Seren shifted awkwardly in the snow. Kicking at a little pile of powdery snow feeling stupid. They stood outside the dormant academy in the morning cold. They’d woken up stiff and sore from yesterday’s brawl, it was a welcome pain. Since it was more uncomfortable than the guilt in their chest over not telling their dad they were leaving, they didn’t even wait for him to be awake.
They sighed and watched the stream of mist that came from their mouth. While the mist rose, the disappointment sank in Seren’s gut. It was getting harder to convince themself that he was actually coming. Seren played with their nails anxiously.
“Excuse me,”
Seren looked up terrified that someone was going to arrest them for loitering. Even though the reasonable part of their brain tried to explain that the city guards would just tell them to leave instead of jumping straight into arrest.
Instead of seeing city guards, Seren saw an older woman with gray curls and heavy coats.
“You are Seren Winters right?” She asked hesitantly. Holding her white-gloved hands and looking at Seren in a kind of awe.
“Yeah. Why?” Seren stepped back and found their footing in case they needed to run.
“I’m Mrs. Houper, I’ve been sent to fetch you.” She said, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
“By who?” Seren barked.
“Mr. Asche, he told me you were expecting him?” She suggested. “I’m afraid he’s a little under the weather this morning.”
“Oh,” Seren said slowly. Staring her up and down, gauging whether she should be trusted. "Maybe I should just go home…"
"Oh no, he can still see you. The appointment has just been moved to his home. It's just a short walk away. Please, follow me." She gestured down the street, Seren stared down the road as if they expected to see something obvious. They knew they weren't supposed to talk to strangers, much less follow them but that hardly stopped them last time. Seren nodded at the woman and let her lead them down the road.
The neighborhood around the academy was very wealthy. With multiple floored houses that were as long as carriages with the horses included. Not to speak of how wide they were. Seren felt small walking along the black gated houses. Positive the windows were watching them, judging them. Seren couldn't stop the pounding in their chest or the way they struggled to breathe.
"Well, this is us." Mrs. Houper gestured, Seren looked at the white and gold six-story house and felt dizzy at the sight.
"Oh, not that one dear, that's the Summers place. Bit gaudy if you ask me." Mrs. Houper said. "Ours is next door." Seren was redirected to the side where a much more modest (compared to the place it was next to) dark blue house stood, shorter, but still proud.
"Oh," Seren said with a bit of relief. The house still stood three stories tall, but it wasn't as intimidating as its neighbor. Mrs. Houper led Seren through the gate and up the grand brick steps to the front door. They trailed along behind the older woman, feeling like they were trying to walk upstream. Mrs. Houper opened the door and stepped up into the house, holding the door open for Seren. They swallowed hard as they stepped out of the cold. The heat of the house embraced them in a suffocating hug. It smelled like a wood stove burning, with a hint of coffee. Aside from that there was another hidden smell somewhere that Seren couldn’t quite identify. Mrs. Houper moved Seren a little farther in the entryway so she could shut the door.
“Can I take your coat?” Mrs. Houper asked, as she started removing her winter coats and scarves.
“Why?” Seren asked accusingly. Their coat wasn’t much, but it was theirs.
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“Because the heats on and you don’t want to overheat while you're here.” She said hanging up her coat and scarf on the coat rack.
“I’m not gonna be here long am I?” Seren asked, still suspicious.
“I’m not sure,” Mrs. Houper said. “If you want to keep it you can, it’s only preference.”
“I prefer to keep it,” Seren said. Forcing their hands in their pockets and squeezing their coat tighter onto them.
“All right, that’s okay.” Mrs. Houper smiled. “Now, I insist you remove your boots, the floors are being cleaned today in an hour and we don’t want to make any more messes.”
“D-do I have to?” Seren’s face went red instantly.
“Yes, dear. Rules of the house.” Mrs. Houper smiled, “I promise you’ll get them back.” Seren stared at the ground as they removed their boots, partially ashamed they weren’t wearing socks under their worn boots. Seren placed their shoes along the other neatly placed shoes on a little shelf.
“Good. Follow me,” Mrs. Houper said, and she turned to lead Seren further in. Leaving the entryway where a music room was visible farther back. Instead, Mrs. Houper turned around a grand archway and revealed the grand staircase that led up to the upper floors.
“Do you need the lavatory?” She paused briefly in the hall, Seren shook their head no. She nodded and led Seren through the second arch and into a large dining room.
The room had a giant ornate carpet underneath a heavy table with six chairs. Sitting lonely in the center of the dining table was a vase with gold filigree with a bouquet of silken folded flowers. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, several standing candelabras stood at their posts around the room. None of them were lit and the only light came from behind the dark curtains.
Mrs. Houper flipped a switch, and the chandelier lit up, suddenly the room was filled with light.
“Go ahead and take a seat, I’ll let Mr. Asche know you’re here.” Mrs. Houper nodded and left the arch. Seren looked around the room, noticing the cabinets for the kitchenware. It was hard not to notice how bare a lot of the house Seren had seen was. The walls were empty and white, aside from the vase of silken flowers, there weren’t any knick knacks or superfluous items anywhere to be seen. Even the curtains were meant for function over fashion. The only thing that could be considered decoration were the two extra chairs on either side of the china cabinet. The china in the cabinet was very fancy. With gold rims and hand-painted designs.
Seren gripped their hands behind their back as they stared into the cabinet. They felt if they just breathed too hard something would break and then they’d be in real trouble. At least more than they already found themselves in.
Eric was staring out of the balcony windows in his study. He’d lost count of which cup of coffee he was on, all he knew was it was not enough. Madame Summers wasn’t pleased at being told her appointment, or what she kept insisting on calling ‘brunch’, needed to be rescheduled. Though given her penchant for only acknowledging his existence when she needed something, it seemed normal enough for her to pitch a fit. Truly, blood was not thicker than water.
His attention turned to the knocking coming from the study doors. Mrs. Houper didn’t wait before entering.
“The Winters child is here,” she said. Eric looked behind but noticed Seren was absent.
“Where?” He asked, slightly alarmed.
“I left them in the downstairs dining room. Kid’s nothing but bones,” Mrs. Houper said in a hinting tone.
“Wasting time,” Eric ignored her tone. “It would have been more productive to have brought them up the stairs with you. I’m not moving my entire filing cabinet downstairs.”
“Now that’s an over exaggeration.” Mrs. Houper said. “I took the liberty of arranging for breakfast to be made. It’ll be in the dining room.”
“Then you should hurry and bring Seren up,” Eric turned back to the window. He heard Mrs. Houper’s irritated sigh.
“Perhaps, I haven’t been clear enough.” Mrs. Houper said. “That child. Definitely too young to be legally employed, has no excess weight anywhere on them.”
“I heard you the first time, and what of it? If they lie about their age, that’s plausible deniability on my end.” Eric turned to stare severely over the rims of his glasses at Mrs. Houper. She glared back.
“Don’t you give me any of that,” She snapped. “It’s one thing with those kids barely old enough to drink but this isn’t a teenager who knows the consequences but does it, anyway. This is a child who might not even understand what the consequences even are.”
“If you think they are such a liability, then send them home.” Eric said, placing the empty cup onto his desk. “Send them up or send them home. That choice is yours to make, but you make it quickly before I lose my patience.”
“Then consider your day open,” Mrs. Houper said before shutting the doors to the study. Eric sighed and rolled his eyes, sitting and idly wondering if she would follow through or if he should expect her to return.