Gwendolyn

Eva exited the bathroom after washing her face and didn't bother looking at herself in the mirror. How horrified was he when he saw that her beauty had faded away to leave behind bones prodding out of each angle in her body? Had he been disgusted? Worse, had he left because of that?

Eva knew her insecurities were foolish, based on no true facts. But as she sat back down on the bed, she realized that she had never felt so alone and helpless ever in her life.

This loneliness was a vice in her heart, squeezing with just enough pressure to be a constant pain. It killed her every day just a little bit more, taking what was once her inner light and replacing it with darkness that overshadowed each moment. It was the fuel of her nightmares, the reason she struggled to breathe when a new shock arrived. What is the limit to such pain? Because she needed to know; Eva really needed to know.

Her room was equipped with a balcony but she didn't have the energy to get up and open the doors. She didn't feel like getting up, she didn't feel like eating, nor did she feel like doing anything.

She didn't feel like breathing.

Her train of thoughts was interrupted when the door creaked open and Eva leaned forward to see who it was. An unfamiliar woman stepped inside with a tray filled with food in her hands but Eva didn't think her to be a maid. She was too elegant and her dress was something that maids could not afford to wear inside a place. She was most likely Theodore's acquaintance or friend if he ever had one, Eva thought to herself.

"Perfect! You woke up right on time." the woman spoke and placed the tray beside her on the bed, taking a seat on the nearby chair and crossing a leg over the other.

Eva stared at her and parted her lips to say, "You are... ?"

"Shit sorry, I forget to tell you my name right?" she cursed as if it was normal to do so around the place. "I'm Gwendolyn, but..." her voice trailed off and her eyes narrowed as she looked straight into Eva's eyes and observed her from top to bottom for a few seconds.

Eva didn't back of and resisted the sudden urge to fidget. She met her gaze stoutly and pressed her palms on her lap. It didn't stop the tremors from running through them.

The woman finally let out a small smile. "But you can call me Gwen."

Eva released the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Nice to meet you. I'm Evangeline but you can call me Eva."

Gwen chuckled out loud and crossed her arms across her bosom. "I like you already. Figures, he wouldn't take a weak girl who couldn't meet him eye to eye."

Eva tried to keep her mouth shut but ended up raising a brow and asking, "Are you talking about Theodore?"

Gwen nodded her head thoughtfully. "He lets you call him by his name. He's progressing. You should eat or I can go if you're uncomfortable— "

"No, no! I'm perfectly okay with eating in front of you." Eva clarified and picked up a spoon. The utensil trembled in her hands and she realized a shaky breath as she placed a small piece of vegetable in her mouth.

Turning her head toward Gwen, Eva noticed that she was staring at her hands. The urge to hide them from plain sight was challenging but she managed to continue eating without showing any discomfort or insecurity.

"They locked you up?" asked Gwen and Eva looked up, her eyes wide as she blinked them.

Swallowing her bite, she slowly nodded her head. It was a slight thing but Eva thought she saw Gwen clench her fists by her side as she stood up and walked towards her.

"What are you— "

Eva's words were blocked when Gwen suddenly wrapped her arms around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. Shocked, Eva slowly patted her back awkwardly and waited to be released so she could see her face.

Gwen's expression was undecipherable but Eva glimpsed anger in it and figured that getting locked up must be something the woman might have suffered through.

"Don't worry, Theo will never let that happen to you again."

Theo. She used his nickname and that meant that they weren't just acquaintances but friends. Eva nodded absently and picked up the glass of water.

"I think it's better if I learn to protect myself. I don't want to depend on... him for everything." she didn't know why but she had wanted to see his face the first thing when she woke up. There were about a hundred questions that she wanted to ask him but he wasn't here to answer them.

But he had left Gwen behind. Maybe Eva could ask her instead?

"Is the castle far from here?" Eva asked and watched a frown settle on Gwen's forehead.

"It's not that far. It is for humans but we can teleport there if we want."

"You can teleport too?" Eva asked in shock and scanned the woman from top to bottom again.

"That idiot didn't tell you anything, did he?" Gwen spoke with a scoff and Eva couldn't help but smile at the mad look on her face.

"I don't blame him."

"You should. I think you already did by throwing your shoe at him." Gwen winked and Eva crossed her arms, feeling flustered and embarrassed all of a sudden. That had been a rash move on her part but after what Gwen just spoke, she felt immense satisfaction at throwing not one but two shoes at him with great aim.

Even though one ended up being obliviated into atoms.

"Does he have more friends apart from you?" said Eva and watched as an amused expression took place on the woman's face.

"What made you think we were friends?"

"You call him by his name," spoke Eva and tilted her head slightly to the left. "I don't think he allows everybody to call him by his first name."

"Except you."

"And you."

Gwen laughed, running a hand through her blond curls and smiling in Eva's direction. "I'll say it once again. I like you. No wonder he's been so frustrated these past few weeks."

Eva smiled awkwardly and resumed finishing off the meal. She watched as Gwen picked it up and approached the door to leave the room.

"Is he not meeting me because he's feeling guilty?"

Gwen paused and then slowly turned around, the tray still in her hands. "Trust me. I'm sure he'd rather be here with you than away. Don't expect him to be gentle when he arrives."

And with a parting wink, she closed the door behind her, leaving Eva's whole body flushed from top to bottom.