The sun managed to creep through the heavy curtains hung over the window by my bed. I yawned awake, stretching out from under the blankets. My body had never felt so light before. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my chest. I was finally free of my mother. I'd never have to endure one of her surprise visits again. Or at least I was allowing myself to hope. If I were to take Adam at his word, I wouldn't be leaving his employment until I was ready. Maybe I'd save up the coin to move far away and put Fairhaven behind me. Maybe somewhere outside of the Church's reach. Except, I'd lost Aesop to the Holy Knights. I swallowed hard, some of the weight on my chest returning.

The washroom was more equipped for my stay than I'd originally noticed. I was able to clean my teeth and brush my hair. I'd never felt so clean for so long. The indoor piping extended to a small wash basin by the vanity as well as a privy and I marveled at the water as it spun in circles until vanishing.

I changed out of the nightgown and into the clothes provided for me. Everything was luckily well fitted for me. There were even undergarments in my size. I'd never worn real undergarments before, and I found myself staring at my reflection with a smile on my face. They were pretty pink things with lace. I blushed and covered myself with the high-quality blouse and trousers. Despite the sown-in floral embellishments, the clothes were plain, earthy tones that I preferred. At the bottom of the wardrobe had been a set of ankle boots miraculously also in my size. Who do these belong to? I slipped them on and inspected my reflection again. I wondered if Adam would notice just how different I looked without so much grime covering me. So feminine and almost younger. Or would he be thinking of the true owner of this wardrobe? I blushed. Can you even look him in the eyes after what you did last night? I covered my face and groaned before slapping my cheeks as I braced myself to find Matthew.

There were a few rooms that continued down the hall my bedroom was located on, but I figured I'd have better luck finding Matthew downstairs near a dining room I'd spotted on our way in last night. After all, he had mentioned there would be breakfast ready. As I got closer, the smell of fresh bread filled the air, and my stomach rumbled in response. A door swung open, and Matthew appeared as if summoned.

His face lit up when he saw me, "Good morning, my dear."

I ducked my head, "Good morning."

"My you rise early," he laughed.

"I'm sorry," I sheepishly blushed. "It's okay if you weren't ready for me. I can make my own breakfast," I offered.

"No, no, no. It's just that the master of the house won't be up for another couple hours," he explained, waving me to follow him to the table and pulling out a seat for me. "Sit," he ordered.

I took a seat and allowed him to place a napkin in my lap. "I can wait. Please don't hurry on my account," I pleaded, my stomach rumbling loudly in betrayal.

He gently smiled, "It is my pleasure, dear. Now tell me, do you take your eggs poached or hard?"

I didn't have much experience with anything other than fried in a pan, it was all I knew how to make, "Either is fine."

Matthew set off into the adjoining kitchen and only moments later appeared with several trays in hand. He balanced them well for his age and gave me a stern look when I'd attempted to get up to help him. "I have poached, hard and scrambled eggs. I also have bread with berry jam, sausages, diced potatoes and sweet cakes with honey," he proudly announced.

I balked at the selection. "This is too much," I admitted.

He waved off my concerns, "Eat what you can and don't worry about the rest." He left again and returned with a pitcher in hand, pouring its contents into the glass in front of me. "Juice freshly squeezed from oranges," he explained, "and there's a carafe of water on the table if you would like."

I looked at all he had laid out for me, "Really, Matthew, this is amazing. Thank you."

He bowed, "It is my pleasure. Now eat up and I'll be back to collect you for today's duties." With that he left me alone.

I couldn't help myself and immediately started in on the meal. Oh my, that's delicious! I groaned after tasting the sweet cake with honey. Fuck! My eyes rolled back as I devoured a sausage. Every bite of food had a flavor I had never tasted before. I had no idea toast and jam could be this good! My body flushed with a heat, and I absently rubbed my thighs together. I shook my head, I must still be worked up from last night. I chugged the glass of juice to cool off and managed to breathe between bites as I finished the rest of my meal.

Matthew came to collect me just as I finished stuffing my face to the brim. He gave me a general tour which somehow managed to take up half the morning. Many of the rooms were for storage of odd artifacts he'd said were picked up on their travels. I couldn't even begin to guess what they were for. One of the rooms was a what he had called a "laboratory," which he had described as a place to make some of the apothecary medicines and such. It was a rather large room with stocks of herbs and tables with cutting and measuring tools as well as a small stove with glass bottles and tubing hanging above the flames. The whole of it was fascinating and I wondered if maybe Adam would allow me to at least watch him make concoctions someday. We left the room and made our way further into the heart of the building.

"In my old age, I've found a few tasks around this place have become just a bit harder for me," Matthew explained as he led me to a room I hadn't had the chance to peak into yet.

He pushed the doors open and revealed an impressive library. The room had several spiral staircases that led to an upper level that encircled the room. Books filled every inch of wall space on both floors. In the middle of the room, a studious desk sat surrounded by chairs. While there were windows on the upper floor that caught the daytime light exceptionally well, an unlit fireplace on the lower level seemed like the only source of light after dusk. Just like my bedroom, it seemed as if, while everything was ornate yet simple, nothing looked as if it had ever been touched before. There was not a single book out of place, not a paper on the desk and only unburnt logs neatly stacked in the fireplace.

