Falling for Forever (2 page)

"Wait here," Mariah instructed. Bryn nodded and she disappeared into another room. She inhaled the intoxicating aroma of raspberries and vanilla. The polished stone floor felt cool and comforting to her worn feet. A giggle rose in her throat, but she quickly silenced it as Mariah returned to the room carrying a white gown. She held it out to Bryn, but Bryn did not reach for it. "It's okay," Mariah said gently to her.

"I'll get it dirty," Bryn protested.

"It can be washed."

Bryn nodded and took it from her.

"The bedroom is to your left. The bathroom is through there as well. I will be in the library when you are done. Take your time." Bryn nodded again as Mariah walked into another room. As soon as Mariah's back was turned, she hurried into the bedroom. She shut the door and leaned against it for a moment as she took in the scene before her. As with the living room, this room was also lit with torches.

A feeling hung in the air that she could not escape. She knew that it was familiar, but she could neither remember nor place it. She frowned and shook it off as silliness. The furnishings were well made and, though they appeared centuries old, they were still in perfect condition. She laid the gown on the pristine white bed. Her mind raced with hundreds of emotions as she saw the perfect white sheets and neatly folded blankets. Mariah was not like the other humans Bryn had met, but she was still a human and, though she'd been with more men than women, she knew what beds were for. She pushed those thoughts away and suppressed the sob that threatened to overcome her.

The room was in perfect order, and she wondered if it had ever been used. She went to the large mirror and instantly regretted it. The girl staring back at her was a stranger, but it was also one of the most familiar faces she knew. Her hands and feet were dirty. Her dress was tattered. The blonde curls that she had loved as a child hung matted in clumps around her shoulders. She wiped a single tear from her cheek and turned away from the girl in the mirror.

As Bryn walked into the bathroom, she was instantly left breathless. The light marble bathtub stood in the middle of the room, calling out to her. Bryn looked over her shoulder to make sure the bedroom door had remained closed before sliding the thin straps down her shoulders. The golden faucets turned easily in her hands. Steam became thick in the room as the bathtub began filling with water. Bryn stepped out of the dress and slipped into the hot tub. As the water lapped against her shoulders, Bryn turned the faucets off with her toes. The water was comforting, and she soon found herself up to her ears in it. A small jade jar stood along the rim of the tub. She opened it and inhaled the contents deeply. Rosewater. Without hesitation, she poured some onto her palms and then worked it into her hair. Bryn chuckled and smiled happily as the tangles disappeared, and her hair became as soft as silk. The dirt quickly washed away and her true blonde came through. Her skin glistened, and she ran her hands over her body.

Gracefully her fingers moved through the clear liquid. She could hear faint noises coming from the room behind her. Probably Mariah moving through the library, she realized after a few seconds of careful silence. So much had happened in such a short time, and now with silence as her only company and a warm bath to hold and rock her, Bryn allowed herself to drift into her thoughts. This was a day Bryn had never thought would come. After the first year of living with Franklin, after things had changed, she thought she would be his prisoner forever. Franklin's continual reminding Bryn of his position of power over her wasn't much of a help either. But she was wrong; she had lasted long enough to escape. But to what?

This woman couldn't be another master to her, not in the same way that Franklin was. Could she? What if the gentle ways and soft voice Mariah had for her were just a ruse to gain her trust? And then, what would happen? Would Bryn use her as Franklin had? It was a miserable existence she had with Franklin, one she did not care to repeat anytime soon. She could run away. Certainly, she could try to escape. But where would she go? Bryn was never allowed outside the boundaries of Franklin's manor, and Mariah had taken her far away from that place of pain and silence. If she were to run, she would have no idea where to go. She had no family, no friends and no money. She would be lost in this world, even more so than she was now. At least now, Bryn had a roof over her head and a warm bath. That was more than Franklin gave her most nights.

The best thing to do for now seemed to be her only option:  stay with Mariah. For now at least, she quickly assured herself.

