Alpha King and I

Chapter 3: Unexpected

I awoke to mother clawing into my arm. On instinct I bite on my cheek so as not to make a sound. I looked around me, it was still dark, behind her the clock said 2 am. The dress was slightly wrinkled and out of place. I used my other hand to shift it back to its more natural look. I don't get why I had to fall alseep in this clothing, but whatever keeps them from getting upset...

Why is she here? And why does she look so neat? Does she have another client to go to? 

"Mother? Is something wrong?" She smiled at me. Playing with some of the curled hair cascading in front of her shoulders. Finally her nails released from my arm. 

"You're finally awake dear. "

"I am." 

"We need to talk." Code for, I need to not speak while she speaks. I move my arm away from her and more toward myself. Time to prepare for whatever she has to say.

Stretch out fingers until they hurt, pull in some more oxygen, force darkness to shadow my thoughts, and tenseness to cloud my feelings. It takes barely a moment of doing this to be ready. I know it can't be good, it never is with her, but I've dealt with it before and I'll do it again.

She states, "I know you can't kill yourself, that's why I made such a joke." How did she know? I've not told her of my immunity. Why is she bringing this up? My fingers close back together. Tight like a knot.

Mother speaks again, "I tried to kill you many times after you were born."

I wasn't too surprised.

"No matter how many times I slammed your little head into the floor, no matter how much blood squirted from you, you just wouldn't die. Honestly it was one of the most frustrating things in my life. " My throat itched a little. I could feel some wetness in my eyes. I blinked it away fast.

"I was cursed with you," she smiled, "but then blessed..."

I looked around at the walls of my room. Plain copper walls, not a window in sight. Nothing to look out at, nothing to capture my gaze other then mother's silk jacket. For a moment my hope swelled a little inside me.

"You're the only reason we have the lifestyle we do now dear. All this money..." The hope died as quickly as it came.  I clenched my teeth down hard. The pressure stressing my gums. I didn't care. Can't this just be over with already? I just want to go to sleep! Hold it in. Hold it in.

I let my breath escape me, slow and deep. Calmness fills me again. More of an empty greyness, but calmness is the closest word I can relate it to. This has got to end soon, I just need to wait. Dressed like that, she has to have a client. Her clients do not like waiting.

Just a few more moments. 

She moves closer to me. Grabbing both my hands, holding them tight. Her nails dig deep into the back of my knuckles. I look back at her, staring into her eyes. Looking for something, anything.

There is nothing there. Just this dark dark aura. Dark enough to prevent me from seeing what was just behind her side. I couldn't even see the clock.

Her face got far too close to my own as the words came out.

"Now you are going to earn that money. You have an appointment tonight."

I jerk back. My eyes wide. I can feel both my hands trembling. No, no, no... no.  I just wanted to go to sleep. Why? This is her thing, not mine! I almost feel myself about to scream, but I pull it in. Hold it down like I always do. I can't have father getting involved. It'll just get worse. 

She yanks me out of the bed. Keeping her grip on one of my hands. She had let go of the other. We start walking toward the door. I'm not even able to put my shoes on. I can hear her humming.

"Let's go dear."

What am I going to do?! I don't know if I can handle this. I just need to calm down. It can't be that bad.

Right?