In the over-sized limo was none other than Zara and her team. I immediately became confused, but it didn't stop them from dragging me into the limo's hot tub and scrubbing me down. I sat there; keeping quiet, enjoying how the tub melted and worked out the kinks of stress that had formed throughout the day.

Moments later I was being coated in oils and massaged by my masseuse Victoria. Zara who began dressing me while everyone else contended to their job of putting on my makeup, fixing my hair, and adding my fineries. I was probably in this limo for 2 hours but when I looked at myself in the mirror I looked like a whole other person again.

I was wearing a silver gown that left my back and shoulders exposed and spilled behind me as if it were a river of molten liquid. My hair was volumized but still naturally wavy, it was all swept to the left side of my head and pouring over my shoulder like waves of black oil. My eyes were outlined to appear catty and my eyelashes were spread out like the sleek black tails of a swallow. My lips were red but the rest of me was pale. "Master is waiting for you Mrs. Vector." I turned to see a slender woman dressed in a black suit, with a green slicked-back pixie cut.

"Who're you?" I asked genuinely curious.

"Adelaide madame, I am your personal bodyguard. You will only see me when it is ordered, otherwise, I am with you from afar." She didn't even blink but stared at me waiting for me to follow her so I did. I peered down at my feet admiring the doll-like stilettos I wore, they too were silver with two large diamond stones attached to each heel as decoration for the latch and bow. Jewels highlighted the collar diamond necklace that held its place around my neck. I felt like a showpiece, then it finally dawned on me.

'That is exactly what I am.'

The thought made me pout, but I stepped out of the large limo I felt someone wrapping me in a long and lush silver fox-fur shawl. "It is cold!" I looked at Zara while she stared me down till I nodded in submission before continuing on with Adelaide who walked into my school building.

The halls were empty, and it was eerily quiet. "Where is everyone?"

Adelaide was walking behind me now. "They're awaiting you in the dining hall."

I stopped. "Why?" Adelaide blinked once but stood quiet. "Nevermind." I made my way up the stairs and through the garden passage to the dining hall where Fabian stood looking as sharp as I had left him. This time he was dripping in black suede with strong garnet undertones from head to toe. Fabian's gaze was in his phone seemingly fascinated with it.

"It took them long enough," He said while still staring at his phone once we were in earshot range.

"Well, I hope you aren't as disappointed as you sound. I think I look quite nice or am I wrong Adelaide." I turned to see her gone and turned back to see Fabian smiling like the devil he was.

"Oh, I'd say you look more than nice, you look like a Queen." I laughed at his husky tone.

"Well, this is the first time I've been told that today... Thank you," I joked while smoothing out the wrinkles along the folds of his suit. Fabian gave out a throaty laugh before getting down on one knee and I stared at him in confusion. "What-"

Fabian pressed his fingers to my lips. "Just let it happen," He was giving me puppy dog eyes and poking out his bottom lip, reminding me of his playful side which made me laugh. Fabian pulled a box out of his pocket that seemed to be made of some kind of stone. He flipped open the lid and in the box embedded in black silk was the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.

"You see this ring was supposed to be the ring that I placed on your finger when we said our vows. Though I wouldn't be honoring any vow if I placed a ring that's been on another woman's finger that is not yours. Even if you wore the ring first, but please be assured that I will make a better ring than even this one. So, without any further ado, will you marry me Ambrosia Zxia'loree Vignette?"

His sense of humor was beyond me but he still made me smile. I nodded allowing him again to place a ring on my finger to mark our engagement instead of our marriage. "Yes, you may." Fabian stood before giving me a winner's smile while placing my left hand in the crook of his arm before walking me into the dining hall. Everyone saw the event that just occurred but they sat silent as church mouses.

"Ambrosia these are my various partners, co-workers, etcetera. They aren't important, but you see earlier Mrs. Gulding... Where are you Mrs. Gulding?!" Angela came forward in the crowd, she was wearing maid attire making her appear as if she were an old nanny. "Comical isn't it, the feline queen has come to serve us wolves," Fabian said in a tone that was directed for only me to hear but was undoubtedly heard by nearly everyone in this silent hall. "Mrs. Gulding's husband is a longtime business partner of ours. This is because they've always been a big part of our House's main company, so it was often implied that our companies and houses should merge."

