Unloved Unclaimed Unbound

Chapter Five - Serenya

Mr. Dravenholt left me to stew in silence during the drive to the airport and again on his private jet. So much has happened in such a short amount of time and I know that I still haven’t been able to catch up with it all. I did ask where we were going at some point. Mr. Dravenholt told me that we were going to Tennessee. Oh good. At least we will be going to be in the same state as my school. He must have seen my completive thoughts and voiced that the reason I was sent to the school was due to the fact that the Dravenholt’s lived in the same area. And that hit the last bit of strength I was holding onto. I cried and cried. These awful people have been planning this since I was around 16 years old! A f*****g child! Mr. Dravenholt sat across from me with a compassionate gaze, giving me space to process and let go of my feelings.

The stewardess told us that we would be landing soon. I attempted to get my feelings under control. “Serenya, you have a right to express your emotions.” Mr. Dravenholt started, “There are details in which I cannot divulge at this time, but we can discuss at length after you turn eighteen.”

“When you marry me?” I spat.

He gave a sad smile, “I am in the process of executing a counter contract. One that will benefit you, though again, I cannot divulge some of these things.” The plane touched down on the tarmac. “But first, we need to get you into therapy.”

I was caught off guard. “I am not accepting any help from you.”

“Unfortunately, this is non-negotiable, Serenya. What happened tonight. We were both deceived. We thought that you knew about everything from the beginning and were a willing participant. Tonight, brought to light that this was not the case. So, I will be hiring a private therapist to come to the estate for you to have your sessions.” The plane came to a stop. “I would not put it passed your parents to have their influence on this situation to benefit them to where they will make sure, they come out with the most of this contract than that of my family.”

“I don’t have parents,” I told him, watching the crew bring the staircase thingy to the airplane door. “I just have a brother who was left in that situation.”

Mr. Dravenholt sighed. “Don’t worry, we are in the works on getting him out of their grasp.”

I snapped my attention to him, “He was not aware of this either, he is the only decent person in that household! He would never treat me any other way than with respect and kindness.”

“I have my attorney looking into a few things,” Mr. Dravenholt nodded his head to a gentleman who broaded the plane. “Ah, Jakob. This is Ms. Serenya. She will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. Serenya, this is Jakob, our family driver. Has Junior got everything set up for Ms. Serenya?”

“Ma’am,” Jakob gently bowed his head toward her before looking back to Mr. Dravenholt, “Junior is not happy with this situation and apologizes that he won’t be able to be there at the estate when you get there. The business in Tokoyo needed his attention. He will be back by possibly next Thursday.”

Mr. Dravenholt gave an exasperated sigh, “I keep telling him that he needs to slow down. Let’s get off this plane. I’d like to get to the estate and get this counter contract started.”

I stood and followed them off the plane. Another limo sat on the tarmac. I figured the staff would be loading luggage into the truck but realized I had just brought my purse and phone, and I didn’t see or notice that Mr. Dravenholt had any luggage. Jakob opened the back door of the slick black vehicle for us. Mr. Dravenholt indicated for me to get in first. I hesitated before ultimately getting into the vehicle, making sure I sat as far as I could from him.

“I know that it is early or late depending on how you look at this given it is two o’clock in the morning. I’d like to introduce you to my children, who you are up to it,” Mr. Dravenholt said as the door shut once he was comfortable in his seat and buckled up.

Oh. I need to buckle up too. Once I am secure, I don’t acknowledge what he said, “When will we be at the Dravenholt estate?"

“Twenty minutes,” Jakob answers as he closes the driver's door. He buckles up, starts the vehicle and begins to drive.

“I see.” Serenya looks out the window, leans back against the back of the seat, and crosses her arms.

“I can see that we can resume this conversation at the estate.” Mr. Dravenholt states and the drive is silent.

--

We came up finally to massive wrought-iron gates with what I am assuming is the Dravenholt crest in the center of each side. They opened as we approached slowly. Beoynd the gates, a long curving drive climbs through the woods until it opens to the lush dew-covered manicured grounds. The crunch of the gravel is almost a comfort somewhere. The main house of the estate is a blend of old Appalachian stonework, some sprinkle of German architecture and modern luxury. I am surprised to feel myself excited to see this beautiful home in the daylight. Jakob gets out so that he can let us out. Though I’m sure Mr. Dravenholt can open the door himself.

Mr. Davenholt walks up the round petrified wood-bricked steps. I stop at the second to last step before the massive doors to the entrance of this Brother’s Grimm looking home. I squat touching the stone of the steps and marvel at the craftsmanship. Still squatting, I look at the brickwork around the massive doors. Admiring the work.

“Serenya?” Mr. Dravenholt says calmly, “Let’s go to the study to discuss a few things before we retire to our rooms.”