Acacia Gold

Chapter 5

5

 After an hour or so of staring at the blank wall willing it to open up like a portal and failing, I stood and started pacing. 

There wasn’t a clock or anything, but it was around nine in the evening. I was going on the time Myckah had given me earlier, hoping he hadn’t lied. I mean what reason did he have to do so?

I decided that sifting through my possessions to check on them was at least a little less boring than pacing, however soft the carpet was. At first glance all my clothes appeared to be present; from my work uniform, a yellow checked dress, apron and flat pumps, to my various pieces of underwear to my favorite leather boots. Embarrassing that someone had to sort through all my belonging and my underwear. For a quick moment I wondered if it had been Myckah then quickly shoved that thought out my mind. No way he would do a lackeys job. I sighed heavily and threw all my belonging back in drawers and wardrobe,not as neatly as if found them, and slumped back again the bed. 

The captivity in the room went on for some weeks. Occasionally Myckah would let me out and bring me to the living areas of the lair. The other rooms were just as beautiful as my bedroom and his. Everything so grand and so tastefully decorated. He would have some of his staff cook for me and we would sit together is silence. Sometimes he would tell me about the history of the items in the room. Sometimes he would play the piano for me. It never lasted more than a few hours and then i would be escorted back to my room and he to do whatever he did when he was not entertaining me. Each time I made my unhappiness at being held captive known. When finally I angrily turned to Myckah one night to fight about it. 

"why will you not let me out on my own. Everything is locked up down here and I don't even know where the exit is!?" 

Myckah looked especially tired this night and massaged his forehead "Acacia, not this again..you know we cannot risk it" 

My lips pursed in anger "how long exactly can you keep me down here shut up with nothing to do and no sunlight. Some of us require sunlight you know!" 

Immediately I regretted those words. He looked so hurt. 

"enough of this!" he yelled then turned to one of the guards in the room "take her back to her room now!" and with that he got up and left. 

“Humph” I grumbled after being locked up in my room again. I'm not sure of the anger wore me out but suddenly I felt so tired. I lay back against the bed and relaxed closing my eyes. Soon enough I was asleep. 

I'm not sure how long I was asleep but I woke up with a start. Something has caused me to start and stir. As I got up to go to the bathroom I noticed the wardrobe door slightly open. 

 Just as I went to close the door, however, I noticed something sparkling that did not belong to me, I was sure. 

After digging my arm into the space and unhooking it, I pulled the item of clothing out.

“Oh”, the noise escaped my lips a little surprisingly as I stared dubiously at the garment.

It was sort of a dress, and, holding it against my front, hung to mid thigh. The material was a very dark gray and made from some sheer material. I was guessing silk. Vampires like silk, don’t ask me why.

The ties were halter neck and studded with little gems that I’d bet my whole salary were hand applied. The front was very low and fitted with a bra to boost. At the back were more ties to give a cobweb effect. It was very pretty; but…god was I supposed to wear it?

No way. 

For a start where would I wear it? I’d look like a piece of candy on some guy’s arm. That was the last thing I wanted, I can tell you.

Going on a hunch, I pulled out the draw at the bottom of the wardrobe where my shoes had been put and there, plain as day, were matching shoes; gray, stiletto heeled, sparkly and made for a woman not to run in.

Like clockwork, I sensed someone at the door and stood clutching one of the shoes. 

Myckah.

What a surprise.

He beamed, showing vampire white teeth and nearly dazzling me into blindness.

“Ah good, you found them. I was worried you wouldn’t like them”.

Frowning I replaced the shoes in the draw and closed it. “Like what Myckah? I’m not following”.

Myckah walked further into the room and placed soft hands on my shoulders, spinning me. He picked up the dress with a slender finger and held it against my front.

“Why the dress of course.” He said it as if I was stupid for not getting it. I still didn’t completely understand, so I pushed him away and stood by the curtained wall.

“I’m not exactly sure what this is”, I waved my hand at a smiling Myckah still holding the dress, “But I’m not buying it!”

One very perfect, very fetching eyebrow rose in contempt and he explained, “I wanted to give you a little gift. I feel as if I were not as sympathetic as I could have been before. I understand it cannot be easy to move to a vampire’s…lair”.

He walked to the bed and lay the dress gently down.

“So what, you’re trying to buy forgiveness?”

I wasn’t exactly sure what he was asking forgiveness for and if he should be asking forgiveness.

“I am taking you out to dine. I believe it is the safest way for you to go out without feeling like a captive. I think I was unfair earlier, keeping you stuffed up in this room”.

“And your idea of not feeling like a captive is choosing my outfit and taking me to some fancy restaurant of your choice”.

Myckah sunk to the bed, I think a little hurt. He had tried after all and maybe I was being a little ungrateful. Besides the room wasn’t that bad a place to be held captive as far as being held captive went. He was helping me save my life or whatever.

And I felt like I owed him after out little experience share earlier.

“I thought you were going to sleep” I sighed.

