8 Chapter 8- Masks

She sat there for a few quiet moments as she looked at the food on her plate though her appetite wasn't what it had been before with all the revelations he had given her. While she was happy to have some answers, this was pretty poor timing. Her eyes watched the steam come up from the food before she looked over towards him for another moment.

Considerations of what her real options were, how she was supposed to navigate this nightmare and figure out a new sense of her life as it was now. She had the overwhelming urge to simply leave, to run to somewhere secluded, let herself grow lost in her music and pretend the world wasn't what it was.

Yet he had taken her mode of transportation, she was pretty sure he was probably what had taken her music, and where was there now to which she could run and feel any sense of escape now that he had entered her life. She felt completely trapped and helpless as she sat there in silence.

As if in response to feeling overwhelmed she did as she normally did with the world around her. She felt her emotions lock away deep inside as she hid behind the mask she used to keep herself safe from the world. It was something she had become good at, it was how she survived and though the circumstances here were now of an inhuman nature she realized it really wasn't that different was it?

At that she quietly picked up the steak knife and paused looking at it. Of course it crossed her mind to try and use it to get away, but would it really work? He was faster and stronger than her, what hope would she have? No, she wouldn't get anywhere trying to use violence against him. The thought was quick, it rose up and was put aside as foolish as she just used the knife to cut the steak. She held no appetite but she could force herself to eat.

If she let herself fall apart and stop taking care of herself she might as well just give up on life entirely. She was silent as she ate and only the sound of her fork against the plate seemed to make real noise in the room now that neither of them seemed to be speaking. She wasn't looking at him, instead focused on getting through this moment.

The server came back to refill their drinks and paused as he seemed to pick up on the mood of the room. "Is everything satisfactory?" He asked a little worried that they were unhappy with their food.

Nathanial looked to him and gave a nod. Ashley looked at him and her entire demeanor shifted in that moment. "Yup." she said as she gave a smile as though nothing in the world could be wrong. "Food is great. Thank you very much." she said as she smiled at him. The server seemed to relax. "I'll check in on you soon and have the check ready." he said as he left the room.

Nathanial looked at her for a moment a little surprised to see the sudden change in her behavior and shift in attitude. One moment she had seemed sullen, which he had expected but now she was behaving as though nothing was wrong at all. He frowned for a moment as he watched her. "You seem to be in a better mood." He commented finally before he took his drink. "Why?"

Ashley looked at him for a moment. She wasn't in a better mood at all, she just remembered to go back into hiding once again. The last few days had thrown her for a loop and she had forgotten herself, forgotten how to manage. But she was remembering how to deal with the world again and he was no different.

"I just realized you're like everyone else." She shrugged and finished her food before she took a drink. She looked back to him again. "The colors of the walls may have shifted, but the foundation is still just the same as it always was." She moved and got up, moving over to the window and looked out at the night sky.

She crossed her arms and leaned against the glass looking down as they were quite high up, if not for the window there she would have been terrified she would fall. "I'm not in a better mood." she said finally and then looked over at him. She gave a smile and shrugged as she leaned there as if they were just two friends chatting even if her words didn't quite match the tone of her voice. She spoke as though nothing were wrong at all. "I just remembered I shouldn't show how I feel." She said.

Nathanial frowned as he looked at her for a few moments seeming somewhat perplexed now. He had met several types of people, and yet she almost defied expectations on behavior and responses to situations. He studied her for a few moments. "You remembered you shouldn't show how you feel?" He asked slowly as he watched her.

"I don't care for lies, not being honest with how you feel is a lie." he said finally as he watched her from his seat. Though he didn't get up, he was trying to figure out how he should proceed next in all honesty. Each move he made against her was a calculative move to manipulate and control her, to shape things as he wanted them. Yet now he was having trouble getting a read on her with how well she just seemed to switch things.

Ashley looked at Nathanial for a moment. "Well that's a you problem." She said finally and gave a shrug as she stood there. There was a tiny level of fear there but it wasn't what it was before. She had shut herself off just so she could deal. She looked back out the window once again. "This is who I am." She said as she looked at the night sky. "You said I'm yours, well congratulations, Here I am." she said as she looked at him. "This is how I am every day around everyone. All smiles, all ok, and never with a problem. I'm not going to fight you, I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to argue or demand anything."

