Page 10 of A Royal’s Soul (Soul Match #3)

Persephone Flores

Man at Work was sort of beautiful, I decided while sitting on the stone bench. It had taken me a bit to get over the nudity, but once I had, I could admit that whoever had carved it had done so in great detail. From the statue’s toenails to the wrinkles around its eyes, great care had been taken to carve every detail.

The morning was cold; my breath puffed in white clouds. Selene had presented me with a long, poofy jacket, that went to my ankles. It was warmer than any item of clothing I had ever owned. Yet the cold still seeped through my boots and managed to touch my hands through the woollen mitts I wore.

“The cold isn’t something a southern girl is used to.” I looked up. A woman—middle aged, tall, dark hair pulled back in a neat bun and dull grey eyes, indicating Ardens heritage—smiled at me before sitting down beside me on the bench. “I’m Adamantia Ardens,” she introduced herself with a brilliant smile and held her hand out.

I reached out cautiously and shook her hand in greeting. “I’m—"

“Persephone Flores, I know who you are, dear,” she cut me off, and I withdrew my hand, a sudden nervousness clawing at my chest.

“I’m afraid I don’t know who you are,” I told her. I took notice that the cold didn’t seem to have much effect on her. She wore knee-high leather boots, reminiscent of Selene’s riding boots, and only a fabric coat—not much thicker than my Sanguis blazer had been—and dark jeans.

Vampire—pureblood, most likely. The clawing nervousness doubled at this realisation. She leaned forward towards me and inhaled deeply through her nose, before leaning back, a blissful smile on her face.

“My dear, your heart beats like a mouse, and your scent—well I was warned it was rather pleasant. Have I done something to make you anxious?” she asked, flashing a toothy smile, fangs and all.

She wanted to make me nervous—that was for sure. Selene had mentioned that she had many cousins, some of whom were not happy with her taking the title of Marchioness, was this one such cousin?

“I don’t know who you are, and yet you seem to know about me—and you’ve interrupted me,” I told her.

I shouldn’t be speaking to a noble like that. Other than Selene and Heidi, I still didn’t have much experience with other nobles. But I didn’t like the way this woman was playing with me. If she was dangerous—if she thought me the weak point through which to attack Selene—I would show her she was mistaken.

“Oh, feisty. I think I am beginning to understand why she likes you so much,” she responded.

“Who are you?” I tried again.

“I’m Lady Adamantia of House Ardens. Has Selene not mentioned me at all? And here I thought I was her favourite aunt,” she told me.

Aunt? Selene had never mentioned an aunt.

“I can tell by your face that you have no idea who I am. Poor child, to be kept so in the dark about your lover’s affairs.”

“No, she hasn’t mentioned you. Aunt or whatever—you can’t be that important,” I said, standing.

My heart hammered in my chest, my lungs felt tight. I had just been so incredibly rude to a pureblood noble vampire who would probably eat me as punishment, and Selene was going to be so upset with me. And—

My internal worrying was cut off by Adamantia's laughter. “You are gutsy for such a little blood slave.”

I turned from her to leave, to flee back to the safety of the mansion—find Selene—but then I would be interrupting her meeting. No, I’d go back to our rooms and wait for her. I was stopped by a cool hand wrapping around my wrist.

“Sit back down, girl,” Adamantia demanded, and with one forceful tug, I was back on the stone bench.

“Don’t run away so quickly—not when you’re playing brave. It spoils the impression you’re trying to make,” she said, and I felt like I was being corrected by a school teacher.

“Now, why is my niece’s favourite snack outside in this weather?” she turned to the Man at Work statue, “Are you admiring the finer details of this wor?. Arae had such a liking for the male appendage,” she continued, and turned to look at me with a predatory smile.

“But I don’t get the impression that you share such a liking. No, you prefer the fairer of the sexes,” she told me. I looked away, embarrassed by the conversation’s twist. Her hand turned my face back to her.

“Do not be shy about it. There is no shame. I like my partners strictly of the female variety also,” she confessed.

I found it odd that this older woman would so openly share such a detail about herself, but mostly I didn’t like the way she continued to hold my jaw.

“I wondered about Selene for a while, but she could never make up her mind. My niece enjoys the variety of all types.” Her hand gripped my jaw tighter, as if testing what I could handle.

