"Ok, let's say that there is some merit in your proposal, then what? What happens after you drive off with her hiding in your truck?"
"Well, I have not thought it out that far, but I do have a certain charisma with the ladies. Wouldn't you agree?" He double raised his eyebrows at her knowing full well that she herself had a hard time resisting him.
"She has nowhere to go, Graven. Let her go home, she will see. We have taken everything from her. And we will continue to do so. When she finds out who we have here she will be back."
"Ziona, I have always delivered, have I not? I will figure it out. You will be in good favor with The Taker when I am done with her."
"Ok, Graven. I am going to let you run with this. I hope that you are right, the consequences for both of us will be more than either of us are willing to face."
She turned to the two men shaking behind her. Buck was wiping a small trace of blood from his neck.
"You should probably head out, it is about to get a little messy in here." Ziona turned her back.
Chapter Two
THE STEAM ROSE UP AROUND me. I stood there in a cloud of fog. The hot pellets pounded against my back. If only the water had been hot enough to scorch the dragon scars away. My head fell back and I let the water wash over me.
The temperature was as hot as I could make it. Unfortunately there was no amount of hot water that could ever wash away what was left behind from my time held in that prison of darkness.
For now all I could do was bask in the moment of the amazing and long overdue shower. Graven's house might be simple in a lot of ways, but where it counted most he had not spared a dime.
His oversized custom shower had enough showerheads and sprayers for at least two people. I wondered if at one point there was someone living there with him. I couldn't help but hope not. The natural stone tiles covering the walls were elegant and inviting. I really enjoyed the way the small pebbles beneath my feet made me feel like I was showering outside. They continued across the floor of the entire bathroom.
Three of the walls of the bathroom were big glass windows helping to bring the outside in. The views from this house were breathtaking. Normally I would have felt self conscious and apprehensive about so many windows in a bathroom, but there was no one out there for miles. We were in the middle of the desert. I looked forward to the chance to jump in the giant soaking tub with all those air jets after I ate something.
It had only been a few hours since I had my first taste of freedom, but it still didn't seem real. The drive to Graven's house was uncomfortably quiet. I had so much I wanted to say, but words never came to the surface. I even tried to close my eyes and drift off, no such luck. Part of me wished that Graven had said something or asked me something, anything to break the silence.
Instead I just stared absently out the window. The scenery never came into focus. The houses, buildings, trees and such just left blurred streaks across my eyes. The hum of the engine and the whistling wind fighting against the truck dulled out the thoughts in my head.
When we arrived at his house, Graven escorted me into the bathroom and left me with a pile of towels and a grey lightweight bathrobe, that by the size of it, it had to be his.
After my shower I was glad that all the mirrors were steamed up. I did not feel like looking at myself for even a second. Lucky for me Graven has long hair so it wasn't hard for me to find a wide plank brush and a hair tie. I worked hard at brushing out the layers of knots. Even with the globs of conditioner I repeatedly put in my hair it was still a struggle. Once I achieved some order and the pain subsided, I braided my hair and tied the end off with a small rubber band.
I put Graven's bathrobe on and tied it secure around my waist. I had to pull the top closed extra carefully; there was a lot of extra material compared to my own bathrobe, that I actually no longer possessed. I am not sure why I worried, he had sort of already seen me at my most natural state, at least in my astral form.
I gathered up my dirty clothes and threw them into the garbage can and put the wet towels hanging over the hamper. I wanted to put them in, but not a great idea if they were still wet. They would dry fast and I could go back and toss them in the hamper after I fed my angry belly.
I removed all the broken hair that was yanked from my head out of his brush and put it back where I found it. I looked around the bathroom searching for something else to do. I was without a doubt procrastinating in there. The grumbling growls wouldn't stand for my antics any longer. After double-checking the security of my robe, I reluctantly exited the glorious bathroom.
I walked back out to the kitchen and living area. I did not see Graven, so I turned to head down toward the bedrooms. I almost walked right through Graven.
He was standing there in astral form.
"What are you doing?"
"Hi, great, you are out of the shower. I didn't mean to startle you.
"I went down to town to pick up a few things, foremost some fresh clothing for you. I didn't want to disturb your shower. I left you a note in the kitchen. Sorry if you didn't see it yet. I was torn about leaving you alone here, but I knew you would need some things to keep you comfortable. I keep popping back to check in on you."
"I can see that."
"There is plenty of food in the fridge. I was hoping to make it back quick enough to prepare something for you. I would have made it before I left, but I wasn't sure what your stomach would be ready for."
"Thank you, I appreciate that, I can manage if you don't mind me rummaging through your pantry and fridge." I almost felt a smile rise to the surface.
"Please help yourself to anything you like, my house is now your house," Graven assured me.
"Ok, thank you. See you in a bit."
"You know how to find me if you need anything." His shimmering self was gone from sight, but I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed back to keep an eye on me and make sure I was safe.
As much as I had craved real human contact, I was glad to have a moment to be by myself. Did I just say human? I guess that is going to become a laughable cliché.
