Page 7 of Huntress and the Thorn Court
With one final look at me, the black wolf darted up the stairs leaving me alone with the body of the gray wolf that was quickly transforming back to human.
5
With my back stiff against the wall, I sat arms wrapped around my knees, staring out between the bars of the cell. The body didn’t distress me. I spent my share of time around the dead. It had been over an hour since the black wolf, that I assumed was Gideon, had departed. I expected someone to have arrived by now to inquire over what had occurred. The sun had risen and time had passed, but here I remained staring at the dead body of the man that had tried to kill me. He had his reasons, I was sure. I had just killed two wolves twenty-four hours ago.
Eleanor came strolling down the stairs close to eight. She was busy focusing on carrying the tray she held that she hadn’t noticed the body.
“I hope you’re not one of those that refuses gluten because our chef makes some of the best pancakes you have ever tasted. I mean—Good God!” She jolted dropping the tray with a crash at the sight of the half mutilated naked man. “What happened?” She turned seeing me caked in drying blood. “Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance?”
“I need a shower,” I muttered refusing to move until I had to. The feel of the blood on my skin was even more disturbing if I moved and it cracked.
She seemed unsure what to do. “I’ll be back.” She raced back up the stairs. Ten minutes later she returned with the Alpha and another wolf in tow. “I don’t know what happened,” she explained to them.
I peered up at the three. Gideon seemed surprised by what he saw. Perhaps I’d been mistaken. I wondered how many werewolves wore the exact same scar as him. He turned letting his eyes rake over me.
“Eleanor,” he approached my cell. Typing in the code into the keypad the door snapped open. “Why don’t you take our little huntress upstairs to an empty room and let her shower.” When I didn’t immediately move, he glared at me. “Can you walk?”
“I can though I’m not sure I want to.”
“Unless you wish to stay in the dead wolf’s blood then I suggest you move your ass before I change my mind.”
Glaring, I considered being stubborn and remaining sitting just to spite him, but it would only hurt me. The idea of not getting a shower was something I couldn’t do.
“Good girl,” he stated patronizingly when I stood. Narrowing my eyes at him only made him smirk.
I followed Eleanor out of the basement and up another three flights of stairs to the end of a wide set hall. We passed several beings, none seemed stunned by my appearance, but all gave me the same hostile scowl making sure that I understood they knew whom I was and that I was not welcome. Standing taller, I held my head high refusing to cower under their glares. Withdrawing a key ring, the older woman grabbed a seemingly random key unlocking the door. Leading me inside, she flipped on lights as she went. She seemed familiar with the room.
The room was simple with only the bare necessities. A queen size bed with a cherry wood headboard that was engraved with leaves and flowers was up against the wall to my left. Matching nightstands sat on either side. Directly across from the bed sat a chest of drawers in the matching design. The walls were painted in a warm champagne color a few shades lighter than the carpet.
“The bathroom is through there. Help yourself to whatever toiletries you need. You’ll find clean towels in the closet behind the door. Once you’re stripped just set your clothes outside the door and I’ll get them cleaned.”
Nodding, I went straight into the bathroom. The bedroom seemed too clean for me to stand there in my state. It felt wrong. The bathroom was no better. I worried about ruining the pristine white staining it with the blood. The room was a vortex of white porcelain. The walls were even covered in porcelain tiles more than halfway up. If it wasn’t for the blue paint that covered the remainder of the walls; I might have gone blind walking in.
Turning on the shower so it warmed, I stripped out of my bloodied clothes. I hesitated when I went to set them outside the bathroom door. Not because I was worried Eleanor or someone else might see my delicates, but because the carpet was vanilla colored and I didn’t want to tarnish it.
“I got it,” she replied realizing my hesitation, as I stood there with my clothes halfway out of the room. “I’ll be back in a few but don’t feel like you have to rush.”
The shower was heavenly. Not only did it feel wonderful to wash off the blood, but my muscles ached from the attack. Add in spending the morning sitting on the concrete floor, and I was moaning as the spray kneaded my tense body.
The shower lasted longer than was necessary but without knowing when the opportunity would arise again, I took advantage while I could.
“Eleanor?” I called stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a fluffy off-white towel. The bathroom was so full of steam that I felt muggy remaining in there. Peeking my head out from around the door I noticed I was alone. “Hello?” I called out for good measure.
Exiting the bathroom, I went to stand by the bed. Dropping my towel, I began using it to dry off my body. I patted down my arms and chest and was working down one of my legs that I propped up on the mattress when the door opened.
“You’re back?” I called out. Eleanor lived among werewolves who weren’t particular about being naked in front of strangers, which I guess was the reason she entered without knocking.
“I didn’t know you were expecting me,” a deep male voice stated with a hint of humor.
I jerked the towel against my body. “I’m naked!” I yelled.
“I can see that,” he smiled letting his gaze rake over my damp skin.
“Get out.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you have anything I haven’t seen before.”
I glared at him. “I may be your prisoner but that doesn’t entitle you to a free peep show.” I struggled to wrap the towel around me without revealing anything as I did it.
