Valene:
Mistress Harlyn suggested that we go outside on the landing. There was hardly anyone outside if anyone at all. Everyone was entirely too excited about the infamous lycan Alpha’s presence. I knew when Harlyn wanted to isolate us that she wanted to speak candidly. Whatever the reason behind the tension between her and Master Wade, I was sure I was about to be privy to it.
She walked ahead of me, inhaling the air, I reluctantly proceeded to follow. “Isn’t the night air exhilarating?” Harlyn expressed.
“It is, Mistress,” I replied with a small smile.
Harlyn whirled around and leaned against the balcony. “You can drop the act, Vali. No one’s around to catch you slipping.” I didn’t respond to her because I didn’t know how to. Not looking directly her way, I saw from my peripheral, that she smirked. “Fine, let’s ease into this then. I brought you something.” She said and handed me a small side plate full of my favorite sweets. I thought they were meant for her when she picked them up before going outside. “I know you love your sweet treats.” She chuckled.
With the high stress that I was feeling, I certainly wanted the chocolate. “I shouldn’t, Mistress.”
“Oh come now!” She pressed, shoving the chocolates at me. “Please,” she took one of the chocolate cakes. “It’s not poisonous if that’s what you’re worried about.” Harlyn followed by popping one of the cakes in her mouth.
“I don’t believe that they are, Mistress but-”
“Vali,”
To avoid further confrontation, I took the sweets. “Thank you, Mistress.” I smiled and bit into one of the cakes. The euphoria that covered my tongue was overwhelmed with untold pleasure. “Mm, I needed this,” I confessed. With a sigh, I dropped my head as I continued to chew on my sweet treat.
“I figured you did,” Mistress Harlyn chuckled. “So, tell me,” she said. “What do you think about this Alpha?”
She’d asked me this once before but somehow this time I felt that she wanted me to go deeper. “I’m sure I don’t know what to think about him, Mistress. As I said before, I’d only seen as far as the pants and shoes he was wearing.”
“Yes, but…I’m sure you have feelings about what he said about your kind earlier.”
I should have known that this was going to come up sooner or later. “My feelings on the matter don’t matter, Mistress,” I reassured her. Maybe if I was lucky, this answer would encourage her to leave well enough alone. Naturally, I was not that lucky.
“If your feelings didn’t matter, I wouldn’t have asked you about them.” She said to me. “Now, tell me how you feel. I’d hate to use that mark on you so that you can be honest with me.”
The expression on her face was joking but I knew that what she said was far from one. Harlyn may have said that it bothered her to use the Vassal Mark, but somehow, I questioned whether this claim was true.
“I was upset by it, of course. I’m sure anyone would be.” I finally confessed.
“Tell me how you really feel.”
She knew that I was far more than upset and she wouldn’t leave the subject alone until I answered her in the way that she wanted me to. “I wanted to knock him on his tail, no pun intended,” I admitted further. “Part of me hoped that he make a move just so that I could-” Now I was going too far. I stopped and took a deep breath before taking a deep breath.
“True be told, I wanted to see it too.” She said after a prolonged moment of silence.
I didn’t reply to that; I certainly wasn’t going to egg the conversation on any more than it had been.
“Do you think that you can take him, Vali?” She asked.
“No, of course not-”
“You sound like you do.” interrupted Mistress Harlyn.
“I didn’t intend for you to assume-”
“But I didn’t assume. You wanted to knock him on his tail, right? That insinuates that you believe that you, a human, can take on an inhuman…a lycan at that.” She said.
“Well, while I have confidence that I could at least surprise him, I know that I cannot beat him.”
“Hm…not as a human, at least.”
“No,” I said. “I guess I’d need a little of an inhuman spice to at least have a chance.”
“Hmph, yeah…right.” She smiled. “I’m glad you mentioned that Vali because I have a question.”
I had no idea where she was going with this, but I bit the bait nevertheless. “Okay.” I obliged.
“You’ve been talking to daddy, a lot.” She said.
That wasn’t a question but I’d answer anyway, “No more than usual, outside of the attacks that have been happening.”
“Hm…right,” She murmured.
I was tired of her beating around the bush. “Is there something wrong, Mistress?” I asked.
“I’m not sure yet, to be honest, Valene.” I had no idea how to respond to this so I didn’t. I didn’t need to stay quiet long, however, before she spoke again. “How do you feel about us, Valene? About me and daddy? And speak honestly.”
“I care deeply for you both. I’d gladly lay my life on the line for you both.” I answered without hesitation.
She sighed. Was this not what she wanted to hear? I wasn’t sure either way but I was becoming increasingly frustrated.
“How should I believe that, Valene? You’re our vassal. Of course, you’d say that-”
“It’s not because I am your vassal, Mistress.” I quipped to clarify. She should have known better than this and in a minute I was going to voice as much to her if she kept down this path.
“Any vassal would say that, Valene. It’s your obligation to speak words of devotion because you are sworn to the Wade-”
“No, Harlyn!” I finally snapped, looking her dead in the eye. “I may have been sworn to your family for the last seven years of my life…but I lived by your side…as your sister for the first twelve. I have never forgotten that! Apparently, you have or else you would not question my love for you or your father!”