“Let me go,” I demanded, moving my head back. How dare she speak of Selene in such a crude way. Selene didn’t like anyone other than me. She said so. Or maybe not in those words exactly, but she said it enough. Who did this woman think she was talking about? In that moment I felt something, a tickle at the back of my spine, almost like I was being watched. I glanced toward the mansion, but there was no one. Her hand, thankfully, fell from my jaw. I knew there was nothing I could do to stop her if she chose to keep hold of me—nothing I could do to stop her if she decided to rip my jaw off.

“Strike a nerve, did I?” she asked humorously. “Do you think you’re special?” she continued. I clenched my teeth. I was special to Selene. Not that I could say so or why aloud. But it was true. “Oh, you do think so. Perhaps you are. Her revenge on Valen did seem more personal than that of quarrelling family really deserves.”

“Quarrelling family? That’s what you call abetting in the murder of the Queen and planning to murder Selene to take the throne?” I asked, outraged.

“Families as old as ours tend to foster treachery in every generation. Jealousy fuels so much drama,” she replied nonchalantly. “But if his plan cut a little too close to the heart—say, including the abduction and molestation of a particularly cherished little blood slave—well, perhaps he went too far, even for an Ardens. There are limits.”

“What? Murdering her mother wasn’t too far?” I raised my voice and stood up again.

“Vasilios killed Arae, sibling rivalry is to be expected. Selene should and would have let it go, I’m sure of that, but she wouldn’t let you go. No. She took you back and punished Valen, made an example of him for a reason. Was her purpose to warn others not to touch her crown or her slave? One sets a tone the other creates a martyr. How far would she go for you? How much blood would she spill, how many lands and titles would she steal?” she asked.

“I freed myself. I escaped Vouna,” I told her, some part of me needing to show this woman that I wasn’t a weak little slave, that I was capable. But I was reminded once again of all the people who had died because of me, and my voice wavered, showing my weakness.

“Did you?” she asked and smiled in a way that said she already knew the story of what took place last summer, and my response had told her something about myself I shouldn’t have revealed.

“I’m leaving now,” I replied and turned from the infuriating woman, only for her to fall into step beside me as I made my way across the front lawn towards the entrance. I walked faster.

“Where are you going?” she asked. I stopped and turned to face her angrily.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, breathing hard.

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” she replied and stepped towards me, into my personal space. She was as tall as Selene, maybe even an inch or two taller, and I didn’t like the way she looked down at me.

“A taste,” she finally said, licking her lips.

I stepped back, shocked, aghast. I opened my mouth to reply but no words came to me.

“Adamantia!” Selene hissed from behind me, and I jumped when her hand landed on my shoulder.

“I am no longer a child, and these immature games no longer interest me.”

“Selene, you’ve grown to be quite beautiful. How long has it been? Five—no, six years?” Adamantia replied, taking a step away from me.

“You were absent from Mother’s funeral,” Selene responded—a swift change in topic—and I looked up to see her perfect eyebrows frowning deeply.

Adamantia’s face fell in what looked to be genuine upset. “I was too aggrieved to travel. I lost both my siblings,” she answered.

Selene’s jaw clenched. What was she thinking, feeling? I wish I knew, and I felt a slight simmer of annoyance with her. If she weren’t actively blocking our bond, I would know how she felt in this moment. I would be able to smooth those frown lines. She was confronted by her mother’s sister, and the memory of the loss of her mother—her mother whom she rarely spoke of.

Selene pulled me back to her side by my shoulder, and her arm moved to wrap around my waist and pull me in.

“This is my pet, and partner, Percy of House Flores,” Selene introduced me. “Pet, this is Adamantia, my aunt on my mother’s side,” she continued.

“We’ve met already,” Adamantia said, grinning, “But formal introductions are proper,” she said and bowed her head to me. “It’s nice to meet you again.” She smiled.

“And you,” I grumbled. What was even happening? Did Selene not hear her say she wanted to take a bite of me? Where was my overprotective vampire?

“Manners,” Selene warned. I turned to look at her again, was she serious? The look she gave me in return said that she was most definitely serious. I turned back to Adamantia.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Lady Adamantia,” I said, and tried my best not to sound petulant.

“My Selene, you have a fire starter here,” Adamantia said excitedly, turning her attention back to Selene. “And partner, as in your intended?” she asked. Intended?

Selene smiled softly and looked almost…shy? Had the world turned upside down? Was I dreaming? Had I in some way upset Morpheus?

