"APPLE!" I shout, slamming the door to the Pearl Club open. The patrons turn to look at me panting in the doorway, face contorted in rage. I look around the smoky room, nose wrinkling at the smell of burners. I stalk inside, careful to avoid the pinks attending the patrons, while using a handkerchief to cover my nose.
I click my tongue as I don't find him in the hall, and reluctantly grab a passing female pink by the arm. I grimace as she tries to reach for me and knock her hand away harshly, "Where is Apollonius Au Valii-Rath!" She blanches at my intense glare and slowly points at a door. I scowl and release her, before striding to the door and wrenching it open.
On plush couches sit three golds, my older brother Apollonius, Karnus Au Bellona and his little brother Cassius. They're each surrounded by half-naked pinks, except for Cassius, languidly sitting there sipping at a bright green drink.
"Out!" I spit venomously. The pinks don't move, looking back and forth between me and the other three golds. "I said, out!" I bellow, wrenching one of the pinks by the hair and throwing him towards the door. They scramble to get out, tripping over each other in the process.
When they're all gone and the door is closed, I turn on my brother, "Apollonius Au Valii-Rath." I seeth. He smiles widely, "Sister, how good it is to see you." I glare daggers, "Don't you Sister me! I heard what you did to Tactus." His smile widens, "Come now, it was just a bit of fun." I knock the drink out of his hand, "Just a bit of fun? You broke his gorydamn violin!" He sighs, "So what? It's just wood and string, he can buy a new one." My hand tightens around the razor at my hip, "No, you will make him a new one, Apple. You, not some violet." His jaw muscles knot, and he stands up, knocking the coffee table over. Quick as a flash, the razor is in my hand, aimed at Apollonius's neck, "Sit down." I say forcefully, pricking his skin. He stays standing, "I will not be spoken to that way by my little sister." I glance at the other two and purse my lips, retract the razor, "If Tactus doesn't have a new violin by the end of the week, I'm going to go into your room and tear apart every single instrument I can get my hands on, do I make myself clear?" Apollonius snorts and falls back onto the couch. I turn and start walking out when I glance back, "Cassius," I smile, "you'd do best not to associate with him, he's not worth your time." I then step out, slamming the door behind me.
The Rath estate is glamorous, filled with ancient artefacts of long-dead civilisations. I walk through hallways, the walls of which are covered in beautiful tapestries and artworks. The passing browns and pinks bow deeply, but I pay them no mind, I don't have the appetite of my brothers. My love is for the blade and the beauty of battle. Ever since I was a child, I had an obsession with the art of war. Pouring over stories of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. My father, Julius Au Rath, a Praetor, encouraged my obsession and even provided me with some of the best tutors the Society has to offer. No one my age has been a match for me, except, of course, Cassius Au Bellona. As much as I like him, he has got to be the most infuriating boy I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. The gory-damn little shit baited me, and I let my anger get the better of me, costing me the duel.
I comb my fingers through my long golden curls as I reach the end of the hall and open the door. My foolish twin brother, Tactus, is lying in his bed with two pink women on top of him. I roll my eyes and cough, grabbing his attention. He at least has the decency to blush. "Alright, both of you, out." He says, waving the two pinks away. The young women quickly scamper into the hallway, bowing to me as they go.
Still fully nude, Tactus approaches me and goes for an embrace. "Olympia!" I step back, my nose wrinkling, "Put some gory-damn clothes on, will you, I might actually slit my throat if I have to see you like this any longer." He laughs and, grabbing a toga, wraps it around his waist.
I raise my eyebrows, "You should really try to wear the properly, here let me…" I start moving towards him before sighing and stepping back to lean against the wall, "Why do I even try. You'll just take it back off as soon as I leave."
His face breaks out in a grin, "So perceptive, you really know me too well." I roll my eyes at him, as much as I hate the shit, he's my little twin brother, and I just can't stay mad at him when he smiles like that. "Are you ready for the examination tomorrow?" I ask, looking out of the window and onto the Rath estate's grounds. He laughed, "Ready for what? This is going to be as easy as fucking a pink."