The Debt

Chapter 5

          A week has passed since I arrived here, which seems like a blur. I've spent a good deal of that time cooking but I don't mind. I haven't really seen much of Nikolas since the argument between Sarah and himself, but that doesn't bother me. It gives me shivers when I see him around the place. I kind of maybe find someone really attractive, but I'm not sure what he feels about me. No one treats me like a new person anymore, it's like I've been here forever. There is only a couple of people who treat me badly, surprising considering the reason I am here in the first place. As much as it's not that bad here I still cry myself to sleep at night. I miss home so badly. 

          "Hey Siena, are you okay?" asks Alaric, sitting down next to me. I nod quickly, causing him to raise an eyebrow. So he may be the person who I found super-duper attractive. Mammy would be giving me the 'I know what you're thinking' look if she could see me right now. Bless you Mammy. 

          "You're lying to me, no?" probes Alaric, leaning down to look me in the eye. 

          "Nope, no lying here," I say and he accepts my words for truth. I look at him quickly.

          "I want to watch a movie!" I state out loud rather than to myself. I look through the cupboards of films until I find the one I am looking for. I haven't seen this film in such a long time. Alaric asks me what film I want to watch and I turn the cover so he can't see it and he rolls his eyes at me. 

         "Let me see," he says, reaching for the case but I move it out of his reach.

         "Go sit down," I fake-order at him as I turn to put the DVD in the machine. I hear a disappointed groan behind me and I twirl to find him right behind me. 

          "I am NOT watching that again. I watched it once before . . . never again," he informs me like he has been scarred for life. I blink at him quickly. He can't be talking about this film. This is the best film ever. 

          "Please," I ask him, giving him puppy eyes which I have learnt he can't refuse. He groans and walks toward the kitchen. I wonder where he is going at first but he comes back with snacks that I can't refuse and a bottle of soda. My eyes light up and I jump down on the sofa watching the title credits roll onto the screen. 

          "This is the story of how I died. Don't worry, this is actually a very fun story and the truth is, it isn't even mine," says the manly voice and I squeal only to feel eyes on me. 

          "If you do that during the whole movie we may as well turn it off," he says, getting serious for a moment. I roll my eyes as the girls walk into the room. The girls squeal along with me as he speaks again. "God his voice is so dreamy" Sarah says and I can't help but giggle. It's so true though. 

          "THATS IT!" Alaric refuses, getting up and walking out of the room. We hear him grumbling to himself about 'unrealistic expectations for mens voices' and we erupt in laughter. 

           By the end of the movie Alaric had made his way back into the room and was perching on a chair in the corner where no one can see him. How could he keep his 'dangerous' reputation if he was known for watching Disney movies? Still . . . they looked good together in the end, after getting rid of that ridiculously long blonde hair. 

          "I SEE YOU ALARIC!" jumps up Amara and charges over to grab him before he can escape. He raises his hands in mock defeat. I smile but still the pang for home is in my chest no matter what I do. 

         Suddenly a roar of anger could be heard through the house, making everyone stand on the spot they were in. Angry stomps make their way through the hallways until they get to where everyone is standing. Nikolas is looking angry . . . angrier than usual. He always looks like he has a chip on his shoulder anyways. He looks dead at me. What have I done?

         "So I accept you into this house with respect for your choice to save your family. Do you know what your father has done? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?" he bellows, walking up to me, while I can't help but step back away from him a few steps but he soon catches up to me. Sarah and Amara jump up to protect me but Gino and Alaric stop them. I wouldn't want them getting hurt for something that I don't even know about. Nikolas walks around a little bit like he has a lot of anger inside of him that he doesn't know how to control.

         "Niko - . . ."

         "Silence," he orders with a wave of his hand and Sarah does as she is told. What is up with the two of them? Are they a couple? He rubs his eyes as if he is trying to calm down. 

          "Siena you are innocent in this but I have to show him that he has done wrong , do you understand me?" he roars. He stares at me for a couple of seconds, deeply like he is trying to get into my soul, before he slaps me, hard; causing gasps to erupt around me. I didn't even realise he had done it, but I was on the floor quicker than I realised was possible. I've never been hit before. I don't want him to see it hurts but it does.  My hand covers my cheek but its quickly grabbed by his hand, and lowers my wrist. I flinch from his touch and he sighs, bending down until he is eye level with me. 

         "Your three nights begin tonight," he says, and my heart feels like it's been ripped into two. 

          "B-b-but you said - . . ."

          "I know what I said! I would have kept to my word. The only thing your father had to do was wait for me to contact him. My men think I don't honour my agreements anymore, so I have to comply," he states fiercely, bending so low his face is literally centimeters away from mine. 

          "What does that mean? What did my Pappy do?" I ask and he chuckles. 

          "It's funny. You have such loyalty to your 'Pappy' who would let you leave with me. He stole from me again Siena. I can't let you leave now," he informs me with as much care as he could give me I guess given his anger. I sit here willing to give myself to him and my Pappy would do that to me. Someone takes hold of my arm and sits me down on a sofa. Tears begin to fall down my cheeks as I realise that I might not get to see my family again.

          "Siena - . . ."

          "Don't ," I state simply, going for a walk. 

          It's been a couple of hours since Nikolas broke the news to me and I don't really know what to say. I'm terrified for whatever is to come but I will try to keep my cool. I won't let him get the better of me. He wants to see me break or something but I'm not going to let that happen. I hear footsteps behind me and I snap out of my daydream and look behind me. 

         "Are you and Nikolas a couple?" I ask and the person looks at me wide eyed. 

         "What gave you that impression? No no, we used to date for a while before I knew what he was and who he worked for. Why?" she asks me curiously. 

         "I didn't want you to like . . . hate me after . . ." I say, but it still doesn't sound real. I'm not eighteen I don't want to do this. I have to do this but I don't want to. 

          "I've come to tell you that you're to be ready in the room at Eleven, he'll come shortly after. Don't worry I'll be there - well not there, but I can help you get ready if you want and walk you to the room," Sarah questions and I shake my head.

         "I never thought . . . what am I supposed to wear?" I ask, feeling stupid for asking such a question. Goodness what have I turned into? I never though that this would be happening to me. The more I think about it the more I find myself getting nervous all over again. I sit down and feel tears in my eyes. 

         "If it makes you feel any better, this happened to me as well. Not with Nikolas . . . but I know how you feel. Honestly there is nothing you can do really until it happens. Why don't you come for a walk in the garden with me?" Sarah asks and I accept her proposal. I walk down the hallways with her until we get to the garden door. She has a smile on her face that makes me feel like everything is going to be okay, though of course I'm still terrified . . . it helps having her there with me.