Unloved Unclaimed Unbound

Chapter Four - Serenya

“I'm sorry. I think I heard you say you've finally secured MY future?” I ask in disbelief.

Father cleared his throat, adjusted his wine glass. His voice was flat, “You’ve been provided for, Serenya. A contract of sorts,” he paused, looking to Ashton, before continuing, “has been finalized with Ashton's assistance.”

Realization, disgusting horrible realization coiled in the pit of my stomach. “You cannot be saying what I think you are saying.”

Across the table, Brandi had a smug smile as Ashton nodded with slow satisfaction of a man who thought his work was ironclad. “It's airtight. Every clause ensures compliance, protection and stability. The Ashmare interests remain secure.” This cocky asshole.

Kayla, smiled faintly, her attention on her now full glass of wine. Brandi, lending forward with a predatory focus on Kaelith, voice dripping with implication, “Contracts keep people where they belong. Some of us should be grateful for that kind of guidance.”

I began to shake as Kaelith’s initial confusion began to evaporate, taking in my pale, rigid profile and the fury in my eyes looking at these adults who didn't see me as a minor. His hand tightened around his glass and his gaze snapped back to Brandi, “Guidance isn’t the same thing as control. Some people confuse chains for protection.”

Brandi laughed, too loudly, trying to conceal the sting with forced charm. “Well, some people don’t appreciate what's being done for them.”

“You are selling your minor daughter,” I seethed, “as a way to control her. Just as you sent her away to make sure she didn’t influence her brother, when he is more than capable of making his own decision and forming his own opinions. This isn’t the Middle Ages, this isn’t a Third World country, and we don’t follow religious customs in which a contract or arranged marriage is necessary.”

After taking a sip of her wine, Linda gave a sigh, “Serenya, darling, you'll come to understand. You've never had the… What’s the word… Ah yes, aptitude for independence. This arrangement ensures you'll be cared for. Mr. Dravenholt is well-connected, discreet, and entirely uninterested in… complications.”

The words my mother said. They shouldn't have affected me, because I didn’t care anymore. But the words, they hit harder than if my mother had called me useless outright.

I lifted my chin, meeting my mother's eyes, with cold unfeeling eyes staring into her soulless ones. My voice soft and surprisingly steady to draw silence from every corner of the dining room. “And what if I am uninterested, Linda?”

The table stilled. Kayla and Brandi gasped. Glen's tone sharpened as he attempted to assert authority. “This isn't about interest, Serenya. It's about what's best. For you and us all. Once it is signed, the conservatorship will transfer seamlessly.”

Kealith leaned back in his chair, the storm building in his eyes. “For you maybe.”

Wait. Did Glen just say conservatorship?

“We've adjusted the timeline,” Ashton stated, “Since you are a minor, you will have 30 days from your 18th birthday to marry Mr. Dravenholt.”

“This is bullshit!” Kaelith stood, his chair falling behind him. “Serenya isn’t a possession. She isn’t property to just sell.”

“Kaelith! Language!” Linda scolded. “This does not have anything to do with you and should not affect you in any way.”

“Affect me in any way? Seriously?! It affects me in every way! This is my sister! MY twin sister! This is YOUR daughter! You…” Kealith was now shaking as I was.

The thing is, I stopped shaking, I stopped listening, it was just one of the things I started doing before Glen and Linda sent me away. It was almost like an out-of-body experience. They continue to converse and argue. Kaelith defended me and the adults, validating their reasoning.

I was about to stand and go to my room on autopilot when the doorbell rang. I blinked. Watching Glen stand, fix his collar and walked to the door. I stood, refusing to excuse myself, refusing to listen to Linda chastise me for leaving without permission.

An elderly white man in a crisp, overly priced suit walked into the house. Despite his age, he was in shape. His hair still had the color trying to hang in there, while his roots were graying. The corner of his eyes had crow's feet, a 80s mustache thing going on. He must be around 6’1” Almost like he was attempting to cosplay as Tom Selleck, if his hair wasn't graying.

“Ah, you must be Serenya,” his voice was kind, “It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Eryx Dravenholt. You'll be accompanying me to my estate this evening, residing there until school resumes after the break. Do you have anything you'd like to bring anything with you? We can send someone to collect the rest at a later time.”

I stared at him for a long moment. He looked at Glen. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ashmare, we were under the...”

“I just need to get my purse, phone and say goodbye to my brother,” I tell him and started to go upstairs to grab said things. I don’t take anything in, I don’t take a moment to let it sink in that I will possibly not be coming back and head back down stairs.

I look at Kaelith, who nods and follows me outside, neither of us listening to Linda's protests. I hear Mr. Dravenholt give a clear statement to her about respecting my wish to tell my brother goodbye.

Outside, the cicadas are singing the song of their species. I leaned against the porch railing looking at the hazy city lights reflecting in the clouds before turning my head to Kaelith.

“They're selling you like — like your furniture. If you think I will let them do this and just stand here while they-" Kaelith began.

I cut him off by touching his shoulder, “I need you to stay. For me. Be the person, the one person who remembers who I am when they try to rewrite me and spin their lies. Promise me, Kae.”

“Ren, you've always deserved more than this,” he says barely above a whisper, taking my hand from his shoulder and holding onto me like I am about to vanish.

Which essentially, I am in a way. I give him a faint smile, sadness bleeding through what I'm trying to portray as fierce.

“And you've always been the only one who saw me. That is more than I deserve already.” I get to my tiptoes and pull him into a hug a single tear, that's all I'm allowing myself to shed, “Goodbyes don’t mean gone. Remember that.”

Kaelith tightened his hold around me, “They don't deserve you. I will be there when this breaks apart, and it will.”

We pull apart, and I can see convection and promise in the depth of his eyes. I notice movement to my left, Mr. Dravenholt stands next to a limousine. I take a deep breath, straighten my posture, mask my grief and begin walking to the limousine.