Chrysalis

Chapter Three - Sealed Fate

She skips towards us, a small skinny blonde girl sporting a smile from the Gods themselves. Twevryn of the Noble House of Elawych. As if today could not get more annoying.

Her irritatingly perfect smile parted to make way for the presumably stupid words that poured from her arrogant head.

"Good, I found you." She greets Bastian while stepping in front of me as she approaches. "Our fathers have a lot of planning to do today for our ceremony, so I want you to be..." She looked back in my direction. "...undistracted and fully focused later when my mother and I arrive for supper." She beams eagerly at Bastian, who was clearly overwhelmed by her presence. That makes two of us. "Our fathers have much to discuss." She reaches for Bastian's hand and he fights the urge to pull away from her display of affection.

What a hound's ass she is. Twevryn is Bastian's betrothed. Their parents had arranged their marriage when the two were still wordless infants, so neither of them had a say in the matter. She is always far more enthusiastic about their Promise than he is, and the poor girl has always seemed ignorant of his mild distaste for her. I can see it, though. I can see his withdrawal when she gets close to him. I can see his eyes reach for anywhere other than her own when she speaks to him. She has always been rude and bitter and he is laid back and calm. Having grown up in a high-trade Kindred meant that she always has the best of everything. Her parents are Noble cloth traders that only trade with others of the same Noble class or higher. Her House has always been the best-dressed in Aansodir. Over the years it has given them a stuffy arrogance that, in their minds, has placed them above all others, even those within their class. It's an unwise mindset for a notoriously Natureless House.

I moved aside, as normal, and let her continue to act as if I wasn't here. Her behavior was normal of Noble men and women, they often looked down on lower classes; they are considered to be our betters. Her loud voice started getting the attention of all those present in the little corner of the market where the merchants stored their waste, but she didn't care, she craved the attention. It already smelled like rotting meat and other discarded goods so she was the perfect addition. I giggled at the thought and continued to watch poor Bastian's face as he listened to her rants and demands.

"And what are you doing down here near the filth markets anyways? You do not have lessons today, I made sure of that. My father would not be pleased to know that you are in this part of town." She barked at him accusingly, staring around with her stink face at the markets she has repeatedly claimed were for peasants. I guess in her eyes and many Nobleman's eyes, they were.

I can't stand watching her belittle my friend, especially when he is someone she is supposed to respect since they are betrothed. Something about her tone and posture urged me to go against my usual quiet tendencies. Against my better judgment, I intercede.

"What are you doing down here in the markets that you said were beneath you and your House? Are you not afraid to be seen down here with us filthy peasants?" I asked her sarcastically, knowing that my "insolence to her high-Kindred" would set her on fire. If a Noble Elder or any Nobleman saw my display of disrespect, I would likely be punished. Her eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of her head. The sudden eye contact was overwhelming, I resisted my Nature...as bad as I wanted to seal with her in that moment and turn her world upside down.

She was Natureless, like the rest of her boring House. She also seemed to forget that I was not. I could overpower her in the matter of seconds; I could drop her to her knees without touching her, I could pour every dirty secret of hers all over the ground before us and no one would know it...other than Bastian. But unlike her, I had restraint and self-respect, and I would never want Bastian to see me stoop so low. Twevryn's House was among the most respected and powerful Houses in Aansodir and other villages near and far.

House Elawych and House Radale never got along. Our fathers were sworn enemies and we grew up not being allowed to associate with one another. Both Houses being skin/fur traders, our fathers often clashed for control over the trading market between villages. So respectively, the animosity between our Houses trickled down to Twevryn and I, and we were both just fine with that.

She stewed on her response for a moment. "Do you see why I object to you hanging around these parts?" She sniffed the air and glared at me. "They never seem to take out the garbage."

"Alright Twevryn, I have had about enough of your –" I start to get heated as I took a step toward her. I wanted to risk everything in that moment. I wanted to show her that she was nothing...that her social standing meant nothing against a Meddler. I stopped myself when I saw a wide-eyed Bastian throw himself between us.

"Okay! I think it's about time we go Twev." He said as he laughed nervously. He put his hands on her arms and pulled her back towards him. Yuck, Twev? What the hells kind of nickname...

"Yeah I think it's time you go, Rev." Ignoring his annoying nickname for her, I always liked messing her name up on purpose, it was like baiting a fish.

She went to look around him as if she had anything good to say, when he rested his hand on the side of her face, gently guiding her eyes to his. In a loving, soothing voice he spoke to her. "It is time we go now." His eyes were soft and demanding as they poured into hers.

She blinked once, twice, done.

"Yes it is my love, mother and I have many affairs to attend to." She said in a monotone, sweet, trance-like voice, completely forgetting her anger towards me. She smiled at him, confirming that all was well.

His seal was flawless and the two began to walk away as if nothing had happened. When he half-looked back, he shamefully didn't meet my eyes. It's a good thing he interceded, a squabble between a noble girl and a peasant girl would have been one-sided and would have ended poorly for me. No matter what Twevryn did she would never be punished and Bastian knew that. But boy did I wish to have at her for once, she wouldn't stand a chance.

They left the markets in a quick fashion and the buzz of thenearby markets once again flooded my ears. I continued on my way toward the Elder's District when an uproar near the Main Gate caught my attention...