Haeven

by S. M. Bowles

I was obviously in a hurry so he shook his head, “No, it can wait,” he assured me.

  “Are you sure? I was just trying to get home in time for din…” I quickly remembered our first night out together, “why don’t you come in and keep us company while we eat?” He looked uncomfortable but enticed by the idea. “I’ll make it worth your while,” I smiled suggestively. I thought I saw him blush and realized how provocative it sounded. “I mean…oh…ugh!”

  Herrik laughed, “I know what you meant,” his apprehension was quickly swept away. “I’d love to join you,” he said.

  When we got to the door I let us in and called out to Penny, “Sorry I’m late! We’ll be right there.”

  “We?” she came to the hallway and saw Herrik standing there while I wiggled out of my shoes. “Oh, hello, Herrik,” she frowned wonderingly.

  “Maybe I should come back some other time,” he looked away awkwardly.

  “No!” I tossed a look of helplessness to Penny so she would know to make him feel welcome.

  “Yes, I mean, no. Don’t go. We would enjoy the company,” Penny pleaded.

  He took a breath but before Herrik could say anything else or excuse himself I started down the hallway and he reluctantly followed. Penny and I ate most of our meals in the kitchen since it was just the two of us but there was room enough for four at the island. She and Herrik took seats across from one another while I washed up and when I was done I sat down to the right of Herrik.

  Penny seemed hesitant to begin but I had no reservations. It had been a long day and I was very hungry. I took up my fork and knife and started eating while my mind raced for a topic of conversation to put us all at ease.

  “Artur was telling me about some rare flower that only blooms once every seven to ten years.” I took a sip of my water.

  Penny brightened, knowing exactly which one I was referring to. “The corpse flower.”

  I nodded and took another bite while she went on to explain everything she knew about the strange plant. As she spoke I reached over with the tip of my toe and slipped it under Herrik’s pant cuff. I glanced up and smiled while I continued to eat. He looked flustered and it took a moment but then he realized what I was doing and Herrik casually kicked off his shoes then eased his sock down so that we were touching.

  From there the rest of the meal flew by. Penny exhausted her information and once she had Herrik found a new topic and took charge of the conversation. He carried us all through dinner and we were all so animated by what he had to say that we lingered long after we had finished eating. Eventually he glanced at his watch and said that he needed to say goodnight. He offered to help clean up to which Penny and I both refused.

  “Thank you so much for having me,” he said to Penny as she stacked our dishes. “I’d forgotten how enjoyable it is to sit and talk over a meal.”

  “Having you here made it all that much better,” she replied. “You’re welcome to join us any time.”

  I nodded agreement and followed Herrik to the front door where we said goodbye.

  “Oh, you never told me why you wanted to see me.”

  “Ah, yes, the concert. There’s a violinist playing this weekend and it’s been a while…”

  “I’d love to!” I said before he could finish.

  Smiling, “I’ll make our plans.” Herrik shifted awkwardly, “Goodnight,” he kissed my cheek.

  “Goodnight,” I held the door a moment and watched him leave.

  From there it became a regular thing, Herrik stopping by to chat with us through our dinner. He would also show up at my lessons from time to time and offer his insights for Artur and I to consider against our own often getting us both to look at things from a perspective we might not otherwise have considered. Other times he would find Avery and I in the gym and genially beg to be my adversary for however many minutes he could spare.

  Those bouts with Herrik were always my favorites because he fought gently and with a great deal of care not to hurt or intimidate me in any way. He would still correct me or adjust my positioning if necessary so I learned and practiced as well as I would with anyone else. I also enjoyed them because once the lesson was nearly over he would inevitably let me take him down and good naturedly congratulate me on my prowess and ability to protect myself against even the most formidable of adversaries.

  It meant the world to me, Herrik taking such an active interest in everything I did. He always made me feel proud of my accomplishments and offered encouragement whenever I struggled making it all worthwhile.

