Temper

If no one has figured it out yet this world is a matriarchy. I just like the idea of having it be a matriarchy seeing as it makes sense for all the Elders to be a female if it's a matriarchy.

Also I had another story idea. This story would be more domestic discipline. It would be about a girl whose father marries the queen. The girl finally gets some discipline in her life seeing as her father had always been to busy to actually put some structure in her life that is affective. I don't know, it seems like it would be fun to write plus it would be nice to have a stepmother that isn't pure evil and shows off that stepmothers can be nice.

Also I got 900 followers which is amazing so thank you all so much.

*Iris P.O.V*

Esme came into my room the next morning, a smile on her lips. She gave me a puzzled look when she realized that I was already up, the bed still made from the previous night. "Did you not sleep at all last night my dear? The bed looks completely untouched," she questioned me as she came over to where I was sitting on the floor.

"I wasn't tired," I said as I glanced at her. As soon as the Elders had left Esme had escorted me ack to my room where she said that while they wouldn't force me to go to bed, I needed to stay in this room. Even if I had wanted to leave, she had locked the door behind her. Did they really think I was going to attempt to escape when I had only arrived yesterday? I was going to plan out an escape plan first, like all prisoners did.

"Well you could have at least laid down in bed. I'm sure it would have been much more comfortable than sitting on the floor all night," Esme told me. I shrugged making her frown as she sat down next to me. "Are you okay?" she asked as she gently touched my arm.

"Don't touch me," I said as I jerked away with a frown on my lips. She stared at me confused as I scooted away, glaring at the floor. I don't know why I reacted that way towards her, she was only trying to be nice and it wasn't her fault that I was in a bad mood because I was exhausted. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," I said softly.

"What's going on with you darling? You tired?" Esme asked as she scooted closer to me. I nodded and she cooed softly as she wrapped her arm around me. I leaned into her slightly, resting my head on her shoulder with a sigh.

"Yeah," I nodded my head making her smile as she turned and kissed the top of my head gently. I felt a small bit of calmness flush through me but didn't want to admit to how nice that it actually felt to get a kiss on the forehead.

"Well let's maybe take a nap soon then darling," Esme encouraged as she rubbed my back gently with her free hand as she looked at me, concern etched into her eyes. For some reason her eyes really reminded me of Ember's even though they didn't look much a like. The thought of it being Ember doing this for some reason made me shiver slightly in excitement.

"No way, today I get to do whatever I want. Adira said so," I stated as I smiled slightly, noticing the way Esme grimaced slightly. "Did I say something wrong?" I questioned with a frown.

"It's just that you are supposed to refer to her as Madame. All of the Elders technically have titles you are supposed to refer to them as. Adira is Madame, Ember is Lady, Miss is used for Opal, Missus is for Nova, and ma'am can be used for Selene. Let it be known though that their ranks don't really determine how they behave," Esme smirked slightly.

"What does that mean?" I asked as I tried to memorize what I was supposed to call them. Adira was Madame, that one I knew. I think the Miss and Missus titles would be confused often but I hoped I could learn them quickly enough to avoid trouble.

"I mean they're quite immature at times. Adira is the only one to always be mature and she is also the main disciplinarian of the group so don't anger her," she stated making me giggle. "I'm serious," she said making me shrug.

"I don't really care about whether or not I anger her," I stated as I smiled slightly. "I doubt she can do anything to bad," I said making her raise an eyebrow.

"You keep thinking that. Everyone says that until they actually face a punishment devised by her," she said as she stood up.

"Have you ever gotten a punishment from her?" I asked curiously. Esme nodded after a moment as she reached her hand out and I grabbed it, pulling myself up. "What was it?" I questioned her.

"I had to work as her maid for six months," she stated making me look at her with a puzzled expression, my eyebrows furrowed slightly. "She's very strict on her maids and there were some long and brutal training hours," she said with a a shrug.

"Oh," I said as I frowned slightly. "That sucks. She doesn't seem nice," I said making Esme pause from walking to the wardrobe.

