Page 17 of Hupotasso
Procurement has been busy since I’d returned, working hard to provide enough humans for myself, Viper, Jag, Wolf, and now Caroline. Usually, I couldn’t really care less who I drank, provided they were not children or the elderly. Fortunately, there was a dearth of illegal immigrants in the country at the moment, and no one missed the odd shipping container or boatload full. But I’ve asked for a change in the menu. A special delivery designed to sublimate a desire, aneed,I’ve been fighting ever since the final ceremony in The Games.
I want redheads.
13
My hair has been washed, trimmed and styled, and I’ve mercifully been supplied toiletries and make-up.
I’d started to think I was existing in my own personal version of The Taming Of The Shrew and that Falcon fully intended to keep me naked, bored and half-starved until eventually I withered away and died. But luckily there are appearances to keep up and places I’m expected to be — alive.
Now, wearing a loose powder-blue velveteen tracksuit supplied by Caroline, and no underwear to afford ease of trying things on, I peruse rack after rack of designer dresses, suits, negligees, underwear and shoes as Caroline watches.
Every now and again she shakes her head at something I select and returns it to the rack.
Growling, I promptly pull it back off.
This game has been going on for several hours now.
As she puts back yet another choice, I round on her.
“Caroline, if you touch another one of my picks I’m going to fucking stake you with a clothes hanger. Am I making myself clear?”
“Crystal,” she smiles, replacing yet another pantsuit.
Snarling, I pull it back off the rack and tuck it under my arm.
“I watched you on the show, you know,” she says calmly, ignoring my expression. “I, along with all my family. We were surprised when Falcon looked to choose someone who clearly wasn’t comfortable with killing.”
“I’m getting more comfortable with it by the minute,” I snap.
“I don’t think so,” she smiles, her little pointed teeth showing between her perfect coral lips. “But that’s what makes you unique. That’s obviously what Falcon wants.”
“Obviously,” I snigger, rolling my eyes and turning my back on her as I head over towards the shoes to retrieve the riding boots she’d returned when I hadn’t noticed. I’m trying to get at least a few pairs of clothes that wouldn’t stand out in a crowd if I got the opportunity to run. Unfortunately most of the clothes sent over were ‘royal’ in that they were discreet, plain-coloured, perfectly cut and worth more than the average car. They were also designed for style, not function. None of those, or the matching heels, would do. At this stage the only thing I could possibly escape in was a set of pyjamas— and even those were satin.
Feeling her once more hovering over me as I look at the shoes, I spin to face her.
“You know, Caroline, if you want to do something worthwhile, how about getting a computer in my room so I can watch my season of The Games? I think I’d better see what the public saw, what the other families of the contestants saw of me, and what happened on set, before I go meeting anyone. After all, what I experienced and what viewers watched are most definitely likely to be two different things.”
“That could be tricky…” she starts.
My hold on my temper snaps.
“Seriously? You said you were here for me. I ask for one thing. Are you that fucking useless?”
She narrows her eyes at me and takes a step closer, and I bunch my fists. I’m no brawler, but I’m going to give a red-hot try at breaking her perfectly little upturned nose if she attempts to bite me. Fortunately, I don’t have to see if I would have followed through, as her name is barked out from the doorway.
“Caroline!”
Spinning instantly we both pale as Falcon strides in, his face a thundercloud.
“What exactly is going on here?”
“Cousin,” she simpers, rising from the obsequiously deep curtsy she’d dropped as soon as she saw him, “nothing. I assure you.”
He turns to look at me, narrowing his eyes at my fists still bunched by my side, and I blush.
“Angelina?”
It’s the first time he’s spoken my name since the ceremony. He hadn’t used it at all when he, when we…
