Tangled With The Fated Mates

The Ball Prep

Claudine seemed to think the adage "third time's a charm" proved true as she slipped out of the house again.

Unbeknownst to her, Arielle had keenly observed her departure. Upon Claudine's return with Lumos by her side, she found Arielle waiting in the outhouse, nestled in her small bed, arms folded, and wearing a petulant expression.

"You, where are you coming from?" Arielle said without standing up.

"I-I-I..." Claudine stuttered. She had never thought that she would be caught.

Arielle and her parents always seemed heavily engaged in the evenings.

They had never summoned her or asked about her during those times, so she concluded that it was perfectly safe to leave the house at that time.

She had not anticipated her elder foster sister sitting on her bed. Her face squinched so that she looked like an owl, asking her of her whereabouts.

"Ohh, please, Claudine," Arielle said, rising to her feet.

"Spit it out. I don't have all fucking night. The ball is tomorrow, and I need to get enough beauty naps to relax and ease my facial muscles to look like the princess I truly am."

She said the last sentence with a sort of dreaminess — her head lifted in what would be a graceful pose and her hand extended — that made Claudine momentarily forget her precarious situation and let out a chuckle.

"Ohh. She's laughing. Aww, won't you look at that — I'm so funny. I should probably become a fucking comedian, eh?"

She moved closer to Claudine, her steps menacing, grabbed her by the throat, and, in a not-so-gentle manner, shoved her to the wall. Claudine struggled to breathe as her elder sister, her breath tangy, spoke to her.

"Look, you little shit," she began,

"I honestly don't give a fuck what you do with what little free time is available to you. You can go fuck yourself and die if you like. But what I will not take from you is this impudence, okay? I'm your elder sister, and when I speak, you should show deference. And that means no chuckling, or giggling, or smiling. Do you understand me?"

Claudine managed to nod, her eyes fearful and red with a lack of oxygen.

"Good," Arielle said, promptly releasing her. After raking her eyes from her head to her feet with unconcealed disgust, as if she was a thing that had been pulled from the trash, she left the room, leaving Claudine alone with Lumos.

Claudine, relieved, sank to the bed, and Lumos crept up to her lap, where it lay snugly. Claudine turned her neck this way and that, observing, for the first time, the unnatural strength with which Arielle had lifted her. She thought about it for a while and soon became drowsy and slept off.

The next day, Claudine anticipated a summons and a scolding, but it never came. They all left early, neglecting to assign her any chores.

Seizing the opportunity, Claudine boldly entered the main house, completed her tasks, and grabbed a meal. She felt a sense of pride in her courage.

Later that evening, upon their return laden with shopping bags, Claudine warmly welcomed them, offering to assist.

However, Arielle rejected her help, expressing disdain for Claudine's perceived filth on her new dress. They continued chatting amongst themselves, abruptly shutting the door in Claudine's face.

Claudine's shoulders drooped as she trudged back to the outhouse, but in defiance, she exclaimed, "Forget it!" and dashed into the woods. The brisk air brushed against her face, and the forest resonated with the symphony of buzzing insects, birds finding refuge in their nests, and rodents hurrying to their homes. Claudine settled on the ground, where a small cloth had been laid, her back against a rock. Nearby, Ezrianna perched on the rock, swinging her legs.