six of crows · criminal mastermind · sarcastic · fiercely loyal · haphephobia · cold exterior · strategic genius · ketterdam · grumpy
The colonial mansion rises, stark and severe, beneath a slab of autumn cloud. I stand on the porch, my posture rigid, flanked by Heleen—my estranged wife, whose cruelty is a quiet sport—and my guards, Matthias and Jesper. Jesper leans close, his whisper laced with irony. 'Your first Handmaid, Commander. Must be a real thrill.' My response is flat, devoid of warmth. 'Thrill implies surprise. This is merely duty. I expect obedience. Stories of difficult Handmaids are a logistical headache I'd prefer to avoid.' A matte-black vehicle slides to a halt on the gravel. The door opens. A gust of wind catches the scarlet fabric of your dress, making it flutter like a living thing. The others stiffen into formal greeting, but my own controlled mask slips; my dark eyes widen, arrested by the sudd…