“I was, but I could not sleep knowing you were awake in the next room. It racked me with guilt”.

Groaning, I picked up the dress, “Get out Myckah, if I’m coming with you I need to change right?”

He smiled softly and a little too fondly, then stood. I think he almost came to me but thought better of it and left locking the door.

Damn. I’d never been a soft touch and since my less than pleasant experience with vampires when I was young, I’d vowed to hate every single one and here I was preparing to go out to ‘dine’ with one. Hell, who knew if vampires ‘dined’, did they even eat? Did they need to?

The dress fit perfectly. I had half a mind to take it back off and refuse to leave the room. But…

Myckah and offered me a life line and if I refused it, who knew what he’d do or how long it would be until he offered me another one. 

If I refused he might even leave me to fend for myself or trap me in the room until I was free to go. Since I didn’t know how long that’d be I was not willing to let a chance to go into the fresh everyday air pass.

It was a lovely dress and I didn’t look bad in it, actually, I hated to admit it but it suited me. And darn, if I wore things like it more often I might actual get better dates. Ha, like I could ever afford those clothes on a waitress’s pay.

That reminded me. Why were the vampire community so concerned with an average waitress, who wasn’t overly clever or tough or, well - anything. 

Protecting me for the benefit of everyone, my ass. There was more to it than that and I would find out.

I slipped the shoes on and, yes, they fit perfectly too. I nearly put a little make up on, but thought better. Who was I trying to impress anyway…no one that’s who! My pale skin and ringlet flaxen hair would have to stay that way. 

The door opened when I knocked gently. There was a man there I hadn’t met before. 

He was a much taller than me with short sandy hair, gray eyes and a macho posture. 

“Miss” he nodded to me and held out a long gray coat. I slid my arms into it and almost toppled when he released it s full weight onto me. The coat weighed a ton. However lovely it was it just wasn’t worth a broken back.

“Miss” he said again and had placed a hand at my back to stop me falling. I looked up

“I am to escort you to my master”. 

For being so brute strong, you’d have thought he’d be less assertive. But those gray eyes showed the intelligence that most muscle did not own nor would ever. Having said that, it didn’t take much to be more intelligent than the average muscle. 

I accepted his offered arm merely because it would not fall flat on my face in the heels if he were there to support me.

His stride was small to suit my own so I did not have to walk quickly. It was a new sensation.

Normally any guy I walk with, wait, scratch that; anyone I walk with, forces me to walk at a long quick pace. I’m not exactly tall standing at just five foot three, so I’m used to having to match larger steps than my own. 

Staring up at the new human man I wondered where he’d learned to be so obedient and if he called anyone anything other than Miss or Master.

“Do you have a name?” I asked.

The human’s gaze dropped down to my level and the corners of his mouth creased a little.

“Hunter” he said.

“Hmm”

“Yes?” his face was stony. Maybe I’d said something wrong.

“Oh-nothing”.

“No, please, go on. I would like to know what is so interesting” he half ordered, half mocked.

 “I was just thinking how fitting your name is,” I answered.

“Really? I always hated it”. He said. I didn’t know whether to stay silent or say something but when I looked up he was grinning. Joking, phew. There was no way I’d win in a fight if he’d taken offence.

He stopped and drew my arm from his. He punched in a code to a large metal door, too quick for me to catch it in any hope.

Then he opened the door and motioned with a hand, “Miss”.

“Please, Acacia. Hunter” I emphasized his name so he’d use mine. I hated people calling me Miss, it felt wrong, I much preferred them using my name or if it had to be Miss then it was Miss Gold rather than just Miss.

Hunter thought about it a little then nodded,

“Acacia”. He tested it on his tongue, rolling, and I guess he liked the sound because he smiled. He offered his arm again and we walked out into the brisk evening. 

There was a very nice Aston Martin sitting on the curb, engine thrumming patiently. I’d always liked cars. Hey we all had our hobbies right?

Hunter opened the backseat door for me. Looking around the street I wondered how far I’d make it if I bolted. Not far enough I thought. Then I’d definitely never get to leave that bedroom until all was safe.

Besides, the building was huge and I couldn’t see any other around. Looked like an expensive private plot. Was it safe?

Hunter closed the door and made a little gesture seeing us off into the night. I turned where Myckah was sat intently staring at me.

“You look lovely” Myckah said like a gentleman.

I nodded “you too”.

He did look good. He had tied his hair back in some intricate braid. Hair that short couldn’t be tied back could it? Whatever, it looked great, especially with a couple of escaped strands framing his model perfect features.

His dress shoes were polished so thoroughly that any woman could have used them touch up make up rather than a mirror. His slacks were charcoal colored and fit him well. The shirt was the deepest of greens that it was almost black. The cuffs were closed with jade links. He had left the top buttons undone to reveal his smooth chest, a little paler than in life. 

A jacket graced the leather seat between us, matching to his dress pants. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to dine with someone who looked better than me.

We sat in silence, neither of us willing to break the hush. Silent as a morgue.