Seren slouched down to the kitchen, hoping only Kalyani was in the kitchen that morning. But of course, Mrs. Houper also was in the kitchen, like every morning, gossiping and helping Kalyani cook and clean the kitchen.

“Good morning Seren!” Kalyani greeted before Seren could assess whether they wanted to be seen or not.

“Oh. Morning.” Seren said. They walked into the kitchen hesitantly.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Mrs. Houper asked. Wringing her hands together.

“Okay.” Seren said, not wanting to talk more than they had to. They just wanted to hurry it all up so they could be alone.

“I made your favorite, egg sandwiches with hashbrowns.” Kalyani said as she loaded up a plate and put it down on the breakfast bar for them. “I’ll get some hot chocolate going and some whipped cream for the top. How does that sound?”

“No thanks.” Seren said, sitting down at the stool. “But some tea with honey would be nice?” They hoped that sounded convincing, by the look Mrs. Houper was giving them, they didn’t think it did.

“Oh sure,” Kalyani said. She grabbed a mug and began the hot water for tea. Seren ate breakfast slowly. The anxiety of trying to con a jar of honey and the day’s work ahead left them with no appetite. But their stomach rumbled at them and it was their favorite breakfast.

Seren pushed their food around their plate as they watched the tea be made. Kalyani brought the mug and the jar of honey with a spoon to them.

“Thank you,” Seren said quickly. Knowing at once the speed which they said it was suspicious. Mrs. Houper sat down on the stool next to them and looked at them.

“Serenity.” She said and Seren felt a lump in their throat. Wondering how she knew there was a sprite, a queen of sprites, upstairs in their room.

“Yes?” They asked. Trying to swallow the bit of hash brown that felt lodged in their throat.

“Serenity, you are safe. You don’t have to be afraid or anxious.” Mrs. Houper said. “This is your home and you are not in the wrong for living here.” Seren felt their skin go cold. The argument from last night replaying in their mind. Their stomach turned and they felt sick.

“I don’t think I’m hungry any more.” They said quietly. Pushing their plate away. “I’ll put the honey away.” Seren grabbed the jar and got up. Trying not to run back up the stairs and to the safety of their room. They walked stiffly out of sight and then ran to their door. Ducking into it and trying not to cry or throw up.

“I brought you some honey.” Seren said. Putting the honey down on their desk. There was no answer, just a stiff morning breeze coming from the open window. They weren’t ready to start their work day but it was all they had to do. They breathed deep until it was regulated and then they opened their door again and walked, head as high as they could keep it, up to the study.

They hesitated before they knocked on the door. Feeling all of their tumultuous emotions holding them back. But finally they pushed through it enough to knock.

“Enter.”

Seren took in all the air their chest would hold and walked into the study. It was all the same as every morning but it felt like gravity had been turned up by double. They looked straight at their work and focused on only doing what they needed to do.

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“Stop where you are.” Eric said and Seren froze. They felt like they wanted to throw up. “I’ve come up with a perfect punishment for you,” Seren gritted their jaw hard, it felt unfair to be punished on top of being punished.

“I think I’ve been punished enough.” Seren said, their voice taking on a robotic tone. “Especially since I did nothing wrong.”

“That statement right there tells me you haven’t learned your lesson.” Eric said not looking up. It seemed they both were avoiding eye contact. “So I’ve no choice but to punish your actions. Now go down to the library and wait for your tutor.” Seren wanted to say something, but they couldn’t think of anything to say. So they turned and walked back out the study. Feeling their lip quivering and their eyes watering as they went down to the study. Happy their tutor wasn’t here yet so they could be miserable by themself for a few minutes.

Seren closed the library door behind them and collapsed on the sofa. Curling up into a ball and trying not to cry. It caused them to stare off into space. Their mind going blank. They heard the doorbell but it didn’t break their vacant stare. After a few moments they heard the sound of feet on the steps. Seren took a long breath and sat up, pushing everything aside and putting up their metaphorical mask. They were surprised by the footsteps passing them entirely and going up to the study instead.

Seren relaxed, wondering what their tutor wanted to talk to Eric about, they thought it could be about getting them into school which made them more miserable. How much could they be punished for just a walk? It wasn’t even against any real rules. Seren sulked. Holding a pillow to their chest and squeezing the air out of it. They heard a second bell and stood up again. Now they were considering if their cousin was here already. That would make him early? Or was Seren late? They started picking at their fingernails anxiously.

They heard footsteps coming up the stairs again and waited. This pair stopped at the door and knocked.

“Come in,” Seren called and their tutor entered.

“You’re already here?” Their tutor said cheerily. Seren smiled weakly.

“Yeah, early start I guess.” They said. “I didn’t grab my work. I’ll do that now.” Their tutor entered and Seren left. Going back to their room and scooping up their school work. Noticing the empty honey jar now on their desk. But they didn’t dwell on that, instead hurrying back to the library.

“Welcome back. Should we start with math?” The tutor asked. Seren closed the door, still puzzling on who else could be upstairs. What kind of punishment was waiting for them.

“Serenity?” Their tutor said, snapping their fingers. Seren shook their head and looked up at the tutor.

“Huh?” They asked.

“Math?”

“Oh, yeah. That sounds okay.” Seren agreed. Grabbing their math notebook and opening it to the newest page. Dating it but quickly losing focus again. The tutor tried to keep Seren on task but their mind kept wandering. Fearing that maybe they were getting replaced. Fearing their paternal grandmother was upstairs. Negotiating taking them away from their home. Fearing being put up for adoption, or sent to a home.

So much to fear and they couldn’t focus on a single thing, not even the reading or writing in which they excelled.

“Serenity.” Their tutor snapped his fingers again. Seren looked up, coming out of their thoughts again. “Serenity, you’ve never had this much trouble before. Is something bothering you?”

“I.” Seren started but didn’t know what to say or even where to start. “No. I’m fine.”

“I don’t think you are. This class work is the worst you’ve ever done. Worse than when we first started classes.” Their tutor said, piling up the work from the day. “What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing.” Seren said numbly. “It’s only ten. We still have two hours. I can keep going.”

“No, I think it’s better if we end for the day.” The tutor said. “We’ll try again tomorrow.” Seren didn’t speak. They only nodded and cleaned up their school work. Feeling more like a disappointment than ever. They dressed for their job and dragged their feet upstairs. Dreading whatever was waiting for them up there. Their heart beat hard in their throat and their stomach did flips as they approached the door to the study. They felt dizzy and their sight got fuzzy.

Seren knocked on the door harder than they meant to.

“Enter.”

Seren entered and felt the anxiety melt to confusion. Sitting at their desk was Wilbur, their cousin.

“Are you ready for your punishment?” Eric asked. Seren walked in and stood at the other end of the desk. Holding back tears and vomit.

“You are going to take him with you. He is going to do the job and you are going to help him.”