Awaken the Luna

Chapter 7: Introductions

“Here goes nothing.” I let out a sign as I checked over my appearance in the mirror. My hair was lightly curled giving it an effortless look that actually took an hour. I stuck with the basics for my make up, a simple nude pink lip color and brown hues for my eye shadow. My lashes were naturally long but with the black mascara they really popped opening up my green eyes intensely. The dark green sweatshirt brought out my eyes and the red tones in my dark brown hair. For someone to request my attendance for dinner they didn’t give me very dressy clothing. I was dressed for Netflix binges and popcorn on the couch. It is more my style, I love dressing up on occasion but usually I am in comfortable and simple clothes. Knock. Knock. My heart rate sped up, it was time to be let out of this room for the first time. I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. You can do this. Focus. 

     “Coming!” The door had always been locked on my side so I knocked slightly to let whoever it was know I was waiting. The door opened slowly and Alexis was standing there with her eyes planted on the floor. "I have come to escort you to dinner. Are you ready?", her voice was soft and she avoided looking me in the eye.

    "Okay" I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. I stepped out of the doorway and into the hall. It didn't look as I expected, it looked like a house and not a hospital or clinic. Wherever I was it was not what I was expecting. Alexis started to walk down the hall to the left, we passed a few other doors on our way. The walls were a light stone grey with beautiful nature paintings spread throughout. I wished I could jump into one and escape from this place. One stood out the most, it was a vibrant painting of a river cutting through the mountains. I let go of a small shiver remembering my last memory of the river I jumped in to out run the wolves. 

    The hallway led to a foyer with a large staircase that wrapped around the wall and opened to marble floors. Two heavy wooden doors sat to the right of the stairs. That must be the way out of here. I took note of every turn and counted my steps, if I was going to run I need to be a step ahead. Alexis led me to a large dining room and pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit near the end of the table. The table was a large trunk of a tree sliced and sealed, it was a nice touch. The large wall across from the table was a huge window that opened up the room to the nature outside. The green trees almost looked like a huge painting. It was almost unreal. Alexis began setting two places at the table, two plates, silverware, glasses of water, napkins. She pulled out a wine glass and sat it in front of me then disappeared through a doorway. My nerves were beginning to get the better of me and my confident act was starting to lose it's muster. My palms were sweating and I could hear my heart beat inside my ears. 

    Alexis returned with two bottles of wine and held them up for me, " Are you a red or white kind of girl?"  "I'll have the white, thank you," I knew she was trying to break the tension, I was too busy concentrating on an opening to run back to those doors we passed. 

    She went back through the same doorway from before with the wine. If I was going to run this was my chance, she wouldn't realize I was gone until she came back and by then I would be at the doors. I can do this. I rubbed my palms on my pants to dry them off for a better grip on the door handles. I stood up from the chair but before I could take a step it hit me. That scent from before it was filling the room and washing over me like a wave crashing down. I looked around the room and locked eyes with him.

    A tall man stood in the doorway Alexis had gone through. He was at least 6'3 and his skin was tanned and stretched over tightly toned muscles. With dark brown hair that was short on the sides and longer on top it was rustled and looked like his hands had been through it all day. He had dark stubble that sat perfectly on his jawline. Though I was taking in his features his eyes were stunning a sea blue that pierced through me striking me cold. He sauntered over to me stopping only a few feet away making his scent even more intoxicating. "I think introductions are in order", he held out his hand to me, his voice was deep but friendly. 

I took his hand slowly finally breaking away from his eyes, "Wren"

"I know", a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, "I'm Cal."