Meeting the Family [Castiel, Desdemona]

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

The carriage ride back from Boileau's was considerably more comfortably than the one there had been and I was still smiling slightly as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of his- our- home. I still needed to retrieve my things, and write to my family, as well as having some very complicated conversations with my new husband, but all of that was simply too much to wrap my head around at this point. One step at a time, that was how things would have to work or my mind would go into a suicidal spin of confusion. For now I was forestalling that by focusing on details, but eventually that wouldn't work any longer. Well, not unless something else came along to distract me.

"I think we've arrived," I said in a nonchalant tone, then looked at the carriage door as it opened, took the driver's hand and stepped down to wait for my husband. What was my place in this household going to be anyway? I was the lady of the estate by law, and that gave me control equal to Castiel's unless he set some sort of limit on it. The question was whether or not he would. More to wait and see.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

The atmosphere this ride around was lighter, calmer, happier even, than it had been, and I was thankful for it. We would both need to be as calm as possible, I garnered. I did not think that Des would yell at me, thouhg I could not say how she would be towards Liselle. I could sense that she would be disappointed though, if nothing else, that she was not involved as much as she should have been in the process, and perhaps upset that she did not get a chance to be a proper bridesmaid as she woul dhave been. I was mostly silent, thinking, when we pulled up before the home and the carriage door was opened. Liselle stepped down adn I stepped down after her, the chest under my arm, and the little box for Des in my hand while I offered my new wife my other arm. I looked up at the house and thought of all teh things that owuld need to be done, so many arrangements made, conversations to be had, but I tried to clear my mind and took a deep, settling breath before I turned, smiling, to Liselle.

"Are you ready?" I asked with a slightly... i do not know... tentative? Apologetic? Grin.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Once Castiel was down and had his various packages comfortably arranged I lightly took his arm. "Oh, I'm always ready, my lord," I replied in a low, playful tone as we walked toward the door. Who knew what the servants thought by this point, especially since none of them had seen me more than once at most, but then again they were servants and would adjust to this easily enough. Was I going to have to take charge of this new household? Part of me rankled at the work, but another liked the idea of the power and I smiled slightly again as we moved. "Perhaps this is when I should ask what you generally prefer with breakfast, or at least what we'll be eating, or even who we'll be eating with? I know you mentioned a sister, are there any other members of your family here?"

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

The sounds of yelling had woken me from a dreamless slumber. Although I enjoyed getting up early in the morning, I didn't usually move around as much once I was up. I stretched in the bed, sat up and made my way out of the bed. I heard doors opening, footsteps across the floor and then the closing of the front door. It sounded like my brother was leaving early for some reason. I wondered what he was up to, but I didn't really have the energy to attempt to catch him.

I took my time getting out of the bed and heading over to the vanity table. I washed my face, neck and chest, and then stood up to find something appropriate to wear. I didn't really have anything in mind to do except to continue to practice my Caerdiccan. I wasn't sure how good I was, but I was determined to keep working on it. Something needed to keep me distracted from the misery of watching my brother intercept with other women. At first, I had been able to sabotage a few of them, but lately he had been completely avoiding me. Most times I didn't know where he was, and I was sure that our relationship was becoming more and more distant. If he married....I wasn't sure I would ever see him, even living in the same house. I wasn't sure I could even live with myself...

I looked at a white and red dress. It was a dress that reminded me of my father, as it was almost a exact duplicate of a smaller dress he had purchased for me when I was a little girl. I had a tailor replicate the dress for my adult size, and for some reason it seemed appropriate to wear it today.

A servant came in and helped me out of my nightgown and into my underthings. She slipped the gown over my head and began doing the buttons. I looked at myself in the mirror, enjoying the contrast of the white against my dark skin. I adjusted the dress a bit and then sat down in a chair to watch as the servant began brushing my hair. She put it into a tight bun at the back of my head and placed a white comb that had a maroon flower on it.

