Tainted Innocence

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Leilani

It's been two weeks since I've been living with Ms.Kuznetsov. After week one, I came to the painful.realization that my parents were not coming back for me. Nobody was.

As we entered week two Ms. Kuznetsov told me that I would be going into the market to pick up a couple things on Friday.

Today was Friday and I was especially excited to go into town and interact with some new people. I didn't even exactly know what city I was in or if I was even still in South Carolina at all. Nevertheless, since I've arrived here I've only known the old Kuznetsov Manor and the barn attached.

Friday morning I set my alarm early so I can have enough time to get my shit together before heading out into town. I put on the cutest outfit I brought with me; a pink skirt and a white graphic tank top— it wasn't that cute and was kind of childish but I liked it. It brought me joy to be able to dress up again and gave me a sense of...normalcy. Something that I had been craving since my life was turned upside down.

I even did my makeup this morning, keeping it simple with just lip liner and mascara— I didn't need too much, I was a naturally pretty girl after all. I decided to wear my curly hair down today, I knew by the end of this outing my hair would be poofy and scrunched up because of the humidity.

I walked downstairs, on time and had breakfast. After Ms.Kuznetsov gave me my list of chores for today,a shopping list, and some money. She explained to me —in be usual sternness— the rules for going out and the consequences. She also explained that I would be driven into town by a chauffeur and followed around by a bodyguard. Wow so much freedom, I thought. But I wasn't too bothered. At least, I would be able to interact with some new people, even if it was a chauffeur and a bodyguard.

As I got loaded into the car, Ms. Kuznetsov told me in her thick russian accent, that I had $20 extra to spare, since I've abided by her rules. That instantly made me light up, maybe this arrangement wasn't so bad after all.

The body guard was in the front of the all black Lexus with the chauffeur, neither of them said a word to me. So much for interacting with new people. I brushed it off, it was hard trying to be my usual optimistic self—that I haven't been since I've been locked up— but today was different. The sun even shined a little brighter, the grass was a little greener, and I was a little happier. A feeling that used to be so familiar now felt so foreign to me. So I stared out the window with a smile on my face and took in everything we passed.

•••

I was very grateful to be out of the Kuznetsov Manor and into the world— well maybe not the "world" per se, but just in town. On our thirty minuet car ride I came to the conclusion that I definitely weren't in South Carolina anymore, at least not in the city that I used to live in. This city was different. It was huge and I just lived in a small town—Beaufort—and this definitely wasn't no Beaufort. I belived we were in one of the larger cities, hopefully I will find out on this outing.

The chauffeur picked a parking spot away from all
the other cars and opened the doors. As I exited the car I took in a deep breath and observed my surroundings. It was very lively here in the shopping market. We were surrounded by many boutiques and pop-up produce markets.

I scanned the grocery list Ms. Kuznetsov had given me and decided that I would first go get the food for the horses and chickens. It was hard to decide where to go with all of the loud chatter around me and busy bodies moving around. My bodyguard was beside me and I figured he knew this town well enough, "Do you know where I could find these items?," I pointed at the slightly wrinkled list in my hand and he just nodded and led me to the animal supply shop.

This is how the outing went. I would point at an item and the bodyguard whose name I learned was Alexei. Alexei was tall and buff. I was pretty tall myself standing at 5'6 so he at least had to a whole foot taller than me. His was a brunette and had hard brown eyes, nothing like Mamá's. He talked in a thick russian accent and I could barely understand what he was saying half of time so we avoided talking a lot. He ran his hand over his stubble as we entered the last shop on my list.

During our time out I found out that I was still in South Carolina,however, I was in Greenville. I asked Alexei how far that was from Beaufort and he said about 3 hours out. My heart sunk a little at the realization that I've never been that far from my parents. But I swallowed that feeling down, they left me here.

This task seemed simple enough all I had to do was get some cleaning supplies and that's it. I checked the time on my watch and it read 4:00pm, it seemed I had missed lunch it showed due to my stomach growling loudly. Alexei noticed and gave me a weird look but I just looked away. I decided after this that I would need to spend my $20 on some lunch.

Too busy thinking about what I should eat I didn't notice the man crossing in front of me, until we collided. Hard. So hard that it seemed to knock me off my balance making me fall back into Alexei. I looked at the perpetrator who was responsible for this but instantly I was frozen.

This man was beautiful. No— beyond beautiful he was gorgeous. He was a fucking greek god and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Especially his sharp hazel eyes, I'd never seen eyes like that before and I just wanted to fall deeper into them.

"My apologies I didn't see you there." This man replied in a thick NOLA accent kind of mixed with a different accent but I just couldn't place where it was from. And I thought he couldn't get any more attractive. I subtly licked my lips. Not that subtle because his eyes shot to the movement.

"Oh yes sorry— I definitely didn't see you there. I was just walking and boom." I said awkwardly . He looked conflicted but he just flashed me a charming smile.

"I'm Elias Devereux."He gave me another one of those charming smiles and stretched out his hand for a handshake. My ears perked up, his obviously Italian and maybe French from that name. Maybe that's the other part of the accent I was hearing.

"I'm Leilani." I said simply my hand meeting his. His hands were rough and calloused, but I didn't mind. Every inch of him dripped with authority and I was fighting the urge to submit. Soon our hands left each other grasp and I saw him scanning the bags in my hand.

"What's with all the farm applies? Do you work on a farm or something?" He asked raising a brow.

"Or something." I replied with a small awkward laugh. " I'm staying with Ms. Sasha Kuznetsov right now which requires a lot of hard labor."

I saw a flash of something in Elias eyes but he didn't speak on it. Upon hearing me mention Ms. Kuznetsov name Alexei stepped in and suggested that we check out and leave. I gave Elias a small smile and one lingering look before I departed from him.

He was nice. Different. But I like it. I like him. I had a small smile on my face as I walked to a burger shop.  I never realized how expensive food was nowadays until I exchanged my $20 only to receive $5 back. All I got was a burger, fries, and a milkshake. Maybe the milkshake was doing too much, but it was the small pleasures in life that made it worth living. Alexei got a triple patty burger and some fries. I watched as he devoured it in under 5 minuets. And I thought I was hungry.

By time we entered the car it was 5:30. The drive back to the manor was depressing. And so boring that I ended up falling asleep in the short 30 minute drive back.

I woke up to the sound of Alexei voice. He was speaking to someone in russian. I opened my eyes only to see him talking to Ms. Kuznetsov, she immediately noticed that I was awake and cut her eyes at me . Alexei straightened his posture before he left leaving me with Ms.Kuznetsov.

She motioned for me to get out the car so I did. "My change." She said whipping out her old and wrinkle hand.I dug into my purse and gave her the crumbled up dollar bills.

"Wash up and then come help me with dinner." She said before she turned to go into the house.

I took in the scenery and shortly followed after her.