Alpha King and I

Chapter 6: Inside her Head

Baba was right, I really did know nothing. Not how I got here or even where here is. She called this place Devaleon, but I've never heard of it before today. My eyes fell back onto the chandelier as I gripped the fresh soap bar Baba had given me. Just like the elegance of the violet stones above me, this whole room breathed formality. When I had checked out the shower Baba had instructed I use, not a speck was out of place. Down to the silver lined rim of the tub, which sparkled like it was brand new. This must be a guest room.

Was that a good sign?

Questions filled my mind, but fear paralyzed me from inquiring further while Baba was still in the room. Preventing the words from getting out. I feared if I angered these people that they'd probably hurt me. Badly. Especially considering how easily the Cadeth person had done those things to me. The burning, the boiling water. They could even kill me I bet. I doubt my immunity could defeat him.

Seeing how wealthy they must be for a room like this, I'm very sure they'd get away with murder without a second thought. Though if I wasn't even on Earth, as Baba had implied, would killing me over an indiscretion hold the same weight? This place and its people could be completely different.

I don't even know the basic temperaments of where I am. What could trigger my harm or not. Usually I'd follow the rules I'd made for myself at home, but this wasn't home. Still, it was safer to tread waters gently than in rush. Thinking of it, I don't really have a choice.

That guy who took me, he was terrifying, and definitely strong enough that if he was why I was here. Then I'll probably be forced to stay here.

I would figure this out myself then.

Now Baba stood just outside the door. Her loud humming an opportunistic distraction, which I took advantage of as I explored the room. First with the paintings. Still holding the soap bar in one hand, my fingers on my other hand grasped tightly at a corner of the largest painting. The one of this supposed King. I wanted to check the quality of it, see if maybe that might give me more clues on whether this was even slightly true or not. A prop would be made as a photocopy or something cheap like that. While something more real would possibly be signed and made of more quality materials. There was glass in between the painting and the frame so I couldn't feel test the front. I wasn't knowledgeable enough to know how to tell just from looking. Gently, I tried to pry the frame toward me. So I could look behind it.

It wouldn't budge.

I sighed in frustration. The entire frame was adhered to the wall. I went to check another frame, the one of the woman and the winged man. It was adhered too. A few moments later of quiet checking and I learned they all were. The frames weren't the only things too. The bed itself was nailed down. It was strange and I couldn't help but wonder why. This did support my theory slightly that these may all be props, but everything was so real that I still wasn't sure. Maybe this area was prone to earthquakes.

Or maybe they really are werewolves, and maybe... they have really bad tempers.

I press my palm into the bedframe. Trying to push as much as I can. Unable to even cause the frame to slightly squeak. It was so solid and firm. Yet still it was nailed down?

Maybe they're just really strong.

No, this is ridiculous. That can't be true. I shake my head left and right, trying to expel the less logical possibilities from my mind. Baba is still humming ever so loud. My eyes dash around for any other features in the room that I could inspect. Quick my gaze lands right onto the barred window.

The bars looked a little bit different from everything else here. They were thinner and of a darker aged metal. Maybe a bronze or something like it. Older than everything else, maybe the last remnant of what this room looked like once before. My steps are quick as I move to it in order to properly check it out.

As I get close enough to it to touch, I can see remnants of what look like mineral deposits around the edges. My finger brushes against them, feeling the rough texture. The deposits are hard and solid, almost becoming part of the metal, they'd been here so long. It was odd compared to the neatness and perfection of everything else. The age of it tells me this room has been here for more time than a prop. The bars looked to even use a tongue and groove style locking system to hold them in place. Not very secure and also not common in modern houses.

Curious I test it out. Grabbing at the farthest bars with each of my hands. With a light tug it comes right off. Making not a sound, though dust blew out like confetti as the bars fell with my arms, far heavier than I expected. The dust was dark red. As if semi-fresh blood had dried on it first. I examined a little closer and noticed staining on a lower corner of one of the holders for the bars. Fear settled in me once more. The staining was splattered slightly on the glass as well. Moving my focus to that too. I placed the bars on the floor and brought my fingers to trace around the red spots on the glass. There wasn't much, maybe someone had been hit here? Or fell back into the bars? I wondered if this was really a guest room or had origins of a much darker nature.

Further my mind embraced the possibility that at least maybe this was some type of castle or a building built from an older time. But it could still be of Earth and doesn't prove much else. I wonder how thick this glass is, or if it was even glass. An older building, especially a castle, wouldn't have glass like modern glass as almost no one could make it. I may have not been a very learning heavy student, but my professor on social sciences actually had an unrelated tangent on the subject just a few days ago. My memory of it still fresh. The glass should also feel like slow melting ice stuck in time.

