~ Trigger Warning:
* References to emotional manipulation and prior neglect
* Lingering familial tension
* Discussions of past social isolation/control
* Mild blood imagery (fork stab)
* Emotional crying/breakdown recovery
* References to strained parental relationships
* Brief unsettling/uncanny imagery (mask description)
Nyx
Zen was going to stop there, but I poked her in her side. She stabbed me with her fork hard enough to draw blood. Okay, someone is feeling violent.
This did not stop me from continuing to poke her while the others watched in amusement until she revealed her other suitors. "Lux Ajei and Raine Xi have also mentioned their interest in courting me. They are not interested in being in a mating circle with Byron, so they are waiting for my arrangement with him to be dissolved before approaching you about courting me." Her voice got very quiet at the end.
It was adorable in an awkward sort of way. I snuggled into her side. She attempted to push me away, but I clung to her. She may be higher-tiered than me, but I was physically stronger than her.
She was laughing at my silliness. Our wrestling was interrupted when we heard Florien speaking while rubbing his face. "Of course. I noticed they seemed to be focused on you at the party, but I didn't realize it was this serious already."
A helpless laugh escaped Zen. Master Salgrave stared at Zen for a long moment, then unexpectedly, he smiled. A tired but real smile. "Truly amazing, just like your Mãezinha, Renee. I suppose," he said slowly, "I will be more… attentive moving forward."
He got up and stepped closer, carefully. Like he wasn't sure if he was allowed. Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her head.
Zen froze, then melted slightly. He straightened, turning toward me. His gaze held mine—measured and respectful. He gave a small salute. "Thank you." I inclined my head once.
"I will leave you to enjoy the rest of your time in our home. I need to go speak with my wife now. Please let Dave tell me when you are ready to depart so I can come down to see you off." He squeezed Florien's shoulder, then he turned and left.
Florien lingered. "You should move back to the main house for the rest of your fourth year. You can return to the townhouse when you start your fifth year internship. We will clean your room and update it." He pulled his sister into a tight hug. I didn't say anything about the tears falling into Zen's hair. "Florien..." Zen started to speak, but Florien interrupted her.
"I will also ensure your schedule is no longer subject to… external influence. Your personal maid mentioned wanting to transition into a maid assistant role for you so I'll let her know to set up a time for you two to talk so you can decide if you two will be a good fit in this aspect." he added. His gaze flicked toward the door before he pulled back to smile down at her.
"I'll have a maid bring you a tablet," he continued. "You can order anything you need. I mean it, get anything you want. We will make things up to you. I swear it. See you later, Nyx." Then he was gone before we could get a word in.
Silence returned, but this time, it was different. Zen collapsed against me, shaking. I wrapped my arms around her without hesitation. "I didn't know how to get past her interference," she choked out. "I didn't… I just…"
"I know," I murmured against her head. Her fingers clutched at my shirt.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For… seeing me. For… not letting them…"
"I wasn't going to let them keep misunderstanding you," I said softly. She cried harder.
I just held her. After a while, when her breathing steadied just enough, I started talking. Not about Byron. Not about her father. I talked about anything and everything else.
I made her laugh. Really laugh—soft, shaky, but alive and new.
This was a new beginning for Zen.
***********************
We spent the rest of the early afternoon picking things out for Zen's room. When we heard voices echoing in the hallway, we paused in our debate about teal or deep sea blue for her new room color.
Soon, two elders carrying armfuls of shopping bags entered the room, and it took them a moment to realize the room was occupied. Their conversation cut off immediately as they looked at Zen with surprise.
"Zen pequenino, és tu? Já voltaste a casa?" (Little Zen, is that you? You have come home?) The woman who I assumed was her grandmother dropped her bags.
Zen got up, rushing over to her grandmother. They embraced, then she turned and embraced her grandfather. I took photos of this happy moment for Zen to scrapbook later.
"I'm coming back to stay in the main residence for the rest of this academic year." That was all it took. They moved at the same time, pulling Zen into a group hug. Their joy burst out of them in a way that filled the room instantly.
"Oh, finally," her grandfather said loudly. "This house has been entirely too quiet without you."
"And who—" her grandmother began, then stopped when her eyes landed on my standing form. When the recognition came, it was fast and sharp. "Oh. Welcome to our home, First Lady Ajei." She and her mate bowed to me. Their smiles were polite and distant.
In that moment of recognition, their energy shifted. Not hostile or wary, but tense. "Lady Nyxara," her grandfather said, straightening slightly. "An honor indeed."
"Please," her grandmother added quickly, "you must stay for dinner. We're making frango assado—Zenaida's favorite—and we will not take no for an answer." Zen looked hopeful at me.
I checked in with Elias and Líma. They had stood up to greet Zen's grandparents, the former Crest House Master and Madam. They both gave subtle nods of approval. I exhaled when I told the couple, "We would like to stay as long as you don't mind feeding three extra people."
Granny Salgrave beamed like we just made her day. "Oh, good," she said. "What are you looking at there, dear? Oh, you are redecorating your room? Good. It hasn't been changed since you moved out. Scoot over, let me see what you have already picked out. You know I have an eye for these things."
Granny Salgrave plopped down on Zen's other side to our amusement. Zen groaned as Granny Salgrave made her opinion known about everything in the cart. Her rapid-fire suggestions in Portuguese made it hard for me to keep up. It turned out I was the only one not fluent in the language.
Zen promised to make sure languages were added to my academic lessons if after the ritual I didn't regain memory of the five languages Grey knew.
It's not like I don't have enough on my plate. I'll have to remind Grey at that time to include the languages in the memory exchange. I do not currently have time to learn five languages.
Grandpa Salgrave was sitting in an armchair, showing Elias and Líma some very strange-looking masks he found at the flea market they had visited today.
I swear the one with horns was looking at me. For the rest of the evening, I genuinely enjoyed myself. By the time Líma, Elias, and I left for home, I felt relieved knowing the Salgrave Manor was in a far better state than when I'd arrived.
I completely ignored Elias when he escorted Líma and me to my suite. He left saying he looked forward to seeing me bright and early for training. He laughed when I firmly shut the door in his smirking face.