I dismissed her with a wave of my hand and looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn't allow my nerves to give away today. If I saw Castiel....I needed to tell him. Otherwise, it would be too late. I needed to let him know that I loved him and that he didn't need anyone else but me. I knew that only I could really fulfill his needs and desires. No other woman could match the love that I had for him. And if he rejected me.......well...I wasn't sure what I would do....but at least I could feel some self respect in that I had been honest about my feelings.

I stood up from the chair, picked up a book on Caerdiccan translations and made my way downstairs to the breakfast room. I settled in a chair and then called to the cook, "I would like sausage, biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Orange juice as well." Then I picked up my book and began reading where I left off. I attempted the pronounciation with soft words, "Mia madre parla a mia sorella." I was so engrossed that I didn't even hear the sound of the front door opening.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

As we approached the front door I shook my head.

"No, just myu sister and myself. No cousins, and my parents have passed, as you know, a rather long time ago now," I said with a sad smile, but a strong one nonetheless. "And breakfast," I said with a soft laugh as we stepped up the front steps, crossin gover teh veranda and my hand settled upon the door handle to open it, "I like just about anything really, cheese, bread, fruits, gruel sweetened with honey, eggs and ham and potatoes," I listed as we walked through the door, and I laughed softly, "it's really hard to displease me when it comes to food," it felt like we were courting, learning the things about each other we ought to have learnedprior to our marriage, and though it felt odd, a part o me was comfo0rted by it in a way, to know that she was interested in the things I liked, not just sex and title. "And you?" I asked, taking a deep breath as I closed the door behind me, smelling that breakfast was on its way, and knowing then that Des was up and probably eating some as we spoke. A bit of tension rose to my body, but I tried to keep it from my face.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

I listened with mild interest as he answered my questions, mostly because it seemed to make him a bit more contented and that was a good thing at the moment. Another screaming match before breakfast sounded entirely too stressful and while I didn't mind a good fight now and then I at least wanted to get some food in my stomach first. Besides, making things as peaceful as possible meant less chance that he would snap or make some sort of demand that I'd have to refuse to accept.

In all honesty I was rarely awake at usual morning hours but with my new life that would likely have to change anyway. "I'm generally accepting enough with foods as long as they're made well," I replied sedately, giving him a smile as we moved through the house toward where the scent of food was coming. Generally I wasn't much of an eater at all but this morning I needed something on my stomach to absorb whatever I was going to end up drinking through the tense conversations to come. "But I generally favor savory things before pastries or sweets."

Only a few more steps through the house- my house as well, now- and we were at the smaller dining room, and the door opened to the usual arrangement of things with the added addition of a girl in one of the chairs that looked as though she were almost wearing a wedding gown. There was some irony in that, and for a moment I wondered what was going on, but then I recognized a familiarity of features that Castiel shared. This must have been his demure, sweet sister then. For a moment I simply watched everything, then looked back at Castiel. Evidently there wouldn't be breakfast before the introductions.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

We entered the small dining room, and my eyes widened as I took in the scene before me. I had thought she would have been having breakfast, but I did not know if she would take it in her room as I heard she normally did when I was not about or take it here, adn here she was. My features softened, though my heart beat hard in my chest, and my grip on the box in my hand tightened, having left teh chest of coins on a table in the entrance. I smiled softly as we entered the dining room.

"Desdemona," I whispered softly, grinning from ear to ear. I was always happy to see adn speak with my sister. She tollerated me with kindness and soemtimes I felt she guided me when I ought to have been guiding her. I wondered, for a moment, how Liselle would fit into this dynamic, and sent out a silent prayer that all would be well.

"Desdemona, I would like you to meet Liselle," I said, my eyes falling on my new bride. The words stuck in my throat.... I figured waiting a moment ebfore letting the cat out of teh burlap sack would be in better taste then a salutation followed by "by the way I am married". I had a bit more tact than that... and apparently a bit more whereiwthall as well.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I was heavily invested in my book when they came in, so that I did not even hear their footsteps. I looked up when I heard Castiel. I immediately greeted him with a smile, "I missed you last night..." My sentence paused when I saw someone else was there.

