Page 50 of Chosen
“Hi,” I greet back, pasting what I hope looked like a cheerful smile.
It’s been so long since I’ve smiled, I’d almost forgotten how. I’ve been standoffish to her up until now, even though she has been kind to me and the guilt of how I’ve behaved hits me. I’m reminded that even though I’ve suffered, I’m not the only one who has endured the evils of this world.
She raises a brow seeming to take note in my change of demeanor, but she quickly returns her face to a neutral expression. “I wanted to introduce you to Ayla. She’ll be taking over as your personal maid. I’m just going to show her how things are done for the next couple days before she’s on her own.”
“Thank you. Hi Ayla.”
“Greetings Miss.” Ayla nods her head.
“I’ve brought some lotions, and new bath accessories that you might enjoy. I also have some new outfits for you. I’ll go put them away for you.” Willa headed to the bathing room leaving me alone with Ayla.
The other woman stood with her hands behind her back and her head held forward. An awkward silence fell in the roombecause I wasn’t sure what to say. Would she be as horrible as the last two?
My eyes are drawn to her beauty. I’d always thought my sister was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen but Ayla is otherworldly. And she has the height of asuperiousfemale though on the shorter end of the spectrum. It isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that she carriessuperiousblood but not recognized as one based on her current position as a maid.
“Um, have you been in the fortress for long?” I ask Ayla more to break through the awkwardness of the moment while Willa busies with placing decorative objects around the room.
“I’m new to the fortress, Miss. I arrived this morning from region 5 not too far from here.”
“Oh. Well, I hope we can get along.” I say for lack of anything better to say.
“I’m sure we will, Miss.” She’s so formal and I can’t tell if that’s her personality or if she’s nervous because this is her first assignment in the fortress.
I don’t have a chance to ask her anything else, because Willa returns. “I thought I would make the room more colorful for you, Miss Jamie.”
I glance around the room notice the new accents she’d placed on the stands, and my table. They didn’t make that much difference to the décor but I appreciated her thoughtfulness.
“Lord Draken wanted me to take you around the fortress today. Would you like to take that tour now?” Willa asks.
I nod eagerly. This would be the first time I’ve left this room since I arrived. Even though the room was even larger than the one I’d occupied in the Sector 6 manor, I needed this change of scenery.
“Follow me, please,” Willa leads me out the room and I’m followed closely by Ayla. Almost too close but I don’t tell her to back away from me.
“There are 10 floors in the fortress. We’re on the 8thfloor. Lord Draken’s suite is adjacent to yours.” She points to a room with gold doors across the hall from mine.
I didn’t realize he was so close by.
Around the corner is Master Johra’s room, The Advisor in Chief, whom we address as Chancellor and their personal attendants all stay on this floor. Directly above us is the surveillance unit, and that level also houses most of our high-ranking Enforcers and the top floor is the observatory.”
We take the elevator and get off on the 9thfloor first, and I see an open floor of holo monitors that shows various parts of the fortress. Each screen is being manned by a uniformed men. They’re all wearing plain gray jumpsuits.
Three Enforcers in black walk between the aisle, randomly checking the screens as they walk back. They were probably in charge of the operation.
“These are the security monitors. They alert the Enforcers in case there are any safety breaches in the Fortress.”
Half of the screens are focused on the outer perimeter while the other half are various places inside the fortress.
Willa then takes me to the 7thfloor and I automatically freeze. I remember this halfway because of the of the paintings on the wall. This was where I was originally brought by those two maids. As if sensing my unease, Willa turns to me.
“Is there a problem Miss?”
“This is where my first room was located. Right over, I point to the room with non-descript metal door. Now that I’m looking at it, I notice how different it is from the other bedroom doors which all have ornate designs on the outside.
Willa frowns. “But that’s a supply closet.”
I shrug. “That’s where I was.”
“I’m so sorry, Miss Jamie. Lord Draken mentioned that your first days here were uncomfortable, but I didn’t realize they had gone this far.” Her brows furrow and for a moment she opens her mouth to say something but apparently thinks better of it.
