Page 10 of Omega Captive of the Golden Dragon (Alpha Dragons #3)

CAYLEN

A fter lunch, when Varik never returned, Valcor showed me around the house. When we came to some ornately carved double doors past the dining room, he said, “This is Varik’s studio. Where he does his sculptures and other art. He’s very talented.

“Can we go in and see?”

“Not now. He should be the one to show you that room. Plus, he’s probably in there sulking.”

I hung my head. “I don’t want to stay where I’m not wanted.”

He was silent for too long. Finally, he said, “I know.”

“So does that mean you’ll take me with you?”

“No. I can’t.”

My heart fell. When I looked at him, he glanced away. He’d bought me for his brother and for him the issue was settled.

“I don’t want to go back to the auction.”

“That’s not an option, don’t worry.” He drew a deep breath and headed back in the direction we’d just come from.

“Let me show you the room that can be yours. It’s really nice. It has every amenity. Even a private bath.”

My mouth was dry. My eyes felt caked in sand. All I wanted was a bed to sleep in.

Everything had a sort of quiet dark edge to it. Or maybe it was my own fear and anxiety coming into play.

Valcor led me to the staircase and an open door on the first landing right where the stairs made an abrupt turn into darker shadows.

I was afraid to step across the threshold. But when I entered, I saw an ordinary room, crisp and clean, with a blue and white striped chair at the window and a bed with lots of pillows and a fluffy blue comforter. The floor was dark wood. A white oval rug lay next to the bed. It looked soft.

The room smelled like cedar. There was a door leading to a bathroom where white sinks sparkled. Valcor went in and started opening drawers under the two sinks.

“It’s well-stocked.” He lifted his lips in a small smile.

“For me. I never stayed, though. I feel somewhat guilty about that. Anyway, there’s new toothbrushes, toothpaste, a brush and comb, soap, shampoo, fresh towels.

Do you shave?” Without waiting for me to answer, he said, “There’s a brand-new kit for that.

The shower’s a walk-in. Everything is here.

Oh, look, there’s a new robe hanging on the door.

If you need anything else, it can be ordered. ”

I let him go on talking and turned away, walking around the foot of the bed to the chair.

I reached out and touched the material. It was smooth and weirdly comforting.

I wanted badly to sit, but then I turned to face the bed again.

So inviting. I took deep breaths unable to suppress the huge yawn coming up from inside me.

I moved to the bed and sat on the edge. If I could just lie down for a second, I could get my bearings.

I let my body tilt back and lifted my legs up. The comforter nearly swallowed me; it was so thick. The pillow at my head gave my neck muscles such relief, I nearly groaned out loud.

I needed to rest my eyes. Just for one second. Everything went dark.

I woke surrounded by blackness. I couldn’t see. I lifted my head, blinking. A small light dusted across the room, coming through an ajar door from the landing. Then I remembered I was in the guest room of the house of Varik.

I got up and peered out. Silence. The stairway and landing were dimly lit by sconce lights. How long had I slept?

I backed up and quietly shut the door. My bladder screamed for release. I ran into the bathroom.

When I came out, I went to the window and pushed aside the curtain. Night had fallen. The white landscape reflected the moon making the land gleam. I wondered what time it was.

Valcor said he was going to leave me a cell phone. I glanced at the nightstand and there it was. I ran over to it and picked it up. It flicked on. 1:45 a.m.

My schedule was so screwed up. I didn’t feel the least sleepy now. My stomach growled.

I tiptoed back to my door and opened it. Nothing moved. Nobody was out there.

Without a backward glance, I hurried down the stairs and sprinted toward the kitchen. Once there, it was easy to locate the late lunch leftovers. I made myself a thick sandwich of ham, salami and cheese with lots of mustard, wrapped it in a paper towel, then started to roam as I ate.

I wandered into the living room and got a better look at the little gold sculptures.

Up close, the details on them were incredible.

The fairy figures had little feathers all up and down their wings.

They even had accurate carvings of penises between their thighs.

All the leaves on the little trees were intricately veined, most no bigger than my pinky fingernail.

The fire was cold now, the ash spilling to the sides of the grate.

I made a circuit, then walked past the dining room and to the double doors that Valcor refused to open when he gave me my tour. Varik’s studio. More sconces dimly lit the scene. Nothing moved but the air from my slow, careful breaths.

I leaned my ear against the door, closing my eyes. I sensed no movement. Valcor had said the room was huge. But I didn’t hear even one echo.

I realized Varik was probably in his bedroom asleep. His schedule wasn’t screwed up like mine. I straightened up and turned to head back to the main part of the house, then let out a choked squeal. A man stood not six feet away from me, staring at me. Varik.

“Oh… oh! I didn’t know you were standing there. I didn’t hear you.”

“Obviously.”

Varik had on soft black pants and a long-sleeved white t-shirt. His rippling golden hair was pulled back in a ponytail. My fear couldn’t cover the flutter in my stomach at his size, and how handsome he was.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Promptly, I held up my sandwich. “I woke up and I was hungry.”

“I see that.”

