Eyes Aglow (1)

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

"Oh, is that any way to treat your older brother, Isani?"

I cringed, "We have a three year age gap, please get over yourself."

Wyatt fumed at that. I didn't like the way he was pretending to be high and mighty. It was kind of pathetic. I mean, most of the time, he just followed Garret around like a lost puppy trying to imitate him. I couldn't understand why he'd come here to bother me all by himself.

After calming himself down some, Wyatt began speaking again, "I heard my little brother started a business all my himself and I wanted to see how badly, I mean, how well it was doing."

Ha. He wasn't fooling anyone.

"First of all, I didn't start it on my own. I had the help of Ymir here," I pointed to my friend, "And our little sister Mary."

"Mm. The man you brought from the slums I might be able to imagine helping you, but Mary? She's just a girl!" He laughed.

I was about to blow of fuse.

"Regardless of whether you believe me or not, it is true, and I refuse to take all the credit for something that was a joint effort. Now will you please tell me the real reason you've decided to bless our shop with your presence?" I asked sarcastically.

Wyatt frowned, "I came to warn you, brother."

"Warn me?"

"Yes, you seem to be getting a big head after father allowed you to join the fight for succession. But I'm here to remind you that catching up to Garret and I will not be so easy as opening a clothing business."

I smirked, "You think my plan is to take you two out with selling clothes? Wyatt, I know you think I'm dumb, but surely you can award me a little more credit than that."

It was really easy to get under this guy's skin.

"Isani! Will you continue to speak down to me? This behavior is unbecoming of your station!"

"Wyatt," my voice went cold and I thought I could hear him gulp, "I don't give a damn about you, or my noble station. You want to know what I do care about?"

As I was talking, I had made my way further across the store until I was standing directly in front of Wyatt and leaning over in his face.

"Eliminating pests."

I could have imagined it, but for a split second, I thought I could see my eyes glowing through the reflection in Wyatt's. I noticed that the amber color was really very pretty like that.

But I guess my threat had been enough to scare him, because Wyatt stumbled back, trying to get away from me and throw back some petty insult, but he ended up tripping over his own two feet and falling flat on his back.

The guards that had come with him rushed to his side, but he swatted them away.

"I will get you back for this Isani!" He screeched, then ran out the door with his tail between his legs. What a pathetic loser.

Ymir came running up to me shortly after, concern filling his eyes.

"Are you okay Isani?"

"I'm fine, Ymir, thanks for asking. I just really hate having to deal with that guy. Or any of the Hessians for that matter."

"Except Mary?" Ymir smiled softly.

"Yeah, expect her."

Ymir and I spent the next few minutes cleaning up the mess Wyatt had made when he fell, then it was nearly time to close up shop.

"You can leave the rest to me Isani, why don't you go home and get some rest?"

I felt bad, but I accepted Ymir's offer. I really was feeling tired today. Was it because I had to deal with that pest Wyatt? Whatever the reason, I was ready to go to bed.

When I was back in the manor, I headed to my chambers immediately, and I dismissed all the servants, insisting I could wash up alone. I did enjoy the luxury of people waiting on me hand and foot, but I still couldn't get used to people seeing me naked all the time.

I slipped out of my nightwear and into the warm bath. I could feel the tension in my muscles start to relax, and I heaved a sigh. This was just what I needed after today.

My thoughts began to wander to that day's events. First, Ymir's expression of gratitude towards my taking him in, then the incident with Wyatt. Both had been emotionally draining events, and my head hurt just thinking about it. I wanted to get to bed sooner rather than later.

Quickly, I finished washing up and left the bathroom in my bathrobe. But as I passed by the gigantic standing mirror on my way to my bed, I nearly fainted from shock.

When I looked at my reflection, my amber eyes were glowing like pools of molten lava. Literally shining, like some kind of firefly's ass.

"Have you finally awakened those long-dormant powers, master?"

I whipped my head around at the sound of the strange voice and saw a man sitting on the railing of my balcony. I had left my window open to let in some fresh air, and was now regretting my decision. I opened my mouth to call for the guards, but the man put his hands up in front of him as if to say wait.

"Master, there is no need to call for your knights. I am not here to harm you."

"Why do you keep calling me master?"

"Because that's who you are to me," the strange man smiled.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. What was going on? Why were my eyes glowing like that, and who was this dude calling me weird names? Today had been draining enough, I really didn't want to deal with this.

Then my vision started to go foggy, and I felt dizzy. I fell forward a little and had to catch myself on some furniture. Before I knew it, the stranger was by my side. I hadn't even seen him move from the balcony.

"Master, are you okay?"

"Stop calling me… master."

And suddenly everything went dark.