asked, her pale fingers intertwining nervously.

"He will. Who wouldn't like us?" Coraline smiled shyly.

"Good luck. All of you." Evette said seriously as the girls made their way outside.

"You too! Bye!" Rosalie called and everyone waved goodbye before the doors closed behind them.

Without hesitation, Evette ran up the stone stairs and pushed open the doors to the dining hall. What she saw next made her almost audibly gasp. The sight before her made her heart skip a beat.

Ayden held Lady Quill down in the dining hall, her chin rested on an indented boulder that sat towards the right of the room. Maria, Ajay, Anton, Arwin, as well as Noel and his father all stood silent in the hall. Evette noticed that her father's sharp broadsword had been removed from the place where it was mounted to the wall decoratively. Noel held the blade in his hands, the black strapped sheath still covering the blade.

Maria noticed Evette's expression of fear and anger. She took the blade from Noel's strong hands and whispered a command to him before taking a step toward her stepdaughter. Noel brushed passed Eve and stopped when she gripped his arm, keeping him from leaving the room like he was told to.

"I'm sorry Evette." Noel whispered before pulling his arm away. He exited through the dining hall's tall doors without another word.

Eve turned back and came face to face with Maria. She held the sword in her hands out to Evette, a look in her eyes that was indescribable. Eve was surprised that the queen could actually lift up the sword to her. Maria's pale, thin arms didn't look strong enough to.

Quill couldn't stop crying. Her quiet pleas could be heard from across the room. They echoed in Evette's dark pointed ears. Ajay had turned away, his arm covered his face as he stood beside his brother. Ayden simply watched as Evette took the sword from her stepmother's hands.

The cool metal of the sword sent a shiver up Evette's arm that radiated through her body. Her father's sword. Dark and shiny metal contrasted with the dusty blue inlayed gems on the hilt. The weight was heavy, but it was nothing Eve couldn't handle. She shifted the blade, unsheathed it in her right hand, and lowered it to her side; as she recalled when the sword was last used, the image of Argyle's blue eyes from her dream flashed in her mind. The blade was always belted at Arwin's side before and during the war. After the war, the sword was hung in the dining hall to commemorate a victory, and to remind all of a great tragedy. A gift, and a curse.

"You know what to do." Maria nodded and took steps towards Quill just like Evette did.

Eve glanced down at Quill, who attempted to claw her way out of Ayden's grasp, her pleas getting louder by the second. Her dress was disheveled, and judging by how she looked, Evette guessed that it was ripped also. Ayden's large bearing was unmatched, his long dark hair was tied back out of the way, and his muscles flexed as he easily fought against the girl in his grasp.

"At least let us take her to the courtyard. . ." Evette thought it might buy her some time.

"No. We must keep this under wraps until the morning. No one must know about this unfortunate situation." With that, Maria glanced toward her son, Ajay.

Evette closed her eyes. She thought about the options she had. She could swing the sword, it would be easy for her. With luck, Evette could make Quill's death quick and easy. A clean cut could send Quill's head flying across the room. The blood wouldn't make Eve flinch. Her hands would shake, and her eyes would close, but she wouldn't falter. She wouldn't cry.

What would that make Evette? A killer? A soldier who was brave enough to follow orders? No, It would make her the weak stepdaughter that couldn't say no.

In a sudden bout, Evette saw an opportunity. As Maria turned to glance at Ajay, Evette bolted forward. She snaked a strong arm around Maria's small waist and lifted the heavy broadsword in her hand to her throat. The sheath of the sword fell to the floor and slid a few feet away, now out of reach.

Evette was careful to not cut Maria with the sharp blade, but as she struggled against Eve, she found that the sword was quickly pressed to her throat more forcefully.

"Let her go." Evette warned, and everyone in the room suddenly was wide awake in surprise. Maria's expression looked pained as she glanced at her husband.

Ayden gently lifted his hold on Quill and she gathered her wits as she stood. Quill made her way towards the double doors of the hall quickly and shot a grateful glance to her savior who looked angry beyond words.

"Get to the stables. Meet me in the courtyard." Evette said to Quill and the distraught girl immediately ran out of the room.

Nicerius and Arwin both took a step forward and Evette pulled Maria back, the blade coming real close to her throat.

"Don't run after her." Evette warned as she glanced at her father, his eyes wide.

"Do you really love her that much?"
Evette could feel tears start to make her vision a tad bit blurry. Eve held Maria close, the floral, fruity aroma of her perfume made her nauseous.

"Eve, don't. . ." Arwin's soft voice was calm and steady. Evette felt a few tears fall from her eyes as she pulled her stepmother down so she was on the same level as her. They weren't the same height.

"You don't get to call me that! You lost that right a long time ago!" Evette gritted her teeth.

"Let her go Evette." Arwin commanded.

"No, no, you don't get to command me. You don't get to command, or plead, or beg for me to let her go. She had no remorse when she killed my mother, so why should I care about her?" Eve couldn't help the words as she spat them out angrily.

Anger got the best of Eve, and she felt the pain in her heart return. She hadn't moved on, she hadn't stopped dwelling, and she hadn't yet forgiven.

"Arwin! P-please." Maria croaked out.

"Save your energy." Evette whispered to Maria, momentarily shutting her up.

"I'll g-give you anything y-you want!. . ." Maria spoke again.

Evette glanced around the room. Everyone stood still, like they were frozen in time. Everyone was hesitant to make a sound.

Arwin spoke up louder, his metal armor clanking as he took another step forward. "I killed her," He paused, and Evette looked up at him in disbelief. "I killed your mother, Evette."

Another tear fell, and another breath of air left Evette's lungs as she breathed out. She paused, and she felt the hatred form in the pit of her stomach. She felt betrayed, wronged in so very many ways, and in that moment, Eve made a conscious decision. She made the decision with her eyes wide open, and she made it without remorse or guilt.

"You can't give me what I want Maria. No one can." Evette said as she drug the blade across her stepmother's throat. Crimson blood spewed all over the large blue gown Maria wore, and a few drops dribbled down onto Eve's shirt and hands. She wiped away the liquid as she threw Maria to the floor, her nearly decapitated body laying lifeless.

"Look at your queen now, father." Evette wiped away the blood that had landed on her right cheek.

• • • •