The window in the lake

Chapter 3

I followed him through the sitting room and into a kitchen that looked much like the rest of the house.

"Please have a seat." He said, motioning toward the table and chairs that were sitting in the middle of his small room. It looked much like the table and chairs that sat in the sitting room, only a little taller. I did as he asked and then looked around at the small kitchen. There was a fireplace off to the side that had a kettle boiling over a hot fire. Next to that was a bucket sitting under what must have been some kind of water spicket. I didn't give the room much more thought because right next to that was a door.

My way out. I tried to measure the distance from where I was sitting. It was not far, but the room was small, and he could easily stop me if I tried to leave. My only hope to get out would be if he left the room. My stomach growled again, causing him to shake his head. I can't remember the last time I ate anything. I'm pretty sure it has been a few days since my last meal.

Aamon liked to see how long I could go without eating. It was not very long ago he left me chained up in the dungeons, starved hours, maybe even minutes, away from death. I would have died down there had one of the servants not come down and saved me.

I had been chained up as a punishment for breaking one of the dishes. I had been in the middle of washing the lunch plates when he came in and banged into me causing me to drop the dish I had been washing. It fell on the floor and broke into a thousand little pieces. That's when he grabbed me by my hair and drug me to the dungeons and chained me up. He left me there for days hanging by the chains on both my wrists. I got too weak to hold myself up, so the chains dug into my arms, leaving deep cuts that bled out. The marks were still there, not having time to fully heal yet.

I pulled my ripped sleeves further down my arms to try and cover the still torn open flesh. That's when I remembered what I was wearing when I ran into the woods. My shirt was dirty and ripped and covered in blood. My shorts were even worse with a rip up the side and covered in mud mixed with my blood. I was a mess. I didn't get a chance to dwell on how bad I looked because Jax was now carrying two plates over to the table. He placed one in front of me and the other in front of the empty chair that sat a cross from me at the table. It looked like some kind of salad with berries in it. Jax took his seat and began eating. It looked safe, and I was in no position to turn down food, so I dug in.

We didn't talk while we ate, but I noticed him watching me a few times, but he didn't comment. I'm sure I looked like a wild animal as I tore through the greens and berries. When I had finished every last bite, he didn't ask me if I wanted more, he just brought the bowl to the table and filled my plate up again. Then he went and poured me a glass of water. He placed it in front of me on the table. Then he did the same for himself and sat back down.

"I'm sorry I could not offer you a more filling dinner. But I did not have plans to stay in the Nox woods tonight. I had to make do with what I could find before night fall."

"No, this is fine thank you." I said, taking another bite. He just gave me a small smile and watched me eat in silence.

I ate three plates before the rumble in my stomach was satisfied. Jax didn't say anything the whole time, he just sat there and watched me devour everything.

"I can show you to the washroom, so you can clean yourself up before bed. I have a few extra pairs of clothes that you are welcome to help yourself to. You can sleep in the bed tonight and I'll take the couch. In the morning I will take you to see the lady of light."

"Thank you for being so kind, but I can't take your bed. I will take the couch." Jax seemed like he was a friend and not an enemy, but I had no intentions of going to see the lady of light tomorrow. I would leave with the sunrise. Sleeping on the couch would be my only chance to slip away.

"What kind of gentle man would I be if I allowed such a thing? I insist."

"That really is sweet of you. I promise I would not think any lower of you if you allowed me to take the couch tonight. I insist, after all, you have done so much for me already." I could tell he was not going to give in, so I said "please, it will make me feel better if you allow me to sleep out here, and you sleep in your bed." I could see him running the different arguments through his head trying to figure out which one might help him win. He must have decided that none of them would do the job and just nodded his head at me and walked over to the left-hand wall and opened a door that I didn't even realize was there.

"In here is the washroom. Help yourself to anything in here. If you need me, you know where to find me. Good night Princess." Then he headed to the door that led to his room.

I went into the washroom to clean up. There was no mirror for me to see how bad I actually looked. But in the middle of the room there was a huge stone tub. I wasted no time and ran over to it and turned the nob to adjust the water temperature. I can't remember the last time I took a bath. It's been years. Aamon would allow the servants to throw buckets of cold water on me when I got too dirty. Sometimes the servants would sneak me soap if they could without getting caught.

I found a black cotton shirt and white cotton pants in the closet and some soft fluffy towels. I placed the clothes and towel on the table next to the tub and climbed in. The hot water felt amazing on my aching body. The warm water made me tired and soon I drifted into a deep sleep.

I woke up still in the tub shivering. I let the cold water go down and filled the tub back up with hot water. Once I was done washing myself again, I got out and got dressed as fast as I could. I had no idea how long I had been sleeping in there.

I left the washroom then tipped toed to Jax's room and peaked in. He was still sleeping. I quietly went to the door to see if it was still dark outside. I was surprised it didn't make a lot of noise when I opened it. I was relieved to see the moon still high up in the sky. I had time to get out of here before Jax got up. He seemed nice, he had been nothing but helpful. I felt bad sneaking out and leaving without saying goodbye. But I could not shake the feeling in my stomach that something was not right, and I needed to get as far away as fast as I could. I could feel the lake pulling for me. I was used to this feeling. I had been feeling the lake's pull for as long as I could remember.

I stood by the door listening for any movement outside. I didn't hear anything other than the ruffling of the leaves from the light breeze that was blowing through. I was debating going back in and sleeping for a few more hours, but the call of the lake was getting stronger. I have never been this close to the lake at night. The urge to be by the lake was stronger than I had ever felt.

I took a deep breath and walked out, closing the door behind me. I should leave a note but, I didn't have anything to write with or on. The pull towards the lake was getting stronger. I could not fight it any longer. I didn't know where I was, since I was sleeping when Jax brought me here. Everything looked the same in the dark. So I let the Lake lead the way.

I could feel the pull get stronger and stronger the closer I got. I didn't have to walk far. I could see the glow from the lake up ahead. The light from the moon lit up the woods, making it easy to find my way.

The lake was still and calm. All the fish were probably sleeping for the night. I walked over and sat along the edge. I could still feel the lake pulling me. I could not get any closer than I already was unless I got into it. But being this close did help some of the unease I was feeling.