Ryvian woke to a gentle knock at her bedroom door.
Amy the maid from last night walked in with a metal cart.
A platter of eggs and bacon, a mug filled with coffee, a small philter of cream and a bowl of sugar with a delicate silver spoon sat on the top of the cart and various clothing items were folded up and placed on the bottom of the cart.
"Goodmorning Miss Ryvian. I brought breakfast and clean clothes for you." Said Amy as she placed the cart at the foot of her bed. "Across from your room is your bathroom, it has a warm bath waiting for you and some heated towels. If you want help being bathed or clothed please let me know, I'll be just down the hall." Amy smiled and waved as she left the room.
Why did everyone always leave the room just as quickly as they entered here?
Ryvian sat up and scarfed down her breakfast, her body doing a little happy wiggle as she ate the bacon. She paused and sipped her coffee.
She hadn't been this comfortable and content in a long time. A small smile slowly tugged at her lips.
She grabbed the clothes from the cart and layed them out. They had given her two options for clothing. A fancy black and white dress with a short ruffled skirt and a simple black tshirt and black pants. She loved the dress and how the material felt, but couldn't bring herself to wear something so fancy. So she opted for the simple black shirt and pants.
She walked across the hall to the bathroom and her mouth dropped as she saw how large and beautiful the bathroom was. White and grey granite floors, beautiful gold accents on everything and a very large bath currently filled with hot bath water and vanilla scented bubblebath.
Ryvain ripped her dirty and torn clothes off as fast as she could and slowly lowered herself into the bath. It felt amazing.
Soap, shampoo, and a body scubbing brush had been laid out for her next to the bath and she began the tedious job of scrubbing the dirt from her body and out of her matted hair.
As she reluctantly got out of the bath and put on her new clothes a gentle knock came at the door. Amy poked her head in.
"Did you enioy your bath Miss Ryvian? Would it be okay if I brushed and trimmed your hair for you?" She asked as she entered the room and held up a brush and some scissors.
Ryvian nodded nervously and sat on a chair facing the white and gold vanity.
She hadnt brushed her hair in a long time and could feel how matted and disgusting it was.
Amy got to work quickly and with gently but firm hands began brushing the knots out of her long dark brown hair, humming happily the whole time. Only a few times did she have to snip away at a tiny tangle that refused to budge. After she was done she trimmed an inch from the ends. Leaving Ryvian's thick curly hair just below her elbows.
"Wow, your hair is gorgeous Miss Ryvian. Do you want any braids or anything?" Amy said smiling as she played with Ryvians hair.
Ryvian shook her head.
"No, but could I have a hairtie incase I want to put it up later?" She asked looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair really had gotten long.
"Of course" Amy said, handing her a black elastic.
"Lord Arkonus wanted me to inform you that he has made arrangements for you both to go to town later tonight and search for a job and a place to live."
Ryvian froze and anxiety swelled in the pit of her stomach.
She couldn't tell which was worse; the fear of entering town again, or the anxiety of searching for a job.
"He said it would be around 5pm so you have about 6 hours if you wanted to explore the estate. The kitchen always has snacks if you get hungry" Amy said as she gathered up Ryvians dirty clothes and the towel she had used.
"I'll be wandering around doing my chores, but if you need anything just ask any one of us servants and we will gladly help"
"Ok thank you" Ryvian said as she followed Amy out the bathroom door. Amy hurried down the long hallway, turned left, and disappeared from sight.
Ryvian took a deep breath and started walking down the long hallway in the same direction Amy had left. Most of the doors were either locked or a guest room similar to hers. Nothing really stood out as interesting until she opened the last door at the end of the hallway.
A steep staircase led upward into another room.
Ryvian carefully climbed it and cautiously looked around.
Her jaw dropped as she took in the room before her.
It was a hollowed out tower that had been converted into a multi-level library with thousands of books. Some very comfy looking chairs were placed on the main floor and ladders placed on tracks were connected to the shelves on each level.
