Virgil grabbed a scrubbing brush and a bucket and sighed. How had the last three nights seemed so magical and now the day seemed so mundane?

"Guess that's what comes of falling in love with someone higher above your status." Virgil thought bitterly. "God, I don't even know why I went to the ball in the first place. I must've screwed so much up for Princey."

A small smile tugged at the side of Virgil's mouth at the thought of his nickname for Roman. At least he could keep that memory golden.

"Little Devil!" The yell brought him out of his mind. Virgil sighed and threw his fringe out of his eyes.

"Yeah?" He called back, running his hand under the tap to check the water. Virgil tilted his head to the door slightly. Edin hadn't answered. "Edin?" Virgil asked. "What did you want?"

Virgil felt the tone change in the room. He took a breath, trying not to seem spooked, and looked back at the bucket.

"Did you want something, Edin?" He asked, trying to keep the nerves out of his voice.

"No, no. Just wondered something." Edin said, his tone uncharacteristically light. Virgil swallowed. What was his step-brother planning?

"How was the ball last night?" Edin asked and Virgil's blood ran cold.

"Ball?" Virgil repeated, his voice very high.

"Yeah. Big dance up at the palace." Edin said. "Wouldn't've thought something like that could slip your mind so easily. Since you were so insistent on going."

"I was insistent on going," Virgil said slowly, "but I didn't go." He turned the tap off. "As you and Thalia insisted."

Edin laughed. Virgil didn't like the sound; it was dark and low and malicious.

"Now now, Little Devil." Edin said. "No point lying to people who already know the truth. I saw you leaving the ball last night." Edin's tone dropped to a cold and steely voice Virgil had rarely ever heard.

Virgil swallowed. "I went for a walk in the woods and took a wrong turn, that's all." He tried to lie. His lies couldn't hide how terrified he was sure he looked.

"In a fancy suit and golden shoes?" Edin asked. "Where did you even get those clothes anyway? Did you steal them?"

"No!" Virgil said quickly.

"Then how did you get them, Little Devil?" Edin asked. "Your needle work is shoddy, you certainly can't make shoes and you're wearing a different pair today." Edin indicated to the new pair of shoes Janus had gotten for Virgil last night. "So if you didn't steal them, where did you get them? Your silly father certainly didn't leave you any money-"

"And you don't pay me for doing the work of three maids." Virgil said cuttingly. Edin's face fell and Virgil realised his mistake too late.

"I'm calling the police on you, Little Devil." Edin snarled. "You stole, wilfully lied about it and talked back to the people who own your very life. That's certain to land you in jail for a good decade or two."

"What you're doing to me is slavery." Virgil snapped back. It didn't matter what kind of front he put up, he realised, Edin would see through it. Edin always had a way to see fear.

"I'm pretty sure slavery is against the law, too." Virgil said, his voice wavering for the first time. Edin didn't exactly smile but something quirked his lips up.

"Your 'pretty sure'?" He asked, mimicking Virgil's tone. "Well, I know theft is against the law, Little Devil. And you're going to pay, whether you did it yourself or you had an accomplice. Which I know you did."

"No one helped me." Virgil said. "If you're going to falsely accuse me of theft, fine. I'd expect nothing less from someone like you. But don't - please, for the love of God - don't drag anyone else into this."

Edin's almost smile turned down into a snarl. He stormed across the room and grabbed Virgil's hair, tugging it hard.

"Let's get you to a holding station before the police come." Edin hissed.

Edin let go of Virgil's hair and before he could do anything, gave him a hard shove. Virgil stumbled back into his room. Edin slammed the door shut and locked it.

"No way out, Little Devil." Edin sang with a sort of sick delight. The was a bang on the other side of the door, as if Virgil had thrown himself against the door.

"Let me out!" Virgil called, his voice ripped through with fear. "Let me out!"

"That's no way to go about it, Little Devil." Edin said. "Where are you manners?"

"Please! Please, let me out!" Virgil begged, sobs breaking his voice. Edin laughed.

"You're going to jail, Little Devil." He said. "But maybe, if you keep your manners, I'll let that little blacksmith's son off the hook."

"Leave Patton out of this." Virgil demanded.

"You're in no place to make demands." Edin snapped. "But we'll see, Little Devil, we'll see."

Why did I enjoy writing this?
I need therapy, holy shit.
Bye,
Blaize