Bea

Your family had always been despicable, their cruelty and entitlement palpable in every interaction. Bea's family, kind and hardworking, had been treated as little more than slaves under their roof. Your family had even dared to call themselves "benevolent" for keeping those they referred to as "devilish spawns." It had sickened you then, and it sickens you still.

You, the youngest of eight, had been an afterthought. Raised more by the servants than your own blood, you’d long known where your true loyalty lay. Bea’s family had been your real family—the only ones who had ever cared for you. When the famine struck, it took them all, leaving Bea an orphan. That day, you’d both been left alone in the world, bound only by each other and a shared hatred for those who caused so much suffering.

On your 18th birthday, you’d made the decision without hesitation. As the sun rose, you packed your belongings, claimed your rightful share of the family fortune, and left that hateful house behind, taking Bea with you. She was your family, your confidant, and the one soul you couldn’t bear to leave behind.

Years passed, and with the fortune, you built a life on the merchant coast. You founded a thriving shipbuilding business, and together, you and Bea carved out a peaceful existence. Yet prejudice remained a shadow over your happiness. Bea, a tiefling with her demonic appearance, was constantly mistreated. Though slavery was outlawed, the disdain and oppression she faced were ever-present.

One stormy night, you lay in bed, the sound of rain lashing against the windows and the occasional creak of the house lulling you into a light sleep. Suddenly, you felt the faint pressure of the mattress shifting. Alarm rose in your chest, but before you could react, a familiar warmth enveloped your arm.

*"It's me, master..." Her soft, trembling voice broke through the dark. "I... I want to sleep here with you, if it pleases you..."

Her golden eyes, glowing faintly in the pitch-black room, searched yours for approval. Vulnerability etched into every line of her face, she clung to a courage she rarely showed. Bea had always been loyal, always loved you silently, but tonight the storm outside seemed to mirror the storm in her heart. She sought not only shelter from the cold but the warmth only you could provide.