Monarchy

Chapter 4: What used to be Texas

The trip across the nation took much longer than I expected. While I had seen so much, I honestly felt like I hadn't seen enough. Some areas of the country were desolate, abandoned of all life. I know it might sound wrong, but those places were my favorites. Unlike all the concrete and gravel that surrounded my house, or the trampled on dirt in the towns, this place was covered in beautiful green plants.

Dominic explained what most of the trees were and stopped once so we could pick flowers together. I was truly wrong, he was nothing like Zack. Zack, it had been so long since his name had even crossed my mind. Dominic made me feel safe. His dark brown eyes reminded me of the chocolate my mother game me for a secret birthday gift once. I only knew when my birthday was because I asked why Zack got one and I didn't.

Dominic's sandy golden hair looked like my mother's making me wonder why I don't look much like her. It took us four days to reach his home. The town was much smaller than I'd expected. There were a couple of stands that Ricky had taught me were called vendors. The sun set perfectly behind the big white house we stopped at.

Dominic told Ricky to go home before he led me through the very big, very red door. As soon as we walked in the scent of cinnamon hit me. Voices shrieked and footsteps followed before four girls wrapped Dominic in the tightest hug I'd ever seen anyone receive.

"Mom," Dominic said as he stood beside the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. "This is Abrianna. She came back with me from Old New York. I don't know a lot about her, but just like you taught me I asked her if she wanted to come back with me first."

The woman smiled at his teasing, her green eyes sparkling. She pinched Dominic's cheek and gave me a hug. I didn't know how to react, it's the first hug I've ever gotten. "Don't be a stranger Darlin'!"

"My name's not Darlin, it's Abrianna. I thought I heard Dominic tell you that." She seemed taken aback by my words.

"He told you to call him Dominic?" Oh no, has he been lying to me? Is this some sort of game, or trick? I must have been making a face because she ended up laughing at me. I didn't think the situation was very amusing, and I certainly didn't make a joke. "Don't worry, Abrianna. I promise you didn't do anything wrong. I just hadn't know anyone else to call my baby by his real name." I glanced at Dominic who just shrugged in response, I would have to ask him about this again later. "Let's get you some clean clothes and some food in you. You're all skin and bones, didn't you eat at home?"

Dominic was right, this woman was going to fatten me up. My mother would be so disapproving of the way that all the girls looked. She would mutter under her breath about how they were never going to get a husband if she ever saw how they looked, but I thought that they were all very pretty, even if they were much bigger than me.

"Please tell me you made that yummy peach cobbler you always make." Dominic pleaded to his mom. I didn't know women outside of being servants cooked. My mother absolutely hates cooking and no one ever taught me.

"I always make it, like you just said yourself." Her voice had an attitude that reminded me of my own mother. But in her ways, she was much different than my mother. Dominic's mother was very kind hearted and bubbly. She was always smiling. Her wild blonde hair looked so frizzy and out of place. It was something that my mom wouldn't have even left her room looking like.
"Do you ever leave the house?" I asked his mother without really thinking. Dominic laughed while everyone else looked slightly offended.
"Don't mind her mom, she hadn't ever left her house before we came here." He laughed again. I was beginning to feel like the end of a horrible joke that no one could let go of. I was starting to feel awkward in my own skin again. Everyone started walking further into the giant house, I lingered towards the back. Dominic paused when he saw me fall behind.
"Are you okay?"
"No, not really." I could feel the panic welling up in my chest again. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes and my breath cane quicker. I closed my eyes to try and get rid of this feeling; it didn't help. Dominic's arms wrapped around me and the feeling of panic intensified.
"Calm down, it's going to be okay. Lets get you to a room to relax in. I bet this is a bit overwhelming." He stepped back and the tears kept falling. He took his hand and brushed them away. Grabbing my hand he led me to a red and gold decorated room. "I'll have someone bring up your clothes later. There's books, a radio, privacy. This will be all yours." He smiled and I just wanted to cry all over again. "Maybe you should take a bath and a nap. I'll bring you some food after a while."
He left the room and I collapsed, slumping down the wall. Everyting I'd been dreading and keeping inside came pouring out of me. By the end I felt drained of all life. I crawled into the bed and let the moonlight fill the room. My eye lid felt heavier opening than they did closing when someone knocked on my door.
"Hey, I brought you some food. My mom insisted that I bring it in." To my disappointment it was one of the girls. She had long curly blonde hair and green eyes like their mother. She set the food on the stand next yo the bed before sitting by my feet. "So how did you meet Dom?" I bring several times before really understanding.
"He saved me from my brother."
"What did your brother do to make you feel the need to come home with my brother?" She put and over emphasis on the word my.
"I... He..." Speechless. I was caught speechless.
"Look, we don't really want you here. I don't know yup or why you think you can stay here but we want you to go. Dom might think you're cute, but we see right through you and you won't be here long." She stood up and left the room leaving me to cry alone again. I dint know how long I was asleep this time but when I opened my eyes it was pitch black apart from the small stream of light peaking in through the top of the curtains.
"I want to go home." I whispered to myself.
"Why?" Dominic's sleepy voice mumbled causing me to jump away from him. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What's wrong?"
After catching my breath and slowing my heart rate I was able to answer him, there was no point in lying anyway. "You sisters don't want me here and m not sure me being here is a good idea anymore. I don't ant to be here." My voice was getting louder. He wrapped me n a hug. There were beginning to be too many of those. I pushed him away.
"Are you okay? I can take you home if you want. I'd hate to see you leave, but I want you to be happy." He sounded sad at the end. "Will you talk to me about why you want to leave first? If it's just because you feel uncomfortable can I ask you to let me try and make you feel comfortable?" His eyes were pleading from what I could see. It was the most vulnerable I'd seen him.
"I'm just not sure I belong here. I didn't want to be a bother to your family. I don't want you to take care of me." I put my face in my hands and heard him chuckle. "Please don't laugh at me. I don't like being a joke."
"Who told you that you were a joke?"
"My brother told some people that I was a gag gift. That our dad bought me as a present for payback." He put my head on his chest and stroked my hair, I didn't push him away this time.
"I promise you're no joke, you're a gift. Sweet and innocent. I'm sorry if I laugh, it's just that I've never seen someone quite like you before." His lips touched the top of my head. "I wish I could take away all the things that make you sad, but all I can try to do is help you forget."
"You're so nice." My chest bubbled with laughter. He made soft shushing noises.
"Let's go to sleep. Its late and everyone else is sleeping."
"Why are you in here?" The question took us both off guard.
"This was my room sweetheart. As big as this place is, it only has a few rooms. I'll sleep on the floor if you want me to." He let go of me to grab one of the many pillows.
"No." I put my hand on his. "Stay. Please." He put an arm around my waist and pulled me to lay next to him. His arm never left. His nose nestled into my hair and shortly after I heard his quietly snoring. I tried to close my eyes and sleep but nothing worked. The sunlight started to leak through the curtains before I had finally fallen asleep.