CHAPTER 9: TREATS AND BANQUETS

A knock came on the door, 'could that be Sasha?? but she just took out the tray now, or could it be that she forgot something? By the way, she doesn't knock before entering so how come she's doing so now??'

I got off the bed and stood in anticipation for whoever was at the door. The knock came again and I realized that whoever it was on the door was never going to come in except I grant them permission.

"C..come in" I simply stated out of impulse and in came the... I mean them, they were two girls in uniforms, but they were much older than I am. I am beginning to wonder, are they maids? I that what Sasha is too??

"Good evening ma'am" they both greeted in unison, "good evening" I responded. "It's time for your bath ma'am" one of them said and that's when I noticed the items they were carrying, blankets, some change of clothes and some other stuffs I can't make out.

"My bath??" I asked like I didn't understand what they meant, "yes ma'am" another replied. Wait a minute, are they planning on... "uhmm... just to be sure, I'm doing my bath myself, right?" I asked, because I didn't like the crazy thought I was getting right now.

"Certainly not, ma'am. You see, that's our job and we're more than delighted to do that" one of them said.

"You're going to bath me?? there's no way I'm going to let you do that. You can drop the items, I will help myself with them, thanks for the 'kind' gestures, by the way" I said, hoping that it would get them off, but it didn't.

"We're sorry ma'am, but we can't let you do that on your own, we would be in a big trouble if we do. Don't worry, we will make sure you have the best time" they assured me like it was supposed to make me feel better.

Just who do they think I am? a mayor's daughter? a queen?

Well, inasmuch as I'm not comfortable with two grown women bathing me like I am a baby, I also don't want them getting into trouble with their boss because of me.

"Fine, but we'll do it on my terms" I proposed, "with pleasure" they both replied excitedly. Okay, there wasn't really any need for the excitement.

"Well, what now?" I asked, not knowing what next to do.

"You will have to undress, don't worry, we will help you" the offered to help but I quickly declined, "no! I mean, nevermind, I.. I can't do that on my own. The bathroom is over there, right?? Yes that's right. So see you two in the bathroom" I said and quickly dashed off to the bathroom.

I might have agreed to them doing my bath, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to undress right in front of them. Don't blame me for being too insecure around them, that's just the way I was brought up at the orphanage.

Back there, we did our bath one at a time, even though it was a girl's bathroom, we were not allowed to expose our nakedness to each other even though we were of the same gender.

Now inside the bathroom, I quickly undressed and then got the bathtub filled with water and when I had settled inside the tub, I yelled a loud, "come in!" and they both came in.

I coiled awkwardly inside the bathtub, I was nervous.

They got to work immediately, they began adding stuffs aside the bath soap into the water and soon the water began foamy with a lot of lather and it smelt real nice too.

I must say that I was getting the best treatments so far, and my nervousness was beginning to diminish, I mean, not just with the bath thing, but with my 'abduction' all together. I think they don't really mean to harm me, but I'm dying to know what they really want from me and why I'm being giving preferential treatments.

"ma'am??" one of them called, "huhh??" I answered snapping out of my thoughts, "shall we?" they inquired, and I nodded slightly in approval and they swung into action immediately.

They started doing their thing, whatever it is they were doing to my body was beyond bathing, some massaging and pampering and all that stuff, I swear I could feel my skin go soft and my head was spinning in relish and dizziness too.

My hair wasn't left out of their magical touch too and guess what?? that's the best part, the massage made me wanna sleep and I loved it when my hair is being fondled. I reached up to feel my hair and it felt like I was touching silk, and all these years I thought I had a stubborn kinky hair, but now, it's transformed!

After the bath and after my body was well dried up, we entered into another segment of treatment, they began to apply lotions and ointments into my body and my hair too. They plaited my hair into two braids and then they helped me into the nighties they brought me.

It wasn't so bad going nude in front of my gender afterall.

"Dinner would be ready in 10 minutes, we would have someone bring you downstairs for dinner. We will leave you now ma'am" they said and was about to leave when I stopped them.

"Hold on" I said and they did, "what are your names?" I asked, it's really awkward said 'hey' or 'excuse me' whenever I wanted to call their attention, knowing their names would make it a whole lot easier.

"Oh forgive our manners! ma'am, I'm Athena and she's Maureen, always at your service" she said and they both gave a little bow. I found their little display amusing, but I tried not to laugh.

"Oh well Athena and Maureen, thank you for your services tonight, I must admit that I feel brand new" I commended them.