When I saw that it was another woman of his, I turned my head, deciding that indifferent was the best way to respond to this introduction. She was so young, I could hardly believe that my brother had a interest in her.

"Hello," I said with obvious disinterest while my eyes stayed on the words in my book.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Both from Castiel's way of speaking to his sister and her greeting to him I could see that there was some familial closeness there- or at least I guessed so, never having been privy to that myself. If that was how they were contented though, so much better for them. It suited the Shahrizai well enough and they had a good deal of power to them, no matter how much some of them annoyed me with their superiority at times.

As soon as both sets of eyes were looking at me though I could tell there was some tension and I simply watched for a moment. Castiel wanted me to do something, maybe be reassuring, but a glance at this girl, Desdemona- there was scorn in it and that immediately shortened my temper. Who was she to look at me that way? Scarcely a year older than me, reading some bit of foreign drivel, and after she'd made herself clear enough it was back to her 'better' book. Seems as though this household wasn't going to be soft-spoken harmony after all.

Castiel wanted me to be somewhat peaceable though, and he was nervous, so I rolled my eyes inwardly, pretended like his sister was the Princess she was pretending toward and put on my best smile and my best manners. "Hello Desdemona, it's a pleasure to meet you," I replied sedately, patting Castiel's arm where I held it as I looked back up at him. "Shall we sit down, my lord, or was your mind changed about breakfast?"

[Castiel de Bonnel]

Des seemed a little cold, but then again, what sister wanted to take any sort of interest in her older brother's lovelife. For all I knew she thought nothing more than a girl passing through of Liselle, though that thought, if it were there, would have to be corrected, and soon. Instead, I smiled at both, praying that things would not get out of hand in some way. I had had enough yelling matches and issues for the day to last me for the entire week.

"No no, I think breakfast is still a great idea," I said, looking to Liselle with a soft smile, perhaps a little strained, but still I wanted to smile, though I could feel some tension in the room.

"And Des... sorry to be interrupting your book, but... I... we... have some news," I said with a wider grin, praying that the news would be well received. She was my ssister afterall, and we had been inseparable at most, except when I had gone away, adn at least since the death of our parents, and I hoped she would be happy, even if this change was sudden and drastic. I moved to pull out a seat for Liselle before I pulled out a seat for myself. Cook heard the voices, it seemed and came into the room, assessing eh situation with wide eyes, a shake of her head, her eye going to Liselle's hand instantly, and then my own, but knowing that breakfast would be needed for the two of us as well, and so no doubt when she scurried back the way she had came, it was iwth the intention of bringing us a plate fo whatever she had made.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I wasn't paying attention to Liselle, so if she showed any negative expression I was unaware of it. I kept my eyes in my book when she mentioned that it was a pleasure to meet me. Of course it was, she was most likely trying to stick her fingers in my brother's purse. Most of my brother's lovers attempted to be polite with me, and I wasn't going to give them any impression that I was fooled by their sweet voice.

I looked up from my book when Cast apologized for interrupting my reading. My eyebrow raised slightly when he said that he had news, "Oh?" Ideas of what this could mean flew through my head. I waited patiently for him to tell me the news. I glanced silently at Liselle, praying to Namaah that it had nothing to do with her. Cast had a wide grin on his face, but I was still suspicious if this news was good or bad.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Refusing to acknowledge the scorn that was being aimed at me I instead focused on the way Castiel tried to push away his perception of it, at least enough to still gave me a smile. It wasn't a good one, and I could tell he'd rather not be stuck in this situation at all but it was something and I smiled back as he led me to a chair and thanked him as he pulled it out for me. The housekeeper came in and gave us an intent look- had we run into her the night before, with all of our celebrating? Maybe that was why she knew what to assume, and when she hurried away I couldn't help but wonder if she merely wanted to avoid the confrontation to come.

