Steel Rose

Chapter 49

Ptolemus Pov

Father dangles the empty booze bottle from his pale fingers his dark eyes boring holes into me as I stand before him like I'm ready to take my punishment. Like a child.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Ptolemus?" Mother's voice slices through me as she folds her hands in her lap. She sits next to my father, their knees nearly touching.

My head still slightly spins, and my is stomach in knots. I know better than to exprese my utter shame, spilling false words about how I'm sorry and that I'll stop. It would be lies, and my parents hate being lied to. Especially by their own child.

"I'm just working through some things," I say instead.

"We allowed you to being that girl here. We have allowed you to keep her locked away in our home, clothed, fed, and sheltered. And this is how you repay us." Mother says before standing up. She walks towards me placing her small cold hands on my biceps. Concern crosses her face. "If this girl is going to be an issue we can have her removed."

I shake my head. Isabelle further away from me is the very last thing I want right now. "No. She isn't the issue, Mother. I'll fix it."

"Do it quickly," Father adds standing up too. "You need to detoxify your body. You'll be training double from now on"

"And eat," Mother adds. "You need to eat to wade off the effects. Go see a healer."

I look up at her, bewildered, with my bloodshot eyes since the whole of the Rift knows I refuse to go see Wren. Even the thought makes my stomach curl with disgust, for myself.

"Go." Father waves me away without another word.

I nod and turn to leave. Eve is standing outside the door watching me curiously. She falls in step with me as I walk. But I need to see her. Now.

"So, the firstborn finally gets in trouble for something," she jokes, "What a glorious day."

I smile, "They cut me off."

"Finally," she says, "You're going to destroy your liver with all that alcohol."

"My liver is just fine," Is my simple reply.

She watches me for a moment before opening her mouth again. "I'm sure you can go see one of Wren's kin if you wish to avoid her."

I look over at her as we continue to walk, but say nothing. There is nothing to say. Not right now. Word travels fast here, and if even a sniff of a rumor of me seeing Wren again reaches Belle, I'm sure she would march back to capitol without another word.

"You're on your way to see Isabelle." She states breaking me from my focus.

I nod my head. "I need to see her,"

Eve goes quiet as we near the hallway where Isabelle sleeps. I faintly recall in the days leading up to Maven's wedding, I had thought she would be spending most nights with me. In my chambers. Now, I realize, she hasn't spent a single day.

"Just don't make excuses," Eve says suddenly. "Girls don't like it when you do that." She pats my arm with a knowing look before turning in the other direction.

The walk to her door seems like a mile.

I don't hesitate to push it open, stepping into her room. It's quiet and I notice her servants aren't even in here. "Belle?"

I step further into the room. Clothes are hung neatly over a chair, the only thing out of place is a delicate tea cup on the table. A slosh of water draws my attention to the bathroom.