Chapter 12
Twelve
I’ve been introduced to bathtubs, and I will never be the same.
Knowing only showers, Orion briefly showed me how to use the tub before giving me privacy and pulling out pajamas for me to wear.
The only reason I left the tub was that I was afraid of falling asleep in it.
I mindlessly slipped into the pajamas and crawled into the softest, most plush bed I could ever have dreamed of.
I didn’t take in my surroundings until the morning, which I’m now reviewing as I sit in yet another bath that has cooled.
The apartment is luxurious, to say the least. The pajamas I slept in?
A navy silk camisole and short set. My body has never touched silk, only used to sturdy cotton.
The bed feels like a throne, with four posters and a canopy outlining the frame.
Deep sapphire sheets, likely also silk, are tucked into an embroidered silver quilt, completing the bedding.
The suite is also decorated with touches of silver and gold.
The bathroom is pristine as well. Immaculate marble, a white crescent moon-shaped tub, and gold hardware surround me.
Every detail of this apartment, this city, is a far cry from the bare-bones functionality of my unit.
Allowing myself one more minute to reflect, I realize that sitting with my thoughts for too long is unsettling.
There are too many unknowns regarding what's to come.
Fear is a curious thing; it holds the power to instill doubt, tearing down every belief you once had to be true.
That's the beauty of hope, though. Hope will always shine brighter than the doubts. I’ll hold on to hope with a vise grip, if I have to.
“Zizi, my sunshine, I’m home!” Orion’s voice echoes throughout the room with boisterous charm. Let yourself in, why don’t you?
I grab a fluffy towel and wrap myself quickly. “Zizi?” Poking my head out of the bathroom, I spy Orion balanced on the edge of my mattress.
“Are we bonding? This feels like bonding.” Orion gestures between the two of us, earning him a twisted expression and my tongue sticking out. “Get dressed; we have a busy day ahead of us.”
“I’m not wearing that.” Orion and I stand before the open wardrobe.
“What other choice do you have? Just pick one!” He runs his hand over his jaw in frustration.
“Riri, these are all dresses. I’ve never worn a dress in my life! Isn’t there something more functional? Like what I was wearing before you all magically transported me here?”
Orion scowls, offended by my lack of taste.
He is dressed impeccably, wearing tight-fitting cloth pants and a loose, collared shirt rolled at the sleeves.
“Maybe to appease you, I can find something like that for training and the Games. But for each day in between? This is the City of Wonder, baby, not a military field.” He slides hanger after hanger, shifting the garments to find something that will satisfy both of our requirements.
“It’s this or a dress, Princess.” He holds out a gauzy two-piece set in a soft shade of lavender.
The top features a cropped silhouette with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves that appear to be designed for off-the-shoulder wear.
The pants may win me over. They’re loose and flowy with plenty of room to move but tapered at the ankle so that I’m not tripping over myself.
“Oh my stars, is that an actual smile?” Orion pretends to gasp and clutches his chest, pushing the outfit towards me.
I laugh, a real sound that flows freely out of me.
The feeling revitalizes me. Invigorated by his humor and the happiness found in a comfortable pair of pants, I snatch the outfit and shoo Orion away.
“Excuse me for appreciating a sliver of functionality.” The garments slip on with ease and are incredibly comfortable.
“Where am I being dragged off to today?” I search a toiletry bin for anything to secure my hair with, finding a silver claw clip to clasp the top half of my hair with.
“Well, now we will need to add a trip to the tailor to get you some custom fits. Besides that, a basic assessment of your physicality on the training fields, some fun—if you’re good—and then dinner with the others tonight.” Orion gets the side-eye after that comment.
I walk out of the bathroom once more, ready for the day. “Did you find where Lenny’s staying? I’d like to check on him first.”
“Yes, I let his sponsor, Inia, know we would stop by. My stars, look at you! A vision. You’ll fit right in.”
“Is fitting in such a good idea?” I self-consciously glance down at the outfit, so unusual from my typical choice.
A sly grin forms on Orion’s face, an affirmation and a promise rolling off his tongue. “A viper in a lion’s den, Zizi.”