Misfit

Chapter 1 - Hatred

I crept out of the house, missing every other step in case they creaked.

"Glace!"

I sighed, cursing myself as I turned to the teen at the top of the stairs. Not Bom again.

"Where are you going?"

I grit my teeth, digging my nails into my palm. To La-La Land, the apparently only place where I can get away from you all. "To my quarters. Why?"

"You can't go to bed now." His voice was petulant, and I narrowed my eyes. Was he pouting?

I lifted my head, not bothering to hide my glare. "And why not?"

"Because-" He hesitated. "Because, um, Kou wants you to read a goodnight story."

"Kou hates me." My voice was flat, and I dropped my head, abruptly turning back to my quarters and walking towards them. Of course Kou hated me, they all did.

"Okay, so maybe she doesn't want a goodnight story, but wait for me-" Bom hurried down the stairs.

I flicked my hand out behind me, coating the steps with a thin layer of ice, a smile playing at my lips when I heard him curse. "Don't bother following me. You and your father may be my masters in this part of the house, but in the servants' rooms you leave us in peace."

Five years ago, I would have given anything for one of the family to take an interest in me enough to follow me to my own quarters.

I'd changed in that time.

I hadn't always been a servant. Once, I was a simple child, daughter of a wealthy merchant. Back then, I'd had my own servants. But change is always inevitable, and my life was no exception. But I'd treated my servants kindly - that is, if I was remembering correctly.

But the Ryukos just took things beyond the limit: they either ignored me or barked orders at me from opposite ends of the manor.

"I'm sorry about that!"

I snapped out of my thoughts, glancing over at Bom. He'd slithered down the icy steps, and was now struggling to get to his feet in the puddle of frost that was now forming around him.

"Oh, would you cut that out?"

I snorted, rolling my eyes. His family tormented me and yet I was the villain for forcing him to leave me alone?

"Again, I'm sorry."

Sorry wouldn't cut it. I opened the door, before whirling back around. "What did you say?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry we tormented you and made life hard and all that."

"And why would you suddenly be wanting to tell me that even though I never uttered a word of complaint?"

He froze, slipping down and landing hard. "Y-you never said anything, but..."

I'd thought it.

"Exactly." He hung his head, voice becoming whiny again. "That's the real reason why I wanted to talk to you. Ever since I became seventeen slivers old, it's been happening. I can't help it, they all force their way into my head."

That was five arks ago - the poor boy must have been going insane. I snapped my fingers, causing the ice to melt.

"We'll discuss this in my quarters," I muttered.

He scurried in, and I quickly shut the door.

"Sit," I ordered, pointing at the only chair in the room. Unlike those in the rest of the manor, it was hard with only the comfort of a single cushion - as opposed to the soft, plush sofas that Bom was no doubt used to.

He obediently sat, and I sat cross-legged on the floor.

"Why are you sitting on the floor?"

I glared up at him. "Where I come from, it is custom to seat yourself on an equal level or one lower than your guests. Unlike your family," I spat, dripping venom, "I like to retain my manners."

He dropped his head, pink hair falling over his eyes. "I am sorry. It's just-" he stopped, scratching the back of his neck. "We were all just kind of jealous, you know?"

"Jealous? Of a servant. That makes lots of sense. See, in my homeland we all envy our servants greatly."

He lifted his fringe, peeking out at me. "Really?"

I snorted. "No."

He was silent for a while, before doing something unexpected. Bom Ryuko, the eldest of seven children whom I served, got off the chair and sat on the floor in front of me.

"I'm not higher than you." His words blurted out in a rush. "We're both equal. We're, uh, we're both..." He trailed off, stuttering, eyes wide.

Typical Faerie. "Magical?" I probed. "Gifted? Empowered?"

He nodded, eyes cast down.

I didn't stop. "Given more in life than others? Better-prepared? There's more to us?"

He gulped, cheeks flushing. "Y-yes. Th-that."

I stood up, fists clenched. My knuckles were white, I could tell. Not from being held tense, from the ice beginning to form on my hands.

"You Faeries," I hissed, glaring down at his timid figure. "You just don't get it, do you? We're a peaceful race, the Loams. We were given this power for that. But you, you just want strife, and you just attack us, day in, day out. Who do you think released the bomb that wrecked my life?"

Bom reached out a hand, before recoiling as icicles snapped out at him. "I-I, uh, I should go."

He scrambled up and hurried out, slamming the door behind him. I watched him go, breath frosty as I breathed heavily.

"Yes, you should," I muttered, lashing out at the chair. It landed in a pile of snow.

Another knock came on the door. I ignored it, sitting heavily on my bed and roughly pulling off my shoes. My nose caught the scent of smoke, but I snorted, throwing a shoe at the door.

"Go away, Sandapa," I growled, falling back and wincing as my head rebounded off the springs.

The door was kicked open, and a blazing fireball entered my room, before quickly dying down to ashes, where stood a dark, glowering figure.

"Glace, you arrogant Loam-child!" Well, hello to you too.

She hadn't changed much since I'd first met her. Still stumpy and bustling, except now she'd lost her husband to the next life, and had left her job to hunt. But the Ryukos were a very respectable family, and still wanted a servant. Thus, I became their new punching-bag.

I didn't respond to her words, scowling at the ceiling. We both knew she didn't mean it, -

"I mean it." Oh. Always a first time.

I raised my head. "What do you mean?"

She tutted. "The eldest son. He consulted you, and you scared him off. He is a person too. He's not all Faerie, there's good in him yet."

I snorted. "There always is, to you."