Evidently Desdemona was more keen to listen to her brother now and I lightly rested my hand on his as I brushed some hair back with my left hand, still not quite used to the feeling of the ring on my finger but enjoying it nonetheless. Maybe it wasn't such a shackle after all, and right now it was my only bond to this person that anyone might respect. Everything would have to build from there, and hopefully as irritated as his sister seemed by my existence she would at least make as few waves as possible.

If not we may have to have words.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

Once Liselle had seated I pushed her chair in gently before seating myself at her side, and across from Des. All I received from her was a raised brow and a monosyllable, just one word, and I knew that this could not bode well. I cleared my throat, and tried to remain strong, my smile weakening at first, though I broadened it. she was a smart girl though, and I worried that she might see right through it and see the worry. Truth I was happy, regardless of the irritation of the situtaion, and the irritations to come, I still was happy, but this was certainly not the most ideal situation or the most ideal time to be presenting Des with the news.

"Well, you know... how I have come here to the City, looking for myself a wife, someone to love, and to cherish," I said with a smile, hping that it would ease the news, "well, I want you to know that I have found her," I siad, turning now to Liselle, "and that she sits before you here."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I could feel a sense of foreboding coming over me as I saw the young girl place her hand on my brother's hand. The wedding ring seemed to be mocking me and I could hear the laughing echoing in my ears. But I couldn't believe that- I needed to hear it from Cast. I turned my eyes toward him and my mouth dropped when he began talking about the reason why he had come to Elua and then he said the wife was right across from me.

It was about that time that the servant came in with my breakfast. She set it in front of me as I starred blankly, as I felt like my heart had dropped down to my abdomen. She placed a plate of food in front of Liselle and Cast. Somehow...I had been too late. Too late. I wanted to fall to my knees and cry, but I knew that I could never show such vulnerability in front of the young bride. And that's when I felt the heat of anger set a fire through my form.

I picked up the plate and threw it at the wall that was to my right, it smashed against the wall and the food fell to the floor. The plate was not in the direction of where Liselle was, although I eagerly wished to ram her face in the plate of food. I snapped my fingers to the servant. When she came toward me, I whispered in her ear and she left to go back to the kitchen.

Then I turned toward Cast, "How...? This makes no sense. You weren't married yesterday, were you? I thought you would have AT LEAST given me the decency to meet your fiancée' before you married... Or have you been engaged to her the moment we came into Elua? I feel as if I don't even know you anymore...." I spoke in a low voice, but anger was easily written on my face. I emphasized my words with a pause, but I didn't speak any louder. I kept my voice in a controlled volume.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Whatever Castiel had been hoping for I didn't think his sister's reaction was it, and while I watched sedately there were a few different things to notice. My husband obviously thought this was the best way to tell her- and he wasn't exactly right, but men rarely are when thinking about talking to women. Shock, sorrow, anger, all of it was there.

Then then dish flew and my eyes narrowed but I refused to flinch and watched sedately, features still slightly smiling. I'd thrown larger tantrums in front of more fearsome people, had verbal sparring matches with the Shahrizai matriarch and knew every dirty deed that had ever passed my notice, and I was not going to be scared by her. There was always the chance she wasn't trying to be intimidating, but she was trying to make a point, and I wasn't going to deal right now.

Though the shattering glass made me wish for a brandy to abate the hangover some.

Instead I picked up the glass of water and took a sip before taking the napkin and placing it in my lap and watching. If anything else was going flying I wanted to be there to see it before it hit me since his sister seemed to be in quite the tizzy. Why would she have to meet whoever her brother married beforehand? He was the head of the family and sometimes life wasn't fair.