  Carah still got under my skin whenever we were obligated to share each other’s company but she was the only real blight on the time I spent living in the compound. Even Avery came around after a while. For the most part he treated me with indifference but somehow I knew that he respected me and that it was just his nature to keep his distance. He always treated me civilly and whenever we were together I never felt threatened or wary the way I did whenever Carah was nearby.

  The time went by fast, a year, another eventually I stopped keeping track. It hardly seemed necessary because for the most part time was completely irrelevant to the society in which I lived. I did, however, start thinking more and more about the future though and began to wonder if I would ever have the chance to live a normal life. I knew I wasn’t a prisoner but no one ever mentioned whether or not I would ever be allowed to leave so I often wondered why and how much longer l would be kept there.

  Other than Herrik I didn’t know who else or how to ask. I wouldn’t have had the courage to bring the subject up with him or Penny or anyone else so I tried not to dwell on the subject as much as possible. Herrik must have been aware of, or at the very least suspected, whenever this emotional topic was threatening to overwhelm me though. Somehow he would always manage to show up when I was feeling particularly low and he would approach me with some invitation or other that would give us a chance to escape the compound and send my spirits off into a more positive and upward swing.

  One day all these thoughts were particularly plaguing me and adding to my misery I found myself bobbing and dodging Carah’s jabs and blows at the end of a tedious mental workout with Artur. She caught me more than once and unlike Herrik or Avery she left me a livid bruise whenever my guard slipped or I missed countering her strikes with a strike of my own.

  I never let her know how badly she hurt me though perhaps I should have. Sometimes I thought she was just menacing me on purpose to try and find my breaking point. I didn’t dare let her think of me as weak but I couldn’t help feeling that if I gave her the satisfaction of knowing how much pain she inflicted that it would lessen her resolve to continually punish me.

  As the thought crossed my mind she swept my legs out from under me and I fell firmly on my backside. She loomed over me scowling and scolding while I looked up at her with a vague and uninterested expression which only intensified her anger.

  “Get up!” she shouted as I sat there in defiance. When I ignored her demand she bent down to forcibly wrench me to standing but as she grasped my elbow Avery called to her from across the gym. She quickly checked her anger and as he drew near offered me her hand instead.

  “Penny sent me for you, Emily,” he watched as Carah helped me to my feet. “Did you have a good workout?”

  “Yes,” I nodded, “Carah always keeps me on my toes, except when she manages to knock them out from under me!” I chuckled good-naturedly. “Thank you for working with me,” I smiled and said a cheerful goodbye before I gathered my things and headed to the locker room. I hated treating her with such delicacy but I truly feared her at times and whatever she might be capable of.

  “Is Penny alright? Do you know why she wants to see me?” I asked Avery as he led me back to the apartment.

  He shrugged, “She didn’t say why she needed you home but as far as I know everything is fine.”

  Once we arrived Avery took his usual position outside my door and I went in by myself.

  Penny softly called to me from the l
iving room as soon as she heard my steps in the hallway, “We’re in here,” she said and I immediately thought of Herrik.

  I caught Penny’s eye as I rounded the corner and flashed a cheerful smiled to her before turning, anxious to greet Herrik but the visitor I was expecting was not the one that was there. A gentleman stood up as I approached and looked me over appraisingly. It made me blush, not just the way he was studying me but I felt the full embarrassment of my mistaking him for Herrik even though I was sure he had no idea that it had happened. The man hurried towards me and after taking my shoulders in both his hands he brushed my cheeks with two quick pecks.

  “Ah, Emily,” he grinned, “I did not think I would ever have a chance to meet you! I am happy to say that your friends have not exaggerated in the least,” he said breathlessly. “My but you are a pretty little thing!”

  I glanced at Penny completely flabbergasted and unable to come up with a suitable response but she just smiled and watched in anticipation as our introduction unfolded.

  “Oh, forgive me,” the man said, “I am Gianni,” he bowed.

  “Gianni,” I said, “it is very nice to meet you; è molto bello conoscerti!”

