His collateral

Chapter 11

"Hi." A soft voice followed the sound of the door opening. "I brought you lunch."

Elena turned from the window where she had been standing, staring out at the grounds below. The girl at the door carried a tray with both hands, a bright smile on her face. She wore a sundress and fluffy slippers, hair piled into a messy bun.

Elena recognized her immediately.

The girl who had knocked two weeks ago informing Mr. Black of his late night visitor. The same girl whose curious eyes had darted past his shoulder into the room before he pulled the door shut and answered "no one" to her question.

Elena looked away, returning her gaze to the window.

"Anne was a bit occupied so I offered to help." The girl explained, closing the door behind her. "Where should I put this?" She muttered.

"Leave it on the table." Elena replied flatly.

"Oh. Thanks."

Elena kept her eyes on the grounds below but the window gave her more than just a view. Sara's reflection moved quietly around the room behind her, setting the tray down, looking around in curiosity.

"So how are you finding the room?" She asked, still surveying the space. "The bathroom is nice right?"

"It's fine." Elena replied curtly.

"I think you should eat before it goes cold." The girl said.

Elena drew in a sharp breath. For a moment she stayed at the window, back straight, jaw clenched. Then she turned and crossed the room to the table. She uncovered the dishes and started eating without another word.

"Hey, I didn't mean it that way. It was just a harmless suggestion." The girl explained, eyes widening at Elena's sudden movement. "The rice tastes better when warm." She said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside her without asking.

Elena's eyes cut sideways at her briefly before returning to her food. "It's fine. I was hungry anyway." She shrugged, resuming eating.

The girl exhaled loudly. "You scared me for a moment." She laughed nervously, hand flying to her chest. "I thought you moved because you felt I was ordering you around."

"No."

Silence followed, broken only by the soft clicking of Elena's spoon against the plate.

"Your suitcases are still unpacked." The girl observed quietly. "Do you need help with that?"

Elena's hand paused mid-air, spoon hovering, her eyes moved briefly to the suitcases on the floor. It had been over two weeks yet she still couldn't bring herself to put her things away. The room had grown slowly familiar, a routine quietly building itself around her whether she wanted it or not.

She hated that.

"No. I don't need help." She replied dismissively.

The girl nodded, looking around the room again. Her eyes moved to the laundry on the bed, the closed curtains, the unpacked suitcases. Studying the room quietly like she was piecing something together.

Elena watched her quietly. When the girl noticed she was being observed a faint smile broke across her lips and she looked away shyly.

"When were you brought here?" Elena asked after a beat of silence.

"Brought here? What do you mean?"

"Were you also taken against your will?" Elena asked, returning her empty dishes to the tray.

The girl blinked, confused. Something in her expression made Elena think she shouldn't have asked. It might have been a sensitive question.

"Did Lu force you here against your will?" The girl asked, voice dropping to almost a whisper.

"Who's Lu? Another captive?"

"No. My brother."

"Your brother? I haven't left this room since I was brought here so I wouldn't know." Elena paused in brief contemplation. "Did you just say Lu?"

The girl nodded.

Elena scoffed, running a hand through her hair. "Is that an abbreviation for Lucien?"

She nodded again, this time so vigorously that Elena was briefly concerned for her neck.

"Lucien Black?"

"Yes." She answered, head low, fiddling with her fingers.

Elena stood up sharply. "Where is that godforsaken devil? He locked me in here for over two weeks and then disappeared. Where the hell is he?" She demanded.

"He went on business." She answered calmly, still avoiding Elena's eyes.

"A business trip?" Elena laughed, the sound hollow and painful. Her voice faltered. "He locked me up here then sent his sister to spy on me."

The girl shook her head quickly. "No. I had no idea. I was told you were a visitor staying for three months. I thought I should come keep you company while I brought lunch." She explained.

Elena's temper cooled. She studied her properly this time. Her breath caught when Sara's almost teary gaze met hers. How had she not noticed the resemblance earlier? She was a feminine version of Lucien. Tall, dark hair, sharp eyes that could pierce through anything. She shouldn't take her anger out on her. It was all her brother's doing.

"What's your name?" She asked, her tone distant.

"Sara." The girl whispered.

Elena nodded, turning away, eyes closing. "Sara, could you please leave my room? I need some time alone."

"Okay." Sara whispered, standing and slowly walking to the door.

The door closed softly behind her. Elena slumped onto the bed, breath shaky.

The door opened again.

"Hi—"

"What?" Elena asked curtly.

"I know this isn't a good time to ask but would you like to come to the garden with me?" Sara asked softly, almost hesistant.

Elena turned slowly, caught off guard. Her brows drew as she stared at Sara skeptical if the invitation was real.

"I've seen you staring out at it almost every day through the window. I thought you might like to. And you don't have to worry about my brother finding out. He's away and no one would dare breathe a word about it."

Elena's heart skipped. A quiet, dangerous rhythm settled beneath her ribs.

Finally.