Chapter 8

My window was barred the next day, and my door had one extra guard waiting. Not to add, Mary only ever left my side when she had to bring my food or shower. It was clear that she would no longer be leaving my side which kept me on edge. I couldn’t attempt to use that marble Kane had given to me. And that irritated me even more. Especially when she tried to make small conversation. I couldn’t find it in me to respond to her the way I normally would.

And I realized that what I felt wasn’t just anger but a sense of betrayal. Since I came to this world, she was the closest person to me and I had foolishly formed some kind of bond with her. And now I couldn’t get rid of the feeling.

“My lady.” She called out after I had my lunch. I was beginning to feel restless. Unable to eat, sit or relax. And she must have noticed.

“Is something wrong?” She sounded concerned.

“Nothing, just suffocated.” I answered.

“I am sorry that this is how you spend the remaining days you have in this mansion.”

I froze, my heart clutching in my chest.

Was I really going to end up living exactly as they wanted?

“My lady.”

“What?” I snapped, not even meaning to. She stiffened and I sighed. But I didn’t apologize. I couldn’t bring myself to.

“Are you perhaps angry with me?”

Did I even have the right to be angry?

“My father,” I started, swallowing the lump in my throat. The image from last night still burning fiercely in my mind.

“How many times a night do you have to serve him?”

She stiffened, then slammed her knees to the ground.

“My lady please forgive me.” She bowed her head. I phrased my question that way thinking the owner of this body might have been aware of what was happening. But it was clear she wasn’t.

“Is he forcing you?” Bile rose in my throat even as I thought of the possibility.

“No, no…of course not my lady.”

“Then why are you doing it. Is my mother aware?” I snapped.

She lowered her gaze.

“My lady, we are only but servants. And more than that, women.”

“The lord bought most of us from slavery to serve his house.”

“No matter what he asks, we are obliged to obey.”

“Even if he says you should slit your throat?” I glared at her, not understanding any of this.

“Then I will do just that.”

I flinched. Then sagged into my seat.

“Does my mother know?”

“Yes, my lady.”

My stomach clenched.

“Everything and everyone in this house belong to the lord.”

I still didn’t understand it. How they could be so happy and comfortable living-like properties to be owned, used and tossed however. But again, it wasn’t my place to judge. There was no way I would understand when I had only been there for a few weeks. These beliefs, values and way of life must have ingrained into their very history.

“Get up.” I had far greater concern than who the marquis fucks.

I was reminded of my conversation with Kane before he disappeared, I sighed and stared at my window icon revealing information about me, then about mary. I hadn’t realized I was the only one that could see that. And I didn’t know it had anything to do with Aether, whatever that was.

Does that mean I wasn’t fully human?

But it said human on the window. Or maybe, it had something to do with this rare.

Was I the only one considered rare?

Why was I the only one seeing what only those with Aether see?

Why was the fox in so much panic?

Does someone else know about this?

What did any of these even mean?

~

That evening, my mother came to visit, bringing tea.

Her eyes were not as cold as the last time I saw her and she looked exhausted, clearly from running around all day. At least the women were permitted to run their households.

“You look like a mess, Inara.” She sat down on the sofa. A spot I was beginning to understand she liked.

“That happens when I haven’t seen sunlight or breathed the air outside these walls.” I answered, annoyed. She frowned.

“Your tongue has gotten sharper, I hope you do not carry this new attitude of yours to the Bear clan.”

I guessed she was there to warn me. I said nothing. Just watched her.

“Mary told me you were angry at her earlier today.” She poured the tea into cups. Graceful, gentle and elegant. I doubted I could do that. Speaking with this much flourish and elegance was already driving me crazy.

I said nothing. Not sure she would appreciate the thoughts I was having.

“You must have been surprised. But I also understand that you’ve come to an understanding.” She sipped her tea.

“Yes, I have.” I answered, sipping from mine as well, unable to resist when it smelled so good.

“Good.”

“Because the bear clan won’t be any different. They might be worse.”

I frowned.

“But remember always, you are and will always be the first.”

Did she just tell me to be satisfied if my husband has a harem because I was the first? I wanted to protest that. To argue about how insane and unfair that sounded. But changed my mind. I did always fantasize about having my own male harem so I couldn’t just be a hypocrite. Moreover, saying anything would only piss her off. And right now, she was there to see her daughter, if anything. Not get lectured by a feminist.

“Are you happy?” I asked instead. She flinched. The question seemed to have taken her off guard.

“Some days.” She smiled. The first honest expression I have seen all night.

“But…” she moved, taking the spot beside me on the bed.

“You will be happy.” She took my hand.

“It will be hard, but you have prepared for this all your life.”

“It will be nothing like home, but you will be fine. I know how tough you are.” She smiled, this time not as the lady of the house but a mother watching her child.

She wasn’t a total witch.

And the comfort unlatched something in my heart. Tears blurred my vision almost in an instance.

“I’m scared.” They ran down my cheeks like floods. And she immediately pulled me into a hug.

“I know, my child.”

“I know.” She rubbed my back. But she said nothing else. She didn’t ask me to be strong, to come running if things went wrong, none of that. I guess it was expected if this was my honorable duty and responsibility. But at least, in that moment, she was a mother. And I didn’t feel completely alone and utterly out of my depth and completely terrified for my life and future in a world I didn’t know.

Two days to the claiming.