Chapter Text
Chapter One - Prologue
She's afraid.
Good, she's right to be frightened. With my father away, Amarantha is always at her worst. And the twins are due back any day now.
Yet when she looks at me there is something more than fear there.
Sadness.
Wonder.
Recognition, even, but we have never met before.
She is a stretched bow, her body tense and her feet carefully placed. She looks ready to spring into action. My guess is she'll try to run, if she gets the chance.
I hope she doesn't get a chance - it's always worse for 'guests' who try to run.
I'd put her age at 20 or 21, not many years older than I am. Her clothes are practical, designed for durability and comfort. There are flecks of colour on the sleeves - paint?
Feyre, Amarantha calls our visitor. Her expression hints at some kind of joke at my expense but I don't think too hard on that. Amarantha thrives on other people's distress, so I won't give her the satisfaction of seeing me unsettled.
My eyes return once more to the young woman in Amarantha's grip. She looks strong now, ready to fight, to survive, but for how long?
They always fight at first but eventually everyone breaks.