Flash news, Xander was probably not a rake. At least, to the best of Vinnandra's knowledge so far. But what Xander was, was a man engaged to a very beautiful woman, and about to be married.
The gods, this was a good thing! This was the reality check she needed… and now, Vinn would never think about him in such an indecent manner. Ever again. She was a lot of things, but immoral she was not. She was so relieved she could barely contain it.
"Ahhhh, then you must be Mistress…?" Vinn asked the still naked lady.
The other woman cocked her eyebrows at her, shrugged on a robe, and answered in a still haughty tone. "Attamas. Selene Attamas."
Selene walked towards Vinn, her bare feet not making any sound. "Judging from your hair, you must be her. Why ever would Xander need a maid, and why must it be someone like you?" She mused out loudly.
Vinn had a feeling that her questions didn't demand an answer. "Do you too, mistress, think I am an irreconcilable evil that will bring doom to the world?" Ordinarily, Vinn's out-of-line question to someone from a high-ranking royal family like the Attamas would have earned her a severe punishment. Even if she was still the princess of Albridge, she knew very well that both the Lenklock family and Attamas family from the north were too mighty and way out of her league to mess with.
Selene laughed in a manner that said she hadn't heard something more absurd than what Vinn was saying. "There's only one evil in the world, the hearts of men. As for you… I would reckon that you're someone who shouldn't have existed. Just a mere blemish in a perfect world. In that sense, I would understand why Xander would take in someone like you. He has a thing for eradicating blemishes."
Vinn learned two things about Selene in those few minutes. First, Selene didn't see her as the rest of the world did. Her view was more brutal and to the point. While everyone thought Vinn was useless and unwanted, Selene thought she was nothing. So much of a nothing that Selene didn't believe anyone should have to waste any strength on her. Second, she observed that Selene's pride didn't stem from mere privilege. The confidence she reeked would have made anyone believe that she was a woman who got to where she was by talent, dedication, and work. Vinnandra knew she was right in her analysis, and it threw her off that she didn't know what to make of it.
Was Selene going to be an enemy, just like the rest of the world? Or was she going to be a royal pain in the ass? Vinn knew she would find out soon enough. Oh, and she wanted to find out. Besides, she was curious as to what kind of woman was engaged to a man like Xander. Was theirs a true love story? Or perhaps was it a case of an arranged marriage. The latter was common enough in their society, but it wasn't her business.
"What in the hell are you doing in my room?" Vinn jolted at the sound of Xander's voice. She turned on instinct and was met with a furious-looking man. But that fury quickly ironed out into a smile the moment his eyes rested on Selene's figure.
"Selene," Xander said, walking up to the woman, "you are here." Xander was smiling. The kind of smile a man only gave to the woman who rocked his world in every literal sense. Vinn, in all her two encounters with the man, had never seen him smile. And that smile threw her off. In his smile, she saw a different layer of Xander. A truly scary layer. That was because Vinn could bet her life that his smile was fake. She was sure of it. And yet, to anyone who was taking in the scene, Xander looked like he was madly in love with Selene.
"Xander," Selene drawled, resting a perfect palm on Xander's bare chest, which was showing through the open buttons of his leather vest. "I missed you." She pouted, looking so unlike the woman Vinn met a minute ago.
"I missed you too," Xander replied in a very convincing manner, although Vinn had a feeling he hardly meant the words, "but I told you my quarters are out of bounds." Even as he chided her, Xander's voice was the perfect mask of gentle, coaxing, and tenderness.
"I know, but I couldn't wait…" The gods, Selene no longer looked like the menacing, vicious woman Vinn was introduced to mere minutes ago.
Now, she looked like a woman captivated and enraptured. Next thing, Xander leaned in and kissed her. Vinn gasped, quickly averting her eyes. For some reason she never wanted to find out, her heart squeezed in her chest. "Now run along. I will come to you." Xander said tenderly. Selene, obviously satisfied with the reply she got, picked up her clothing and left the room.
Before Vinn could manage to process what had just happened, Xander bolted towards what she guessed was the bathroom, and then the sound of him vomiting penetrated the air. Vinn remained frozen, not knowing what to make of what was happening. Then Xander came out, his face a mask of anger.
"Here's your first task as my maid. Don't you ever, ever, let Selene Attamas anywhere near my room." Xander said, his tone not betraying the emotion on his face.
Feeling a bit light-headed all of a sudden, Vinn only managed to nod. She felt like she had to say something but was unsure what that should be. "Why did you have to suffer if you hated her this much?" She said instead, internally kicking herself in her head for being a little more audacious.
"I only dry heaved because I was dizzy. Besides, I don't like people in my personal space."
"Liar." Vinn retorted, all of a sudden feeling angry at him.
"What?" Xander's expression was a mirror of confusion.
"I said you're a liar. A liar and a coward. If you don't love her, then you should have told her instead of leading her on like that!"
"I didn't need to explain my business to a slave." His voice was now cold, dripping with chills.
But Vinn wasn't done with him yet, "Except your business was that you were engaged to a woman who repulses you!" Vinn was now shouting at him. Some part of her brain told her she shouldn't be, but she just couldn't stop.
"How do people think it is okay to deceive other people into making them think they're loved?!" Hot tears were spilling down Vinn's cheeks while Xander's face was successfully wiped off any tangible emotion.
His silver eyes were like a blank canvas, waiting for the perfect painter. But then he walked to her, surprising her greatly when he clutched her shoulder. In a firm voice, he said, "I'm not your family, Vinnandra."
And then the dam broke again, letting out a hurt that was barely buried for two weeks.