“My sister…” She scoffed, dropping her gaze to the ground. “Of course, I have not forgotten. Does not change that I am a realist of the fact that we are simply not blood…regardless of how much we seem to care about one another.”
“Are you trying to upset me?” I asked her as I had never been so aggravated with Harlyn as I was at this moment.
“Does it matter?” She asked. “Your emotions shouldn’t matter.”
“And yet they do,” I quickly reminded her of what she had said just moments earlier. “According to you.”
She was silent for a moment and then said, “Since you care so much about us…would I be mistaken to assume that you’d try to make yourself official?”
“Offic-” I put down the small plate of chocolates, my appetite suddenly lost. “What are you on about, Harlyn?” I was definitely starting to become belligerent and to be honest, I did not care about the punishment at this point. “Spit it out-”
“Watch…your tone, Valene,” she said, looking around. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to make sure that I didn’t get in trouble or that her vassal wasn’t caught disrespecting her. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the latter considering this conversation.
She was angry now, I could tell. Harlyn had the ability of pyrokinesis and at times when she was overheated, it showed through her hands. Steam began to rise, her eyes glaring angrily at me.
“Speak plainly, and I will.” I should have thought better of my words but at this point, I thought, what did it matter?
“No need…I can tell by your attitude alone that you are confident of daddy’s decision to turn you into one of us-”
“What?! What on earth are you talking about?!” This accusation certainly came from left field. “Turn me? I-”
“Don’t deny it, Valene. Is that what you’ve been doing?” she approached me frustratedly. “Have you been negotiating transition?”
“No!” I said with pure exasperation. “I would never do such a thing and not discuss it with you!” I exclaimed. “I don’t-I don’t even know where this is coming from?”
Harlyn stood there facing me, her heated gaze unwavering. “So you’re really going to stand there and tell me you don’t know what I am talking about?”
“Yes,” I said. “Have I ever hidden anything from you, Harlyn? Have I ever given you the impression that I was intimidated enough to do that?”
I could tell that she didn’t appreciate me not stepping down to her, but she needed to understand something about me; regardless of the positions…or the titles…I would not play this game with her. Not now, I was too far gone down the path of dishonor toward my Keeper to care about how I presented myself at this point.
“What is going on out here?” Penelope came out of nowhere. When she gasped, I knew that there was no excuse that could be made as to what she had walked in on. “I’m going to report this to the Alpha! This is unacceptable!”
When I turned around, I saw that Penny’s aunt was staring daggers at me. She quickly followed after her niece.
“Don’t worry, Vali,” Harlyn said without a smile. “I’ll save you from the lashing deserving of a misbehaving vassal.” She walked past me. “I think more of you than that.”
“Don’t bother,” I retorted, forcing her to stop in her tracks. “It’s clear that you think very little of me, Mistress,” I said. “I’ll take my lashing as a misbehaving vassal should.”
Shortly after this, Master Wade came rushing outside along with a crowd of others. It was no surprise that Penny exaggerated what she’d seen judging by the look on the faces of those staring.
“She blatantly stared Harlyn in the eye…she was boldly speaking with complete condescension.”
“Don’t be so overdramatic, Penny.” Harlyn hissed. “It was a disagreement, plain and simple.”
“Disagreement?” Penny’s aunt interjected. “No vassal should have an opinion contrary to their Keeper-no matter how plain or simple it may be. Alpha?” She looked at Master Wade.
And immediately, he stared at me, a tension-filled look in his eyes. He didn’t know what to do. Or he did but judging by the look on his face, I knew that he wouldn’t.
I started to part my lips when the lycan Alpha came outside. There were a rare few with a presence just as powerful as Master Wade. This Lycan king was suddenly one of two exceptions. Invading the area with his dominating presence, he stood next to Master Wade. Finally, I saw him, and he was beautifully made.
His hair fell past his shoulders. His face was young but the silver streaks peppering his head as well as his facial hair caused one to wonder. His eyes were blue-grey and hard. Quickly, I looked away, not wanting to linger too long as the next direction that my eyes would follow next was his incredible form.
“Valene,” Master Wade said. He shook his head. “I will not go-”
“Forgive me, Master.” I cut him off. Interrupting wasn’t good either but I already knew what he was going to say, and I would not have him look weak because of my insubordination. “I accept any and all punish for my disobedience.” I then turned to Harlyn and bowed my head. “Please forgive me, Mistress.”
“A lashing should get this one back in her place.” Another inhuman boisterously suggested.
“Shall I take her into containment, Alpha?” Delta Minken asked.
Before Master Wade could answer, Master Slaughter stepped up. “I’ll take it from here.” He approached me, and took me by the arm, pulling me up from the ground.
As I walked past, Master Wade watched me with bewilderment and anger. “I will deal with you later.”
“Yes, Master Wade.”
