**3rd Person POV**
The tension in the room was intense. Thaddeus was convinced that his heart would give out just standing in between the two of them. He was grateful when a knock on the door interrupted the situation. He slipped from between them to check quickly on who had knocked on the door. It was a servant girl from the looks of her clothes. She ran into the room without waiting to be admitted in. Seconds later, another knock followed. She looked at the three of them with pleading eyes.
Thaddeus had his hand on the knob of the door but she was shaking her head quite vigorously. Whatever was on the other side of the door, she was terribly afraid of it.
“What are you running from?” asked Thaddeus in a whisper.
“Ashton,” she said softly.
She had the eyes of someone who had seen death.
Queen Agatha brought out a small bottle of perfume and sprayed it all over the vampiress servant. She looked at the queen with gratitude and went to hide herself in the room.
“Open the door, Thaddeus,” said Queen Agatha. He complied and outside the door was Prince Ashton.
Confusion marred his face when he saw the king and queen in the room. He was speechless for a few seconds.
“What a party!” he finally exclaimed once he had found his voice.
“Indeed, it is, how might we help you, Prince?” asked King Armand.
“My servant, I believe she ran into this room. I just want to check for her and I will be out of your hair,” said Prince Ashton.
“Your servant? Surely, if someone has entered this room, we will know,” returned Queen Agatha. Her eyes remained firmly on Ashton. It was apparent that she detected the man who had broken her daughter's heart. Since Harlin had regained his consciousness, the full weight of what Ashton had done to her had sunk in and she had been extremely moody since. She knew she was going to make Ashton pay for what he had done one way or another but she had not figured out how she was going to get her revenge yet.
“She is very sneaky, I will not…”
“You think that she is so cunning that she would fool us? What do you think we are? Idiots?” Queen Agatha's tone was accusatory. She could do that without coming off as suspicious because her hatred for Ashton was well known.
“Your Royal Highness, I do not intend to call you a fool or…”
“Then you must think we are stupid, huh?” quipped Queen Agatha. Before Ashton could say anything in his defence, she said, “You insult us by taking up room in our palace as a guest after the dishonour you brought to my daughter. She is very sick now because of you. You are very lucky, Armand has a soft heart or I shall…”
“I shall take my leave now, Your Royal Highness,” Ashton cut in quickly.
Once he had left, the door was shut again.
“You may come out now,” said Queen Agatha.
The vampiress came out and for the first time, the trio noticed the sores on her body. She was red all over with visible scratch marks. Her eyes were swollen red from tears.
“Did he do this to you?” asked Queen Agatha. Her voice was unnaturally calm.
“Yes, he's going to kill me,” she had tears in her eyes.
“The bastard!” exclaimed Queen Agatha with venom in her tone. She considered perhaps putting poison in his meal. It would do the entire women folk some good if he were not to exist anymore.
“What is your name?” asked King Armand.
“Rosaline”
“Why does he want to kill you?” asked Elder Thaddeus. He could not believe that just the same cruelty Ashton used in dealing with werewolves, he used on his kind too.
“He was going to… He wanted to sleep with me and I refused and now he wants me dead,” she said. This turned Queen Agatha's face red with anger. She was about to storm out of the room, possibly to deface Ashton but she was held back by King Armand and Elder Thaddeus.
“Why are you stopping me? He would have returned my daughter to me that way! The bastard! I'm going to kill him with my bare hands,” cried Queen Agatha.
“You will only put the young girl in more danger if you confront him,” replied King Armand.
“The young girl in danger? What about all the other girls? What about my daughter? When he is dead, they will all be safe,” said Queen Agatha.
Elder Thaddeus smiled within himself. This was the Agatha he had fallen in love with several years ago. She had always been passionate about the rights of women and then she cared for women irrespective of their kind. He had fallen in love with her passion and her desire to effect real change. It gladdened him to know that she had not changed.
“Agatha, you need to calm down, okay?” quipped Armand softly. Her body eventually relaxed and the two of them let go of her arm. King Armand and Elder Thaddeus exchanged a look of relief.
“What are we going to do about her?” asked Elder Thaddeus.
“She will have to remain here until he leaves the palace,” said Queen Agatha.
“He won't leave without ending my life first. I know that very well,” she was terrified.
“He will leave if I say so,” replied Queen Agatha.
“As I speak, I am certain he is wooing Gabriella, trying all he can to win her heart back so that…”
“Not my daughter!” exclaimed Queen Agatha as she charged for the door again. King Armand was quick to hold her back.
“How are you sure of what you are saying?” asked Elder Thaddeus.
“Because he will do everything to ensure that I die. You see, I've been his personal servant for years and I hold so many secrets of his. He will not rest until he is sure those secrets are buried forever.”