Nathanial moved up to his feet now and made his way over to her as he was at least picking up on the fact that she was digging in her feet in some form of rebellion. But it was a form he had never crossed before and he really didn't know how he should even punish it as he watched her. She was managing to deny him while not denying him and he was for the first time in the very long stretch of his life somewhat stumped.

"Even if it was to go to my bed?" He asked as he knew that always seemed to pull a response from her. A red flush went through her and she couldn't help her tension rise as she looked at him. There was a level of success on his part, yet it wasn't the path he entirely wanted to walk just yet with her. He studied her trying to figure out where the cracks were in the supposed mask she seemed to have set between them.

Ashley looked at him and she hadn't been able to help her rise in panic at his words as she looked at him. She couldn't help the slip she had but then she just retreated even further. "Fine. Whatever." She said, giving a shrug. "Never done it though so you're going to have to tell me what you want to do." she said and though the red hue was there she was there firmly behind that calm 'I'm happy and nothing is bothering me' expression she was giving him.

He looked at her for a few moments before he gave a sigh. She was going to be most difficult, he realized as he looked out the window. However despite how much she threw him he found he liked the challenge. It was rather refreshing and made him feel he had made the correct choice that night to take her even more.

"Do you like chess?" he asked finally as he stood there. Glancing over to her as he switched gears now realizing he was going to have to go about things much differently with her then he had with others. She looked over at him for a moment, a bit surprised by the question but then relaxed as he was clearly not serious about sex and had just been testing her.

"It's fun. I haven't played in a long while." She said as she studied him. Just as he was trying to figure her out she was doing the same with him. Trying to predict what it was he was expecting and wanting so she could behave properly. It was a way to keep the wall between her and the world, never letting them get close to her. "No one I know likes the game." She said with a simple shrug.

"We should play some time." He said with a nod and looked over to her. "You can learn a lot about a person from how they play chess." He said and she looked at him for a moment hesitant. "How they problem solve, if they are offensive or defensive, if they can handle losing, sure." She said acknowledging that. "If you're willing to look that deep into it."

He gave a light smile. "You also can get a feel for how a person learns, how they see the world. If they can handle the pressure when put in a corner." He looked at her for a moment. "I'm interested in what you would reveal without realizing it with a game or two." He said almost innocent with the words but they were almost suggestive causing her to grow a little unsettled by his sudden change.

"I doubt it would be anything interesting." She said honestly and with a shrug. The server came in and paused seeing that they were both up. "Sorry for the delay." he said as he set the check upon the table in it's fancy little book. He picked up the plate and cleaned everything except their glasses should they want another drink. "If there's anything else I can get you….?" He asked looking at them.

Nathanial shook his head but was still looking at Ashley. "No we are fine, Thank you." He said, giving a smile and finally looking at him before he made his way to the table. "You can let Rebecca charge it to my account, apply the usual 30% tip." he added as he finished off his drink and didn't even bother to look at the check.

The server looked at him surprised. "Oh uhh…." he looked a bit unsure. "I'm sorry I'm new, I've never uh...let me just verify we can do that?" He asked, unable to help looking like he was put on the spot with something new. Nathanial looked at him. "You can escort us to the front. I'm sure they will verify it before we leave." he said simply.

Ashley looked at the server unable to help feel for him as she had no doubt the meal had been expensive and if they dined and dashed he'd be screwed. She looked over at Nathanial as he made his way to the door with the server leading the way before she gave a sigh and started to follow along growing quiet but her demeanor kept that upbeat cheery feel.

At the front the hostess heard why they were waiting and confirmed with the server that everything was ok with charging it. Nathanial gave them his best smile and walked out with Ashley following him. She looked around as it had grown cooler now that night had fallen. She gave a sigh as she looked around then to him wondering what was next.

"Samuel should have things prepared for you." he said finally as he looked at his phone and sent a text again. "I will say of all the things invented thus far, I have grown rather fond of cell phones and the ease they provide." he said offhandedly as he stood out there with her.