Ryvian immediately ran to one of the shelves and began looking through the books. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the way the books were placed on the shelves and it frustrated her but the mixture of old and new novels of every genre made her increasingly happy. She couldn't remember the last time she could sit down and enjoy a good book.
After grabbing a pile of 10 different novels she lugged her book pile to one of the soft chairs and dropped them onto the side table.
She plopped herself down, got comfy, and began to read.
Ryvian didn't realize how much time had passed nor did she notice when Lord Arkonus appeared before her.
She jumped as he spoke.
"So this is where you've been" he said, chuckling as she practically threw the book that was in her hands. "I couldn't find you at first."
Ryvian put the book down and stretched her sore muscles.
"What time is it?" She asked, suddenly looking worried "did I miss our time to leave for town?"
Arkonus took a gold pocket watch out of his vest and checked it.
"It's 10 minutes past 5" he said "which is why I came looking for you. Wanted to make sure you didn't get lost"
Ryvian hopped to her feet looking embarrassed.
"I am so sorry, once I start reading, time doesn't exist to me." She said, tucking her hair behind her blushed red ears.
Arkonus chuckled warmly.
"No need to worry, although we should definitely be on our way. Wouldn't want to keep your future employers waiting"
Ryvian nodded and followed him as he left the library, walked down the hall, turned right, and went down a large staircase that led to a huge entrance way covered in gold details and beautiful paintings.
Amy stood at the bottom of the stairs holding a pair of black leather boots.
She nodded her head politely at Lord Arkonus and then smiled and handed the boots to Ryvian.
"I hope they fit. We had to guess at your shoe size." She said to Ryvian as she handed Arkonus a folded up umbrella and his black leather wallet.
Arkonus nodded back in thanks as he took his items.
The boots were a perfect fit though Ryvian quickly realized she was no longer used to wearing shoes. It was better than stepping on glass or used needles, but bare feet definitely were more comfortable for her.
Lord Arkonus drove a much less fancy car than Ryvian had expected. She had expected him to have a special driver and a loumisine or a sports car. But what she slid into the passenger seat of was just a Black Nissan Ultima with very dark tinted windows.
As they left the giant metal gates of the Estate Arkonus seemed to pick up on Ryvians thoughts again.
"I figured we would try to be a little more inconspicuous today" he said "I have better cars but this one works better for everyday use"
Ryvian nodded in understanding and watched out the window as they drove on the winding dirt road.
She was glad she hadn't just left because there was no way she would have found her way to town. She had lost track of how many different obscure roads they had turned down before reaching a main road and entering the city.
She shivered as the anxiety of being in the city again took hold of her.
The whole city was a series of boring grays, dirty trash covered streets, soulless pedestrians and homeless people begging for money.
Lord Arkonus sighed,
"I've never been a fan of this city. It's like everyone has lost their spark" he said as he pulled into their first stop.
A small gloomy gas station lay before them.
"This is the first job interview for today. I'm sorry it isn't much but even with my social standing it's hard to find good entrance level jobs in Veilbrook" Arkonus said looking very displeased with himself.
Ryvian shook her head and assured him it was okay, but she felt increasingly sick to her stomach as she eyed the dirty gas station.
As they entered through the sliding doors Ryvian felt like her lungs were squeezing together and her heart was beating hard against her chest.
Her vision started to tunnel but then a gentle hand was placed on her back.
Instantly she felt comforted and less anxious. She looked up at Arkonus who was giving her a gentle and understanding look, his hand still touching her back.
A grouchy old man with missing teeth and dirt covered jeans came around the corner by the register and cleared his throat.
"You Mister whats-his-face and the possible new hire?" The man asked, eyeing Ryvian up and down with his bloodshot eyes.
Arkonus's eye twitched a little at being called "mister whats-his-face" but he nodded and gently pushed Ryvian towards the counter.
"This is Ryvian. She has a lot of potential but may need some gentle encouragement." He said.
