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The walls are adorned with silk tapestries; the ceiling is decoratively molded; a large chandelier with sparkling crystals hangs above an expansive table that could seat twenty people. A number of bronze statuettes and opulent vases stand on little tables and dressers.
The three people sitting at the table look desolate in the huge room, and I wonder how they can bear to eat their meals like this. A chilling feeling of loneliness overcomes me. And that increases when I feel Ms. Fabrici’s piercing gaze on me.
“You’re late, Miss Franklin. Didn’t you read the daily schedule?”
“Yes,” I admit. “I just didn’t realize that it started today. I figured I’d have time to settle in first.”
She raises her thin eyebrows in surprise, and her lips become more pinched. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re here. The first thing you need to learn is discipline. You clearly have a major deficiency in that area.”
I bite back the comment on the tip of my tongue. Ms. Fabrici indicates with a nod for me to sit beside Alfredo. Yoru makes himself comfortable at my feet under the table, which seems to be another thorn in the side of the lady of the house.
“It appears your key spirit has a few things to learn too. A spirit should know its place, and that’s certainly not under the dining table.”
“In school that’s normal. Our spirits are always with us, even at meal times,” I object. I don’t see why I should have to send Yoru to join the other spirits lying in a corner on the other side of the room. A caiman is curled up on the floor, staring at me and Yoru. Beside it is an Arctic fox with such gleaming white fur that I’m sure somebody has spent hours brushing it. A large sleek cat is also lounging on the floor, looking much more relaxed than the other two key spirits.
“Well, things are done differently in our circles, and I expect you to conform.”
Resentfully, I bend down to Yoru, ruffle his fur, and ask him to go join the others. “It won’t be for long,” I promise him, giving him a look of encouragement.
With a drooping tail, he slinks to the corner and sits down at a respectable distance from the others, who don’t even acknowledge him with a glance.
A couple of staff members enter the room with plates of soup, which they put down in front of us. We begin to eat in silence. The only sound is the clinking of spoons.
“Do you like your room?” Mr. Fabrici asks me eventually. He doesn’t sound as hostile as his wife.
“Yes, thank you. It’s really nice,” I say.
“Well, you won’t spend a lot of time in it,” he says. “But we want you to feel comfortable here. We realize that your new schedule will seem onerous at first. But I’m sure you’ll adjust to it in time and see the positive effects.” He smiles at me as if he’s just given me a lovely compliment.
“We’ve hired instructors for you,” Ms. Fabrici elaborates. “But we want the majority of your training to be kept within the family. That simply makes the most sense. So Alfredo will be available to you with advice and support, to ensure that you make rapid progress. He’s even excused himself from college for a couple of weeks. As someone with a gift, he’s keen to support you. So he considers the disruption worthwhile.”
I glance sideways at him, and his mischievous smile is unmistakable. He’s obviously enjoying having me under his thumb and that I’ll have to do as he says.
“It’ll be great. I’m sure we have loads to talk about. We’ll have a chance to know each other better and maybe even discover some of each other’s dark secrets.”
A shiver runs down my spine. He wants to squeeze information out of me. And I have a pretty good idea where this is headed. He intends to find out the truth about Alessandro’s death. That’s the only reason he was prepared to take time out from college.
“I guess everyone has secrets,” I reply without hesitating. “You know that as well as I do.”
His face twitches, but he quickly regains his composure. “There are sometimes questions that prey on a person, that have to be answered in order to find peace of mind.”
“It’s unfortunate if you have to rely on others for your own peace of mind, don’t you think? That puts a person in a very awkward situation,” I retort, looking Alfredo straight in the eye.
His lips narrow, and he seems to be struggling to suppress his anger.
“Well, I see you have a quick tongue,” says his mother. “Here, you’ll learn when it’s best to keep quiet.”
I figure I already have a pretty keen sense of that, which is why I say nothing further and finish my meal in silence. Finally, I stand up, excuse myself politely, and make my way back to my room.
But it’s not long before I hear quick footsteps catching up to me. “You should get changed immediately. We have a training session now. It’ll give you an idea of what to expect in future, and I can gauge your current level.”
I’m really not in the mood to train right now, but I’m so angry that it would give me satisfaction to let loose on Alfredo.
Back in my room, I change quickly and read Ayden’s message.
“Sorry we didn’t get to see each other. I didn’t think they’d come for you so early. I wish I had a chance to say goodbye. I hope you’re doing okay there. Let me know as soon as you can. I love you. Ayden.”
The last few words make my heart beat faster, and I stare at the message for a few seconds. A smile spreads across my face, and I feel fortified by it. I decide to reply after training and head out.