I rubbed my finger across, noticing the subtle grooves. They were very defined and consistent in shape. Like the glass was being pulled down. So maybe it is older. Feeling a bit more confident, I gave it a light tap with my nail. When my nail clicks on it, a thump sound fills the air instead of the more high pitched sound a thin glass would make.

I tap it once more.

Another thump.

This glass must be very thick. Maybe even thicker than the wall. I couldn't tell before this because of how clear it was. Showing the sun setting sky with near exact clarity. I switch my gaze to the edge and my suspicion is confirmed. The glass is so thick I can see the bareness of it all the way across the wall and a little past. The wall which other than what was directly in the room, had an outer color of deep dark grey. Like stone. Also like a castle; for a King.

I shake the irrational thoughts out of my head once more.

I let out a low sigh. Stretching out my hands to calm myself down. It's then I realized I misplaced the soap. Below right next to the bars is where it has fallen. I grab the bars and quickly put them back in place.

Clang!

Baba stops humming. I grab the soap fast and dash to the door. Before she can speak, her hand shaking the nob, I force the door open.

She'd left it unlocked.

Our eyes meet. I tried my best to smile.

"Sorry Baba, I was just exploring a bit." I hoped the truth wouldn't hurt.

Baba smiled back.

"Of course deary, take your time-" suddenly her eyes fall onto the soap bar that I held with a far too tight grip, "is the soap not to your liking?" Her eyes narrow in concern.

I shake my head no, and whisper that I'm fine. Baba's gaze widens to a more comfortable expression.

She continues speaking, "That's good. Well as I was saying, no need to rush, his Highness-the King, won't be back for quite a few hours." I nod again, this time in the form of a yes. Indicating I understand. Baba wiggles her fingers slightly up and down, a gentle request for me to back up. Which I do. She then closes the door. Humming again. Louder this time.

I take a few steps back before exhaling a large breath. At the mention of the "King", my mind wandered once more. This Cadeth, another possibly crazy individual. He would know more. He's the one who took me after all, and the one in charge.

A cold shiver ran up my back as I kept thinking of him. Mother had implied she'd seemingly made an exchange of something with me for money. The something obviously being my life. For what? Only time will tell.

Why? I don't know. I'm too scared to think more about it though. The possibilities are endless, and just get worse the more I let my mind ponder. Wouldn't it be cool if he was just lonely, and maybe a little too awkward for a regular hello? Offputting but nice, like those little blind emerald beetles that come out in the summers.

My body warms up a little. A small chuckle leaves me. Relaxing me from my previous fear driven state. Obviously, this is probably not it, but it's more believable than a werewolf king kidnapping me with a reason left unsaid. Leaving me to my mental devices... as Baba had implied.

I start walking to the shower, thoughts still lingering. No longer did I desire to keep trying to figure out details from the room. Nor would I go back and try to talk with Baba, or later, him. I'll shut my mouth unless I have to speak or can't hold it in any longer.

Figuring it'd be in my best interest to not ask too much about these things. I've learned quite well that this type of information eventually comes. If I wait patiently enough. Calm enough. I will discover what's true and what's not.

It would be difficult as usual, but trying to force it out of potentially unstable people will probably just anger them and cause consequences I was quite sure I couldn't handle. This lady, Baba, must be awfully strong too, for just her to be left here, not even needing to keep a close eye on me. At least she was nice, and the cookies were good.

I finally make it back to the shower in the bathroom. Turning on the water which only had settings for warm and hot. My mind redirected to thoughts about my current predicament. This new place, my being missing from my old one.

It's not like my being here causes problems for anyone else. I have no one.

Just the dogs and they will forget me soon enough. A sadness touches at the heavy beating of my chest.

Memories take over. Dark ones. The angered fists of my Father being one of the stronger memories. I can almost feel the pulsating throbbing of bruises forming which normally my body was used to. Bruises which, like the long-gone blistering, were no longer present. Just the soft reflection of the warm water against my skin. It must have been a few days that I'd been out, as bruises take longer than cuts to heal.

I start to put on some of the soap. It had a very flowery yet citrus-like smell. Also different from home, where I only had one type of soap, and that soap would scratch at my skin while filling my nostrils with the scent of tar and tea tree. A strong bitter plantish smell.

Home was just a far away nightmare already. This place, I wonder what it will be like in comparison.

A nightmare, or a dream?




A/N: Sorry with how long this chapter is. Feel free to use the comments spot to mark a place if you need for coming back to. lol ^^ I hope this chapter helps to show Selese's mindset on the whole situation a bit better. :) I also hope it's not too telly. >.< Don't worry, lots of action in the next chapt.