Gwen woke up screaming to the blinds being drawn, searing her skin.

  “Quiet!” Raf’s voice hissed in Gwen’s mind. “You’re supposed to be mute!”

  Gwen bit her tongue and covered herself with blankets.

  “The chambermaid said ‘Sorry,’ shut the blinds, and ran out of the room. She’s running to Lucille.“

  Gwen pulled the blankets down and felt her cheek. Her skin was wet and painful. She got out of bed and summoned a small orb of light. Walking to the mirror, she assessed the damage. Nothing that wouldn’t heal in a day or two.

  Gwen frowned at her reflection and then tossed a spare blanket over the mirror. She didn’t like looking at herself. She liked being herself, but seeing her own child-like eyes staring back at her was discomforting. It was like looking at someone else’s reflection.

  She walked around the room, hitting the light switch and lighting a candle. She preferred dim lighting.

  “Lucille is walking up the stairs to check on you. She’s moving fast. The snow leopard familiar is right behind her.”

  The door opened and Lucille Luxori entered. She looked stunning. Gone were the comfortable clothes of last night. Lucille went all out this morning. Her dress was tightly cinched and snugly hugged her hips. Her silvering hair had been braided up into a hive. Her chameleon familiar was on her hair, tail wrapped around a braid.

  The snow leopard padded meekly behind her, head bowed low in shame.

  “Are you alright, dear? I heard there was an accident?” Lucille asked as she entered. She gasped upon seeing the burns on Gwen’s face and arm. “Father above! You weren’t exaggerating about your allergy. I’m so sorry, honey. I will speak to all the chambermaids myself. This will not happen again.”

  “I’m sorry, too, Gwen,” said the snow leopard familiar. “I should have been here to protect you.”

  ‘Where were you?’ Gwen demanded.

  “Don’t be upset at him. Aspen was eating breakfast,” Lucille answered. “A familiar of his size needs extra care. He eats a lot, and I thought to feed him before waking you, so it was my mistake. But from now on, he’ll attend you all morning and eat when you eat breakfast. On that note, we really must get moving. Service is at noon. And now I need to call in a favor from the Bethesdas. I can’t take you to Mass with burn marks on the first day in my care. Eve would have me disowned and cast out.” She sighed. “It’ll be alright, but I have to rush. Can I send Justine back in here to help you dress?”

  Gwen pouted but gave an acquiescent nod.

  “Thank you, dear,” said Lucille. She turned to the familiar, “Aspen, you have your orders. Breakfast later.”

  Aspen the snow leopard familiar bowed his head, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Lucille left the room, and Justine the chambermaid returned. Justine was young and plain-looking. She didn’t say much except to apologize again and again. Gwen waved her apologies away and told the girl to find her an appropriate outfit for Mass while Gwen washed herself. Red-faced and mortified, Justine wiped her tears and got to work. She chose a pretty yellow dress with dark stockings, a black sash, and a tourmaline gemstone buckle.

  After her bath, Gwen slipped on the dress with Justine’s assistance.

  “That suits you,” said Aspen. “And it’s Mass-appropriate. Are you ready for breakfast?”

  Gwen smiled at the leopard. He was a beautiful creature, massive and muscular. ‘You must be hungry. Yes, let’s eat.’

  “I’ll inform Chef Millie to prepare your morning draught.”

  I could get used to this treatment, Gwen thought.

  Raf interrupted her reverie, “Don’t get too comfortable. You’re supposed to be a normal 8-year-old girl. Don’t act precocious.”

  Gwen bristled but Raf was right. She had to act like a child. She started skipping as she went downstairs. Justine called her “Little Miss” and begged her to slow down and be careful. Aspen kept up with no difficulty, bounding to the bottom of the stairs and turning to face Gwen, like a puppy challenging her to play. Gwen smiled and leapt at him like she was pouncing on prey. Aspen batted her with his paw, knocking Gwen down carefully.

  “Don’t laugh,” Raf said. “Stay mute.”

  That’s going to get annoying fast, Gwen thought at Raf. She got up and brushed herself off. Justine chastised both of them and ushered Gwen into a spacious dining hall. The room could easily seat twenty or thirty people, but only one table setting was prepared. A transparent crystal goblet, gilded with gold accents. Inside, the blood looked rich and inviting. On the floor in a corner, a metal bowl was half-filled with cubes of meat.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Aspen trodded over to eat in the corner while Gwen drank her breakfast at the table. Gwen almost went along with it, but she refused. She walked up to Aspen, touching him on his shoulder. Aspen stopped eating to look up at her. Gwen picked up his food dish and carried it over to the table, next to her goblet. She moved the chair for him to sit and motioned for him to join her. Aspen’s face was inscrutable. He blinked twice and then went to sit down at the table. The chair was large enough for him to sit on. He said nothing but bowed his head to Gwen and blinked slowly. Then he continued eating his meat.

  Gwen sat and drank her breakfast slowly. When she was finished, she let Aspen lick the inside of the goblet. Then she rubbed his head affectionately, avoiding the gem in the center of his skull, because she remembered the space around Apple’s gem was hypersensitive. Justine said it was time for Gwen to brush her teeth, so they left the table and went to the washroom to finish getting ready. Gwen brushed Aspen’s teeth when hers were finished.

  As they gathered by the door to leave, Aspen bumped his head against Gwen’s shoulder and purred. Gwen still didn’t understand what Mass was or where they were going, but she was afraid to ask, so she just kept her mouth shut, her hands at her sides, and did what she was told.

