Seren tried to keep the scowl off their face but it was hard. They’d been squeezed into the summer dress that was too small with a pair of pants that were stained but they hid the stain under the skirt of the dress. Seren thought they resembled a squashed pumpkin. Their dad had combed through their hair a second time after it was washed and braided it into two neat little pigtails. All the while he kept a watchful eye on the clock.

It was an odd thing to see, Seren decided, seeing their dad so put together. He’d also washed his hair and had it well brushed and pulled back in a half ponytail. Pulling up a nice dark blue button up from somewhere and even some light colored pants to go with it. Seren even noticed he was wearing the fae ring they’d given him. They weren’t even sure they were looking at the same person. He paced the house muttering, patting his pockets and clearly getting frustrated about something.

“Remember to smile, don’t speak unless directly asked a question.” He said as he passed the curtains again. “Try not to fidget or move around too much. Look at them directly when they’re speaking.”

“Will Miss Jass be there?” Seren asked.

“Probably, just… don’t engage with her.” Their dad came back from out of the curtain. He fussed with his hair a bit before turning to Seren. Fussing with the exact placement of their pigtails and yanking down the end of their dress. Their dad knelt down and covered his eyes with a small groan.

“Have you taken your medicine today?” Seren asked, crossing their arms. Their dad scoffed.

“No,” He admitted.

“Go do that,” Seren said with all the authority they had in them. Their dad sat up and grabbed Seren suddenly. They shrieked as he tickled them.

“Who do you think you are, ordering me around!” Their dad laughed as he shook them around playfully. He stood them up and got to his feet. “All right, get ready. They’ll be expecting us soon.”

“I’m ready, but you do have to-” Seren said, adjusting their dress.

“I know, I know.” their dad said, he got to his feet. Wobbling slightly before walking into the kitchen. “I’m doing it now.” Seren smiled and nodded. While their dad went on to take his medication, Seren inspected themself. They felt like they’d throw up, or scream, or both. They started picking at their fingernails but stopped, shaking their hands out instead.

“Mmm-kay.” The dad said, downing the rest of a glass of water. Grimacing afterward, he swept forward toward Seren. “Let’s get out of here, your grandparents favor being early.”

“Okay but, how early is too early?” Seren asked, their dad paused.

“Let’s not think about that for too long,” he resolved. Shooing them out the door. The frost grabbed Seren and dug in its claws. They sucked in a sharp breath and shivered.

“Agreed, here.” Their dad slipped the fae ring off and held it out to them.

“No.. I’m fine.” Seren fought to stop their jaw from chattering. “It doesn’t fit me, anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Their dad asked, shivering himself.

“Yeah, I’m sh-sure.” Seren forced a reassuring smile. “You should use it.” Their dad nodded and slipped it back on. He gasped as the ring changed his temperature suddenly.

“Let’s hurry,” he held Seren’s shoulder and pressed them into his side. Seren wound an arm around his waist to keep close to the magically created heat. They hurried down the tree as the sky threatened to rain down on them. The wind blew them back like a warning, but their dad kept pulling them along. Pulling them to the city wall and along the wide streets to the modest two-story mansion that belonged to the Winters family.

The house was wide and short, with lots of windows and a balcony on the side of the house.

Seren felt instantly less intimidated by the faded paint and tired wood of the house. It was nothing like the looming dread of a palace that Mr. Asche lived in. In fact, the house had more in common with the house Seren and their dad lived in rather than the flashy home the Summers family owned.

Their dad stood them up and inspected them again. Adjusting their hair a bit more, smoothing their hair, wiping their face. He drew in a deep breath and cupped their face with his hands.

"Whatever happens, whatever they say." He said, looking them hard in the eyes. "I love you, and you are the world to me. Nothing changes that." Seren nodded slowly, their dad nodded and stood up. He took their hand, and they walked up the steps onto the porch. Seren's heart was confused. It wanted to pound hard as their dad rang the doorbell, but it also remembered the adrenaline and fear of being alone on Mr. Asche's doorstep. That was terror. That was truly a reason to be intimidated. Seren couldn't find the door with its paint peeling, anything close to as frightening as that.

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The door cracked open, and a stone-faced elder looked out. Their dad squeezed their hand.

“Morning, dad.” Their dad said. Seren looked up at their dad and then back to the elderly man in the door curiously. The elder looked down at Seren, they smiled and gave a little wave. He grunted and opened the door a crack and walked into the house, leaving the door open for Seren and their dad to follow. Their dad squeezed their hand again and led them into the house.

Seren breathed in as they walked through the door and into the wall of heat in the house. The house smelled overpoweringly like an out of season flower. With undertones of something sweet. Their dad shut the door behind them.

