Chapter Twenty-Four

                                    

                                          
"Evie, as your elder i expect you to listen to me!" Argo slammed his tightly balled fist down hard on the mahogany table. 
                          
"Why should i have to go? They hate me! Can't you see this is all just a big game to them?" Evie began to pace back and fourth, walking the length of the room and keeping her eyes down. "They just want to get me there so they can finally wipe me out. Why would you send me into the hands of our enemy?!"
                          
Argo rose slowly from his chair. "We are no longer enemies with the Salvatores, Evie. If we are going to co-exist peacefully both sides must come to terms with that. Going to this dinner is a peace offering." Argo turned on his heel and opened the door to the room. "You will go, Evie. There is no room for debate."
                          
Once the door shut, Evie felt more at ease. There was something about Argo that made Evie feel slightly uncomfortable. Whether it be his past or his intentions, she wasn't sure, but she knew for certain that she didn't necessarily trust him. In a sudden rage of frustration and helplessness, Evie picked a delicate floral vase from the ledge above her grand fire place and threw it, with impressive force, to the far wall of her room. The vase shattered into small slivers of broken porcelain that came crashing down onto the carpeted floors. 
                          
  She screamed out and grabbed both sides of her head, thick salty tears swelled up behind her closed eyelids and slowly rolled down her rosy red cheeks in fat big drops. 
                          
"Evie...?" A pair of warm soft hands were placed on both of her arms. 
                          
Scared, Evie turned around quickly, relieved to see a concerned looking Gracien. She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck as she sobbed into the crook of his neck. 
                          
Hesitantly, Gracien wrapped his arms around her feeble body. "Has something bad happened?"  His voice was like a calming sea of whispers, cool and soft. When Evie didn't respond, he continued. "Has someone hurt you?"
                          
She shook her head and gazed upwards curiously towards Gracien. "How did you get in here?"
                          
He released a small thankful smile. "The window." Suddenly his smile turned to a look of concern. "It's easily accessible, you should think about locking it from time to time."
                          
Evie nodded, hearing him but not entirely listening. "Your father invited me to dinner tomorrow night, as an apology for Cai's behavior."
                          
"My brother? What did he do? Is this why your so upset?"
                          
Evie nodded slowly. "He came to me one night and threatened my people and I." She turned away from Gracien and averted her gaze. "He scares me...your father as well."
                          
He sighed beside her and spoke gently as to console her. "Gracien will not bother you anymore, Evie. I'll see to that. As for my father, you have no reason to be worried. He holds you in the highest regard, he looks at you like his own, you know? Its different-the way he looks at you. I can't really describe it, but my father has no intentions of hurting you."
                          
Evie turned back towards Gracien with sad tear filled eyes. "Do you promise?"
                          
Gracien stood up straight, lifted his head a little and placed his right arm on his heart. "I, Gracien Salvatore, swear to protect and defend, Son Erkek Evie for as long as i live, against foreign and domestic threats."