Neco crossed his arms. “Why, you ask? You look at me so coldly, with such hatred. You have only yourself to blame for being a spoiled girl. You’re always clinging to your brother, always chasing after him. You shall one day return to me, Fate, once you have learned how to please your future husband. If you will not do it for me, you will do it for your brother.”
“You can’t keep him from me.” She glimpsed at Abyssus.
His violet eyes, like her own, glistened with longing and guilt.
Firmus ran his hand through Abyssus’ dark hair to comfort him. It seemed as though he wanted to do more for Abyssus, that he wished to stop Neco, but something held him back.
Fate’s gaze shifted from Firmus to Fortuna in an attempt to understand. The two Ignis Ancients could have effortlessly killed Neco if they wished.
She sensed a hidden purpose behind their cooperation. The longer she studied them, the more she thought they resembled two wild cats waiting to spring on a gazelle. She wanted to understand their strange behavior.
Neco dug his fingers into his sleeves. “What will you do? This is your last chance, Fate. If you accept, you may come see your brother again.”
Fortuna pushed Fate behind her. “She will accept. In exchange, Firmus shall become Abyssus’ personal guard. If any harm shall come to Abyssus, then Fate will be freed from the brothel.” She brushed her long willowy fingers across the side of her face, revealing a satisfied smirk.
Neco released a low grunt of discontent. He settled for some time, debating on the proposal. He repeated it carefully while checking for loopholes, “Fate will come visit Abyssus once more. He shall be under my control, but Firmus will be his guard. If all remains in agreement, Fate shall return to me and become my wife.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Fortuna leaned back, supporting the weight of her bosom against her arms. “If your brother interferes, then neither of us shall have a say in the results. We each hold our end of the agreement.”
Neco rubbed his face, growling. “Niteo....” He wrestled the thought of his brother and returned to the conversation. “How do I know you won’t instigate?”
“We will sign a contract. If I break my promise then I will relinquish my rights to the brothel and, of course, to Fate.”
He relented but remained skeptical of her proposal. “Fine, we will test our agreement.”
“Good, I will send a messenger to deliver a contract by morning. Fate shall be in my hands.” Fortuna called Fate to her arms and slowly led her out of the room.
Fate met Firmus’s gaze. Though she could not speak with him, she did her best to convey her feelings.
Protect him.
Fortuna held Fate’s hand on their walk back. Fate looked back on the community, knowing full well she could never again awaken to stare down from the palace balcony. The sunken faces she used to watch from a distance looked at her closely now. She realized that they watched her as much as she watched them, and perhaps they even knew of Neco’s transgressions.
Perhaps they pitied her as she had pitied them.
Fortuna squeezed her hand. “You decide your own fate, and you make that man pay for what he has done. You deserve more than this, don’t you ever forget that.”
Fate staggered through the snow behind her new caretaker. Each step she took drove the pain deeper inside. She pressed a hand to her chest as large tears poured from her eyes.
Fortuna guided her inside the brothel, gently pushing her by the shoulders.
They may have been walking but Fate could hardly tell. Before she realized it, she stood in front of the same room from which she’d escaped.
“Stay here,” Fortuna said. “I’ll bring blankets.”
Fate dropped to her knees, her lower lip trembling, and hunched over while holding her churning stomach. Her throat strained as she choked out a faint plea for her brother.
She should have run away with him to the Capital. Now her window of opportunity had closed.
“Get up, you lousy girl.”
Before she could look something hard cracked against her spine.
The old woman stood out of reach, extending her cane. “Can’t handle the life of the low and sultry, girl? Fortuna will ruin my brothel, bringing in every lousy rat from the street. Get to work!” She swung again.
Fate scrambled back until she hit her arm on a low table. The jarring impact caused a shudder of pain from her elbow to her shoulder as she spotted Fortuna’s silhouette moving through the hallway.
The Madam carried an armful of blankets, so she used her foot to open the gate.
Before Fate could cry for help, the cane struck the side of her head and she balled up, using her arms to shield herself.
Fortuna tossed the blankets aside and gripped the old woman’s cane tightly. “Stop that!”
The old woman struggled to pull her cane back. “Fortuna, I will not allow you to coddle another one of these rats in my brothel!”
Fortuna ripped the cane from her hands. “This is my brothel, and I will raise my girls however I please! If you do not relinquish your rights, then I will crush you with them!”
Fate watched Fortuna in awe and fear. For the first time in her life, she saw the form of a true Royal and the strength of a caretaker.
The old woman hissed, “Wicked thing!”
“Leave. I will not tell you again. This is my brothel, and you are not welcome here.” Fortuna waited for the former madam to leave, and then quickly returned to Fate. “Are you all right?”
Fate’s thoughts were lost to the wonders of her new mentor. She questioned whether or not Fortuna expressed the love and care of a mother figure. Fate had never known the care of a mother; it was painful to behold. She hugged Fortuna, hoping that she would prove to be as wonderful as she seemed.
“You can’t let them break you now,” Fortuna said. “You must rise again and take back the land that was stolen from you. The kingdom is yours.” She brushed away the hair from Fate’s ear and leaned in closely. “This is your time. You must be strong. You must prevail and bring balance back to this kingdom. I’m here for you. You will grow up and become the very queen you were made to be.”