“Yes, and you cannot have a taste,” Selene answered. So she had been paying attention. How long was she aware that her aunt was harassing me before she intervened? It dawned on me that perhaps Adamantia’s quip to take a bite of me was more for Selene’s benefit than mine; she knew Selene was observing us. How far was Selene willing to let her aunt go? How far was the other woman willing to go?

Before the previous day, I had thought that Selene would never put me in harm’s way, but after the rooftop incident with the Academy guards, I wasn’t sure anymore. She had promised that she had no choice, explained why she felt like there was no other way, and I trusted Selene—I did, but doubt lingered. I consciously chose to ignore the feeling; it was too emotionally draining, and we had already moved past it.

“What a great loss, she smells divine,” Adamantia replied easily, smiling softly in return. “I would watch her closely, Selene. You have such a breakable treasure.”

“I am aware,” Selene answered.

“Are we to expect you two at dinner? You skipped breakfast,” Adamantia asked. Who was “we”?

“We had breakfast in our chambers,” Selene said.

“Oh, I’m sure you did,” Adamantia laughed. I leaned closer into Selene, wishing to hide from the way Adamantia’s gaze travelled to me.

“You’re making her uncomfortable,” Selene said and pulled me tighter to her.

“I know. It is so enjoyable. Sasha will love her.”

“Sasha is Adamantia’s wife,” Selene explained. I looked to her, surprised; she didn’t strike me as the type to have a wife, or any long-term partner.

“She can be read like a book. However cute, it is an issue,” Adamantia commented, speaking like I wasn’t there. Selene only hummed in acknowledgement.

“We will be at dinner. I trust you have had your fun and will refrain from teasing my pet.”

“I can make no promises. Out of all the kids, you were always the one causing trouble, but this, this will create uproar. I’m excited to see how you handle it, niece.” Adamantia stepped forward and kissed Selene’s cheek. Selene embraced her aunt in a one arm hug, kissing her cheek in return.

“It’s good to see you again,” Selene said as Adamantia stepped back.

“And you,” Adamantia replied. She turned to me. “I would offer you a similar gesture, but as friendly as my niece is pretending to be, her scent is quite threatening.” She laughed and I saw Selene’s frown deepen.

“I don’t like others touching what’s mine,” she said.

“You haven’t changed at all. I expect nothing less from our future Queen.”

We stood in silence as Adamantia left and returned inside.

“You never mentioned you had an aunt,” I said.

“No, I do not enjoy discussing my family,” Selene explained in reply. How many more family members lived on the Ardens Estate?

“Are you okay?” she asked, turning her attention to me, taking hold of my wrist and turning it over to inspect, before delicately lifting my jaw and turning it side to side.

“I’m fine, and you were watching,” I accused.

“I was watching.” Her hand gripped my jaw tighter, and she pulled me forward until I was on my toes for a forceful kiss. “As if I would leave you unprotected, at the mercy of any of my family,” she said once she released me.

“Though Adamantia is harmless enough. She has never shown much interest in power. Her wife, Sasha, is a pureblood of no nobility. They have made Ardens Estate their home since I can remember,” she explained.

“She didn’t seem harmless,” I said.

“That Ardens charm,” Selene smiled. The morning sun added a glow to her cheeks, the cold but soft breeze tousled her loose waves, and her silver eyes shone. Against the backdrop of the Ardens Estate mansion, she was like something from a story, as if she was made for Ardens, belonging to the scene. The idea that Ardens could be home, didn’t seem so unbelievable in that moment.

I stepped up on my toes and took hold of her woollen jumper. Selene’s arms wrapped around me.

“What are you doing?” she asked, smiling happily as we locked eyes.

“Trying to kiss you,” I replied. “You’re too tall. Bend down,” I commanded. Selene laughed and complied.

“I have a meeting with local councillors from the nearby towns and villages. You’ve spent enough time outside—it’s too cold for you,” Selene said as she pressed her nose against mine and kissed me chastely. “Would you like to accompany me? I expect best behaviour. While I am pleased that you stood your ground against Adamantia, you cannot and will not undermine me during these discussions.”

“I want to come with you,” I answered. “And I’ll be good, promise.”

“You promise?” she asked.

“Yes,” I nodded. “And no offence, but Ardens estate is boring, Selene. Where is everyone? Your scary aunt is the only person I’ve seen! The gardens aren’t even gardens, and—“I was cut off by a kiss.

