Chapter 5

I knew I couldn’t get through tonight without something happening. Tasha growled in my head, “Tell her to get out. She’s nothing.” I turned my attention to Ayame, “It’s none of your business. I wasn’t doing anything but getting some fresh air. That’s all.” She looked at me suspiciously, “Why would I believe that?” I explained, “I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes a walk helps me sleep. I don’t get to go outside during the day. I’m always too busy or I’m in the dungeons.” She shrugged, “Got it.” I asked, “Can I go to bed now? I’m really tired.” She stood up and walked toward me, “I’ll just find out from Gabrielle what you were doing. I know you weren’t meeting a man.” I furrowed my brow, “Ew. Gross.” Ayame laughed, “There is my answer to that. I guess I will take your word for it.” She walked out of the attic and I went to my bed and looked at it. I started looking around while Tasha was growling, “I don’t trust that bitch.” I answered, “I agree. Can you lend me your sense of smell to see if there is anything she might have planted?” I could feel my sense of smell get super strong and Tasha sneezed, “That bitch stinks!” I chuckled, “I know, but I’m looking for something that could hurt me or you.” She answered, I’m not smelling anything.” I pulled back my blanket and found nothing. I pulled back my fitted sheet and found sharp shards of silver all over my mattress. While I shook my head in disbelief, Tasha was growling, “Oh, now that is one evil bitch. Good thing we are immune to silver.” I agreed, “I just wish I didn’t have to clean it up before I can go to bed.”

The next morning, I got out of bed extra early, got dressed and went to the kitchen to help cook breakfast. As soon as we had the food on the table, I stood in the corner of the dining room, waiting for everyone to get done. As each pack member finished, I cleared their dishes and took them to the kitchen. When it was only Alpha and Luna left at the table, Alpha Ben looked over at me as I stared at the floor, “Isabel, you can take our plates, then you can have two pieces of bacon and a piece of toast.” I went to the table, cleared their dishes, and took them to the kitchen. I took a piece of toast and two pieces of bacon to make a sandwich, then ran upstairs to grab my backpack and go to school.

I spent the entire day keeping my head down at school, avoiding all the usual bullies. Luckily, Ayame is an adult, so I don’t have to worry about her starting with me here. There is a girl, Kelly, who bullied me almost every day. Tasha has been helping me avoid her most of the day, but I went to use the bathroom after art class, and she cornered me. We were alone, so Tasha told me, “Let me have at her.” I agreed and let her take over. Tasha stepped forward and grabbed Kelly. She turned her and pushed her into a corner and punched her in the face. Kelly screamed as she covered her eye, “You bitch!” She raised her fist to punch me and Tasha caught her fist and twisted it until it broke with a loud pop. Kelly held her wrist and cried as Tasha pushed her back into the corner, “Say a word to anyone that I did this, and I will kill you.” She looked at me with complete shock and I washed my hands and walked out. Tasha gave me control again after chuckling, “Yeah, not such a badass now. Are you, bitch?” I laughed and walked to my next class. I was shocked that no one else bugged me again for the rest of the day.

By the end of the day, I worried, “Tasha, I hope no one told Alpha Ben what we did to Kelly.” She asked, “If he did find out, we’ll have to deal with it.” I sighed, “I guess so.” I walked to the pack house and, when no one threw a fit as soon as I walked in the door, I ran up to my room and put my backpack by my bed. I took a padlock out of my drawer and put the key on a long shoelace and tied it around my neck. On my way back to the kitchen to cook dinner, I stood outside my room and locked it before continuing down to the kitchen.

When I got to the kitchen, I was totally by myself. Luna Kate walked in and announced, “You are cooking supper by yourself tonight. So, hurry up. You have two hours to cook for all of us.” I asked, “Why?” She sneered, “You think you’re so tough, you can do it all alone.” I lost my temper. I yelled, “Are you nuts? I’m ten years old! There are some things my body won’t let me do.” She growled, “Yell at me again and you will get half your back clawed off with the whip.” I lowered my gaze, “I’m sorry, Luna. I just don’t understand why I have to do it alone.” She answered, “Everything you need is low. If there is anything up high, either ask for help or get the step ladder from the laundry room.” Tasha cleared her throat, “Do not use that step ladder. They have done something to it.” I answered Luna, “Thank you. I will get it done.”

