The Obsidian Clause
It was lovely to look at, but there was no way out.
"Good morning, Iris," a smooth, toneless voice resonated through the room.
Iris jumped, nearly tumbling off the edge of the mattress. She searched the corners of the room, but she was alone. Then, she remembered. It was Onyx, the artificial intelligence that lived in the marrow of the house. Onyx was the brain of Silas Vane’s empire.
"The internal temperature is exactly sixty-eight degrees," Onyx continued. "The windows are locked for the morning security cycle. The floor has been heated for your comfort. Mr. Vane is waiting for you in the dining hall. Please get dressed and prepare for the day’s schedule."