Chapter 12: Snack

Cloe perched on the edge of her bed lost in thought. She had been escorted back to her room after Derek had finished giving her a tour of the estate, where she had taken a shower and changed into her pj's.

The tour did not take her mind off what Derek had told her, but she enjoyed it as the estate was very modern with intriguing features that were hidden just out of sight. Her favorite feature was the control panel that activated an entire water fountain that was hidden below the floor of the ballroom. She had gasped in amused bewilderment when she saw the floor separate as the fountain rose from its hiding spot.

But her favorite part of the estate was the pool.

It was a massive indoor pool with a large skylight for the ceiling that looked directly up into the trees.

It was the last place Derek had shown her and she absolutely loved it, she had a feeling that's where she would spend all of her time.

"How did they even...why is there even a place like this all the way out here?"

"Feels like there's nothing out there... Just us and this place" she mused

"But of course that's only an illusion..." thoughts of the rebels brought her back to reality. From what Derek had told her she gathered that her parents were good people, they had allowed the rebels to live and this was their costly mistake, but something Derek had said bothered her, it didn't make sense but she had decided to let it slide until a later time when she would bring it up suddenly and he would have no choice but to tell her the truth.

She watched as the sun slowly retreated, and the clouds were washed in shades of pink then orange, the protests of her stomach reminded her that she had not eaten.

Getting off the bed she went over to the door and turned the handle, to her surprise it turned freely.

Slowly opening the door she poked her head out to scan outside, the hallway was empty.

"Well I guess they don't see the need to treat me like a prisoner anymore," she muttered stepping out, closing the door behind her she made her way to the kitchen by memory.

When she got there it was empty, sighing in relief she started her attack on the fridge, the last thing she needed right now was someone trying to strike up a conversation.

She cut thick slices off the rotisserie chicken that she found which she then used to make a sandwich, grabbing a can of diet coke she sat down and was about to take a bite of her sandwich when her eyes fell on the figure that stood motionless by the door. Dropping her sandwich she jumped off the stool and stepped back.

Derek let out a short laugh before sauntering in. Cloe glared at him "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to feel sorry for that poor chicken," he said sliding onto the stool at the other end of the counter.

She felt heat rising up into her cheeks.

It was then she noticed what he was wearing, his suit and tie were gone instead he was wearing grey sweats and a white shirt which made him look far less intimidating.

"I was hungry...Still am..." she said as she picked up her sandwich that had fallen onto the floor and tossed it into the garbage.

She moved toward the fridge.

"Leave that poor chicken alone... I'll ring up the chef," he said watching as she cut off fresh slices of chicken.

"No that's ok." she declined, arranging her sandwich, settling back onto the stool she bit into it.

The kitchen was silent.

Cloe could feel Derek staring at her "Can you not do that" she said around a mouthful.

"Do what?" he asked confused.

"Stare at me while I'm eating." she snapped.

"Don't you eat in public?" he countered.

"No, plus that's beside the point..."

"Didn't you eat at school?"

"I was homeschooled" she answered monotonously.

"Hmm," he said rubbing his chin.

"What?" she asked irritated, by the fact that she couldn't eat in peace.

"That explains your lack of social skills," he stated frankly.

Cloe stopped chewing, looking over at him she stared wordlessly before swallowing.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"You lack tolerance for socializing because you always seem irritated when we converse," he said.

Cloe laughed, "That's because I don't trust you." she said taking another bite out of her sandwich.

"As I said trust is earned," he said getting up.

"Well lying isn't a good way to earn anyone's trust"

Derek froze, turning to face her. Confusion was written all over his face.

"What do you mean?" he asked retaking his seat.

"You said I am to be the ruler of my kingdom but according to what you said I'm far from ready to take on such a role, yet you said my parents were still fighting the war, how am I to be ruler if my parents are still alive?" she inquired.

He was silent.

"Where are my parents?"

He sighed running his hand through his hair.

"I don't know to be honest, but it is my job to prepare you for the worst," he said.

"Will, I ever see them?"

He pondered this for a moment.

"They can visit you via the spirit realm."

Cloe's eyes lit up, "Can I visit them?" she asked eagerly.

" I don't think that's safe," he said bursting her bubble.

She sighed.

"Cloe, look right now you should be focusing on-"

"I know, getting my memories back," she said in exasperation cutting him off.

"But how exactly am I supposed to do that?" she asked finishing off her sandwich.

"I could help." he offered.

"How?" she asked incredulously.

"You'll see."

"Again with the suspense... Are we going back to the oasis?" she asked nervously.

Derek laughed "No, and even if we were there's no need to be wary, the oasis is perfectly safe."

"It's not the oasis I'm afraid of," she said looking down at her hands which were fisted in her lap.

The room fell into silence once again.

She glanced in his direction, he was looking at her with an unreadable expression.

She quickly looked away.

Wordlessly he slid off his stool and walked toward the door, halfway there he stopped and said over his shoulder "Be at the pool by 5:00 tomorrow morning." he said before continuing out of the kitchen.

Cloe watched him leave. facepalming herself when he was out of sight.

"Why did I say that?" she ranted internally.