Chapter IX
I missed my mother.
We'd never exactly understood one another but always had each other, always relied on one another.
We were close even with the space between us.
I'd moved so that I could provide better for her, back home jobs were scarce and she only worked part time so almost everything I made got sent back to her.
The plan was to pay off our home and then I could head back and figure out my next move now that we were secure.
The sudden fear that I might not see her again was growing. ..hurting.
I needed her.
Especially now.
Resolutely I made up my mind, I needed to talk to Arien. As much as I preferred ignoring his existence, it was very clear that he was the only chance I had to get in contact with her.
I wandered through my broken door, the bastards hadn't even bothered to fix it. Although if I was really honest with myself, I preferred the open space. My sudden aversion to enclosed spaces only further annoyed me, another thing that this place had changed about me.
Finding Constance in the kitchen, I inquired after Arien's whereabouts.
"He's in the study Soleil."
My ribs throbbed in response.
There's no way I was heading back there.
After noticing me lingering uncomfortably, she gently offered, "I can let him know that you're looking for him perhaps?"
"Thank you Constance."
Again her easy kindness made me ache, made me miss my mother a little more.
I busied myself getting a cup of coffee. The kitchen was large and immaculate. If things weren't what they were, I'd be blown away by everything in the house, well mansion. I liked nice things. Especially when I had so little of them, but now that excitement was dulled.
"Hi mat- Soleil."
I turned Arien's way. He looked cautious, standing in the kitchen doorway, as if to not startle me. Like I was a pathetic animal. Again, I found myself instantly annoyed by him.
Trying to quash those feelings down, "Hi Arien."
I needed to pretend to be okay with him, just to get what I wanted, "I was hoping we could talk?"
Immediately an easy smile graced his face. A face that in any other situation I would have appreciated the beauty of, like I said, I like nice things.
"Of course we can, maybe we head to the living room?"
I followed as he led the way, sinking into the very same spot I'd sat when I first arrived. Carried in by this idiot while my escape was so close. My anger rose all over again at him.
"I'd like to contact my mother."
Arien now looked uncertain.
"She must be worried. She's all alone and we speak regularly so I need to call her or something."
He shifted in his seat, "Soleil, look I just don't think it's a good idea. And Soren would be-"
A sardonic laugh escaped before I could control myself, "Of course you never do anything without brother dearests approval..."
Arien's jaw clenched.
It almost made me smile, finally he was showing something other than the Mr Nice Guy act.
I continued to goad him, "That's fine, I'm sure he also consults you in all his decisions. Oh wait..."
Now he was on his feet, moving so fast. I scooted back on my seat, heart rate spiking. Maybe I should stop this stupid game.
He paced, "That's not it Soliel, we both want the same thing. After what happened, things are just different. He's different."
"After what happened?"
Arien once more looked conflicted. "He wouldn't want me sharing that. Not yet."
I sighed. Of course. Back to square one again, everything just went round and round then landed back on Soren.I loathed him.
I really just wanted to talk to my mother, for just a few seconds. A lifeline to keep me from falling apart a little longer. And here this insufferable man was asking like I was asking for the moon.
I had no power here. Just like back in the cell, I was trapped didn't know for how long. Hopeless.
"Please Arien."
I didn't like how vulnerable I sounded.
He met my eyes, clearly wrestling with himself.
And then finally sighing, "Okay."
I didn't been internally gloat that he'd given in, I was just glad to finally have this one thing.
Arien brought me a phone stood off to the corner as I dialed my mother's number, anticipation building.
Ring Ring Ring
I gnawed on my hangnails nervously. She didn't always answer unknown numbers, hell, I never answered unknown numbers.
"Hello?"
I instantly wanted to burst into tears. "Mum? It's me."
"Oh my word, Sol, where have you been why is your phone off? I've been so worried, I've been trying to reach you for 2 weeks now?!"
"Mum, mum calm down - everything is fine, I'm fine." Lie number one.
"I'm sorry I didn't find a way to call you, my phone broke." Lie number two.
She took a deep calming breath, "okay I'm sorry about that but you could have borrowed one or something? I was getting ready to come down to Gideon tomorrow and God knows how I would have found you but still..."
"I know, I'm sorry. I was away on a job for the mayor which was a bit remote everything was just so overwhelming." Kinda of a lie, kind of the truth. "But I'm just so glad to hear your voice didn't mean to worry you. How are you?"
"I'm well Sol, aside from being beside myself with worry about you. Everything is good here, how are you? How was the job, hopefully not too tiring?"
I continued to gnaw on my hangnails. "I'm okay Mum, job is alright, I'll just still be busy with it for awhile.
" I looked over at Arien who was staring intently my way.
I wasn't going to tell my Mum anything, not like she could save me and I didn't even know where I was.
She didn't need to stress herself about this in any case.
"Look, I can't chat long Mum, just wanted to check in okay."
"You have to go so soon?"
My nose pricked, "Yeah, I'm sorry. Busy busy over here."
"Okay well just take good care of yourself okay Sol?"
I swallowed hard tried to keep my voice even, "You know I always do. You too Mum."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
"Bye Sol."My eyes went blurry at her use of my nickname, she only ever called me Sol.
"Bye Mum."
I instantly missed the voice that never failed to make me feel better.
I hated that Arien was still staring my way, seeing me on the verge of breaking down. Again.
Frowning, I tossed his stupid phone back, remembering to mutter an insincere 'thanks' his way.
Catching it, he threw one more concerned look my way before striding out.
I barely caught his soft, "I'm sorry."
Sorry my ass.
I sat contemplating my next move. That hurt but also felt so so good. And this whole interaction brought me to a new revelation - Arien was malleable enough to be manipulated.
I could work with that.
I could definitely work with that.