Page 43

I looked at the female sitting across from us, appearing almost amused.

"Madame Majandra, I'm sorry about the chair and for my rude and uncalled-for behavior," I said with a bow of respect. "You have graciously opened your home and services to me and I've been a real bitch. I'm not going to make excuses for my uncalled-for behavior and rudeness, because that would be an insult to your intelligence and your station in your society. Sometimes, I invoke my mother and the world doesn't deserve that."

Majandra nodded with wide eyes.

"I know you are hiding legitimate concern behind your visage of indifference, and your longing to protect Prince de Babineaux is admirable and understandable," I continued. "Possibly in time I will understand your concern and why you have it. But until then, I will express my most heartfelt and sincere gratitude and we will humbly take our leave and pretend the past five minutes never happened."

Majandra looked at me curiously. "Huh. It appears that I was partially wrong about you. Normally I am a very good judge of character, however, it seems that in my old age, I am losing my touch because your soul, other than a shadow that does not belong there, is truly as pure as you are in heart and nature."

"I'm not sure how I changed your perceptions of me by assaulting one of the Imperial Guard. That, in itself, is considered treason," I reminded her.

"Oh la fillette," Majandra said, shaking her head. "Standing up for what you believe in, what you believe to be right when in the face of adversity, what your brother could not do, that is the most difficult thing one can do. And the fact that you did it knowing the consequences of your actions made it selfless. It will be a refreshing and much-needed change in our world, and they will embrace you unlike the others when your time comes," she said with a nod of submission.

I looked around the room, not sure what she was talking about.

"I don't want to be a whore, and I don't like dresses," I reminded her. "And the summer internship that Mistress Meeka was trying to sell me on was flattering and all, but I don't think I could handle creepy Royals licking my toes or me using them for furniture because they have issues."

That effectively ended the awkward silence that had fallen over the area.

Zane gasped. "Can I take her up on that summer internship?" he asked. "Because that sounds awesome."

I glared at him. "No. Shut up. You got Father's flat, comparatively speaking, Japanese ass, and it isn't nearly as marketable as my round South African ass is," I informed him, and he pouted with a huff.

Majandra dabbed the moisture from the corners of her eyes as she chuckled. "You two have not changed at all. Precious Ariadne, things will get better in our world, in all worlds, but they always get worse before the dawn of a new era. Remember no matter what happens, there is nothing wrong with simply running. No one needs you to be a hero, they just need you to survive to save all of us."

I did the strange nod-shrug combination I do when I haven't a clue what I'm agreeing to.

"You sound like Viggo," I complained. "He bitches at me to run often."

"I would certainly hope so, that was the same advice I gave him as a child. There is nothing wrong with running to live so you can fight another day," Majandra said.

"You told Viggo that as a child? How old are you? You can't be older than twenty-five!" Zane blurted out, smoke rolling from his nose.

No one will ever accuse Zane of easing into anything.

Majandra looked from me to Zane. "You truly are twins. It is impolite to ask a lady her age," she reminded us before looking at Azrael when he stepped into the doorway. "Are we done here? I am running a business, and by my count, my girls kicked your aspiring Guardians' asses," she mused.

"Upon their word," Azrael said, giving her a look before turning his attention to us.

Now everyone was looking at us again, and I didn't understand why.

"Release Viggo from your binding, Wizard," Zane complained. "I am tired of hearing him growl like a caged beast, and if you have not noticed, my sister gets turned on by that animalistic growl of his."

"I do not!" I shrieked, punching him in the stomach and his cigarette flew out of his mouth.

The glowing blue and white binding ring on the floor circling Viggo burned away, black smoke rising into the air before blowing away on a phantom breeze.

Viggo hurried over to Majandra and took her face between his hands, shaking his head in a scolding manner.

I got to my feet, not wanting to see them kiss or whatever it was they were going to do.

"I hate you," Zane complained, rubbing his stomach.

"You'll get over it," I said, glaring at him. "I want to go back to the Academy and pretend none of this transpired as it has. Madame Majandra is free to resume her business as if we were never here, for we have disrupted it long enough. Indebted to Majandra I am, my blood is, and one day I hope that I can repay that blood debt owed to her." I bowed.

Zane bowed as well. "Spoken like someone that has been hanging around with one too many Royals," he teased, so I snatched the fresh cigarette he had just put between his lips and broke it in half. "Rude."

"I don't like cigarettes and you know better," I scolded.

"Is that your command?" Azrael asked.

Zane looked at me and I nodded. "Ooh, ooh, ooh! I got this one. If only I had my cape!" he beamed then he pulled his shoulders back and stood tall and proud, stepping up on the chair I had been sitting on, and jutted his chin out. "Never speak of this misunderstanding or the detour we took this evening again," he said, speaking in a low, monotone voice, sounding completely indifferent, his face slated hard and expressionless. "It is imperative you do not tell our parents because it is inconsequential. That is my royal decree," he said before flipping his missing long hair over his shoulder. "As I have decreed it, you shall receive it!" he proclaimed.

I glared at Zane; that was not what anyone was looking for.

Viggo gave him a look. "I do not sound like that," he dryly informed him.

Majandra chuckled. "Sometimes you do, though the ending was a little theatrical even for a royal," she said.

Zane smiled wide, putting another cigarette between his lips, and hopping down from the chair.

"We take our leave," Azrael said, motioning for us to head from the room. "We are heading back to the Academy. Riven, get your blade and glasses then get checked out by a Healer."

Riven groaned and eventually complied once he got his feet under him.

"I need some time with Little Flea," Majandra said. "He foolishly acted, forgetting he is seventeen, and his soul needs to be tended to if he is to survive the teleportation. Otherwise, I insist he stays here until he can safely travel."

I glared at her. "Prince de Babineaux leaves with us tonight," I sneered.

Majandra smirked as if that was the response she was hoping for. "Very well, give us privacy. And have your Wizard fix my goddamn floor," she sneered the latter, motioning towards where the binding ring was burned into the wood; all of the wood planks were cracked and snapped.

Azrael nodded and motioned for everyone else to exit the manor before giving Majandra a look, one that I knew translated to that they needed to talk, in private.