Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.
A/N: Sorry about the short chapter- it was past of a longer one I decided to introduce later. As always, enjoy!
Un-beta'd
Chapter 4
Noelle woke up completely sated. She smiled sleepily, staring at the bedroom before her. Her own bedroom. The television was extremely high-tech, despite being in the 1990s, sleek and light-weight. The heater worked perfectly, and the bed-oh god, it was the softest thing ever! The covers were varying shades of gold and bronze, beautiful, and just by the corner was a whitewood cradle just waiting for her baby. the child in question gave her a morning kick, and Noelle sleepily rubbed the spot. Morning, baby.
Wait, is it morning? Noelle got up fast, staring out the window. It showed snow swirling about outside, light enough to be anywhere between late afternoon to early evening. Had everything been a dream? The torturing, the conversation slash threats with William, meeting any impossible little girl named Savedra Romanov but is also Alexa Bishop, Aeternus Bishop's beloved daughter? Noelle's mind whirled with information.
There was a quick knock on the door. Noelle looked up, just as a woman came in, dressed in a sweater dress that made any female feel a hit in their self-esteem, clinging to her every curve. She smiled, honey brown eyes twinkling. Soridno. So it wasn't a dream afterall.
"Noelle?" She asked. "Are you alright?"
"F-Fine," Noelle gasped. "Just g-give m-me a second!" She took a deep breath. Sordino walked to her, and wrapped her arms around Noelle.
"Sweetie, it's alright," she whispered. "The first day after beign freed is always the hardest. Take your time." Noelle hands shook, but slowly, she wrapped them around Sordino as well.
"Y-You were l-like me?" Noelle couldn't fathom anyone so beautiful would be thrown out of her home.
Sordino nodded. "My family was jealous. I came from a somewhat inferior gene pool, so to speak. I had six sisters who were all considered extremely beautiful, until I turned seventeen. Suddenly I was the one being scouted for modeling, I was posing for ads and I was being asked to become an actress." Sordino sighed. "There was an ugly fight and I left. They shouted, 'Don't ever come back!' as I walked away. I was nineteen, if you want to know. It's been close to ten years now."
"Wow." Sordino frowned.
"Would you like to rest some more?" Noelle vehemently shook her head. Sordino sighed. "Alright."
They slowly made their way to the adjoining bathroom. To Noelle's surprise and Sordino's amusement, it was nicely heated and well-lit. "You didn't think Savedra would do things halfway, did you? Well, and that we can't have you walking about, chattering with blue lips." Sordino winked. Noelle smiled back timidly. Sordino looked at her knowingly."Go on. It's just you and me; you can call her Savedra." Noelle nodded.
Sordino left Noelle sitting on the lid of the toilet bowl and bent down to turn on the hot water tap. Noelle started to protest, until hot water gushed out of the gold tap into the bathtub. She stared, transfixed. Hot water, especially in rural Russia, was a rare commodity.
"Don't worry! All the fighters have their own private source of heated water. Savedra, however, has three. This is your own source. Plus, the canteen doesn't officially open until nine on free days."
"There's no fights today?"
"Mm-hmm. Snow storm. Didn't you see? The roads are blocked and everyone's strongly advised to stay at home or indoors for the next few days or so. Most of the guys here use these days to catch up on their sleep. The fighters just sleep in a little, because of their Regiment." Sordino quirked a smile. "Well, most of them." Noelle frowned in confusion. "You'll see."
Sordino carefully helped Noelle into the tub. Noelle sighed blissfully, luxuriating in the blistering heat of the water. They added some scented salts and Sordino left to get something for Noelle to drink. It gave Noelle time to think on her own, and the heated water helped that.
She couldn't help but notice that there was a deeper bond between Sordino and Savedra. They were very similar, and also very different. Both were strong-willed, powerful figures in this world, and carried many secrets. Very quiet, thoughtful people who had every plan meticulously planned and enemies galore. It scared Noelle out of her mind that these were the type of people she was associating with. She knew, from experience, that people around them die every easily, and there are only two types. The dead and the depraved living.
Noelle pitied the both of them. Savedra, for being found in the wrong place, at the wrong time, by the wrong person, and being robbed of her innocence. Because that was what had happened, how Aeternus Bishop had gotten his hands on her. Sordino, for being the right person, who made the wrong choice. And yet, they both stuck to their decision; to stay. Either of them could've easily found a way to leave, to escape from this hellish place where the conscience is best left at the doorstep. It told Noelle, more than anything else, that she could trust them to keep her safe. They would never break their promises and vows.
It was a frightening conclusion to come to. These sort of people made the best friends, the best sibling, the best parent. However, they also made the worst enemies in the world. Which side of the knife will they fall to?
"Noelle?" She started. "I brought a few chocolate bars and coffee. I added some creamer, if you don't mind."
"Of course not!"
A/N: R&R please. Thanks:)