She looked over at him for a moment or so as he spoke of cellphones as if he had lived during a time without them, while looking as young as he did. "How old are you?" She asked finally as she looked at him. "I mean it's become pretty obvious you're probably not a guy in his twenties like you look." She said honestly.

He looked over at her for a moment or so. "How old do you think I am?" He asked somewhat curiously what conclusions she may have tried to come to about him already. She looked at him for a few moments. "Honestly?" She asked as he gave a nod while watching her.

"I really am not sure. I'm guessing older than is humanly possible at the very least." She said as she looked at him. "You've changed how you act around me." She added as she watched him. "Why?" She asked unable to help the fact that he was acting almost normal with her, as though they were on common ground a little unnerving.

He looked at her for a moment then his eyes moved to the black sedan that once again pulled up for them. "Because taming you will take a much less conventional method I have realized." he said simply before he opened the door and motioned for her to get inside. She blinked and looked at him for a moment, she wasn't too keen on the fact he was talking of 'taming' her.

"I said I wasn't going to give you issues." She said finally as she climbed inside and sat down after moving to the other side of the car. He got in after her and closed the door, as soon as they were in the car started to move without him saying where they should head. She quickly put her seatbelt on as she felt the car move before looking over at him.

He looked over to her. "Oh I know." he said as he got comfortable in his seat. "But you clearly have a wall up that you are hiding behind." He said finally now that he had a few moments to consider everything he was formulating a new plan of attack. "I could completely break you by ripping it down with brute force." he said as he watched her. "But then I would not really achieve what I want with you. It's clear if I continue the way I have with you, it will result with me losing patience and killing you." He admitted.

"It is rather refreshing to have a challenge for once." She blinked at his words and looked at him for a moment before she just shook her head and crossed her arms looking out the window. "Now you're just being weird." She said as she avoided looking at him while she didn't know how to take what he said.

"Where are we going?" she asked to change the subject. "And did you take my mp3 player?" She added glancing over at him. He paused for a moment, a smile came to his features as if amused by her actions before he also turned his attention outside his own window.

"We are going to your new, temporary home until I decide to name you and bring you to my home." He said with a nod. "And yes, I was curious to what type of music you listened to. I was a little surprised at some of your choices." He admitted and looked over at her before he reached into his pocket and pulled out her mp3 player with her headphones neatly wrapped around it.

"You can have it back." he said as he held it out to her. She looked at it and then she was surprised he actually had it on him and that he was giving it to her. Made her feel a little uneasy about trusting it. "Thanks." she said and gave him a happy smile despite her hesitation before she immediately unwrapped it and set up the earbuds wrapped around the back of her ear but not actually in as she put it in her pocket. The one piece of her attire that was always supposed to be there finally back as it should be and she was surprised at how much tension she lost just by having that small comfort back even if she wasn't actually listening to anything yet.

"I noticed you had a large selection of violin instruments on there." he said, taking note at how much of an effect having the small device had on her. "Do you play?" He asked curious and wondering what talents she might actually have. She had proven she was intelligent but he knew very little outside of what was written on paper thus far.

She looked over at him for a moment before she shook her head. "No. I wanted too, one of the schools I went to actually offered lessons but we couldn't afford to get a violin for me to learn on." she said and shrugged. It was something she always regretted even if she had no control over the situation. Not like she had gone to that school to have been able to learn anything anyways when it really came down to it. But it was one of many dreams she had learned would never happen.

"I see." he said as he gave a nod though he couldn't tell if she still held an interest in it or not. "So then you don't know how to play any instruments I assume?" he asked as it was a safe assumption. He knew how to play many himself but sometimes he found it relaxing and enjoyable to sit and listen to another play from time to time.

"I know how to do one little song on the piano because I memorized the keys. That's about it. I don't have the hands for it. My brother is the one who has the talent in the family." she said as she didn't look at him. "He can play anything by ear, he is also really good at drawing."

He paused as his eyes went to her and he had a feeling that if she held any talent it was most likely not something she was capable of seeing in herself with the way she spoke. "You must have something you are talented in." he said finally just to see if he would get the answer he was already expecting or if this was another moment in which she would surprise him.

