"If I am to stay here, I have a couple of conditions I want you to follow."
I plan not to pay attention to the way Art and Felix are watching me, and how they are creating small tingles in the bottom of my belly. They are just two boys from school, freeloading on my intellectual prowess. I admit their maturity and acknowledge their handsome features, and the fact that outside the school walls, they behave more like young men rather than teenage boys, but that does not move my resolve.
"If we are going to talk about the conditions, shouldn't we do it in the presence of the others?" Art suggests.
I nod. "Can I get everyone at the same place?" I keep the other question hidden in my mind: will they listen to me if I ask them to follow the ground rules?
"Give us a chance," says Felix before leaving my room. Soon, Art follows him.
"Maybe, start with dressing yourself decently."
Art's words remind me, I am still in my undergarments. After the last exchange with them, I suddenly blacked out. I don't know how long I have slept, but now I feel somewhat hungry. Do they have food?
I wear my shirt hastily and cover the lower part of my body with the blanket. The thought of food is soon replaced by the set of ground rules I am going to put in front of them. They can tell me off if they want. If I believe everything said to me, then I have to believe that they are protecting me. That is the problem here. Even though in my heart I have a feeling that these men are not going to harm me, my brain says otherwise.
It is not natural, or rational to make myself available to a group of strange, obviously dangerous men.
It is also not natural or rational to sacrifice a daughter to something unnatural to secure familial fortune. It is definitely not natural or rational to have a family matriarch who has lived at least a hundred years and still does not show any sign of ageing.
Urghhh...
With a groan, I finally leave my bed and put on my denim. Gingerly I peek outside and gasp. All of them are gathered outside my door, sitting and standing in different positions in the corridor. Their presence reminds me of my school corridor, where everybody lounges from time to time.
Rayo notices me first. A cold glare tells me he is not too happy about me, or being here. "Finally," he mumbles, making everyone else look in my direction.
Suddenly the old Franny wakes up in me, and I feel extremely conscious of myself. I clear my throat and mumble a small greeting. "Why are you all here?"
I hear loud snorts as if my question is utterly ridiculous. "Our brothers here forced us to wait on your doorstep because you are oh-so-delicate to come downstairs and talk in the living room like a civilised human being."
I return a cold glance at Rayo and say, "I can come downstairs and talk like a civilised human being." My voice sounds timid in my own ears. I add again, "However, I would like to sit in a proper living room, not a murder room from an Edgar Allan Poe novel. Do you have one of those here?"
I still sound unsure of myself. Damn you, Franny.
I follow them quietly as they take me to a living room, which in Alp's words, is "specifically designed for human interactions" and observe how stealthily they walk. They make no sound, like a couple of shadows, they descend through the grand staircase and walk towards a brightly lit hall.
"Please have a seat," Alp says very politely. I narrow my eyes to observe my surroundings. This is a spacious room, decorated in a more contemporary way. I can imagine them having a get-together with friends here. Do they have friends? What about their families? They must have a proper occupation, or maintaining this property will be a difficult mission to achieve. With a passive countenance, I take in the surroundings and settle at a safe distance from the others.
"How long do I need to stay here?"
My question earns me a derisive snort from Rayo. Alp clears his throat loudly, an obvious signal. They all look at each other as if they don't know the answer.
"Well?"
"Until we are sure that you are safe," Art says.
"And how long is that going to be?" I frown at the possibility of being stuck here for an uncertain period. I am not very comfortable with strangers. These men don't even like me much. I look up at Art and Felix.
"Listen, it's not like we are eager to keep you here. You're nothing but a ticking time bomb for us." Rayo speaks up impatiently. "Maybe show some gratitude that we are trying to protect you."
"Well thank you, but the fact that you're trying to protect me is quite baffling, you know?" I try to sound unaffected and indifferent, but I know they have felt the heat in my words. With a deep and audible sigh, I return to my composure and say, "If I am to stay here, I will need a separate room. Have you ever had any girl staying here before me?"
"You will get the privacy you need," Alp assures me, "We all come from respectable families. We know how to respect boundaries when women are around."
"I also need to go home to collect my belongings."
"Don't worry about that. Josetta will bring you everything you need, including your school bag. I am hoping you're not planning on dropping out of school?" Felix asks me.
"Why would I?" When did I give them the impression that I was going to become an indoor plant in this godforsaken household?
"Running away from home would entail that," Art nods.
"I was not planning to run away either. I went out only for a day to find answers. That reminds me," I look at their faces and say carefully, "I would like to have clear and honest answers when I ask a question."
"If you ask the right questions," Lazarus speaks for the first time. His voice was cold, like a cruel winter night. I flinch a little. He notices the shift in my behaviour and smirks, "Are you scared of us now, Francesca?"
"None of you will enter my room without my permission unless it is a life-death situation," I announce loudly ignoring the ice freezing in my chest.
"Sure, we can do that." Art and Felix shrug in unison.
"Also, Can I have a formal introduction? You already know about me and my family, maybe more than me. I should at least know your names before I start to live with you."
"You already know Felix and me," Art says, and points his finger to the others. The joy in his voice is a little creepy, but I don't comment on that. "You have met Lazarus that night, and Alp. The mute one sitting at the corner of the room is Orion and the one with a constipated look is Rayo. This is our family. We have two other members, but hopefully, you will not need to meet them."
"That's enough." Orion stands up and says, "I have wasted enough time on this nonsense. I have some errands to run if you will excuse me."
Without any further cue, he leaves the room. The rest follow him quietly, a little too quietly, leaving Felix, Art and me in the room.
"Excited?" Felix asks, a sly smile plays on his face.
"Not really," I mumble. I am not sure how to feel at this new development.