Chapter Seventeen

Inanis did, in fact, get bored of the puppy.

It hasn't been even a full twenty-four hours since he bought it, and yet, he already forgot to feed it this morning, leaving me to tend to it.

Not that I minded at all.

I sat on my bed, well, the guest bed that I claimed, whilst brushing my hair. Leech, -though I highly disagreed with the name, I already found myself used to calling it that- was sleeping soundly beside me, huddled between two pillows.

I admit, I have fallen completely in love with the little creature.

I eventually climbed under the heavy blankets of the bed, allowing the puppy to sleep against my chest.

I'd never tell him, but this may be the best mistake Inanis has ever made.

I fell asleep almost immediately. It had been a long while since I was as comforted as I was with Leech beside me. It was a welcoming surprise.

I didn't dream, I had no nightmares whatsoever, and that was a relief. It had been a while since I could sleep without interruption.

Yet, when I woke up, Leech was gone.

I sat up in the bed, and frantically looked around the room. "Leech?" I called its name, despite it not knowing that that was its name.

I noticed the door was open slightly, even though I knew I had made sure to not only close it but lock the door before I fell asleep.

Someone picked my lock.

I frowned at that 'someone' as I threw the blankets off walked out of the room. Inanis's house, which I suppose is technically both of our house, was still something I wasn't too familiar with. The multitude of rooms still confused me as I walked down the marble stairs. I noticed a maid who was watering a plant with a glass pitcher of water. I walked up to her, hoping not to scare her.

"Excuse me?" I asked her, and she turned to me. "Have you seen Inanis around?"

She nodded and pointed in the direction of the living room.

I smiled, "Thank you." The moment I turned away from her, my smile melted to the epitome of rage. I was going to kill him if he hurt my dog. Or maybe I'd break every bone in his body and keep him alive to suffer in his own misery.

Yeah, I liked that idea.

I stomped into the large, overly-luxurious (so luxurious is was more arrogant than anything) living room, as my eyes locked right on my target.

Inanis was laying on the couch with his head resting on one arm. With his other hand, he was playing with Leech, who was laying on Inanis's chest.

He didn't even bother to look up at me, "Look what I taught him." He said, as he stuck his fingers in front of the dog, only for it to attack them in a way that would be dangerous if the creature was any larger.

"Did you pick the lock to my bedroom?" I accused him, as I walked over to Leech and picked him up, off Inanis's chest. I needed to keep a better eye on him or else he was going to become a dangerous animal.

Inanis sat up himself, "Once again, it's not your bedroom, your bedroom is my bedroom."

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't because it's not your bedroom."

"Inanis I swear to god it's too early for your bullsh-"

He stood and cut me off before I could even finish my sentence, "Speaking of my bullshit, and your bedroom, we have guests staying over tonight." He turned to me, an unreadable expression on his face, "Which means you can finally move in to my bed -I mean our bed." He narrowed his eyes, "How naughty."

I knew what he was trying to do, and I held my tongue. I wasn't going to show him that he had successfully spiked my nerves. He enjoyed watching me fret over things and get riled up, so instead I nodded, "Okay."

The smile vanished from his face, it was replaced with a look of genuine disappointment, "Okay? That's it?"

"What more do you want me to say?"

He seemed to consider this, "Hmm, I don't know. Maybe you should get on your knees and beg me to let you sleep in the broom closet."

"Are you admitting that the broom closet is a better place to sleep than your bed?"

"Our bed," He corrected once again, "And there is nothing wrong with the occasional broom closet nap. Especially when you're hiding from certain responsibilities, much like those that you and I will be avoiding today." He clapped his hands together, "Let's go out."

"Absolutely not."

"Absolutely yes."

"Is this what you do everyday that you're not killing someone? Just going out and impulsively doing things you don't need to do? Or buying things you don't need to buy?" I held Leech up as evidence.

"Impulsive living is the only fun way to live." He frowned, "Nothing is fun when you plan it."

"In that case, being married to me must be the most boring thing you've ever had to do."

"Well," He said, digging his hands into his pockets, "It's certainly no circus."

I narrowed, "You're a bastard."

"Yes, yes." He shrugged, "So I've been told." One of the housemaids walked into the living room, grabbing both our attention.