  “Buono, buono! You have been studying with Artur, I see.” I smiled proudly. “Well, you are probably wondering why I am here and why I am so excited to meet you.”

  “Indeed!”

  “Come…come this way,” and Gianni began ushering me towards my bedroom.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Penny as we left but she just shrugged and helplessly smiled as Gianni pushed me down the hallway. When we got to my room he carefully closed the door and pointed to the corner, “Put it on and we will hurry and get started.”

  There was a dress frame fitted with a remarkably elegant evening gown standing where he pointed, “What is this?” I asked as I took a step towards it.

  “A dress, for you, of course! I am here to see that it fits properly.”

  I frowned, “But why?”

  Gianni shook his head, “I do not have the answer to that! I only know the dress is yours and that I am here to make it perfect for you.”

  “Who is the dress from?”

  “Why, Herrik, of course! Who else?”

  “And you’re sure he didn’t say what it was for.”

  “He did not,” Gianni replied somewhat miffed. He glanced at his watch and grew a little impatient, “There isn’t much time!”

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized, “I just…this is all very unexpected.”

  “Sì, but that is of little consequence to me. I must do this favor for Herrik and have it done by 4 am tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Sì…please put the dress on,” and as if to encourage me further he unzipped the gown and slipped it from its frame then roughly handed it to me.

  I didn’t waste any time after that and quickly stepped into the changing room and stripped from my clothes and wiggled into the gown. A minute later I opened the door and called to Gianni who helped me with the zipper. He was sitting on my bed with a sewing basket that held all the immediate tools he would need but he quickly stood up when he heard me and moved me towards the mirror.

  “Stand here,” he kicked a step stool I used to reach the things on the top shelf of my closet towards me, “no wait,” then he ran into the closet and returned with a pair of new shoes that must have been purchased specifically to wear with the dress.

  I tucked my feet into them and climbed onto the stool.

  “Buono! Now stay still. If you move I will prick you!”

  Gianni started at the top and worked his way down. He measured and folded, pinned and muttered, made impressions with his chalk and forbid me to take so much as a breath during the entire process. When he was finished he insisted on removing the gown for me so that I wouldn’t undo any of the delicate edicts he had made for himself.

  “Huh, don’t be modest, bella donna! You haven’t an inch of flesh to be ashamed of!”

  It was extremely discomfiting to have him strip me from the dress and when he was done I grabbed the first thing I could find in my closet to cover myself with. I hadn’t worn it for years but Herrik’s shirt concealed just enough for me to regain my composure.

  As I fastened the last of the buttons Gianni turned to me and said, “I can see myself out. Be ready for me; tomorrow at 4!”

  “4 am?!” I said aghast.

  “Sì! Ciao Emily!

  The following morning came far too soon and I woke to the sound of someone trying to wake me.

  “Emily?” Penny gently shook me. “Emily, sweetie, Gianni is here.”

  “Oh, ugh...” I moaned, “I must have forgotten to set my alarm.” I sat upright and after stretching like a cat rubbed my eyes awake. “Just give me a min…” I started to say but Gianni was impatient and before I realized what was happening he flipped the lights and began setting my dress up next to the changing room.

  “We mustn’t waste any time,” he called over his shoulder, “if there are any changes that need to be made we will have to make them here and now!” Once the dress was arranged he turned and faced me where I was still lying in bed.

  Penny held her hand out to help me up as Gianni glared across the room at us while tapping his foot impatiently. I smiled up at Penny and shaking my head slung my legs over the side of the bed. I peeked over to where he was standing, “Let me freshen up a bit and I’ll be right there.”

  I hurriedly made my way to the bathroom and when I returned Gianni immediately motioned me to the corner, “Here, let’s get this on.”

  I shrugged out of my pajamas and let him slide the dress over my head. His manner immediately changed from edgy and irritable to focused and professional as he zipped me in.

  “Shoes,” he mumbled as he glanced around for them.

