Eva made her way down the hallway, her head held high but her thoughts running wild. What did her father want? He hardly even acknowleged her, so she knew it couldn't be good if he requested to see her in private.

Before she could knock on the grand doors to his throne room, they flew open. She clumsily dodged the thin man thrown from the room, resisiting the urge to crinkle her nose in disgust at the smell. Is that what all poor people smelled like? Ivy didn't smell like that. 

Granted, she reminded herself, Ivy had lived in the castle for months before they had met. She had spent enough time away from poverty to smell like leather and roses instead of feces and dirt.

Or maybe that was just a vampire thing--smelling ancient. 

She shook her head slightly, wiping thoughts of Ivy out of her head and stepping into the throne room with the grace of a queen. Now wasn't the time to think of Ivy.

"Father." She curtsied, praying to whatever gods were listening that he was in a good mood. Much to her dismay, she was met with an icy glare as she raised her head. Without as much as a nod in her direction, her motioned for the guards to leave. 

She swallowed. It took concious thought to keep a straight face.

"You called for me?" she prompted after a moment of silence. 

He met her gaze once again, his features hardening even further. 

"There has been a rebellion," he growled. "I need to take care of it."

She repressed a shiver imagening the bloodshed this revolt would result in. Was it really worth it? They had to know that they couldn't beat the king. No one could.

"And what do you need me for?" 

He smiled, and it was so much worse than his glare. "Nothing. I just need your maid."