She made a slight bow before she spoke, "The Lancasters have arrived."

Inanis groaned, "They are early."

"It is almost eleven, sir, they are, in fact, rather late."

"Late, early," He waved his hand, "Tell them I'm not here."

"They told me they knew you would say that, and that they know you're here."

I bit back a laugh and failed miserably. Inanis shot me a glare as if to silence me, which only made everything more amusing.

So much for him dodging his responsibilities.

"Fine." He sighed, "Send them in."

The housemaid nodded and exited the room. Seconds later, a man and a woman walked into the living room. I was taken back by just how wealthy these people looked.

And then I realized I looked like I just got out of bed, because I indeed, just got out of bed.

Inanis gave them a lazy smile, "Ahh yes, the Lancasters, have you come to leech off my name yet again? I heard you have found yourself in a bit of a tiff with those in the funeral business." He cocked his head, "Don't tell me you're so desperate for relevancy that you've began to bother the dead."

The woman who I assumed was Mrs. Lancaster grinned, "I see you've not changed one bit, Inanis."

"Who says I need to change? I'm perfect already."

Mr. Lancaster cleared his throat, "Don't start fighting now, you two. Let's try to be civil while we stay here."

Inanis rolled his eyes, "Civil? I've never quite got the hang of that."

"Oh!" Mrs. Lancaster turned to me, "This must be Mirea, your new wife." She walked over to me, with a sympathetic smile, "You poor thing, forced to marry such a vile man."

I opened my mouth to reply, but Inanis cut me off, "Don't bother believing her lies." He said to me matter-of-factly, "She's only trying to get on your good side so she can dig into your pockets." He turned to Mrs. Lancaster, "Isn't that right?"

"You have a poor illusion of my character." She frowned.

"Poor illusion, but not a false one."

"Wait wait." I silenced both of them, and turned to the Lancasters, "Who are you again?"

"Pardon my wife's ill manners." Mr. Lancaster said, reaching his hand out to shake mine, though instead of shaking it, he held it up and put his wet lips on it, and kissed it. "I am Morgan Lancaster, and this is my wife, Vivienne. We are financers, we help those who are great become greater."

I held back the urge to desperately wipe my now moist hand on my pants. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you."

I noticed Inanis shake his head from the corner of my eyes, "The only ones becoming greater in your little scams, are you."

Knowing they weren't going to get anywhere with Inanis, both their attention was glued to me.

I wasn't sure if I liked that or not.

"Well, what are you two here for?" I asked, and Mrs. Lancaster's eyes lit up.

"Well we'd like to advise an opportunity, of course!"

"Opportunity?"

"Yes, yes." Mr. Lancaster stepped in, "We believe you and your husband have a chance to becoming so much more."

"Yeah, I'm going to stop you both right there before I lose my fucking mind." Inanis stepped past the two, "I'm leaving."

"Woah, hold on." I put Leech down, and walked over to Inanis, grabbing his arm, "You can't just leave."

He pulled his arm from my grasp, his eyes leveled with mine, "Watch me."

And I did. I watched him exit the room and leave through the front door like he didn't just unprofessionally bail out of doing the work his job required of him.

I turned back to the Lancasters, who seemed to expect this, as I tried to apologize to them, Mrs. Lancaster only waved her hand, "It's not the first time he's walked out on us."

"Not the second either." Mr. Lancaster piped up.

"It's still rather rude." I muttered, and they both shrugged.

"He is the Bone Cutter, after all."

After an awkward hour of me trying to make small talk with them, finally, the Lancasters decided to go out and tour the city. They both promised they'd be back in the evening, since they were staying over for the night. They decided to wait for Inanis to come back which I knew was a waste of time, but I didn't bother telling them that.

Picking up Leech, I decided to get dressed, and distract myself from tonight.

There was no way I was going to sleep in the same bed as Inanis. I'd rather choke on a pillowcase.

Putting on a plain summer dress, I ran a hand through my hair to give it a bit of life. Deciding that I didn't want to put makeup on with the risk of Inanis laughing at my poor attempt at looking decent, I settled for a pale lipstick, grabbed Leech, and left the house.

If Inanis can leave the house whenever he pleased, then surely so could I, right?

