Renata
Nirvi cut a disproving look at her son. "Ignore him. My son thinks he is funny." Right as she spoke, four people came out with plates of food and set them in front of each seated person. The meaty, smoky scent of pink steak with charred edges made her mouth water. The huge helping of mashed potatoes was obviously cooked with garlic, another unmistakable scent. A simple green vegetable to top it all off. Yum.
The gorgeous plate before her almost made her forget Tahoma's poor attempt at a joke. She looked across at an amused Rocio. "So, your diet hasn't changed?"
Rocio shook her head. "We don't eat food too often. It's more of an indulgence than a necessity. Our bodies just kind of make use of the nutrients but it doesn't need it. The excess leaves the normal way, if you're catching my drift. As for blood, all we need is what we already have in our body. Fresh blood from others is, well, not good for us."
"Yes, that is true," Nirvi agreed, "so, please, dig in without the worry we're experiencing bloodlust all the while." Nirvi quirked up a brow as though amused with her own words. "If you need a second serving, there is plenty."
Renata felt eyes boring into her from the side. From the person who she just knew had those most wicked look on his face. Instead of entertaining him, she focused on what was important: steak, mashed potato, and asparagus. She used the steak knife and fork and got to work. To her surprise, the next following moments were quiet, only interrupted by small sounds of the utensils hitting the plates or the cups being set back down on the table. She appreciated not being interrogated while enjoying the juices and flavourful forkfuls.
On the edge of her consciousness, she was aware that they were watching her more than their own dishes.
Once she was just about done, Nirvi spoke up, "I must confess, I am very curious about you, RenataâI hope you don't mind the shift in conversation."
Renata shook her head. She knew this was coming. "It's better to get the semantics out of the way." She wiped her mouth before folding the napkin and putting it off to the side. "You want something from me. I want something from you."
Nirvi's intelligent gaze enlightened with a different kind of spark. This miniscule detail was Renata's only way of realizing she had caught Nirvi off guard. "What is it I want from you, Renata?"
"As of right now?" Renata sighed. "The most immediate answer is answers. You want to know who I am, what I am. You want to figure out if you can use me, for whatever gain."
Nirvi looked impressed, as much as a regal woman such as herself could display such a thing. "Rocio, you said she was clever," her eyes briefly flitted toward Rocio only to return toward Renata. "But you're also brave. That's a dangerous combination."
Renata felt like a chess board that had plopped down between them. "So, I'm right. You want to use me."
Rocio tried to interject, "Nataâ"
Nirvi raised a hand and her sister quieted. Renata didn't like that immediate obedience. "You're partially right. From what I've come to learn, we both seek similar answers. Because of how important you are to Rocio, the best course of action was to reach out to you and offer asylum. Considering you accepted despite not talking to Rocio in years or having any idea who I am, I have assumed we are your best course of action as well."
"For now," Renata couldn't stop her stubbornness from showing. "And you're right. Rocio and I haven't talked in years. And I don't know you, and I don't trust you."
"Yet here you are."
Renata sighed. "Here I am."
Nirvi broke the tension with a smile. "Nonetheless, we are happy to have you here. While you feel us out, please make yourself at home. We'll start training and collecting information tomorrowâafter you've gotten a good night's rest. Does that work for you?"
Renata looked around, trying to gauge the reaction of both Rocio and Tahoma. Her sister was relaxed, and she couldn't figure out if that was a genuine state. As for the curious man to her side, he did not hide his intrigue. Was that genuine either? She wasn't certain. "For now. I appreciate your hospitality all the same." She looked down at her mostly empty plate. Another serving didn't sound all that appealing anymore.
"How about dessert, Nata?"
Renata shook her head. She was feeling uneasy all over again. "Actually, I'm feeling tired." It was a complete lie.
Rocio's eyes squinted in suspicion, considering how she'd just woken Renata from a great, deep slumber. She graciously said nothing.
"Of course," Nirvi bowed her head. "Thank you for joining us, Renata."
They all rose at once. Renata looked at Rocio with searching eyes.
Tahoma spoke up, making everyone pause. Renata couldn't quite look at him yet but listened closely. "May I?"
She wasn't sure what he meant, but then she saw his extended arm. Excitement bloomed in her chestâDiamond popped into her mind with that broken demeanor, and she felt guilty for her reaction. Still, she nodded in his direction, and she could tell this was being watched with the intruding stares of Nirvi and Rocio.