I was back in that kitchen faster than a fly on shit. I swung the refrigerator door open so fast I thought it might have flown off the hinge. I am sure the door was very sturdy, but I was so nervous I could have broken the glass door.
Everything looked so good. I was about to start grabbing at everything when Graven's voice crept back into my head and I thought twice about easing the food back into my body. I grabbed a block of cheese, a jar of pickles, and a sports drink- lemon-lime of course. I pretended since the name implied it contained real fruit, it wasn't as bad as drinking the flavors like passion rain. I found the pantry and grabbed the first box of crackers I could find and a sharp knife, then turned to head out to the back yard.
The back doors were open to the rear courtyard as usual. I was grateful that Graven shut the front doors behind him when he left. I walked over to a large cushioned lounge chair and released my goods. I was careful to make sure the bathrobe covered me in all the right places before I sat down.
What were the chances that Graven thought to bring me some panties? Any clean clothes would be an improvement; maybe I shouldn't worry myself with the details of undergarments.
I munched on my food much faster than I intended. More than half the block of cheese disappeared and I was covered in cracker crumbs. My thirst was far from quenched, but I just was not ready to get up and go back inside for another drink.
I was enjoying every single breath of fresh air I could suck into my lungs. The warmth of the sun heating my skin was priceless; I didn't care how hot it got. It was a hard toss up for me between closing my eyes to relax and staring off into the distance at all the beautiful desert brush and rock formations blocking out any view of civilization.
I felt a presence behind me. I turned slightly and saw Graven standing there with a bottle of water stretched out in front of me.
"Either I need to find a way to be more aware of my surroundings or y
ou are quieter than a mouse." I reached up to take what he was offering.
"I brought you this. You should keep up your fluid intake. There is a good chance you are dehydrated."
"Thank you, that's why I grabbed the sports drink first. I thought it might pump up my electrolytes."
For some reason I let a little nervous giggle slip out.
"You can laugh my lady, but you need them more than ever now. I see you found yourself a snack. Can I get you anything else to eat?"
"I might still be starving, but I am going to give my stomach a chance to let this food sink in. Have you eaten?" I asked.
Graven laughed. "I am always eating, but you don't need to worry about me. I left some shopping bags with clothes for you in the spare bedroom. I also stopped at the pharmacy and had the girl gather some toiletries and what she said are every girl's essentials. I told her that you lost your luggage and had nothing. It is the third door on your left... Whenever you are ready.
"I would love to join you out here, but I have some groceries to put away. I think I will also get started on prepping some food for dinner." Before Graven could turn to walk back I stood up.
"Ok, thank you. I think I will go get dressed so I can help you."
I looked down, and to my embarrassment I realized I was still covered in cracker crumbs. I hoped that I didn't have food in my teeth too. I rubbed my tongue along my teeth and realized I needed to brush them. Immediately.
When I got to the spare room, I expected to find a pair of sweat pants and a toothbrush. To my amazement there were multiple shopping bags covering the bed. They were filled with an assortment of clothes. I dumped the pharmacy bag out on the bed first.
The toothbrush and deodorant were in there along with an arsenal of make-up products, hair products, and even feminine hygiene items. There was enough stuff to last me a few months.
There was a selection of varied sized jeans, all about my size, although I was probably the thinnest I had ever been. I was sure after a few days of eating I would plump back up to my normal size.
I dug into the small lingerie bag and put on a pair of pretty cotton undies. Too bad there was not a bra to match. I found a pair of jeans that were a perfect fit and slid them on. I grabbed a snug fit tank top that was under the bags with Graven's club logo on it.
A little dab of deodorant and some lip-gloss would have to do the trick for now. My stomach was again reminding me that I needed some nutrition. I made my way back out to the kitchen to help Graven.
"What can I do to help?" I asked him as I rounded the corner.
"The clothes fit, good. I was nervous I wouldn't bring you the right size. I really didn't know what to get you," he said.
"It is all perfect, over the top in fact. But I appreciate it. So, how can I help?"
"Why don't you relax and let me handle this. You have been through a lot."
"Yeah, and I have also been locked in a dark room with nothing to do. Please, I need to feel like I have a purpose other than being someone's supernatural prize." I grabbed one of the last brown bags and started to empty the contents.
"Well have at it then. Here is an extra cutting board and a knife. You can cut up any vegetables that you would like to eat."
He had a huge spread of almost every vegetable you could imagine covering half of the island separating the kitchen from the living space. I guess he was planning on putting them away after he cut what he needed for dinner.
"I probably over bought, but I wanted to make sure that you had a variety of foods to chose from. I am going to make a huge veggie stir fry and some grilled tofu and chicken breasts. Does that work for you?"
I looked up at him. This man eats tofu?
"What? I wasn't sure if you eat meat and you need to have some protein. And yes, I do like to eat tofu, when it has been treated with the right amount of love." He winked at me. It was like he could read my thoughts.