“Take off your boots,” their dad whispered. Seren nodded and bent down to remove their shoes. Their father took off his shoes and placed them neatly next to Seren’s. He pulled off their coat and scarf and hung them on the wall mounted coat hooks. He smoothed their hair and relaid the braids on their shoulders again, even though they hadn’t moved at all. Seren smiled and took their dad’s hands, he smiled back but the smile faded as he looked at their face. He took a breath and led Seren down the hall and past the curved staircase into a large sitting room. Where a sharp-looking woman with her graying hair pulled back so tightly, it almost looked like her face was being pulled back by it. The elderly man, Seren’s grandfather, walked around behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Punctual,” was the first word she said as she looked at the grandfather clock ticking in the corner. “A bit on the early side. I would have arrived a few minutes later.” She took her teacup and sat up, uncrossing her legs under her heavy skirts.

“Well, come now. Let’s get a look at you.” She said, placing her cup onto the table. Their dad squeezed their hand and let it go. Gently pushing them forward to enter the sitting room and the scrutiny of their grandmother. Seren put their hands behind their back and stood at the end of the coffee table, trying not to sway or fidget. Their grandmother’s steel-gray eyes looked them up and down

“How old are you now?” She asked.

“Sixteen,” Seren said without hesitation. Their grandmother frowned and looked at their dad.

“Oh?” She said, “I don’t remember you being quite that old. Which is very funny, as just yesterday we were visited and there was quite an inquiry about the both of you.”

“Serenity’s talents are… unique.” Their dad said. “And have been put to some use.”

“As an enforcer. We know.” Their grandfather said. “We were told that there was some altercation between our daughter and a contracted worker, and if it happened again, legal action taken would be taken.” Seren saw their dad pale in the glass of the grandfather clock. He was nearly transparent; there was so little color to him.

“Which, of course, is absolutely null because they aren’t sixteen.” Their grandmother fixed a sharp look into Seren’s eyes. “Are you?”

“I am sixteen.” Seren said, not immune to the severe look but only distracted from it by the little freckles of white in their grandmother’s eyes.

“No. You’re not.” She snapped. Sliding forward to the edge of the sofa. “Not just because you simply aren’t but if you were, that would mean you were threatening to hurt your own family. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” Their grandmother rose from the couch, Seren back up until they felt their dad behind them.

“If this is all you have to say then we’re leaving.” Their dad said, spinning Seren around behind him.

“You are not.” Their grandmother said and their dad froze. Seren looked up at him but he seemed to be under a spell. “You know she isn’t sixteen and yet you’re doing nothing?” Their grandmother took a step forward.

“They.” Seren corrected. Then they moved around to the front of their dad. “And I didn’t start this. Miss Jass is the one who assaulted me! I was minding my own business when she attacked me! If you want to talk about threatening people, you should talk to her!”

“Hold your tongue.” Their grandmother commanded.

“No.” Seren said, their grandmother stormed forward. Their dad snapped free of the trance and pulled Seren back and out of her reach.

“Drop this charade, we can break the contract if you admit she-” their grandmother started.

“They are sixteen.” Their dad said, stopping the elderly woman in her tracks. “I’m sorry you were uninformed, but you haven’t had an interest so it shouldn’t be surprising you’ve missed so much of their life.”

“How dare-”

“AND Jasmine started the altercation. Seren is completely within their right to be defensive and I’m rather glad Eric has made you aware they are contracted.” Their dad continued. He was building momentum, like a steam engine whose pilot light was suddenly lit again. “And do not, under any circumstances, speak to or contact us again. We will ignore you.” Seren smiled smugly, feeling pride in their chest swelling.

“Let’s go Seren.” Their dad turned and Seren kept a hold on his hand as they walked to the door. Hastily putting on their boots and coats.

“Serenity.” Their dad whispered as they walked out the door. “Did you sign anything when you were employed?”

“Uh…. no,” Seren said surprised. “I didn’t. He said if I lasted a week I’d have to get caught up in my vaccinations but I never had to sign anything.” Their dad pressed his lips together and stared vacantly into the distance.

“Is that bad?” They asked.

“It means he was bluffing when he threatened legal action.” Their dad whispered. He shook his head and looked down at Seren. “You certainly were brave today.”

“Oh, that lady wasn’t all that scary.” Seren shrugged. “Mr. Asche is scary cause he believes in me and he’d be really disappointed if I fail. That’s scary. But she didn’t believe in me, she just wanted to hurt me. That makes her much less scary.”

“Oh,” their dad said, surprised. “I guess when you put it that way.”