Hi guys, sorry last chapter was rather violent but it had to be done, anyways I just wanted to say that Catherine hasn't lost her spunk it'll be coming in this chapter. I just had to write her without the sass for the last two cause idk seemed better. Please review Thanks!

She had no idea why he was comforting her after all she'd done to him. Millions of thoughts whirled through her mind, what if someone found them like this? Did she have something important going on today? Where was Christophe? Why did she suddenly want to feel his lips against hers? NO Catherine get a hold on yourself, it's just because you're desperate right now you don't want him to kiss you. She took a deep breath into his chest and then looked up at him and suddenly they were inches apart. "Why are you still here? If your intention is to kill me once I fall asleep or alert Charles and Claude so they personally murder me go straight ahead but don't do this to me. Don't hold me close and tell me lies then go out to destroy me and everything I hold dear once I'm immobilized. I told you I can't take people who betray me…" She was cut off by Bash.

Her words proved his suspicions correct, she had lost all sense of trust, all her innocence. It dismayed him to hear the ache in her voice how her eyes looked so much bigger looking up at him with what she called 'false hope'. As she spoke her breath hit his face, and it pained him to know how very little she trusted him. He didn't want to be rude but he couldn't take it anymore "Catherine! Catherine, shhh I'm not going to hurt you I'm going to be right here until you want me to leave. I'm going to help you."

She was surprised when he suddenly cut across her and even more shocked to see the sincerity in his eyes. She took a breath and slowly nodded "I should probably get ready," She sighed "I have a privy council meeting later today and a party needs to be planned for the arrival of a cousin he's really rich." She added. Though she made no motion to move. Her neck felt like it had been scorched but from experience it would feel better in a day or two.

As she told him about what she had to do the old Catherine snapped back into place as if she hadn't been pouring her soul out the other minute. He nodded in agreement before sitting up and then getting off the bed while straightening his vest. Even though they'd just ridden an emotional rollercoaster neither seemed fazed by the fact they had been tightly embracing one another a few minutes before. He planned to check up on her after dinner that is if Kenna didn't hold him up.

She sighed before getting out of bed she looked fairly unruly with her hair mussed up around her face. Her nose was puffy and rosy as were her eyes, which were also a bit bloodshot. She sniffed once before going over to her wardrobe and selecting a dress and setting on her bed. When she turned she came nose to nose with Bash, her breath caught in her throat was he going to hurt her? He had his arms around her for a split second before releasing her "Take care of yourself." He told her before exiting the room.

She was left standing there, shocked and cheeks glowing. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she'd always thought, but then again he could be shouting all that she'd told him all over the castle at this very moment. She groaned before asking her ladies to make her up a bath. When the bath was ready she settled into it, why hadn't she thought of this last night? Oh yeah…she was being murdered twice, her hollow laugh bounced off the tile walls.

After her bath she went to dress, it was a silver and black patterned material with a high collar. She smoothed it down and set a black crown atop her bun of auburn hair. Looking at herself in the mirror for a moment she straightened her stance and opened the door. She marched into the throne room with renewed authority and confidence. No one looked at her oddly or really paid her much mind other then to bow or ask about the party preparations. Bash hadn't spilled her secrets all over French Court…yet.

The day seemed to be going fine when it took an unwanted twist. She was attending to a noble and his grain when Mary pulled her aside. Catherine was at first angered until she saw the expression on Mary's face, "Mary dear what's wrong?"

"Catherine…how could you keep this a secret?"

"Keep what a secret? Mary what are you…" Before she could finish the young Queen had slightly pulled open the neck of her dress. Catherine gasped and slapped her hand away, cheeks pink and eyes wide.

"Mary!" She hissed, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I knew it! He hurt you."

"You knew what? Who hurt me?" She asked, trying to sound innocent.

"Bash! He hurt you."

Well, she hadn't seen that coming, "What? No…no Bash didn't hurt me, these are old." She mumbled feeling very awkward having this conversation with the Scottish Queen.

"Don't lie Catherine, these are fresh…plus you've been fiddling with the collar of your dress for the last few days."

"Mary, Bash did not hurt me I swear to you."

"Then who?" Mary asked, "Did you ask them to? Did they force themselves on you? How long ago was this? Yesterday? Today? Was it Narcisse?!"

"Shhh." Catherine hissed, "No, no it wasn't Narcisse, I did it to myself…" She lied.

"Don't lie you would never do this to yourself." Mary frowned, "Why are you lying to me?"

"I…Mary it's hard to explain, listen this isn't the time." Catherine tried to side step the Scottish Queen but she grabbed her arm.

"Catherine if you don't tell me the truth I will blame Sebastian and imprison him."

"You wouldn't!"

"I would and I will." Mary stated.

"Why would you even suspect Bash?"

"For one you two aren't exactly friends…you killed his mother." Mary lowered her voice at this, "Plus I saw him run to your chambers last night and I heard you screaming, I was going to see what was going on but…err…well I preoccupied." Mary blushed.

Catherine shook her head, "It wasn't Bash."

"I'm giving you one last chance Catherine."

"Fine, fine it was Christophe."

"Did he force himself on you? Or did you ask him to? What's going on Catherine?"

"Mary, please don't push me I'm not feeling well but it won't happen again."

"Catherine de Medici I swear to you, I am coming to your chambers tonight with Bash and if I don't get an explanation we're going to have a problem! Am I understood?"

Catherine nodded and Mary stormed away, leaving the elder Queen to stare after her in shock. Oh they had a problem alright, she strode into the throne room where she found Sebastian and boy if looks could kill. She grabbed him by the arm, dragging him away from a group of confused villagers. "What the hell?!" She nearly shouted once they reached deserted corridor.

"What do you mean?"

"Mary just pulled down the collar of my dress is saying that you hurt me. I told her you didn't but now she's having you and her meet in my chambers and lecture me. What did you tell her?"

"I didn't tell her anything I swear."

"Oh yeah right! How'd she know then?!"

"I don't know! You ask her!"

"I did!"

"You're impossible!" He stormed away.

She stormed in the other direction back to her chambers. Something creaked and she looked up, the secret passageways. Taking the gleaming dagger off the desk she crept into the darkened passageways. The scowling face of Christophe met her at the doorway, sighing rather dramatically, "Oh it's you again."

"Yes I came to finish what I started." He hissed withdrawing his sword.

"Don't bother." She glared, "If you kill me you'll be right behind me."

"Yes, yes I know you've told your blue eyed bastard boyfriend Bash." He taunted.

"He's not my boyfriend!" She retorted.

"Good otherwise he might miss you."

"Trust me I won't be missed…" With one swift movement she removed the dagger from behind her back and stabbed him in the stomach "Because I'm not going anywhere."

He gagged and fell forward crashing into her before she had time to move. The shining blade of his sword sliced her wrist as it fell to the ground. She hissed in pain and tried to shove him off her but it was no use. Struggling to call out or alert anyone of her situation she felt the crimson liquid from her cut pooling around her wrist and she felt a bit woozy. Calling out again and again she could only hope someone found her in time. Letting the looming blackness envelop her mind she slipped from consciousness.

A/N I'm sorry for the extremely short chapter but I'm on an all time dry for this story. Hope it wasn't too bad but don't expect any more updates any time soon (sorry again).