Taming Destiny

The letter always arrived before dawn and always by predator birds from golden eagles to horned owls always bound in thick parchment paper, the seal of the Royal house- a dragon with a spear through its heart- and always smelling faintly of Ash thorn- a silvery-gray plant with spiky leaves and vibrant, fiery-red flowers that glow faintly in the dark, a rare enough plant mostly found in volcanic regions, also thought to be a poisonous substance for magical creatures, most dire to dragons causing symptoms ranging from severe respiratory distress, itchy scales, or temporary loss of fire-breathing abilities just the right amount of deadly to give humans the edge he'd only smelled it once but the memory was forever embedded in his mind.

His aunt had starved him for 3 days and in desperation he'd tried the pantry and found some flour and had barely taken a pinch when he'd been slapped across the face so hard a tooth had pulled out, his uncle had walked in on his aunt using a broom to beat his already bartered and malnourished body, he hadn't said a word only went to the fire, took the poker from the fire pit had sprinkled some ashy substance that had made it spark and glow with a sickly sweet smell, he'd ignored his pleas and simply used the burning hot poker against his fragile skin, he'd lost consciousness and when he'd awakened 2 days after his aunt had looked at him with apparent disgust

" You woke. A pity" looking away from his sorry looking figure.

He'd been 6 years old.

His aunt had been suspiciously happy and almost gleeful; he had become weary; anytime she saw him, she'd smile and cackle; he had learned early on that anything that brought a smile to her face always meant pain and torture for him.

"Arcadius?" She said in an almost singsong manner; she was sitting on a green settee in the sunroom; the room was slightly big with wide, towering windows spread around, letting in natural sunlight and making Viscountess Pendleton look faintly shining, and the jewels she wore glitter.

"Yes Aunt Mildred "

Walking into the room and setting the tea tray she had asked for he stood slightly at her left and bowed his head, hands behind his back.

"Your uncle will be expecting some guests later tomorrow; prepare the guest's rooms; the lawn needs to look freshly cut, the gardens are looking wilted, and do be on your best behavior. Earl Worthsmithe will be in attendance," she says, taking a sip, of tea and wiping delicately with a napkin.

" Yes Aunt Mildred "

He stands a while longer and seeing her make a shooing motion, bows again and leaves the room.

He rushes up the stairs making for the east wing where the guests rooms are changing the linens and dusting about, cleaning and no each room systematically, he doesn't allow himself to think as he cleans.

It's almost dusk when finishes with the last room, the biggest one reserved only for those of higher status than his uncle.

He goes downstairs and makes for the kitchen, where he sees the night staff setting the table for dinner; he greets them- 2 maids and 1 manservant - they ignore him as any reason at all that his uncle and aunt perceive to be kindness is dealt with twice the pain, never worth it. He helps prepare the trolley for dinner, ignoring his growling stomach. He hadn't eaten since the day before sunrise, but it was milder punishment for not answering his uncle when he called at the first bell.

He remained in the kitchen until his aunt and uncle were called to dine then helped the night staff clean up, them went to the dinning room, it had a large table at the middle with Plates, bowls, and Fine china witha neat arrangement of Forks, knives, and spoons, with forks on the left and knives and spoons on the right, a wine glass, water glass, and sherry glass ,napkins are folded neatly and placed on the plate and beside the cutlery, a silk sheet covering the top- a pain to wash after each meal- a candelabra sat at the middle of the table and a small sculpted bowl with red, blue and yellow roses and a single daffodil and the 12 people table was set for three as usual Caed made his way to the foot of the table and knelt down after bowing low, sitting back on his hunches he watches his aunt and uncle serve the last plate, watched them eat their meal and talk and laugh and make a show of the food that they allowed him watch them eat but didn't allow him taste, unless he yearned desperately for it, his desperation mustn't be too much or too little or he'd starve again, he never knew what was too much or too little for them he only knew they deemed it so on a whim and otherwise.

" Darling," Aunt Mildred starts dabbing at her lips, always the parody of the perfect lady, the best of etiquette and poise. Caed refused to allow his amusement at her show, he had homes the ability to keep all his thoughts and emotions under lock and key.

"Yes, my love?"

" I informed Arcadius of our highly esteemed guests, he should be done with the preparations for the Earl, isn't that so?" She says the last part barely including him in her line of vision.

"Yes ma'am "

" Perfect, isn't it so my love? Maybe the demon spawn is good for something," she says derisively; Caed merely smoothens his expression, bottling his feelings deeper.

" Always so kind, my beautiful brilliant wife" his uncle guffaws, pressing a kiss to her palm, he glances at him "If my wife wills it then sure" his aunt titters loudly and turning the plate over

"Well eat. You deserve a meal, don't you, dear nephew?"

She smirks as he crawls to the mess on the floor, his meal -soaked roast potatoes in Yorkshire pudding, beef, and trifle- he looked at her face still blank- he would not break - lapping at the sauce and salivating at the taste.

" Eats like a dog sit like a dog, is a dog," ringing laughter in his ears.

He ignored them, savouring every taste, even as something in him fractured,shattered and finally died.