Tahoma smiled and stepped back. Renata went to his side, and as they began to walk off, she looked back at her sister, who's face filled with concern. It was a stormy kind of look.
Once they exited the dining room, Renata realized the dangerous game she entered. Especially as she glanced at the enormous man beside her. His hands were folded near his lower back. He was strolling at this point, with relaxed body posture. His head leaned the slightest bit toward the left, like he needed to do so in order to hear her. Her eyes were trained ahead, but in her peripheral vision, his clothes demanded to be studied.
She took a deep breath. "Tahoma?"
"Yes, Renata?" She liked how he pronounced her name the way it was meant to be. Many people took the magic out of it, but the roll of his 'r' reminded Renata of her ma.
But her conversation with Nirvi was at the forefront of her thoughts, reminding her that she didn't trust any of them. That wouldn't stop her from being honest. "Did I make a mistake coming here?"
"Mm," he looked at her, "I figured that was on your mind, considering the little spar of wits you had with ma." Those crimson eyes glimmered with amusement.
Her cheeks reddened, though there was no regret in her heart. "I didn't mean to be rude. I just didn't want to play any games."
Tahoma chuckled. It was a rich, tantalizing sound. "Not at all. It was an impressive move if anything. As for your initial question...my answer is biased, but I say 'no'."
"Okay, pretend you're God. On the outside looking in. Have I made a mistake?"
He exhaled a heavy breath. This made Renata's lips lift. "I've made my fair share of mistakes, so I know them pretty well. Still, my original answer stands. I know there's a lot of unknown for you right now," they reached the back part of the house, and the only reason she knew was because of the glass doors leading outside, "but you'll come to learn soon enough about usâyourself. It won't always be so hard."
Renata stopped in her tracks. She wasn't exactly afraid, but this felt like she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing. "I thought you were walking me back to my room."
Tahoma never stopped. His hair swished behind him as he sent a smirk at her over his shoulder. It made her pulse spike. "So eager to take me there? We've just met."
She frowned and didn't move quite yet. She couldn't tell if his flirtatious disposition was meant to be disarming for a good reason or a very bad reason, like he might have wanted to distract her from an impending threat. Renata couldn't afford to be mesmerized. "You're not taking me to Nirvi's secret experiment lab?"
He fully faced her as he reached the door. "When my mother welcomes someone into her home, she does not say so with her fingers crossed. There is no nefarious plan. Besides, I would know if there was. I just wanted to show you the backyard. I assumed Rocio hadn't given the tour yet."
"Why?"
His head tilted, promoting her to clarify herself.
"Why show me around? What do you want from me?"
"You're a very suspicious person, Renata." He opened the door. "It's very attractive." He looked outside longingly and didn't say anything to follow right away. "Will you please join me? I'd appreciate your company."
Renata could hear Diamond in her ear, whispering warnings and words of caution. But they were ineffective. "You don't know me well enough to want my company...but I could use some fresh air." That last part was proved accurate as she stepped outside. The cool breeze hit her, and her entire body uncoiled. Her lungs expanded, and her back straightened. Yes, just what the doctor ordered.
He was by her side. It was silent between them for a while as she absorbed their surroundings. Nirvi was certainly a fan of green life given the beautiful landscape that was her backyard. The moonlight kissed every detail with its gentle lips, ridding the night of some of its shadows. They walked onto a stony path fenced by crisp, waist-high hedges. Along these hedges lined dim lanterns. There were various trees with flattened sections of grass surrounding them. A bench placed strategically beneath the thickest branches and leaves. Some batches of flowers were confined by beautiful pottery, others were planted straight into the ground.
Renata could see that the path broke off into all of these beautiful little areas. She could also see that this path would ultimately lead to a maze, though because it was no taller than three feet, she could see at the center of this was a grand tree. It was bright red and unlike anything she'd ever seen.
"It's called a Gulmohar tree," he answered before she could ask. "Remind's Nirvi of her home."
"Where is that?"
"Southern Asia," he smiled, "that's the region anyway. The names of places change so quickly, it's hard to keep up." Tahoma chuckled at some inside joke. It jarred her to even consider how old Nirvi was. How old Tahoma must have been.
The questions burned inside of her.