Caged Animals (4)

Ari's lips pursed at the offer. She couldn't help the feeling that all of this, claiming her included, might all be a front for something else.

This man could have been one of Alaric's rivals. There was no other reason she could think of for him to offer. Human decency didn't exist with these people.

Plus, Alaric's offer didn't come with any limits. How could he possibly double it? Instead of probably pissing him off with facts, she focused in on the food. "Right now a peanut butter and jelly sounds great."

"Guess you really weren't lying when they said you were broke." He said while standing back up. There were pre-made ones in the fridge. He grabbed one then walked closer to the edge on the side where she was closest to.

Leaning down, he extended it out to her. "I still expect you to talk, converse. Unless you want to present yourself like an animal. That's fine by me as well."

"No. No, talking I can do." She took the sandwich from him before he could change his mind. Nibbling around the edges first, trying to take her time. "Am I allowed to ask questions or do I still need permission to breathe?" Ari asked around a mouthful of crust.

"You can ask questions. I just can't guarantee an answer." The man laughed, clasping his hands together in his lap while his thumbs rotated around one another. "It's good you're practically asking. But yes, breath."

The sound of laughter in a place where her hands were bound and she had to ask for the very air filling her lungs was almost disturbing. She was taken aback by how almost pleasant it sounded. "Thanks I think." Swallowing another bite, she watched him cautiously. "How do you know Alaric? What should I call you?"

"Zadkiel," He said, lowering back down into the chair with his eyes closed, popping his neck. "I met him a very long time ago. When he was still a small rat without barely any of the fortune he had now. He owes me."

She finished her sandwich, shamelessly licking jelly from her fingers. "Is that why I was kidnapped? I don't think I mean that much to him. We haven't known each other long."

"Not about how long he's known you. But to know I've plucked something extremely rare from his grasp, is impeccable." He poured himself a glass of white wine, then gulped it all down.

"Someone," Ari frowned. Zadkiel seemed calmer away from the others but none of them acknowledged people as people. Like they were something better.

It was either group psychosis or some weird cult thing. The idea of being kept as a trophy didn't sit well. Especially when that wasn't even why Alaric kept her around.

"Something to me. Prove your worth to be valued as a someone." His eyes opened and he rested his chin against his palm.

"Imagine stealing someone away from their life and feeling so entitled that you make them prove they're worth something after treating them like cattle." There was blatant disapproval in her tone and the stare she fixed on him. Her bound hands flexed for emphasis, shifting further from him on the bed.

Her parents, before they parted ways, instilled in her their belief that all people were equal regardless of social status, race, or background.

"You didn't seem to have much of a life if you asked me. You were barely living. Day to day scraping by for meals....or the begging. That was hilarious. How you'd beg that poor man to help with your payments for the business. Hilarious because if you knew how rare you were, that problem would've been gone in the blink of an eye."

"Well I didn't ask you. Wait, you were stalking me?! Why is it everyone seems to know everything? Haven't you heard of privacy? Jesus," She shook her head in disbelief, lip curling in disgust. "And I'm the one who has to prove myself? That goes both ways.

Force isn't enough to earn respect. Fear and complacency are two different things." Ari had never felt more violated and embarrassed in her life. It wasn't that she'd ever gone out of her way to be overly private but she never noticed others paying her much mind. They'd watched her struggle and found amusement in it.

Zadkiel watched her as she went on about privacy and not asking him, though he wasn't asking either in an aspect. "I'm not looking for your respect. But to live and survive, that'll come natural. I'm above you in every way possible. I never will have to prove anything." Another shrug, then his eyes closed boredly again.

"That remains to be seen," She snarked. The room was quiet and although it wasn't home or even her room at the mansion, she found that after being tortured and jabbed at that she was impossibly tired.

He'd given her food but then mocked her. Not too dissimilar to how she felt Alaric treated her before but now she could see the difference. One meant well. Genuinely wanting to help better her standing, believing that she was worth more than what she'd shown.

While Zadkiel only wanted her the way a child wants an expensive toy. Because he could. To brag to the world that he'd claimed something for himself that others could only dream. The only problem was she wasn't his. The first chance she got she would run fast and far. "How long do I have to be here?"

"As long as I want you to. I wonder if you'd still find a way to run your mouth if I take a needle and thread to it. Maybe you haven't realized it yet, but your opinions and wants aren't my concern. I offered you double of what he gave, and you didn't bat an eye.

So now I don't really care if you're waiting for it to be seen. If I were you, I'd learn when to shut your mouth." He waved a hand in the air towards the fridge. "Unless you want to rot in the cell with the rest of them."

Her brows rose though she stopped herself from saying more. It was all in one ear and out the other. Maybe she was hoping things weren't as bad as they seemed and that she could see the cracks in his facade the way she'd seen others. But no.

"I'll accept your offer. I just wasn't sure what to make of it. It's shocking after struggling for years that someone could just snap their fingers and change everything." Either way she was trapped for the time being. Why not make the most of it. A way out would present itself eventually. Afterall, he said it himself she was there to survive.

"Let the games begin then." Pushing up from the chair, he headed back over to her, unlocking the manmade cuff off her wrist. "Go on, explore. But wear my collar first. Wouldn't want you walking through here without it. Then you'd be the one looking like shredded ribbons." Zadkiel smirked, blonde hair blowing from his eyes when he tilted his head.

Her nose scrunched which scattered the freckles over her face. "I appreciate the consideration." Honestly she was surprised he was okay with her wandering by herself but she wasn't about to question it, holding her palm out and gesturing for him to hand it over. Wearing a collar scathed her pride though she swallowed it.

From his pocket he pulled a leather collar with an empty silver plating in front, whirling her around and pushing her hair out the way so he could clasp it closed around her neck. "There. I'll have them make another one. I'll put your name on it next time. Don't try to leave outside. Don't get too close to the others that have collars too. They aren't trusting just because they are like you."

"This one is fine." Having her name imprinted on a collar would only serve to remind her that this was real. Anything she could get away with that kept her feeling human.

Ari hadn't really walked since she'd been there; dragged or carried from room to room. Her head had been knocked a couple of times but her wound hadn't reopened and oddly enough she felt well.

Beyond the bruises and battery that was. She slowly stood, almost crouching, bracing herself in case her legs were still unsteady.

After all that snooping she would have thought that someone would at least offer crutches, a cane, anything.

Straightening up she even dared a few steps towards the door. Probably wouldn't be running anytime soon but at least she could stand on her own two feet. "I will try not to get lost." Was all she said before slipping out of the room.