Legend of the Auruman- Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

          Sydney sulked on the luxurious mattress in the middle of the massive bed in the middle of la-la land. She wrapped her arms around her knees, trying desperately not to cry. The sun had started setting, and the light was quickly fading. She had no idea how long she’d been locked in her room, but it seemed like hours. The prince hadn’t taken the slap across the face very well to say the least. He had stood over her, and Sydney had felt his anger radiating out of his skin as if it were a visible odor. He hadn’t, however, looked angry, his eyes were maddeningly devoid of emotion, though his chiseled physique had hardened to resemble one of the statues from his great hall. He had turned and walked succinctly from the room without a single word, the only sound was that of a key turning in the door.

          She’d railed at him, and threw every item that wasn’t bolted down at the locked door. Now, she felt his absence keenly, not because she missed him, but without someone to talk to, or rather, berate, she was alone in her madness. She was quickly coming to realize, that if it had been a dream it would have been over long ago, and she wouldn’t be so damnably tired.

          A sound at the door had her almost scrambling off the bed, then she decided against it. It wouldn’t do to appear eager to be in his company again. She forced herself to settle back onto the bed, head down, spine stiff.

“I have brought you supper, though you scarcely deserve it. I ought to turn you over my knee, in fact, I may well still do so.” He announced matter-of-factly from his post against the doorjamb.

          She decided a good dose of the silent treatment ought to serve him right, and declined to respond to him.

“Oh, my Sydney, so stubborn, so full of temper.” He sighed, “have it your way then, I’ll see if your mood improves by morning.” He turned to leave.

“No! You can’t leave me locked in this room!”

“Ah! So she wasn’t struck mute. Amazing. Come here, woman, and have your supper with me.” He ordered imperiously.

“I won’t have you ordering me around, Prince.” She sneered at his title. “If you were a decent man, you wouldn’t lock a woman away in a room.”

“You are mine, and you will listen to me.”

“Used to ordering women around, are you? Well, that’s not going to work on me.” She threatened.

“Listening to me is what will keep you from the dangers of this land. Insulting me will not help you. It merely causes us both inconvenience.”

“Don’t act as if my insults have made a dent in your heartless tyrant shield. And as for the inconvenience, I plan on being a giant inconvenience, so maybe you should rethink your imprisonment of me.”

“I cannot. Fate has chosen, and there is nothing that you or I can do about it. Best just accept your position in life, and act accordingly.”

“Says the kidnapper.” She muttered angrily.

“I care not what you have just said.” He announced, as if he were sharing his decision to forgo a piece of bread with dinner.

“That I believe. You don’t care what anyone says, you just do as you wish.” She glared at him, her eyes full of rage.

          Jameson set the basket of food down on the table in the corner of the room, and pulled back a chair, gesturing for her to sit down. Amazingly, she slunk over to the chair and sat of her own volition, and here he’d been thinking he’d have to drag her. He shook his head as if to clear it, thinking while he did, that he hadn’t been thinking clearly since he’d met the little viper. The viper in question had her arms folded petulantly under her breasts, still prepared to fight every step of the way- until he removed the contents of the basket. The bread, still hot from the kitchens vented a bit of steam, and the pies of several different varieties, lent the room a pleasant aroma of seasoned meat, and spiced fruits. He set a plate in front of her, and a goblet of wine.

“There is something for any palate here.” He waved his hand over the spread of food.

Much to his surprise, the stubborn woman soon had a heaping plate of food in front of her, and was working rather single-mindedly on getting the food to her stomach. The most curious sensation began to spread low in his belly, making him distinctly uncomfortable. He tried to tamp down the feeling, but it was a hopeless effort, for he looked back at Sydney who had a slice of fruit pie poised between her lips. She bit down, a bit of juice from the fruit dripping down her lips. He looked wildly around for a strip of linen to hand her so she might wipe her mouth, but before he could mention it she was licking her lips clean. A moan escaped his lips before he could stop it. She looked up at him, a question on her face. He stood quickly and was out the door, before she had swallowed her bite of pie.

For the second time that day, he left her without a word.