Is It Love? DROGO

Chapter 22: Comfort Zone

©Claire Zamora

Edited by inkandpixie

Red Crandall

Arriving the corridor, I find Lorie sitting in front of my door, with her toys. Ah no, not her!

"I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

"Don't start, Lorie!"

"Anyway, we can never say anything to you!"

I help her get up and push her to her room. I'm still shaken by my conversation with Drogo and I can't even be alone to ease my pain. I have to look good - as if nothing's happened - and play nicely with Lorie. All this masquerade bristles me. My heart feels heavy.

Lorie sets up her dolls and their house on the floor of her room, as usual, and waits for me to sit beside her. I groan.

"Can't we try something else, for a change?"

"The last time you suggested something else, you found yourself tied up in the garden!" Not false!

"I don't really want to play today..."

"But I do!"

"If I understand correctly, my opinion doesn't count."

"Why would it count? You're paid to take care of me, so I decide what to do!"

"Normally, I wouldn't mind, but right now, I don't have the patience to play make believe."

"You're so annoying, at least with Nicolae, I could."

"Oh, dammit Lorie, leave your brother out of it, he's just a dirty hypocrite who has only one idea in mind: to rule everybody's life!"

"You're talking rubbish, my brother's great and everyone loves him!"

"Well, everyone is stupid!"

"Shut up or I'll scream!"

"Well, go ahead and yell! It'll open your lungs!"

"I want you to go away!"

"I thought you wanted us to play dolls?"

"Nah! Go away!"

"Slight problem! I'm paid to take care of you, remember?"

Lorie starts screaming like mad. So much so that I feel as if she has supernatural vocal cords.

"Oh, please Lorie, I don't have all day, spare me your tantrums and stop messing around!"

"You're the spoiled brat! And I hate you!"

I laugh in her face. I really haven't got the patience to handle her with kid gloves. Not today.

"You're going to have to change yourself a bit, old girl! You keep repeating yourself!"

"You're the old girl, and I'm going to tell Nicolae you're being nasty to me!"

"You've already tried that and may I remind you that it didn't do any good."

"This time I'll say you're abusing me!"

"And when he reads your thoughts and he sees that you're lying, he'll never believe you again!"

"Shut up, I hate you!"

"That too, you've already said."

The little girl's eyes turn a terrifying garnet red. I'm aware I'm pushing her to the limit, but I don't care. Nothing's important anymore. I'm still feeling bad about mine and Drogo's conversation and I really don't feel like making an effort. And especially not with this little pest who makes my life hell.