The Underground City of Cinders

Chapter 5

I turned on the faucet and was relieved when the water automatically went hot. I breathed a sigh of relief as I was completely encompassed by scalding water. Oh man a shower is exactly what I needed. I feel a hundred times better. After washing myself I stood there for a couple minutes, relishing how the water felt against my sore muscles. Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body.

Walking back into my bedroom I went into the closet to search for some clothes. I didn't notice anyone in the room until I heard a voice from behind me. I jumped and turned around, defensively trying to cover what was exposed of my half-naked body, "Dimitri! What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?!"

He shrugged as if nothing was wrong, "I was waiting for you to get ready."

I gave him a look of disbelief, "You are waiting for me in my bedroom when I said I was going to take a shower?"

He nodded, "You left the door open."

Holding the towel tightly against my body I went over to Dimitri and pushed him out of the room, "That wasn't an invitation for you to come in!" Before he could say another word, I slammed the door in his face. "God he has got some privacy issues," I whispered to myself, "First he shows up in my bedroom in the middle of the night and then he sits in my bedroom and waits for me to get out of the shower?" I shook my head. I still don't even know who Dimitri is. He could be some psycho vampire serial killer for all I know. I put on a strapless summer dress with a floral pattern and some wedges. After brushing my hair and giving myself a nod of confidence in the mirror, I went back downstairs where Dimitri was waiting.

"Are you excited for your first day?" Dimitri asked cheerfully.

I stopped and looked at him for a moment, "What am I? Five? It's not like this is my first day of kindergarten."

He laughed as we walked out to the car. It was only a short drive back to the courthouse looking building but as we neared our destination I began to get really nervous. I didn't say anything but Dimitri seemed to notice it nonetheless, "Don't worry Liz. This is a piece of cake. All you are going to do is go in and meet your mentor. You guys will probably have some introductions with the rest of the mentor group and then we can go home."

I nodded, "There's more than just me in the group?"

Dimitri nodded, "Oh yeah. You'll probably be in a group with four or five other people."

I nodded again. Well that makes me feel a little better. Hopefully I won't be the only one who looks lost in there. When we got there we got out of the car and I took a deep breath to steady myself before walking into the building. I scooped up what little confidence I had and we walked over to the reception desk.

The woman I met before, Danielle, was sitting at the desk. I was a little relieved to see a familiar face. She smiled when she saw me, "Good afternoon Elizabeth. You are right on time. If you will follow me I will take you to where the group is meeting." She smiled again, walking deeper into the building. There was a feel of elegance and age which I really liked. Danielle stopped in front of a big oak door, "They are right inside. Have a good time."

She walked away from us and I gave Dimitri a look of apprehension. He just shook his head and gave me a gentle push, "Don't worry Liz. I will be right out here waiting when you get out."

I looked at him with apparent dread on my face, "You're not coming in with me?"

He laughed, "Of course I'm not coming in with you. This is your mentor group Liz, not mine. I already did this a long time ago." I looked back toward the door and then back at him. My hesitance caused him to walk over to the door and open it for me. The group of people inside the room saw me so I had no choice but to suck up my fear, smile and walk inside.