| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter one

FAMILIARITY

•

Everything was still. For a moment at least.

A bustling maid, who had not slept, made her way into Damien's chambers. She raised her wand, and with one swift movement, the curtains drew open. The woman stood at the end of the bed, hands on her hips, and sighed. With another wave of her wand, bells appeared out of thin air, beginning to ring. There, she waited for the two young Salvadors to get up.

Annoyed, Verena slowly opened her eyes. Feeling a weight on her body, she looked towards her legs, finding her brother's limbs. Disgusted, she kicked him off of her, and he flipped onto the ground.

"Good, you're up," said the maid, Anya, in a sweet voice. "Get ready. There is a big day ahead. Your parents expect you both downstairs in no more than fifteen minutes."

"He takes longer than me," Verena said defensively.

"No, I do not," Damien spoke, finally wide awake. "You take ten minutes to decide on an outfit."

"And you, fifteen minutes to do your hair," Verena remarked.

"Not to mention you take thirty minutes putting makeup," Damien continued, "which, by the way, does not help to cover your ugliness. Rather, it enhances it."

Anya let out a small chuckle after seeing Verena throw a pillow at Damien. Before he could return the pillow fight, Anya cleared her throat to say, "Fourteen minutes." Once she delivered the message, she left.

Damien and Verena got up at once, eager to beat each other out the front doors. Verena ran out of the room, heading for her own, however, she did not expect to see her room charred with piles of ash.

"Right, you set your room alight," Damien told her, holding a folded stack of clothes for her. "I suppose Mother gave you this."

"I set my room on fire?" Verena questioned, staring at the ruin. "Damien, if this is— "

"This one is not my fault," Damien said, quick to defend himself.

His eyes softened as he looked at her with worry. "Do you not remember?"

"No," Verena replied.

"I bust up my hand saving you," Damien said, quite proud. "You owe me."

Verena stared into the mirror, and for a second, she could have sworn her eyes changed colour. From her hazel eyes, they turned an icy blue-grey. Those in the room who were cleaning stared at her, worried and confused. Their looks made Verena feel as though she were crazy.

After Verena finished getting ready, she arrived at the entrance hall, the three other members of her family preparing to leave. They were busy putting on their coats and Anya handed two large pouches to Silas and Duvessa, the sound of coins rubbing against each other.

"Hurry, Verena," Silas called. "You must get new robes and I have a meeting."

"What'd I tell you," said Damien as she walked towards them. "Late as always."

"Father, did you know my dear brother had a maid change his grade to an E from a D?" Verena said, a smirk on her face.

"You little snitch!" Damien growled, reaching out to strangle her.

"Son, hold it there," Silas said sternly, but he held a calm expression. "We shall talk of your deceit later. Now, grab your mother's hand."

"You are such an arse," Damien whispered from behind his mother's back.