Chapter 25

"You have no conception of how important this meeting is, Hayden. Never in your life has more hinged on how your next few hours resolve themselves. If ever you've devoted yourself to the service of Shaymin House, this is the time. If you hope for dispensation in the future, now is where you earn it."

Lady Gracidea stalked around the bathroom, occasionally stopping to check on what the servants were doing with her hair.

From the moment she'd woken up, Hayden was given no control over her decisions. The servants bathed her in specific oils, dressed her in specific fabrics, and a tight pink dress that left very little freedom of movement. Now they worked on the most difficult and complex part of all, her hair.

There was so much of the stuff that having several skilled stylists to work it did at least mean it would be ready at a reasonable hour. From her reflection, she watched them do far more than just braid it. The largest section was packed into a dense braid of thousands of little strands, but they were doing just as much with the rest, weaving it together into a growing basket around her head.

"You must prove yourself to the steward of Mew House. Earn your place, carve out a chance for us."

No pressure.

For once, she couldn't even hug Liz to her chest for support—the daemon had her own grooming session going on, surrounded by the daemons of the professionals working on Hayden. Despite her time with Cody blurring her conception of the daemon taboo, even here in Shaymin House those boundaries were respected. Whenever humans did get close, they always wore gloves, just in case. 

"I want to succeed," she said slowly. "I want to… win their approval? Whatever it is you're saying I need to do. I want it all. But I can't be something I'm not. I don't know as much as Eleanor, I'm not as graceful as she is. Liz and I grew up wild on the streets of Sunyshore. We can't even sew."

Lady Gracidea straightened, looming over them. But then a makeup artist started drawing on Hayden's face, and she closed her eyes. She couldn't see her there, but she could still feel her; power looming the same way Havalina had out in the forest. 

"What you know and how you are trained are bound to be a disappointment to the steward. I am under no illusions about your competence. It would've been better for all if you were a candidate taken from higher-quality stock. But just as we are helpless but to accept you for what you are—so too is Mew House helpless. They wish for young members of their house to one day take over governing. There are exactly two of your kind younger than two centuries on this planet. One is in this room, the other is their latest child. I'm told even conceiving him was an effort of considerable difficulty. Their family is so old and interwoven that the blood grows weak. They need new strength."

"You may open your eyes again," the artist whispered. 

Hayden did, and found Lady Gracidea was on one knee now, only inches from her face. Was she inspecting the work, or expressing more of her frustration with her?

"Mew House does not expect you to be something you are not, Hayden. They want strength. The strength to find Unity with her daemon after only a month of training, the strength to survive a meeting with an Awakened Master."

She lowered her voice to a dangerous whisper. "I spoke to my ancestors, kitten. I know where you go when you leave my house."

Hayden froze in her seat, her whole body rigid. Did that mean she knew about the company Hayden kept as well? Did the wild shaymin lie?

"I…" She swallowed. Her hands closed on empty air, wishing her daemon was back there. She had to fight the instinct to change into something less noticeable. Her eevee self wouldn't attract attention here—but it would also ruin the work of six hours. She was not prepared to spend another lifetime sitting in this powder-room chair. "They didn't send me away. I didn't know it was forbidden."

The lady laughed. Her voice remained low, though in the close confines of the bathroom many would probably overhear. "You walked on sacred ground, child. If any of common station traveled there, I would have them shot. But only if they came back. The domain of pokémon is not given to man. They are among the fiercest and most dangerous creatures in Sinnoh."

Hayden had been sweating in a stupid too-tight dress and too bright lights for too long. Otherwise, she would've known to keep her mouth closed. "The pokémon I met were kind to me. They helped me find food; they kept me warm when it rained. They taught me things I never learned in your shrine."

Lady Gracidea folded her arms, satisfied. "Exactly. That is what you offer to Mew House. Fresh blood, undimmed by generations, untainted by weakness. You are clumsy, crass, and ignorant. But these can be fixed. When you go out there, I demand your obedience and your wisdom, as much as you are capable. But more than either, you must be strong. Show the steward what you bring to their family.”

Hayden remained pinned in place. It felt like a whole ocean of women swam around her, more servants than she'd ever seen in one place before. The perfume they sprayed her with wasn't bad, but the sweat of so many bodies in close proximity didn’t help. "I don't understand," she finally said. "You worked so hard to get me here. Why would you want to give me away to another house?"

"You're not being given away," Lady Gracidea said. "These things take years. The ties that bind us to our cousins from other regions can begin as tenuous things. This is the first step to a contract. If you can impress her, then you will have the opportunity to meet with the heir. Assuming he likes you, then there will be an opportunity for more. But not before."