“Stop complaining. You’ll make friends here eventually,” she told me. I sighed.

“You’re probably right,” I agreed, but I doubted it. I missed Ana and Heidi and Edward and the twins. I missed my friends and being around people. There was something creepy about how quiet Ardens Estate was. I wished we had gone to the castle; the castle was never truly quiet.

Selene led me inside and to a grand meeting room. Even the inside of Ardens Estate was cold; it lacked colour. The room was wooden-panelled, large windows lined two walls, and tables were set out in a horseshoe layout. Everything was brown and dull.

I put my hand on the back of a seat, but Selene stopped me with a hand over mine. “Stand by the window and wait for my instruction,” she told me, and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

I did as she instructed and watched as a servant propped the door to the meeting room open. He was tall and slim.

“The first of the councillors have arrived, Lady Marchioness,” he informed Selene and as he did so, two more servants entered the room—young women. One carried a silver tray with empty glasses and placed it down at the end of the table, the other pushed a cart of beverages: water and coffee. I smiled at the two. They looked to be about the same age as me and Selene, and it was a small relief to finally see young people. One, a blonde girl with a stud piercing in her nose, smiled shyly back and nodded in my direction. Selene cleared her throat, and the girl quickly scurried away to stand against the wall with the others.

The servant who had announced the arrival of the councillors, introduced each man and woman by name and the village or town of Ardens that they represented.

Soon, every seat was taken and glasses were filled.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today, counsellors. I am Selene of House Borealis and Ardens, Royal Princess of the Borealis Kingdom and Marchioness of House Ardens. I have asked you here today for formal introductions and to begin the process of building unity between the joined lands of Ardens and what once was Vouna. It is my hope that together we can create a prosperous Ardens for all,” Selene introduced herself formally.

“That’s all very good,” a man began and tapped his glass. “But where are the real drinks?” he asked.

“Beverages will be restricted to non-alcoholic and no blood. I want clear minds for our first gathering as the leaders of Ardens. And you are again?” Selene replied. Her tone was clipped.

“Albert of ElderPeak,” he answered gruffly, clearly upset. “How are we meant to build unity and friendship without a drink?” He laughed.

“Please have Albert of ElderPeak removed,” Selene said, addressing the manservant who stood at the door.

“Right away.” He bowed lowly before turning to the door and clapping.

“What!” Albert shouted, pushing himself from the table. There was disquiet whispering among the other more than dozen guests.

“This is ridiculous, all I asked for was a drink!” he continued shouting, his face turning red as two Ardens guards entered the room and gripped him by the upper arms.

He tried to shake them off. “I can show myself out!” he said.

“I insist you spend the night,” Selene said and nodded to one of the guards.

I wasn’t sure what she meant, but the guard seemed to understand.

“Yes, Ma’am,” the guard who had acknowledged Selene’s nod replied.

Albert kicked over his chair as he was dragged away, shouting that it was false imprisonment, that he had done nothing wrong.

“Does anyone else wish to insult my hospitality?” Selene asked the councillors. There was a nervous quietness, a shuffling of seats, glances to one another that expressed the tone of the meeting had changed, and yet no one responded to question Selene’s actions in removing the man.

“Good. There will be ground rules for this meeting; it will not descend into chaos. Firstly, there will be no talking over others, no insults, and no threats. All will have a chance to speak. If we must, we will resort to raising hands like children. Secondly, grievances will be aired calmly and concerns will be heard by all—no scheming. Thirdly, we will work as a group to find solutions to the problems facing House Ardens currently and in the future. Is that clear?” There was silence.

“Speak,” Selene commanded, and a chorus of agreement rang around the room.

“Good, lunch will be served in a few hours. For those with long travels, you are welcome to spend the evening in one of the many guest rooms and dine with myself and my family tonight. Let us begin.”

Selene pulled a seat out from the table and sat, before turning towards me and patting her thigh in invitation. I blushed furiously as I walked towards her at the silent command, aware that every eye in the room was on me. When I reached her, she pulled me into her lap, much like she was accustomed to doing during lunches at Sanguis—but here, in front of strangers, I felt exposed.

“Yes,” Selene said, and I tucked my head into the crook of her neck and shut my eyes to avoid making eye contact with any of the councillors in the room.

“I am Alice of Steepeak. I don’t mean to be rude, but, well…” the woman trailed off.

