9 The Only Evil in the World

Flash news, Xander is not a rake. At least, to the best of Vinnandra's knowledge so far.

But what Xander was is a man, engaged to a very beautiful woman, and about to be married.

The gods, this was a good thing! This was the reality check she needed… and now, Vinn would never think about him in such an indecent manner. Ever again.

She was a lot of things, but immoral she was not. She was so relieved she could barely contain it.

"Ahhhh, then you must be Mistress…?" Vinn asks the still naked lady.

The other woman corks her eyebrows at her, shrugs on a robe and answers in a still haughty tone. "Attamas. Selene Attamas." Selene walks towards Vinn, her bare feet not making any sound.

"Judging from your hair you must be her. Why ever would Xander need a maid, and why must it be someone like you?" She muses out loudly. Vinn had a feeling that her questions didn't demand an answer.

"Do you too, mistress, think I am an irreconcilable evil that will bring doom to the world?" Ordinarily, Vinn's out of line question to someone from a high ranking royal family like the Attamas would earn her a severe punishment. Even if she was still the princess of Albridge, she knew very well that both the Lenklock family and Attamas family from the north were too mighty and way out of her league to mess with.

Selene laughs in a manner that says she hadn't heard something more absurd than what Vinn was saying.

"There's only one evil in the world, the hearts of men. As for you… I would reckon that you're someone who shouldn't have existed. Just a mere blemish in a perfect world. In that sense, I would understand why Xander would take in someone like you. He has a thing for eradicating blemishes."

Vinn learnt two things about Selene in those few minutes. First, Selene didn't see her as the rest of the world did. Her view was more brutal and to the point. While everyone thought Vinn was useless and unwanted, Selene thought she was nothing. So much of a nothing that Selene didn't believe anyone should have to waste any strength on her.

Second thing she observed was that Selene's pride didn't stem from mere privilege. The confidence she reeked would make anyone believe that she was a woman who got to where she was by talent, dedication and work.

Vinnandra knew she was right in her analysis, and it threw her off that she didn't know what to make of it.

Was Selene going to be an enemy, just like the rest of the world? Or was she going to be a royal pain in the ass? Vinn knew she would find out soon enough. Oh, and she wanted to find out.

Besides, she was curious as to what kind of woman was engaged to a man like Xander. Was theirs a true love story? Or perhaps was it a case of arranged marriage.

The latter was common enough in their society, but it wasn't her business.

"What in the hell are you doing in my room?" Vinn jolted at the sound of Xander's voice. She turned on instinct and was met with a furious looking man. But that fury quickly ironed out into a smile the moment his eyes rested on Selene's figure.

"Selene," Xander says, walking up to the woman, "you're here."

Xander was smiling. The kind of smile a man only gives to the woman who rocks his world in every literal sense. Vinn, in all her two encounters with the man, had never seen him smile.

And that smile threw her off. In his smile, she saw a different layer of Xander. A truly scary layer.

That was because Vinn could bet her life that his smile was fake. She was sure of it. And yet, to anyone who was taking in the scene, Xander looked like he was madly in love with Selene.

But that didn't deceive her. Vinn's experience with her family set such a high bar for her, it enhanced her ability to read people, because she vowed that never again would she be deceived.

"Xander," Selene drawls, resting a perfect palm on Xander's bare chest that was showing through the open buttons of his leather vest. "I missed you." She pouts, looking so unlike the woman that Vinn met a minute ago.

"I missed you too," Xander replies in a very convincing manner, "but I told you my quarters are out of bounds." Even as he chided her, Xander's voice was the perfect mask of gentle, coaxing, and tenderness.

"I know, but I couldn't wait…" The gods, Selene no longer looked like the menacing, vicious woman Vinn was introduced to mere minutes ago. Now, she looked like a woman captivated and enraptured.

Next thing, Xander leans in and kisses her. Vinn gasps, quickly averting her eyes. For some reason she never wanted to find out, her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. "Now run along. I will come to you." Xander says tenderly.

Selene, obviously satisfied with the reply she got, picks up her clothing and leaves the room. Before Vinn could manage to process what happened, Xander bolts towards what she guessed was the bathroom and then the sound of him vomiting penetrates the air.

Vinn remains frozen not knowing what to make of what's happening. Then Xander comes out, his face a mask of anger.

"Here's your first task as my maid. Don't you ever, ever, let Selene Attamas anywhere near my room." Xander says, his tone not betraying the emotion on his face.

Feeling a bit light-headed all of a sudden, Vinn only manages to nod. She felt like she had to say something, but she was unsure what that should be.

"Why do you have to suffer if you hate her this much?" She says instead, internally kicking herself in her head for her again, being a little more audacious.

"I only dry heaved because I'm dizzy. Besides, I don't like people in my personal space."

"Liar." Vinn retorts, all of a sudden feeling angry at him.

"What?" Xander's expression is a mirror of confusion.

"I said you're a liar. A liar and a coward. If you don't love her, then you should tell her instead of leading her on like that!"

"I don't need to explain my business to a slave." His voice was now cold, dripping with chills.

"Except your business is that you're engaged to a woman who repulses you!" Vinn was now shouting at him. Some part of her brain told her she shouldn't be, but she just couldn't stop.

"How do people think it's okay to deceive other people into making them think they're loved?!" Hot tears were spilling down Vinn's cheeks while Xander's face was successfully wiped off any tangible emotion. His silver eyes were like a blank canvas, waiting for the perfect painter.

But then he walks to her, surprising her greatly when he clutches her shoulder. In a firm voice he says, "I'm not your family, Vinnandra."

And then the dam broke again, letting out a hurt that was barely buried for two weeks.