Slipping under the water, I stay submerged until my lungs burn. And even then, I give it a few extra seconds before finally breaking the surface, gasping for oxygen.
Wiping water and flower petals from my eyes, I catch my reflection in the mirror.
Look at you… Bathing in here like some captive prince. Awaiting the vicious king’s return, to claim his hidden treasure.
I shake my head at myself. Avianna would be ashamed.
Hell, Ari is ashamed.
Swooping my wet hair over to one side, I sit, with the water covering me from the chest down, just staring into the mirror.
“After everything I did to get us here,” Ari says. “Everything I had to do… And you just get on your knees for him?”
I bite my lip. “You know why…” She tilts her head, and I frown. “Don’t give me that look.”
With a scowl aimed at my much sassier self, I stand quick, stepping out of the tub and immediately slipping into one of the unbelievably soft robes. I brush my hair, and play with some more products, serums and lotions and creams. All high-quality stuff, clearlyveryexpensive. Imported from Paris and Milan…
That’s how you know it’s the best of the best, when you don’t recognize any of the names on the labels. They probably don’t even sell this stuff to regular people. I bet it’s custom made.
Guess that explains why he has such perfect skin…
I’d never focused on it until I was up close to him the other day. The white hair really throws you off. It gives the illusion that he’s older, though he’s only forty-five, and not counting the hair, he barely looks a day over maybe thirty-eight. It has me wondering, briefly, if he ever considered dyeing it.
But that thought makes me frown.No, no.He wouldn’t look right with any other color hair.
Something about that powder white just works for him. It cements him as the contemptible creature he is. Of course, just a man; a power-hungry prideful egotist like so many others, who will ultimately stop breathing and shuffle off this mortal coil with the rest.
Whether it’ll happen in twenty years, or forty years—or tonight—remains to be seen. That’ll depend on just how determined he is to fight the will of the universe.
Karma.
Either way, it’s good to remember that he’s no maleficent being, despite how well he plays the part. The Ivory is just a man. And he’s susceptible to the same impulses as the rest of us.
Everyone has a weakness…
Wandering out into the cell, I listen for sounds, but get nothing. The gunfire comes and goes, but it’s always far enough away that I’m not worried.Not yet, anyway.
The sun has already set, I can see it through the skylights. The moon is coming up to its peak, which gives an ambience to this ever illustrious place. The torch lights lining the walkway flicker on, birthing dull orange.
Peering through the bars, I watch one of the sparrows fluttering back and forth from one branch to another. She seems to stay up later than the others, though they’re all still out and about after sundown right now, I’m guessing because of their migratory instincts.
I’ve been in here for five days, and so far, other than that first day when he showed up, and the thrice daily meal deliveries from Kent, my only company have been the birds here in the aviary. The sparrows are my favorites. There’s just something about them I like. They’re pretty, and their little noises aren’t annoying. In fact, I rather enjoy their chatter.
“Look who’s going out for a night on the town,” I hum, watching this one sparrow in particular whom I’ve become fond of.
I call her Avia. Because she reminds me of my sister. Or maybe because I want to think of my sister that way…
Even when she’s trapped, she’s still free.
In truth, these birds are very well cared for.Freer than I am…
Picking up the piece of bread I saved from lunch, I stick my arm through the bars, holding it out for her. “Avia, you’ll need to put something in your stomach,” I tell her softly, grinning. “If you plan on partying hard tonight.”
She’s fluttering closer and closer, though she’s skeptical. I know she wants me to just toss the bread for her, but no. This time, she’ll have to take it from me.
“Do you remember Mami’s Sunday morning pancakes?” I ask her, keeping my voice smooth and light.
I’ve found she’s more trusting of me when I’m doing myArivoice. I’m not sure if it’s because she distrusts men, or if she just prefers a gentler tone. Either way, it makes me feel even more like she’s my only link to my sister.
