Twisted Wishes - When Fairytale Dreams Turn Dark

Chapter 4: Greta's Bears

Taken by surprise, I look from the men to the girl. Her hair is like a bird's nest and I only have to glance at the men in underwear to see that I've disturbed something.

All three men have tattoos on their bodies. Across their arms and chest and one even has one that disappears into the waistband of his boxers.

My eyes return to the girl.

Her cheeks are red and she looks at me with a sparkle in her eyes. "Hello?"

I clear my throat and feel the heat rise to my cheeks myself. "S-sorry, I wanted to, I was wondering..." My voice drops and I start again. "I came to ask if you had something to eat, but I see I interrupted something, so sorry about that, I will g-"

The girl starts to beam and throws the door wide open. "No! No, come in."

She turns around and only now do I see that she only has a sheet around her body. The men seem less enthusiastic about my unexpected arrival. They scatter and each start doing something different.

The girl drops the sheet and I look away. It makes me look into the eyes of the biggest man of them all. He pushes me a plateful of oatmeal and then sinks into the chair next to the bed.

I start shoving the food down, refusing to watch the way the man next to the girl gets dressed.

They start to whisper and soon busy gestures are made.

As soon as my bowl is empty it is pulled out from under my nose.

"Sorry about that." The voice snaps me out of my daze and I turn to her. "The men, they are not used to having visitors." She gestured to the men in question, a gold bracelet dangles from her wrist.

Where have I seen it before?

"They are like cavemen. But they are still my bears." Her loving gaze shoots across the room.

I jump up at her words. "Your bears?"

The girl nods. "Yes, you know. Because they are so big and strong and because they eat like bears."

Growls can be heard behind us and it makes her chuckle softly. "My name is Greta."

Greta helps me up and leads me to the giant bed.

Yeah, you have to with 4 people who have to sleep in it.

"You look tired. Come on, get some sleep. I promise we won't bite." She say to me in a way that makes me think she would if I asked her. Or maybe her bears do.

I lie down and feel sleep overtake me.

I fight but lose the battle.

For the second time I wake up somewhere where I really have no idea where I am. Then the memories seep into my slumbering memory and I soar.

Three steaming oatmeal bowls are on the table.

I stumble out of bed and fall to my hands and knees. Two long legs come into my field of vision and I follow the contours until I bump into a man's grinning face.

"Awake?"

I nod and take the hand he extends to me. Now that my stomach is full and I've slept, I realize that the man in front of me isn't so bad after all. In fact, he's really handsome.

The realization makes me falter. "I'm sorry about yesterday. And that I-" I gesture to the bed. 

The grin widens and the man shrugs.

"We will catch up on that another time. Are you hungry?" He passes me and picks up a bowl. 

With full spoon he starts to shove his oatmeal down. With each bite his muscles tense and a warmth rises between my legs.

I suppress it and follow his lead.

While eating he studies me and I feel how his eyes take in my whole body. It makes me uncomfortable.

I give my empty bowl to him and then look for Greta. The man must be on to me because he answers my unspoken question.

"Greta and the others are in the lake."

My mouth forms a small "o". "And aren't you in the lake?"

"I'm already out. I had to prepare the food and give our guest a proper walk."

I nod and follow him to the door. The man takes a jacket off the hook and hands it to me.

"It can get quite cold in the evening." Gratefully, I take it. Then I open the door.

"Do you thank Greta for me? And will you tell her I'm sorry again?"

The man smiles and nods. Then the door is closed and I'm on my own again.