"It's our duty ma'am, and it was nice being at your service" Maureen said.

"If there's anything else you want us to do for..." "no, not at all, I'm okay thank you and good night" "good night ma'am" they both chorused and left.

'Ma'am again. This has got to stop.'

I went and sat on the bed and that was went it occurred to me to observe my surrounding. I haven't taken time to careful observe and explore the exquisite room.

"White and gold" hmm, I'm loving it.

I stood up and began to run my fingers on every piece of furniture and fitting in the room, from the tables to the paintings, some of the paintings got me. It was a painting of a nude woman playing a harp and I looked to the next one, it was another painting of a naked woman appearing to be dancing.

I sighed, the owner of this house must have a thing for nudity.

I idly opened ever drawer and cupboard and then the closet; all empty. There was nothing much to be done, so I tried to familiarize myself with my new environment.

I yawned tiredly as I went to sit on the bed, I was hungry too; unbelievable! not after all that food I had in the afternoon, it was actually a portion of food meant for 3 people; fairly though.

As though nature heard my growling stomach, someone knocked at the door declaring that dinner was ready.

"Okay!" I shouted back.

But where exactly was the dinning room??

I looked into the mirror and nodded in satisfaction, then I opened the door, there, was another maid standing with two hands locked together in front of her. I also didn't fail to notice the two guards standing at either sides of my door like statues.

"Good evening ma'am, I am Nora and I will be leading you to the dinning room. This way ma'am" she said and began to walk towards the stairs.

So they have different maid for different assignment, great.

I followed her leading and soon we were descending those stairs, I admired different parts of the house as we kept walking and at last we got to the dinning room.

If what I had for lunch was a treat, then this was a banquet. Why do they always have to prepare so much food??

As we got closer to the dinning table, the maid stood by the side while a dinning steward drew out a seat for me, I sat down and mouthed a thank you to him which he only nodded to.

Then he began to dish out some portions of food on my plate. I looked all over the table, there was a lot on the table, quite too much for one person.

"Uhh, excuse me?" I called his attention, "yes ma'am?" "are all... is there... what I meant to say is, is someone else going to join the table?" I asked curiously.

"No ma'am, the table is all yours" he replied and I mouthed an 'oh'.

I looked down at my plate and furrowed then I looked back at him, "is something the matter, ma'am??" he asked worriedly.

"N..no everything is just perfect" I lied and I heard him exhale silently. The problem was, he served me too little! Didn't he just say that everything on the table was mine?? So why did he serve me like there wasn't enough to be served??

Or does he think that I am one of those tushy lady that eats so little?? I snorted in my head, well he must think again because I don't intend to go to bed with a half filled stomach.

I picked up my cutleries and when I looked at them, I was disappointed. 'Fork and knife, really?? How far am I going to get with these??'

I dropped them and reached for a spoon.

Now let's start digging in!

I began to eat, not rapidly though, but in a steady motion, not because that's the way I wanted it, but because I wanted to look civil at least.

It didn't take me more than 5 minutes to empty my plate and I reached out to help myself with some more, but the steward intervened.

He began to put more on my plate and I watched him keenly, when he stopped I considered the portion he had dished out, it was even lesser than the first then I said, "you might want to keep it coming sir" and he looked at me in shock but he quickly replaced it with a smile.

"Are you sure ma'am?" he asked and I nodded, "mhmm" I added, and he did just that.

I looked at my plate in satisfaction, I had a fuller plate now, I began eating again.

After a few minutes, I was done eating; I was full now. Wow! another kingly meal gone! He poured me some wine and I drank and so I stood up to leave.

"Good night ma'am" the steward said and I only managed to wave in acknowledgement, I was tired, I needed that bed badly.

"I will walk you back to your room" Nora offered and I nodded, I didn't have the energy to talk.

Soon we were in front of my door and we bid ourselves good night and I entered. As soon as I entered, I slumped into the bed and gave out a sigh of relief.

And I looked up at the ceiling, it's the end of the day and I still have no idea why I'm here, yet I'm already getting comfortable.

I shut my eyes to sleep, but all I could see was his face, those icy blue eyes.

"What exactly do you want from me?? Why are you keeping me here?? Let me go already!" I muttered to myself still with my eyes shut, I wasn't sure if I was asleep or still awake, but I was surely aware of what I wanted; to go home.

No matter how much they try to make me comfortable here, I will never be.

But am I sure I want to go back to that slum again??

Certainly not.