Marisa's mother came to wake her early the next morning, already back to work after a long, stressful night. The Lord had promised them the day off, but when dessert had been served several minutes late, the luxury was withdrawn. Thankfully she had expected him to find fault and provide said punishment, so she hadn't bothered to tell Marisa. This sort of behavior was unfortunately common for the Lord and his wife, and every time she was forced to face the disappointment her daughter tried so hard to conceal; the same anger and disillusionment she had seen in the child's outburst last night.
She placed a hand on the slumbering girl's shoulder and shook her gently, whispering in her ear. "Marisa sweetheart, it's time to get up for breakfast."
The golden monkey growled as Marisa buried her face deeper in the pillow.
"Come on honey, I want to talk to you for a minute before you go wash up. Sit up please."
Marisa sighed and grudgingly pushed herself upright, brushing back her messy blonde curls to reveal the angry expression on her face. The monkey crawled into her lap, wrapping his arms possessively around one of hers.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you about this last night," her mother began, "but you understand how hectic it gets with these parties. Your father came by after dinner was served, but you were already asleep. Now you were very upset last night that you didn't get to go to the party, weren't you?"
Her words met a silent, steely glare.
"I know you like you help us and the other servants, but the parties are different. I know you want to see what you're missing, and I'm sorry. All I can tell you is that one day you will see. I would swear it upon my life. A party is no place for a child of any age, and we want your first party to be special. We've been planning it ever since you were born. As soon as you're grown, you may go, but you have to wait until then. It isn't easy, I realize that, and I would change it if I could, but that is how it must be."
Marisa never broke eye contact and never spoke a word. Her daemon remained motionless, wearing the same scowl on his dark features.
Her mother looked down at her hands for a minute before reaching under the bed, retrieving a book wrapped in brown paper. "Your father left this here for you last night. It's a new book about metaphysics. I know your education is not always interesting to you, but I assure you, it is important, and you will thank us for it one day."
She glanced at the book with slight disdain, finally removing her arm from her daemon's grasp to accept it. Placing it to the side, she resumed her angry stare, but her mother was distracted, focused in on the golden monkey.
"Marisa, has your daemon settled?"
Finally, she spoke. "Yes. Why?"
Her mother's face lit up and she threw her arms around the pair. "Oh my dear, this is just wonderful! Your father and I were so worried that you would have a dog daemon like ours. But this," she drew back to regard the monkey with tears in her eyes, "this is just perfect, Marisa. He is as stunning and unique as we had always hoped your daemon would be."
Marisa was perplexed by her mother's strange behavior. Sure, her daemon was different, but what did it matter? What would be wrong with her having a dog? Most of the staff had dog daemons, as did her parents, and they all seemed to be fine. Should she have been more concerned about the shape her daemon would take? She pulled the monkey closer to her body for reassurance. This is what she wanted. She wanted to stand out, wanted to be different from her parents. This was good. Even her mother thought it was good. Her golden monkey was right for her, and she loved him this way, loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.
"Oh Marisa," her mother continued to chatter, "just wait until your father sees this! He'll be so pleased. I need to go help him serve breakfast. You get cleaned up and we'll have breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen." She kissed her forehead, and paused, admiring the monkey one last time, then practically skipped out of the room.
Marisa looked down at her daemon with confusion, but he simply shrugged. She picked up the book and stashed it back under the bed, considering the possibility of opening it a little later. Wandering over to her little dresser, she pulled out one of her plain dresses and stuffed her feet into her bland, yet practical, shoes. Quickly changing into the oversized sage garment, she turned around and caught sight of her daemon holding a certain sock.
"Put that down!" she hissed, but he held it out to her instead. She pretended to consider his proposal, having decided on a response instantly. "Well, I suppose I could put it on for just minute."
She took the sock from him, withdrawing their golden treasure. It sparkled even brighter in the morning sun. She slipped in around her small wrist, twirling around the room with her daemon in an imaginary waltz.
"When do you think they'll have another party?" she asked, not giving time for an answer. "I hope it's soon. I want to have another look. If we can do it once, we can do it again, right?"
The monkey nodded.
She grinned. "Good, then it's settled. Come on, I've got to brush my teeth before breakfast gets cold." Carefully dropping the bracelet back into its sock container, she rolled it up and shoved it under her dresses. "Who knows, maybe we'll even find another one of those."