The Bargain

Showing lust

DINAH

I almost go after Myka, but both Sasha and Carli stop me, telling me that she just needs some time alone, that we should let her breathe. So I sit back down and watch her disappear like an angry tornado. I've seen her angry many times - more times than I can count - but this time she's practically fuming.

Myka has always been more temperamental and fiery than me, quick to action and passionated. When she feels something she reacts, instantly, without a second thought. Even as a kid she'd immediately go after the throat of anyone who tried to get under her skin, without any hesitation.

Me, I'm more cool headed. I like to chew on things before I react, to think them over and see them from different angles. I don't like the thought of losing myself to my emotions. I've never witnessed anything good come from it.

What they told us freaked me out too, I can't deny that cold wave of dread washing over me, but losing control and fighting in outrage won't help. Not now, not here. Not in this situation.

I quietly pray that my sister calms down and doesn't go off the rails.

Carli reels her emotions back in smoothly, as if she's pushing a rewind button. It's almost creepy how well she does it, like she's used to pushing everything aside and put her broken self back together again. That sadness and nervousness is just suddenly gone from her face.

"Well then.." She says and takes a deep breath, clasping her hands together. "Let me show you your room."

She leads the way upstairs, to a room at the end of the long hallway. It's big - almost bigger than those small student apartments in the city - with a fireplace on one side and a king size bed on the other.

"You have your own bathroom here," Carli says and opens a door leading to a luxurious bathroom. There's a shower in the corner and a wide bathtub placed in front of a window, making it possible to enjoy the view of the forest while taking a hot bath.

"Oh wow," is all I can muster as I let my gaze wander around the spa-like bathroom.

This is crazy.
How can they be so rich?

When Carli notices my gaze come back to the bathtub she smiles wider. "Go ahead and take a hot bath if you want, you need it after that long journey."

She's right, a hot bath would probably feel amazing right now. So I nod. "Okay I will, thank you."

"Just jump in. I'll be right back with some towels for you."

She leaves and I turn on the tap. The sound of the warm water filling the bathtub echoes through the bathroom, the air around me turns humid by the heat.

My body is going to thank me for this.

I look at the many products lined up on the shelf and for a moment I feel lost. There are almost too many things to choose from, some being different brands of the same product. I think I can count up to six conditioners.

In the end I chose a 'roses & honey' scented bath foam to use.

I sigh in pleasure as I let my body sink down into the warm water, my muscles relaxing instantly. God, it feels so good. All that pent up stress and fear melting away. I sink deeper and deeper until I'm dipping my whole head under water for a moment. Then I thoroughly start to wash my hair.