Better to just stay out of it for now and watch.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

I did not know what to expect from Des, what her response would be, but for certain, I would assure anyone in recounting this tale that it was not the one she gave me. I could see the various emotions passing over her face, the first of which was surprise as her jaw dropped, then anger as she picked up her food, just brought in piping hot from the maid, and threw it against the wall, food and all, leaving a large splattered grease mark on it, and the plate in shattered pieces. My eyes went to Liselle, who seemed collected. She did not flicnh once at my side, nor did she touch her food though, and I could tell she was waiting, waiting to see what was said, how this would play out. My eyes shot back to Des, and before I could sto myself, my brows furrowed and eyes narrowed.

"You feel as though you do not know me? You do not know me?! For the sake of teh Gods, the Des I know would never have reacted so... so brashly!" I growled, slamming a fist down on teh table before running the same hand through my locks. i took a deep breath and sighed.

"This... happened sooner than anticiapted. it was not somethign in the works prior to coming here Des, there were no designs for it. it is something that happened quickly, and since I have been here. Liselle and I have been seeing one another for a little while now, and it culminated in a late evening eloping." My face was stern, my voice was monotonous, my words were clipped, but I did not look away fro ,her, even if I did not give her the whole truth - that we were both drunk, both reacting to heightened emotions when it happened, and we were going to stick it through. If I had to make anyone believe I was in love, and everything was stable, it would be Des.

"She is a lovely girl, Des, and I think the two of you would get along, if you give each other the chance to." The maid stood, still a little shocked by the reaction, grasping her apron in her white-knuckled hands. I motioned to her to clean it up and murmured for her to bring Des a fresh plate fo breakfast.

"I am sorry that you were not involved. Truly I would have liked you to be, and perhaps we will have a proper wedding, one with gowns, and you can be a brides maid, and we can have a fete, but as it is now, we are married."

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

My eyes hardened at Cast's growl, I said nothing as Cast spoke. My eyes squinted as he spoke of how the marriage happened in a late evening eloping. I just shook my head in confusion. It didn't make sense that Cast would make this decision without giving me any idea that it would happen. There was something about what he said that seemed odd and I had a feeling that he wasn't giving me the whole truth.

I glared at the maid who was currently disobeying my order and following Cast's gesture instead. I shook my head when he ordered the maid to give me another plate of food, "I've lost my appetite."

"I can hardly believe that you would make such a decision without informing me. Bringing a complete stranger into this house as if I mean nothing to you. We stood beside one another when our parents abandoned us to Terre D'Ange- Beyond, but this means nothing to you???" my words were filled with outrage and betrayal.

I glanced at Liselle and then shook my head, "I could never be friends with a bottom feeder. I wish I could have warned you before you made such a hasty decision. Surely she will suck out every last centime we have and I hope when we are penniless and she has moved on to another wealthy man that you will regret this day." I spoke in a firm serious voice.

Then I stood up from the table, gave a curtsy, "I wish you both a good morning." I turned on my heel and headed into the kitchen. I picked up a stack of dishes and began throwing them on the floor, one by one. Since my brother had no sense of holding onto our funds. It seemed to reason- why should I?

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

There was so much tension in this situation that I almost wondered if the air between my husband and his sister would burst into flames or one of them would be turned to stone by the other, but short of throwing myself into the middle of it they had to sort it out. That Castiel, my husband, defended me brought a moment of surprise because I'd wondered if he'd have told the tale as he said it earlier in the bedroom, turning everything around to my fault. Why didn't he just do that this time? From how upset he seemed it would have been easier to make me fight for myself than to face down his 'precious sister'.

But he hadn't, and for some reason that made my heart race.

I noticed the glare that the girl gave to the maid, who was now in something of a fright, and while I generally didn't care overmuch about the help I could understand why. This was my husband's house, he was the lord here, but the girl had put the fear of Kushiel into the staff and now there was a power struggle that would have to be solved.

