Chapter 16 She's all about it
Celine's POV
“You have my parents’ pictures,” I said, my face shining like a bright light, but furrowing my brows at the same time.
It was a prank, wasn't it?
A prank just to get me into a bright mood. But if that was so, then she’d gone too far. It would give me a failed expectation, like falling from the stories of a building to land on the base floor. And my grief would be huge.
As her eyes were on me, I waited for her to say “yes,” even though I'd convinced myself that couldn't be the case. My mouth salivated like a meal far above my favorite meal was prepared for me to eat.
“Yes,” she said.
“Yes…”
She nodded.
“Let me see them… Where are they?” My eyes scanned the room, hoping that the pictures might have been placed in a corner, or the wardrobe, under the bed, and what about the bathroom?
“Wait. Calm a bit.” Her hands rested on my shoulders. “I have them, but they are not in this room.”
My head kept shaking. I couldn't stay calm.
“But…”
But what?
She wanted to give me bad news concerning them?
“There should be a condition for you to see them,” she said. “Could you do me a favor so I let you see them?”
“Yes momma.”
At this point, anything could go. Whatever the condition was, I was going to fulfill it, even if I had to cause harm to myself. Nothing else mattered except that. Anything went.
“Well…” Her fingers touched my ears.
Time… she was wasting too much of it. She should tell me and get it done instantly.
“Anything.”
“Okay, I need you to eat.”
“And…” I raised my eyebrows at her. “What about the condition?”
“That's it. Yeah.”
“Just for me to eat?”
Wasn't it supposed to be a tough job to carry out?
I expected her to ask me to steal something from another room, to do something that would make sweat drip down my face, but this?
“Yes, that's the condition.” Her palms felt my face. “It would give me satisfaction if you eat without spilling the food. I’d be happy.”
“You're sure?”
“Never been this sure.” She still had a smile on her face.
My curiosity must have caused it.
“Then let's have the meal,” I said. “I’m ready.”
Her eyes scanned the room, especially the spot where I'd pushed the tray off the table. “Not here, the dining table.”
“Okay.”
She held my right hand, opening the door. “You would have to choose the exact food you can eat so you don't spill it.”
Outside the room, walking to the dining area—I meant one of the dining rooms. There should be more dining rooms, I supposed. I’d begun to feel like I wasn't trapped in this pack after all. Well, that thought could be because I didn't have another place to go. If I was released, I couldn't go to Colt's.
“The dining room,” Lila said.
She didn't know about Mira persuading me to have a meal here.
“And after the meal, you would show me.” I reminded.
“Absolutely.”
I had to believe her.
“Love.” She beckoned to me. “Let's get you to the kitchen so you can choose from their menu.”
I followed her, and the chef we’d met earlier was still on duty, still preparing different meals, leaving different aromas to shoot out from the kitchen.
“What would you like?” She asked after Lila had expressed my selective nature of choosing specific food to her.
She’d put my humanity in front.
But it was hard for me to choose as the aroma distracted me.
“Which?” The chef asked again.
“Toast bread.”
“Toast bread?”
“And tea.”
“Then it's done.” She winked.
And just as I thought, it was already available as though they were waiting for me to ask for it. The tea was prepared right before me, with chocolate and milk. Lila also did a serious job of observing.
I sat at the dining table, forcing myself to swallow bites of it.
“Eat up,” Lila said each time she noticed I was taking a long time chewing a bite.
And besides, my parents’ pictures were enough motivation for me.
“I’m done!”
I still feared she would tell me it was all a prank to get me to eat.
“Let's go.”
She led the way, and as I followed behind her, my steps were careful, like a single rough step could make all of this just a dream, fading into thin air once I woke up.
She stopped at a door. I heaved a sigh.
She opened it. “My room.”
This room was much smaller than mine, not wide enough to contain three extra beds, and I wondered why that was so considering… I didn't even know her position in this pack.
“Let's get to our deal, shall we?”
“Please…”
I couldn't help but hold my breath again, waiting for the pictures to come alive before my eyes. Her hands opened the door of the wardrobe, then she knelt down to locate another cabinet below the wardrobe. Her hands came out from the small space, along with dust, then I saw a frame…
“The pictures… are they…”
She didn't answer, but pulled two frames out. I rushed to get them from her and didn't hesitate to wipe the dust off with my gown. She watched me, sat on the floor, and rested her back on the tiny wood separating the two compartments of the wardrobe.
“These… my parents…”
“There you go,” she said.
My hands started to shake again. These pictures… they seemed to unlock a part of my memory that had been sealed, and for a moment they felt real.
My eyes became wet as I lowered myself to the floor.
“Don't.” Lila warned. “Not now. No tear should wet your eyes.”
I wiped my hands across my eyes, but it was hard to contain my emotion. I couldn't define it.
“My mother…” The word left my mouth in a soft whisper. “Adeline.”
Vivid memories of her began to flood my mind, giving me no room to ease my breath.