My chest was heaving with angry breaths as I fought to control my own temper in the face of his. I could hardly criticise him and his temper if I lost control of myself.

His eyes darkened and for the first time, I began to feel a trickle of fear rolling down my spine.

He was still a stranger to me really and despite the draw I felt to him; I wasn't foolish enough to believe myself safe in his presence.

His eyes remained fixed on mine for a moment longer, burning into my skin, my soul, before he whirled and stormed from the room in a blur of red-faced anger.

The silence he left behind was deafening, and my breath burst out of me in a rush. What had I got myself into? Trapped in a house with a man I hardly knew surrounded by strangers who worked for him. A month? We could barely manage a meal without one of us running off.

My temper, which burned hot and sudden just seconds earlier, fizzled out just as fast, leaving me drained and exhausted. It wasn't the first time my temper had got me in trouble and I very much doubted it would be the last. Gripping the nearest chair to steady myself as the anger drained out of me, tremors began to wrack my body.

I couldn't stay here, just waiting for him to return or something to happen. Spurred into motion, I forced my body to move to the doorway and looked the way he had gone. The hallway was empty, and the silence was beginning to make me uncomfortable.

Perhaps I could find some of the other staff Atticus mentioned here? I could do with a friend in this place, and despite my inability to play nice with Lyron, I was usually far better at making friends when required.

Mind made up, I stepped out into the hall and headed in the opposite direction to him.

The first two doors I tried were locked, and this was starting to feel like it wasn't the best idea when the third handle moved as I grasped it. A thrill went through me as I pushed gently and peered around the edge of the door, but no signs of life greeted me.

The room was small, a dark wood piano in the centre and an assortment of instruments piled against one wall.

I hesitated, but the pull to investigate them was far too strong and I found myself forgetting my initial task in favour of taking a closer look.

Lyron's mournful melody from the night before still echoed in my mind as I drew near them, and I reached out to brush my fingers over an intricately carved harp.

As my fingers connected with the golden wood, the harp sprang to life and began playing a gentle, familiar tune.

I sprang back, feeling sure the noise would draw attention, but unsure how to stop it. When no footsteps came running and no angry Lyron appeared to scold me for investigating the room, I let my body relax again and stepped closer to the instrument.

Curiosity too strong to resist, I reached out for the lute alongside it and let out a delighted laugh as each new sound joined the harp, until they played seamlessly together.

The music, like that of the night before when Lyron had made some play, made me want to dance, and I let my body sway along with it. When the urge to dance became too strong, I let it fill me up and twirled around the room.

Faster and faster, I span and danced until I could no longer catch my breath.

With a laugh, I dropped into an armchair. The room seemed to sigh, as though it were happy to have someone listen to its music again.

The song playing softened into a gentle lullaby that took my heavy eyelids from exhaustion to sleep in just a few moments.

Too tired to resist, I allow the darkness of sleep to swallow me whole.