Chapter 5
Five
SOPHIE
Tish was right about one thing: What she calls thirst traps were definitely traps. We spent hours on the clock app. I’m not too sure about the “thirst” part, though. Watching those videos of half-naked attractive men did not make me crave sex or blood. Maybe I’m missing something.
I’m thankful for the knock on the door. I would have taken the phone away from Tish, but she was so excited about sharing her passion with me that I didn’t have the heart.
“Who is it?” I ask.
“It’s Igor.”
Tish groans. “Ugh, not that troll.”
Igor Svechnikov has been my father’s enforcer since before I was born. The Russian Mountain was what everyone called him due to his size. Tish never liked him for mysterious reasons. Despite his size, he’s easy on the eye, so maybe she tried to get into his pants, and he turned her down.
“Come in.”
The door opens just a fraction, and Igor’s dirty-blond head pops in. “Hello, Sophie. Your father has sent for you.”
I jump off the bed. “Oh, good. I want to talk to him.”
Igor’s eyes widen. “You can’t go out like that.”
I glance at my nightgown. “I have no other clothes.”
He walks in and goes straight to my wardrobe. “What’s this, then?”
“That’s an aberration and not much different than what Sophie has on,” Tish retorts.
“Hey, I bought that!”
“Why am I not surprised?” Tish licks her paws.
Igor tries to level her with a glare, but she pays him no attention. He then looks at me, his icy blue eyes narrowed to slits. “Your father won’t like it if you parade around showing off so much skin.”
“He should have provided me with more clothes. Besides, no one will dare glance in my direction with you by my side.”
He sighs, his gaze softening. “Fine. Come on, then.”
I pick Tish up and follow him out the door.
She doesn’t like to be carried, but she knows I need to use her as a shield.
I’m anxious about this meeting. I barely had time to ask Father questions when I woke up.
This new world is so strange. And I haven’t seen any of my father’s acolytes either.
They weren’t a fun bunch. Most of them are overzealous, condescending fools who believe females are only good for breeding.
Since vampires haven’t been able to procreate since the Nightingales left the human world, our role is now diminished to nothing in their twisted views.
It’s pretty ironic considering they must obey a queen.
This house is large but modest compared to our old mansion in the heart of London. We used to have priceless pieces of art and furniture made by the most talented craftsmen, but I suppose much of our fortune was lost when our ship sank.
Igor stops in front of a solid wood door and knocks. “It’s Igor with Miss Sophie.”
“You may enter,” my father replies.
This isn’t a room for meetings, as I feared, but a study, and the only person inside is Father. I let out a relieved breath. I won’t have to deal with his sycophant followers yet. I wonder how many of them are still alive.
I hope they’re all dead.
Such traitorous thoughts, Sophie. I almost laugh out loud, but that wouldn’t go well.
“What in the world are you wearing?” Father asks.
“A dress.” I feign surprise, then quickly glance at Igor and get blasted by his “I told you so” look.
“Don’t take me for an idiot. I may not know women’s fashions, but that isn’t a dress.”
“She had nothing else to wear,” Tish chimes in.
My father turns his irate glance to Igor. “I thought I told you to procure clothing for Sophie.”
Igor rubs the back of his neck. “I tried to find something similar to what she used to wear before, and that’s all they had.”
“Only if she worked in a brothel,” Tish mutters.
“Tish!” I blurt out.
Igor’s face turns beet red, and my father scowls. This meeting is not going well. I have to intervene before Igor and Tish get into more trouble.
“I want to buy my own clothes,” I say.
Father aims his hard stare at me. “That’s out of the question. It isn’t safe.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I’m more than capable of handling myself. Besides, I thought you wanted me to get close to Lucca Della Morte. How am I supposed to do that if I’m not allowed to leave the house?”
“I didn’t say never. But you just woke up. You’re out of shape. You’ll train with Igor daily, and until he tells me you’re ready, you’re staying inside.”
My jaw drops. “So… I’m a prisoner until he says I’m ready?”
“Don’t worry, Miss Sophie. I don’t need much time to get you into shape,” Igor cuts in.
I grimace. That means he’ll put me through the wringer.
“Sophie doesn’t need to go out to buy her own clothes. There’s online shopping,” Tish pipes up. “Plus, if she’s expected to get close to Lucca, she can’t live with you. She’ll need her own apartment, preferably downtown.”
My father leans back in his leather chair, rubbing his chin. He knows Tish is right, but I also read fear in his gaze. He’s always been cautious about my safety, and I fear after my attack, he’ll be even more overzealous.
“Igor will look for a place for you to live.”
“Fucking great,” Tish mumbles.
“I’ll start making inquiries right away, sir.”
My father nods. “You’re dismissed.”
No sooner are we out of his study than Tish says, “Well, that was anticlimactic.”
“Were you expecting something different?” Igor asks.
“Yeah, I was totally counting on him saying no to my idea. If I had known he’d be so agreeable, I would have asked for more shit.”
Igor shakes his head but refrains from speaking his mind.
“When can we start training?” I ask.
“As soon as you acquire proper clothes. I’m not sparring with you while you’re half naked.”
I cover my breasts. “I’m not half naked! And you bought this!”
“Did you know Jacques would ask you to train Sophie?” Tish asks.
“Yes, why?”
“Then why the hell didn’t you already buy her workout clothes, you twat?”
Igor glowers at Tish. “Watch your tongue, fleabag.”
“Please, don’t argue. It’s better that I buy my own clothes. How fast can I get them delivered to the house?”
“It depends where you buy them from, but some stores could deliver them by tomorrow,” Tish replies.
I arch my brows. “Really? That fast?”
“Yeah.”
“Great. How about supplies?”
I don’t need to specify what kind of supplies for Tish to understand what I mean.
“Oh, I don’t think you’ll be able to order those online.”
“Bullshit. You can order everything online,” Igor retorts.
“Really, big brain? I didn’t know the Nightshade Market had a website.”
His eyes turn rounder. “Oh? Those supplies. Well… I suppose I could buy them for you, Miss Sophie. I just need a list.”
“That’s great. Thanks, Igor.”
“You can’t let him go by himself. He’ll mess up!” Tish complains.
“You’re really testing my patience, pest,” Igor says through clenched teeth.
“I suppose you could go with him, Tish,” I reply, knowing she was hoping I’d make the suggestion.
“I guess I can suffer his company for an evening. The things I do for you.”