Hayden's stomach twisted, and not just from all the different perfumes. This was the same feeling she got when adults were hiding something from her, or at least saying things that she should understand, but didn't. There were implications to these words she should've been able to put together. 

"What exactly am I doing?"

"Nothing, until you're older. When you are, it should be obvious. Mew House requires new blood. Shaymin House requires the physical strength of Mew House, we require new supply partners, better contracts, and gold. Both of us will get what we want."

New blood. That was how she always said it. But repetition did not make the meaning any clearer to Hayden. How did she help them get it?

She might not have figured it out, if it wasn't for her time with Cody. But after the hours spent together, maybe she could infer. Why else would it be so important that she was a girl?

"You mean—" Her face went bright red. Hayden's hands fell limp in her lap, eyes downcast. "Like… an arranged marriage."

"In time," Lady Gracidea said. "It will take years for the negotiations to even truly begin. You are both young, there is no hurry. For now, we prove to each other that we both have what the other needs. They meet you and learn whether you are strong enough for what Mew House requires. We continue to train you to rectify any shortcomings they identify. And they provide an influx of gold and favorable contracts in the meantime. Our families will be bound together as the greats never have been. When the day finally comes, it will be a historic union."

Hayden whimpered, wrapping both arms around her chest. Nowhere in this entire conversation had they even hinted that what she wanted mattered. Less than a month had passed since she'd even become a girl. Did Shaymin House seriously expect her to get married?

"No tears, mew," Lady Gracidea snapped. "Don't smear your makeup. You will not see him today. It may be months before you even meet him. After that, you will have years to come to terms with what is required. Years to appreciate how profoundly fortunate you are. Every girl in Johto dreams of being so fortunate. In a way, you've robbed them."

"I wasn't a girl until last month," she whispered. "Whenever I imagined my future, there weren't boys in it."

The shaymin scoffed. "There were barely girls in it either. You had only just settled. I know it doesn't seem so now, but the pressure I put on you was a kindness. You will grow and mature as a young lady. What you've lost, you will never know."

The door banged open, and a panicked-looking servant emerged, clutching at her chest. "Lady! The steward is here! She insists on seeing Miss Hayden immediately! She won't be kept waiting!"

Lady Gracidea sighed, then took a deep breath. She composed herself, settling her daemon gently in her arms. "Very well. Everyone, I think we've done all we can for the kitten here. You will have all the time to do this properly before she has her first meeting with the house. For now, withdraw."

They scattered from around her in a matter of seconds. This was Lady Gracidea's own chambers, and every room had a subtly painted servants’ door against the wall. One word, and these people all withdrew the way they'd come, vanishing. In seconds there were only the two of them.

"Rise slowly. I know you've had little practice in proper ladies' clothing. Do everything slowly. You may float, if you wish."

Liz zipped over to her. The little pokémon was now fluffed up like a doll, her fur all standing on end and a bow tied near the base of her tail. Hayden didn't care, she was just happy to have her close again.

Her daemon helped her out of the chair, lifting her into the air above it in a single smooth motion. She rose into a standing position, but her fancy shoes never touched the floor. 

Her reflection looked like someone else. Her skin was paler than it should be, her eyes looking bigger. The dress hung in several interlocking layers, with weight that greatly restricted her movement. It flared out in the chest, emphasizing features that weren't really there yet. 

If they hadn't woken up to force her into it, Hayden might not have minded. The different shades of pink and white went really well with her hair, and the little blue stones speckled into the fabric matched her eyes. She twisted to one side, making the dress spin out from her legs. 

Lady Gracidea caught her by the wrist. "Play later, kitten. You and I have an appointment to keep."

They walked together through the mansion. Hayden's feet never touched the ground, but Liz was getting better about that. Without the weight of gravity bearing down on her, the dress wasn't so crushing. Maybe that was how mew could wear such crazy things in the first place. If the fabric didn't pull on her, did it really matter how much there was?

"I do not know what the steward will ask," her escort continued. "But I will allow her anything she wishes. You must cooperate, you must obey, no matter how uncomfortable her requests make you. Ilene has been the steward of Mew House since the death of her own. Do not let her appearance mislead you—she does not abide disobedience."

They came into the mansion's largest ballroom from the upper balcony. Every lantern in the room was lit, despite the full sun outside. The floors were swept and polished, and the mirrors all clear. There were no tables within, no actual party here. 

A figure waited alone near the center of the room. She had brought no guards, no assistants, no other servants. She didn't seem to notice if that was strange.

She looked much younger than Lady Gracidea. At a glance, Hayden would've guessed her to be about the same age as Evelynn. And in the air beside her, a little pokémon floated, unlike anything she'd ever seen.

