I yawn and stare at Yama in annoyance as he converses with Sōsuke like the two are old friends over a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. My brother is a fool. When did the Omura clan get to be so desperate? I ignore their conversation, glancing down the table at the others. Gin and Kaname aren't among the sea of white-clad patrons – busy as always – but Grimmjow is. My face burns as I remember last night; the taste of him on my tongue sends shivers down my spine and litters my arms in goosebumps. Why is someone like him on my mind? He's bad for me, but all I can think about is letting him ravage me; tear me apart like no man has. Perhaps the problem is me. I am motivated by the aspect of adventure and something in me keeps saying that I won't find that is Sōsuke. He seems to be a proper monster.
An unbridled grin pulls at my lips as our eyes meet at last. I cover it with my drink, humming as I imagine what treats lie in store for me with Grimmjow at the wheel. A taste isn't enough to sate me.
A hand on mine causes me to jump. I avert my eyes, frowning as Sōsuke traces my knuckles with an icy finger.
"Does that sate you, princess?" He asks.
Sate me? My face heats up.
"I … don't––"
"Is your mind occupied?"
Yama laughs.
"Don't be too upset with her Aizen. She is miles away sometimes."
I glare at him.
"Conversations about work seldom keep my interest," I argue.
Sōsuke grins, squeezing my hand before he lets go.
"That is precisely the reason I suggested that you spend the morning with Harribel."
Harribel? I pucker a brow.
"I don't know who––"
"I am she," a low voice says.
A tall woman with beautiful olive skin stands. I stare in awe at her.
"Give Yuina a tour of the palace," Sōsuke orders.
Not even a please or thank you included. Harribel doesn't seem to mind, though. She allows me to finish breakfast before ushering me along. I follow her from the banquet hall, but she turns to me once we are in the hall and gives me a curious look.
"How far in the palace have you gone?" She asks.
"To the sunroom and the library, but honestly I'm not much in the mood for a tour," I answer back.
She hums.
"That is fine with me."
Harribel turns, but I stop her before she leaves.
"I'd like to tag along, however. If you aren't busy."
Her aqua green eyes turn to me.
"It's better in numbers. I think we can both agree to that," I mention.
Harribel hums.
"I can. Then you'd best come along."
I thank her, allowing her to lead me further into the palace. The area she brings me to is an open room in the shape of a decagon with wide corridors on each side.
"What is this area?" I ask.
Harribel glances at me over her shoulder.
"This is the entrance to the towers; the structures you saw outside the main palace when you came in. Each corridor leads to the private chamber of one of the royal family," she explains.
I widen my eyes.
"You have an entire tower to yourself?"
"Something like that," Harribel utters.
She ushers me down the corridor towards the end where a door sits.
"Some of us choose to live with others; I have three close friends who live with me. But there are some who live alone, like Ulquiorra."
I am not too surprised. I wonder about Grimmjow though. Does he have friends? My thoughts leave him as a light akin to the suddenness of the summer sun blinds me once Harribel opens the door. I can even feel the heat on my skin. Peeking inside, my eyes widen.
"Are we outside?" I ask.
Harribel ushers me from the corridor, shutting the door behind her.
"We are still inside the palace," she answers back.
How? There is a sky above us, and sand beneath our shoes. I hum as a sense of déjà vu consumes me. I already asked this question.
"It's artificial, isn't it?"
Harribel nods.
"Lord Aizen painted the sky above us, and heating panels keep the illusion that it's summer here."
"Is there anything in Los Noches that is real?" I ask.
Harribel doesn't answer and leads me to a single large building with a flat roof. Once inside, I stare in awe at the décor. It reminds me of a western resort with its sandy color scheme and plush upholstery.
"It's welcoming here," I utter.
Harribel hums.
"I'd hope so. As long as my girls find comfort in it."
I smile. She seems like a person who cares a lot for her friends.
"Take a seat. Let me get them," Harribel orders.
I do so, resting in front of a small table as Harribel leaves the room. For a while there is only silence, then at last I hear a noise; the faint sound of footsteps approaching behind me. The headrest on the couch dips down as someone leans over it.
