Inayah sat on the seat before Salem’s study table, staring at the thick bound book before her.

Lycan mythology.

Salem had given it to her as basic reading material, the start to their first few days of literacy and lectures had gone rather roughly. Not because Salem was a tough teacher, in fact he was rather patient and willing to repeat material for her.

But Inayah just loathed reading. She hated writing even more.

Evenings had once been her favorite time but after Salem introduced education hour, she constantly glanced at the clock overhead, wishing that time would slow to a lumber. She would rather spend the day polishing silver, scrubbing the floors or stripping off curtains - hell she would rather do all Mathilde’s chores without so much of a whine, than sit down and read.

The activity was rather tedious.

Salem did not make it easier with his sterness, though for the most part he was either playing his violin or reading a book by the burning fire hearth.

Such as now-

Inayah stifled a yawn whilst leaning far back on his large seat and stretching her arms overhead. Her gaze rose from the book, automatically searching for Salem who sat on the velvet seat, a warm glow of orange cast on his angular features making them sharper. Beauty such as old Greek marbles.

She rested her elbows on the table and fisted her cheek, idly studying Salem. She blew out a breath, puckering her lips in a petulant wistful manner then yawned - this time with deliberate loudness.

Salem’s fine pointed fingers turned a page. “Focus, Inayah.” His voice was prominent enough to cast its own distinct shadow across the room, reaching her.

Inayah stretched her feet beneath the table, gaze lowering back to the book though her attention was elsewhere. She decided to randomly flip through pages in a timely manner - not seemingly too fast nor too slow, lest he knew she was not paying attention and punish her.

Inayah sucked on her inner cheeks then licked her teeth then drummed her fingers on the table, evidently trying to gain his attention again. It took five more rounds, including humming lowly before Salem shut the book and glanced up in her direction. He gave her a pointed wry stare.

“Yes?”

Inayah peered at him innocently, “Yes?” She mimicked with a faint arc of an eyebrow.

Salem faltered at her expression, though his face remained imperturbable, his shoulders seemed to ease. The corner of his mouth lifted into an amused smirk; “Do you loathe education that much?”

Inayah inhaled a deep breath, not knowing how to approach such a statement, especially since it would make her seem rather arrogant. She pursed her lips in mock contemplation; “It is not that I hate studying... I just...” she lifted the book, “I find it unnecessary.”

Salem cracked a knuckle, “Is that so?”

“Yes,” she nodded, “that aside, I have a question for you.”

“You may ask.”

“It is about your brother,” she started and something seemed to shutter closed behind his eyes. “I just have a question, is all.”

Though Salem remained rigid, a muscle in his cheek jumped. “Go ahead,” he finally responded after an unnerving drawn moment. Inayah drew in a shallow breath, “Okay, well what happened among your brothers and you?”

The question, it seemed, was unexpected for he fell silent yet again. Those sapphire blue eyes dimmed in thought and his face angled away from hers, facing the fire. Inayah considered withdrawing her words but knew the damage had already been done, she could only hope he would speak.

Salem’s chest rose with an inhale. “We fell apart due to certain circumstances.”

“What circumstances?” She perked up, resisting the temptation to pry him for further answers. He was feeding her breadcrumbs and she craved a full meal.

Salem pursed his lips and shut the book in finality, a silent command for her to drop it.

“Goodnight, slave.”

The next day Inayah was crouched by the laundry line, this time hanging sodden curtains that weighed heavily. Her face was flushed from the day’s work and though the atmosphere was cold, she felt hot and perspired.

Rising to hang the long silk curtain, Inayah faltered at the familiar sensation of something - someone - watching her. This time she did not turn, simply continuing to empty the large buckets filled with clothing.

Her heart was slamming now, hairs along the nape of her neck standing on edge, alert. She inhaled a measured breath and finally peered over her shoulder tentatively.

The woods remained leering, tall trunks reaching for the sky and seemingly caving towards her in a haunting manner as they cast long shadows. Cracking her stiff knuckles, Inayah turned completely and started towards the woods.

She stopped after three steps, casting a glance over her shoulder at the mansion. The kitchen door was gaping but Mathilde nowhere to be seen. Her steps were small and hesitant, and as the distance between began to subside, a cold finger slid down the curve of her spine.

She stood by the treeline, peering through the semi-partial darkness that was once unfrightening yet now seemed horrific-like. A sense of impending danger drifting from one trunk to another. Her eyes darted about wildly, then more curiously, scrutinizing each part for something off.

Something shifted - or rather she heard the soft crunch of dried leaves.

“Girl!” Mathilde’s sharp voice startled her out of the trance and she jumped slightly, hand rising to clutch at her chest whilst she whirled around. Mathilde was holding an empty cauldron, face flush in anger.

Inayah glanced back at the forest before shrugging off the eerie feeling that pervaded her senses and turned back.

“I will be leaving for the weekend,” Salem’s voice drew her from the large Latin book set on her laps.

Inayah stared at his back as he stood before the wardrobe, slowly sifting for clothes for the next day. “Oh,” why? “Is everything okay?”

Something about his movements bespoke stiffness. He had not spoken throughout dinner, neither did he call her for studies, she simply brought herself whilst figuring that he was too distracted to bother.

Now sitting on his bed with her legs crossed, book balanced on her lap, Inayah wondered if something had happened during the short period. He had grown, in a way, more wary while moving about the house, constantly studying by the window’s manor with hands clasped formally behind his back.

He was searching for something. But what?

“Yes,” he turned then and approached the bed, laying out two dress shirts. “In the meantime, I have spoken to Mathilde about my expectations from both of you.”

Inayah grew silent, when he did not speak her head tilted to the side curiously. “And that is...”

“Neither of you will be leaving the mansion whilst I am gone, nor will you open the door to anyone.” Those sapphire blue eyes finally rose and closed an intimate circuit with hers, “do you understand?”

Something leaped in Inayah’s throat. She nodded slowly, “I understand.”

Neither withdrew their stares, simply watching each other. Salem’s eyes flickered below her nose line then rose, “Blow out the candles and come to bed.”

Nodding again, she sat the book with slight elation at the thought of not having to study again. Still, a slight anxiousness twisted at her belly.

Blowing out the candles, she approached the partially drawn curtains and began to pull them shut.

Just then, he eyes listlessly roamed to the forest before her, then lowered to the ground--

Where a man stood, watching her.