"Matthew, do either of you spend much time in here?" I wondered, looking around.

"Ah, yes and that's the problem you see."

I really didn't.

"It seems the master was up studying rather late last night. On the second floor," he continued. "There's a book that seems to have been left out from its shelf. I noticed it when I was dusting. The problem is, I found it on the floor, and my back has been killing me. Be a dear and go fetch it for me, will you?" He smiled.

"Okay," I agreed and made my way up the nearest staircase to the second floor.

I'm really going to make double the coin I was making working for Martin by restocking shelves? They can't need my help that badly, I considered, searching the floors for the misplaced book. Though I suppose Matthew is rather old. Maybe working the shop is all he can handle right now. I suppose I could help as maid and delivery girl. Perhaps he would let me learn to cook as well. He really shouldn't be doing so much at his age.

I spotted the book, discarded haphazardly in the middle of the floor. Origins of Pacts, I read the title as I reached out for it. Maybe I'll – The book slid just out of reach as my fingers brushed it. Wait, what? I reached for it again and it slid across the floor up to the edge of the railing. What is going on? Am I flicking it somehow? I considered, although it was a rather dense book and I couldn't imagine my hands being capable of accidentally flicking it with that much ease. Reaching for it again, it menacingly teetered on the edge, threatening to fall down below. I looked over the railing and spotted Matthew idly pulling at a string on his cuff, directly in its path. No! I can't let it hit him! The thing is huge! It'll kill him! My fingers reached out, a jolt of power surging through me, before the book suddenly jumped into my open hand. I gasped half a shriek.

"Everything okay?" Matthew asked from below.

I held the book in my shaking hand, "Yes, I have the book." I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

"Lovely," he called up. "Now if you wouldn't mind reshelving it for me. You'll see a catalogue number on the binding. Just follow the numbers," he instructed.

It was my magic. It had to be. I blinked. I've never done that before. I looked over the railing to see Matthew smiling up at me. There's no way he saw that, right? "Okay," I shakily called back down. My heart was racing. I need to just put this book away and get out of here.

I studied the numbers on the spine and found its home among the shelves. The only problem was the gap it once inhabited seemed too small for it to occupy. I gently attempted to wedge the book into place as to not damage it, jiggling it delicately. Nothing gave at first until, whoosh, in it went. I sighed with relief. Thwack. I spun around, finding a book on the floor behind me. The Descent of Devils. I narrowed my eyes on it, No, that's not right. I picked up the book, reading its spine and found its home nearby. Again, the space was too small. Whoosh, it slipped in. Thwack, another book fell from further down the row.

The Expression of Magic.

What. The. Absolute. Fuck. Is happening? And why are all these titles so strange?

"Matthew," I called out, although I couldn't see him any longer from where I stood.

"Yes?" He answered.

I gulped, "The book isn't fitting on the shelf. Could I just give it to you? Maybe we can find a new home for it."

"Oh no, no, no. That won't do. The master likes everything in its place. Surely you can get the book back on the shelf. Perhaps put a little muscle behind it."

A little muscle? I attempted it, shoving the book into place more forcefully. Whoosh.

Thwack, thwack.

I slowly turned around. Two books had fallen from the shelf.

"Did you get it?" Matthew called up to me.

Warm buzzing tickled down my arms. "Almost."

I picked the two books up, The Devine and The Devil and Notes from Hell, their homes within arm's reach of each other. I'll just put them in at the same time. I readied myself, hovering over their spots. A hot stream of magic ran down my arm and into my hands. Oh, no. Please don't light them on fire, I begged of myself, quickly shoving the books into the shelf and letting go before my magic could do something harmful.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack. I squeezed my eyes shut as books fell around me. Thwack, thwack, thwack. Shelf after shelf. No! Lightning coursed through my veins so hot and volatile I couldn't hold it in any longer. I screamed as the currents shot out all around me, hitting more shelves and knocking every book to the floor within my vicinity.

Fuck! I collapsed to my knees. I can't hide this. What am I going to say? I hugged my arms across my chest, blinking against the tears in my vision as I sat amongst the mess. They're going to kick me out. I'll have to go back to living under my mother's constant belittlement. And that's if they don't report me to the Church. I buried my face in my knees.

"Who could've guessed such a little mouse could cause such a big mess," Adam pondered.

I snapped upright. Where did he come from? "I'm so sorry. I'll clean it up," I swore, wiping tears away to clear my face.

He stood over me with arms crossed. It was the first time I'd seen him without his cloak. The broad shoulders had been evident, but his body tapered in at the waist more than I had expected. The top he wore was unbuttoned rather low and just as mussed as his hair. He looked as if he'd fallen asleep wearing it and only just woken up. He ran a hand through the black lengths. It did little to help as the hair fell back into his face when he came to squat down in front of me. He rested an elbow on his knee, propping his chin up as he thrummed his fingers on his chin. His gray eyes glowing with amusement. "No need," he smiled, those cat-like lips turning up at the corners.

He stopped thrumming his fingers and snapped. The books around us rose in the air, turning and spinning to right themselves before floating to the shelves and settling into their respective places.

My heart stuttered still. It's true. The new apothecary is a warlock.