Fabian turned toward me and took my chin in between his thumb and his index finger as if gently observing me for flaws, but from his face, he could find none and it left him pleased. "We planned to do just that before your father; Marcus K Vignette better known as The King of The Sceptors, made us a deal that was just too great to decline." The room erupted in a series of protests at the mention of my father's name but Fabian's sharp stare silenced them.

"Not only would our marriage merge The Vector House to the most powerful name on the currently dying planet, but it would help make us heir to it. Your father had already handpicked out your best candidates for marriage and The Vectors being second to his fortunes and intellect made us perfect for each other." Fabian smiled a light smile, but I felt no reason to return it. "Of course, our acceptance to The King Of The Sceptor's request of marriage was immediate. If it was not who knows what other man's hands you could have fallen into. My parents didn't bother consulting our business partners or the latter of the company, we just accepted without hesitation. Back then I was what? 4 years old, my concept of marriage was so small I accepted it in silent acquiescence." Fabian started chuckling.

"I'm happy I did too. I got myself a bloody angel for a wife and a future Queen, but of course, not everyone is as happy as I am. You see, now that our family is being inducted into The Vignette's Royal Sceptor we leave the company and take everything with us. The Gulding's get the whole business, though they lose their volume. Are you following my little tree nymph?" I shook my head not fully understanding what he was getting at.

"When we transfer to your Sceptor we take our name, our reputation, and our Vector patents. All of The Vector patented medical and technological advancements that we have contributed to The Hierarchy Sceptor, become readily available to your Royal Sceptor. Our advancements that are easily obtainable here, will become a hassle if not impossible to obtain for The Hierarchy Sceptor without reasonable compensation and connections after our marriage."

Several faces fell along with mine as I realized the weight The Vector influence had in this room alone. "The Hierarchy Sceptor will always be The Hierarchy Sceptor, but it never will advance as much as The Vector House did within it. The Vectors are the first Hierarchy House to advance nearly as much the Vignettes Royal House... Ever! Which makes us valuable to the lesser formidable genius being The Gulding House. The Vector's being finally put in our proper place in this world means The Hierarchy will remain The Hierarchy while The Royals remain The Royals."

I looked to Thalia truly pitying her for the first time today, finally understanding why The Vectors were so vital to their Sceptor. "Once the order is back in order, no one will pay attention to the Hierarchy Sceptor anymore. Because the royals amongst them have left. It'll take ages to get and receive the attention, money, and power we have received over the years. It's not like it was easy either. In order to achieve what The Vector House has accomplished The Gulding's will have to play the same game, but harder." Fabian's smile stretched so wide he was smiling ear to ear.

"It'll take approximately 10 generations of doing things right to get to where we are today for The Gulding's. They could have probably had this kind of power 17 years ago if only the gender of the heir to the Vignette throne had been male? Hell! If you had been a male the roles would be reversed even, but then I beg to differ because there are definitely other Hierarchy women more genius than Thalia Gulding." I winced as Fabian laughed heartily after seeing Thalia's shoulders slump in absolute defeat.

"Now as an act of bitter rage for the shame and detrimental investments they are about to lose they treated you; The Vignette Heir to The Royal Sceptor's Throne, as if you were below them. When in fact you are so much more my little tree nymph." Fabian stroked my hair and pulled me to the center of the dining hall where I sat earlier at a shabby lunch table. The table was now in white cloth and held candles with a bouquet of gold-coated roses sitting in a crystal fluted vase.

"Lovely aren't they, but not as you are." Fabian was whispering in my ears to the point no one but I could hear, and I couldn't help the blush that crept onto my cheeks. Mrs. Gulding pulled out my chair and Fabian held onto my left hand as he seated me before nestling me in and taking his own seat.

