"Don't look so tense," Aadya chided, threatening to swat my hand with the spatula she was using the flip pancakes.
"I'm trying to correct my posture," I defended through a mouthful. "You said that would be important."
"Fera appreciates strong willed woman," she spoke with mild exasperation. "I meant sit up straighter, not move like a robot. You look near ready to bolt."
"I am!" I retorted. "Aadya, if I could, I would run until my legs gave out."
"You will keep that thought to yourself," she said sternly. "You will not show this fear to Ailbert and Fera. We don't want them thinking you're guilty."
"Don't show fear," I worded slowly, and tapped a finger against my temple. "Note mentally added to your list."
"The list was meant to be helpful."
"It sure helped to stress me out some more."
Forcing herself to pause her frantic washing of dishes, she attempted to smile reassuringly. The smile was terrifying. I shrank in my seat. I suspected that she hadn't been around children for a while. I wondered how long it had been just her and Nathaniel?
"There's no reason to be stressed," she said, voice unnaturally calm.
"Are you kidding?" I demanded. "I'm meeting the people on whom my life is basically dependent. And you're not fooling me, you're as tense as I am which isn't helping."
Grey eyes flickered shut and she took a few deep breaths.
"I'm not tense," she finally responded, stern eyes and tight jaw saying otherwise. "I've got other things on my mind... I promise that I'm convinced that everything will work out."
"You don't seem convinced."
"I am." She spoke through gritted teeth, tone expressive of her belief that I ought to believe her or at least pretend to. Despite being able to read her mind, I forced a smile on my gnawed lips. Her mind was such a mess that I could hardly decipher her emotions. She was torn about some sort of decision, and I had no doubt that it had something to do with me.
"Thank you," she sighed. "You just focus on eating. Fera and Ailbert will be here shortly."
Leaving without another word, I was left alone with the pancakes.
I stayed at the table, long after I finished eating. Aadya had yet to return, and I didn't dare wander across the house in the chance that she returned and would be further riled by my absence.
Kitchen dreadfully silent, I was left to my thoughts and that was never a good thing. Scrutinizing my poor choice of outfit, I was sure I'd make for an awful first impression. To be whisked away by strangers, when I was told to pack a bag, I packed for comfort. I hadn't imagined that I might need to dress to impress. The grey sweatpants and large black shirt would have to do.
Flinching when the door swung open, I sighed a breath of relief when I spotted long blond locks. In a much less casual attire than usual, Nathaniel pored himself a glass of orange juice and reached for a banana on the counter. In a fitted white button top, and body-hugging black trousers, he made move to leave just as soon as he appeared.
"You're dressed nice," I remarked casually.
Stopping in his tracks, his gaze fell on me cautiously, brows faintly furrowed. Clearly, he didn't know how to take a compliment. Grey tie bringing out the color of his eyes, he shifted uncomfortably, adjusting the short blade tucked into his waistline.
"I've got important meetings," he explained, as evasive as usual.
I knew better than to question these meetings. Aadya would certainly return before I could force an answer from the blond.
"Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" I asked instead.
There was a secret keeping that lingered in the air every time they spoke to me.
"No," he said, genuinely frowning.
"Does Aadya tend to stress easily?"
"No..."
"That's what I thought," I sighed. "Something's stressing her out, now. She nearly bit my head off this morning."
Nathaniel frowned again. If I didn't know better, his brows looked furrowed in concern. That wasn't reassuring... Before he could say anything on the matter, the door swung open again. I nearly fell off my chair, hoping Aadya didn't overhear our conversation.
"Ailbert isn't coming," she said, eerily calm.
Nathaniel watched curiously, ignoring her words to study her unnatural stance. I did not ignore her words.
"What?!" I demanded. "You said that he was my best bet."
"You still have other options. Don't panic," she said. By the way her eyes glazed over distractedly, I suspected the words of reassurance were more for herself. "He's afraid this will taint the Gladstone's already disputed reputation. I've asked him to reconsider."
"What happened—"
"Stay here," she said, already leaving the way she came in. "I'll go greet, Fera."
Watching her rapid escape with befuddlement, I looked to Nathaniel for answers. He shrugged, watching the empty space his aunt had held with equal puzzlement.
"What's with the Gladstone's reputation?" I asked.
Nathaniel groaned. "My aunt is supposed to be the one to explain everything to you."
"Well, your aunt seems preoccupied."
With another sigh he settled his glass on the counter. "She told you about the Gladstone child that hadn't been claimed," he started. "It only happened seven years ago, the situation is fresh on people's mind and very similar to yours. It was Ailbert's nephew, Finley Gladstone that had the affair with a woman outside of the Legion. Like you he was brought to trial. When no one claimed him, Finley was forced to speak up or let the girl suffer the repercussions of his mistake."
"So, the girl was fine?"
Nathaniel nodded. "But the Gladstone clan has since been mistrusted by most. The Legion doesn't forgive easily, even if the mistake isn't yours."
"Shame my mother won't be there to claim me," I tried to keep the mood light with a dumb joke. Nathaniel's expression turned serious, and too late I heard the footsteps.
"Fera," Aadya introduced, tight tone leading me to believe that they heard my last comment. I was off to a great start. Already, I had broken rule number seven. "This is Avalynn Morales."
"Nice to meet you," I said, choosing to pretend that I hadn't just potentially destroyed my last hope.
I had thought Aadya was intimidating looking, but it was nothing compared to Fera. A head shorter than Aadya, her eyes shone so darkly that one couldn't distinguish her pupils from her irises. Large scar running across her caramel skin from her elbow to the inside of her wrist, her calloused hand took my soft one and squeezed just a little too hard for the gesture to be friendly. Eyes narrowed as she unashamedly scrutinized every inch of my body, I gulped. Those black eyes would give me nightmares.
