Kyla

I can't sleep no matter how hard I try. I keep tossing and turning. The blankets are a mess on top of the bed because of my movements. Finally, having had enough I jump out of the bed. Straightening the covers to the best of my ability I make my way into the bathroom.

When I turn on the light, the sight of the shower makes it impossible to ignore. Walking over to it, I turn on the water as Diedrek had shown me how to do only a few days ago. Thinking about how long I have been here already, I take the time while I'm stuck in my thoughts, making sure it's nice and hot. Once the bathroom fills with steam, I know it's at just the right temperature that I've grown to like.

Stripping off my clothes, one by one, I ignore my reflection in the mirror. Hopping into the shower, I walk beneath the water. Allowing it to loosen my tight muscles, and instantly I feel relaxed. Much calmer than I have been all day. The stress of today really did a number on my body as much as my mind.

Just as I'm reaching for the shampoo to wash my hair, I hear the door creep open. I pause mid grab and listen intently to my surroundings. It couldn't be Diedrek right? He left not long ago. I know he's fast, but somehow; I don't think his meeting to find out essential information from the witches would be over by now.

Tilting my head to the side I listen but I don't hear any more noise coming from outside of the shower. Perhaps, I'm hearing things. It's completely possible with the state my mind is in. I've grown paranoid these last few hours more than I have since I got here.

Deciding that is what it must be, I shrug my shoulders at my silly thoughts and scoop up the shampoo bottle. Opening the cap, the aroma of wild cherry-blossom invades the room. I take a deep sniff, breathing the delicious smell in.

I place a dab onto the palm of my hand, close and return the bottle to its place, and rub it into my hair. This shampoo makes my head feel all tingly. Closing my eyes, I take this time to enjoy the effect. I'm not expecting at all to see the outline of someone outside the shower door when my eyes open once more.

A small scream makes its way out of my mouth, before I have the time to clamp my hand over it. I scramble farther back into the shower, my eyes going wild, looking for anything that I can use as a weapon. There is nothing other than the shampoo bottle, and a bar of soap. They most definitely will not help me.

Before I can think of anything, the door is open and there, staring back at me is Satine. Her eyes are wild, the color of red. My hand is on my chest holding on for dear life. "You scared me, don't do that to me." I practically yell at her.

"Sorry, I just smelled something. Like blood and had to be sure that nothing happened to you." She shrugs her shoulders and walks to the vanity.

Sitting on top of it, her back facing the mirror she looks at me as I try to cover myself from her prying eyes. "I'm in the middle of something here. Do you mind?" It's a rhetorical question of course.

I really want her to leave. No one has seen me naked besides myself. Of course, Diedrek has as well these last few days. The last thought makes my cheeks grow red as a smile break across my face.

"Sorry," she says as she turns away.

I see her body is facing the door. Taking this moment of reprieve, I grab the towel hanging nearby and make my way out of the shower. I dry my body and hair as quickly as I can, and ask her to pass me the robe hanging from the back of the door. Once I have it in my grasp, I wrap it around my body and tie the sash into a knot.

Once I'm decent I tell her so and she turns around. I can see that her eyes are back to her normal color, a deep blue like the ocean. Meaning she must be calmer now. "What did you need?" I ask.

"We need to talk. It's important and it simply cannot wait." She looks down to her hands that are placed on her lap. Her whole demeanor has turned sad.

"Okay, well come on let's go in the bedroom. We can sit on the bed, and you can tell me what's troubling you." I say as I walk out the door.

She follows me and within minutes we are sitting on the beautiful blue duvet that covers Diedreks bed. Our bodies are facing one another. She hasn't bothered looking up at me, instead choosing to continue looking at her hands.

Placing mine on top of hers, causes her head up so I can get a clear view of her eyes. I see why she refused to look at me. What she didn't want me to see. She has tears building in her eyes, and they slowly make their way down her cheeks to her chin.

Bringing my thumb up to her cheeks I attempt to wipe them away, but they keep falling. "What is it, Satine? You're frightening me." I tell her honestly.

"I don't know if I should tell you, but if I don't, I'm afraid of what will happen to both you and my cousin." She whispers. That has my complete attention.

"Tell me." The forcefulness of my voice surprises me, but with her words they can't be helped.

I watch her closely as she shakes her head and stands from the bed. I don't miss a step as she walks over to the window in the room. Wrapping her arms around the center of her body, I watch almost stunned as her body quivers with her quiet sobs of misery.

"Satine, please tell me. I'm your friend. You can tell me anything and I promise to listen and not judge." I tell her with honesty. My words have her head whipping back around in my direction.

She looks at me with wide eyes, "You consider us to be friends?" She asks her tone incredulous.

"Of course." I give her a genuine smile. "I have grown to know you these last few days and I consider you a close friend." I tell her with complete honesty.

She smiles and for the first time I see a light in her eyes. "Okay, but you must know that my cousin would never do anything to deliberately hurt you. He's only doing what he can to protect you."

Her words bring a sense of dread to my heart. What could he have done that would injure me? Has he done it already? Or does he have plans to do it soon? My body shakes in fear.

She must see the tremors that are coursing through my body because she makes her way over to me and takes her place beside me on the bed. She wraps me in her arms and tells me it's all going to be okay. Not to cry. I would love to stay in her arms, especially since it's the first hug I have received from a friend in days, but I need to know what she has to tell me.

Lifting my head, I look her dead in the eyes. "Please tell me, Satine. I must know what it is that you think will hurt me."

She takes in a deep breath, and then tells me the last thing I ever thought I'd hear since knowing who Diedrek is to me. "He told his youngest brother that he will take the agreement with his father. Meaning he will take a powerful vampire as his bride and make sure she is with child by the end of the year." Her words have a coldness running through my veins.

I push out of her hold and stand up from the bed. That cannot be right. He wouldn't do that to me! Would he? She must know everything I'm thinking because she jumps off the bed so fast and holds me in her arms.

"It's just so they don't touch you right now. If he agrees to this right now then he knows they will leave you alone, and you will be safe from harm. He will still come to you everyday and be here for you. Once his duty is over, he can get out of the binding and allow the vampire female to raise the child."

I know she's trying to calm the situation, but nothing she says or does can make this better. If he decides to truly do this, it will be the end. I will have nothing to do with him. He will lose me for good! I must have spoken my thoughts out loud because she agrees wholeheartedly with all I am saying.

"Did he say for sure that he will do it?" I ask.

"I don't know." She whispers sadly.

"Well, I'm sorry to say, but I will not sit here being a damsel in distress awaiting to see if he will dare treat me in such a way." I walk to the window giving her my back. As I think of a way to escape. I'm not going to play these games with him or any other vampire.

"I know you're trying to think of ways to escape, but you cannot be away from him for too long. It'll make you go crazy." She says from behind me.

"I'd much rather go crazy than to think I can mean so little to him that he would even think of taking a bride and making a child with her." I spit the venom from my mouth.

"Not really a marriage per say, just a binding. Which can be broken once she becomes with child." She tries to reason with me on behalf of her cousin.

"I don't give a damn! I'm leaving regardless." I have made up my mind. Me being the stubborn woman I am once that happens there is nothing anyone can do to change it. She must see that in my eyes because she nods and says, "Then I will help you escape and remain by your side no matter where you go."

I want to fight with her in return, telling her I'm going to the Rebel camp, but I can see she is just as stubborn as I am. So, I agree with her as we form a plan to get the hell out of here.