Chapter 25 - The Unexpected Release

I thought I would be in jail for several days, maybe even weeks. I hadn't paid attention to Maria, and I couldn't possibly pretend to Damon that I didn't hate him. I detested him beyond anything I could have imagined being possible. I was taken aback when Maria arrived a few hours later to release me.

"What are you doing?" I remained on the ground, cradling my knees. I was drenched in tiredness, unlike anything I had ever experienced. I wanted nothing more than to take a shower and get into bed because the hard ground was hurting my back.

She used the keys to unlock the door and flicked the button to cut off the electric currents arming the cell, saying, "I'm letting you out."

"You should stay put; you'll get in trouble."

"What are you talking about? Master Damon said to let you out."

It was beyond my comprehension. If I still haven't gotten the lesson, why would he let me out?
"Are you sure?" As I gently stood up, I muttered.

"Yes, whatever you said to him worked!"

That being said, it shouldn't have happened.

"Move quickly! You appear to wish to remain here." I hurriedly followed her up the stairs and out of the jail as she lost her temper. I immediately went to my room and got in a warm bath. Although I was too exhausted to eat, Maria had informed me that she would be preparing breakfast for me. I took a warm bath by myself in my bathroom. I was baffled as to why Damon had allowed me to leave.
Maybe he had concluded enough was enough?

No, it's not possible. It didn't matter if I was locked up for two nights by someone who could slaughter entire towns of innocent people. I doubted it, but maybe he was too inebriated to recall our encounter.
So it stands, and once more, why did Damon tell Maria to let me out?

After a while, I eventually woke up because I had fallen asleep in the tub, slipped, and my head had emerged into the water. I gasped in relief as I looked at the filthy water. I made the decision that I could no longer safely leave myself in the bath alone. I passed the mirror in my undies and noticed the scuffs from resting on the cement floor of the cell on my legs and back. I threw on some jammies quickly. I ran into the room to the meat and vegetable plate on the dresser. My stomach and taste receptors processed it as if it were the greatest thing I had ever tasted, even though it had gone cold.
Just as the door flew open, I suddenly remembered Evan. Only Maria was there.

"I came to check on you, have you slept?"

As I took a bite, I muttered, "More or less."

"Are you going to tell me how you ended up in the cell again?"

I sighed and settled onto the bed "I did nothing! I was strolling around the backyard."

"In what location? How far back did you walk?" Maria seemed suddenly just as aware as she was terrified.

"I'm not sure how far it was, maybe ten minutes distance-"

She simply said, "You saw the grave," without asking.

"That is not how I have ever seen him. He sobbed"

"It was her birthday, and Damon loved her more than anything else."

"Alicia Losten right? Is she—"

"His mother, was murdered by vampires."

I detested Damon, but I was equally perplexed by him. I was completely unable to understand him. a murderous dictator who was heartbroken at his mother's tomb.

"Never make the mistake of doubting his character because of his vulnerable moments." It seemed as though Maria had read my thoughts. "Even the most evil creatures have their moments."

"No, I know, I just don't understand...."

"Evan is heading to the market right now. Not too long until they close, which is at five or six o'clock."

"Is he going to collect the stuff for the potion?" I set down the plate and sat up.

"Yes, but there are some shops he cannot enter unless he's with a werewolf or the doll of one."

"So you need me to go with him?"

"Yes. But you need to persuade Damon to let you to."

"He'll never go for it, not after two nights ago-"

"I am aware, I am aware! But you must make an effort. He has an hour to spare before returning; he has a pack meeting here."

"An hour!?"

"Sure, you need to come up with something," she said, grabbing the empty plate.

"Like what!"

"However you convinced him to let you go to Akbur Hills and The Stationary."
The memory made me flush red.
That caused Maria to exit the room.

And then I waited for Damon to come home. The thought of having to entice him once more was beyond my comprehension. It still amazed me that it had worked the first time. I wanted to talk to Evan and find out more about the strategy. Despite my overwhelming desire to murder Damon, I lacked the motivation to entice him like I had done previously. An hour later, the door sprang open, and I sprung up. Sure enough, it was Damon. I hadn't styled my hair or put on some beautiful clothes. He gave me a brief moment of his attention, and I wondered whether he would contact Maria again to ask why she had allowed me to leave. Rather, he scrutinized the scratches on my legs with his gaze. At last, he turned away from the sight and walked quietly to the closet to prepare his bathing necessities.

I suddenly said, "I want to go to the market today."
He pivoted to once again face me.

"Why?"

"I require some fresh air. I'm tired of being in the cell; I want to go visit people."

He was flapping the hangers, looking for anything. "The mansion has more than twenty staff and you've got acres of land to get some fresh air," he replied.

"You mean slaves, not staffs," I said.

"What?"

"I'd like to go shopping," I said. "The other dolls told me about the market, and since they're all going today, I really had to go too."

Damon emerged. Once more, his gaze settled on my scars, and I must have gone absolutely insane since his expression conveyed guilt. He exhaled deeply.
"Fine, but Bullet will join you."

"Fine."
He gave me a long, intense look. I attempted to hide my disgust and fury. I wanted to cry out, to desire nothing more in the world than to watch his corpse burn. After leaving, Damon went to take a shower in the bathroom. As soon as I could, I got up and dressed.