Out From the Shadows

Chapter 3

I sit on a chair of African black wood that makes me feel rich myself just sitting in it. I try crossing my legs to look more elegant and professional, but it feels unusual so I resort back to my original position. My hands lay on my lap and they nervously rub each other relentlessly. The person at the table examines me and I feel his eyes linger on my face. I consider myself good looking, but I think that's because I have only seen myself once in a mirror. I brush my hair back over my shoulders and rest my hands on top of the table.

"So, why me?" I inquire with confidence. I'm not known to stammer or show weakness.

"You are a very smart, beautiful girl. I think you can answer that question for yourself." The man sitting to my left answers smoothly. It's startling how he matches my tone, all to show his dominance.

I sit back in my chair and take in my surroundings. Once entering the house, I took only a brief glimpse of the entry way, the room I quickly walked through, and didn't even bother with the room I'm currently in.

The floor throughout the entry way is white marble or some kind of white substance. The walls are a soft brown color that compliments the red silk curtains cradling the windows. Going straight leads to a room full of chairs and couches. I brushed my hand along the arm rest of the nearest couch when I passed by. It was nothing like I had ever felt before. The person, probably a maid, walked quickly in front of me through this area of the house so I couldn't meander through the room and explore.

She took a hard left and I followed her into another huge room. A long narrow table filled the long room with only a narrow space to walk around the table. With eight chairs along the lengths of the table and one on each end, I guessed it was used for parties and guests. Upon entering, I hadn't noticed the ma sitting in the chair closest to the entrance of the room. The maid pulled the chair at the end of the table out and I sat down while she pushed it back in. Ashton entered the room a couple minutes after and I follow him with my eyes until he too took a seat, across from the man.

He has enough hair on his head to not be considered bald, though there isn't much. With a fat round face, he reminds me of this one merchant who came to town on business. Both look well fed. The only difference is the man in front of me his dressed more formally. His eyes are big and beady, full of pent up rage and feelings. The skin around them droop from a lack of sleep. There are no wrinkles left in his skin from smiling or laughing. A serious man.

"Sir, you are correct about the first two things, but not the last." The man gives a low chuckle and I give him a questioning gaze. Most people would be intimidated by me. Not him.

"Just think about it. Why would a wealthy, handsome man like my son, choose you? Your looks? Maybe. Intelligence? Maybe. I'm not exactly aware of what he sees in you."

"Maybe he wants company, other than yours. I wouldn't blame him if he did. You are already making me wanna jump out a window." I give him a great big cocky smile.

"Girl, just be thankful that my son chose you. Otherwise, you would still be living your sad, lonely, pathetic life. Not to mention that you have already hurt him. Start acting like a lady and I will start to treat you like one." His tone has gone from playfully serious to down right harsh.

"If you would act like a gentleman, then maybe I would treat you like one."

I permit myself to give him one of my many angry looks. A soft laugh erupts to my right and I look over. Ashton has buried his face into the crook of his elbow in a sorrowful attempt to quiet his disturbance. His father turns to face is son, too, with a cross look. I give him one too.

"Is there something you would like to add, son?" Ashton sits up abruptly and clears his throat loudly.

"Actually, yes. Maybe instead of angering her, you should get right to the point, father. She is clearly not intimidated." He lengthens the syllables in "father" for emphasis and in retaliation to his father's harshness. Ashton gazes in my direction from the corner of his eyes. I barely notice the action but take it as a signal to tell me that he's on my side. I suddenly understand why I'm here, at least partially.

"Alright Miss Weathers, you are to be engaged to Ashton and married. You will be taught how to be a proper lady and there will be no contacting anyone from your old life. You will be Miss Lakers from now on and will accompany Ashton where ever he wants you and you will obey him," he says with warning. I expected that much, to be engaged to a total stranger who bought me hours before. What did I expect otherwise? This day and age, it's common.

The only thing he doesn't have to worry about is me making contact. I have no friends because everyone is too scared of me. Being poor and vulnerable leads to many people becoming weak and sensitive, but not me. I wasn't ever bullied, but could be considered a bully if you ask the right people. It was a lonely childhood so I spent many days out in the wood behind my house exploring. There, I was a queen and treated like one; in my imagination. Reality has other ideas for me though.

The wedding on the other hand is another problem. I have always dreamed of a good looking guy taking me away and getting married to him, but I didn't expect it to happen like this. Some stranger buying me like a slave and forcing me into marriage. Reality is never as good as my imagination.

"I can do most of that, but I will not be a pet to a rich boy playing house," I say through gritted teeth. I've had enough excitement for the night and don't need any more men treating my like a useless girl. I abruptly get up from my chair and push myself away from the table. Ashton is stunned into silence while his father turns redder and redder by the second. Ashton even looks worried, for my sake. They didn't foresee my outrageous action

"Sit down!" He screams angrily, " I am the man of the house, so you better learn now not to disobey me!"

His last statement knocks the breath from my lungs. I'm used to my father yelling at me, but not some strange man who is to be my father-in law. I put a scowl on my face and turn around. As I walk back to the entry way, I turn to my left and stride up the staircase to the second level. After my run-in with Ashton, I was hauled all the way to his carriage and brought to my new suite in his house. I remember to walk three doors down and to my immediate left is my room. I fling the door open and slam it shut.

My back and head rest on the back of the door and I take a breath. The silence is soothing to my pounding heart. I miss my woods and I miss my alone time. With the direction my life seems to be heading, I will have less to none of the things I want.

After my heart beat evens out, I glide to my bed. I never had a bed before. The sheets are made of silk, literally, and I lay out flat on my back. My body sinks in a little bit and I feel cocooned in warmth. The window is slightly open and lets a warm breeze sweep in. I rise from the bed and wander to the bathroom connected to the room. The bathroom consists of a bear-clawed bathtub and a sink with a long counter. Make-up and hair supplies lay spread out all over the counter. I sneer at the thought of being pimped like a peacock. A toilet is placed on the opposite wall of the door. It's a weird contraption that I've never seen before. Strewn across the lid of the toilet is a lacy nightgown that is a navy blue color.

"Are you kidding?!" I whisper to myself deliriously.

I strip out of the new trousers and shirt the Lakers provided me upon my arrival and slip on the nightgown. I may as well enjoy the luxury of silk while it lasts. The mirror above the sink is small, but I can still see the upper half of my body. There is solid navy fabric covering my chest and all around the lower half of my body. The fabric has a layer of lace sewed over it except for my back, which is completely bare. I have to admit, I look really good. I feel exposed though, so much that I charge into the bedroom and bury myself in the covers to hide from anyone's peeping eyes.

After burying myself within my bed, I close my eyes to begin my journey into a deep slumber; that is until my head starts to pound with an oncoming headache. I try to ease the dull discomfort by rubbing my temples, but it ends in a sudden jar of pain. I roll over and ball up tightly. My vision starts to get hazy and I can't quite distinguish anything in front of me. Pain sears through my head causing a shriek to escape my throat. The agony dulls for a couple of seconds then picks back up with greater intensity. The suffering ends up becoming a continuous nightmare. When it becomes too hard to bare, I screech at the top of my lungs to try to distract myself or maybe for some relief. Subconsciously, I hope someone comes to help. Consciously, I just want the pain to end.

The world begins to fade and the colors dull to blend with one another. I feel people surrounding me but don't know exactly who or where, I just sense their presence. Everything disappears and I along with it.