Gabriella’s hair spread out like tree branches with small flowers floating at the end as if the delphinium and cherry blossoms had a second chance at life along her unbending strands. As of late Gabriella has taken to bathing with baths of teas and fruit since receiving mysterious letter after letter, some from a hooded stranger and some simply appearing. All asking her to either be free or begging her to question the nature of her reality like she needed it. Her subconscious was doing a great job of its own. It’s been months and she was still having vivid dreams of what she could only describe as a possible reality or realities. Sometimes she’s a statue; a prisoner in her own flesh and other a moveable puppet. Smiling at a man she didn’t recognize like he was family. Who is this man playing house and could he imprison her at any point? Where is he now? Is she herself or just how he designed her?

Gabriella pulled her knees to her chest and rested on them in thought. If this mystery man is pulling their string with what seemed like their brother Alex’s help; how much of what she’s done so far was of her own free will? If she does leave does she bring Gabriel? She closed her eyes but unwilling to sleep. Not ready to bring more questions into the equation.

A small waved pushed on her back, startling her eyes open. Was she dreaming, no Gabriel slipped into the large tub big enough for him to be on the opposite side and their toes never touch behind her? She sighed, “Hello brother.” She looked up at the never used bath on the further side of the room. Their rooms use to be two when they were younger, but he cried every night and crawled into her bed until she begged their father to have the walls separating the room torn down and become one.

“Gabby.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her whole self into his arms. She unraveled herself and comfortably bent over the side of the tub. “What’s on your mind, my Love?”

A bad habit of his. Maybe she showed him too much affection. When all the men of the Fangaria family turn fifteen they are meant to experience a woman, but Gabriel hasn’t gone through the ceremony just yet. That worried Gabriella that it may be time. “Brother,” She turned to meet her reflection green eye to green eye and brown eye to brown eye lined up perfectly to what could have been. “Have you wonder what’s outside the castle?”

“Fangaria and everything belonging to Fangaria.”

“What if there is more, Brother? Have you ever left?”

“No. never thought about it.”

“Why would kids never think of living home? When Elaine came with child we didn’t question it. New servants we didn’t question it even with the King to the North. How can there be another king if everything is fathers?”

Although just as smart Gabriella, he didn’t care about these questions. He cared where they came from. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, hiked up one leg and pulled her back towards himself. All that consumed his mind was how to please her and if leaving was what she wanted he would make a plan with her.

“Brother?”

“Okay, pack what you need. We leave in a week.” He washed his face and leaned back. While Gabriella leaned on his chest. “Gabby.”

“Hmm…?”

“What will you do if there is nothing?”

“I’ll build something.”

“Why not tear father down and do it here?”

Gabriella looked up at her brother until he returned her gaze. “Brother. I do not eat someone else’s scraps. I will find something for myself even I have to leave you behind to do it.” She stated without any malice or arrogance just a matter-a-fact like saying a fish swims.

“I understand.” He let his fingers glide through her down her spine absentminded until she fell asleep into a light snore. He watched the strands gracefully fall from his hand each time he picked them up, just like the rest of her and he was going to help her do it. To him she was a force of nature and he was just the shadow left behind.

Seth didn’t know why but he felt better, lighter even stronger like all the pain he was in was a faraway dream. He believes it has to do with Marcus, but he wasn’t sure and there was nothing he could really do about. They left him alone to finish up his meal, that he scarfed down ages ago (not because he needed the nutrient but because of the memory of being hungry), they were meant to come back to escort him to have a bath.

Until then he resumed his pacing. The low fire swishing back and forth as if watching him like a curious child. Seth was equally as curious about the fire so he sat down in front of the fireplace crisscross. “Hello, I am-” he thought for a moment: he did not want a repeat of earlier. “My name is Azazel8.” He introduced himself. With the abandonment of his name he felt a small sense of self. “I am new here. I mean no harm.” The fire became lower and turned a bright gold as if listening. Seth became self-conscience. It’s a little weird to talk to a fireplace. He looked down bringing his knees to his chest shielding himself from the cold. After this action the fire grew three times its size quickly warming Seth. “Should I talk to you some more?”

