Turning sharply on his heel, he looked horrified. “Has he told you nothing?”
“You’re the first person I’ve seen since I was dragged out of my home,” I shared. “Who would there have been to tell me anything?”
This seemed to make him increasingly uncomfortable, as he adjusted his cuff and cleared his throat. “You may call me Arthur. I will be attending to your education and well-being during the time you remain in this house. Since you were never brought to a Care Center, there is a gap in your knowledge that all Omegas are given during their time there, preparing them for life with a pack. The only other person you will be interacting with is your personal bodyguard. I’ll leave him to make introductions. He will be arriving later today.”
“No one else is in the house but us?” I questioned, so completely confused.
Arthur gave a sharp shake of his head. “No, Miss Cambrie, other than a cook, two maids, grounds security, myself, and soon your bodyguard, there is no one else. That is to ensure your safety, as I said before, all things will be made clear in time. I’ll be back momentarily with your attire.”
I watched the man leave, locking the door before I heard his footsteps retreat down the hall on what sounded like tile floors. The smell of food reminded me that he’d brought breakfast. Standing, I picked at the food, eating the bacon and toast, but the eggs were bare. Bodhi always made sure to sprinkle cheese on mine, since it was the only way he could get me to eat them. I wasn’t a fan of the texture of eggs, but cheese was never to be wasted.
Knowing Arthur would be back soon and displeased if I wasn’t in the bathroom with the water running, I headed in that direction.How had he known about my past, and what in the world did he mean about my father? There’s no way he couldn’t be my real dad, Mom never talked about there being someone else in her life.
As I turned the water on, my head swirled with a myriad of thoughts, one more outlandish than the next. This shower was all glass walls, stark tile, and rigid fixtures. Everything in the space screamed I wasn’t welcome and not to make myself at home. It made me miss my room so terribly, knowing it had been built for me by the men I cherished. Tugging the sweater over my head, I was once more reminded of how thin I was. The week I’d been with my pack had helped fill me out enough that I didn’t look like a skeleton, but I had a long way to go until there was any softness to my features.
On the bathroom counter next to the sink was a stack of white towels, that were thankfully soft. I grabbed one, not liking how open this space was and knowing anyone with a key could get in. While this was to be my space, I wasn’t in control of it. Part of me hated myself for submitting and doing as I was told, preparing myself for whoever my new jailer was. Yet, a stronger instinct of self-preservation told me to go along with this until I knew what was going on. The truth that fighting back only got you hurt had been beaten into me my entire life.
I knew my men were different. They saw the world for what it could be, instead of what it was now. Their dreams of a better life fueled them to create change, which they did in all areas of their lives. The water was hot on my skin, making me hiss. I realized I didn’t even check it before getting in. My brain was so jumbled with everything that had happened.
“Now, Cambi when you wash your hair you can’t use hot water or it will make the color bleed, fading it faster. If you can stand it, use cold or at least lukewarm.” Bodhi’s voice echoed in my head as imaginary hands brushed through my hair.
I reached out and turned the handle until the water was bitterly cold, letting it shock my body. Nothing about this could be enjoyable. I was a prisoner trapped in a gilded cage, and I couldn’t let myself forget it. Before it had been cold water in a bucket with a rag, denied all comforts. This would be my silent revolt, they might try to gloss over the details, but I would remember. No matter what they said, this wasn’t my home, and I didn’t belong here.
Stealing myself, I lifted my face to the icy downpour. Everything would be about discovering who brought me here, what they wanted, and how I would escape. Arthur said there were guards on the grounds and soon a personal bodyguard. Those would be new challenges, but I could be a patient woman. Knowledge was power, and knowledge was what I lacked.