The water soon lost its warmth, despite her willing it not to, and she stepped out sadly. Her skin dried quickly, but her feathers were a little more stubborn. She flapped and shook them until they too were perfectly dry. If they had been their full size, drying would have taken hours. At least Franklin had done one thing to help her, she thought miserably to herself. She ran her hands over the tip of her longest feather and smiled. She could not remember a time when her wings had been whiter or softer. She found herself again standing in front of the mirror and, for the first time in years, liking her reflection. She had never been allowed to really gaze at herself nude before, and the sight was both amazing and thrilling to her. She had seen a woman's body before, but never anyone as clean. Her skin was glowing and her wings framed her shoulders perfectly.

"Hello," Bryn softly said to the girl in the mirror. The bruises and scars hadn't gone away, of course, but it was as if they were no longer as evident. Against the dark wood walls, she appeared as pale as a ghost.

She went to the bed and ran a finger over the dress. Never in her life had Bryn seen its equal. She felt unworthy of such a gown, but Mariah had given it to her, and Bryn did wish to please her. She traced the delicate gold embroidery and then stepped into it. If her wings had been at their full magnificence, the dress would never have fit, but since they were little more than stubs, the dress fit almost perfectly. The chest was too small, creating unwanted cleavage, but she shrugged and smiled at herself in the mirror. She had never been allowed to wear anything this modest, and she found a new sense of freedom within its folds. She twirled in it and danced like the ladies that she had seen at parties.

Bryn chuckled and opened the bedroom door. She walked swiftly to the library and knocked. She waited a few seconds, pausing uncertainly as she chewed on her lower lip, before letting herself in. Instantly, she gasped at the sheer immensity of the room. Instead of mold and dust, it smelled like leather bindings and antique letters. Still amazed, Bryn slowly came to stand in front of Mariah as she continued reading her book.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes?"

"The dress is beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to wear it."

Mariah looked up at her and let the faintest traces of a smile touch her lips. "Yes, it is. We will go to town soon to get you some new clothes."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Are you hungry?"

Bryn shook her head. "May I go for a walk?"

"Of course."

Bryn nodded and gave a quaint curtsey before leaving the room. She stepped out into the cool night air and breathed deeply the scent of freedom. No one was watching her, so she could have easily left, but Mariah seemed different than the others somehow. Her toes curled in the cool grass. She chuckled and gazed at her skin in the pale moonlight. She took one uncertain step and then looked back at the cabin.

She took another and again looked back. Nothing. There were no guards coming at her with chains, no disgusting master waiting to take her again. She shuddered and pushed those memories to the back of her mind and wrapped her wings around her shoulders protectively. The wind had eased into a cool breeze. The once angry sky was now a clear black night. She continued walking and listened to the sounds of the night like a newborn babe. Each new sound was a feast for her ears. As she sat in the grass watching a cricket, a flash of light across the field caught her attention. Bryn smiled at the cricket and walked toward the light. The grass was quickly up to her waist. The light moved, and she heard a large creature move through the field. "Hello?" she squeaked nervously. She heard a familiar low growl and ran toward the sound. She stopped quickly as soon as she saw the creature in the clearing.

"Hello, little Strytas," the golden dragon said.

"Hello," Bryn replied.

"You look disappointed."

Bryn shook her head. "I thought you might have been someone else. It is never a disappointment to meet a dragon, though."

"Or a Strytas."

She blushed and smiled at the dragon. She made a small gurgle in her throat followed by a polite curtsey.

"Well, I'll be. The formal dragon greeting. I haven't seen that done in years," the dragon said in amazement. "I'm Rishi. What might your name be?"

"Bryn," she said as she sat down next to the dragon.

"I have not seen that dress in a very long time," Rishi said with a beaming smile.

"Where did it come from?" Bryn asked as she gazed up at the glittering stars.

"It's just something I had around," a voice behind them called.

Bryn looked over her shoulder at Mariah. "Hello, Mariah," Rishi said. She smiled at Bryn and rose to her feet. "I will leave you two alone," she said as she started to walk away.

"It was nice meeting you, Rishi," Bryn called after her.