We spent the next twenty minutes prepping food for dinner. It was a comfortable silence and the chopping of the vegetables reminded me of a walking meditation. Graven mixed up some kind of concoction and marinated the proteins and put on a pot for some brown rice.
"The rice is going to take about forty minutes; it should be just enough time for the marinade to flavor the tofu. We can cook everything on the outdoor kitchen. Or would you prefer to eat inside?"
"Honestly, I would love to spend as much time outside as possible. I have a whole new appreciation and need for fresh air."
Graven collected everything including two large wine glasses and a bottle of sparkling water on a tray and I followed him out back.
The sun was just starting to paint the sky full of soft pink and orange hues. The view was spectacular from any vantage point on his property. I plopped myself down at the dining table and let Graven work his magic at the grill. I opened the water and poured it into the two glasses.
I enjoyed watching him at the grill. His wide back did not allow me much view of what he was cooking, but that was not really what I had my eyes on. He moved efficiently between flipping the meat on the grill and tossing the vegetables in a large deep skillet atop the outdoor stove.
Graven turned and smiled at me. "Are you well over there?"
"Yes, actually I was about to go check on the rice and get plates and silverware."
He snapped me out of my little trance. His muscles were mesmerizing to say the least. But it was a welcome mental distraction.
"Ok, they are in the cabinet next to the refrigerator," he called out to me as I walked back into the house.
I just needed to keep myself busy. I was starting not to enjoy the silence that had been ever present since we got to the house. I knew there was so much we needed to talk about. I could say for sure that I was avoiding it at least for now. I am not sure what his excuse was. I hoped that he did not regret bringing me to his home.
I collected plates and utensils. The rice was ready so I brought everything out and set the table. By the time I was finished, Graven was putting the grilled food down next to the pot of rice. We enjoyed a delicious, but quiet dinner al fresco.
"I know that you want to help, but why don't you sit here and relax. I will clear the dishes. I got a little something special for dessert. Do you think you have room?"
"Oh yeah, I sure do."
Graven put his hand on mine. His eyes steady upon my own, "We have much to discuss. I do not wish to upset you. We can take the night to say nothing, but when the sun returns we must face our impending situation."
"I know. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have some mental space from all this craziness."
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze and stood to collect the mess from the table. Just before he picked everything up he walked over to me and lifted my chin.
"You are safe here. You are safe in my presence. I will not allow harm to come to you."
I just got lost in his eyes that seemed an even lighter shade of grey out there surrounded by the early night sky. Not knowing what to say, I decided to break my impending emotional overload with some nonsense humor.
"Well, I hope that your choice in dessert lives up to my standards. I am a bit of a dessert expert."
"You don't say. Perhaps I may please the master of sweets. Let me get this cleaned up. I will be right back."
He managed to carry everything back to the kitchen in one trip. His large hands, I am sure, came in handy all the time.
I blew out a giant breath and realized I needed to do some meditating. I'll ask Graven if he has an alarm clock so I can rise with the sun and come sit out here for morning meditation. I was just too tired and full to sit tonight.
Now that I wasn't being warmed by ingesting a hot meal, I started to notice the effects of the descending sun. I looked down at my arms and they were covered in goose bumps. A chill rose up my spine. I remembered that Graven had some hand woven blankets on the couch inside.
I snuck into the living area and grabbed a blanket and a quick peek at Graven. He wa
s hard at work cleaning the dishes. I didn't want to interrupt him. I needed a few minutes for my food to digest from dinner, but was anxious to see what he chose for us to complete the meal.
I walked back out to the rear terrace and resumed my early position on the lounge chair. The night sky was amazing. With the lights of the city too far to disturb the natural beauty of the sky, I gazed up at the stars. They were so bright I felt like I could have reached up and plucked one out of the sky.
I felt the sides of my lips press against my cheekbones thinking about stargazing with Gram. I thought back to when we would go to White Sands at night for different activities like a full moon hike or a lecture about the cosmos.
I heard Graven place the tray of food down on the table behind me. I sat up and began to stand to join him.
"Stay there. I will pull over a small table and join you beneath the stars."
His idea of a small table was not so much the same as mine, but he made the movement look effortless.
"Kasha, are you cold? I see that you retrieved a covering from inside."
"A little."
"I will start a fire and move us closer."
I had not even noticed earlier that just beyond his outdoor kitchen there was a rustic stone fireplace. He moved the table closer to the hearth. He came back and without warning lifted my chair with me still on it and carried me over.
I laughed out loud, "Oh my goodness."
"Remember what I said. You are always safe with me by your side."
Once the fire was ablaze he grabbed the tray of food from the dining table.
"Are you ready, your sweetness?" He smiled and gave me a little bow.
I was glad for his humor; it helped to take some of the edge off. When I watched him at the meeting with his associates, and any other encounter he had at the club, or with Ziona, he seemed very straight laced. He did not give off the impression he made light of any situation.
"I hope you like pie."
Graven brought over a carafe of coffee and two plates of pie topped with a tower of what could only be freshly whipped cream.
Betrayed: Breaking the Darkness Series Book Two Page 2
