om in the servants' quarters. My head throbbed,

er expression one of utter disdain. "

y. You'll be working under Veronica Shaw, the Senator's Chief of Staff. Rep

cent of expensive perfume an

efficient, always dressed in severe dark suits, her eyes hidden behin

s a further degradation, a death

ore the end, I' d heard whispers. Shaw had a moral compass, buried deep. An

is wasn' t the end. May

found a cracked mirror and stared at my reflection. Bru

my new

n a newer wing of the estate. She was at her desk, a silhouette a

nformed me of your... new assignment. You will be responsible for basic clerical duties. Filing, copying

. Shaw,"

mall, uncomfortable chair i

Julian took every opportunity to torment me, tripping me in the hallways

th a detached amusement, so

ittle cash, enough for another bus ticket. My fam

he estate grounds, the mai

omewhere

, Seraphina clinging to his arm, both of them d

eart

r a walk

pleasant sound. "A walk? With a b

nk you can just leave? After ever

fed. "Needs me for

ile widening. "You' re my little pe

ing. "Besides, where would you go? Back to your dreary little life? Yo

eraphina," I said, my

pe my father' s plans for you, for us. You thought you could

And if you ever try this again, I' ll make sur

eraphina and I have plans. But don' t

ving at our dinner party tomorrow night, Ethan. Make sure

if I were a particularly una

"We want everyone to see Seraphina' s... disciplin

ne in the darkness, the hope o

My future, as Seraphina had so cruelly

serve at the party tonight," she said, her lip curled in distaste. "And that you'r

umiliated, stri

ed, nor did I wear one. It was a jab, a reminder of the future I a

nto the tight, uncomfortable

p and down. "Like a trussed-up chic

malice. "You know, I was thinking. After you serve

mach c

ea. A desperate

one. "Ms. Shaw needs me to finish cataloging so

Veronica Shaw' s n

ned. "Shaw? What doe

m sure I can manage boot

the Senator, made him hesitate. "Fine. But don't think

ormed

ath. A tiny victory.

y out. Not just fo

n enigma, her motives hidden. For now, I had to play the part of the

urn the tables. Or