  Lucille entered the foyer carrying a large black cloak. She looked severe and nervous as she spoke. “Helping to share Adamsday Mass is one of the most important responsibilities the Luxori clan carries. It’s one of the ways we make ourselves indispensable. We must attend, and we must be on our best behavior. When families don’t attend Mass, or when someone shames themselves and their clan, they suffer consequences.”

  ‘What kind of consequences?’ Gwen asked.

  “Loss of privileges, access. The parcel of land they built their home on could be given to someone more faithful. They might be assigned an impossible task that would drain them of their quintessence, rendering them inert. They’d have to retire to Lower Garden in that instance; Upper Garden is for magi. There are worse fates, but you don’t need to worry about that. Just stay on your best behavior and follow my lead, okay?”

  Gwen signed, ‘OK.’

  Lucille tossed the heavy black cloak over Gwen’s shoulders, tied a knot at her clavicle, and pulled the hood over her head.

  “It’s a short walk to Adam’s Pulpit. This cloak should protect you from the sun. I’ll do my best to redirect light away from you. If you feel any pain, stomp your feet, and we’ll carry you inside. Sound good?”

  Again, Gwen signed, ‘OK.’ Only her fingers were visible outside the heavy black cloak.

  The walk to Adam’s Pulpit was indeed short and painless. Gwen decided this cloak was excellent and she might keep it on forever. She moved in total darkness with Lucille’s hand on her back and shoulder, leading her carefully, and Raf’s voice providing added context. They walked up some stairs and through a door into a room. Lucille told Gwen to stand still while she closed the blinds. When that was done, Lucille pulled back Gwen’s hood so she could look around.

  They were in a recreational space. Table games and lounge chairs filled the room, a sink and coldbox in the corner. Aspen remained by Gwen’s side the entire time. He stood like a regal sentinel, motionless but for a few languid blinks.

  “Beth should be by soon to fix you up, honey,” said Lucille. She walked to the sink to grab two glasses. She pressed a button, and running water flowed out of a little geyser over the sink. Gwen’s eyes were wide. She’d never seen such a thing before, having always drunk from wells, springs, and rivers.

  “Indoor plumbing,” Lucille explained. “Our Father’s invention, with contributions from Stonesinger and Reservoir clans. One of the many marvels of Upperclass living. Soon, this will all be normal to you. Here, sit across from me. We’ll play a game while we wait.”

  Lucille put the two glasses of water down and sat at a small square table. Gwen did as she was told and took her seat. The tabletop was an 8-by-8 grid with pieces arranged on either side. It reminded Gwen of something she’d seen before, but couldn’t remember. Maybe in a dream?

  Lucille explained the rules of the game, and Gwen grew certain she’d seen this played before. Maybe when she was much younger, back when she lived in Castle Moondial. But Gwen picked up the rules quickly, and soon, they began.

  “You’re playing too well,” Raf warned. “An 8-year-old wouldn’t be this competent at strategy games. You have to let her win.”

  Gwen frowned and conceded he was right. She threw the game and sat patiently as Lucille explained the fundamentals of strategy.

  “She seems nice,” Raf whispered to her alone. “And she’s a competent strategist. She’s no Rowan, but maybe you lucked out with her as your guardian.”

  I sure hope you didn’t just jinx it.

  The door opened and a pretty older woman entered. She had light brown hair with strands of grey at the temples. When she smiled, prominent dimples appeared.

  “Lucille!” the woman said. “I’m so glad you rang me. I can’t tell you enough how grateful I was for your help with Bartleby’s wedding. And this must be your new ward! You can call me Aunt Beth.”

  Beth swept into the room and kissed Lucille on the cheek, then she knelt to greet Gwen. She gently brushed Gwen’s burns. “Let’s wash this off, yeah?”

  Gwen shrugged. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but it didn’t seem threatening, so she didn’t object.

  Beth picked up the glass of water from the table and poured a few drops onto her palm. Then Beth put the glass down, cupped her hands together, and closed her eyes. She seemed to be humming. In an instant, Beth opened her eyes and spread her palms apart. Floating in the air between Beth’s hands was a sphere of water. It looked like ordinary water, but Gwen could sense the infused magic radiating off it. Beth slowly guided the water drop to Gwen’s burns, and where the water touched, Gwen felt a bizarre itch followed by instant cooling relief.

  Beth took out a small cloth and wiped the water drops off Gwen’s skin, saying, “There, good as new. Care to see?” Beth took out a round pocket mirror and opened it to show Gwen her face. The burns were gone. She looked like a normal, healthy 8-year-old girl.

  Gwen pushed the mirror away and signed, ‘Thank you.’

  The ladies gossiped for a bit about who’s getting married next, who will host the next soiree, and what clan fell out of favor. Gwen didn’t pay close attention. But they were done with what they’d met to do, so Beth and Lucille exchanged goodbye pecks, and then Beth left.

  Lucille returned her attention to Gwen. “We’ll have to pull the hood back up until we get to Adam’s Pulpit. It’s only a few doors down, but there are windows in the hall. And once we’re in the Pulpit, all the windows are stained glass with aetherlight behind them. Just follow my instructions and follow my lead, alright?”

  Lucille pulled the hood over Gwen’s head and tied the knot so no light would break through. Then she put a hand on Gwen’s shoulder and led her the rest of the way.