y

would be kinder than my father's, the f

didn't offer a hand. He stepped out into the crisp air, leaving me to navigate the

s princess,"

ally is

d to do: I painted a smile onto my face

nding on the porch. She looked to be in he

ind of hug reserved for lovers, not family. When she finally

as the rumors say," she snee

're a mute. A

lace. I wanted to scream, to ask what I had done to

the wom

older than mysel

woman commanded. "Take her to her cha

marble floors that clicked under my heels and the suffocating scent of

light of stairs that led deep into the bowels

he only room down here, hidden away from the rest of the pack. Just past

sturing to the tent, before un

, press this button, since you can't talk. I

eft. The click of the lock echoing

had been holding rushed out in a silent torrent. I sobbed into the pillow, but e

my face. She understood, applying a f

the bed for hours, w

on. I didn't fully understand it, but I knew I was supposed to be ready. I paced the small, cold room

was slightly ajar. My heart skipped. Had El

airs, my bare feet silent on the cold stone. I searched the rooms on the upper

wide, and my

rnoon, his the lady he had hugged at the entrance. They were both naked, their skin sl

S

th another woman o

locked eyes with me. Draven didn't stop. He didn't even try to h

e said, his voice flat and bo

dy there, waiting to lead me back to my room. That's when it clicked, the door left open, the "

room, I sat

d. For the first time, I s

ded until she finally left. As soon as the door shut, I ran to the

r years. I shouted into the silence of the water until my lungs burn

till a masterpiece. I hated every inch of my reflection. I practiced my smil

t destroying the only thing people valued.

ou are alive is bec

olfless freak kept as a pet b

ss with the ethereal

ll I was al