Her boots fell silently on the carpeted floor and the sunlight began dimming in the hall. She kept her frustration behind her mask and stopped in front of the library doors. Taking a moment to prepare herself, she pulled the door open and knocked. Christopher looked up from a chair and smiled. It looked sickening to her but she held up her part of the game.

"Glad you could make it."

She entered the room but left the door cracked behind her. He indicated the seat next to him but she held her ground.

"What are your plans?"

He smiled again and she glanced over at the exposed windows. Quietly she crossed the room and stared at the ocean. Having something else besides that man to look at kept her grounded and focused. He closed the book he had been skimming and set it aside.

"I was wondering if you would like assisting in the renovations of the orphanage and children school."

Slowly she glanced at him and found him standing up. He came closer and she looked back out the window.

"What do you think?"

Her eyes narrowed and she asked "Have you brought this up with your cousin?"

He shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't need his permission to help the community that he is letting die."

The urge to slap the man played with her control but she fought it back. Right now she wanted to get all the information possible out of him.

"It sounds like a good idea."

Christopher smiled again and asked "Will you join me?"

She studied his eyes and slowly found what she was looking for. Small shadows clung to his iris in each eye and she could sense the power. He studied her face and waited patiently for her answer.

"Let me think about it."

The man's smile faltered and he asked "What is there to think about?"

She watched him raise a hand toward her face and stepped back. The last time he had touched her left a bruise on her for a week.

"I have other responsibilities to take into consideration."

"You mean you won't until you know for sure Johnathan isn't going to request your services himself."

The insult almost gave him a slap but instead she looked back out the window. He knew she was holding back and left her at the window. She watched him reach the door and smirk. He pulled it shut and she heard the lock being flipped.

"I don't like people barging in on business."

"This isn't business, my Lord."

He tossed her a smirk and said "Call me Christopher."

She watched him fill a glass with wine and swirl it around. He studied the contents for a few minutes and looked up at her.

"Besides, I'm the one who should be addressing you by your title, Princess."

Her pulse jumped and she watched him finish off the wine. He set the glass on the table and quietly approached her.

"It took me a long time to find out who you really were. Now, I wonder what you will do to keep that just between us."

As he stood inches away from her, she could feel the magic seeping out of his pours and stepped back.

"I'm afraid you've had too much to drink."

He laughed and said "Quite right you are."

His hand caught her hip and he jerked her to him. The power raced for her skin and she found him watching her. His hand slid along her shirt and up to her chin. When his fingers brushed her skin, the cold began to slip inside her.

"You really are an Eve, aren't you?"

Her eyes never left his and she felt her strength slowly beginning to waver. He flashed a smile and brought his mouth down for a kiss. Closing her eyes, she shoved herself free and caught the nearby couch. Her vision was starting to spin and she heard him laughing.

"I was wondering when your stubbornness would begin failing."

She looked up at him and growled "Stay the hell away from me."

Christopher laughed again and walked closer. She used the furniture as a shield and made her way across the room.

"Come now Eve. Are you really scared of me?"

She backed into a wall and found the door across the room. He stood a few feet away and his smile continued to turn her stomach. Her pulse was racing and she could feel her strength slipping away still. The door handle shook and she looked at the locked exit.

Christopher chuckled and whispered "That should be my cousin coming to rescue the princess."

She watched him draw closer to the door and heard "Shall I let him in and you explain this to him?"

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and said "Go ahead."

The man stopped by the door and looked back at her. He hadn't expected that from her and frowned.

"Giving up?"

She flashed a cold smirk and said "Hardly."

He watched her push herself off the wall and hold her hands up. The windows flew open and he saw lightning striking over the ocean.

"What are you doing?"

She silently approached him and said "Freeing you."

When she stood in front of him, his eyes widened and he placed his hands on her bare skin. He poured the dark power into her and unlocked the door. She stumbled back and looked up at him. A small look of triumph covered his face and she slapped him. The sound echoed in the dark room and he heard the door open.

Johnathan stared at him with murder in his eyes and he was knocked to the floor. Sitting up, he watched the man look at Eve. She took a deep breath and met his brown gaze.

"Are you all right?"

"I just need to go rest."

She slid past him and retreated into her room. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it and felt her legs give out. She slid down onto the floor and closed her eyes. Pain burned through every inch of her and she pulled herself off the floor. She stumbled to her bed and held onto the bed post.

Feeling her lungs burning, she fought to keep her breathing steady and collapsed next to the bed. Leaning back against the bed, she held her hands up to eye level and found them bruised. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the bed. The door opened without a knock and closed. She could feel him before he showed himself and tried to compose her face.

His brown eyes slowly rested on her and he came around the bed. She fought to keep him from being suspicious but he could see the pain still in her eyes. Her skin was losing its rich complexion and almost looked feverish. He walked to her bathroom and filled a bowl with cold water. Silently he grabbed a rag and returned to her side.

He wrung the rag out and carefully ran it over her burning skin. Her eyes closed as he worked his way up and along her face. Sighing, he focused his thoughts on calming her when he wanted to be throttling his cousin.