I walked to the front gate of the house, where a man in uniform stood watch. "I would like to go for a walk." I tell him, holding up Leech to show I wasn't lying. "Could you please open the gate?"

He shot me a look as if he wished to be anywhere else but here right now, "Can't do that ma'am."

I frowned, "Why not?"

He sighed, "Listen, I'm just trying to follow the orders I've been given."

I stared at him, "You mean Inanis told you not to let me out?"

"That's right."

I blinked at him for a few seconds, before biting my lip, and spinning on my heel back to the house.

I was going to kill him.

He can force me to throw my life away by marrying him, but there is no goddamn way I'm going to be locked in the house like an animal for the rest of my miserable life.

Angrily, I jerked open the large, heavy door to the front of the house, and walked in. Managed to make enough noise for one of the housemaids to look up at me in surprise.

It seems quiet, fluid little Inanis married a loud animal for a wife.

He can go straight to hell.

I stomped up the stairs, but paused at the entrance of the guest bedroom I had been sleeping in. In was all neatly clean, the bed was made, and none of my clothes were laying on the floor where I had left them.

In just a short period of time, all presence of my living here has vanished.

Vanished to Inanis's bedroom, just how he wanted it.

I hate him.

I turned to the direction of Inanis's bedroom, and began to head there, cursing his name over and over in my head while doing it.

I had an ugly scowl on my face, and I didn't doubt that it would scare away even the ghosts of these halls.

Leech was following me from behind, his little tail wagging, as he thought my excessive stomping was a mere game.

How sad that even a puppy didn't take me seriously.

I opened the door to Inanis's bedroom cautiously, seeing as I never really been in it before.

I expected dramatic detail, and abundant amounts of unnecessary objects to prove his wealth. Maybe a life-size statue of him so he could fall asleep to his face every night.

But nothing.

The walls were a pale white, the floor was made of thick wood painted a deep black.

Hardly any furniture other than a bed, and nightstand, which had nothing on it, not even a lamp.

There was a small stack of papers scattered underneath the window, and I could mentally see the image of Inanis throwing them carelessly over his shoulder because he got bored of them after skimming the contents for less than a minute.

I opened the closet to find a few of his coats, all incredibly detailed, theatrical, and expensive.

I rolled my eyes.

Beside his clothing, was mine. I didn't understand the purpose of sharing a closet with him when there were more than enough spare closets for my own things, but really that was the least of my concerns.

Sighing, I plopped onto his bed. The scowl on my face deepened when I realized the blankets unfortunately smelt like him. Sandalwood and lemongrass.

If it was on anyone else, I'd enjoy the smell.

Now, I don't think I could ever smell either of those things without frowning.

Leech ran back and forth across the wide, empty room like it was his playground. He grabbed one of the papers on the floor, and I watched as he began to tackle it like his prey.

My heart softened, and I hopped down onto the floor to play with him.

"How could anyone want to make a monster out of you?" I giggled like a child, "You're too precious to be a killer." I picked up the tiny creature, and he playfully bit my fingers.

If Inanis hurt my dog, so help me god, he will not live to see tomorrow.

I glanced around the room again, its bareness was daunting, and the longer I stayed in it, the more I wondered why Inanis never bothered to decorate it like the rest of the house.

Hell, the guest rooms had more thought to them.

I was beginning to think I would have preferred it to be overly exaggerated and full.

This room was not Inanis Messor. It was boring. All the more reason for me to dread staying in it tonight. I wondered how many nights I was going to have to sleep in here. How Inanis and I were going to have to share this room.

I laid down on the floor and allowed Leech to hop over me and tug on my hair like it were a rope.

My thoughts wandered, and somehow, I began to question if Inanis wanted me to sleep in the same room with him. If maybe there was a reason for him constantly reminding me this was my room too, and that he wasn't just saying it all the time to unsettle me.

I suddenly sat up as if I had been slapped. Was he planning something?

My eyes traveled to the bed, and my heart began to race at the thought.

He killed for a living, surely his morals weren't so high above other things.

I swallowed. No, absolutely not. He wasn't interested in me like that, he's made that clear.

But still-

I shook my head. I refused to think about it a second longer. Grabbing Leech from off the floor, I ran out of the room.

I will not let my anxiety ruin my day.

Even if every thought in my mind was screaming it was a possibility.