"How was your little adventure with the princess?" Ronnie asked.
Nico looked up from pulling on his shoes and blinked. Ronnie sat cross-legged on her bed with her arms folded and brows raised.
Emmani gasped. "Ooo! What'd you do? Play a game? Swim?" a grin spread across her face. "Or did you kiss?"
Asa clasped his hands in front of him and made kissy sounds. Dollie and Russell burst into giggles.
"Nothing. She asked me to accompany her on a walk." Nico snipped, glancing at Zander who had his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Asa and Ronnie smirked.
Nico got to his feet. "Why does it matter anyway?"
He talked out, and Zander followed.
"Nic," Zander said, closing the door.
"Yeah?"
Zander grabbed his shoulder. "Don't get caught up in the princess's web."
"I'm not."
"Remember what these humans did to our families. They don't deserve our trust nor friendship-they're monsters."
Nico flinched and looked up at Zander. Fresh cuts and bruises covered his arms.
"What happened to you?"
Zander sighed. "I was assigned as an assistant for a self-defense teacher. At first, I refused to fight the soldiers, but the teacher began beating me until I bled." he turned and lifted his shirt.
Nico let out a sudden gasp as his shirt fell off his back, revealing a shocking sight. Red, angry marks crisscrossed his skin, some of them still raw and bleeding. It was clear that he had been through something truly terrible.
"Just remember where you came from."
Zander walked down the hall and Nico couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
...
When they finished art class, Master Lee pulled him aside.
"Kaya showed me your portrait." he beamed. "It's amazing, have you ever considered taking up an art profession?"
Nic almost laughed at the ludicrous thought. Elves were hardly viewed as humans, so getting a job would be hell all by itself.
He'd rather shave himself bald.
"An art profession?"
Master Lee nods, his smile widening. "Yes! You'd learn many art styles and be able to create a life for yourself."
As much as you and I want this, it's not going to happen."
Nico looked away, heat creeping up his neck.
"Why?"
"Look at me!"
Kaya jumped at his outburst and looked over from a painting.
Master Lee cocked his head. "I see a boy who's scared trying to survive in a pit of vipers."
Nico couldn't meet the man's gaze for fear that he would be able to see through him.
"Master Lee," Kaya said, enunciating each word. "That's quite enough. Come."
She turned toward the door, and Nico followed, peeling his feet from the floor. Kaya was halfway down the hall by the time he caught up. She was ranting to herself, calling Master Lee every name under the sun.
Nico said nothing and just stared down at the ground.
Master Lee was right about one thing though, this was a ppit of vipers.
"What game are you playing?"
Kaya stopped to gawp at him. "What?"
"When they brought us in you acted as though you..didn't care what happened to us."
"Where is this coming from?"
Nico continued as though she hadn't spoken. "Your father assigned me to be your companion. Lacky. Servant. Whatever! That doesn't mean we're friends."
Kaya's cheeks turned bright red.
"Just stop. Whatever it is you're doing, ok? I'm an elf and you're a princess. We could never-"Kaya reached up and smacked him. His eyes widened, not from the pain but from surprise.
Two guards spotted them and rushed over. One shoved Nico to the ground and held a blade to his throat and the other checked the princess.
"I'm fine." Kaya swatted the man away. She whirled toward Nico, tears staining her cheeks. "Release him."
The guard did as she asked, pushing him onto his hands. Nico clenched his hands, struggling to keep his anger in check. When the guards left, Nico rose glowering down at the ground.
Kaya was breathing hard, face still red.
But before she could say anything., Nico said in a low voice. "I'm not sure what you see in me, princess." Kaya blanched at the venom in his tone. "But whatever it is clearly no one else can, you should be wise to remember we're different races. And according to your people, I am a heartless, bloodthirsty animal."
Nico turned and stalked off.
"Where are you going?" Kaya demands. "You're my companion!"
Nico said nothing.