Prin's POV

"But she didn't do anything," I argued with Cade as he wiped down the tables in the inn. "All Sarphi and I did was exist, and she was immediately on our backs." I was clutching some kind of alcohol. I didn't know what it was, nor did I ask. I had been curious about it over the past few days and decided to try it. I had to admit that it tasted really nice. But Cade had grown to regret serving it to me, as I had gone off on a long tangent about Queenie.

"She does that." His replies had been short, but at least he was humouring me with the conversation. There was nobody else here, since it was around closing time and most people preferred to have a long night's sleep. "You learn to ignore her existence."

"I doubt it." I huffed and finished the last of my drink. I stood up to clean it, but he swiped it out of my hands with an irritated look. I kept forgetting that it was actually his job to clean up after those who come here. "Sorry," I muttered and sat back down. "She's so imposing and loud. She gives me a headache." I felt like this was being a bit too mean, but I wasn't sure if I cared when it came to her anymore.

"Most people do." Cade shrugged, presuming talking about his interactions with other people in general. "She's going to get bored with the two of you eventually. As long as you don't retaliate or act out."

"Have you met Sarphi?" I asked rhetorically. "She's going to act out eventually. She's beating her down relentlessly, and I don't know what I could do to stop it." Sarphi hadn't really left the bakery much over the past few days. Claiming that she was just doing more practice and that she was really tired. She'd gotten used to baking pretty well, she was rather talented with eyeballing measurements, and decorating seemed to come naturally to her. But I knew that Queenie had gotten to her and poisoned her brain.

"I still can't believe that she makes you call her Queenie," Niko said, coming out of the kitchen and standing in front of me. His back was straight, and he looked as elegant as ever, even with an apron covering him. "Her name is far less impressive."

"Oh? What is it?" I leaned over the counter eagerly, both my elbows resting on it. "Come on, don't give me that and then leave it as a secret."

The couple laughed at me. "I'd rather not invoke her wrath," Niko admitted. "She does actually do her job well. It's very surprising, but she's pretty good at being patient and she knows quite a bit about hair and beauty."

"Very surprising," Cade commented with a grunt. "But I'm not trusting Niko to trim my beard ever again." His eyes were full of an accusatory fire.

Niko raised his hands defensively. "It's not my fault that I'm not used to it." He took his apron off and ran a hand through his hair. I figured that was his way of 'signing out' of work for the evening. "I don't have that issue. Meanwhile, your hair grows far too quickly."

"You have the hair of a baby," Cade pointed out. "Or maybe the baby has more."

I decided that it was my time to leave as the two got invested into friendly banter. "Thanks for the drink," I told Cade as I stood and straightened out my dress. "I'll hopefully see you two tomorrow. Sleep well." I gave a friendly smile and left, hearing their well-wishes and goodbyes as I went.

The air was surprisingly cold, causing me to wrap my arms around myself. It wasn't a long walk at all from the inn to the bakery. I somewhat wished that it was longer, but it was incredibly handy when we needed help or advice, which we needed a few times. Technically, Sarphi and I hadn't lived with other people before, at least not in our active memories. I'd been trapped in an underground prison, whilst Sarphi grew up away from society.

"Alright there, Miss?" A masculine voice came from the other side of the road I was on. There stood a man I recognised, with blonde hair and grey eyes. His name was escaping me at the moment, but his muscular figure was nearly unforgettable and unmistakable for him. He reminded me of Mesh, but a fully human form. "Bit late." He took a puff of the cigarette he was smoking.

I gave a small chuckle and nodded. "I'm alright, thank you." I continued my way to the door of the bakery, before slowly turning. "It's been a long few days, trying to get settled in." I saw this as both an opportunity to make a new friend, and to unload some of the stress I've been having.

He nodded. "I can imagine." His voice was gruff and blunt, whilst amusement seemed to twinkle in his eyes. "This ain't a welcoming place for newcomers."

"It didn't feel that way at first." I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "It seemed pretty good at the time. There was literally just a place open and ready for us."

