Chapter seven
1093 Words
Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.
~Aristotle~
Mia
The silky cream coverlet slid through my body as I got out of the bed the following morning, my head feeling heavy and fuzzy, and the bathroom floor cold enough to make me cringe.
I looked myself on the mirror, jerking in shock to find a stranger staring back at me. Her hair was straight, no evidence of the curls that swirled around my face every so often, her face smoothes with a shine that was almost deceivingly natural, the eyebrows beautifully tweezed, her eyes the only feature that reflected everything I felt. Sad, terrified and helpless.
I was trapped in a house by people I knew nothing about. If I had known my nineteenth birthday would bring with it a k********g, I would have made other plans.
Unwrapping the pink toothbrush that I assumed was mine since it was the only one on the holder, I stole another glance at my face on the mirror, this time I wasn't surprised by the image, but I felt a weird connection to this pimped-up girl that was me.
She gave me hope, confidence, and courage. She stared right at me in a fixed stare that seemed to tell me everything would be okay.
I did not know what Stefano wanted with me, but I knew it was terrible when he ordered the photographer to take pictures of me naked.
The lusty, leering look on the photographer's eyes made me feel unclean and afraid. The way he kept running his tongue on his lips while sizing up my naked form was a clue to what might happen to me anytime as long I was under this roof or Stefano's authority. I had never been naked in anybody's presence other than myself, yet here I was in full display in front of a man I didn't know and without my consent.
I needed to escape, but how? I asked the woman in the mirror, but she just stared at me without saying a word. I saw pity in her eyes though, that, and a little pose of a head tilt that showed she had a little fire in her. I was banking on that; this beautiful creature was going to help me get out of this mess even if I had to use her to get out. She had taken over my physical appearance; she was the face of the world while I only remained the brain. I did not mind it; she'd come in handy when I planned my escape.
The bedroom door opened, pulling me out of my thoughts to the soft breathing of a presence.
"Ursula, came the housekeeper Mrs. Luiz's voice "Mr. Stefano would like to talk to you" she added in a whisper. I placed the toothbrush back in the holder, heeded back to the bedroom but not without throwing one more look at my reflection.
"Hallo, Mrs. Luiz...Please call me Ameria, Ursula is not my name" She shook her head uncomfortably, giving me a sad look before saying no. "Mr. Stefano says that is your name and that is what I will call you" The tiny woman stated. I nodded looking away, hiding the anger that I felt towards her, myself, and everyone else in this place.
I knew it was unfair to be mad at her, she'd done nothing to or against me, but I couldn't help it. My life was in tatters and under a stranger's authority, but I did not want to make an enemy of her, I might need her someday.
"Okay Mrs. Luiz, but I haven't showered. Do you think I have ten minutes to do that? "I asked. She stood beside the bed with her hands clenched together, looking frantic and restless.
"I don't know miss, Mr. Stefano is not a patient man" I turned my face slowly giving her a tiny smile, my eyes searching hers. She had called me miss, not Ursula. It was her way of not calling me by the name I already detested and still not disobeying Stefano to warrant punishment.
"Okay," I said, feeling some kind of warmth run through me for the first time since I was kidn*pped. I had found an ally and the fact that she knew I needed one almost brought tears to my eyes.
She was a sweet woman. I wondered what brought her here, had she also been kidn*pped, was she here voluntarily? Though I couldn't imagine any woman living in the vicinity of such evil freely.
"What the f**k are you still doing here? I said I want to see you in my study right now" Stefano's voice boomed from the doorway, shooting sparks of anger at me before looking down at the pale green, see-through gown that I had worn to sleep. It was either this or one of the other numerous short, low-cut lingerie that filled one drawer of the wardrobe.
"Boy, you're going to fetch me more than I expected," He said gleefully, his mood changing to agreeable. "I'll give you ten more minutes, be in my study by then...Do you hear me?"
"Yes," I timidly said, forcing my eyes to look at him.
He turned and left without another word.
"Please wait for me, I don't know where his study is, and I don't want to waste time looking for it" I appealed to the housekeeper who still stood at the same spot.
My body trembled as I run to the bathroom, my heart beating in fear of what awaited me in that study, finishing my shower in record time.
Back in the bedroom, Mrs. Luiz had already laid out clothes for me, a short dress that at least covered my bosom. I threw her an uncertain look "It's the only close to decent dress in the closet" she defended, her voice shaking "We need to go" She added quickly, shoving me out of the door. We walked together in silence, her preceding me while I followed closely—my heart on my throat on trembling legs. I did not know what Stefano wanted to say to me, but I knew whatever awaited me in that study was my fate.
- Writer
