• I fell back on to the floor. The cold stone sent a shock up my spine and I struggled to scramble backwards. My father’s legs blocked my retreat and his massive hands closed around my shoulders.

    “Alethea, this is my son Sinyster. He is your master now.” My mother’s voice sounded as if she were praising her newborn granddaughter.

    “For Christ’s sake, will some one please tell me what is going on?” I demaned, raising to my feet. My legs wavered beneath me.

    “Son, this is your wife or pet if you please.” It was my father who answered. “She is the solution to your courtship problem. No one expects you to have children ever so we need not worry about that with her.”

    “You expect me to court a doll?” I shook my head. “Take her back; I will do no such thing.”

    “You must now that you have given her your blood. She is yours as much as you are hers.” My mother stroked back some of Alethea’s hair.

    “Get to know her son.” My father pushed me into the girl and then my parents left.

    I stumbled away from Alethea and heaved a sigh. My head had begun to hurt and I knew that I shouldn’t have woken up that morning. Maybe God would have been more pleased if he had taken me instead of my sister. My sister would surely have accepted courtship and done all she was meant to unlike I was.

    I cursed myself. I was no better than my first courtship if I was going to think that way. I gave up thinking and sat on the loveseat across from the doll.

    “I can be like her, Master Sinyster.” Alethea said in a crystalline voice. Her voice resembled what I thought an angel’s voice should sound like and it took my voice away.

    I gapped at her. “What? Who?”

    “Your twin sister. I know how you imagine she would act. Right now she would get up and sit next to you, comforting you and telling you that your parents were just looking for what was right for you.” Alethea stood up and crossed the room, lowering herself into the seat next to me.

    She pulled me into her arms and smoothed my hair down. “If I have to court you,” I pushed her away. “I don’t want you to act like my sister.”

    Alethea frowned and nibbled on her lower lip in a nervous geasture. An ache ran in the pit of my stomach. This girl was the cutest thing I had ever seen and I hated it.

    “Well then let me try this.”

    She grabbed my wrists and raised them above my head, straddling my hips. She bent her head down to kis my neck and run her tongue over my vein. A shiver ran through my body. Oh, God in Heaven, save me from this woman.

    “My God, woman, slow down.” I wiggled my hands out of her grip and grabbed her waist. She smiled until I lifted her off of me and sat her down next to me again. “I just want to go through the processes with you like a normal courtship would. I don’t want you to act like my sister or like a slut.”

    Alethea fiddled with the hem of her thin white dress. “I don’t know what you are looking for, Master Sinyster.”

    “First off, call me Sin, not Master or Master Sinyster. Just Sin. Secondly, give me a while to get used to what my parents have put me in.” I stood up, stepping away from Alethea. “Alethea, do you know anything about anything other than me?”

    “I know about my previous owner. He was very mean and not as kind as you. He did, however, demand that I read a lot.” Alethea stopped fiddling with her dress and stood up. “I will do what you wish me to, Sin, this I promise.”

    Alethea grabbed my hand in hers and placed it over her heart. I could feel her pulse under the thin cotton of her dress and I nearly pulled away in shock. I had the feeling that it was partly my blood pulsing in her veins and that I couldn’t just send her away as I had wanted.

    “Can you become your own person? Make your own decisions?” I asked, running my free hand through Alethea’s blond hair. It was as soft as silk and I could smell the ocean wafting off of her.

    “If that is what you want me to become, Sin, then I can become my own person. The only problem with your request is that if at any moment you tell me not to do something, or in the same case to do something, I will have to obey.” Alethea let go of my hand and dropped her head.

    “We’ll worry about me making your choices later. For now, I want you to go look around your new home for as long as you like. If you get bored of looking around feel free to do something else.” I turned away from Alethea only to be stopped by her fingers tightening against my hand.

    She drew closer to me and kissed my cheek in a brief butterfly kiss. It was the type of kiss your little sister would give you to say good night. “As you wish, Sin.”

    Then, Alethea glided off in her thin white dress. Her first destination was probably the gardens and I had to admit that she was going to be the most beautiful flower out there. I cursed again, under my breath.

    I turned away from her leaving figure and stalked into the kitchen. The chef was there with her butcher knife in hand. “I need something to eat and probably something very strong to go with it.” I groaned as I continued out of the kitchen into the dining room.

    From the window in the dining room I could see her. Her small figure moved through the flowers as if she were one of them. I turned away from her; she was the last thing I wanted to see at that moment. I just wanted my food so that I could retire to my room and think over this situation

    “Master Sinyster,” The maid from this morning spoke in a small tone. “who is that woman?”

    I turned to face the maid’s petite figure and gave a hollow chuckle that startled her. “That, my fair maid, is my lady Alethea. She is my soon-to-be-bride so go on and tell all the maids that the most handsome bachelor in the village has been spoken for.” I couldn’t keep the bitter amusement out of my voice.

    “I, uh, yes, My Lord.” The maid dipped lowly and hurried out of the room just as the chef was coming out into the room.

    “I have steak and potatoes for My Lord and a bit of red wine.” Chef Butcher Knife placed the plate and glass in front of me. The other servants were on their vacation that my parents had allowed for so the chef was forced to cook and serve all of us if a maid wasn’t around.

    “Good, now go so I can be alone.” I sneered, shooing her away.