The more the sister spoke the more it seemed that she thought she was the ruler here and I could only watch her with a sort of bemused skepticism- at least until she called me names, which turned my smile to something a bit more icy and made my hands and jaw clench on words I would much rather have spit out. Brat. Little bitch. Officious, nosy, imprudent, tantruming child. Tarty wench in an ill-suited gown without even the sense to play at manners to get your way. She almost made me rethink every fit I'd ever thrown.

Besides, if I'd wanted to steal his money I surely could have done it without a marriage, and without the help I was going to give to the Bonnel lands. Not to mention the heirs.

Then she was dropping into her so-false curtsy and leaving the room, and I could hear the first crash of dishes, and I looked at Castiel with a bit of sincere warmth and rested my hand on his arm before I started to rise as well. Apologies didn't come easily to me, not real ones anyway, and I didn't even know how to start one, or to show my gratitude for how he'd tried to save my pride. But I could put the girl in her place and thank my husband that way, and then later in others if he was inclined.

Now the question was whether or not he was coming with me to the kitchen.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

The venom on her tongue was - if nothing else - terribly surprising. I had never ehard such things come from Des, never before. Sure, I had heard rumours, a missive from Timothee, Kusheth's Soverign Duc, that a girl had made some terrible raucous in a shoppe, La Roche's to be exact, and that he had figured she was my ward - my sister - but I spoke of her calm nature, and though she was a little angry at times, and quiet and sullen she was mostly to herself,, and would not do such a thing. Now though, i was not so sure, and as she spoke, then rose, and stormed off, I was caught up in something of a daze, brows furrowed, until the first crash of a dish hitting the floor, and then another, snapped me out of my reverie and I was quickly to my feet, finding that Liselle had risen as well, her hand warm on my arm as if a calming presence even thoug hI was fit to burst with shame for Des's behaviour and words, and anger that she would act thusly with someone she did not know at all, and just... so much shock for I had never known this side of her. So many fthings roared through my mind, but first and foremost was anger, anger at her words, and what they meant, how they not only belittled my new wife, but my common sense. She though I would be so inept to choose a gold-digger for a wife? Even if we both gain from this relationship monetarily and in rank, we are both gaining, there was no one-sidedness. I took Liselle's hand in mine, and followed after Des, anger making my blood heat and race through my veins, and though she was my sister, and I would forever have a soft spot in my heart for her, regardless fo waht she said adn did, this was unacceptable.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

After I successfully broke the pile of dishes, I settled onto the floor. I picked up a piece of a chipped plate. My knees were pulled tight toward my body and as if in a trance, I began moving the sharp chip over the palm of my hand. I moved it slowly into a circle and then into a triangle and then a square. I continued moving the chip into those shapes, caring little of how blood was forming in my hand and dripping slowly to the floor. I starred blankly at my hand and continued the movements.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

I wouldn't have thought I'd seen Castiel more livid than he was realizing he'd married me this morning but now it seemed that he'd reached that level again, and the shock of it coming from the girl he'd described as 'modest and sweet' was almost too much for him. I could have felt sorry for him if his anger wasn't so well-placed and if I was more used to feeling some sympathy at all. Then again there's no much use in feeling anything that isn't going to be reciprocated by usefulness, I'd had a lifetime of learning that.

As we went into the kitchen I looked over at the pile of broken porcelain, the servants who were both completely shocked and fearful- and the way they didn't stop her from playing at cutting herself. At least in my household someone would have talked me out of it, but then I wouldn't have marred my flesh in such a way either, and I could only roll my eyes behind my lids as I let go of Castiel's hand and strode toward the tantruming girl.

"Stop that, would you?" I said in a low hiss, grabbing the wrist of the hand she was cutting with and prying the bit of crockery out of her hand, then tossing it aside. "What is with this tantrum? Get up." If my eyes were showing what I was feeling at all I had no doubt they were glittering with anger. How dare she behave this way after I'd gone to all of the effort to be cordial?! Perhaps I should have come in just as much a bitch myself and seen how she favored it!

