NIRELLE - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

I step into the room and look around. I begin to realise that all of this luxury was the price I was going to pay to help take down my father. I should be happy since the evil man would finally get what he deserved, but I do not believe the world is black and white because it isn't; there must be some grey areas in this and what if Lucien's plans fail? If they fail, that means I am at the mercy of Enoch once again.
I feel fear grip the entirety of my heart as I sit there because I know that this is kind of dangerous. What if he walks in here later at night and demands sex from me? What if what I had feared the most ends up being what I do? I turn and lock the door, making sure it is locked before I go to bed. "I can't stay in here forever; I have to think of something to do," I say as I lower myself onto the couch and begin to read. I get a bit stuffy in the room, so I move from inside to the balcony outside.
Suddenly, my eyes catch someone running, and when I look down, I realise that it is Lucien. I know it's almost noon because of how high the sun is in the sky, so I can't understand why someone would run at this time. I sneak back into the room in case I am caught staring again.
I stayed on the bed, and I only realised that I had fallen asleep when a pounding on the door seemed to wake me. For a moment, it seems like I am transported back to the Thamore mansion; my eyes trail the room gently as I realise that my life for the past two days hasn't been a dream. It's all real; I am married, and my husband wants me to help him take my father down.
"Mrs. Vexley?" the voice from the other side of the sounds was disturbed. I glance at the clock on the wall and see that it is a little past two, which means that it is lunchtime. I fear what would happen if I went out and met Lucien there. I had acted brave, but I am afraid that I can't think of facing him. "Mrs. Vexley, can you please come get the door?" she calls again; this time, I sense fear. I suddenly hear her steps retreating, and I rest back in bed because I am sure that she is gone; maybe she has gotten the memo.
I might be hungry, but it's not something I can't manage. Yvette had locked me up in the basement for two days before, and I had not had even a single drop of water, and I was fine afterwards. I wanted to believe that I was fine. My eyes close for a moment of peace, but then are interrupted by the jingling of keys at my door. I sit up as I feel myself being violated.
I stare at the door until it opens, and Lucien is standing there with a horrific expression on his face. He walks to me with some sense of urgency and sits on the bed. "Are you okay?" I can see his mouth moving, but it sounds so muffled, as if he were speaking from a mile away. My mind can't grasp what is happening right now, so I keep staring. Two of the staff were standing by the door as well, with concern written all over their faces.
"?" I feel his touch on my lower arm, and I jerk away, not out of fear or disgust, just because it is a reflex for me. "You can go," he said, and the two women at the door, who looked troubled, had no choice but to offer a small bow and close the door after them.
"What is happening?" I finally managed to find my voice. I was just as confused as they were barging into my room like that.
"You didn't come down for lunch, and when they came to get you, they said your door wouldn't open and that you weren't responding, so we thought that something bad had happened in here," he sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. I look at his hair, and I know it's overgrown, but I like the way it falls down his neck.
"I am sorry," I mutter and then clear my throat. "I was reading. My eyes search for the book on the bed, and then I take it up. "I fell asleep and was woken up by someone screaming at the door; I thought it was nothing," I explain, and he nods, letting out a breath.
"I am glad you are okay," he says, and even though I had thought of him as a man who is after my life, I can feel a certain degree of softness radiating from me. It feels too unfamiliar. Too gentle. And I don’t know what to do with gentle.
"Hmm, thank you," I hum as I try to create distance between us. "Can I skip lunch and catch up on sleep?" I asked not because I was not hungry, but because I did not want to sit with him. I hope he understood this as my request for him to leave.
"If you want me to leave, then just say so."
"I want you to leave", his response was a smirk. "Are you leaving?" I follow, and he shakes his head.
"I think I like it here. You know I've lived in this mansion, but I have never been in here until you came. I think this is lovely."
I clear my throat and stand up. It was a risk at the table, but even riskier in here. "Where are you going?" he asked when he saw me walk towards the door.
"Downstairs for lunch," I say as if I expect him to read my mind. "Aren't you coming?" I ask as I open the door and step out, releasing a long breath at once.