Yet he was disappointed as she shook her head while looking outside. "No. Not really." she said as she sat there. "Which is fine. The world needs people without talent for those who have it to really be appreciated I guess." She said as she gave him another smile and that 'I'm not bothered by it' expression.

He gave her a contemplating look as he had never heard anyone put it quite like that, though of course she wasn't wrong in her logic. "I think perhaps you don't give yourself enough credit." he said finally. "I'm sure there's something you are good at, you simply don't see it or have yet to find it." he said and she looked at him for a moment. "Maybe." she said though she didn't sound too convinced.

The car finally came to a stop and she paused as they had driven a little bit out of town and it looked like a small cabin in the woods. She hesitated as she looked at it then over to him. "How am I going to get to school from here?" she asked, she didn't have her bike and no doubt it was a bit of a ride.

"Samual will drive you where you need to go." He said simply as he opened the door. She looked at him and then towards the front where the driver was and grew a bit uncomfortable. She didn't like others having to wait on her or do things for her. "Sorry." she said lightly to the man sitting in front of her before she climbed out. She was going to have to figure out some way to make it up to the guy, she doubted driving her places was going to be fun.

"It's his job, he's paid to do it." Nathanial said looking over to her as she got out of the car. "So there is no need to apologize to him." Ashley looked at Nathanial for a moment a little surprised and then unsure. He spoke freely in front of him; she had assumed he was most likely human and a servant, he had mentioned servants before after all. However she had no answers as she watched the man walk up the walk to the small cottage.

He pulled out some keys and flipped through them before he unlocked the door. Opening it he flipped on the light before looking back to her. "Well?" He said as he walked inside expecting her to follow. She looked at him for a moment before she sighed and headed in after him not sure what to expect.

She was half afraid it would be full of fancy expensive stuff that she'd be afraid to even touch. While the place was furnished nicely, it had a more down to earth homely feel then the restaurant that they had just been to. Everything was simple and as she glanced in the bathroom there didn't appear to be anything fancy. Perhaps somewhat updated so it had central heat and air, but it wasn't screaming 'millionaire' by any means.

"I will let you handle getting your things from your friend, but I expect you to reside here." he said as he looked around before he walked to the small kitchenette and picked up another set of keys that was resting there. "These will be your copy." he said as he moved over to her and offered them.

"There is about forty acres of land that I own surrounding this place so you will have privacy." He said as he looked at her. "Though it's all uncultivated land so I wouldn't advise traversing it unless you want to risk bears or mountain lions." he said casually. "The kitchen should be stocked, though it is with fresh fruits and meats. If you do not know how to cook them then I will find someone to teach you. You should avoid processed foods." he said as he looked around.

"The closet and dresser should have clothing of your size in it as well. I will expect you to wear them instead of what you currently own." He looked at her again. "I may be taking a different approach but my expectations of you still stand." He said as his tone grew serious. He then went to pick up the smartphone that was sitting on the kitchenette as well.

"This will be your phone from now on. The phone number is the same but I have taken control of the account. You have unlimited data and minutes." He said as he looked at it before he gave it to her. "Which means you have zero reason for not informing me of where you are or what you are doing." he added.

Ashley looked at the phone for a moment and the keys before looking at him a bit surprised. She saw she had a few missed calls and texts from her friends wondering where she was. She quickly texted them she was fine and she was staying somewhere else for the night, she would see them tomorrow before she looked at him again hesitant.

"So you aren't going to be staying here too?" she asked slowly. Just confirming one way or the other, she was half afraid he would. When he shook his head she relaxed a bit more. "I have more interesting things to do then to linger here all night while you sleep." he said finally as he looked down at her.

She grew still now as she stood there seeing him looking down at her in a way she wasn't entirely sure what it meant. She had never had anyone give her a look like that before. "What?" She asked as she looked back at him. He met her gaze before he smiled and shook his head. "Nothing. I expect to see you in school tomorrow." He said finally.

Ashley watched him as he walked to the door. Hesitating as he walked out and closed the door behind him without another word. She stood there somewhat unsure as she stared at the door almost expecting him to suddenly show back up. But instead she heard the car door open and close. Moving over to the window she looked out into the darkness to see the lights of the car flash across the cabin as it turned around and then headed back down the drive. She was finally alone.