[Castiel de Bonnel]

We were both up and pushing through the door, the sound of the crashing had stopped as we entered, and the scenewas one to behold. My eyes went about the floor, porcelain broken, shattered, everywhere, and there Des sat, in the middle of the room, with somethign in her hand, and blood running down the other. I furrowed my brows, thinking at first she must have cut her hand throwing the tantrum she had thrown, but then I saw the glint of porcelain and a drip of blood adn knew such was not the case. She has never reacted to anything like this before. Even momma and pappa's death had just left her cold and shrunken away, but I had never seen her harm herself. I could not figure if it was in earnest ro a play at getting attention, but before I could respond, emotions mixing and confusing inside me, Liselle was at her side, hoisting her up by her wrist, fire and anger in her eyes. A part of me wanted to balk at it, at first thinking she had no right, but she did - Des had wronged her with her sharp tongue, but no reaction would not have passed either, so I rushed to her side, my eyes wide, still and glared at the maids that stood around.

"Get soap and water and a towel, NOW!" I barked. Blood had splattered on the floor, on her white dress, staining them. I shook my head.

"What on earth are you doing?" I asked her incredulously, though there was pain and anger in equal amounts present in my voice, and no doubt on my visage.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I starred at the blood in my hand. I should feel pain...shouldn't I? And yet, I felt nothing. My whole body just felt numb. I barely heard Liselle as she hissed into my ear and grabbed my wrist, bringing me to my feet. I swung my hand back towards me and out of her hand, "What do you care?" I looked down at my white dress and I saw that some blood had stained the dress. "Look what you've done! This was papa's favorite dress!"

I turned toward the sink and I picked up a cloth, I soaked it in water and took a few steps from Liselle to clean off the blood. I set my bloody hand away from my body, so that it wouldn't bleed on my dress.

I heard my brother scream, but I continued to focus on cleaning the stains from my dress, oblivious to the blood of my hand dripping onto the floor.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Castiel was only a moment or two behind me and started barking orders for the maids, which at least gave them an inkling of what theys should be doing since they seemed to scared of 'darling sister' to move on their own, and I could only wonder what kind of household was being run here. My servants acted as though I was difficult to work for and I was a constant perfectionist but at least they didn't seem petrified with fear, merely annoyed with tasks. What did it mean if I was the more reasonable housekeeper when I didn't do that much for it?

Then the girl was snatching her hand back, sulking and blaming ME for her wounds and I forgot for a moment that she was supposed to be older than I was. Really? I could have thrown a better fit when I was twelve or thirteen and right now all I could muster was unimpressed anger. What was my husband like if he really hadn't noticed this sort of behavior from his sister- or had he just been lying all along? "What I did? Evidently marrying your brother broke your skin somehow?" I replied in a clipped, nonchalant tone as I watched her dab at the dress and checked my nails. "Some white wine will bring that right out, and then can we move on to whatever this is really about?"

Casting a look back at my husband I watched to see what he would do, ready to move aside if he wanted to come closer, or to get out of the way if he was angry at me for daring to speak up. No matter what I wasn't going to give up though. Life was a battle and there were no prizes for being pushed into second place.

[Castiel de Bonnel]

Moving past Liselle, and barely registerig the words being flung about me, I grabbed Des by the shoulders and shook her, once, twice then thrice.

"What... on earth... are you doing!?" I barked at her, through clenched teeth. "Why would you ever harm yourself? What on earth would drive you to this? Certainly not my being married, truly, why on earth would that make you hurt yourself? I thought you would be upset but not this upset? Tlel me why!" I said to her, though I had stopped shaking her and took an unsteady step back as she cleaned her dress, not caring about her hand, the blood of which had spattered on my own clothes. I gritted my teeth, snatching the hot water that would have been used to make tea and the shreds of cloth from the maid who returned with them, barking an order for white wine, and taking Des's hand up in mine. I dabbed at the bloody wound, then looked to Liselle with an apologetic gaze - well as apologetic as I could be considering my temperament just then, my eyes more likely appearing more wild than piteous. "She... I have never seen her do this before, or act this way Liselle... I have no idea what this is about, your guess is as good as mine is," I murmured before turning back to Des, waiting for her answer.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I watched as Castiel came towards me and began shaking me, asking me why I would hurt myself, why I would act so different from what he was used to. I didn't want to speak in front of Liselle, but it didn't seem as if I would have any other choice.