"I wouldn't disrespect her like that. Saying that she's not nice when you don't know her can lead to some temper flares," Esme stated as she opened the wardrobe and looked through the dresses. "Whether hers, yours, or someone else," she said.

"Who else would get a temper flares about me saying she's not nice?" I asked as I rubbed at my eyes, frowning at the powder and eyeshadow that came off.

"Ember, Selene, Opal, and Nova. They don't allow anyone to say anything that could be remotely mean about Adira. I personally think Ember does it because they're married and the other three do it because like she's basically a mentor to them," Esme explained as she got out a blue dress and hung it up on the folding changing thing. I stepped behind it and stripped down, my hands brushing over the permanent lines from the corset I was used to wearing. I reached around and grabbed the dress, pulling it off the hanger. I slipped on quickly with a sigh.

"Yes well if she's their mentor then they're probably just as bad as her when it comes to punishment," I stated. "Although I don't really think she's like a bad person. She was really nice last night," I said with a smile as I exited behind the changing area.

"Oh she's most definitely a nice person but she's a strict one," Esme said as she smiled at me. I grimaced when she said strict, sitting down at the vanity. Esme took a warm towel and wiped my face clean, ridding me of any makeup. "So what do you want to do today?" she asked.

"Is there a stable here?" I asked curiously. "I really like horses so I would like to see some if there are any," I said with a small smile on my lips.

"Of course there is a stable. There are several actually but only one on the castle grounds. The one on the castle grounds houses the Elders personal horses," Esme explained as she applied some foundation powder to my face. "Would you like for me to do your eyeshadow?" she questioned.

"Okay. Do you think they'll mind if go there then?" I asked. "Yes please," I said making her  smile as she got a shade of blue that matched my dress as closely as possible. "You should let me do your makeup one day," I told her.

"I don't think they'll mind at all," Esme stated as she smiled. "One day I'll let you do my makeup," she promised as she finished carefully applying the eyeshadow. I got out of my chair with a smile as I looked down at my shoes which I hadn't thought of taking off last night.

"I'll make sure that day is soon," I told her with a wry smile on my lips. "Can you take me to the stable now?" I asked, suppressing a yawn as I glanced at her.

"Don't you want to eat breakfast?" Esme questioned. I shook my head as I bounced slightly in place, feeling the wave of tiredness wash over me. "Alright, I'll take you to the horses then," she said as she started walking, me right behind her almost immediately. Esme glanced at me and grabbed my hand, lightly pulling me up next to her and beside her. "Now I don't have to worry about you running into me," she stated.

"I wouldn't have run into you," I said although that was a total lie. I always ended up bumping into someone somehow. I tried to take not of every hallway that we passed through but they all looked the same. I get that places shouldn't have completely different looking areas and should pick a theme but this place was in desperate need of variety so that I wouldn't get lost when I ran away.

"It's just in case," Esme reassured me making me roll my eyes slightly. It felt like it too forever but was probably in reality only a couple minutes before we managed to go out a door that led outside.

"Oh thank god, fresh air," I said as I took a deep breath, a small smile on my lips. Esme laughed as she shook her head, guiding me through the really green grass, I felt like it was so green that it had to be painted but I wouldn't know until it rained.

Esme led me down a forested trail, the leaves and branches of trees brushing against me as we walked down it. There was break from the forest and there stood the stable, a dark spruce wood building. I walked a little in front of Esme, my excitement bubbling up. I frowned when I saw two guards at the entrance, hoping that they wouldn't be a preventer of me seeing the horses. I tried to walk into the stable and they blocked me earning a groan.

"Caste?" the female guard that was on the right asked. I sighed knowing that this was not going to be fun seeing as you quite literally needed to be a certain rank to get in most places, it seemed that it extended here.

"I'm a G," I answered honestly and I frowned when they didn't move to allow me in. I backed away, knowing that I wasn't going to get in. I gasped when I bumped into Esme, whispering an apologize.

"And I am a C therefore I qualify for us to get in," Esme said as she stepped around me and grabbed my hand gently squeezing it. "And if you reject us because of her rank then I will go to the Elders and tell them that you denied one of their favorite picks something because of her caste," she stated. The guards looked at each other before reluctantly moving to the side. Esme led me into the stable with a small smile on her lips.