I’d been caught snooping. My mind worked fast, trying to remember everything Valcor had told me about Varik. How terrible his life had been, full of torture and suffering, isolated since such a young age, and how he couldn’t trust others.

“I don’t mean to intrude. I was looking at the carvings on the door. Did you do them?”

“No.”

“Uh, okay. But you do make carvings?”

“Sculpture.”

I nodded. “Valcor said….”

He interrupted. “Val’s said and done enough. Too much.” He gestured to the doors. “That’s my studio. It’s off-limits just in case he didn’t tell you that along with everything else.”

I nodded. Valcor had told me the studio was private. My voice shook. “I won’t go in there. I promise.”

Varik turned away and headed toward the kitchen. I followed. What if he was already disappointed in me? What if he bypassed Valcor and had me sent back to the auction?

“I won’t be a bother. I promise,” I called out.

Varik stopped. His broad shoulders tensed. “Make a list of things you might need. They’ll be ordered.”

“I don’t need anything. Just food and a bed.”

As if he didn’t hear me, he said, “You’ll find paper and pens in the kitchen alcove. Have the list on the dining room table by morning.” He continued walking.

I hurried to catch up. “Like I said before. I’m good at cleaning. Not cooking so much, but I can learn. I’m very quiet. I won’t bother you.”

He slowed. “Don’t be ridiculously conservative on your list. The expense is nothing to me. You need a computer first and foremost, I’m sure. And warm clothing. And whatever extras you like to entertain yourself. Games or whatever.”

“You’d let me have a computer?”

He faced me. “Why not?”

“First, it can tell my location.”

“Not the way I have my Wi-Fi set up.”

“Okay.”

“You shouldn’t be cut off from family and friends. That’s wrong.” His voice got distant. “You were sent away against your will. I’m not keeping you here if you have somewhere better to go.”

I didn’t have to say it. He knew I had nowhere to go. I had no choices right now. Except to survive. “I—I need to stay.”

He let his breath out slowly and nodded once.

I didn’t know what else to say. The silence grew more awkward. “I guess I’ll just go back to bed now.”

He didn’t move for a few seconds. Finally, he turned toward the living room. “Breakfast is whenever you’re hungry. Sometimes if I’m working I forget to eat. There’s no set schedule. I sleep when I’m tired, get up when I’m not, so don’t look to me for daily guidance.”

“I won’t, sir.”

His eyebrow rose as he looked back at me. I wondered if anyone had ever called him “sir” in his life.

Varik strode away without another word.

Though I’d lied about being tired, I went back to my room and lay on the bed staring into the darkness. Suddenly, I remembered the phone Valcor had left me. I picked it up and looked through it. Everything was set up for me. It even got the Internet.

I went online and downloaded a few games and kept myself entertained until dawn.

At least there was that.

By six a.m. my stomach growled again. The sandwich I’d had wasn’t enough.

I creeped downstairs, hoping Varik was fast asleep, and shuffled about the kitchen.

I wasn’t a great cook, but I knew how to make breakfast. Soon my toast and scrambled eggs were ready.

I found fresh orange juice in the fridge.

Valcor had not lied when he’d said the kitchen was fully stocked.

I walked around as I ate, investigating the living room more thoroughly. I found the remote and turned on the TV. When I saw that it had every paid streaming channel in existence, I sat down and scrolled to find my favorite shows.

With streaming, even in another country, many things were similar. My shows still existed. My favorite channels were waiting. I hadn’t left everything behind. I was grateful to find some entertainment because I was going to need a lot of distraction in the coming weeks.

I spent the morning watching TV and going back to the kitchen several times for more juice and snacks.

I made my list and put “computer/laptop” at the top.

I wasn’t sure if my backpack that I’d left at the auction resort would ever be delivered, so I asked for pajamas, underclothes, socks, and shoes.

Valcor had given me a pair of pants, a sweater and very nice boots.

But I couldn’t wear them forever. Plus, though the boots were extremely beautiful they were more for outdoors.

I asked for more sweaters and pants but also cotton tops just in case this place did have seasons and the weather warmed.

That was, of course, if I was allowed to stay that long to see it all.

Otherwise, the guest room had all the personal stuff I needed.

Also in my backpack was my favorite crystal. That could never be replaced. I didn’t know how to add something like that to my list, so I left things like that off.

Maybe one day I’d tell Varik—or whoever I ended up with—about my rock collection and how much it meant to me. Maybe I could start a new collection.

I went back to the living room and lay on the couch’s soft pillows but still couldn’t fully relax. Every minute, I expected Varik to come down the staircase and tell me I was disrupting his privacy and peace. Maybe he was spying on me from above. He did have cameras set up all over the place.

I told myself I didn’t care. He could be a voyeur all he wanted. I had nothing left and nothing to hide.

I made sure to clean up after myself after making my breakfast. I washed each dish and pan by hand. I wiped down the counters. If he was spying, maybe I could prove I was useful in some ways.

When noon approached, there still wasn’t a stir in the house. I glanced down at Valcor’s—my—phone. I had more questions. I opened up a text window and began to type.