“This is my pet, Percy of House Flores,” Selene answered.

“A flower girl,” someone said excitedly. “Not seen one of those around here for a while. We could use a flower girl in Cliffwind. Our harvest wasn’t so good, and it’s lookin’ like a harsh winter. If it’s possible, that is. I don’t know how the whole pet thing works—I’m new to the role—and Cliffwind is a small place. Used to be House Vouna, you know,” the man speaking rambled. But the idea excited me. It was what Flores did—or used to do—help people.

“Can I?” I whispered to Selene, but I knew there would be those in the room who could hear me clearly. Selene was very still before she relaxed under me.

“Cliffwind is a long journey. I have a tour planned for two weeks’ time. We will make a stop at your village, Fotis. My pet, will offer her Flores services at that time,” Selene replied.

“Thank you, thank you. This is amazing. Everyone will be so happy,” he thanked Selene enthusiastically. I pressed my lips discreetly against her neck showing my own thanks.

The meeting was long. For a while I listened to the conversation, to concerns about job security, mine closures, lack of education and enterprise, to upset among some of those who were formerly House Vouna. The only time my interest was piqued was when one councillor brought up an attack on his village’s armoury by rebels. Selene assured that extra men would be sent for his guard but requested that no further talk concerning rebellion take place publicly, that such concerns should be brought to her privately, and promised that she would make time to address any concerns and keep the source of any information anonymous.

I began to think back to what Adamantia had said, about making a martyr of Valen. Martyrs were people who died for a cause. King Nicodemos Auster was assassinated and that started the civil war that created the Borealis kingdom. Father called him a martyr once. When I asked what it meant, he said it meant someone who died for something greater than themselves.

Valen didn’t die for anything great. He wasn’t the type of man to stand for anything other than his own selfishness. But with the talk of rebels, with what Selene said about some of her cousins not liking that she took the title and role of Marchioness of Ardens, did it matter if the person who died stood for anything personally? Or was it what other people thought they represented that mattered?

The thought made my head hurt, and the more I thought about it, the more tired I became. I had slept well our first night in Ardens, but I still wasn’t back to my full strength. Selene was warm and comfortable, and after some time, I felt myself drift.

I tried to fight it. But I was unsuccessful, as the next moment I was being gently shaken awake by Selene.

“Pet,” she whispered. “Are you hungry?” she asked when I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look at her.

“No,” I said, “but I do need the bathroom.”

Selene brought her hand up and rubbed sleep from the corner of my eye, smiling amusedly.

“Katrina,” she called, and the girl with the nose ring walked swiftly to us. “Percy, this is Katrina. She’ll show you to the bathroom, we’re having a working lunch. When you return, do not disrupt the meeting,” she told me and pushed her seat back, patting my upper thigh.

I stood, and stretched my arms above my head and turned to Katrina.

“Hi,” I said nervously.

Katrina only smiled, and I deflated a little, but followed her as she led the way out of the meeting room.

“I’m so glad to be out of there,” she said the moment the noise of voices from the meeting room had faded. I laughed.

“I was beginning to think you were mute,” I told her. She bumped her shoulder with mine.

“We’re not meant to speak unless asked a direct question by someone.” She looked at me. “Someone that isn’t a slave or servant,” she explained.

I nodded. “I get it,” I assured her.

“Do you?” she asked. “You’re comfortable with her—fall asleep in her lap and snore during an important meeting kind of comfortable,” she said.

“I do not snore!” I replied and panicked. Did I? I’d never been conscious to hear myself sleep. Could there be anything more embarrassing? And in front of so many people.

Katrina laughed.

“You do—not like loud obnoxious snoring—cute snores, little whistles,” she said.

“Don’t,” I complained and rubbed my hand down my face. “Really?” I asked and turned to her. Her blue eyes were bright; she was clearly a vampire of some content.

She nodded somberly. “Sorry,” she said. “I wouldn’t worry. Everyone noticed, of course, but Miss Princess didn’t seem to mind at all.” She smiled.

I laughed. “Miss Princess? She’ll hate that. I’m going to use it,” I told her.

Katrina’s face paled. “You’re not serious?” she said. “Don’t tell her I called her that!”

“Katrina, calm. It’s okay. I’m joking,” I said, worried by how quickly Katrina had gone from jovial to panicked.

