Emperor's Pet

Late Night Snack

A tap of a knock echo through my room as I open my resting eyes. I fling the cover off my body exposing that treacherous maid outfit. My feet drag across the floor begging to go lay back down. But, I'm afraid they might kick down the door if I don't answer in time. I cracked open the door just enough to see who was there. To my suprise, it was Tala, Jennete, and Bridget. What I was really suprised with is that Cassandra was here too. They all stand there arkwardly with each other except for Bridget, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hey, Akira! It's about dinner time, so we came to pick you up!" Bridget explain in her cheerful tone.

"How did you guys find me?" I indicated the question to Tala, Jennete, and Bridget. I told Cassandra where my room was not them.

"Bridget, Jennete, and I were gonna go to your building where your living courters were until we ran into Cassandra at the front desk here", Tala intervened,"We asked Matthew where your building was"

"Where's your guys' building at?" I ask curious. I didn't know there was more places where they stored the other werewolves here. How many buildings were there?

"We all live two blocks down from here", Tala answered,"Well except for Cassandra"

They all stood there out of place having distance away from Cassandra. I didn't get what was going on or how to react to this.

"Shall we get going then?" I fake a smile,"Don't want to be late to dinner. I'm starving!"

"So am I!" Bridget giggled and went down the hall. Jennete started after her and Tala waited then walked after them. Cassandra yanked on my arm bringing me close to her where we walked by each other.

She brought her mouth to my ear,"I need to talk to you in private. It's important", she whispered. Cassandra withdrawaled and created a gap between us avoiding my stare of confusion. What could be so important?

*****

The place where they fed us is very...small? I don't know how to describe it, but it wasn't pleasant or comfortable. Almost everything was grey around us and didn't have much color. The tables had weird looking  seats that gave the illusion of floating in the air. Though they were wooden stools attached to the cold, solid metal table. We had free entry to come in here without any cards or codes. Now that I realize this they only allow us in certain places for us to roam. At least we have some freedom. If you want to call it that.

"We have our own table that we claimed over there", Tala pointed to the corner of the room. It's far away from the exit and fair distance from everyone else. We weaved our way through the other werewolves to the table.

There were two seats on the longer side of the table on either sides. Also one seat on the end and head of our table. I sat down by Cassandra on the side of the table closest to the grey wall. Across from Jennete and Bridget; Cassandra across from Jennete and Bridget across from me. Tala sat at the head of the table which was in the corner. As we got situated in our spots, I took the time to look around. It's like a natural thing to me like a good habit to have. Like now I noticed some tables don't have the same amount of seats we do. Or that we have an empty seat at the end of our table. I get it from my Mom.

"So when do we eat?" I ask when my stomach growls.

"When it's time", Tala answered vaguely. I look at Jennete to Bridget who did not add anything to it.

"Translation is when the Night men say we can", Cassandra crossed her arms. I give a brief sigh and look around some more. Second round of "admiring" this most beautiful environment. This time I saw stairs close to the exit that lead to another floor. There were many doors up there that I bet are locked up tight.

"What are those doors up there?" I lean forward. Jennete and Bridget were busy playing Hot Hands and were giggling up a storm. Tala seemed to ignore the question and kept her eyes down in her lap. Cassandra layed her forehead on the edge of the table her arms covering the sides of her face. She lifted her head and met my gaze giving me a shrug, before going back to the same position. I sat there waiting and waiting in silence with no one saying a word. Just the noise of every other wolf talking around us.

*****

Time passed slowly as the sun went down and settled on the horizon outside. Jennete and Bridget no longer played around and giggle, but sat there holding hands under the table. Tala messed with her hair and made sure there was no tangles in it to have something to keep herself busy. Cassandra sometimes nodded off almost hitting her head on the table. Along with everyone else who had gone quiet like birds when darkness is upon them. Few of them making quiet whispers to each other then going silent again. All of them have the same expression of being sad, tired, or even mad. Including me.

Tala's head jerks up as a smile goes across her face,"Here they come", she told us. Jennete and Bridget perked up and spun around to the entrance. Cassandra glanced up and looked back down at the grey, metal table. I tried to see, but the people in front of us sat up straight excited to finally get food. A roar of voices spoke as they all started to stand to see what was being served.

"Alright! Alright! Sit down! Wait until served! You know the drill!" A man shouted above them all hastily. I didn't like their attitude or treatment with us. They should expect us to be hungry from not eatting all day and waited hours for our one meal. I shouldn't complain at least were getting food....