I said nothing as he began seeing to my wound, bandaging it up. I put my uninjured hand to his cheek, bringing his face toward mine, I whispered into his ear, "I love you. I don't want anyone to have you." My eyes looked into his, hoping that he would see the love and adoration that I had for him and him alone. Hoping that he would see that this was more than a sister loving her brother, it was a woman loving a man. I searched his eyes, hoping that he would understand.

I hoped that Liselle couldn't hear it, but I felt like I may have already lost my brother and he was foremost in my thoughts.

[Liselle de Montblanc-Bonnel]

Castiel's composure was fraying at the edges and I watched with some surprise as he shook his sister, not hard enough to hurt her, which was probably showing a good deal more composure than I would have mustered. Camael, my hands were already itching to slap her. Even so it was over soon enough and he was coming to her rescue, starting to bandage her hand as I watched her features, waiting for whatever would come next. Likely more bile and venom, or madness...

But then she was calmed and I saw her pull my husband's head closer to whisper to him, something that I couldn't hear- oh, but the look in her eyes was clear enough, that muddled, sick expression in her blue eyes that was sensual affection. For her brother, really? Was she really that hard up? Then again they were Kusheline and if I'd learned anything from the Shahrizai it was that family blood carried some odd, deviant potency in that part of Terre d'Ange. For me it was just laziness though. How hard could it be to find a lover who didn't share parents with you?

Or had this been going on all along and that was what had skewed his ideas of his 'sweet sister'? I could have felt disgusted but this was all so absurd I had to choke back a laugh instead. Oh Camael and Azza, you are having fun testing me, aren't you? "Oh, it was her heart that was cut then," I murmured in a lilting tone. "Best see to that."

[Castiel de Bonnel]

She let me bandage her hand, silently enough, at first, but then I felt the caress of her hand, soft against my cheek, and I looke dup into gher eyes just before she pulled me close to whisper words in my ear. Confusing words, words that could mean... well could mean one thing, but... I just... I could not see it that way. Desdemona could not have meant she was in love with me... like a man loves a woman, but how a sister lvoes a brother... right? But the look in her reyes, there was such gravity there as though she did indeed mean it another way, the way that I did not think possible, and then Liselle's words, muffled as they were by my thoughts, only confirmed them. I looked at her, at Des, looked at her truly, brows furrowed.

"You've lost a lot of blood," I said tentatively, "and I think you are just scared. Perhaps you should take to your room and rest," I offered as I looked from her and glanced at Liselle. It truly could not be meant. Perhaps she thought this would be a way for her to keep me from marrying someone she did not think was right for me, or perhaps it was just too much blood lost. I could understand we were always close, and her fear of losing that closeness, but what it seemed she meant to imply... that was a whole other story entirely.

[Desdemona de Bonnel]

I paid no attention to Liselle's words, for all I cared- she could be a fly on a wall, the muck beneath my shoes, or a greedy spider settling on a sticky web. My eyes stayed focus on Cast, but it was obvious that he didn't seem to understand what I meant. Or perhaps he didn't want to accept it, but what seemed the most clear was that he didn't feel the same way.

I moved on to my tiptoes and I kissed his cheek tenderly. Then I moved from around his body and made my way silently out of the kitchen, up the stairs and back to my bedroom. When the door was securely closed, I locked it, lied down on my bed and silently cried. I brought a pillow to my chest and hugged it tightly as tears slid down the curves of my face.

I had lost everything...my parents, and now the only thing left that I had in the world- the love of my life, my brother. I wasn't sure that I could continue living like this.