The old man laughed dryly.
"Not a gentle bone in my body son. She'll learn fast or she'll leave fast." He said sniffing loudly and scowling at Ryvian.
Arkonus frowned and seemed almost angry.
Ryvian slumped a little as she realized just how difficult working in the city would be.
"You know how to do math kid?" The old man asked Ryvian as he leaned over the counter.
Ryvian shook her head and grimaced as the smell of his breath hit her. It smelled like rotting onions and garlic.
"Do you do any drugs? Or have any interest in them?" He asked.
She shook her head again.
"What about cleaning, you know how to clean?"
He asked her.
Ryvian nodded, happy to finally say yes to a question.
The old man sighed angrily.
"If the only thing you're good for is cleaning then I don't need ya!" He said shooing them away with a dirt crusted hand.
Ryvian was both happy and disappointed. She definitely hadn't wanted to work there, but she also didn't want to be a burden to Arkonus.
As they drove to their next location Arkonus looked over at her with a pitying expression.
"That man didn't know what he had before him." He said encouragingly.
"Maybe the next few places will"
The next two places weren't much better.
The grocery store wanted her to know basic math skills and the fast food said she looked too skinny to survive in a hot kitchen for 8hrs.
By the time they reached a run down apartment complex Ryvian was exhausted.
"I'm sorry the job search hasn't been going very well, but maybe the apartment search will be better," Arkonus said as he opened the car door for her.
Ryvian nodded dejectedly.
Arkonus motioned for her to wait for him as he walked into the tiny office to get the landlord.
Ryvian stood outside and looked up at the apartment building.
It was 4 stories tall, grey like all the other buildings and falling apart. Garbage lined every nook and cranny and the sound of yelling and tvs playing too loud could be heard from every floor.
"Well aren't you a cute one"
Ryvian jumped as a mans voice called out to her from behind, shortly followed by a cat-call whistle.
She turned around to see a group of 3 men slowly walking towards her. All of them with a crooked grin on their faces.
She backed away slowly as they approached but they quickly surrounded her, getting way too close for comfort.
"Please leave me alone" she whispered, recoiling from them.
"Awe, don't be like that, we just want to have a little fun" said the leader of the other two.
He reached out to touch Ryvian's face.
Just before his hand touched her it was grabbed by another hand and his fingers were bent backward with a loud snap.
The man screamed as he stepped back to look at who had broken his hand.
Arkonus stood before him, his eyes a bright red and his face twisted in anger.
"What the hell was that for man?!" Said one of the other guys as he started to approach Arkonus. The leader shook his head at him, his eyes filled with fear.
"L-lets go guys, it's not worth it" he stuttered as he turned and ran. The other two followed as they quickly realized how scared their leader was.
Ryvian didn't even have time to thank Arkonus because he roughly grabbed her hand and began dragging her to the car.
He opened the door for her and slammed it shut behind her.
As he slid into the drivers seat the landlord for the apartments caught up to him.
"What happened to checking the apartment ou-"
"We're no longer interested" Arkonus interrupted, his voice filled with rage. They zoomed out of the parking lot.
Ryvian was curled up in the passenger seat, trying to get as far away from the seething Arkonus as possible as he drove back to the estate.
As he glanced over at her and noticed how uncomfortable she was he immediately began to calm down and went back to driving the speed limit, though his eyes were still red.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I lost my temper" he said gently.
Ryvian nodded but was still uncomfortable as she sensed he was still very angry.
"Why?" Ryvian asked, unable to get much else out.
Arkonus looked confused.
"Because how I saw you treated and talked to today made my blood boil." He said "anyone would be upset over seeing someone they care about get treated badly."
Ryvian raised her eyebrows at him.
"You care about me?" She asked him.
He looked at her, a shocked expression running across his face and his red eyes fading back to blue.
"Of course I do. You're in my care. For the time being I am responsible for you" he explained.
Ryvian sighed. So that's what he had meant.