iscomfort... that was all she felt in this new city. It seemed everything about this place was subpar. From whatever magic or supernatural force that had stolen part of her abilities to the never-ending torrent of solids that inhabited it. She felt trapped in her own skin, limited. Since her arrival, she had lost her ability to shift to an animal form. She could no longer stalk about as a panther, or take flight as a bird. It was just another reason that her stay here would be temporary. Then of course there were the solids that surrounded her... beings trapped in a humanoid form. Fickle creatures. Pitiable really. Eve had no interest in their society. This was not her world, she mused, as she looked out at the city's citizens as she passed them from behind glass.

The large black SUV with heavily tinted windows pulled up to the door and the driver exited to open the door for her. He offered his hand and she slipped her pale, dainty hand in to his as she exited the vehicle. He was always surprised by her looks; he didn't think he'd ever seen her look the same twice. Today, she was tall and willowy, in a full length, long sleeve black gown with an open back and leather accents. Her long black curls were pulled back in a loose up do. Her face was angelic with high cheekbones, plump sanguine lips and eyes lined in smoky black that were so strikingly blue that it was almost shocking. Eve was a woman that always stood out and left an impression even when she wasn't meaning to.

The host bowed to her as she entered then showed her wordlessly to her usual table in the corner of the room, atop a four-step platform that looked out over the entire establishment. The staff had already anticipated her drink order and had a bottle of a thirty-year-old single malt scotch with a single glass waiting for her. The host pulled out her chair for her, poured the scotch in to the glass before bowing again, "Madame, would you require anything else?" She waved him away as she settled in to the high wing-back chair that gave her the illusion of a throne when none existed. "No, thank you, Andrew." Her voice was feminine but firm with an exotic accent that didn't seem to fit any particular country. She tilted her head ever so slightly toward the broad-shouldered, barrel-chested man in a black suit that appeared from seemingly nowhere to give Andrew a large number of folded bills as a tip.

Eve brought the crystal glass to her lips and swallowed a sip of the liquid, reveling for a moment at the taste and sensual feel of the warm liquor sliding down her throat. This was what she had spent all her life working towards, solitary moments of freedom like this. Well, that is until the tall, male had interrupted her peace. Her name rolled off his tongue followed by her title. Most of the inhabitants didn't understand why her kingdom had given her that particular title. Most attributed it to her last name, though, it was not really her name at all. It was Marek's name that had been forced upon her. Eve kept it as a reminder of what had been taken from her and what she had taken back from Marek. Her life and the treasured memory of the expression on his face when he pleaded for his life after she ordered his execution.

Two of her guards slipped from the shadows moving swiftly towards the ingressing male. She lifted her left hand to raise her finger while tilting her head slightly over her left shoulder towards the guard, a command to cease action. The two guards took a few steps back but made themselves more prominent fixtures on either side of her chair. "Mr. Archer..." She says as she gestures a delicate hand toward the chair across the table from her. Her voice is devoid of emotion as she finally shifts her gaze to him, striking blue eyes watch him in assessment. A brow raises at his request of her time in a matter that is of importance to him. "Mr. Archer, you are quite forward. What exactly do I have to do with your issue?" Eve questioned with a sharp bluntness, her words marred by her thick accent. "What is it that I gain from giving you my time?" A waiter hurried to her table, setting a clear crystal lowball tumbler in from of her guest and pouring him a glass before disappearing in to the crowd. That was the way her world worked, people scurried in and out before disappearing without addressing her. Yet, this gentleman was asking for a favor. Eve had to admit she was curious of her guest.

"Talks like this"

THE QUEEN OF THORNS