Tuesday morning dawned sunny and bright. Serenah didn't feel cheerful. She still felt a lot of pain from the previous evening's beating. She whimpered as she sat up. Her body screamed in agony. She would have to get some painkillers from Lael to have any hope of making it through the school day. She glanced down at her arms and nearly cried. There were numerous bruises, and she could see the shape of the belt in them.
The only part of her arms that weren't bruised were near her shoulders. She gently touched her shoulders and winced. Her father had hit her there, too. She couldn't even imagine how bad her back and butt looked. She decided she didn't want to know. If she couldn't see it, the pain would be bearable.
She got out of bed and walked toward her bathroom. She was almost to it when her door was flung open, and Amanah strutted inside. She halted at Amanah's whistle. She knew if she looked at her sister, she'd be unable to control her expressions. She didn't need to give her twin more ammunition against her.
"Not going to say hello?" taunted Amanah.
"Hello, Amanah." Serenah refused to turn around.
Rage was slowly filling her. For the first time in a long time, she wanted to lash out at her sibling. She fought to calm down. She couldn't fight Amanah in this state. She would lose and lose badly. She had to pick her battles. Today was not one of those.
"I see father hasn't lost his touch. Your skin looks so pretty with such gorgeous colors on your skin."
Serenah bit her lip, swallowing the words that threatened to spill from her lips. She would not give her twin satisfaction by responding. Let her think what she wanted. She was not going to play this game.
Suddenly a hand grabbed her shoulder roughly and spun her around. Serenah yelped and jerked sideways, almost falling. Her eyes landed on her twin. Amanah's face was twisted into a malicious grin. She tensed. What evil was her sister going to commit now? She needed Amanah to go away.
"Please leave. I need to get ready for school." She turned to go to her closet but froze at Amanah's enraged words.
"Listen, you waste of space. If you continue to disrespect me, I'll make sure Father hears about your dishonoring the family name."
Something inside Serenah snapped. She charged right up to her sister. "Leave me alone, Amanah! Just fucking leave me alone! You won! Go away and let me have some peace!" Tears of frustration and anger threatened to spill from her eyes.
Amanah's shocked look lasted only for a second before her hand flew and connected hard with Serenah's face.
Serenah cried out, stumbling backward, her hand going to her throbbing cheek. Her sister had put her strength behind that blow. She felt the blood dripping from her split lip. She glared at her twin.
Amanah stepped to her and grabbed her hair. Serenah raised her hand to try to free her hair, but Amanah smacked it away and forced her to look her in the eye.
"Little sister, the next time you talk back, I'll make sure the beating father gave you looks like child's play compared to what I will do to you."
Amanah stared into her eyes until Serenah lowered her gaze in defeat. She remained tense until Amanah released her hair and shoved her. Serenah stumbled but caught herself. She didn't even watch her sister leave and twitched at the slam of the door.
She sank to her knees and sobbed her misery. This was not how she wanted her day to start. She was still on her knees when Lael arrived to help her get dressed.
Lael took one look at her and went to fetch her medicine basket. She quietly put medicine on Serenah's lip and an ice pack for her swollen cheek.
"My Lady, you should stay home."
"No, Lael. That's what Father and Amanah want. I will not let them win."
She ignored Lael's disapproving look. "Please, give me some painkillers and rub salve on my wounds. Then help me get dressed in the baggiest clothes I have so that they aren't rubbing my injuries."
Lael sighed but did as Serenah asked. It took an additional twenty minutes to get ready. Lael put her hair in a high ponytail and put some concealer on her face to cover some of the bruising.
"Ready?"
Serenah turned to look at Alastar. He was frowning. She stood. "Let's go."
He grabbed her bag, and they headed for the garage. The ride to school was silent. She felt his disapproval of her choice to go to school. She didn't care. She was doing this for herself. She needed this to help regain the confidence her family had taken from her. Going to school was better than being at home feeling suffocated by her family's animosity toward her.
They arrived at school and Serenah spotted Romeo's car in its usual space. She frowned, unsure of how to act around him. Then she remembered his promised surprise. No one besides Alastar and Lael had ever given her a surprise gift. The thought made her smile, and she felt a little better.
"What's the smile for?"
She glanced at Alastar and tensed at his expression. She couldn't understand what he was upset about now. She hadn't done anything wrong.
"I was thinking about language arts class. I'm looking forward to reading Romeo and Juliet. I've heard interesting things about that story. It seems to be the basis for many romantic human stories. It has become its own trope. That speaks volumes about the writer of such a masterpiece."
