Haeven (10 page)

"Not before they killed you and Penny and
anyone else he has had the misfortune of protecting."

I looked from Artur to Avery who seemed to
confirm everything Artur had said.

"I'm sorry." I said knowing full well that my
apology was as worthless as it was meaningless to either of
them.

Artur released me and went back to packing my
things. Avery did the same. I went to the bed and without a word
began helping them. Minutes later the handful of boxes were stacked
up and Avery carried them all to the elevator. Artur and I followed
in silence. They brought me back down to the lowest level and
surprisingly turned into the garden rather than passing it by.

As we made our way along the path it split
several times and I wondered over and over again just where they
were taking me. The garden was much more expansive than I had
imagined. The foliage seemed to go on forever. I knew it was just
an illusion though made by the layout and design of the garden
itself. At one point we passed a magnificent pond hemmed in on one
side by ferns and tall grasses but completely open on the other
which was dotted with benches for relaxing after a morning jog or
perhaps an evening stroll.

Eventually we came to what seemed the end of
the path but when I looked closely I noticed that there was a door
standing in the middle of it just a foot or so ahead of us. It had
a keypad just like the one at my apartment on the upper levels.

A faint tremble of understanding ran through
me and though I knew it wasn't Herrik's apartment I knew that I was
very near to it. Artur stepped from behind me and punched a code
into the keypad. I heard the lock click and release then he jostled
the handle and pushed the door open.

Avery went first and I nervously stepped in
behind him with Artur close on my heels. The entryway was quite
wide and bathed in the soft glow from the glass garden wall that
ran the entire length of the right side of the hallway. The left
side was decorated with various pictures and paintings and a large
elaborate mirror that was hung over a small accent table. The table
held a vase of dried flowers and beyond this few decorations the
apartment opened up into two large rooms.

The room to the left was filled with plush
furniture arranged around a fireplace at the far end of the room.
It held all the traditional pieces – a couch, loveseat, matching
chairs and a flat screen TV. There were end tables and a leather
coffee table that could double as a settee if the need should ever
arise. Like Herrik's apartment there were no windows but curtains
were hung at appropriate points to suggest that there were.

I took it all in then turned to my right.
That room seemed to be the office or study. There were several
comfortable pieces to sit or stretch out on and other functional
ones like a computer desk and chair. It was all very elegant and
sophisticated to my inexperienced eye and I was a little
overwhelmed knowing I was expected to live there.

"Alone?" I wondered.

The buzzer rang. "You should get that," Artur
softly smiled his expression hinting at an apology for his earlier
outburst.

I took a deep breath, "Right," and slowly
moved away from where he and Avery were standing beside the boxes
of my belongings.

I was accosted by Penny as soon as I opened
the door. She stooped and hugged me, "Surprise!" she said buoyant
and happy.

I was surprised, too, after everything that
had so recently happened. I didn't expect to see her; I didn't
expect to see her ever again and certainly not to see her so happy
and without a touch of anger towards me.

Then I saw Herrik directly behind her, "She
doesn't remember," his voice seemed to echo in my mind.

"May we come in?" Penny asked.

I shook my head, "Oh, yes," I stepped
aside.

"This is for you," Herrik handed me a small
box, "it's not much but I wanted to be the first to welcome you to
your new," he paused, "apartment."

With fumbling fingers I took the box from
him, "Thank you," I said then nervously looked away.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Penny
asked.

I glanced back at Herrik as he made his way
toward Artur and Avery. I felt awful for accepting the gift; I
didn't want it and knew full-well that I didn't deserve it after
what he had done for me and for Penny. I peeled the wrapping away
and opened the box. There were two silver candle holders in it.

"Here, let me help," Penny took the box from
me so I could reach in and pull one out.

They were somewhat puzzling to me and I
looked at Penny full of confusion.

"They are like projectors. See," she took the
top off one. "The candle goes in here," she pointed, "then when you
light the candle and put the top back on it casts a shadow."

I studied it for a minute, "Huh! That is
really cool!" I said a bit louder than I realized then quickly
checked my jubilance when I remembered my circumstances.

Penny smiled and motioned us down the
hallway, "Isn't this wonderful?" she asked. "When I talked to
Herrik about letting us share an apartment I never suspected he
would give us this!" she whirled around as she stepped into the
living room marveling at it all."

That was when I realized that I wouldn't be
alone and that Herrik had arranged to have my things moved so that
Penny and I could live there together. It was a huge relief to me
and swept away a good deal of the apprehension I was currently
feeling. Artur approached Herrik and as they moved into the living
room together they stationed themselves near the fireplace. They
began talking to one another in hushed voices but stopped as Penny
made her way towards them.

"I can't thank you enough Herrik!"

"You're welcome! Both of you!" he was beaming
as he spoke to Penny. I felt another spasm of shame and wished
there was something I could do to make up for all the mistakes I
had made. In my heart I felt like nothing would have been too much
to ask if only it would make Herrik look at me that way. "There's
more to see; why don't you have a look around." Penny sent a
questioning glance my way and anxious to get away from Herrik
knowing what he did for me and for Penny and everyone else involved
I agreed to the suggestion. "Whatever you do, don't mention
anything that happened today. This is where the day began as far as
Penny is concerned." I heard Herrik quite clearly again even though
he hadn't spoken a word out loud.

"I won't," I concentrated and hoped he would
somehow hear and understand.

He seemed to nod but I couldn't tell if it
was for me or for Artur since they had resumed their conversation.
I followed Penny as she led us away so we could explore the rest of
the apartment.

The garden wrapped around it on three sides
and could be seen for some degree or another from just about every
room. The kitchen was beyond the first two rooms and was completely
open so you could look into it from the living area, the study
area, dining room and hallways.

