6. Siderus

Ireturn home to find my uncle pacing the darkened study, clearly having awaited my return from the Marquis"s affair. He looks up sharply as I enter.

"Well? Were you able to infiltrate the party as planned?"

I nod wearily, exhaustion sinking into my bones. "Yes, I gained access without issue."

My uncle grins triumphantly, rubbing his hands together. "Excellent. Now, what intelligence were you able to gather while among the viper"s nest? Any weaknesses we can exploit in our vengeance against the Marquis?"

I sink into a leather chair, staring into the cold fireplace as I gather my turbulent thoughts. Flickers of memory arise unbidden - Amaya"s lyrical laugh, the soft fullness of her lips against mine. Emotions I thought long buried stir reluctantly to life once more.

Could I truly betray her so cruelly, rip her world apart for my own selfish goals? She is innocent in this feud, yet she would suffer most of all if her secret was revealed.

My uncle looms over me expectantly, awaiting for the news to bring down to his opponent with. I open my mouth, then hesitate, the words dying on my tongue. If I reveal Amaya"s identity, I destroy any fragile thing that has sparked between us. My chance at justice, set against a possibility I thought my heart no longer capable of.

"Well? Out with it, Nephew, what did you learn?" My uncle presses impatiently.

I waver. Do I tell him I met Amaya? That she's human? What will he do to her if he knows?

And why do I care?

I know that I must tell my uncle something. I cannot put this human above my family no matter the way she's enchanted me.

My uncle paces relentlessly before the cold fireplace. The crushing weight of Amaya"s secret feels like a physical burden, though I know revealing it would lift that strain from my shoulders. Still, I resist exposing the truth, despite the whisper of dishonor in protecting my sworn enemy"s kin.

"There must have been something useful to be gleaned," my uncle insists again in a tone that brooks no denial. "Rumors have swirled for years regarding the Marquis" hidden daughter. Did you manage to uncover any truth to her existence and the secrecy surrounding her?"

I consider deflecting further, but seeing the avid interest and anticipation etched on my uncle"s face, I know he will not let this matter rest until satisfied. "I did encounter her tonight," I finally admit reluctantly through gritted teeth.

My uncle"s eyes blaze with eager interest, like a worg scenting vulnerable prey. "The mysterious daughter herself? Well don"t leave me in suspense, Nephew - what did you learn? Why does the Marquis keep her so diligently hidden away like a shameful secret?"

I hesitate again, hesitant to utter the words that would betray sweet Amaya but feeling cornered beneath my uncle"s piercing stare. "She is indeed kept isolated from the world, her identity protected carefully. But I don't know yet why the Marquis is so determined to hide her away." The evasion tastes like ash on my tongue.

"There must be something special about her, something we can use to our advantage," my uncle presses relentlessly. I feel his eyes boring into me as I maintain my silence.

My uncle"s face darkens with anger as I remain stubbornly silent, his eyes blazing with growing contempt. "Useless, weak-willed boy!" he suddenly erupts, causing me to flinch as spittle flies. "You"ve squandered a perfect opportunity for vital intelligence! Knowing merely of some hidden daughter is meaningless unless we also discover the reason behind her concealment!"

He looms over me intimidatingly, his tall frame casting me in shadow. "I should never have entrusted something so critical to your incompetent hands! Thanks to your bungling, a prime chance at the Marquis" utter ruin has slipped negligently through our fingers!"

I rise quickly to my feet, stung by my uncle"s bitter vitriol and unfair accusations. "All may not be entirely lost, Uncle," I rebut as firmly as I dare. "Making direct contact with the daughter can still prove advantageous in time."

My uncle scoffs, crossing his arms over his barrel chest. "And how precisely do you figure that? By your own admission, you revealed nothing of true importance about your visit."

I take a steadying breath before responding. "Perhaps not yet. But she did seem...quite taken with me during our encounter." I forge on despite the distaste at discussing Amaya so clinically. "I believe I can foster her budding affection, gain access to the family"s inner circle and private affairs."

It feels like a flimsy premise, using Amaya"s trust merely as means to an end. But I must sway my uncle from his dangerous eagerness to expose her at any cost. Better he believes me cunning rather than unwilling...

My uncle strokes his chin thoughtfully as I outline my premise for getting close to Amaya. His temper seems to have cooled upon hearing I may still be of use regarding the Marquis" hidden daughter.

"Hmm, the girl becoming enamored with you, that does present intriguing possibilities," he muses, beginning to pace. "Far better than any mundane secrets you could have uncovered at the party."

He looks at me sharply. "But love? Her falling in love with you may be helpful but not the end goal. The daughter, though… With her, you would have power over the Marquis beyond measure!"

My stomach sinks at his words, even as he continues eagerly. "Think of it! Secretly steal away the daughter, hold her as assurance against her father. He would pay any ransom we asked, grant whatever we demanded to have his precious girl safely returned."

Cold horror washes through me. "Take Amaya...you mean kidnap her?" I ask weakly.

My uncle blinks. "Amaya, you say her name is? Lovely, it suits her I"m sure." His voice turns steely. "But do not balk, boy. Don't tell me you are going to back out now."

Inside I am recoiling but I simply nod woodenly. "Of course not, Uncle. Whatever you command, I shall do."

I nod along as my uncle outlines his scheme for using Amaya, all the while my stomach twists into knots. Everything in me rails against the thought of deceiving and kidnapping this innocent girl for our own selfish ends. But I swallow my protests and misgivings, murmuring agreement to my uncle"s satisfaction.

He grasps my shoulder with a broad grin. "You"ve done well, boy. Making contact with the daughter was a stroke of luck, and now we can exploit it!" His eyes take on a calculating gleam. "With the girl under our control, the Marquis will be helpless to us."

I force myself to smile woodenly. "Of course, Uncle. It was...fortuitous that I happened upon her."

My uncle"s eyes narrow, his grip on my shoulder tightening. "See that you do not become infatuated with the girl, Siderus," he warns. "This is about power and vengeance, nothing more. The daughter is merely a tool to be used toward those ends."

I meet his piercing gaze unflinchingly. "You need not worry, I understand completely. My interactions with Amaya will be purely a means of manipulation, nothing more."

My uncle searches my face a moment longer before releasing me with a laugh. "Good. I knew I could count on your dedication." He claps me on the back. "This is a great first step in our plan."

I nod stiffly and take my leave, his laughter echoing behind me. But as I walk blindly toward my room, my uncle"s words feel like ashes in my mouth. Using Amaya is dishonor of the worst sort, no matter the justification. And yet, I see no way to resist without destroying everything I have worked toward.