MARCEL
The ride back to the manor was silent, save for the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the cobblestone path. Thana sat behind me, her arms wrapped loosely around my waist, her presence both familiar and unsettling.
The weight of her sudden reappearance pressed heavily on my mind, but I pushed the questions aside for the moment. There would be time for answers later.
When we arrived, the manor was eerily quiet. Dahlia was nowhere in sight, and the usual hum of activity from the servants was absent. I helped Thana down from the horse, her hand lingering in mine for a moment longer than necessary. Her hazel eyes searched my face, but I avoided her gaze, focusing instead on the task at hand.
"Welcome back, sire," a voice called out, and I turned to see one of the stable hands approaching. "Shall I take the horse?"
"Yes," I replied curtly, handing him the reins. "And inform Dahlia that I've returned. I'll be in my study."
The stable hand nodded and led the horse away, leaving Thana and me standing in the courtyard. She glanced around, taking in the grandeur of the estate, her expression unreadable.
"It's been a while since I've been here," she murmured, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "It hasn't changed much."
"Some things never do," I replied, my tone clipped. "Come inside. We have much to discuss."
I led her into the manor, the heavy oak doors creaking as they swung open. The air inside was cool, a stark contrast to the heat of the day. Thana followed closely, her footsteps echoing softly against the marble floors. As we passed through the halls, I couldn't help but look around for Odessa. She was supposed to be somewhere nearby, tending to my mother or assisting Dahlia. Her absence was unusual, but I pushed the thought aside for now.
We reached the study, and I gestured for Thana to take a seat. She did so gracefully, her movements as fluid as I remembered. I poured two glasses of brandy and handed one to her before taking my place behind the desk.
"Now," I began, my voice steady but laced with tension, "care to explain where you've been all these years?"
Thana took a sip of the brandy, her eyes meeting mine over the rim of the glass. She set it down slowly, her expression softening.
"Marcel, I know you're angry," she said, her voice calm but tinged with regret. "And you have every right to be. But everything I did, I did for you."
"For me?" I repeated, my voice rising despite my efforts to remain composed. "You disappeared without a word, Thana. I needed you, and you were gone. How was that for me?"
She flinched at the accusation but didn't look away. "You don't understand," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Things were happening—things I couldn't control. I had to leave to protect you."
"Protect me from what?" I demanded, adjusting my tie as I fight the impatient about to kick in. I leaned closer to my desk, and the glass of brandy rattled, and a few drops spilled onto the polished wood. "You owe me an explanation, Thana. After everything we've been through, you owe me that much." I said, keeping my voice as calm as I could.
Thana's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't break. "I can't tell you everything," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not yet. But please, trust me when I say that I never wanted to hurt you."
"Trust you?" I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "You've given me no reason to trust you, Thana. You left me when I needed you most, and now you expect me to just accept your return without question?"
Before she could respond, the door to the study creaked open, and Odessa stepped inside. Her blue eyes widened in surprise as she took in the scene before her.
"Marcel?" she asked, her voice soft and uncertain. "Is everything alright?"
Before I could answer, Thana stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She turned to Odessa, her expression darkening.
"Who is this?" she demanded, tone calm, but accusatory.
Odessa blinked, taken aback by the hostility in Thana's tone. "I'm Odessa," she replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I'm—"
"She's the new slave," I interjected, my voice cold and detached. "Her job is to take care of my mother. She doesn't know her place yet."
Odessa's eyes widened in shock, and she turned to me, her gaze searching mine for some sign of the man who had defended her before. But I met her stare with a cold indifference, my heart hardening as I saw the pain flicker across her face.
Thana's lips curled into a sneer as she stepped closer to Odessa.
"Did you miss your road, little bird? Will you step out, or should I show you the way out?" Thana fumed, stepping hardly on Odessa's toes.
Odessa squeaked in pain, tears visible in her eyes, but she didn't cry out. Instead, she looked at me, her gaze pleading for some form of defense, some sign that I still cared. But I remained silent, my expression unreadable.
"Leave us," I said finally, my voice devoid of emotion. "And don't interrupt again."
Odessa hesitated for a moment, her lower lip trembling, before she turned and fled the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall. Thana watched her go, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.
"You've become cruel, Marcel," she said, her tone almost approving. "I like it."
I didn't respond. Instead, I turned my attention back to the brandy in my hand, the weight of my decisions pressing heavily on my chest. But I pushed the guilt aside, burying it deep within me. There was no room for weakness, not now.
Thana returned to her seat, her demeanor calm once more. "Now," she said, her voice smooth and composed, "where were we?"
I took a long sip of the brandy, the burn of the alcohol doing little to ease the turmoil in my mind. "You were about to tell me the truth," I replied, my voice low and dangerous. "And this time, I expect nothing less."