I genuinely can't understand why she's so mean to me. I don't know if I came off as rude, or maybe said something I shouldn't have.

He groaned and looked down.

As he did, he noticed a little clump of hair under himself. He tugged at it and felt a small pain as it wiggled gently. He stood up from the bath and checked the mirror in the bathing room.

His eyes widened at the sight. In the mirror was a body that didn't belong to him-yellow eyes instead of dark brown, hair with much more volume. Two ram horns were attached to his head.

He tugged at one of the ram horns. His head moved with it. They were real.

He turned back and saw a small tail attached to his lower back.

He knew now. He knew why Charlie was being so rude to him. He wasn't in his own body.

Minutes later, he got out of the bathroom wearing the clothes Charlie had prepared. As soon as he stepped out, he saw her waiting at the doorway.

"The food is rea-"

Grégoire grabbed her by the shoulders, eyes wide and worried.

"What's going on?! Why am I here? Please tell me what you've done to me."

He pleaded as if she had all the answers.

Charlie quickly pushed him away.

"I don't know what you're referring to. Settle down and come down to eat."

She said it in an annoyed tone, as if hearing him was a waste of time.

Grégoire's worried look didn't fade, but he followed her anyway.

Charlie looked back at him, still wondering if he was just trying to mess with her. If so, he was a good actor.

As they approached the dining table, Grégoire saw a vast selection of food, all seeming prepared by practiced hands.

Charlie quickly whispered toward him.

"Hey, try to act normal. Okay? I don't want Mr. and Ms. Whitlock to freak out."

Her tone hinted she didn't expect much from him.

Grégoire just nodded, trying to act normal as he sat down.

Charlie stood beside him like a guard on duty.

Grégoire looked at her and pointed to the chair beside him. She gave him a smirk and sat down ungracefully. But she quickly stood back up as a door opened.

A horned man and woman entered the room. The woman's stern eyes widened, and she sprinted toward Grégoire, picking him up and hugging him tightly.

"William! It's been a week-you scared the soul out of me, my boy," she said worriedly, eyes full of affection.

She quickly put him down.

"Sorry, sorry. I know you don't like stuff like this," she apologized gently.

"No, no, it's okay, I assure you. I don't mind,"

Grégoire said gently, waving his hands dismissively.

"Really now? This is new," the horned man said, raising an eyebrow before going to sit at the wide dining table.

As they all sat down and started to eat, Grégoire stayed quiet, side-eyeing Charlie. She wasn't paying attention-she was staring at the ceiling with her eyes closed.

Grégoire served himself food. The dinner passed by with no issues. Or at least that's what he thought.

When Grégoire excused himself and left the room, the horned man and woman stared at each other, confused, as if this was something out of the ordinary.

As Grégoire walked out of the dining room, Charlie stopped him.

"Look. Can you stop with this act? It's really pissing me off."

She scowled.

Grégoire clenched his fist, agitated since he wasn't acting.

"I already told you, I'm not acting. I tried my best in there. I'm sorry if it's not up to your expectations."

He let out a defeated sigh.

"Alright. Whatever then, be like that."

Charlie walked toward William's room. Grégoire followed behind her.

"Hey. Can we talk?" he said in a small voice, knowing she was already mad and not wanting her to scream.

Charlie rolled her eyes dramatically and turned to him.

"What?"

"I'm not lying about this. I'm being completely honest, I swear to our lord."

He teared up.

"How can I be sure? You've done shit like this before."

"I don't know. That's for you to decide. I don't know how I can gain your trust. I just need you to believe me. My name is Grégoire Lemarchand."

Charlie sighed. She could see the honesty in him.

"Okay. Look. Even if this is true, what do you want me to do about it?"

She raised an eyebrow, waiting.

Grégoire stopped for a moment, really thinking about what she had just said. He didn't know himself.

"I don't know."

He looked down. The question really had staggered him.

"Okay then, I'll believe you."

She sighed, just wanting him to go to bed. She pulled him into his room and forcefully pushed him onto the bed.

"Stop it-" he whined, struggling against her.

"Just go to sleep. I want to sleep myself, and you're making me stay up more than I need to."

"You should have just told me that. You don't need to be so forceful."

He quickly lay down and tucked himself in.

"Okay, bye."

Charlie left the room at inhuman speed.

Grégoire stared at the window. He saw a large field with flowers at every edge of big fences. He looked at the scene-so completely different from his own home. He lay back down and fell asleep.