Odessa
I honestly had nothing to do after leaving my lady's room. My intention was to spend the rest of today with her, but after Marcel joined us, I just didn't feel the need to remain there anymore.
As I strolled down the hallway, I heard muffled voices overlapping each other, and as I got closer, I noticed Thana's dress.
She immediately stopped speaking the moment our eyes met.
"Why are you lurking around?" She blasted out of nowhere. "Don't you know your place here?"
Aaron glared at me, but there wasn't any form of firmness in his gaze. He just looked at me with pity written all over his face. Of course, nobody would want to be scolded the way Thana scolds me like a little child.
"My apologies, miss…" I muttered and walked away. "It's not like I'm even interested in your conversation anyway.." I thought to myself as I shut my door.
I could barely concentrate on anything else aside from my very first kiss. The mere thought of that moment sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't ward it off from my head no matter how many times I tried.
But then why would he make me feel that way and then turn around to beg someone else never to leave his side again..
I knew there was no hope of something magical between us both, but then after sharing something as intimate and passionate as a kiss, I thought maybe there was some sort of light at the end of this dark tunnel.
If I hadn't walked in on him pleading his love and loyalty to Thana, I probably would have continued building castles in the air.
I sat in bed, holding what was left of my sister after she was buried in a shallow grave, and my eyes flooded once again. I had barely felt the love of my parents before they were brutally murdered…. And then the only thing closest to true love was also taken away from me.
Not a day passed by without Mel crossing through my mind, and for each thought of her, tears never ceased to flow down my cheeks.
I wiped my face with the back of my hands and took a deep breath. I once swore to hunt her killers down and make them pay for her death– but with all of this happening, I can't even make something meaningful out of my life, let alone take on the responsibility of finding my sister's killers.
I was still drowned in thought when my door pushed open and Aaron walked in carelessly like he owned the room.
"Next time you'd have to knock Aaron.." I chided. "I won't always be this modestly dressed.."
"I'm sorry.." he muttered. "Master has sent for you in his study.." he said and walked away without giving me the chance to ask why Marcel wants to see me.
"I'm sure he enjoys watching Thana humiliate me all the time.." I grumbled as I left my room and went downstairs to his main study.
I knocked once and waited for a response..
"Come in!"
I opened the door and shut it gently behind me. My countenance went sour as I lifted my eyes only to see Thana seated comfortably on his lap.
Was this some kind of sick stunt Thana was trying to pull just to rub her relationship with Marcel in my face? Well, whatever it was, I blinked the wild thoughts in my head away and put up a soft smile, making sure to lock eyes on Marcel.
"You sent for me, Marcel.." I said, and I could see Thana's face burning up because I didn't refer to him as sire or master.
"I'll need you to move your things out from the main chambers.." he started, and my smile slowly faded. "A room has already been prepared for you downstairs, and you'll be staying there in the meantime."
His eyes were firmly glued on my face, and his expression remained unhinged. My throat burned, but I swallowed hard to push the tears back.
"Is there any specific reason for this sudden change?" I asked in the calmest voice I could find.
"None that you need to be aware of Odessa…" Marcel replied, and I just knew that it was Thana's idea.. "You shouldn't even be up there in the first place…" he explained further, and I balled my fists behind my dress.
My eyes traveled from Marcel's face to Thana's, and the look of satisfaction on her face made it even more obvious that this was her instigation.
"Alright then.." I replied dryly and turned to leave. I heard Thana's soft giggles, but I picked up my pace and just walked away.
Before I even arrived upstairs, the servants had already started moving my things away from my room and down the stairs. I stood by a corner, leaning on the wall and watching them troop in and out of my room and carrying my things.
After what felt like an eternity, they were finally done, and I showed myself to my new room. It wasn't as big as the former, but then it was more than comfortable for me.
I clicked the locks on the door and scanned the room with my eyes.
"It just needs a little cleaning.." I muttered and picked up the broom by the corner of the wardrobe. I started all the way from the roof down to the floors, making sure to get rid of every speck of dust.
A look of satisfaction sat on my face as I admired my work before going in for a cold bath.
As I lit the incense and sank into the tub, I shut my eyes and cleared my head of disturbing thoughts. My mind was filled with nothing else but the sweet smell of the dry lavender leaves inside the incense tin.
If not for the number of times I started sneezing, I would have remained in the tub. I quickly washed up my body, put the incense out, and changed into comfortable clothes.