  “There,” I pointed and Gianni quickly fetched them and let me hold his hand for balance as I tucked my feet into them one by one.

  “Ah,” he smiled as I stood up. He began to circle me and reaching out tugged at the fabric in several different places as he went. “This is good…and good...mmm, hmm…excellent,” he paused a moment. “Walk for me,” he commanded. I took several steps, “Turn, come back,” he said. “How does it feel? It’s not too tight, no? You can breathe?” Then before I could answer, “Sit. How does that feel?” I sat as he instructed, “Cross your legs….yes, very good. How does it feel? How does it feel?” he asked again, “You haven’t answered me!”

  I hadn’t had a chance because every time I opened my mouth to speak Gianni instructed me to do something new or spoke before I could get a word out.

  I laughed a little, “It feels wonderful, Gianni! Just perfect!” I grinned fully enchanted and completely satisfied with the way the dress looked and fit.

  “Yes…yes it is perfect,” he beamed and began gathering up all the things he had brought for precautionary purposes. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Gianni handed me a small jewelry box. “Herrik sent these for you to wear with your dress. You have a wonderful time tonight. Give him my best.”

  “I will,” I promised and before he could step away I grasped Gianni’s free hand and gave him a heartfelt kiss on the cheek, “Thank you, Gianni.”

  “Tsk, tsk,” he waved me off, “none of that mia bella!” and though he sounded brusque and disgruntled with my action his eyes and smile were full of glee.

  Gianni showed himself out. I opened the box, “Ooh,” I whispered delightedly. Inside was a pair of delicately hung teardrop diamond earrings. I went to the mirror and slipped them into my lobes. When I stepped back to admire them Penny gave a quick knock and stepped into my room.

  “Gorgeous,” she sighed as she looked me over.

  “It is isn’t it?” I ran my fingers over the fine fabric of my dress.

  “I meant you, silly!” Penny chided. “Would you like me to help with your hair and make-up?”

  “Would I?!”

  I rarely wore make-up and though I could, for the most part, manag
e to get my hair into something resembling a style I leapt at Penny’s offer. She had me take a seat at the vanity and after tucking a towel around my shoulders got to work. She did a remarkable job and throughout the entire time she was working all I could think about was how excited I was to hear Herrik’s praise but when we finally heard the buzzer my heart filled with panic.

  I had never felt more beautiful but was suddenly so nervous that I couldn’t keep myself from hanging back as Penny answered the door. My eyes were downcast while Herrik and Penny said hello to one another but I thought I could feel him looking at me. It helped me find my courage and I took a deep breath. When I finally looked up I caught them both admiring me from where they stood just inside the doorway.

  “Oh, Emily! Just look at you!” Herrik stepped towards me, “You look exquisite. Stunning…just amazing…absolutely amazing!” He placed a feathery kiss on my cheek.

  I smiled broadly and blushed from head to toe.

  I was tongue tied as he drew back. I wanted to return the compliment and say something nice about him and the way he looked but I was too dumbfounded to utter a single word other than a soft thank you. Herrik was by far the handsomest man I knew but I had never seen him so impeccably dressed and meticulously groomed. It was intimidating despite all the confidence I felt in my own appearance.

  Fortunately Penny gave full voice to all the compliments that were swimming around on the tip of my tongue. I nodded assent to every one of them before I finally managed to add one of my own.

  “You do look very… handsome…” I whispered. There were a hundred other adjectives that my mind suggested but none of them sounded appropriate enough to speak aloud…majestic, noble, stately.

  “Aww, thank you! Thank you both,” Herrik grinned good-naturedly. “Well, I hate to rush you but we really must be going. Do you have a purse? Is there anything you need before we leave?”

  “Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll be right back.”

  I grabbed a matching clutch from my bedroom and tucked a few odds and ends into it before checking myself one last time in the mirror. A moment later I returned to the hallway and as I approached noticed Penny handing Herrik my coat which he carefully tucked over his elbow.