When my body started to shiver and my teeth chattered, I hurried through my shower, wrapped myself in the large towel, and walked over to the sink. Testing a theory, I pulled open a drawer and found all the personal items I might need. While I wasn’t going to give in to the comforts, ensuring I was healthy and when I got out of here didn’t draw attention was crucial, so I used what was available. It was a miracle I wasn’t picked up last time looking the way I had, all battered and bruised. If a cop had seen me, I'm sure they would have stopped me.
Wrapping my hair in a towel, like Oscar had shown me, I slipped on the bathrobe I found on the back of the door. This made me feel immensely better about leaving the bathroom to who knows what might be lurking in the bedroom. Cracking the door open, I looked around the room but there was no movement and nothing out of place. Swiftly, I moved over to the bed and found a stiff black knee-length skirt with a white turtle neck long sleeved shirt. Undergarments were placed to the side, all in the correct size.
That was easy enough to explain, if they took things from my room and used them for sizing. What I found odd was how the stiff impersonal clothing matched the whole feel of the house. Leaving the robe on I slipped into my panties, then left it draped over my shoulders and put on the bra. I hadn’t been using one since I was severely lacking in that area, but the shirt seemed like it would fit snuggly, and I didn’t want any unseemly points to happen. This room had a chill to it, and I would be utterly mortified if I drew attention to the fact I was cold.
I hesitated when it came to the shirt, worried that my hair would stain it. Venturing back to the bathroom, I searched and found a drawer of hair supplies and wrapped it up in a bun high on my head.That should keep it from doing any damage. Finally, I slipped on the simple black flats to complete the outfit. Unsure what to do now, I went to one of the armchairs and sat. I took in the room in more detail now that I was more clear headed than when I’d first woken up in a panic.
To me, it seemed like something out of a museum. The walls were covered in a burgundy and gold filigree pattern, with the ceiling painted burgundy to match. The wood of all the furniture was dark and highly polished, with gold accents. The bed had a massive wooden frame with a canopy over it mad of thick fabric that didn’t let in any light. Feeling trapped in darkness would be the last thing I wanted, especially when I was trying to sleep. Nothing good ever happened in the darkness.
Shifting, I looked at the ornate wooden fireplace that didn’t have a fire burning but had logs at the ready. They were probably worried that I might burn the place down if they lit it. I sat in one of the two tufted burgundy armchairs with a low coffee table between them. They weren’t particularly comfortable, no give, and kept you seated perfectly straight. Maybe it was intended to help with my posture, part of the lessons Arthur kept going on about. There was a sharp rap on the door, pulling my attention.
“Are you decent, Miss Cambrie?” Arthur asked.
Surprised at his thoughtfulness, I answered. “Yes.”
The word caught in my throat, and I doubted it could be heard on the other side of the thick door. I cleared my throat and wet my lips before trying again. “Come in.”
With thesnickof the lock, I braced myself for what would be coming next. Yet Arthur just opened the door and looked at me expectantly. When I didn’t move, he muttered something to himself and motioned for me to come. “Let’s move along. We have a lot to cover today. I must establish your education thus far and where it is lacking, absent, or proficient enough not to cover.”
Cautiously I rose and headed for the door, still unsure why he would allow me to leave the room. What if I ran? The answer was made clear when I stepped into the hall and spotted the guard. Spotting him made me pause, and when Arthur touched the small of my back, I shrieked and threw myself against the hall wall.
“Do. Not. Touch. Me.” I ground out as I tried to control the panic attack that was trying to overwhelm my mind.
Closing my eyes, I imagined Rafael standing with me, his comforting sandalwood and vanilla scent grounding me. “Breathe in through your nose as deep as you can, then slowly let it out through your mouth.” I followed the memory of his direction. “Good Little One, that’s good. Now do it again until you can tell me what day it is.”
My eyes snapped open as I realized I wasn’t sure. “What day is it?” I croaked.
“The day or date?” Arthur asked.
“Day, what day of the week is it?” I demanded, frustration that he wasn’t helping me as I fought back the panic he had induced.
“Today is Friday. You arrived early Thursday evening,” he informed me.