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“You’ll stop right there, Arkane,” my father raised his voice, his jaw ticking. “Get back to your dinner. Adam…” He waved a hand to our head butler. “Clear this mess.”

My knees straightened from the floor as I watched Mr. Adam carry the bunny away, and I just stood there, not being able to take it. Why? What was so wrong with wanting it? What did I do wrong?

“Get back to your seat,” my father demanded in an authoritative tone.

I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek as I returned to my chair. I learned one too many lessons after I protested and talked back to him. My mother slid me a secret wink, squeezing my hand before she pacified baby Amelia in her arms, who watched me wide-eyed, sucking her fist into her drooling mouth.

Soon, the talk around the table continued as usual, as if I didn’t exist. Except for my mother, no one acknowledged me. Uncle William and David were busy talking with Father, while their wives adored Grayson, who had just learned to eat with a spoon, sporting an angry frown.

“Like this, son.” My eyes lifted to see my father smile at Marcus. “See, now it’s easy,” he said in a soft tone that he never used with me.

“Okay, Dad.” Marcus’s face lit up as he started chomping down on the greens now dunked in ranch, just like Father had taught him.

Was this what a father was supposed to teach his child? All my father taught me was duty and responsibility. I didn’t know why my father always treated me differently.

As if he felt my eyes on him, Father snapped toward me. “Finish your food, Arkane,” he said firmly. “You need your strength.”

Not to enjoy my food, like he had told Marcus.

I nodded anyway and ate my dinner, which now tasted more like the stale juice box that Lucien made me drink once.

That night, I returned to my room at eight sharp for bed as per my father’s orders. Only I knew I would stay awake for hours before sleep came for me.

I had only just gotten into the sheets when my door creaked open. I stilled, holding my breath, only to relax when I realized it was Mother.

“Arkane.” Her soft, sweet voice echoed through the darkness.

“Mom?” I asked, switching on my night light as I watched her close the door and make her way to me with an excited smile. What was she doing here? She wasn’t allowed to read me bedtime stories anymore. Father said they would make me weak.

“Here.” Her eyes glowed as she handed me something wrapped in a fluffy white blanket.

My nose scrunched. “What is—”

“Shush.” She smiled, holding a finger to my lips. “Don’t tell your dad.”

Frowning, I slid open the blanket, and a pair of large, round brown eyes fixed on me. It was the bunny.

“Promise you’ll keep it safe,” Mother said softly, ruffling my hair.

I nodded excitedly. “Thanks, Mamma.”

“Come here.” She smiled, holding out her arms.

I jumped into her arms, hugging her tight, smiling as I breathed in her flowery smell.

If only I’d known that was the last time I would hug her, I wondered if I would’ve held her more tightly.

For the next month, I kept Ronnie secretly in the closet, feeding him carrots and playing with him late at night, when I couldn’t sleep. Lucien and Karl made fun of me for having a pet bunny like a girl, but I didn’t care. He was my only company in this big house, and my best friend.

That day, I had just returned from school when a small scream ripped through the air. My feet took me straight to the kitchen, which was empty, and seeing the half-open back door made my heart beat quicker.

The scream only continued. I knew something was terribly wrong. I flung my book bag away and ran out.

Mom was standing in the courtyard garden, trying to console a crying Grayson while Marcus was folded over on the ground, screaming loudly like he was in terrible pain or something. I thought something was wrong with him until my eyes landed on something small, ripped open on the ground. Its insides were out as blood pooled around its body, coating the white fur of its skin a shade of bright red. The big, round eyes that used to look at me with so much trust were now lifeless.

“Mamma?” I mumbled, turning to my mother. “Is that Ronnie?”

She handed Grayson to Georgie and approached me with a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Arkane,” she said, crouching down as she held me by my shoulder. “You shouldn’t see this. Go inside, honey. Georgie has made you snacks.”