Zephyr's Promise

9

"Breathtaking isn't it?" Axel stands at the foot of my bed looking through the clear cut windows. When I say clear I mean crystal, it is as if everything in The Tower were made perfectly.

"It is." Distractedly I agree.

What could he be doing in my room? The sight of him or Atlas immediately put me on edge. I couldn't help it. Their presence in my life hadn't been for better but for worse it seems.

"I felt really bad about you not being able to get clothes from home." My scowl at the memory of having to borrow clothes from Ira is immediate. She and I have completely different tastes. I am not comfortable in flashy tight clothes like she is, it's just not my particular thing. "So I have brought some different options I think you may like. They're already set up in the dresser."

"Thank you, that was really considerate." Not smiling, I nod my head at the gesture. For some reason I felt there had to be more to this decision.

"Anytime." He says dismissively. "Breakfast will be ready soon."

"Got it." Axel wordlessly leaves which is fine with me.

After Atlas' demand for Ira and I to get some rest I prattled to my room. Even if he didn't all but force us to, I had planned to retreat there once Axel left. Atlas presence made me feel things that I didn't want to. More than just a physical attraction, I wanted to know about him. Why did it seem that the entire world feared him? How did he know Axel?

The two of them knew about us but we knew nothing about them. Worse off, I couldn't seem to stop thinking about Atlas' opinions. Much to my chagrin he is a quiet one. An observer such as myself, and somehow the two of us had begun a game of cat and mouse. When he isn't looking at me I find myself looking at him.

Trying to decipher the thoughts and feelings running through those ice blue eyes of his. Dreaming of hearing his deep voice speaking my name with his Russian accent. My body warms at the thought of feeling his skin. Those are secret wishes I shouldn't be thinking about. This would all be easier if he were off-putting rather than intriguing. Maybe it's delirium or something.

"Ugh." I wine sliding out of the queen sized bed. Even with the lights off the golden chandelier glints from the sun shining in.

Moving to the adjoining bathroom I brush my teeth and wash my face with some of the products Ira packed for me.

Thinking of her I frown at the interaction that occurred between her and Atlas. Truly I never felt in danger with Atlas until that moment.

Reason five thousand why I shouldn't be thinking of him as anything other than an evil boss.

Atlas made it more than clear about the relationship between us and him. That he isn't here to be a friend, rather a glorified babysitter. I wish I didn't agree with him that the lines of this relationship should not be blurred.

Ira is accustomed to a certain lifestyle that impedes on her understanding of our roles. Neither of us are to be seen or heard and so far she's made far too much noise. I am not risking my life for nothing. She and I really needed to talk.

Walking out of the luxurious marbled and wood paneled bathroom I look through the new clothes. If I weren't suspicious before I am now. The clothes he has given me are entirely too perfect. They're my exact size and style, meaning one of them had been paying too much attention. The only thing I couldn't understand or put together is the why. Why would they go through this much trouble for me?

A shiver runs through me. The more I think about it the more convinced I become that Atlas had something to do with it. As grateful as I am, I have to be conscious of him. Ira got a lesson about the type of man he is. Unlike her I didn't need one to know I should tread lightly with him. Meaning any niceties afford had to come with a price.