NIRELLE - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"You have more terms?" he asked, and I nodded. He looks shocked, almost like I am not what he expected me to be. "More terms?" he asked, this time his voice more stressed.
"I do," I say, and he groans but motions to me to speak. "Nothing illegal," I say, raising a finger to his face.
"I was not planning on doing anything illegal in the first place."
"I am not a tool; I do not want to be used."
"Not planning on doing that either."
"I mean no manipulations; if you want me to do something, then just tell me, don't put me in situations where I wouldn't know how to escape." he nods as it seems fair, and I am glad he thinks so.
"Is that all?" he asks, and I shake my head. "Okay, so there is more?"
"I want to know what made you want to do this."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't think there is anything worse you can tell me about my father; he is already a monster to me. I just want to know why he is one to you. he does not like it, but he seems to see the reason with me." Also, I need a phone."
"Theo would get you a phone and any other electronic device you might need tomorrow," he says, and I nod. "Get them all," he adds as if he is reading my mind.
"That will be all for tonight," I say, taking a step back. He takes a deep breath and also takes a step back. "Good night." I turn and hurry back into the room.
My eyes catch the clock again, and it is past one am. I sit on the bed as I try to rationalise what has just happened. Maybe I was not as good a person as I thought myself to be. Maybe I was just as bad. When I saw an opportunity to assert myself, I took it without thinking twice about it.
The next morning, we were both at the table, munching away at our breakfast, when Theo came in and sat down. He flashed a smile at me as if he was thanking me for what I was about to do. "Do you want to come with me to get the device?" he asks, suddenly skipping all formalities. My eyes wander to Lucien, who seems to have hibernated since he came down to eat.
I was now convinced that he was bipolar because there was no way he would be hot and cold in the same breath. He does not even look up, and I sigh. "I guess?" I say, biting the corner of my lip. "Do I need to?"
"Do you not want to?" he seems shocked at my response.
"You know if I did not need to, then I would not go." Going out was scarier than I had thought. I had really undermined healing from the trauma that my parents had poured into my life.
"Don't you want to go out?" he was asking with his eyebrow scrunched up a little, and I shook my head.
"Not unless it's necessary." I could not lie; it was a bit boring here, but I felt more comfortable. "I am not a big fan of the outside," I lied because I did not know what the truth was. I had barely been outside enough to know if I liked it there.
"Lucien?" Theo called as if he was about to report me to him. Lucien raises his head and moves his eyes from him and then to me. "What do you think?"
"If she does not want to go, then you can let her be."
"Of course that'd be your answer." Theo pushed the chair back and rose to his feet. "You are the perfect match for each other, both wanting to lock yourselves away in the mansion. Even Rapunzel wanted to leave, but you guys are just..." he trailed off and nodded. "I get what this is, Beauty and the Beast?"
"What?" Lucien was now showing obvious signs of not liking what was going on. "What do you mean? Who is the beauty and who is the beast?"
I let out a scoff because I could not believe that was his worry. I rolled my eyes at them both, and they shrugged. I drop the cutlery in my hand on the table and stand up. "You know what? I'll go," I say and as soon as I agree, I begin to wonder if this was a tactic by both of them to get me to leave the house but even if I knew, it was too late to back out and I did not want to seem like someone who was making decisions based on what they did to me.
"I have told the staff to lay down something suitable to wear, and they are waiting to help you get ready," he says, and I narrow my eyes at him. I have a feeling that we'd be good friends.
"Well then, I'd better go get ready," I say and walk out, leaving them to discuss anything they would like, even if it may be about me. I know there is no need to protest what they planned, as there is no way out of it. Lucien's words were the law in here, and even if I wanted to change anything, I had only been in here two days to even think of changing things.
As I sit and feel brushes and cotton swabs fly across my face, I can't help but wonder what the right etiquette is for when I am out. I do not know the right way to act.
"All done, ma'am," the girl who had been trying to cover my bruising stepped back. I stare at myself for a while, and she moves back to me with panic in her voice. "Do you not like it, ma'am? I am sorry; I will start over."
"No need," I say before she can reac
h my face. "This is perfect."