Cybil watched Ciro as he slept on what was once her bed. Her face contorted into a very upset frown and her eyes were glaring knives at the unconscious man. Who was he to randomly show up and act like he owned the place? Who was he at all?! Cybil had been living here her entire life and he thinks he could just parade in here and claim her bed?! This was an injustice and she would not stand for it!

She stood and walked to the bed where Ciro was lying under a plush, thick comforter with her hands clenched in tight fists. Ciro groaned slightly and turned onto his side. She froze with wide eyes, terrified that her light tread had woken him and she would have no explanation as to why she was watching him sleep. After a short moment with her awkwardly frozen, he seemed to be as in deep a sleep as before, and she continued walking forward.

She stood over him and looked down at his calm face. He looked like no man she had ever seen before, with thick, black hair and very pale skin. There was some stubble growing on his face that she could see only once she got very close. She decided that he would be handsome if not for his wretched personality.

She gently brushed the side of his face, pretending to smack it but not wanting to wake him. That’ll show him for sure. Then, after releasing her hand and looking down at him, she remembered something that seemed much more rewarding. His pirate treasure. Cybil liked to question authority, and with every time he told her not to investigate, the more curious she became. She exited the room swiftly and quietly, a rogue.

She first saw his luggage the first time she noticed him inside the house, sleeping on the foyer floor, right beside the now destroyed entrance. Ruffian. His box was at the time only a few feet away from him, looking so inviting with its locks and chains. Why is it that the things that are out of reach, always seem the most desirable? She walked slowly down to where he was sleeping, and discovered disappointedly that the wooden chest was no longer where it last was.

Only, her disappointment quickly turned into a mischievous joy when she realized the box was dragged, and there were lines on the dusty floor, leading directly towards a closet which must be its location. Cybil chucked to herself. Idiocy could be added to the list of his descriptors, right next to boorish and rude. She followed the trail to the closet and gently opened the creaky door.

The wooden chest was inside the small closet, perfectly fitting inside the location. She brushed her finger against the old wood, and tried to lift up the layer of chains keeping it closed. The second her finger touched the metal a sharp burning sensation filled her finger, causing her immense pain. She backed away and gripped her hand. There were welts forming where her skin touched the chains and she gasped at the sight. She backed up with fear, and was surprised to find that she ran into something. It was fairly firm, but still clearly flesh.

She turned around. Ciro. From just one look at his face it was clear she was not amused. There was no light in his eyes as he stared down at the girl, frowning. Cybil hid her hand behind her back and muttered with wide eyes, “I… I-”

“One rule.” Ciro stated, his calmness only worked to further intimidate Cybil. “I graciously had only one rule for you to stay in this house, and yet despite my kindness, you still betray me!” he yelled, clearly tired and cranky.

“I’m sorry- I- I just wanted to know what you were trying to hide…” Cybil explained. Tears were forming in her eyes, not from Ciro’s harsh tone, but from the stinging blisters that now filled her hand. Ciro squinted his eyes, trying to guess her intentions and a little surprised by her tears. She avoided eye contact but didn’t move.

“What’s in your hand?” he inquired finally noticing how her hands were very obviously hidden behind her back. She didn’t answer, wanting to investigate the pain on her own without dealing with her guest’s mockery. He repeated the question, louder this time, and Cybil could tell that it didn’t take much to make Ciro lose his temper. When she still didn’t respond, Ciro stepped forward and grabbed her arm and pulled it towards him to investigate. “What happened?” he asked, surprised to see a swelling burn instead of a stolen object.

Cybil lied. “I was cooking… earlier,” she gestured to the kitchen. “I was distracted…”

“Did you put your whole hand on a pan?!”

“Yes!” Cybil retorted, not caring how she appeared in his eyes. “I’m not the greatest cook if I’m being honest,”

“How do you mess up that bad?” he asked. Most of the anger had left his voice, and it was now filled with confusion and the slightest hint of amusement. “You’re probably the most incapable woman I’ve ever met.” he sighed, “I almost feel pity,”

“Pity?!” Cybil rang with bemusement, “As if you could cook better, freeloader!”

“I’m sorry,” Ciro blinked and continued, “Was that a challenge?”

“As a matter of fact, it was!” Cybil snapped back. “I may be very incapable, but certainly not more so than you!”

“Fine,” Ciro spat. “Tonight I will craft dinner, and it will be such an impressive meal that you will finally realize why I have taken command. I’m just better. Than you. At everything. Once I made this meal for a full village and they loved it so much they treated me as a god for the next four years.”

“HA!” Cybil laughed, leaning closer and spoke with sarcasm. “As if. I can’t wait to see this ‘award-winning’ meal of yours. But, I will craft one too, and it will be so good you will treat me as a god for the next FIVE years!”

“You’re on,” Ciro whispered, an ambitious smirk now shaping his face. There was a light in his eyes from the competition that had not been there for as long as he could remember. This would be fun.