A servant girl leads me to my room for the night.
It's beautiful, even if it's small. The architecture of this manor is magnificent, and this room does not undermine that. It's been dressed and furnished with a mix of colours; navy blue and grey, which is unlikely to be the creative choice of the King himself. Other than a bed, a couple bedside tables, and an armoire, the room has little to it.
This time last night, I was in a cave with Marek, wondering what my future would hold. Now I'm being invited to dinner with a King. But I'm not excited, as I kick off my shoes, digging my toes into
Taius is at dinner when we walk in.Marek and I arrive at the same time. I feel foolish walking into this large dining hall, dressed in a tight fitting dress, that I tug at awkwardly. Mercilessly, Marek never made a comment on it, but as I walk toward where Taius sits, I notice his gaze sweep over me brazenly.The dining hall is decorated beautifully, a panoply of paintings strung across the wall which drip wealth I will never understand. Atop the long dining table, is a variety of food, which my stomach immediately reacts to. I don't know the last time I ate something.
I wander up the stairs, defeated, and thankfully not being escorted by anyone.That did not go as I expected. Here I was hoping I would be going back to my family, leaving this mess behind me. But now I'm walking to what will be my room for an undetermined amount of time. I refuse to allow it to be awhile, though. Whatever it might take, I'm going to escape this place.Suddenly a figure appears from around the corner. Pausing, I watch them approach, head down as they stare into a book, oblivious to each step they take before them. A girl, close to my age no doubt.
I stare at the porcelain bath, considering it.My bedroom door is firmly closed, away from Vaia, Taius and everyone else in this place. Yet the thought of bathing has me shivering, not wanting to feel vulnerable for a single moment in this place. Yet I'm desperate to wash this day off me, and with the chill that has fallen over this place, a bath sounds delectable.Running the bath, I add some fragrant oils and salts, and begin to undress, looking out at the stars that wink and glimmer tauntingly in the distance. Who knows when I will have any semblance of freedom again.
I walk into the dining hall for breakfast the next morning with my head held high.Taius is alone, sitting at the table, having not touched a single piece of food on the table. What I can see of the breakfast, looks foreign, with fruits and citrus found only in the warmer climates such as the Golden Province, cut and displayed in a way that has my stomach yearning for a taste.His eyes find me, more olive green this morning rather than the shadowy forest colour like what I stared into last night during my bath. My blood chills at the intensity of his gaze, the sensuous way it sweeps across
I can't breathe. I don't want to breathe.I'm waiting for something, that never comes. I at least expect my skin to start burning, and then for every molecule in my body to dissolve. Instead, nothing comes. The only change I feel is the slightest breeze, wistful and soft, as it playfully flutters along the hem of my dress. Disobeying Taius's request, my eyes open.My knees nearly give out beneath me. In all honesty, I didn't expect it to work. No, it didn't work.
I knock on the door, my breath hitched in my throat.The note is crumpled in my hand, but I brought it nonetheless. I'm here less out of necessity, and more out of curiosity. Vaia summoned me to her quarters with a quickly written note, containing nothing but a few words. I'm frightened she's here to pummel me over the head for being in her brothers company, or rip the clothes from my body and claim them as hers.As much as Vaia is not my favourite person in this place, she does have a beautiful quarter all to herself, that I find myself envying. From rich wooden floors sweeping up to pale wallpaper, the place is furnished neatly with a few rugs, furniture and most impressively, hand-built, carved bookshelves laden with an endless supply of books.
Of all the things I've done in the past week, this is my biggest lapse in judgment.Still, I've snuck my way through the hallways, night having falling at it's latest hour; right at midnight. I could be walking into a trap, into a plot for Marek to try our escape so he can resume what his original plan was. Killing my Tani. Yet still, with one tentative foot in front of the other, I slip out through the empty kitchen downstairs, and outside.Taius's demand echoes throughout my head, as I wrap my jacket tightly around my limbs, inwardly cursing my foolishness for coming out here. 
Jessa.I'm writing to let you know I'm safe. I have no doubt me leaving abruptly in the night troubled you, but know everything is okay.I have a job now, a better one. You'll never believe it, but I'm working for a King. I wish you and Fran could get a job too. I miss you two. Anyways, I hope you're doing well, and if you wish to write back, then send it to this address.Akara.