The Captive

Chapter 6: Confrontation

Vasilisa's POV

I froze.

I gulped.

And then I turned around.

He was a fiery storm of rage and I wanted to hide under the table, but since that would do me no good, I answered him.

I replied flatly "I let myself out."

He snarled, taking strides forward "I can see that. How?" He stopped a few feet away.

I had to tilt my head up to look at him. I pulled the pin out of my pocket slowly "With this."

He reached forward and I marveled at how his long fingers brushed mine gently before ripping the pin out of my grasp and throwing it across the room. "You left before your punishment was up, boy!" He growled in my face.

I inhaled deeply, trying to reign in the urge to tackle him "How many more days did you intend to leave me down there? I did not think you intended to kill me as punishment."

He scowled "What in the hell are you talking about?"

I scoffed "If you left me down there a few more days you'd be bringing up a body. I don't know if you know this, but us humans need food and water to live."

He peered at me, before straightening to his full height and peering at me some more.

He turned and stalked away, calling behind him "Follow me boy!"

I glanced at Julie who was staring at where he'd been with wide eyes and then towards me before shooing me on "Go, V. Be careful, please." She pleaded.

I sighed and jogged after him. If at all possible, he looked angrier. "We're going to pay a little visit to the man you accosted the other night." He announced bitterly.

I stumbled after him through the torch-lit hallways. He clenched his fists "Duran. He was supposed to be taking you food and water as punishment for his actions against you and your sister. You're saying he did not?" He stopped.

So did I. I watched him as he turned. 

I glanced around at our shadows that danced on the stone walls and realized we were all alone. Anything could happen in these halls. My stomach dropped, but I didn't let it impair my speech "Does it look like I've eaten in three days?"

His jaw clenched "Not really, but it's so hard to tell with boys of your age."

I felt a litlte twinge in my heart about that. His golden eyes caught my microscopic flinch "Well, I haven't. The only thing that visited me in those cells were the rats."

He gave a little nod and then said something I thought I'd never hear "I'm sorry."

I stilled. "We would never starve you or your people. Our treatment may be harsher than a life of leisure, but we would not kill you through famine. We would not kill at all as punishment for something as petty as a little disrespect."

I started feeling angry again. His words were pissing me off more "No, but you needed to make an example out of me, didn't you?" I hissed.

He grasped hold of my shoulders and pressed me against the wall "I would never treat someone harshly to make an example of them. The quicker you understand that I demand fair treatment, the better."

I gave a mirthless laugh "Fair treatment? Really?"

He growled and ripped my hat off. I shouted in protest but he held it away from me. I felt unsafe.

"What did I say about that arrogance, V?" He asked in a soft voice. I knew that voice. That was a scary calm voice that mom would use when I did something bad. She wouldn't yell or shout, she'd just use that voice.

"What did I say?" He repeated in the same tone.

His gaze held me. I felt like a child, and a helpless one at that. I answered him in a whisper, looking away from that eerie gaze, unable to hold it any longer "Get over it." 

He released some of his tension "That's right. Let's make a deal."

He raised his hand and I watched it all the way as it slowly came to my face and pushed the hair out of my face so there was nothing blocking our stare-down. "I promise to keep my men more under control and you be a good boy and help me around here. A personal assistant of sorts?"

I was shocked by his offer "What do you want me to do?" I asked cautiously.

He gave a smirk "Be my shadow. I need you to do something for me, you do it. You keep me company too."

I wasn't sure if I liked this or not. 

I really did. I wanted to be by him, but if I was, then there was a greater chance I would be discovered.

Risk versus reward. I could learn where his men were and when. That would make it easier to plan an escape. I tried not to analyze the risks too much as I replied quietly "Fine."

He smiled, straightening and I watched him dazedly as he placed the cap back on my head "Good." 

God, he was gorgeous.

He started walking and I was still watching him, rooted to my spot. He raised his hand "Shadow!" He called.

I ran after him. "We still have an errant food delivery man to talk to."

He seemed in a much better disposition than he had been a heartbeat ago. Wasn't that a disease?

When we got to a door he turned and looked at me thoughtfully "Has anyone ever told you, you have very beautiful eyes?" 

I inhaled, swallowed and then looked away, blushing "I have...handsome eyes." I muttered petulantly. 

He laughed loudly "Yes, very manly, especially with those eyelashes."

I huffed, finding embarrassment somewhere among the shocking flattery. I'd just received my first compliment from a man.