Word Count: 1642

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.

And this is only her living space I was escorted through my one of her maidens. Her bedroom still looms before me, protected by the door I just knocked upon.

She whisks open the door so suddenly I step back. She looks so jarringly casual, considering the last time I saw her. A white mink robe is draped over her shoulders, tied tightly around her waist. That dark, coffee coloured hair has been haphazardly thrown into a bun, a few strands raining down around her ears and forehead.

"You wanted to see me?" I say breathlessly, almost forgetting why I'm here for a moment. Vaia frowns, before it seems click in her mind.

"Yes, get in here," she demands, grabbing my wrist to yank me into her room. She quickly closes her door, leaning her back against it. "Did anyone see you?"

"Ahh, no, I don't think so?"

"Good, I'm glad you made it," she comments earnestly, wrapping her arms around herself.
I can't imagine what universe I've stepped into to have Vaia glad to see me. Regardless, I look around the room, drinking in the sight of wealth and decadence that I never experienced in my childhood, yet evidently, she has.

The room is dressed in colours of blush and turquoise. The richness of the blue is splayed across her bedspread along with a myriad of cushions and thick, fluffy pillows. The mink rug beneath my feet is a beautiful, soft peony pink, which is the same colour painted across her dresser and vanity, her armoire and bedside tables. Daisy white curtains billow gently in the sweet morning breeze, fluttering with the edges of Vaia's hair.

"Can I ask why I'm here?" I mean, I thought you didn't like me," I murmur, resting my back against her door. With graceful elegance, she wanders over to her bed, sitting upon the edge, crossing her long legs over each other.

"I didn't ask you to my room because I want to be best friends. I need a favour," she quips, playing with a silver bracelet strapped over her wrist, adorned with a variety of crystal charms. Did Tai give her that, or perhaps a lover? I can't help but wonder what their relationship is like.

I bite the inside of my cheek, surprised at her eagerness for payment back on information about Tai. "Already?"

"Yes. I met someone, who you know," she murmurs deviously.

It takes me a moment to realise who she is referring to. "Marek?"

She tilts her head, hair cascading immaculately. The way she taps the tip of her finger against her full, rose tinted lips, the way her eyes glitter with an unscrupulous promise, has my stomach turning over. I'm unsure of who I'm more afraid for. Vaia, a powerful princess taking interest in Marek could mean him losing all his power to freedom. And a Hunter taking interest in a pretty, strong woman could turn him away from helping me escape.

"That's his name? Oh that's so perfect," she flushes, the giggle that escapes her having me shift uncomfortably. I don't think I want to sit here and have her talk about Marek like that.

"Marek...he works for your brother now. Him and I aren't friends," I comment, unsure of what our relationship could be considered as. What would Vaia's reaction be if she knew Marek is a kidnapper? I have a feeling she wouldn't be fazed, considering his reasons for doing it.

She doesn't strike me as the kind of girl to have a guardian Tani she believes in.

"Yet you showed up here with him. I heard your conversation that first night, when he tried to protect you," she challenges, leaning back against her extended arm, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly.

As far as Tai knows, Marek is only protecting me due to his obligations to my supposed father. For me, I'm still not convinced on why he's protecting me, trying to help me escape. Sure, he owes me that much, but I can't imagine he has a very strong sense of morality.

"Trust me, we mean nothing to each other," I assure her.

"Good. He's the first nice looking guy to come through this estate outside of the Nobles. But they are all stuck up and childish. Marek seems...nice," she comments wistfully, smoothing out a few wrinkles on her bedspread.

Vaia has already determined Marek is worthy of her affections, before either of us had a chance to settle in. I'm not blaming her for being attracted to her, but don't appreciate being dragged here to be told how much she wants him in his bed, which I assume is coming next. Likely this interest is born from curiosity, with the likelihood of a Summoner passing through this manor being very low. Even if Vaia claims to be well-travelled, I doubt she has much experience with their kind of magic.

I shift uncomfortably. "Well, I wouldn't know."

"We bumped into each other, and although he didn't seem so interested right away, he didn't dismiss me like Taius's friends," Vaia remarks, at this point more to herself than me. I can't help but wonder if Vaia has friends of her own, considering she venting to me about her romantic frustrations and no some wealthy socialite she knows.

"Right..."

"If you're not together, then you need to set me up with him. Not like on a date or anything, but so we can talk more," she says, so much like a demand it makes me bristle. I have all aspects of the royal family bossing me around, apparently.

Vaia gets to her feet, not waiting for a response. I watch her curiously as she opens up a set of pale white doors, revealing a myriad of brightly coloured clothing of foreign origin, made from silk, satin, cotton and other kinds of fabric I've never seen before.

"He's not a good guy. Why are you so desperate?" I ask warily, watching her fondle the fabric of her clothing absently.

She has no reason to be, she's beautiful, in a refined, elegant kind of way. Her skin appears vibrant and immaculate at all times, likely from creams and serums my family could never afford to provide me, and her hair always shimmers and shifts with stunning brilliance. It's unrelenting straightness is in completely contrast to my own curls, which I brush over my shoulder.

"I'm not desperate," she retorts, glaring at me over her shoulder. "But I need this. I'm going to have the most boring summer of my life, and you owe me."

You owe me. I'm not sure if information about her brother that likely won't serve me very well, yet she says that as equivalent to match-making her and the Hunter. Does she even know he hunts? Or that he kills Tani? I wonder how she would react if I told her Marek kidnapped me.

"You know what, I'll do it. You can see for yourself what kind of guy Marek is," I mutter, knowing either of their fates mean little to me. Perhaps they would be perfect for each other, considering Vaia's ignorance and his danger.

She turns around, her wink devious. "He can't be as bad as me."

***

All day, I've heard nothing from Tai.

Sitting in my room, drinking in the saffron and butterscotch coloured rays that stream through my open windows, I consider all the possibilities from this agreement with the King that I expected to happen, that so far haven't. He has been awfully passive, dealing with responsibilities beyond what he can discuss with me. So far, I feel like nothing more than a guest.

I can't let myself become jaded, however, as these gruesome ideas that have surfaced from the depths of my mind are still very much a threat.

A gentle gust of wind billows through the open door, carrying with it a petrichor scent, reminding me of how much it rains in the Jade Province. From the corner of my eye, I notice it catch on the edge of a piece of paper that tilts over the edge of my dresser. Curiously, I sit up, picking up the delicate paper, seeing it addressed to me.

Akara.

Feel free to ignore this message, however, I've been unable to stop thinking about how you are doing in Tai's presence. I understand how many men has to protect him, however, I have no doubt it would benefit you greatly if you knew how to protect and defend yourself.

If you are willing, I would like to teach you. At least the bare minimum, to help me sleep at night.

Meet me outside, at the back kitchen exit at midnight. I completely understand if you do not come.

Marek.

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