“Yeah. Gotta be careful around here. You never know who’s storing up ammo to use against you later.” She sighed. “I’ve not been here long, but it’s not what I expected.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Nothing. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You can trust me. I’ve got no reason to try and get you in trouble. I’m new here too,” I told her.

“We’re here—the bathroom,” she said and pointed to a door.

“Will you wait to show me back to the meeting room?” I asked. She nodded.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I washed my hands and combed my fingers through my slightly messy hair. I was nervous to go back out and face Katrina. I worried I had said or done something to upset her and ruin any potential connection with someone at Ardens Estate. I wouldn’t have the words for social anxiety if not for the one lesson we had in my healing class on non-physical ailments. I had never really suffered from such a thing until recently, but I guessed that was to be expected. Before Selene entered my life, everyone I interacted with I had known essentially all my life. Now I regularly met new people, and there was so many social and class things that I had to navigate. It was normal to experience social anxiety occasionally. I wasn’t sure what it was about Katrina that made me feel anxious.

“Sorry,” Katrina greeted me with an apology the moment I stepped out from the bathroom. “I was rude and awkward and ugh! It’s just difficult, adjusting to all this. I don’t come from a servant background,” she explained.

I laughed, happy that Katrina seemed as anxious as I was.

“Ardens Estate is…” I searched for the word. “Odd,” I settled on.

“It’s haunted,” Katrina said.

“Haunted?” I asked.

“It feels like it should be.” She shrugged. “It’s too quiet. No one talks, you know? I’ve been here a whole month and I’ve not made any friends. Acquaintances, yeah, but nothing real.” She shook her head. “You’re probably the last person I should be complaining to,” she said.

“Why shouldn’t you complain to me?” I asked. “I understand what you mean, I was just thinking this morning—where was everyone? But I think it’s just colder—physically—than I’m used to. People probably don’t want to socialise much when you might lose a toe from being outside too long,” I joked.

“A Southerner like you doesn’t know the cold. It’s not even true winter yet,” Katrina laughed.

“You’re the second person to call me a Southerner. I don’t consider myself from the south. I’m from the east coast, next to House Maria,” I told her.

“Anyone from further south than House Borealis is a Southerner to us,” she explained.

“What House are you then? I thought you would be Borealis,” she asked.

“I am House Borealis and I guess Ardens now too, but I wasn’t from any House before the Princess purchased me,” I explained.

“Were you a nomad flower girl?” she asked. “That Cliffwind dude was excited about you.”

“No, well, we used to be nomadic, long before I was born. I’m from an independent community,” I explained.

“An outlaw group?” she asked, her eyes widening with excitement. “I’ve never met one of your people before.”

I cringed at her words. “We’re not outlaws,” I said. “We’re just outside the House system,” I explained.

“That’s a nice way of describing yourselves,” she teased.

“We aren’t outlaws!” I argued, offended. “We’re not criminals. We live peacefully beside our neighbours.”

She raised her hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just learned in school that during the civil war there were groups that weren’t on any side other than their own. For the right price, they’d fight for and help anyone. Worse than mercenaries, because they had no loyalty and would turn on their current employer if a better opportunity showed itself. The outlaw groups couldn’t be trusted.”

“What about that isn’t offensive?” I asked. “Maybe there were groups like that, but we aren’t and never would have been one of them. We’re fishers. And we pay our tax to House Maria for the land. We’re not criminals.”

I was outraged. I was more used to people assuming we were backwards and stupid, but I hadn’t been called a criminal before. No one had accused me of being untrustworthy.

“Alright, alright, sheesh, I’m sorry. Okay?” she asked.

I took a breath to calm myself and began to hear the murmur of voices from the meeting room. I nodded to Katrina.

“Where are you from, if you haven’t been here long?” I asked, changing topics back to her.

“I’m from Ardens, Featon Town, not far from here, really,” she told me.

“Is it a big town?” I asked. She nodded.

“Yeah, like twenty or thirty thousand of us. Used to be a mining operation. Not so much anymore. We’re almost back and should stop talking now, but do you want to hang out sometime? I’m usually off work in the evenings?” she asked me.

I hesitated. We hadn’t really had the best conversation, but Ardens Estate felt like a lonely place.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier, truly,” she added and wrung her hands together.

“I’d like to hang out sometime, yeah,” I told her and smiled, hoping it showed I had forgiven her. I mean, how well could you know someone from one conversation? She smiled brightly in return and held her fingers to her lips as we approached closer to the meeting room.