"You as well, little Strytas. Sleep well, Bryn," Rishi replied as she disappeared into the tall grass.

Mariah sat next to her in the cool grass. "Your name is Bryn?" She nodded. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen," Bryn replied as she watched her out of the corner of her eye. A movement across the field caught her attention and she looked away. It was nothing, just a deer, and Bryn lay back in the grass and rested her hands on her stomach. Mariah looked down at her and tried to meet her eyes, but she quickly looked away.

"You can have the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor," Mariah softly said.

"There's no need for that. I don't sleep," Bryn replied sadly.

"Not at all?"

She shook her head and sighed.

"Why not?"

Bryn closed her eyes and trembled slightly. "The nightmares only come when I'm asleep," she softly said as she turned over onto her stomach. She shut her eyes tightly against the pain. "Mariah?" she softly said.

"Yes?"

"You don't have to be nice to me to get me to be with you," Bryn said sadly. She knew her place in the world, and if Mariah wanted that from her as the others had, then she wouldn't fight. Mariah had already given her more than the others had. It was only right that she submit.

"I don't want that from you, Bryn."

She looked uncertainly up into Mariah's eyes, a few flecks of dirt clinging to her chin. "You don't?" Mariah shook her head. "Why do you care so much about me?"

"How can I not?"

Bryn smiled weakly and lay her head back down in the grass. "Thank you."

Mariah looked at her wings and noticed the difference that not many humans had. "Why is your left wing different than your right?"

Bryn looked over her shoulder at the deformed wing. "It's been broken for a few weeks now. It will heal soon though."

"How did it get broken?"

Bryn shook them and then folded them back over her shoulders. "When they clipped my wings last, I became very scared and accidentally fought too hard." She propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at her raw wrists. Even in the pale moonlight, she could see the dried blood splotches.

"Those look painful," Mariah said while obviously trying to hide her pity.

"They are."

She nodded and produced a small bottle and some pieces of white cloth from a leather bag. "Would you like some help with them?"

Bryn looked up at her quizzically and then nodded. "Where do you want me?" she asked shyly.

"Lie down on your back, please."

She nodded and did so. Bryn shut her eyes tightly as she heard Mariah kneel next her. Franklin's face flashed before her eyes, and her stomach tightened into a knot as her pulse quickened. Bryn held her breath and whimpered softly as Mariah's fingers went to the hem of the dress and began pulling it up her calves. "I have no intention of hurting you now or ever, Bryn. Please try to trust me," Mariah said as she rested a steady hand on her calf.

Bryn didn't trust her words, but as she watched her face, she found herself almost wanting to. But only almost. She was human, and like all humans, Mariah could not be trusted. Instead of giving in to the herbal salve and her gentle massage on her ankles, Bryn chose to resist her. Bryn stared coldly at her as she worked the warm cream over her skin. She wrapped each of her ankles with a length of cloth and moved to her wrists. Of all her wounds, these were the most painful.

Although her touch was gentle, tears still fell from Bryn's eyes. Mariah wrapped Bryn's wrists and then moved to her neck. Mariah's fingers lingered on her bare arm as she looked into her gaze. Bryn felt herself wanting to be near Mariah and to let Mariah into her heart, but she quickly silenced the urge. Mariah's fingers went to her neck and brushed the curls away. Her touch was cool on Bryn's skin, and again she found herself wanting to be with her. Bryn turned her head to the side and her whole body trembled as Mariah's fingers grazed the worst of her injuries.

"Is this a bite mark?" Mariah asked in disgust as she continued to trace the edges of the open sore.

"Yes."

"Did an animal give it to you?" Bryn shook her head. "What else could have done such a terrible thing?"

She closed her eyes tightly against the memories that were threatening to overcome her. "Franklin," she softly said as tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the grass. Mariah nodded and picked up the last strip of cloth. "Please, no," Bryn softly said as her body started shaking.

"What?"

"I don't like anything around my neck," she explained as she dabbed some more salve onto the tender flesh. Mariah nodded and wiped her hands off on the cloth.

"You should be all better in a few days," Mariah assured.