"So, who the hell are you?" a voice asks.
"Don't be rude, Apacci. If she is here, it's because Harribel allowed her to be," another voice mentions.
Apacci snorts and comes around the couch, sitting on the one opposite of me. Her heterochromatic eyes stare at me in interest.
"Is that true?" she asks.
I nod.
She hums, then widens her eyes.
"Come here Sung-Sun. She's the one Mila Rose was talkin' about."
Another woman sits beside me, humming as she raises her hand over her mouth. Her lavender eyes widen just a bit.
"You are her; the woman Lord Aizen is courting."
I groan. Are they going to threaten me too?
"It's not like I wanted to come here and spend time with him," I retort with a snap.
Apacci laughs.
"Calm down, princess. It's not like we care."
"If you don't like him, then that is your decision," Sung-Sun adds.
Are they serious? I don't sense any bad vibes from them. Perhaps I was quick to blame.
"I apologize," I utter. "Everyone I've met so far has been a bit hostile to me about the situation."
"You mean Loly and Menoly," Sung-Sun brings up.
So, they've heard.
"What about them?" Says a voice.
I turn and see Harribel with an unnamed dark-skinned woman walking towards the couch; the former having dressed in an off-the-shoulder white blouse.
"We're talking about how protective they are of Lord Aizen," Apacci mentions.
The dark-skinned woman scoffs.
"They're insufferable."
"Behave, Mila Rose," Harribel orders as she sits next to Apacci. "They may be obsessed, but they are still a part of our Familia."
Mila Rose nods and sits on the arm next to me. Her green eyes narrow.
"So, what is she doing here?"
"Yuina is a guest," Harribel mentions. "And I hope she is comfortable."
I nod.
"I am. Your home is gorgeous," I mention. "Do each of the towers look like this?"
"Each tower reflects the owner, so no," Harribel answers.
That's interesting.
"You should see the roof. We have a pool," Apacci mentions.
Sung-Sun links her arm with mine.
"I'll show you," she offers.
Okay.
Apacci grunts.
"I'm the one who suggested it."
She stands and grabs my arm, pulling me to my feet; she is strong for her size.
"Come on."
Harribel hums.
"You can both show her," she states. "And Mila Rose can make our drinks."
Mila Rose grins.
"Are you joining us, Harribel?"
"In a moment," the said woman answers.
Their bond is admirable. I know they are being nice because of my situation, but I feel welcomed here. I don't have friends; it's something I crave.
Hearing Apacci call my name, I grin, allowing her to lead me to the roof.
For hours I sit with them by the pool, drinking Mai Tais and venting as new friends do. An hour before dinner, Harribel offers to escort me to the door. I want to stay but I know that I must attend, so I say goodbye to the girls, following Harribel to the door.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I utter once we reach the hall.
"It does the girls good to meet new people. They seemed to like you," Harribel mentions.
I grin. Hearing this makes me happy.
Before I turn to leave, Harribel grabs my arm. I stare at her in concern, but she releases me with a sigh.
"To answer your question, nothing here is real."
What does she mean? Harribel tosses me a wave and walks back towards her house. How strange. I walk up the hall in a daze until I reach the decagon room. A sudden presence makes me halt.
Grimmjow!?
His brow raises as he notices me.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" He asks.
Perhaps I'm feeling frisky, but I turn up my nose and walk past him, heading towards the entrance to the main palace. Something about him makes me feel unstable.
Grimmjow snorts.
"Is that how it's going to be?"
I grin, looking over my shoulder. He stares at me in annoyance.
"Harribel was giving me a tour," I answer. "But you know, I'm curious about what your place looks like. She says that each tower reflects the owner."
Grimmjow grins.
"Come and see."
"Later tonight," I declare.
Grimmjow walks toward the hall that leads to his room and stops near the entrance.
"Don't keep me waiting," he utters before he leaves me to my thoughts.
A rush of excitement devours me. I can't wait. As I walk back to my room a sudden awareness hits me.
Did I just admit that I want him? What has gotten into me?