AN: hi, guys. Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! I think I slept for two weeks straight when finals ended. Anywho, I've decided to type another chapter while my sleep schedule is still so hectic. Thank you for the kind reviews, I can pinky promise all of you that each one brought a smile to my face! Also, to answer ShiningxXxShadowxXxThiefxXx's question (hopefully not in a horribly long incoherent messy answer) about how I continue writing (dealing with writer's block).: I'd have to say that I really can't escape writer's block. For instance, if you look at, say, EVERY ONE of my other fanfics, you can see that none of them but the ones that are meant to only be one chapter are finished. I hate myself for it and I'm sure my readers do too (especially my Away We Go readers considering I wrote up to the last chapter then had a huge brain fart and stopped writing it completely). But that doesn't mean that I will never get back to these stories. One of my favorite things to do is look back on things that I've written and come up with the next segment for the characters to go through. I like this fic especially though because the world is so in MY control. I don't have to worry about writing a story for a certain book and then having a sequel come out that changes everything and makes my fic look lame. One thing I have to say about my characters is that when I come up with them, when I create them in my mind, they aren't just figments of my imagination anymore. Once I write them down and share them with you guys they become a concrete thing in my life. So to try and avoid writer's block for stories like this, I try and keep my character's and stories in mind at all times. So if I'm driving in my car and a song comes on, I'll think "Cassius would so sing to this song in the shower". Or when I'm out with my friends I'll think "I wonder which of these boys Daphne would try and flirt with". Silly things like that. But it's things like that that make me think about the story more and turn more ideas around in my head so I don't get completely stuck in a rut. Okay sorry for rambling I just thought that was an interesting question!
So here's the next chapter for my awesome readers. Enjoy!
There is something very wrong with the House.
It is a subtle change, so subtle that it takes me a moment to even realize that the air seems colder, the atmosphere surprisingly gloomier. Jules and I walk quietly behind Cassius as he leads the two of us into the House.
"Feels weird not having to come in through a window for once," Jules whispers to me.
"If you're not feeling up for using a door, you know where the nearest window is." I playfully shove him as he leers at me.
"Cassius!" Daphne rounds the corner and waves, charming as ever. It takes me a moment to take in the blooming bruise on her cheek. I think about when Maxim told Cassius that he used Daphne in order to get Cassius to agree to side with Maxim in the first place and flinch as I finally see the result of Maxim's persuasion technique. "I'm so glad you're back!" She grabs Cassius' hand and hauls him after her. "I've had a lovely dinner set up for all of us to attend," she announces.
"I'm Julius, by the way," Jules says, raising an eyebrow.
"I've heard many things," Daphne says, not stopping her stride as she led all of us to the dining hall.
"That might explain the lack of eye contact." Julius smiles as if he has accomplished something.
"You're too funny for your own good," I tease.
Jules shrugs. "Someone in this horrific House has to have a sense of humor."
I smile, though I can't seem to get the thought of when Daphne rounded the corner out of my head. She didn't say hello to me, acted as though I didn't exist. Though she did that too many times to count when we were both Brides, it stings me now to think that she may have reverted to her old habits.
But why? Why would she choose now to go back to acting like I'm here to ruin her life?
Dinner was a quiet ordeal. No one asked any questions, though I knew there were some bubbling up Julius' throat. He kept eyeing Daphne, obviously noticing just how stunning she is. I kick his shin under the table when he stares a little too long at her. He looks ruefully at me and drops a shrug as I roll my eyes.
Cassius and I kept minimal eye contact. When our eyes did meet, we both quickly looked back at our plates, pretending the other didn't exist.
"Well," I say at last, "this was an awfully quiet affair."
Daphne flits her eyes toward me but says nothing in return. Instead, she turns to Cassius. "Oh, darling, I just can't wait for tomorrow night!"
"What's tomorrow night, darling?" Julius asks.
Cassius glares over at his brother. "There's a council meeting. Representatives from all colonies will be in attendance."
"It's going to be a ball," Daphne gushes.
"Right up your alley, Daph," I say.
Daphne ignores me, confirming my suspicion that something having to do with me was bothering her.
"You two okay to man the fort while we take a leave of absence for a night?" Cassius asks us.
"If you're asking whether or not we'll burn down the House, I assure you that you will never know for sure unless you take a leave of absence for a night." Julius' smile promises anarchy.
I shake my head. "We'll be fine."
Daphne shoots another look at me before she turns her gaze away.
After dinner I am left to roam the halls. I don't want to go back to the room that I used to stay in; I'd honestly rather sleep on the floor than relive the memories that still haunt me to this very day. I pass by several guards and house workers who no longer bow to me as they did when I was a bride; now they simply pretend I am invisible.
Which seems to be a running theme with the people in this house.
I run into Daphne a little while later. Maybe I'd been roaming the halls this entire time hoping to find her. I wave to her. When she does nothing in return I throw my hands up. "What did I do to you, Daph? You haven't even seen me since I left."
"Dont pretend," Daphne almost snarls at me.
I take a surprised step back at her vehemence.
Daphne always seems resigned when it comes to being angry; she can usually hide behind her facade of arrogance and vanity to make it look like she could care less about the situation at hand. But now her eyes are glassy with unshed tears as she glares at me. "He loves you, you idiot, can't you see? The day you left you nearly tore him apart. But you don't care about anyone but yourself, or anything but getting back home."
"That's not true," I immediately snap.
"You don't think about anyone else for a second. You leave him here with me to clean up the shattered pieces you left of him. But that doesn't matter because I love him, and if you love him like you say you do, you'll either stay or you'll go. Don't keep appearing only to disappear and leave him broken again. I can only fix him so many times."
I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. I am stunned. Daphne rolls her eyes and, turning on her heels, walks away from me.
AN: oh, jeez, sorry this chapter is so short my loves. I meant to make it a lot longer but I'm in the middle of arizona and there's barely any wifi or cell service out here. I'll update with a long chapter when I'm back home in Kansas. Just a heads up, though, the next chapter is SUPER FLUFFY maybe a liiiittttllleee lemony.(; Oh, I'm bad. I've been waiting to write the chapter after this one for a very long time, so trust me it will be great!. Reviews are always appreciated. Till next time!