CHAPTER 17

But no, it is not my imagination, nor am I a victim of madness, his lopsided smile and smug eyes make it more than clear. The beast decided to play with its prey, the placed board swaying unstable on a broken pillar. Two opponents, one move at a time, both in each corner, one mistake and the loser will fall into the abyss.

The question is: Who will lose?

And I'm afraid that, in this game, only I play everything for nothing. If I lose, I fall into the hands of Leceth, but if I win, who can say that the prize will not be as unbearable.

__ You want to play that you are the owner of deciding. As well. Let's see how good you are at it __. There he is, his hand lunges towards the board for the first play, he hasn't made the move and already the ground at my feet begins to wobble.

__ You can stay here and refuse to follow my order, if you do, you will be returned to your brother. Or ...

I don't need to look at him to know that a sinic smile is causing the interruption. He is enjoying it and does not mean to deny it __. Or you will come with me, you will do everything I tell you, you will not speak without my permission, you will not move without my consent. You will only limit yourself to breathing and obeying ...

He pulls his face away from mine with shattering slowness after a masterful blow, then takes the last thrust straight to the heart. __ The decision is yours Suhaila __. He arranges his suit as if it culminated with the latest business proposal in a: Take it or leave it __. It is up to you if this is your first and last play __. It tempts me to loose reins.

He turns toward the door steadily with his hands in his trouser pockets. This was the first move of the game, so why do I feel like my king has been checkmate?

This is it, yes, I decide, I make the decision, but is there really something to choose? A safe destiny against an uncertain one are the traced paths. It is like being shipwrecked in a stormy sea in the middle of the night with the sails up and the wind blowing while the waves carry you away and still pretending that you decide the path you take.

The sound of my heels hitting the ground marks the path of a nonexistent choice. I am the ship adrift, the wood on the ground are the waves that rise incessantly and Mikael is the wind that drags my life to a dawn hidden in the blackness of the night.

Each player has made his move, but one of us controls the board. Mikael leads the game, yes, but as in any two-player game, one play at a time will determine the course of an end and until that end, anything can happen.

A tall, defined body awaits, leaning against the wall next to the door. His gaze is static in a large painting that decorates the opposite wall. It is a landscape that some would describe as majestic, its various nuances shine in the olive oil under the shading of watercolors that stain a sunset in the meadow. The ripples of the wind are etched in the tall grass of a spring season. It is beautiful without denying it, without a doubt the artist must have poured something more than his soul into it.

Mikael separates his body from the wall and turning his back to me extends his arm claiming his victory. I place the filigree veil over my face. I made my decision, my choice is made and accepting her arm I sign the order of my sentence without knowing what she dictates.

Outside the mansion several cars await, security men await their orders while they watch around us. There is a face that stands out among all. Tulio seems to be about to chew his tongue because of the anger that eats away at him when he sees me.

__ Mikael, what do you think you do? __ His face is a poem and the truth is I am enjoying it.

__ Come with us __. Mikael continues to drag me along with him.

__ You've gone mad? She is a slave, give her back and put an end to this stupidity.

__ I said he's coming with us, I don't have to give you explanations Tulio.

That man has to be someone you trust if he talks to you like that. Be that as it may, something in him does not give me a good thorn, one thing I must be clear about is that being as far away from him will be the best for me wherever we go.

We arrive next to a car that is in the caravan, Mikael opens the door and I enter as fast as I can and just when I think that he will go up, the door is closed while the front opens giving way to one of his security. It is easy to distinguish considering the long gun he carries and the semi automatic pistol he carries on his belt. The car starts immediately sending me against the espardal of my seat by the suddenness.

Cool!

Now where are they taking me? I look like a puppet that everyone drags from one place to another at will. What do they think?

Come on Suhaila, calm down, calm down. One move at a time, at least now I'm away from my brother. It only remains for me to wait to get to wherever they take me and find a way to escape. I will have to be smarter than them if I want to achieve it, the first thing is to know where the hell I am.

I look at the driver, a small light bulb lights up.

__ Where are you taking me? __ The brunette watches me through the rear-view mirror, but without saying a single word.

__ I'm talking to you __. Nothing.

Maybe he doesn't speak either of my two languages. Great, so I really am lost.

__ Don't you think to answer me? __ Again nothing.

Undoubtedly they are trained and trustworthy men, of course they will not answer me __. Growls the irritating voice in my head.

I had to try it.

The road seems deserted, except for the more than ten cars that make up the caravan. I will have to wait, it is not that I am of another.

I flop onto the backrest looking at the landscape around me. With not much left to do, I curl up, covering my body with the cape. Slowly my eyelids weigh me down and without being able to control it I let myself go into a deep sleep.

God only knows how long it's been, I stretch my joints in an attempt to get the numbness out of my body. Every part of me feels heavy and whiny even though the bed is really soft and cozy.

Bed? How did I get to bed?

I bolt upright on the mattress dropping the soft blanket that covers my body, everything around me is dark and I can hardly see my fingers. Only a few small rays of sunlight illuminate the place when entering through the windows that are covered by curtains.

I walk slowly towards them trying not to trip over anything, the last thing I need is for them to know that I'm awake, that will give me some advantage. I hope.

I take the fabric between my fingers and slowly push it aside. The windows are completely glass, revealing an expanse of fertile land that kisses the mountains in the distance. I must be at a height of about three stories or something, but where am I?

The room is spacious, the walls are painted in a cream color with some shades of red and white. A large dressing table decorates it accompanied by some tables with vases and flowers in addition to a beautiful lamp that hangs from the ceiling. There are two doors not counting the closet, so I can assume that one is the bathroom and the other my exit and if you let me guess I can bet it is closed.

You are very sorry __. Nothing worse than a talkative and sarcastic conscience in the early hours of the morning.

I look like you __. Great, where will you have the on / off button?

It's best to ignore it or it will get me out of the way. The wooden door to my right is open as expected, I enter slowly, the bathroom is really luxurious and nothing is missing. It is absolutely equipped with everything a woman needs. It feels good to be able to remove the fabric of the dress from my body, it kept me almost naked to the spectators. It's beautiful, but I'm not comfortable with it.

I open the shower by touching the vaporous crystalline water with my fingers, I let it run completely through my body, it feels too good, so good that I want to stay here forever. The glass bottle on the shelf is filled with a thick pink liquid, it smells really good, like flowers, but they are different, nothing that I have ever smelled before. The lather is abundant and I allow the water to wash it off my body when finished.

I wrap myself in the towel and look at my face in the mirror, my eyes look tired and small dark circles are installed in them. I do not look so bad, but the fatigue reflects me perfectly. The question now is, what am I going to wear, spending the day in a towel is not an option.

I come out of the bathroom and stand in the middle of the room staring at the large wooden closet, I don't lose anything by opening it and seeing if I can find something to wear. I walk over slowly and open the first door.

I almost fell on my mouth. Not only do I have to wear, I think there is more than I can wear. I have never seen so many clothes in my whole life, from party dresses, to day dresses, thin pants, blouses of all colors, a drawer full of underwear and everything in my size.

How is it possible?

It is not precisely the closet that is going to answer my questions, so I put on a cream-colored high trousers and take a white tank top. I put on brown shoes with a small heel. I look into the big mirror that is bigger than me. I don't look bad at all, my hair is still damp so picking it up is not an option.

__ Well, now there is only one thing left to do.

I go to the door and look at the cheekbone for a few seconds __. I don't lose anything by trying __. I touch the cheekbone and to greater surprise it yields in my hand. I open slowly, stick my head out, and look both ways.