Chapter 6

"This is taking too long," Selendrile thought. Dinner started three hours ago and they were still seated in the dining room, eating. Well, Selendrile's plate was clean of food and he watched his family continue eating the meal that his mother prepared. The meal she prepared for them was two lions, an elephant and two moose with small little decorations around them to make it look rolled his purple eyes at his mother's little 'housewife' antics and waited for his family to get done. He just hoped it was soon because he could feel his mother gazing at him through the entire dinner.

Listria would secretly gaze up at her son and sadly wonder why her youngest is so distant to his family and why there weren't any photos of them together. She still wonders how he came to be this. His father and she were in his life, didn't treat him wrongly, didn't abuse him, didn't make him feel unappreciated or make him feel invisible. He was raised right and well-mannered so why was he like this to them. She was still pondering about it and she wanted to ask him but was afraid of making him angry and having argument that might not have him talking to them for another few years and she wasn't ready for that; not again. After what seemed like another hour, everyone was finally finished and Selendrile rushed out of the room to go back to his office and complete his work before his family decides to interrupt him again over something trivial.

"What's his problem?" asked Corvin.

Berlin

"We should do this more often," Risa commented.

"Yeah, we should," Alys agreed.

They were both at Aldon Spa having a nice massage by two muscled men, Jakq, and Niqo. It was Risa's idea to have a girls day and enjoy their little vacation while they could before going back home and face the harsh reality. She practically had their day filled with different activities for the day. After the spa, they were going shopping, watch a movie premiere of Forest, and out to eat. Tomorrow would the same until they had to leave for home that night.

Work and home were getting harder to swallow and wanting to stay in Berlin was high. Risa wanted to stay and seek out some good looking men so she could forget about the guy, who already has a girlfriend, she likes. Alys just wanted an escape and Berlin would be her choice to stay. She would be away from all the troubles of her life at her uncle's and aunt's house. That and to get away from Una and the arranged marriage. Maybe not the arranged marriage part. Sure, she doesn't like Selendrile very much, but his family peeked her interest because she's not used to a family like his before. Yeah, when she sees other families that look happy and loving who passes by or come in the stores, but she would keep his family in close contact then with Selendrile and her family. Listria was someone that Alys could connect to for some reason. She wondered if her mother would be just like her in personality wise. Taurus reminded her of her late father that she lost when she was only three.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Jakq said, getting Alys attention.

"mhm, yes, what is it?" Alys asked.

"You have a big knot here between your shoulder. I'm going to add some pressure, it might hurt a bit," Jakq explained for the interrupting the peace.

"Go right ahead and don't stop til its time," Alys replied.

"Yes, ma'am."

Bollinger's House

Gower just arrived back from the basement. He was getting ready for Alys to come back home and receive her punishment. The living room and the kitchen were packed with well-hidden punishment articles of weapons. There were bats behind the doors, belts around the door handles, shoes under the couch and spiked gloves under the recliner flap. He wanted to bring up the vein splitter chair, but it was too heavy on him to bring up. Gower scanned the rooms to make sure that everything was in easy access and hidden very well to go unnoticed by anyone that goes into the rooms. Since everything was in place, Gower walked to his room and placed a couple hundred bucks in a jar. It was a special jar for Alys when she comes to the age of 21 for the will reading of her late father.

"Three more years. Just three more years," he murmured.

Paris

It was going on midnight when Selendrile finished his last run over the papers. Throwing the pen on his desk and rubbing the overused eyes, getting rid of the documents contents from them, he leaned back in his chair from exhaustion. His body already feeling tired and getting sleepy, Selendrile decided it was time for him to go to bed. Getting up from his chair, Selendrile left his office and went towards his bedroom. He was only a few more sleepy steps away until he bumped into Corvin.

"Yo, why you still up?"

"I just finished some paperwork so if you could please excuse me, my bed is waiting for me."

"What's your deal?! Ever since we got here, all you've been is frustrated and uptight. What did we do to you?"

"Just leave me alone, Corvin. I'm tired and want to go to sleep," Selendrile muttered tiredly.

He walked around his brother and went towards the direction of his room. Corvin stayed where he was at and silently growled with resentment and hurt from his brother rubbing him off like an annoying bug. All he wanted was to get along with his little brother, but instead, his brother doesn't want to be around anyone with no reason whatsoever. To him, that's confusing; especially since he doesn't know what made Selendrile be like this. Corvin went on his way to his room and went to sleep.

Berlin

"Well, tomorrow is our last day, and we did everything that you wanted to do. What else do you think we should do next?" Alys asked.

Risa and Aly were in downtown Berlin finishing up their shopping spree. After going to numerous clothing stores and jewelry stores and with multiple bags on each arm; they decided to stop at a nice little restaurant to get something to eat. Risa sipped her tea in silence and wondered where else to go, but nothing came to mind. All that was in her mind was that her best friend being engaged and that the guy she likes has a girlfriend. She wanted to do something really fun with her friend and dang it she will have it. That guy Selendrile didn't seem like the right person for Alys to be married to. She rather has Alys marry someone else that wouldn't take any crap from her uncle, or treat her with like she should.

"What do you think about that Selendrile fellow?"

"...why do you ask?"

"I want to know. I mean, you are arranged to him and he seemed a bit odd."

"You don't like him, do you?"

"No, I don't and I know you don't either."

"I don't like him, but if it means that my uncle stays off my back then I might as well do it."

After that statement, the girls went silent. Now Alys really wanted to stay in Berlin even more, but she had to go back home to a house that didn't want her there. They ate their meal and decided to head back to the hotel and rest. Alys noticed for some time now that Risa was acting weird and seem a bit, not herself. She wanted to ask her what was wrong with her but decided against it.

"If she wants me to know, she'll be able to tell me on her own like I did with my situation," Alys thought.

They were back at their hotel and Alys started packing her things so she would be all ready for tomorrow. Risa went to bed in deep thought about what to do with her taken crush. The lights were turned off and eyes were closed for some sleep.

It was raining the next morning and the mood was depressing. Risa's and Alys mood were dark. Risa was still thinking about the guy and Alys was dreading on going back home. The ride to the airport was quiet and the flight home was quiet. Alys dropped Risa at her house and before she pulled away Risa said, "My door will be unlocked."

Driving away from her friend's house all the way to the 'home' of her Uncle. Parking the car in the driveway, Alys didn't want to get out of the car. She knew that she had to go in but she was hoping that no one was home. Taking a deep breath, she got out of the car and went to open the front door. Next thing she saw was a bat and her world went dark.