A Legacy of the Damned: Daughter of Astaroth

Chapter 27 - Out Shopping

He left early this morning.

I woke up to the sound of his shower running. I heard him moving about in his room. Then I heard his footsteps halting in front of my door. I stayed in bed even though my heart was telling me to go sprinting through the door to be in his presence, just for a few minutes because I don't know when I'm going to see him next.

Even when he was standing there on the other side of the door, I was already missing him. Maybe it's a good thing that he's going away because I was getting too close. Too attached. Too vulnerable.

He stood in front of my door for a good while as though contemplating whether or not to come in. When he finally moved on, I felt deflated. I felt as though a part of me was being ripped away.

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night either. I did a lot of thinking. I relived our kisses a thousand times. I'm sure the kiss didn't mean anything to him but it's still playing on repeat in my head. My lips and body are still tingling from his touch. I'd been kissed before, but never like that. Never with such urgency and hunger. He kissed me as though he needed me. He kissed me and now I feel marked and claimed.

I take a shower and when I get out of the bedroom, it is way past eight. Everything is quiet and the place feels different. Empty. Maybe because I know he won't be coming back later today.

I find the two women stationed inside by the door as usual. Both don't acknowledge me when I wander to the kitchen and make a fresh batch of coffee. I pour myself a mug before I prepare some for them.

"Here's your coffee," I tell them. I place their steaming mugs on the console table before I begin sipping my own. "Nice day, huh? I think today's a good day to go shopping."

"You're not supposed to go anywhere," says Jenny immediately.

"Oh, really?" I tilt my head, giving them a confused look. "Are you sure? Last night Sacha said I could go...hmmm..."

They look at each other and I swear that the two of them would very much like to murder me right where I'm standing.

I hide a smirk and flounce back to the bedroom with the coffee mug in my hand.

Today, I want to look as plain as possible but I can't resist putting on a cute white skater skirt paired with a powder blue top that brings out my eyes. I leave my hair down but again, I can't help from swiping a tiny bit of lipgloss on my lips. Lastly, I put on white ankle socks before slipping on a pair of white sneakers.

Then I stand in front of the mirror to inspect myself critically. Nope, I decided. I'm too beautiful. It's impossible for me to look plain.

I watch the two guards closely when I come out. They don't look happy and with grim faces, they open the door for me and step back to let me out.

We take the elevator to the underground parking garage where they head straight for a big black SUV. Alicia lets me in the back before she goes to the driver's side while Jenny sits in the passenger seat.

It is a quiet drive that feels too hostile for my liking so I fill in the silence with my chatter until one of them pointedly turns the radio on. Loudly.

That's rude, but oh, well...this one-way conversation isn't much fun and I'm running out of things to talk about anyway.

Alicia drives to the upper east side without asking me where I would like to go shopping but we stop not too far from Bloomingdale's.

I take in a deep breath of not-so-fresh city air as I step out of the vehicle. Ah, sweet freedom! Well, I'm not free yet, but I soon will.

I breeze in and out of the stores and their changing rooms like a pro shopper that I am the minute we arrive. My guard, Jenny refuses to hand me the credit card to pay for the purchase when I ask for it, but that's okay. I'd happily let her deal with something as mundane as paying for the purchase if that would make her feel powerful.