48. Outing of friends

Two days later, Lucy came.

Sitting on a patio table on the balcony that overlooked the gardens, Netayah took in the beautiful scene. It was one of the most favorite places in the entire castle, that brought peace and calm in dark moments. It was here she often sought out in the days since she'd moved to the Alpha Suite, whenever she needed some time to think to herself. As difficult as it was for her to realize, she'd needed to find solace here a lot more than usual.

A tapping came. "My lady?"

Glancing up from her wandering thoughts a smile spread wide across her face as she spotted Anya. In the days since she'd become her personal servant the two of them had developed a tentative friendship. "What is it, my dear Anya?"

"You have guests," she replied.

Guests?

She had guests?

How on earth did she have guests? In the time since she'd been in Blue Diamond she hadn't gone anywhere, beyond the hospital and palace. And the one day that she'd gone shopping with Samantha, but that'd been a few days ago. Beyond that, no one really had the chance to meet her in passing, let alone get to know her well enough to visit. The only people she really knew in this place were Lucy and Abbie, but hadn't seen them in days.

Then as if conjured by her thoughts alone Anya stepped out of the way, as Lucy and Abbie sailed through the door. A broad smile spread across her face as she saw the two women, Netayah climbed to her feet to greet them. "What are you two doing here?"

"We've come to kidnap you," Lucy declared proudly, hooking an arm through her own and Abbie did the same on the other side. "You've been cooped up in this place for far too long, it's high time you got to see the outside world."

"I don't know," she hedged uncertainly. Though she was curious as to what the town offered a person, Netayah wasn't certain she wanted to leave. Because the more she saw of this place the more she loved it and didn't know if she could brace for losing it in the end.

Without giving her the option of arguing further, Lucy and Abbie lead her through the enormous palace. The both of them had come to a decision on how the day would turn out, unwilling to listen to her arguments. Whether she wanted to or not she was leaving the manor with them, even if they had to resort to their baser instincts. Like they said, they were there to kidnap her.

Netayah ground her feet stubbornly. "Lucy, Abbie, please slow down. I haven't even had the chance to talk to Alpha Xavier and Alpha Xios about leaving the manor. Both might have a difference of opinion."

"Who do you think called?" she called.

Her eyes widened. "They called you?"

"Of course sweetheart," Xavier's deep voice entered the den of silence that followed, as he came around the corner. Offering her a bright smile he approached the three women, bending down he planted a kiss on her brow. "You deserve to get out and I know you've missed them terribly."

"Just as we did," Lucy declared.

"I..ah...don't know," she continued to protest.

Right at that moment Xios approached the woman, shaking his head as he heard her continued complaints. "No, Netayah. You can't argue your way out of this one and you know it. Now I want you to go out with your friends, and enjoy the day together."

With that being said, obviously the end of the conversation in their eyes, she was guided out of the palace. Netayah barely had the opportunity to climb into a pair of sandals, that Anya had obviously brought down to her. Emerging from the ornate double wide doors it was to spy the lavishly expensive Rolls Royce in the drive. A man in a suit stood at the door and upon seeing them he opened it up, obviously waiting on them.

Lucy guided them in that direction. "Alpha Xavier and Alpha Xios wanted us to enjoy today to the fullest, even offered their car to do it in. Now get inside before either of them realize how foolhardy their decision was." Then with that being said Netayah was practically thrown into the back of the vehicle, slamming the door shut.

"My Tayah," a cry came.

This came from Claire.

Before she could even prepare herself for the onslaught Claire lurched from her seat, wrapping her into her arms. Hugging her with a death grip that made it difficult to believe she was human, Claire squeezed her tight. "Oh my dove, my sweet little girl, I've missed you so."

"I can tell," Netayah coughed at the oxygen was crushed right out her lungs, the woman was stronger than she appeared. Settled back in the seat when those arms finally loosened their grip, she smiled at her. "You do realize you are only a couple years older than me, I'm far too young to be your little girl."

"You're our girl," she declared. She looked at Lucy.

That was the end of that.

She was still grappling to understand the complexities of these two when the car drove away from the palace. During the drive into town, Netayah found herself occupied by the lively conversation of the women. All three of them had a million different questions, though none of them were really voiced aloud.

Their first stop of the day was Madz Saloon. Netayah's eyes widened in surprise when she got her first look at the hair salon she'd been brought to. While the main floor was outlined like any beauty shop, the top was a cafe overlooked from the balcony, a place for the rich and famous, loud and clear.

A girl approached. "What can I do for you?"

"An all-inclusive package," Abbie promptly announced, then finished out a black credit card she'd been carrying around in her purse. "Our Netayah here is the top priority."

Her eyes widened. "Netayah Greystone?"

"That's her," she agreed.

The confirmation had barely left her mouth when the girl spun around, leading them through the salon. Her movement took them through silk curtains, a short five steps, to a lower level of the salon. Netayah would come to see that this place was only for the VIP members of the pack, to receive special treatment exclusive to them.

"Girls," the first one called to the half a dozen shop girls that were down below, dressed in turquoise dresses and silver mocks. She motioned behind her. "This here is Netayah Greystone, the alpha's special guest. She is to receive the all-inclusive package, top priority."

All six bowed.

With that, they got to work.

It was close to three hours later when Netayah finally emerged from the salon, overwhelmed by what'd happened. The words had barely left Marci's mouth when the six had moved forward, one to each of the girls. Netayah alone had gotten several girls to cater to her. In the space of minutes she'd gotten her hair washed, then sat in a chair as they debated on what to do. In the end it was decided to give her a trim, but nothing extensive as all absolutely loved her hair. It was then styled and curled, that only accentuated her features.A few highlights were added, that put in a pop of color, that even Netayah admitted to liking.

That was only the beginning. Over the course of the next few hours Netayah had found herself getting her nails cleaned. The girls had given her a pedicure, where her nails were polished a bluish silver, the same for her fingernails. She'd even been taken to the back where two of them had seen giving her a light wax, while another gave a tissue massage. Netayah had never imagined such kind of pampering could be possible, as she'd never been treated this way.

By the time she left the salon Netayah was feeling a million times better, the female she'd never been. She had no doubt in her mind that if she stayed there she'd make visits to Madz a frequent occurrence.

Through the day Netayah was taken from one store to the next, Lucy opting for some much-needed shopping. She quickly came to realize that she had something of a shopping addiction and once was never enough. Bursting out laughing at this realization, she didn't attempt to argue her decision as they continued on.

"I thought this day was supposed to be about me," Netayah burst out laughing at one point, as Lucy's eyes lit up in excitement inside of the electronic store. "I think you're enjoying this more than I am."

"She is," Abbie and Claire said as one.

"Only because Netayah hasn't learned how to properly behave," Lucy chortled in glee as she skimmed through a row of lamps, putting serious thought into her decision. "Don't worry love, I will teach you. By the time I'm finished, you will know how to properly shop."

She blanched. "Goddess help me."

Lucy meant it too. Following the excursion for a new lamp for her bedroom, she leads Netayah through the television sets. Professing she needed one in her bedroom. Clearly the girl had been in her room at some point and found the decorations lacking. Despite her repeated denials she was forced to buy a television, an alarm clock, a few trinkets to put on the shelves. It wasn't nearly enough in her viewpoint, but Lucy allowed them to leave with promises to be back.