We played cards for a couple hours, at least until Adrian got bored and threw the pack of cards through a glass door. His father had been in the next room, just through the glass door, staring at a wall until the door shattered. His mother came running into the room in surprise.
"Adrian?! What in God's name are you doing?!" Lady Ivashkov exclaimed.
"How dare you!" roared Lord Ivashkov, coming in from the other room.
Adrian shrugged, "I was testing something."
"What?" demanded Lord Ivashkov.
Adrian shrugged again, but didn't answer.
The tension in the room was so thick that if you could slice through it with a knife, the knife would break under the immense pressure. To make matters worse, someone knocked at the door at that exact moment.
Lord Ivashkov threw open the door angrily, "WHAT do you want?!"
"A message for Guardian Sterling from her Majesty, Queen Tatiana," said Mikhail quietly.
I went to the door, seeing as Lord Ivashkov didn't look like he was going to let Mikhail in. I took the note from him and nodded, giving him a quiet thanks before I slipped back to my place behind Adrian. Mikhail nodded and disappeared quickly down the hall.
The note was placed in an envelope bearing Tatiana's royal seal. It was on thick, expensive paper. On the front was printed one word, my name. I carefully broke the seal and extracted the page from within. On it, in the Queen's flourishing handwriting were orders for me to go to her chambers that evening to discuss matters pertaining to Adrian. I was to be there promptly at 10:30 that evening.
I couldn't help but think, "What ever does she want from me? Results so quickly shouldn't be expected as I've only been Adrian's guardian for such a short time."
The Ivashkovs dined together in silence; the tension had grown to be unbearable. I didn't know how anyone could live under those circumstances.
A couple times Adrian looked at me as if he wanted to say something, but he would always go back to eating and I would just go back to guarding.
After dinner, after excusing himself, Adrian headed out of the Ivashkov suite.
Once we were a safe distance away, Adrian asked, "What did Queen Tatiana want?"
"A meeting with her this evening at 10:30," I replied evenly.
"What for?" questioned Adrian, curious.
"I don't know. She didn't specify," I lied.
"Well, it's only 8. Let's stop at the bar for a bit," persuaded Adrian.
"You know you don't have to tell me that we're going to the bar when I'm with you. It's my duty to follow you," I smiled.
Adrian shrugged and walked into the bar, ordering a Red Irish Daiquiri and a mojito. When the bartender brought him his drinks, he handed one to me.
"No, I'm not drinking on the job. Especially not on the night I have to meet with the Queen," I said shaking my head.
"Have a sip," Adrian said simply.
Without even knowing it, Adrian had used compulsion. I unconsciously reached out for the glass and took a sip.
Adrian smiled, "That was easy."
It took me a moment to realize what I had done and what he had done.
"Adrian, how could you–" I started.
"What? What did I do?" asked Adrian, clearly and rightfully confused.
"You compulsed me to drink," I frowned.
"I-I'm sorry," he apologized, "I shouldn't have. I wasn't even aware..."
"It's fine," I said cutting him short.
I smiled at him and he smiled back. He finished off his drinks, but ordered so many more that I eventually lost count.
All I know is that hours passed before we left and Adrian, well, he was mildly drunk, which was impressive considering how much he actually drank.
"I have to go see Tatiana. Would you like me to escort you back?" I asked.
"I'm going to see Rose," he replied, walking the opposite way.
"Sure, good night, be safe," I called to him.
"Don't worry, you know how many guardians are in this place? Besides, I'm the Queen's great nephew, they would never let anything bad happen to me," he grinned.
"Still! Please don't do anything stupid, Adrian!" I begged.
"Me? Do something stupid? Never," laughed Adrian, "Take care, okay?"
I nodded and headed to the Queen's chambers. I knocked lightly, but there was no reply.
"Your Majesty?" I called cautiously through the door.
I knocked again, a little harder this time, maybe she didn't hear me. Apparently, I didn't know my own strength because the door creaked open the second time I knocked.
I entered cautiously. The first time my heart stopped was because of Adrian. This time, when I stepped into the room my blood froze and my heart stopped completely.
There, lying on the bed, with a stake stabbed through her heart, was Queen Tatiana.
It took me a minute to collect myself. I called into the hall for a guardian, any guardian. My calls were answered immediately. More guardians than I had ever seen in my life rushed into the room. I sank to the floor; my legs unable to support me.
"Get a grip!" I thought to myself.
I pulled myself together and stood up, a little unsteady. I walked over to the body to examine the stake. I stared at it, my eyes wide, for I recognized that stake. It was–
"Guardian Sterling, may we inquire as to what you would be doing at the Queen's bed chambers at this hour?" asked Hans interrupting my thoughts.
I produced the letter that had been given to me this afternoon by Mikhail. Hans scanned the contents and nodded in approval.
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying," I started.
"Go ahead Guardian Sterling," nodded Hans.
"That stake...I recognize it," I finished, "It belongs to Guardian Rose Hathaway."
