The sound of the door opening startled me awake. I hurried out of bed, making sure not to let the towel wrapped around me slip.
It won't do well to fight naked.
There was no weapon in the room, not even an object I could use as a weapon so I'll make do with my nails and teeth.
It was completely dark in the room so I couldn't see who entered.
I kept my feets quiet as I walked to the figure I could make out in the dark. The person looked small though.
I was ready to leap at the intruder when the lights suddenly turned on. The brightness made me squint, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust.
When I finally could see, a petite middle-aged woman stood before me with her hands on her hips.
She watched me with a scowl on her face. "What were you doing?" she asked, her voice harsher than she looks.
I scratched the back of my head, my face burning with shame. "I ehn… I thought someone was going to attack me."
She cocked her head and gave me an up and down look. "And you were going to fight in a towel?"
My face burned hotter. She shook her head and walked to the table. "Come let me see your shoulder," she said as she picked something up.
I walked over and sat on the couch as she applied cream to my shoulder and wrapped it in a bandage. I glanced at the wound before it was covered but quickly averted my gaze.
It was going to be a nasty scar. Add that to the list.
When she was done with my shoulder she pressed a bundle into my arms and walked outside.
Clothes. Finally.
I quickly changed into the trousers and tee, which fit perfectly. Shortly after, the woman returned with a tray in hand.
My stomach grumbled at the sight of the food, and I devoured it as soon as she set it down, all the while aware of her gaze on me.
When I finally finished, she took the tray and prepared to leave.
"I'm Ravenna," I said.
She turned and looked at me. "Anya," she said.
I nodded and before I could ask her a question she left, the door locking after her. I signed and sat back on my bed.
These people didn't seem to be quite chitty. And I needed them to be because I needed information. I needed to know where I was.
There was nothing to do in the room except watch TV, but that wasn't what I wanted. I was eager for the game with Darius to begin; there was no reason to delay it.
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep with the TV playing softly in the background.
***
I stood by the window, watching the sun rise through the trees. It was a breathtaking sight that always left me in awe.
Then I heard the click of my door unlocking and turned to see Anya walking in with a tray in her hands.
"Good morning," I greeted.
"Morning," she responded as she set the tray down. There were clothes beside the plates.
Dressed and settled, I ate, feeling oddly like a princess locked in a tower—a feeling I intended to change.
"I need to see Darius," I said to Anya.
She watched me with that permanent scowl on her face before she looked away and nodded.
She left once I was done and half an hour later my door opened and the two guards that escorted me to this room escorted me out.
We walked through another hallway before we climbed stairs that also seemed endless. Why the hell does this place not have an elevator?
If Darius planned to use these stairs to kill me, he already succeeded.
Finally we got to the end of the stairs and walked to a big double sized door and one of the guards knocked.
"Enter," came the voice that I hated from inside.
The guards opened the door and we walked inside.
Seated in a grand chair that resembled a throne, Darius exuded an air of inflated ego. His tailored three-piece suit accentuated his commanding presence, while his hair, neatly tied back, added to his polished demeanor. A well polished bastard.
He waved the guards off without taking his eyes off me, and I found I couldn't look away from those mismatched eyes either.
"Let's start your stupid game," I said, going straight to the point.
"Well good morning to you too, Silver Wisp," Darius greeted with a small smile and I tried not to scowl at the stupid nickname. "Have a seat." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk and I finally looked around his office.
Unlike my room, this office exuded the charm of a bygone era.
Rich, mahogany walls framed the room, adorned with sepia-toned photographs and vintage maps. A large, ornate desk dominated the space, its surface cluttered with leather-bound notebooks and a laptop.
A plush, tufted armchair sat invitingly in the corner, its deep green fabric contrasting with the golden light of a classic banker's lamp. A tall bookcase lined with well-worn volumes of books, while the faint scent of aged paper lingered in the air.
In one corner, a globe spun slowly atop a polished pedestal. The room was alive with the gentle ticking of an antique clock.
A small bar was at the other corner, brandy and liquor decorating it.
The office was amazingly breathtaking. If I didn't hate Darius I would have told him that.
"Let's start the game," I said again, returning my attention back to the man who has been studying me as I studied his office.
"What's the rush, love?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
"I want us to start and be done with it. I don't want to stay locked up in my comfy prison, bored out of my mind."
Darius nodded slowly. "Then we'll start today."
I nodded. "And I don't want to be locked up in my room anymore. I also want to be able to move around as I please."
"So demanding," Darius said with a grin. "What if you run away? Or what if you slit my throat in my room while I sleep?"
"I'm not stupid to think I could run away. And me slitting your throat while you sleep is a coward's way. I would like you to watch me kill you. So that as life drains from you, you'll know you're not untouchable."
Darius' grin widened, showing his perfectly white teeth. "Oh, I like your fire, Silver Wisp," he said, a glint in his eyes. "I would so enjoy quenching that fire."
I scoffed, even though my body was tense at the look in his eyes. "You would burn before you come close to that fire."
"I don't need to come close to quench it, I can simply do it from a distance."
We watched each other, the tension thick and heavy.
"Very well," he finally broke the silence. "No need locking your door and you can move as you please."
I leaned back to my chair, pleased.
Darius stood up, and I stood as well.
He walked around his desk while I stepped back from it. He continued until he paused about three feet away from me.
"Your training starts today, Silver Wisp."