“Get up!” A booming voice woke me.
I sat up confused and looked around. Same cell I had been in, but it was the first time someone had spoken to me. “Y…Yes?” I reached up to feel my neck and found the small cut was there bleeding just barely. What was that?
“You have court, let's go,” the voice continued. “We must prepare you.” The door opened and a woman and man came through. They were twins. Their skin was a remarkable golden caramel hue to it with eyes of amber. They both stood at 8 feet tall and had hair as black as the night.
“I have court?” I asked softly, looking away from them while I cleaned my neck quickly not wanting any undue attention.
“Yes human, it seems so,” the man hissed.
The crow, who I’ve decided to name Leo, stretched its wings out and looked at the twins with its head c****d. They looked back at him and tensed up. “Let’s go, I can show you to the room you’ll be staying in until the actual court date,” the woman's voice was kinder.
I nodded and stood up. I guess it’s best just to follow along until I know more, it’s not like I can escape right now… I’d have nowhere and no one to go to. The crow hopped on my shoulder and kept a close eye on things as I followed the twins at least it’s what it looked like.
As we walked down the stone hall, I could see that the other cells were empty. If this were Hell wouldn’t every cell be full, sinners are a dime a dozen. Was this not Hell? Or maybe it was like a circle of it where they get to judge which ring I would spend my sentence in. I shook my head trying to get rid of those thoughts for now.
We reached a door at the end of the hallway and it opened to a spiral staircase. I could see the moonlight peering into the windows that lined it. “Come on,” they ushered me forward. After only three flights I was winded. My legs burned, I hadn’t moved my body like this since coming here. I tried to hide how much pain I was in, but I seemed to have failed.
Leo chirped and the twins stopped to look at me. I felt so embarrassed, this didn’t seem so bode well for me. “Oh Alex, help the human,” the woman slapped his shoulder annoyed.
“No!” I backed up against the wall not wanting him to touch me. I can’t stand being touched anymore. “I’ll make it. I’m sorry I’m slow. I’ll be faster!” I tried to cover all of my bases. Both of them looked at me shocked and confused, but shrugged and began walking ahead of me. The crow gave me a soft headbutt like he was trying to comfort me. My heart began to slow down and calm knowing they were walking ahead of me now. Leo was so kind and his touch felt nice. I reached up and petted its head. “I’ll keep up.” I nodded as the twins looked back at me.
The twins both nodded and continued. We reached the 30th floor and they opened the door to reveal a type of private drawing room. My legs were on fire from climbing all of the stairs. I had hoped we were done for the day and I could sit down on one of the couches.
However, we didn’t stop and came to a wall, they waved a bracelet on a marking; it began to glow softly. A pair of doors appeared in front of us that opened revealing an elevator we walked into and I tried to look at the amount of floors in the building but couldn’t see past the twins. They clicked a button with a symbol I didn’t recognise and the doors closed.
“How far up are we going?” I asked quietly. They twins seemed to not have heard me and I didn’t want to try again. Keep your head down and stay silent… I clenched my hands together trying to remain calm.
Leo cawed softly and the twins turned towards me.
“You’re going to be staying in the penthouse on the upper level. No one will bother you there,” the woman explained. “My name is Ally, that's my brother Alex.”
“My name is Astoria,” I replied softly. “Thank you both for taking me.”
They seemed a bit concerned but just nodded and went back to looking at the doors.
The doors opened to a large open floor. “This is your stop, no one can come on to this floor except us and the owner of the penthouse.” Alex explained. “He never uses it though, he usually sleeps in his office.” Ally quickly added after seeing my face twist with the thought of someone coming into where I would be living.
I nodded and looked around trying to discern anything that might be off, but this place felt the way that office in my dream felt.
“We’ll bring dinner up in a few hours, there is a bathroom just down the left hall there,” she pointed out. “Your bedroom is on the right. Your court date is scheduled for next week until then please don’t leave the penthouse unless you have me or Alex with you.”
I stayed in my spot behind them, as they looked down at me. “Um you can get off now,” they urged and I walked out into the space. It was beautiful, the walls were a dark blue with black trim frames of art lined the walls everywhere. “We’ll be seeing you miss,” Alex announced their departure. I looked back to say goodbye but the doors had already sealed and turned back into a wall.
As soon as I was about to explore the area my legs gave out and I slumped to the floor. They were throbbing, then a cramp hit and I yelped holding on to my calves. “f**k,” I felt my eyes stinging with tears as the muscle constricted. Leo cawed loudly hopping around, he seemed worried. I clenched my eyes shut and bit onto my lip.
Don’t make noise, suffer quietly. You deserve this pain. You are nothing. You deserve everything that has happened to you. You don’t deserve to cry. Johns’ voice repeated the words in my head. Worthless, you can’t even walk right, your body is so useless.
Leo continued to caw loudly before stopping immediately. I felt a change in pressure in the room before a cold hand softly pressed against my calves. I didn’t want to open my eyes, everything felt so tiring right now.
My body was being shifted around and found itself cradled against something that felt like cold marble. I felt pure relief, like when you dive in water too deep and you’re not exactly sure you’re going to make it back to the surface and when you do you take that large gasp of air finally appreciating it for the life it gives you. My hands pressed against the surface, my fingers spreading out trying to get more contact with whatever it was.
I felt some cool water making contact with my skin but I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes. My body shifted again and I was sitting against that cold marble being. I leaned back letting my head rest against it. I could hear Leo cooing close by and I felt no sense of danger. My body felt truly at peace for the first time in a long time.
I could feel the being effortlessly removing my clothing, I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t fearing this person. The smell of peonies filled the room, and then a soft towel softly moved across my body washing me thoroughly. Again my body shifted and I felt the towel cleaning my back, before the cool hands pressed onto my skin. I shuddered softly, chills lacing my body as its fingers traced a scar.
“How?” The beings' voice asked; it was a male. It reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
It was the first thing he said, and he was asking such a question. “A car accident… It was my fault…”
His fingers continued to trace the scarring on my back. “Hm,” he seemed to trace every part of the scar until he was satisfied. His hands moved and began to wash my hair. A soft gasp of pleasure escaped my lips as he pulled on my hair just enough to relieve tension on my scalp.
“Open,” he ordered before something pressed my lips. I was a little nervous but complied and parted my lips when a piece of cold fresh watermelon entered my mouth. I crunched down on it happily letting out a soft giggle. Another piece pressed on my lips and I parted them.
He continued to feed me and wash my hair until he seemed happy. My body shifted and he stood up with me cradled in his arms. He sat me down, put a robe on me and began to dry my hair.
“Um… What do I call you?” I asked softly.
“You can Corvus,” he replied, and brushed through my hair. “And what shall I call you?”
“My name is Astoria,” I answered, yawning.
“Sleep my star,” he whispered into my ear and my body complied falling asleep.