The Heir

Chapter 5 Torn Between Two Worlds

" Do you even hear yourself, Sebastian?" Reginald's voice was calm, yet laced with that edge, the sound of a man who wore his authority like velvet wrapping on a gloved hand." This is not a decision you are allowed to make. You are a Green. That is the only thing that matters."

I paced the length of the room, running my hand through my hair. The old study smelled of cigar smoke and leather, just as it always had when I was a sprat. The familiarity of it made me sick.

" The only thing that matters to you," I wrangle, whirling on him." I did not ask for this. I did not ask to be dragged back into this world like some pawn in your grand scheme."

Reginald did not bat an eyelash. He noway did. He leaned back in the chair, resting his chin on his hand like he was studying me like I was some problem he could break if he just set up the right angle.

" You may not have asked for it," he said easily," but it's your responsibility. You can not just walk down from the Green family. You are the heir. And Victoria —

" Do n't." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I did not watch." Do not bring her into this. I do not indeed flash back her, Reginald. How can I be anticipated to marry someone I do not indeed know?"

" You knew her formerly," he returned, his gaze cool and level." And you will know her again. Victoria understands this life. She's everything you need in a mate-elegant, intelligent, pious."

" She's everything you need," I snapped." Not me."

Reginald's lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, the room fell into tense silence, the only sound the soft ticking of the antique timepiece on the mantel.

" What's it you want, also?" he asked eventually, voice low but slicing." To throw it all down? To play house with some girl you slightly know?"

I felt my jaw clen, but I forced myself to meet his stare." Clara is not' some girl'. She's" I reined in the words." She's different. She's real. She does not give a flying horse's arse about my name or the money or any of this." I wheeled my arm in a circle, taking in the room." She sees me. The person I'm today. Not that one you are trying to drag me back to being.

Reginald stood sluggishly, his movements deliberate. He was high than me, broader too, and he used every inch of it to impend over me as he spoke." Do you actually suppose that matters? That you can make a life with her? The world you come from- our world it will swallow her whole."

" perhaps I do not want your world presently," I said still, my voice pulsing with wrathfulness.

His eyes narrowed, and for a flicker of a alternate, something- disappointment? Frustration?- crossed his face." You do not have a choice, Sebastian. You noway did."

The door creaked open before I could answer, and Victoria stepped outside. She was gorgeously beautiful, as always. Dark, satiny hair framed her delicate features, and the emerald-green dress hugged her figure to perfection. The confident way she carried herself commanded a certain poise that made people stop and gawk, but to me, it felt rehearsed, manufactured.

" Am I interposing?" she asked, her voice as smooth as silk. Her eyes danced between Reginald and me, curiosity dancing in them.

" Not at each," Reginald said, his tone softening to face her." We were just agitating Sebastian's future."

Victoria smiled, but did not let it reach her eyes." Ah, the ever- fugitive future. Good to see you again, Sebastian."

I forced a polite nod, though the word felt heavy in my mouth." Victoria."

She took a step closer, her perfume- something flowery and precious- filling the space between us." You look well. It's been a long time."

" It has," I replied shortly, not trusting myself to say anything further.

Her smile faltered for just a moment before she turned her attention to Reginald." I assume you've filled him in on everything?"

" We were getting there," Reginald replied." But maybe you can help him see reason."

Victoria's gaze returned to me, and this time there was something calculating in it." I am sure you are feeling overwhelmed, Sebastian. All of this the expectations, the responsibilities it can be a lot to take in. But you are not alone. I am then to help you, just like I always have been."

" Help me?" I could not catch the laugh that escaped, bitter and concave." You do not indeed know who I'm presently, Victoria. And actually? I do not suppose you ever did."

Her expression did not falter, but I saw the flicker of something behind her eyes. Annoyance? Hurt? It was hard to tell.

" perhaps not," she said unevenly." But I am willing to try. Can you say the same about what is her name? Clara?"

I strengthened, the mention of Clara's name like a spark to dry tinder." Leave her out of this."

" Why?" Victoria pressed, sharper now." Because she's some fairy tale you suppose you can escape to? You are chaffing yourself if you suppose she can handle the weight of your reality."

" And you can?" I returned." Because from where I am standing, it looks like you are just as trapped by this world as I am."

" That is enough," Reginald barked, his voice whipping through the pressure." Both of you."

The room fell silent formerly more, thick with implied words. Victoria stepped back, smoothing her dress with a rehearsed gesture, while Reginald fixed me with a hard stare.

" You have till tomorrow to decide," he said." But let me make one thing veritably clear, Sebastian. This is n't about just you. Every decision you make affects everybody in this family."

I said nothing. I could n't. His words were hanging over me, heavy with expectation, as I turned and left the room, my footsteps resounding along the hallway.

" Sebastian!" Clara's voice called as I stepped out into the cool night air. She was standing by the edge of the garden, her arms wrapped around herself against the chill. When she saw me, her face lit up with relief, but it snappily faded as she took in my expression.

" What happed?" she asked, her voice soft yet critical.

I shook my head, trying to find the words." It's complicated."

Clara frowned and moved a bit closer." Try me."

I soughed, running my hand through my hair." They want me to to take over the family business. To marry Victoria. To be someone I am not."

Clara's eyes widened." Marry her? But you you do not indeed love her, right?"

" Of course I do n't," I whisked to assure her." But that does not feel to count to them. To Reginald."

" And what about what you want?" Clara asked, her voice shaking a little." Does not that count?"

I looked at her, the pain in her eyes cutting me to the core." It counts to me," I said vocally." But I do not know if it's enough."

" It has to be," she said, her voice firm now." You can not let them mandate your life, Sebastian. Not when you've formerly started erecting something different. Something real."

Her words struck a passion deep within me, but before I could answer, the crunch of gravel beneath footsteps broke the silence. I turned to find Reginald standing there, his face undecipherable.

" Sebastian," he said, his voice low." We need to talk."

Clara looked at us both, her brow furrowed." Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of me," she returned with a bit of defiance.

Reginald turned to her also, his eyes icy." This is family business. It does not concern you."

" It concerns me if it affects him," Clara shot back, chin high.

A faint, mirthless smile crinkled Reginald's lips." You have spirit. I will give you that. But you have no idea what you are getting into."

" perhaps not," Clara said, undaunted." But I know what he means to me. And I am not