You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I wished they'd turd into real
You broke the promise and made me realise
It was all just a lie
- Angels, Within Temptation

The following week was perhaps one of the quietest Ariana had experienced for a long time. Clairesse refused to go out except to feed, and once to attend a meeting during which she insisted that Ariana did not leave the Haven, but she refused to say what the meeting was about or entertain the notion of the younger Kindred accompanying her.

It took her all of two nights to read every single book in the place,and by the third night, Ariana was bored. She crept into Clairesse's room, hoping the older woman would at least talk to her, but Clairesse's eyes stayed focussed on the sewing machine in front of her and the long length of fabric that she was pushing through it.

Eventually Ariana sighed. "Well, if you're not going to talk to me, at least let me help or something. I'm dying here," she grumbled, at which point Clairesse, finally, looked up.

"I have work to do, Madame. If you want something to do, the Gran Ballo is next week and all the Court is invited. Go find yourself something to wear. Unless of course, you prefer to be the embarrassment of the family," she replied tartly before bending her head over her work again.

Ariana pursed her lips. "I couldn't care less about being an embarrassment. I've been treated like one my entire Requiem," she said snappishly.

Again, Clairesse paused and looked up. She sighed. "Sorry," she muttered. "I try not to remember my unlife in Adelaide. When I look back on it, I find myself wishing I had refused the Embrace," she added sadly.

This took Ariana by surprise. "But it always seemed so easy for you. You seemed to really enjoy Court. You had the Elders eating out of your hand. And you were Prince. How many neonates can honestly say that?"

"The Elders ate out of my hand because it was convenient to them and it enabled them to use me in ways I did not understand," Clairesse snapped angrily, causing the younger woman to shrink back a bit. "You think it was easy, being the childe of that, that, salaud? Why do you think, as time went on, I spent less and less time at the Daeva Haven? Why do you think, when I briefly returned, I would not go near the place?"

Ariana blinked a few times, the confusion starting to show in her expression. "But I thought..."

Clairesse laughed. "You thought I was just causing friction for the sake of it?" she asked.

"Well, yes."

With a sigh, Clairesse got to her feet. "Tell me, how would you react if you were forced to give up everything you've worked for and leave everything you've come to know and care about behind, only to learn that everything you knew and cared about was a lie?" she asked pointedly.

Ariana raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I guess I'd be peeved?" she replied uncertainly.

Clairesse smiled darkly before turning away and closing her eyes.

Clairesse frowned as she glanced through the thick curtains, recognising the car that had just pulled up in the street. Benoit's familiar silhouette walked up the path and knocked on the door.

Francis was curious. Of course he was, but Clairesse ushered him into another room and signalled for him to stay in there, before going to the front door and opening it.

"Benoit! I was not expecting guests this evening!" she exclaimed in tones as polite as she was able. She saw the figure now climbing out of the car and her eyes widened. Why was her Sire visiting her, unannounced, on a night she had requested to be left alone?

But she had no time to voice such questions as he pushed past her into the living room and turned to her, arms crossed against his chest and cold eyes narrowed into a frown. It was with great difficulty that she fought the urge to protest against his intrusion on her night.

"Your Grace," she murmured, bowing her head in respectful greeting. "To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?"

Cold silence radiated from the man as he stared at her. Being the childe of the Duke of Adelaide had its advantages. This was one of the clear disadvantages. Anyone else disturbing her without an appointment would be tossed out, followed by sharp insults from her furious tongue. But even as Prince, she was powerless to invoke such a reprimand against her own Sire. Though it was her right, and his obligation technically to obey, she knew all too well that the punishment he would mete out to her behind closed doors was not worth the saving of her pride.

"I have some news that concerns you, Prince," he finally said quietly.

Always he addressed her simply as Prince. Not even Prince Marguerite, or Your Excellency. Just Prince. And again, Clairesse had to remind herself to hold her tongue and refrain from reprimanding him just as she would reprimand anyone else. Finally she opened her mouth to respond. "Oh? And what news is this, that is so urgent?" she asked.

"Funny," Clairesse said as she broke out of her reverie. "Because that's exactly how I felt within a month of resigning Praxis and arriving in Paris."