Our night drags on for hours, a tedious cycle of exhaustion and verbal sparring. The slaves, having been thoroughly used, lie scattered around the room in a state of listless rest, while Julia and I continue our by-now traditional nightly arguments. Each word exchanged is laced with bitterness as we debate why we are so miserable and who shoulders the blame.
Suddenly, a loud noise interrupts our routine- a shout followed by a heavy thud from outside. I sit up, annoyed. I need to get more reliable guards, but my margins are tight and there's no use crying over spilled milk. The door to the master bedroom bursts open, splintering against the wall as two figures step into the room. The sight sends a shiver down my spine and I yelp out loud in alarm.
