Th_omas

" How about we help each other?" He says and I look up at him, eyes still wet from the tears streaming down my cheeks, heart freshly broken from the public humiliation and betrayal that was Lucas's breakup. I can faintly make out the first droppings of snow floating magically under the light of the street lamps. It's that time of the year, a time for wool coats, a time for relaxing, none of which I'll be doing. "I'm an orphan with a wicked aunt and a boyfriend who left her because she has nothing to her name, how could I possibly help you?" I say another sob escaping my lips. "Marry me" he replies and my eyes widen in anger. Is he mocking me?. I look into the eyes of this stranger and see he's dead serious. "I need a wife, you need a home, marry me and you'll have all you want". I nod.

A Snowy Marriage (A Christmas agreement)

The crowd makes way for the woman who sat on the throne like seat, as she tut-tuts, the action feeling oddly mocking.

The excited smile that she wears on her face makes me know that she doesn't feel sympathy in the least. I wonder what sort of a woman she would be, a woman who is happy at the death of her youngest wards, a woman who seems to hold all the power in this place and so she bends it to her will making those under this darned roof, kill and murder themselves.

She looked round at everyone with a sort of wild glint in her eyes, the wildness that suggests that she is obviously enjoying this. She's enjoying making people bend to her rule, she's enjoying making them brutal to each other, she's enjoying exercising her power in this way so everyone can know their place.

They should also know that she has connections among their ranks, she's a predator who calculates her every move, she doesn't take a step out of place and the words that Arden tells me earlier become even more heavier with meaning right now.

This is the sort of person who doesn't make a mistake, every action is planned, every reaction is fore planned, there is nothing that would seem to catch her by surprise, and I'm surprised myself at how much I'm easily reading her.

It's almost like she doesn't try to hide it in, the way she stands, the way she moves, the way her lips cover up in an evil smile at the death of someone who stayed under her roof.

Judging from the way the chefs died last night, I had thought that the life of one of their own would mean something much more to them, but this woman proves me wrong immediately as she burst out laughing. "Which one of you did this?" she asks in amusement, like she was going to congratulate that person.

I still don't seem to know the rules that guide this winter games, that is if there are any rules at all, and that scares me. Why would someone kill another person just barely a day after announcing that the winter games have begun?.

"Who holds her family crest?" she asks making her voice sound authoritative, and I wonder what she's asking for. No one steps forward as everyone wears a neutral calm on their faces and her gaze lands on me.

I  initially snap my eyes away, and I know that's where I made my first mistake. In an attempt to save myself, I bend down and play a little bit with the ropes of my boots, they are beautiful warm leather boots that Adrian ordered for me this morning, and I play with the latches and the rubies embedded into these boots.

That seems to save me and she gives me a sly smile and moves her gaze away from me. I breathe out more comfortably now as I don't feel like I'm being hunted anymore, no one steps out and I don't think the person that has done this will stay long enough for them to be caught.

She lets out the laugh of a crazed woman and I can see what Adrian's father said about not trusting her. She's enjoying this.

Chapter 43