He nodded. "Yeah, they got me here with that as well." He shifted forward and leaned against the small fence which was in front of the building. I didn't recognise what the building was, so I figured that it was just his house. "They promise a very simple life here, but it's far from that. You've got to follow all the rules and suit their lifestyle. I'm not a huge fan."

"Then why not leave?" I asked curiously, crossing my arms over my chest in an attempt to retain warmth. "If you don't like it here, then surely there's somewhere else that you'd like? Where you'd be comfortable."

He shook his head. "Nah, they guilt tripped me hard. They need me. I kind of made a contract with the higher-ups. I can't leave until I'm no longer needed." There wasn't much bitterness in his voice, rather a sad amusement. I felt like he was laughing at himself for falling for something so simple. "I honestly didn't think that I'd be here for long, but it's been about three years now."

"Three years?" I repeated. "That's a long time to be somewhere you don't want to be." I shifted awkwardly; I knew how it felt benign trapped in a place that I didn't want to be. But I somehow felt like our situations were different. He had the chance to leave whenever he liked, it was his emotions keeping him here. Whilst it was a lack of resources for me. I'd tried hundreds of times to escape my prison, always trying new techniques, but it took more than one person for me to actually escape.

"Not really." He shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't feel that long, and I've been in worse places." He hesitated with his next words. "I went from one shitty place to another. This is alright, in comparison anyway." His eyes wandered around, but there wasn't much to see here. "You can sometimes forget how manipulative some people are here."

"Manipulative?" I didn't know why I was repeating so many of his words. Maybe I was too tired, or maybe this was all just too new. "I don't know if that's the word I'd use. But I'm sure you know more than I do, since you've been here longer." I was taking all this with a pinch of salt. I knew that I wasn't experienced enough here to make my own decisions, not yet anyway. I was also aware that he could have his own intentions, trying to plant a seed in my head, just like Queenie had done with Sarphi.

"HM, I'd be interested in what word you'd use later on." He turned so that his back was to me, his hand on the knob of his front door. "We rarely get new people here, not for long. Mesh took the first chance he had at getting out of here and getting back to his family. The baker's family left as soon as they noticed, which drove him mad." His voice quietened. "Don't get too comfortable here, little miss, or you'll never escape." And with that, he went into his house.

The air had grown colder, and I shivered, the last notes of his words ringing in my head as I quickly turned and went into the bakery. "Sarphi?" I called softly, locking the door behind me and noting that the place looked incredibly clean. "Onyx? Where are you two?"

The candles and lanterns were still lit, so I know that she hadn't gone to bed early. The room was pretty silent, which was a little concerning.

My fears were short-lived, as Onyx soon came rushing towards me, jumping up and pressing his paws on my stomach, trying his best to keep his balance whilst not pushing me too far back.

"Hey boy," I said with a smile as I scratched behind his ears. "Where's Sar, hm?"

Onyx, tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth, ran back around the corner. I followed him slowly and chuckled at his excitement. I didn't know where he got the energy from, especially this late at night.

I entered the main living area of the bakery and stopped in my tracks. Sarphi, the beautiful girl she is, was standing next to a vase of flowers, looking sheepish. There were some art supplies around her, along with several sheets of paper.

"So," she began, her voice shaking a little. "I know I've not been the best living partner the past few days. But I was hoping that we'd be able to do some of this." She gestured towards the art supplies. "And, well, the flowers are yours. They're rather self-explanatory, I think." She cleared her throat, a small laugh escaping her as she looked up at me with hopeful eyes.

"I love it." I didn't know what else to say as I stepped forward and removed the scarf I used as a wrap. It was very warm in here, which explained why Sarphi had her hair tied at the top of her head with a piece of leather and wore her old clothes, the ties very loose. "This time of night though?"

Sarphi waved a hand dismissively. "I've got everything ready for tomorrow. Come on, let's just have some fun."

I nodded and laughed, completely forgetting what the man had told me a few minutes ago.