Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Thirteen

Unable to sleep Callie tossed back the bedding, lit the candle and wandered out of the room in her white flowing nighty and roamed through the dark corridors, exploring. There was enough light to see, and not disturb anyone. Not that she knew where anyone else slept. If she stayed in the west wing she should be alright, checking out the other rooms, only to still when she heard movement.

Who would be up at this time of night, apart from her, darting out the room, back into the corridor? Shielding the flame with a cupped hand, Callie pressed against a wall, near the stairs listening. Footfall clearly heard in the silent darkness. She lightly took the stairs towards the next floor, following the distant steps, disappearing deeper into the mansion. Coming to more stairs, or could go ahead. She stopped and listened taking the stairs when she heard a door opening.

Heart racing, she eased down the stairs, the light bouncing off the surrounding brick walls, not like the other stairs, this was more enclosed, having no idea where this was leading. It was a fight between following or flee. Curiosity had won out. Surely these weren't the servant quarters that had been mentioned.

There were no windows, light from the dancing flame flicked through the stairs enclosure. It felt like being in escape fire well of stairs, yet was inside the house going down, deeper passed the ground level. A hidden basement? Or a hidden priest hole, or smugglers tunnels. Her heart pulsed a little bit faster with excitement, curiosity piqued.

What if she was entering the beast lair? Did she really want to poke the bear, but what if it wasn't Riyad or one of the others? Someone hiding from sight in the mansion, and only came out at night? It would be so easily done, with most of the place was in shut down. A whole family could be hiding amongst them, and who would know? Probably not. One had to get passed the locked gate. She didn't make it very far before she was nabbed.

Coming to the end of the stairs, there only seemed to be one door. Stepping closer she stopped in front of it, listening. A dull thud, thud, thud. What if someone was being held? A torture chamber? Stifling a nervous laugh at her overactive imagination. First mass murders, Dracula and now a torture chamber unable to suppress a shudder.

If she didn't have a peek, she would be up all night wondering.

Just a peek, clasping the cold brass of the door handle and turned slowly. Very slowly, trying not to make a sound. Her hand stilled as the thudding stopped, taken over by a low squeaking sound like clogs in a machine, so turned the handle further and opened. 

Holding her breath as the door opened enough to peer in.

Her jaw dropped. The last thing she had expected.

A full working gym also realised no curtains on the full-length wall of windows letting in the moonlight bathing the room with natural light, without the need for harsh lighting. Her gaze rested on the man saddled across working bench, covered in a fine film of perspiration, muscles flexing across his chest, and arms as he pulled on weights.

Unable to move she stood there transfixed, eyes fixed on his broad chest, rippling abs and dark pants pressed against his thighs. A sight had to be seen and appreciated. A very fine specimen of a man. No better than him, apart from the golden fierce eyes focus on her.

"Get out!" came out in a roar of a wounded animal that went right through one, repelled back, and run back up the stairs as if the devil was on her footsteps. All the way back to her room. Slamming against the door, breathing harshly, candle shaking in her hand, heart-pounding that roared in her ears.

Pushing away from the door, Callie stumbled across the room towards the bed, placing down the candle holder onto the bedside table and blew out, leaving behind a burning whiff of smoke as she climbed under the covers, trembling, clenched hand pressed against her lips, her heart breaking.