The Atham Manor (Slow Updates)

Oh Hell No

Sitting in Calvin's car with the top
down was an easy excuse I could use to avoid talking.

I don't know why I was so pissed at Warren. Oh, yeah, I remember. I literally cried yesterday because his dumbass could've died and he decided he wanted to play a prank on me that could've involved him actually dying? My dude was a fucking idiot.

I rolled my eyes at the thought of him and slumped in the passenger seat. The seatbelt choked my neck, but I didn't move to express my irritation. Calvin had given me a strange glance once or twice, but had ultimately left me alone.

Forty minutes later, we were back in the manor, with me marching up the stairs in my haste.

Of course, my foot caught on the step and I felt my balance knock backward, and my arms flailed in a sorry attempt to catch myself. A flash of something came into my brain. As I stared at the empty top of the stairs, Warren's emotionless face popped into my head as I was in a similar position... falling to what could've been death.

An arm wrapped around my waist suddenly, halting my fall and bringing me back out of my daydream.

And of fricking course, it was Henry. He raised an eyebrow and let go of me slowly as if thinking I would purposely throw myself down the stairs.

I exhaled, my heartbeat echoing in my ears and I felt dread sitting on my chest like a fat cat suffocating me. What was that vision?

Calvin was behind me faster than I could register it. I could've swore he was at the bottom of the steps not even a second ago. "Xani, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I exhaled again before turning to Henry, "Thank..." He was already walking down the stairs, paying me no attention.

I expected nothing less.

Calvin gently held my hand up the rest of the stairs before turning to face me and forcing me to stop. He looked over my entire face, trying to gauge reasoning. "What's up with you? Why're you upet?"

"It's stupid," I said honestly. "Nothing serious just... slightly angering."

It felt weird to snitch about my problems with one brother to another.

"And that would be?"

I paused my answer, watching a maid scuttle out of one of the rooms and up the next set of staircase. A wound on her neck was visible, but I couldn't see what it was before Calvin gently gripped my chin, turning me back to him. His expectant look made me roll my eyes. "It was just Warren being stupid."

Calvin frowned but stood up to his full height nonetheless and dusted off my shoulder. "Alright, tell me when you feel up to it."

I went to take a shower, not only for just hygienic purposes, but I had dirt in my hair and who knows where else.

Hazelnut and vanilla was becoming my favorite smell, that and the cherry cinnamon sticks candle that I loved in my room. Which reminded me to order another one or have my mom send one in.

My eyes lifted to see a familiar brunette woman. Mar... Marlette, the bitch maid.

Marlette was simply dusting the light fixtures in my hallway. She was awfully short, barely able to accomplish this without standing on her tippy toes.

She was pretty too, eyes dark brown, yet covered by long lashes and her hair, though short and choppy, added a cute effect to her entire face. She had rosy cheeks and her body was really nice.

I gripped my pink towel around my body and attempted to walk passed unnoticed, but I heard her voice. "Lady Robinson?"

I stopped, cringing a bit, before turning around. "Marlette, right?"