Alastar grunted, grabbed her bag, and slung it over his shoulder to join his before taking the lead. He didn't say anything and neither did she. She softly sighed. She prayed to Autem that her day would be peaceful. When they entered the building, she could hear the whispers and feel the stares. It was starting again. She tried to calm her anxiety. She would not let them beat her. She held her head high and saw the gossipers flinch at her confident walk. Serenah managed to fake her confidence until they made it to first period.
She dropped the act, her energy and drive disappearing when her nerves got the best of her. The press of the judging stares made her hunch in on herself. She began to doubt her decision to come to school. Nowhere was safe for her. Tears hovered close to the surface as her emotions became worked up. Absently, she stroked her fated mark, trying to find comfort.
Romeo was waiting for them when they entered. He smiled brightly and something inside eased. It wasn't enough to stop all her emotions, but she felt less alone in his presence.
"Sera," he stretched out his hand to touch her, but Alastar snagged his hand.
"Morning, Romeo," Alastar said and pushed his hand away.
Serenah was shocked at Alastar's behavior and opened her mouth to rebuke him. The teacher's arrival stopped that, and she reluctantly went to her seat. She glared at Alastar, upset with him and the way he was behaving toward her and Romeo. She wanted an explanation, but it would have to wait.
She also wanted to talk to Romeo, but Alastar's interference continued through fourth period. By the time lunch rolled around, she wanted to scream or hit something. Preferably Alastar. They headed for lunch and were stopped by Liz and Penelope. The two girls ran up to her, snagged her hand, and dragged her to the lunch line, hollering "Girl time," over their shoulders to Alastar who stood with his mouth hanging open at their actions.
She didn't react either, too stunned to even object. They grabbed lunch and took her outside to the patio tables. She froze when she spotted Romeo sitting near the back. Her heart beat faster, and her mark warmed. She was happy to finally get to be near him without Alastar interfering.
"What are you waiting for? Go on," Liz encouraged, gently pushing her in Romeo's direction.
Serenah didn't need any more encouragement. She quickly went to the table and sat down next to Romeo.
"Hey," she shyly whispered.
"Hi." He grinned at her and took a bite of his sandwich.
They sat in a comfortable silence and ate until Romeo broke it.
"Homecoming is in two weeks. I can't wait for it. I'm sure you'll like it."
"Really? What is it exactly?"
"It is a rite of passage for all high school students. We have a week of fun activities and then we play a football game here on our field against a visiting team. The goal is to have fun that week and win the game that Friday night. There is also a dance. Everyone dresses to impress and have fun."
"Dance?" Serenah wanted to attend one since they looked like they had fun in all the videos she saw about them.
"Yeah. Also," he turned to fully face her. "I'm hoping you would be my partner for the dance."
She gasped, staring at him in surprise. She felt heat fill her cheeks as she blushed. Her mark heated and she reined in her rambling thoughts.
"Oh, um, I…"
"Please, say yes," Romeo pleaded, taking her hand in his.
"Yes, I'd like that."
"Great! We can work on the details like when and what time you want me to pick you up from your house."
She froze at his words. There was no way he could come to the castle. She didn't know what her father would do to him. No, it was better to just meet at the school instead.
"Um, yeah let's talk about that later." She stood. "We should get going. It's time to go back to class."
"You're right. Let's go."
They threw away their trash and walked toward the doors. Serenah wasn't watching where she was going and tripped. Oh no, I'm going to fall, she thought and braced herself. Instead, she let out a hurt yelp when Romeo grabbed her arm to stop her fall.
She jerked free and gasped, "Thanks. That startled me."
"Sera," he reached for her, his concerned gaze focused on her.
She shook her head and evaded his grasp. "Come on or we'll be late." She hurried inside not giving him time to say anything else.
Inside they were met by a very pissed Alastar. Serenah halted and flinched, her head dropping as she hunched her shoulders.
"Sera," his voice made her flinch again. She was in trouble.
She didn't know why he was mad or why he was so clingy today. It was wearing on her nerves. Alastar wasn't communicating, making it even harder for her to understand his feelings.
"Hey, not cool, Al. Stop treating her like she's some criminal."
Serenah looked up and saw Romeo glaring at Alastar. What was going on now?
"Stop making her feel bad. I mean it," asserted Romeo.
Alastar returned Romeo's glare with one of his own. He didn't say anything. He turned to Serenah and held out his hand in a silent demand that she take it.
She was torn. She wanted to stay with Romeo but she was too afraid of disobeying Alastar. He might have orders from her father. She couldn't risk it. She took his hand and ignored his triumphant smirk in Romeo's direction.
He dragged her away with him and she mouthed to Romeo, "I'm sorry." She felt guilty for leaving but she had to protect Romeo. She wouldn't let the mess of her family life interfere with her relationship with Romeo.
She vowed to make it up to him somehow as she and Alastar returned to class.