Deception by Selena Rico (an ebook reader .txt) 📖

Annabelle?” I asked. She looked around the hall.
“Promise you won’t tell?” She whispered.
“Tell what exactly?” I questioned. She leaned into me, pulling me down to whisper in my ear.
“The old master forbids us from learning to read and write. Alia, she taught me a bit that she had picked up.” She told me. “so do you promise.”
“I swear.” I told her. She leaned as close to my ear as possible, cupping the sides of her mouth and creating a tunnel to my ear.
“Okay, well roughly it says, ‘welcome Tatsuhiku, our savior.’ The other girls had it put in a few years ago, so that he’s greeted with warmth every time he comes.” She straightened, the door flying open moments later. She bowed, introducing me to the pretty girl before me. “Good day Miss Calla. This is Miss Mika, the new companion.”
The girl frowned at the bowing girl petting her blonde hair as if she were a pitiful dog. “Poor thing.” She whispered. The girl, Calla then turned to me, grabbing my hand and pulling me in and slamming the door in Annabelle’s face. “Alright now Mika. Let’s get a good look at you.” Her eyes surveyed me and as she did this I decided to do the same to her. She looked to be about twenty or so, with mocha skin, piercing blue eyes and long brown hair that fell to her waist in hundreds of tiny braids. I had once seen a picture of someone who looked like her in an atlas. I believed her to be from Egypt or maybe Africa.
“She’s beautiful and young!” She called behind her and I watched as about four girls crept toward us. One girl stood out to me. She looked no older than Ami, but her eyes held a million years.
“Cindy thinks Miss is pretty.” The little girl laughed inching toward me.
“Oh and who is this Cindy?” I asked, falling to a knee in front of the doll like creature. She pointed to herself, smiling sweetly.
“Cindy is Cindy.” The girl was a doll in every aspect. Her skin looked porcelain. Her back curls were tight ringlets, her blue eyes were big, her head round, her mouth rosy and her nose a cute button. She was dressed in a black lacy Gothic Lolita dress. She placed her small hand on my cheek. “Cindy knows Miss Eva isn’t going to like this, right Miss Nadia?” the girl muttered to herself.
“Right little one.” A woman, around thirty said, addressing Cindy. She helped me up, shooing away the other girls. “It’s Nice to meet you. I’m Nadia, my origin is India. I was brought here ten years ago. I’m the oldest and the smartest.” I looked at her, shocked that she had said such a thing and that none of the other girls protested.
“Cindy is nice to meet you too. Cindy comes from England and Cindy came when she was three. Cindy is the youngest and Tatsuhiku calls Cindy little sister.” Cindy told me in her odd way of speaking.
“My name is Mika. I come from a small town in Japan.” I said. The other girls began to creep closer and I felt oddly vulnerable.
“Is it true Tatsuhiku touched you?” the woman Calla shouted and the other girls rumbled in agreement.
“Well…yes, but it was not dirty. He hugged me and touched my cheek and carried me into the house.” I explained. The girls seemed in awe. “Am I missing something?” Nadia grabbed my hands, giving me a fierce smile.
“Tatsuhiku doesn’t touch…at all. He accidently touched Cindy’s hand once and he didn’t visit any of us for a week, but he touched you, willingly. That means…that means…” her sentenced was finished by Cindy who was beaming ear to ear.
“Tatsu picked.” She laughed in a sing song voice.
“Don’t just assume things brat!” I looked up angrily at the girl who had insulted the little one. She was gorgeous and about my age. She had straight black hair that fell to her hips and eyes the color of honey. Her cheekbones were well defined and her face resembling a queen out of a story book.
Before I could snap at the woman who made me feel inferior in every aspect, the door flew open and in loud unison every girl turned to the door smiling, “Welcome Tatsuhiku.” It was sticky and sweet and I felt foreign.
He smiled at them, walking toward me, placing his glove covered palm on my cheek. “Have you settled in yet Mika?” He seemed oblivious to the shocked women surrounding us. I wanted to say something anything, but this was just too confusing and I felt myself crumble under his touch.
“No!” I cried, pushing him away and running from the room. He watched me run, I could feel it, but he made no move to follow me. Maybe he was hurt, maybe he was angry, but all I knew is that I had been wrong. I didn’t want to be his companion, just one of the many of his loving harem and by the way he continued with his visit, he didn’t either.
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Publication Date: 06-22-2011

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