Chapter 11
Arax
Ispent the rest of the morning alternating between fighting my fatigue and fighting the urge to brush off Dr. Distefano’s directions to not take a shower. I felt gross.
No wonder Konstantine didn’t want to hold me too closely. The thought made me laugh, but I also knew it wasn’t the reason. He didn’t want me around; that much was clear. If I’d doubted it before, Cyrus’s attitude toward me confirmed it.
I looked around the room. Like the hospital, it was posh yet somehow simultaneously warm and cozy.
The bed was oversized with expensive-looking bedding, and the furnishings were beautifully crafted.
It was a good-sized room too, with enough space for not just the bed but a couple of armchairs, a small coffee table, a TV stand, two end tables, and two Tiffany-style lamps.
There was also a small lighted walk-in closet and, perhaps my favorite part of the room, a cute little nook with a cushioned bench built in and a giant, diamond-paned window right above it.
The window would probably be my only access to the outside world for the week.
As far as prisons went, it wasn’t bad. Certainly not the worst place to be stuck in for seven days.
The bathroom was pristine. It had a huge bathtub with a rain shower, and the counters were marble.
There was a large, gilded mirror, and even the toilet was ornate.
I took a good, long look at myself. There was better lighting here than the hospital, and I saw just how much of a mess I really was.
In addition to the bruises that had not healed yet, there were spots of yellow all over my face where the healing had begun, giving me an attractive sallow look.
The scab on my bottom lip looked worse in this light.
I looked gaunt and tired. My hair was matted, due to the wrapping, and it probably smelled.
I had also lost a lot of weight. My normally athletic figure had practically shriveled, making me look almost skeletal.
The few curves I did have had become like loose skin.
I wandered back into the sitting area and stopped.
My belongings were piled neatly on one of the chairs and on the table a covered tray of food had appeared.
Next to it stood a large vase. It wasn’t the one from the hospital but a different, much bigger, decorative one.
Made of what looked to be hand-blown glass, it filled to the brim with jasmine.
Tucked underneath it was a note with directives: no going outside unattended, reminders to take my medication, no showering for 24 hours.
It also went over a few other details, like when I could expect my meals and where to deposit my soiled clothing.
I shook my head. Konstantine was a controlling ass, even when he wasn’t there.
I ignored the note and the food for the time being and dug through my bag. To my further astonishment, my camera, phone and charger, and most of the other contents were all relatively unharmed. I also noticed my ID had been returned.
I returned my gaze to the flowers, playing with one of the plumy petals.
Maybe Konstantine sent them to cover up my smell, I thought and laughed at my own joke.
They looked freshly cut; morning dew was still glistening on some of the leaves.
Their fragrance was so strong, it overpowered the room.
I didn’t know what to make of them, so I stopped trying.
I took my breakfast to the nook and sat to eat.
I made an effort to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge.
Resigning myself to only looking outside, I tried to make sense of where I was.
I had come to this area every year for so many years and had never noticed such a place.
Granted, I’d never traveled this far into the forest, but still.
It was lush. There were rolling hills and tall mountain peaks as far as I could see.
Winter had just ended, yet the landscape was completely green.
I could make out flowers of all kinds and different bits of plant life. It was peaceful.
A thought occurred to me as I chewed. Could this area have been the green I’d spotted while on my hike?
I fished out my camera to check the pictures, and to my shock, my old Canon had been swapped for the latest model.
I hadn’t paid enough attention to it, having hastily gone through my backpack once it had been returned to me.
The reel was empty, my pictures lost. What a bummer, I thought.
The fall must have destroyed my camera, but to be given a new one?
Who did that? And more importantly, why go to the trouble?
I started dozing off as I ate but then I remembered I had medication to take.
Afterward, I sat around, striving not to close my eyes.
I finally gave in. As much as I hated crawling into a clean bed in my dirty state, all the events from today plus the food and now the meds had my body aching for sleep.
I got into bed and was out before I even made it under the covers.
My painkillers were strong. I had to take them all once a day and they knocked me out until the following morning.
It was barely dawn when I looked out the window. The sun’s rays were peeking through the mountains, casting a deep-orange glow on the countryside. I found myself smiling at the scenery before me until I remembered today was the day I could finally shower.
I went to the closet to grab a fresh set of clothes and found more of the same of what I was already wearing: sweats, leggings, and T-shirts of various colors.
I did find some jeans and tank tops as well, but comfortable clothes were more appealing.
I picked what I needed and set them on the bathroom counter.
Slowly and gently, I undid the wrapping from around my head. Being careful, I ran my fingers through my hair and scalp and felt what I assumed was dried blood and the topical ointments the hospital staff had applied. It was disgusting.
I disrobed and assessed my body. There was not a single patch of skin that wasn’t covered with some kind of blemish.
Whatever wasn’t cut or scraped was bruised.
My stomach had it the worst. A nice healthy crust was forming diagonally on the gash that was undoubtedly messy and bloody before I’d been stitched back together.
The shower was just what I’d needed. Though the warm water stung my cuts at first, it was a wonderful feeling to finally get clean. I kept washing my hair until it no longer stained the water red.
I dried off and put my wet hair in a loose braid, then changed into new clothes, feeling like a brand-new woman.
Just then I heard a knock and realized I must have been in the shower a lot longer than I’d thought.
“It’s open!” I shouted from the bathroom. I heard someone come in and figured it was my breakfast being brought up.
I heard a man’s voice. “Arax?”
I quickly stuck my head out and noticed the blue eyes that met mine. “Drake! What are you doing here?”