"Thanks," I said as I gently eased my hand out of her grip, looking around the stable. There was hay covering the floor and the air was a mixture of hay and I think sweat, I wasn't sure. I walked from stall to stall, looking at horses with a smile. Most didn't react but one horse at the back did and snorted, stomping her hoof. I wasn't sure what most of the breeds were but one was definitely a Clydesdale and the one that didn't like me much seemed to be an Arabian. "Hey Esme," I said making the woman appear by my side.

"Yes?" she asked as she smiled softly. I felt a small surge of guilt as I looked up at her before looking away with a frown.

"I'm kind of thirsty," I admitted as I played with the hem of my dress. "Is there any way I could get something to drink?" I asked softly as I looked back at Esme for her reaction.

"Of course," Esme said as she smiled, not showing any sign of being angry at me. "You will stay here yes?" she asked. I nodded my head as I held out my hand to the Gypsy Vanner in the stall, a grin on my lips.

"What gender is this one?" I asked making Esme glanced at the Gypsy Vanner with a small smile on her lips.

"This is a stallion. He is Missus Nova's horse," Esme explained as she reached into a bag by the stall and got out a few little treats, giving them to me. "He's a sweetheart but he's also very food motivated which is how you'll earn his trust," she said. "I'll got get you something to drink," she said as she curtsied before disappearing.

"Dang, I forgot to ask what your name is. I'm just going to call you bubba," I said as I placed a treat in my outstretched hand. He moved closer and sniffed my hand, eating the treat out of my hand. I placed another one and pulled my hand back, slowly luring him closer. I was still standing there when a hand touched my shoulder making me flinch in shock.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," I heard Esme say. I relaxed and pulled back, turning to look at her. She handed me a little plastic type water bottle with a lid on it. "I got you some apple juice," she told me making me smile.

"Thank you," I said with a grin on my lips. I twisted the lid off and sipped the apple juice, feeling the refreshing cool liquid slide down my throat. I stopped after a moment and twisted the lid back on.

"You're very welcome. Thank you for not running off," Esme said as she smiled softly. I shrugged as I held the bottle in my hand while feeding the horse another treat. "I see you're bonding well with Shadow of the Moon," she said. The name suited the horse, he had a dusty grey coat with some darker grey marks on his undersides.

"The name suits him," I said as I gave him the last treat I had and patted his shoulder. He leaned his head out his stall, sniffing me as he nudged my by pressing his head against my chest. "I'm sorry, I ran out of treats boy," I said honestly as I stepped forward so that I was pressed against the stall door petting him thoroughly and making him groan with a snort as he backed away. "Brat," I said with a frown on my lips as I moved to another stall. The horse in there sniffed me curiously, letting me pet it.

"This is Blue, she's a blue roan," Esme said. "Her coat will darken or lighten depending on the seasons," she said making me smile.

"Whoever owns her isn't very creative," I said making Esme snort as she looked away. "What?" I asked as she smiled softly.

"Her owner is Ember," Esme said making me giggle. "I'll make sure to tell her how unoriginal her horse's name is," she stated. "Do you think you're okay staying here for a moment? I have to go do something for Madame Adira," she said. I nodded my head as I kept petting Blue. Esme curtsied again before leaving with a smile.

I stepped away from Blue after a bit and opened my apple juice, sipping the juice with a small smile. I gulped down most of it and there was only a quarter bit of it left when I got an idea. I loosely screwed the lid on and giggle to myself. "This bitch empty yeet," I said as I tossed the bottle under hand, planning on trying to land a bottle flip if not just throw the bottle. I frowned when I didn't hear the bottle hit the ground or anything and looked up, my face paling.

Standing in the arch way of the door was Adira, a frown on her lips. The bottle of apple juice laid at her feet, the lid having come off halfway through its flight through the air. Her white dress had splatterings of the liquid on it and she was tapping her foot. "Sorry," I said as I smiled innocently, her eyes going from the bottle to the floor to me. 'Shit, I'm dead,' I thought as I backed up against Blue's stall nervously.