Chapter 4 Four

TINA

If I were in a happy mood and my life didn't just get ruined, I'd be laughing right now because of the look on his face. The General looked taken aback. I have a feeling this doesn't occur often. However, he gained his composure faster than the rest of the men in the room as he stood straighter.

I registered again at the back of my mind how tall he was. The man was literally a giant, taller than all the men in the room. In fact, taller than any man I'd laid eyes on.

"Who are you, woman? And what do you think you're doing here presenting yourself to me?" He asked smoothly. No apprehension, no discomfort, no nothing. He appeared unaffected by the intrusion, by a woman no less.

I smiled as demurely as I could manage and fluttered my eyes at everyone in the room. I've always known I was beautiful. Numerous attentions and compliments from the opposite sex ensured this knowledge was rooted deep in my awareness, right now, I was counting on the charm of my beauty to enamor my target.

"I'd like to first congratulate you on your new position as village chief," I said and sauntered around the table, taking measured steps, watching as the men on the table held their breath while the General watched me with slanted eyes.

"It is for that reason, I have come to present a preposition to you." I finished, stopping a few inches away from him. "Well, what do you say, General?"

The man just stood staring at me, into my eyes. I imagined how his head must be running in an attempt to figure me out. I schooled my facial expressions so that they won't give away the depth of my hatred for him. All he saw was the flattering smile plastered on my pretty face.

"Ragnark!" The General finally barked out.

"General," one of the men at the table replied.

"See the fair lady to my chambers" the General said again, all the while without looking away from me. I bared my teeth in a wider smile to conceal how suddenly, and surely, loudly my heart started thumping in my chest. His chambers? I did not see that coming!

Ragnark got up from his chair, pushed the thing backwards and walked closer to me while he gestured his hands towards the door, clearly telling me to walk with him. What was it with these men? Why were they so unusually large and huge? Ragnark, like his fellow brutes, was as big as a bear. Although a few inches shorter than the General, he was bulkier with more flesh, even though I suspected those extra pounds of flesh would not hinder the man in any form when it came to a war fight.

When delayed in following his directives, Ragnark grinds his jaw in unspoken annoyance. Finally, I put one foot in front of the other and walked out of the room in slow steps, gently swaying my hips as I walked.

I paused at the door to look at Amro who looked back at me like I was walking to the slaughterhouse, his face gloomy and stoic. I tried to reassure him with my eyes but I doubted he understood me so I passed him and stepped out of the room and onto a familiar hallway.

Ragnark showed me the way to what used to be my parents' chambers. I was sure the General picked this particular chamber for himself because it was so obviously the master's room. It was wider, had a much better view of the front yard and the fireplace was huge. I had so many warm memories of my time here with my parents. My eyes clouded with tears when I stepped into the room. It still felt like a dream that my entire family was actually gone. I would not be seeing my dad, my mom or Ben any longer. Their smile and my mother's squinted eyes whenever she was reprimanding me.

As soon as I stepped into the room fully, Ragnark grabbed me by my upper arm and jerked me close to him.

"I'd think twice about whatever it was that you may be planning. Remember, I am watching you. Take any wrong move and I'll make sure I let the General know instantly. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can fool me with your beautiful face and your wicked smile." He gruffed and shoved me away from him before stalking off.

I stared wide eyed at him. I guess the General would not be the only one I had to convince that I had no evil intentions. Ragnark might prove to be even more difficult. I sighed. I had my work cut out in front of me.

I shut the door before walking to the window. There wasn't much difference in the bedroom. The bed and bed post had been replaced with a much bigger bed, and the curtains had been changed to dark gray una tree as of the light green that was there. The center rug in the room was missing. He'd had anything that looked personal, extra or unnecessary removed from the room. Now, the room felt...naked. Like it too had died along with my parents.

I will make him pay. For a life of pain and solitude that he now subjected me to. On my parents' grave, I would make sure the General paid in tenfolds.

I did not hear the door cringe open but I felt the weight of a pair of eyes staring at me from behind. I turned and met the brooding eyes of my sworn enemy. His massive shoulders were wedged against the door post and his arms folded. Heat, whether from his eyes or from fear of what the future held for me I did not know but I held my ground and made sure I did not squirm under his gaze. If anything, he was the one who should be afraid. He had no idea what was coming for him.

"Well, well, what was it you needed to propose to me that made you foolishly think you could walk out of here alive?"