My hands closed into fists as the Guard closed the door behind me. I was on edge and something told me I had reason to be. She was still smiling, her hand clasped under the bottom of a wine glass. Her smile was wide but there was nothing genuine there. She gestured to the seat in front of her. I sat hesitantly, remaining at the edge, as if ready to move. The Queen seemed to sense my nerves as raised the glass to her ruby red lips. What did the King ever see in her?

" How are you, Evelyn?"

" What do you want?" I snapped. Her eyes narrowed at me, her fake smile dropping.

" You cannot speak to me. I am the Queen."

" I have free will. And other than your dress and jewels, there's nothing queenly about you." I knew it was stupid to insult one of the most powerful woman in our country but I was remembering the stinging in my cheek. Holden's words. Everything I heard about her on the news. She leaned forward, setting down the wine glass. She stood, eerily silent.

" I knew you were going to be trouble. I told that King, too," she turned to me, fire behind her blue eyes. I stood too.

" I'm sorry that I don't sit back quietly after you slapped me."

" You deserved it, my dear."

" Don't call me that." She laughed manaiacally.

" Your gonna be very sorry in a few moments." I clenched my fists and stepped toward the door.

" You know, I tried to get Holden to eliminate you. I tried very hard. Then I realized that stupid boy was entranced by you. You, the girl who should've been born a Five. And then it hit me, and oh, it was genius. I could get rid of you, but I could use you too. And Illéa would be mine."

" You won't get rid of me."

She laughed again, looking at me with actual amusement. " Oh you stupid little girl." She snapped forward, pointing a slim finger at me. " I am the Queen. And soon, I will be the King to. And no one. Not you. Not that drunken King. And most certainly not that stupid, stupid boy." I started moving towards the door, my heart beating through my chest. Suddenly, I hit the soft chest of someone. Turning I saw the Guard who had brought me into the castle. A smirk was now planted in my head. Beside him was another man in ratty clothing and a grizzly grayish brown beard. Fear began twisting through my gut as I stared at the Queen who was smiling again, a Cheshire smile.

" What are you doing?"

" Getting rid of you. I thought you understood me," she said innocently.

The men behind me wrapped the arms around mine. I pulled, sharply, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. I pulled again, kicking my legs backward to hit the Guard's shins. The Guard yelped in pain and letting go of my arms. Rushing forward I hiked my dress up and rushed to the side of the room.

" There's nowhere to go, my dear!" The Queen called as I stood in front of the bay window. I peered down, hoping that somehow the bay window was only a floor off the ground. The two men grew closer to me. I could jump, but I had no idea if I would survive. I wouldn't survive. I had no options.

" Give up little girl." I sighed, looking athe men slowly closing in on me. The drop into the cliff behind me. I stilled as the Guard came up to me and roughly pulled my hands behind me. The other man pulled open a painting on the side. A secret room too. Pulling open the door The Guard began to pull me towards the opening of the secret door, and despite myself, I didn't resist.

" You won't get away with this," I seethed. Suddenly the guards shoved me into the room. And the two blocked the door. The Queen grabbed my chin harshly, pulling my face to meet hers.

" I will win. And this country will be mine. Because you are weak. Because Holden is weak. And because I. Always. Win." Then the door closed, a darkness surrounded me.

Kaya POV:

I rushed into the hallway where all the Guards lived. It might've been dangerous but I needed to find Jake. Running I stopped in front of the wooden door marked 709. Twisting open the knob I stepped in and slammed the door behind me.

" Kaya," Jake's eyes widened in surprise as he readjusted a blue towel that was hanging low on his waist. I gasped and turned quickly, blushing.

" Oh, oh I'm sorry."

" Kaya, you have to knock," he shot back.

" It's important."

" I don't care. You shouldn't be here." I turned again, crossing my arms. His eyes widened as he pulled on his shirt. I tried to ignore the flash of abs I had seen, glaring at him.

" That's rude."

" It won't be when that Queen locks you in her dungeons."

" That's what I needed to talk to you about."

" Kaya, we shouldn't…"

" Shut up, Jake," I snapped. I sat on his bed, corssing my legs and pulling his blanket around my bare shoulders. It was suprisingly cold down here. He rolled his eyes angrily and sat in a worn out chair in front of me.

" What is it?"

" Now you want to know?" I smirked, pulling the blue cover around me tighter. It smelled like him. He rubbed his forehead and then looked up at me. He smiled less than he used to and I didn't realize how much till now. It had been only a year since I saw him but he felt different. He used to laugh.

" Jake, what's wrong?"

" What?" He raised his head, looking at me with confusion.

" What's wrong?"

" Nothing."

" Jake."

" Kaya, what do you think it is?"

" You never talked to me after it happened. You just left!"

" Because I knew what I had to do."

" You could've told me. I could've helped you!"

" And put you in danger!?" he snapped. I shut my mouth. I hadn't meant to rile him up. He sat down, rubbing his forehead again. I wanted to hug him. I wanted it to be like before. But it wouldn't be. " Please tell me what happened?"

" Eve has a necklace. It matches hers." Jake froze, looking up.

" What?"

" She said it was her grandmother's but it looks exactly like hers."

" I always guessed America was helping."

" Then Eve will be a target," I said quietly. Jake looked up at me, alarm behind his eyes. I stood quickly, dropping the blanket and letting the goosebumps cover my skin. " I should go check on her."

" Be careful, Kaya. Please."

" I will," I let my hand rest on the cool door knob and turned back to him, looking into his blue eyes. " I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Then before I could do anything else I slipped out the door, hoping that Eve was okay and deciding I would tell her the truth. Or as much of it as I knew.

What will Eve do? Where will the Queen go? What happened between Jake and Kaya? Keep reading to find out! Comment and favorite for faster chapters.

Fae