He didn’t know what to talk about. He didn’t talk much and many like it that way. Sometimes he would talk to the servants, especially Aubrey and Sa’Rim. Even then it was mostly about work. Aubrey was perfectionist, but overly nervous. Sa’Rim, well he mostly just listened to him. Sa’Rim didn’t speak much like himself, but when it came to Seth he would vent once a month about his brother Gabriel. He didn’t want anything to do with Sa’Rim that wasn’t Sparring, although he was supposed to be his personal servant. Sa’Rim trained in all arts of sword, martial arts, laundry, arts, and languages for the approval of his brother that would never come. He didn’t know what to do, so he began narrating his thoughts and actions maybe that would amuse that fire.

“Lets us see what the clothing here look like. I don’t want to look like the NZri.” He stood up and the flame rose out of the fire place turning various shades of reds, purple and black. Okay nothing about the Victor. “My apologizes.” He bowed to the flame. “I only meant, I would prefer a few more layers.” The flame settled down to its previous size.

Seth went to the folded set of cloth at the far end of the table and brought them back to the fire. He unraveled them and found that they were both bottoms, one was gold pattern while the other cerulean and artic blue. He didn’t find either of them appealing. Seth preferred form fitting clothing as opposed to the loose fitting pants that could’ve been mistaken for a chiffon skirt. He placed them in front of himself one at time. “What do you think, blue or gold?”

It startled Seth when the fire turned blue.

That proved the fire was more than flames. “So….” He trailed off as he bent down to fold the gold pants back into a small square. “What else can you do?” The flame shot up then dived down in front of Seth like filling the glass of a man. He looked up as the flame took shape similar to that of a young bald Victor.

The door opened and the flame took its place in the hearth. Victor walked through first followed Marcus. Marcus saw him on his knees with the pants out in front, picked them up and tucked it under his armpit. “Blue it is.” Marcus joined his master at his side waiting for him to speak, but he was staring at the dim fire with a perplexity. “NZri.” He called his attention.

“Ah…yes. Tit Jjomáce Zviera, Marcus will escort you to the bath and show you around. Obey Marcus as if he was me otherwise he may punish you with anything that is not death.” He walked around Seth to his usual spot and took his chair. “You may take him now.”

Seth scurried behind Marcus covering his privates since he didn’t know what was on the other side of the door. “Wait.” Marcus turned, one eyebrow raised. “I don’t want him to know where this room or the connecting rooms are located.”

Marcus looked down at Seth. “I will blind you now.”

WHAT! Seth covered his eyes curling down into the fetal position using his body as a shield. He didn’t want to lose his eyes. Seth heard a small chuckle from Victor. Felt a hand on his back and then he knew nothing he did could stop Marcus from his goal. Seth looked up. Looked around. Looked where he knew the fire to be, but saw nothing. He cried.

“Not good enough.” Victor was dissatisfied. Seth turned to the sound of his voice. What else would they do to him? He could feel Marcus reach out. Instinctively he covered his face. “I will now bind you.”

Pain. Pain shot through his wrist searing through his skin like a hot branding iron up to his neck. He was shackled with the same craftsmanship as when he was pinned to the wall but now he was forced to cup his hands around his neck. He did not cry out. He dug his nails in and bit his tongue although his could feel his heartbeat radiate throughout his whole body he stood up straight as the tears dried up.

He felt like prisoner.

He felt trapped.

He felt helpless and because of the darkness in his eyes no one or thing would help him.

“Satisfied?”

“Satisfied. I will busy for a few days. Don’t bother me.”

“Yes, NZri.” And they left Victor alone. Seth follow by an invisible tether moving in an unknown land in an unknown space three spaces behind Marcus unable to observe anything.