I looked in the refrigerator and found ground beef. I went to the pantry and found plenty of cans of canned corn and cheddar cheese soup. Then I looked in the freezer and found a huge bag of tater tots. Perfect! It’s an all-in-one dish that I know I can have done within two hours. I grabbed a frying pan and a couple big baking dishes from under the cabinets and started preheating the oven. By the time I put it all together and put it in the oven, I felt like I needed to make something to go with it. I looked in the pantry and found some dinner rolls. I put them on a sheet pan and got them ready for the oven, then I set the table and put the drinks on the table. By the time it was all done, I had two huge pans of tater tot hot dish and two big baskets of dinner rolls. I put one of each at either end of the table with serving spoons and yelled, “It’s ready!” I then stood in the corner of the room while they ate the food. I didn’t hear a single complaint during dinner, which was different too. As each person finished, I picked up their dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen. When Alpha Ben was done, he simply got up and nodded at me. I took his dishes to the kitchen and that left only Luna Kate at the table. She asked, “Where did you learn to cook that? We have never had it before.” I kept my head down and replied, “It’s a dish my mother made before the rogues killed my parents. I remembered everything that was in it.” She nodded, “You have permission to make it again. There is some left, go ahead and eat, then finish cleaning up the mess.” Luna Kate left the room and Tasha laughed, “What a way to compliment you without actually saying the words.” I laughed, “It’s okay. I’m used to it.” I took the leftovers into the kitchen, I prepared a plate for myself and ate until I was full. I then finished cleaning up the mess from dinner and went up to the attic to do my homework.

When I walked into my room, I sat at my desk and started working on my homework. When I started school, they tested me and placed me in third grade. So now, I am ten years old and I’m in eighth grade. I am hoping to go to college, but I doubt that they will ever let me. I’m not even sure if they will let me finish high school. I’m not worth it to them. I’m of better use to them in the kitchen.   

I spent the rest of the evening doing my homework until I was so tired, I couldn’t see clearly anymore. I put my books in my backpack and went to take a shower. When I got out of the bathroom, I pulled out a pair of underwear and a set of warm pajamas. Before I got in bed, Tasha warned me to check the bed. I checked it and found nothing, so I got in it and covered up with my one blanket. I was only in bed for a few minutes when Luna Kate walked in my room. She sat on my desk chair and I sat up, looking at the floor. She asked, “Do you think you’ve learned enough about how the kitchen runs?” I nodded, “I do. I just don’t know how to get groceries in.” She nodded, “Just give me a list every week and I will arrange to get the groceries to you.”

 I asked, “Can I ask for something?” She eyed me suspiciously, “You can.” I asked, “Can I go to my parents’ home and get my mother’s bread machine and recipes?” She asked, “Why?” I answered, “With her bread machine, I can make homemade bread, homemade cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, bread bowls, and dinner rolls.” She asked, “Are you sure you can do that?” I nodded, “I know I can. I helped my mother with that daily. She never had to buy any kind of bread.” She replied, “I will have a guard take you over there in the morning. I want you to start cooking all dinners for us. On weekends, I want you to cook all meals for us.” I nodded, “Yes, Luna.” She asked, “Is there anything else in your parents’ home that you may need?” I replied, “I’m not sure. I will look around and get everything I may need while we are there in the morning, if that’s okay.” She nodded, “That is okay. I will ask a couple guards to come with you so they can help you get everything you will need. Have you thought about what you want to do with their house?” I shook my head, “Not yet. I would like to take some time before I think about that.” She agreed, “I understand. I will let you go to sleep. Be ready to go by five a.m.” I bowed my head, “I will, Luna. Thank you.” She replied, “Keep cooking like you did this evening, and you will earn more privileges.” I nodded, “Thank you, Luna.”

Hmm… This could help me. They can’t keep torturing me if I make their meals better than they ever had. They won’t want me to spend days in the dungeons.