The place where I was being taken was coincidentally, not far from the building that held the party, so we walked. Master Slaughter's silence was so loud that it was deafening as well as frightening. I knew eventually, he'd decide to break his silence and so I prepared myself, noting that it would probably happen sooner rather than later. And I was right.
“What on earth were you thinking, girl?” Master Slaughter snapped as we neared the entrance to the place where they confined insubordinate human serfs.
“I apologize, Master Slaughter. I-”
“I don’t need your apologies, Valene. I need your explanation! You placed the Alpha and the whole of Shadow Veil in a delicate position! Do you know what showing you leniency would have done to your father? He would have been counted as weak! Word would spread and every Alpha who has desired this territory would see an opening to grab it! We’d be at war for years defending Shadow Veil and the whole of Virginia! Just because of one ounce of leniency! And that was exactly what your father was going to do!”
I didn’t realize how heavily impactful my insubordination could have been. I suddenly felt more guilty than before. “It was not my intention to-”
“What happened, Valene?” Master Slaughter cut off. “What did Harlyn say to make you act so out of character?”
“Why does it always have to be about something that Harlyn has said?” I hissed under my breath.
“Because it usually is,” countered the Beta. Unfortunately, he was right although I never took this into consideration before. We walked further in silence and then Master Slaughter broke the silence between us. “So, are you going to tell me why this happened? Why… you decided to place yourself and your family in such a near-compromising position?”
“What family?” I said distantly. “How could I…how could I consider a family of inhumans…whom I serve…how could I ever consider them family? Family…family doesn’t serve family…family aren’t threatened with lashings if they don’t obey-”
“Your Keeper has never and would never do such a thing, Valene,” Master Slaughered countered. “And you know that-”
“He doesn’t have to.” I reminded him. “A perfect illustration of my point is what is happening…right now!” I pointed out. “Had this been a conversation between Mistress Harlyn and-and Mistress Penelope, no one would serve a passing glance. No one would bother to comment-or at least they’d be too afraid to. No one would punish Penelope, regardless of her insubordination. That’s an equal…that’s someone that…although not, could be considered family.”
“Valene,”
I sighed. “Basic respect should be a natural right…and according to this world, I am not even worthy of that.”
We wound in front of the containment building which was little more than a concrete stable with metal bars. On approach, I could tell that Master Slaughter did not want to unlock that door and usher me inside to find a cell for me to sit in.
When he finally unlocked the door, a mild odor of musk and dirt filled the air. It was dark and chilly in the containment unit, hay strolling the floor; when I said this place was little more than a stable…well, it was little more than a stable. Every other cell was empty. The ones that weren’t vacated contained a beaten down, scarred, and frightened human vassal who had no doubt been punished for doing considerably less throughout their whole lives than I had that night in talking back to Harlyn. It was sad to see but it was also a reality to be accepted. With difficulty, I shoved my thoughts of these unfortunate souls to the side, realizing that I’d be in their position a few hours from now.
“I know that it is hard, little pup…holding your piece where it should be spoken freely. I do not know how hard and I do not know how you feel. I doubt that I could even imagine if I am being honest with myself.” I appreciated his compassion but I knew that something was coming after that not only was right but also what I needed to hear. “It is unfortunate,” Master Slaughter, “But unfortunately, this is the world that you live in. Silence is key to peace, Valene. I wish you would have stayed silent for not only your sake but your father’s-”
“And allow Harlyn to have something else to hold over my head?” I scoffed without even thinking about how bitter it may have sounded. “I just couldn’t…not after…” I didn’t finish my sentence because in the end would good would it do to do it? Nevertheless, I remembered what she had said…that she wouldn’t allow me to get in trouble as a misbehaving vassal deserved. Her words disgusted me...but they heard me even more. “I’d take my lashings any day over feeling as if I am under someone’s thumb for every single day of my life.”
I looked at Master Slaughter. We were suddenly standing in front of an empty cell before either of us realized it. With much hesitation, he unlocked the cell door, opened it, and waited for me to enter. I entered and stood there, waiting for him to close that door and lock it.
The Beta almost seemed to need permission as to whether it was alright to close the door, and I simply smiled and nodded.
He sighed, “You may not be Alastair Wade’s daughter,” he finally closed the cell and locked it. “But you certainly have his pride.”
At first, I wasn’t sure that this was considered a compliment, but then I saw the slight smirk on his face and suddenly, I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped.
“I’ll take his pride…over my misery any day.” there was a smile on my face as I said this, but sadness in my heart when I realized what it implied. I looked up at Master Slaughter, and when seeing the expression on his face, I knew that he realized it too.
“I hope that you find your happiness one day, Valene.” Master Slaughter said, reaching through the bar to take my hand. I felt an inner warmth when he said this to me. It meant more than I thought it would, to know that someone inhuman genuinely seemed to care about my happiness.
“Thank you, Master Slaughter,” I said with appreciation. “I hope so too.”
He released my hand and backed away. “I will be back to check in on you. I know it’s not ideal but…get some rest.”
“Have a goodnight, Master Slaughter,” I smiled.
He sighed. “Good night, Valene.” then Master Slaughter disappeared into the night.