"You may all be seated." Fabian waved his hands as if he were shooing them away and wordlessly they all followed his command. I leaned toward Fabian to ask why they were acting like zombies but he was already giving his speech. "You see, I am very upset. My wife didn't eat a proper meal this afternoon because you all offered her the scraps of the litter, when in fact, she should have been given the prime of the pick. Then as a further insult, you offered her; The Luna Of The Wolf Pack, your rotten cat food in a can." Fabian's eyes narrowed as his tone became icy as he ruthlessly got to his point. I quickly learned that I did not like this part of him at all.

"So as a special treat for my kitten guests at my wife's dinner party, I grant you all the honor to eat your favorite kitten chow. Mrs. Vector and I cannot wait to watch the pleasure of all of you eating your favorite fishy classic, Surströmming." Fabian was grinning from ear to ear again, his face was contorted by the simple pleasure of knowing that they were all about to eat the canned delicacy.

"Also as Thalia dutifully reminded us of earlier, 'If you waste a single fish in your can, it will be considered ungrateful.' Unfortunately, those who are ungrateful will be cut." From Fabian's dark tone he was serious. I turned to the room seeing faces of the adults and the children had all gone grimly pale, but they didn't dare say a word.

"Chefs come and serve my wife." A Chef came from the kitchen holding a smoked transparent platter as other Chefs followed closely behind him. The Chef told me what was on my plate as he lifted the lid, but obviously enough, everything I had wanted earlier was on my plate. In fact, I think there was more because the steak was way thicker than my palm.

I turned to Fabian who was smiling at me like his I was his single most prized possession before he planted a single kiss on my forehead. "Eat up dear. Please be warned kittens, you have until she is done eating to have completed your fishy delicacy. If you fail to finish, you are cut off from our House indefinitely. Enjoy!"

I wanted to fear this man but I couldn't because somehow he made me want to laugh. Fabian sat beside me before digging into his own plate and turned toward me as if questioning me. "Don't you think this is a little too far?" I asked Fabian as I watched butlers place five-pound cans of surströmming in front of each family and opened their lids. The room filled with the smell of death making me gag from how thick and putrid it was.

Fabian scrunched up his nose. "Quarantine please," He ordered one of the butlers and they nodded bringing over a clear barrier and encasing us in it. The smell vanished and was replaced with the smell of daisies and tulips. "Not at all, in fact, I am feeling giddy as to which of our associates is going to fail. I know for a fact that some of them will indeed down that can like it's an appetizer, while others are going to vomit several times without even putting it anywhere near their mouths." Fabian began chuckling while pointing to Thalia who was gagging and red from the odor as the can sat as far as it could've gotten from her.

'The poor queen bee had been thoroughly ensnared in the spider's web

Watching horrifically as it sat feasting upon her hive

Cursing endlessly at her useless plea for them to be free

Knowing he alone couldn't possibly devour her whole hive

Her cry became silenced

By me

The spider's mate'

Angela like her granddaughter was cringing away from the can with another woman I could only guess to be Thalia's mother. The only two men at the table; Thalia's grandfather and father, shoveled the rotten fish into their mouths. They were giving the meanest glares to their women but continued to devour the contents of the can. "Desperation gets people to do the best of things, there's another example." Fabian pointed to a man with jet black hair and a woman with stark red hair, their daughter was vomiting, but once she finished she began shoveling fish into her mouth again.

"Those are my mother's good family friends, without us they'd be Novelty. Their daughter is promised to my cousin Regal. If we cut ties with them, bye-bye goes the wedding bells." Fabian chuckled and looked at me. "As you can see the kittens are trying their best to show you their pleasure. Don't be rude, do the same. Show them how tasty dry aged châteaubriand steak, marinated in specially imported spices, and wine truly tastes." Fabian picked up my fork before ripping a piece of steak from my plate and hovered it above my mouth while chuckling deviously.

"What would I give to get you to say 'ah'" I closed my mouth and glared at him, wanting him to behave. He continued his dark laughter and leaned to my ear again. "I apologize for my inappropriate tone, but you are glowing quite radiantly tonight my little tree nymph. Almost as if the petals of your flower wishes to bloom before the sun."