The study area went a good length of the
apartment on the right and was bordered by the glass wall of the
garden. To the left was the kitchen and opposite that was the
dining room. I was anxious to see the bedrooms and only took a
cursory glance as we walked past. It looked very formal with its
long, dark table, artwork, chandelier and other furnishings.

When Penny and I came to the back hallway
directly ahead of us was the common bathroom. Then the hallway
split left and right towards either of the two bedrooms; one on
each end.

"Yours is to the right," Penny said. "I
thought you would like the one with the garden wall."

"Thank you," I murmured humbled by her
unaffected generosity. She came with me as I went to inspect
it.

It was painted white with light touches of a
soft grey accenting it here and there. The furnishings were also
white, sleek and very modern in design. It was very bright;
especially with the light shining in from the garden wall. It
dappled the room with shadows of leaves and limbs making it feel
more outdoors than in. There was a long row of grey and white
drapes that could be pulled closed all along the back wall so the
garden could be shut out whenever there was a need for extra
privacy.

It had everything my previous bedroom had –
fireplace, sitting area, walk-in closet and changing room but
unlike my previous room it also had a large private bath.

"Gorgeous," Penny sighed.

"It is!" I thoroughly agreed. "Let's look at
yours."

We whirled around and followed the hallway
straight towards the opposite end of the apartment. I looked to my
left as we walked and smiled in appreciation of the openness of the
rooms. We passed the study then kitchen and I glanced in the common
bathroom to my right as we went by. When the wall to my left broke
again I turned my head towards the living area.

Penny was chattering away as we walked. I
tried to listen but when I glanced towards the living room I saw
that Herrik and Artur were still there standing in front of the
fireplace. As I was passing I noticed that they were both very
animated and though they were no longer speaking out loud their
expressions and gestures seemed to indicate that they were in a
heated discussion.

Herrik saw me watching them as we passed by
and when he caught my eye reached out and touched Artur on the
shoulder, "We can talk more about this later. I'm going to check on
the girls and make sure they have everything they need."

Artur bit his lip and reluctantly agreed. By
then we were at the door to Penny's room and I followed her in. As
she moved around the room inspecting it Herrik came to the door. He
gave a quick rap before coming in, "What do you think?" he happily
demanded.

"Perfect!" Penny effused.

"Is there anything I can get you before I
leave?" he studied Penny first who just raised her brows and shook
her head no then he turned to me.

"No...no I don't think so," I was so
discomfited by Herrik's generosity my words came out in a raspy
whisper.

"Oh, Penny," he said as though he had just
remembered, "you should try and catch Artur before he gets very far
and ask for the code. I forgot to get it before he left."

Penny hurried off without a word.

Herrik's expression changed dramatically and
he took both my hands in his, "Artur is insisting that I do to you
what I've done to Penny."

I began shaking and shivering certain I knew
what he was suggesting.

"I refused."

"But why..." I started to ask.

"I want you to remember. I want it to remind
you to think about the consequences before you act."

My heart felt like a leaden weight in my
chest as I looked down at my feet. He had every reason in the world
to hate me and I knew it.

"I need to show you something," Herrik's
voice was insistent. I looked up and he unexpectedly pressed his
forehead to mine. "Close your eyes."

I did. He released my hands and a moment
later I felt the pressure of his fingers at the back of my neck
holding me in place. I felt off balance and reflexively put my
hands on his hips to brace myself. Then I saw it or felt it mostly
– the little walls that built themselves up and wrapped themselves
around all my thoughts. I realized what he was doing; showing me
how to protect myself from the others, from anyone trying to pry
into my mind and discover information that I didn't want to
share.

"Ah," I sighed, "I see..."

"Good. Now show me."

He pulled back and all the barriers he seemed
to have put up crumbled. At first I couldn't do it; I couldn't
replicate what Herrik had done.

"It's different for everyone and not everyone
has the ability to do it," Herrik whispered. "Here, try this." This
time it seemed as though my ideas were covered in a shadow or a
cloak and everything that was going on in my mind was suddenly
obscured.

"Oh," I seemed to understand and I took
control of the cloak and let it swing open then wrapped it back
around again.

"Excellent," he softly said.

My body suddenly tensed and I felt flushed
from head to toe. I didn't dare open my eyes, couldn't bear the
thought of Herrik looking at me just then. Despite all the fear,
anger and hatred I continuously directed at him he was still being
civil and generous to me. I was so ashamed for all that I had done
and against my inner misgivings I wanted to trust him. He
was...

Penny cleared her throat from where she stood
in the hallway startling me back to my senses. I was horrified by
what I thought she might have seen, the way Herrik and I were
standing together could easily have been misunderstood. I quickly
realized that my fear was completely unnecessary. Herrik was
nowhere to be seen and it was just me standing dazedly in the hall
with Penny nervously asking me if everything was alright.

It was obvious that something was wrong and
Penny tried her best to cheer me up. When that didn't work she
changed tactics. "Have you eaten?" she asked.

"I'm not feeling very well," I confessed.

I knew she understood and I was sure that she
was aware that it was a topic that I would be unwilling to discuss.
"Maybe you're just hungry," she said. "I get down sometimes when
I'm hungry.”

"Maybe," I said with a fair amount of
enthusiasm.

I was actually very hungry. I couldn't
remember the last time I had eaten.

"Why don't you go wash up and I'll see what I
can rustle up for us?"

I started towards the common bathroom then
remembering that I had one of my own turned and instead went to my
bedroom and closed the door behind me. I decided to take a moment
to myself and sat down on the edge of my bed. For a fleeting moment
I wanted to just throw myself down on the pillows and cry again,
cry and cry until I couldn't cry any more.