Invitation

The scene that Carina had caused with Jane had made everybody avoid her as if she were diseased, as if they were worried at any moment she could suddenly lash out at them like she had done with Jane.

The distance everybody was keeping from her suited her just fine, and made her feel like she could breathe a little easier, like she wasn't being watched every second of every day.

She knew that wasn't actually true, though, and that Vanessa had already sent some of the people employed under her to spy on her, following her every move. At any time of the day she could feel eyes on her back, a shadow in the corner tracing her every step.

It was exhausting, the feeling of being watched.

"Stepmother," Carina greeted, the fake smile on her face on full force as usual, "you called?"

Vanessa frowned, not even bothering to keep up the act of pretending to be nice. "You've received an invitation to a banquet three nights from now."

"Oh? You're letting me go?" Carina asked, surprised.

Vanessa clearly wasn't happy about it though.

"They've invited you personally. It would be impolite to decline, so you're going. I've heard that the princes might show themselves, so you better make sure to behave, and do not shame the Rayburn name."

"Hah! Don't say the Rayburn name as if it's yours. I'm the only real Rayburn in this room, and if anyone is bringing it shame, it would be you and your monstrous children." Carina spit out, glaring hatefully at Vanessa.

Vanessa opened her mouth, her face red in anger, about to argue, but before she could even get a word in, Carina had stood up and left the room.

As the door shut behind her, Carina heard the sound of glass shattering and a frustrated yell coming from the room. Carina smirked to herself and skipped all the way back to her bedroom.

Rationally, she knew it would probably only cause her more problems to rile Vanessa up so much, but she couldn't help it. Any time she saw her face she just felt this rush of anger and couldn't help egging her on. Sometimes she wondered if it was because the old Carina had held so much ill will for Vanessa that even now she was feeling it, and it caused her to be irrationally confrontational in her presence.

"Marie?" Carina asked, once she was back in her room and spread out lazily on top of her bed.

"Yes, Miss?" Marie responded, ignoring Carina's unladylike behaviour.

"Do you think if I keep riling Vanessa up like this, that she might die from anger one day?"

"I think you'd have to do a lot worse, Miss."

"Right. I'll continue working on it then."

Marie froze for a moment, wondering just what exactly went through her boss's mind for her to be thinking those kind of thoughts.

Secretly, she prayed for Vanessa and hoped that she would just give up and realise it wasn't worth provoking a beast like Carina.