And Then There Were Four

Thirty minutes later, I was freshly cleaned and out of the shower, drying my hair. I had never thought a hot shower could feel as amazing as it did, but the moment I finally turned off the water and stepped from it, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. Yes, I had been through hell, but I couldn't allow my sorrow over losing Melissa to keep weighing on me. I cried for twenty minutes in the shower to the point I couldn't breathe, and wanted the world to destroy me. I was lost without her, and I hated myself for what I did, but I couldn't let it destroy me. I had to get better for her. I had to.

When a soft knock came at the door, I knew my time was up. Trixie had made a point letting me know she would be back as soon as I was done getting ready so she could take me down to dinner. Odin, my so-called grandfather, wanted us all to join him even though I had no interest.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed off from the bathroom countertop, putting a smile on my face as I made my way towards the bedroom door. This was a new place, and with it, I could be different. I would do what I needed to and in the end, I would become someone people could trust, someone they could look up to.

The moment I opened the door, Trixie's glowing green eyes met mine, and quickly she scanned them up and down my body. "What are you wearing?"Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Or at least, that's what I hoped.

"Huh?" I glanced down at my black leggings and white oversized t-shirt. "Clothes?"

"Well, yeah, I see that." She scoffed, causing me to meet her gaze once more, crossing my arms over my chest with a frown.

"I literally got you all kinds of cute shit, and that's what you chose to present yourself to Odin and his table? Brave soul." Laughter escaped her, causing me to shrug.

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"I don't fucking care what they think. I'm not wearing some fancy dress, crown, and shit. That's not who I am, and if they don't like it, oh well."

Nodding in agreement, she looped her arm through mine and closed the door behind me. "Fair enough. I love this rebellious nature of yours. It's definitely going to provide for an entertaining evening."

The simple touch of her looping her arm through mine brought me once again back to Melissa, and with every ounce of energy I had left, f pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind. "So what's for dinner?"

A few moments later, we arrived at the grand hall. The large vaulted ceilings and arched walkways of dark wood were a contrast to the white marble of the rest of the building. I had half expected statues of gods to line the way, but instead, I

found more animalad, I

a

roaring fire.

In the center of the room was a grand dining table made of the same dark wood that lined the archways and upon it were platters and

platters of food from a

pig,

and Chickens to heaping piles of vegetables and bread.

"They sure do know how to eat dinner, don't they?" I muttered to Trixie as we walked towards the table.

Meeting her curious gaze, I shook my head no with a smile. "I'm sure my siblings would love it if we did, but no, my mother makes sure to keep them eating right, and not over indulging."

"You guys don't eat like this back home?"

"That's odd... Oh, look, here is your seat." She smiled cheerfully as I took my place. "I will see you after dinner."

She was leaving?! No way in hell. "Wait, where are you going? You're not eating?"

"I'm not invited to eat at Odin's table, Cassie. But I'll see you when you get done."

Shaking my head, I grabbed her wrist and pushed her into the chair next to me. "No way in fucking hell are you leaving me here to deal with these people? If I'm stuck here, so are you, 'caretaker'." Trixie's eyes widened at my actions, and looking around, she seemed to pale. "This is your brother's seat. I can't. Plus, I have to have a formal invitation."