But she could feel it. Liz squeaked in surprise, then ducked down under the fabric of Hayden's top. "He's so strong! It's like Zapdos all over again!"

"Not the stairs!" she called, her voice commanding. "Float down to me, kitten! I want to see you up close.

The lady stopped, releasing her arm. She gestured to the railing and didn't say a word.

It was a large ballroom—the jump was at least thirty feet straight down. It might've scared her before. But Hayden had flown into the sacred valley now, carrying Cody as deadweight. She wasn't scared of heights!

She pushed up off the railings, then started to drift gently down. Liz could keep hiding if she wanted, she would still feel what Hayden felt. Carrying just her was not a challenge anymore.

Hayden giggled as the dress flared out around her. Her long braid trailed through the air in the path she'd taken, dragging slightly behind like a tail. Flying around indoors was more fun than she gave it credit for. She should try this more often! 

She didn't land so much as slow down in front of the stranger. She hovered there, a smile frozen on her face. "Hi."

Her skin was as pale as white porcelain, and no less flawless. She wore simple clothing compared to the elaborate costume Hayden was wearing, a pink dress with a yellow cape. Only her hat was equally fancy—taller than her whole head, shaped into a star, with three tags hanging from the corners. It matched her daemon perfectly.

The pokémon floating there was bigger than Liz, but not by much. His shape was more human, a little like Sierra, though there was a strange line across his chest. His eyes focused directly on the top of her dress, where Liz was concealed.

The young woman chuckled. "You're the Shaymin's miracle," the stranger said. "The mew who shouldn't have been born. Where is your daemon?"

Lady Gracidea hurried down the stairs, as fast as dignity would allow her. Hayden felt her need to be close, even if she couldn't express it in words. She feared Hayden doing something stupid. She was probably right to be afraid.

Ahuiliztli floated out from her dress, over to the other daemon in greeting. She touched his nose, then zipped around him in the air. "I'm Hayden," she said. "And that's Ahuiliztli. We're very happy to meet you."

"Female," said the stranger's daemon. There was no detectable emotion in his voice—or any hint at how either of them might be feeling, in fact. Liz couldn't read any more from the pair than they could read from Lady Gracidea.

"Now now, Rael. We haven't even introduced ourselves yet." The young woman extended a hand. "I'm Ilene. I too have been adopted by a house far greater than myself. We share much in common."

Hayden took the offered hand. Ilene's fingers felt like clutching cold metal. There was no warmth, or any softness to her skin. At least she didn't crush Hayden in her grip. 

Lady Gracidea made her way over with grand, dramatic steps. But Ilene ignored her. "What is it you wish for, Hayden? Have you ever given that any thought?"

She hesitated. There were no servants in the ballroom, no guards. Many of them lingered just outside, peeking through cracks in the partially closed doors. But none of them moved.

"Don't say anything," Ilene's daemon, Rael said. He spoke louder than most daemons did, commanding Lady Gracidea just as Ilene had done moments before. "We demand her answer."

Both of them stared, identical green eyes fixed on her. Ilene didn't release her hand, even when Hayden tried.

"I… already got my wish," she finally answered. "My sister lived. I can't ask for more."

A voice spoke into her mind, Ilene. She didn't ask for permission, but clearly didn't need to. Her psychic power was far greater than any Hayden had ever encountered, crushing all resistance without effort.

"You do not lie to me, but you aren't telling the truth, either."

At least she could reply the same way. That meant Lady Gracidea wouldn't overhear. "Am I allowed to have secrets?"

Ilene giggled. The sound was so cold and mechanical, yet her laughter felt genuine through their connection. That was just the way she acted. "Not with a mind as untrained as yours, Hayden. I see… oh. That is interesting. You have met the last of two houses. And he…"

She released Hayden's hand abruptly, turning on Lady Gracidea again. "I will need to meet with her alone to determine her quality. Can you give us privacy, please?"

"So long as you understand our terms," Lady Gracidea said. "You will not return with her. She does not leave the land of my family. We agree?"

"We do."

She nodded. "Inform the servants if you wish to speak with me again. Hayden—" But she didn't finish that sentence, just turned and walked away. A few seconds later, the door shut behind her.

"It's a little stuffy in here," Ilene announced, turning her back on the door, and the ballroom so many servants had probably spent days cleaning. "Want to get some air? I want some air."

"Sure," Hayden answered. "Where?"

There was a blinding flash of light, and suddenly Hayden was in the clouds. Air whipped past them, undoing her complex hair in seconds. Her braid remained, stubborn against the gale. All those fabric layers suddenly felt nice and warm, instead of crushing. 

"I like this better. How about you?"