'Poetic was the lion

Foolish was the heart

Damning was the lion's strike'

I pushed away from Fabian and snatched my fork from his grip before placed the steak in my mouth. It had to be my hunger or maybe even the fact that I hadn't had a steak in a while, but when it hit my palate I melted and I let out the most content sigh. Fabian scooted his way back over to me. "Why must you repel to my affections?" He wrapped his arm around my waist pinning me to his side and I just let him, the steak had my heart at the moment. "Have I offended you?"

'Undoubtedly.'

"Who told you I like poetry? I doubt you figured it out on your own." Fabian gawked and sniggered before pushing my plate away. I began to protest, "Why?!" Fabian looked at me beyond amused.

"You assault my intelligence and break my heart all in one fell blow only to be truly roused to anger over food." I stared at my plate that was now out of my short reach.

"Fabian this isn't time to throw a temper tantrum because you finally realize that I'd care more about food than your fancies on any given day." I began to reach out for my plate and failed yet again when Fabian pulled me back to him, chuckling as if he were enjoying his own private joke.

"I think I could work with that my little tree nymph. I'd have you know that I take pride in having your flower quiver from the endless rain of my praise. For I know that I am the sun that lights the flame upon your pale cheeks, giving color to petals that have yet to bloom." I stared at the beast of a man in my presence before unnervingly retrieving my plate.

"No matter how helpful the sun is for the flower, if it has not been properly watered, the flower will do nothing but wither in the sun's presence." I placed my steak in my mouth before turning to Fabian and taking and long drink from my wine glass full of water.

Fabian laughed scornfully before releasing me. "You truly are no fun my little tree nymph." I stuffed another piece of steak in my mouth and enjoyed my victory.

"Nope I am fun, but there was no way you were besting me in my own language. You're the second person today to think that you can step into my world and make your own. It seems I was too nice because karma is having a play on the girl who's vomiting from watching her grandfather and father eating a delicacy. I'd be careful of playing coy with me Fabian Vector." Fabian began to chuckle.

"I will have no regret if karma dares to try me for wanting to please my little tree nymph. May she do her absolute worst." I glared at his use of my cursed nickname while contemplating whether or not I should fling mashed potatoes at him. I quickly thought against it, one does not waste food this good simply because of anger. One should instead continue eating the food to make themselves happy, so that's what I did.

           I ate as slow as I could but Fabian knew I was stalling for the rest of them who hadn't finished yet. The Gulding's can was empty, so was his mother's family friends, amongst several others, but there were two families that were struggling and I only had about two scoops of mashed potatoes left with a bite of corn. "You know you can't stall forever." I started chewing slower. Fabian laughed grabbing my corn taking the last bite on the cob and proceeding to shove the last two scoops of potatoes in his mouth. He downed some wine to help him swallow.

"Excuse me," he stated as he released a healthy belch. My plate was empty and the two families cans were not. Fabian stood and opened the quarantine letting in the smell of vomit, death, and just foul odor. "My wife has finished her meal! I hope everyone is done with their fish." Fabian knew exactly who hadn't finished, and he smiled narrowing his gaze upon his captives but this time I wouldn't let him win, not like this.

"Fabian darling." I was playing coy. I stood, walking my way over to him.

"yes, dear?" Fabian looked down; yet again making me feel small, but I refused to budge.

"I am afraid you broke your own rules, so you cannot cut anyone any longer." Fabian looked at me with wide eyes

"I-" I placed my hand on his chest.

"You said if they finished when or before I finished that they would be free, but if they failed they'd get cut." His face dropped, turning dark. "Well, I didn't finish my food did I, Fabian?" Fabian gave me a small sour smile, but complied and didn't even bother arguing.

"You two are very lucky." Fabian's gaze never left my own but his daring tone seemed to hold some sort of promise that I was not aware of. With that, he nodded grabbing my arm and pulled us from the room. "You really are no fun my little tree nymph."