“Well, hello to you too,” he said, greeting me. “Hey, you look good.”
“Thanks,” I said. Despite my still-obvious injuries, the shower had taken off over a week’s worth of stale skin, oil, and sweat. I looked fresh, and my hair was no longer hidden under folds of dressing.
“I had no idea your hair was that long,” he said, noticing my waist-length braid. “You smell good too.”
“Thanks again.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked, and I saw he was carrying my breakfast tray.
“I’m okay. Sore, and the meds make me drowsy.”
“Yeah, I came by yesterday to check on you, but no one answered. I figured you were knocked out.”
I nodded. “I was, yeah.”
“So how’s it going?” he asked, setting the tray down and settling on one of the armchairs.
“Well, I can’t leave this room for a week, but it’s not so bad,” I answered. “Are you doing food delivery now?” I smiled at him.
“No.” He laughed. “Just wanted to see what you were up to.”
“Well,” I said. “As you can see, a lot!”
He grinned. “Go ahead and eat.”
“Tell me,” I asked, stirring my oatmeal. “How’d you get stuck with chaperone duty?”
He chuckled. “Because Cyrus flat-out refused.”
I giggled. “I’m not surprised.”
“Actually, I’m kidding. I volunteered. I had a feeling between him and Konstantine, you didn’t exactly feel welcome here.”
“No, not really.” I looked up from my food. “You were the only one who was nice to me, apart from the doctor and nurses.”
Was what I said completely true though? Konstantine had shown concern and thoughtfulness in moments when I’d least expected it. He wasn’t necessarily nice, but he hadn’t been unkind either.
“Well, that’s what I’m here for.” Drake’s voice was suddenly soft.
I looked up and found his eyes on me, and something passed between us. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. “Well, thank you,” I told him, becoming self-conscious. “I was kind of hoping you’d visit again while I was still in the hospital.”
“Konstantine kept me busy,” he said apologetically.
“I see. Are you part of his inner circle as well?” I asked.
Drake raised an eyebrow at me.
I laughed. “It’s just something Cyrus said,” I told him. “He introduced himself as second-in-command.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, then I guess you could say that.” He shrugged.
“Hey.” I had an idea. Drake was the first person I’d seen after regaining consciousness, and compared to Konstantine and Cyrus, he came across like he liked to have fun.
The other didn’t seem too open to breaking the rules, but maybe Drake could be persuaded.
“When I’m a little more up to it, do you think you could show me around outside? It’s so pretty here.”
Drake thought a moment, and I grew hopeful. Then he shook his head. “Sorry, girlie, I can’t.”
My face fell.
“Come on, Rox. Mind if I call you Rox? Don’t look at me like that.” He gestured, as if to say it wasn’t up to him. “Boss’s orders. He wants you to stay put.”
“Okay,” I replied, playing around with my food.
Drake didn’t say anything, and we were silent for a moment. I realized that even in my disappointment, I was still grateful to see his friendly face. I looked up and smiled.
“I appreciate you coming by, either way.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, running a hand through his thick hair.
After a minute, Drake spoke up again.
“How about this? You can’t go out, but we can hang out here.”
“Taking pity on the sick?” I asked, teasing him.
He chuckled. “Nah, I’ll just come by and keep you company.”
I nodded. “I’d like that.”
“You play cards?” he asked with a mischievous grin.
“Yup,” I answered readily.
“Blackjack?”
“It’s my favorite!”
“Hmm, maybe we’ll get a little friendly wager going. You got any money?”
I looked at him confidently. “I won’t need any.”
“Oh, shit. Well, I was joking, but okay!” He laughed loudly and got up. “I have to go, but I’ll be back later with your dinner and then we’ll see if you’re all talk.”
“I’m not,” I promised.
“We’ll see,” Drake said, doubtful of my skills. He gave me another playful grin and walked out the door.
Lunchtime came and went. I watched a little TV, and knowing my pills would eventually force my eyes closed, I made sure to set an alarm on my phone to wake me up before dinner.
I was normally never this sedentary, but I needed to build up to more movement slowly, and put on weight, so I welcomed the opportunity for laziness.
True to his word, Drake returned in the evening with my dinner tray and something for himself, plus snacks.
He waved a deck of cards at me once we’d finished eating. “Ready to prove yourself?”
I nodded. “Always.”
Round after round, I beat him, taking him for all he had.
“What the hell, Rox?” He ran his hands through his hair and down his face in disbelief. “How are you this good?”
“My dad taught me how to count cards,” I finally admitted.
“You asshole!”
I ducked when he threw a handful at me.
It hurt to laugh, but the look on Drake’s face had me in stitches. “It’s not hard with only one deck and two people,” I told him. “I can teach you.”
“Whatever,” he mumbled and shoved the pile of change and bills at me. “You cleaned me out.”
I shook my head. “Keep your money. I had fun.”
“Oh, you think this is over?” he replied. “I’m coming back. Let’s see how you do with multiple decks.”
“Bring it on,” I said, flashing him a self-assured smile. I grabbed some of the bills and fanned myself with them.
Drake stopped wallowing in defeat and stared.
“You’re cocky, but you’re so damn cute,” he said out of nowhere.
I laughed in an effort to hide how his unanticipated compliment affected me. “You won’t think I’m so cute once I own you again,” I replied.
“Save this cash for tomorrow night then,” he told me as he got up and went to the door. “You’ll need it.”
“Oh, look who’s the cocky one now?” I joked.
“Always, and I’m just as cute, too,” he smirked. “Good night, Rox.”
“Good night, Drake.”