Uncovered

Chapter Sixteen - Nyrie

As she made her way through the manor with Brax, Nyrie noticed things about the place she never cared about before. It was like she'd been awoken to the world around her for the first time.

She knew the place where she lived was old but had never paid attention to how run down it in fact was. The paint on the corridor walls were probably once a beautiful shade of white but now they were stained, and paint was peeling off and cracking in some places.

The running boards along the bottom edge of the wall were all scuffed with black marks and some areas even looked like they'd been chewed by rats. The dark stained wooden floor was so worn from all the feet that it almost looked polished. Even though Nyrie knew it was anything but clean.

Every now and then some rooms would smell mouldy.

There aren't enough windows in this place, she thought to herself. Suddenly very aware of her need for some fresh air.

She was literally living in filth, even though she knew Ivan had young girls clean the Manor until he thought them suitable to begin training. Nyrie wondered where Akira was and what she was doing.

Perhaps she'd ask Brax later if they came of out Lorna's cave alive.

They walked along in silence.

Sometimes Nyrie preferred the quietness, letting herself get distracted by her never-ending thoughts and wasteful dreams. People walked by, mainly other girls and women who worked here so that they could have a roof over their heads and 3 meals a day.

From all different backgrounds, all different shapes and sizes and ages. Nyrie ignored them all. Two pretty blondes giggled and whispered as they went by. She didn't even give them the satisfaction of an eye-roll, even though deep down all she wanted to do was knock their heads together.

You'd think by now she was used to the snickering that happened behind her back. She was only good at hiding all her feelings from everyone and pretending not to care. Nyrie did her best to avoid as many girls around here as possible, so far it has served her well. She enjoys her own company anyway.

"Does that bug you?"

Brax said softly from behind her. It was spoken with a nervous tone, as if he didn't really mean to ask the question out loud.

"Yes. No. I don't know."

And they left it at that as they both arrived at the infirmary.

She steadied herself, thought about what she was going to say and then didn't even bother knocking as she entered.

***

Shaylin glanced up at Nyrie from behind a worktable full of little jars as they walked in, then went back to re-filling the vials quickly. Brax stood on guard in the doorway.

Looking around Nyrie quickly noticed that Lorna wasn't here. The beds down the end of the room all empty with the dividing curtains all pushed back and tucked away.

"Where's Lorna?"

"Not 'ere."

"What do you mean not here?"

Still focused on her vials Shaylin answered. "Like I just said. Not here."

"Well, where is she then?"

"How should I know?"

"When did she leave?"

"Can't remember."

Nyrie's patience was wearing very thin and her frustration kept growing as she watched Shaylin's light blonde ringlet-curls bounce around as she moved and measured the liquid and completely ignored her presence.