Chapter Four

Lady Fay placed a bowl of soup in Kedade’s hands and ordered her to take it to Pavel’s room. Like most of the women in the brothel, Lady Fay was envious of Kedade and wanted to see crushed emotionally when she witnessed how close Pavel and sunny were getting.

“Why must I be the one to take this to her?” Kedade asked impudently.

“Because I said so.” Lady Fay replied with a sinister smile.

“Anyone else can do it.” Kedade said as she impolitely placed the bowl back into Lady Fay’s hands.

“You seem to forget that you're no longer the special lady here.” Lady Fay remarked before hysterically laughing at Kedade. “Do not make me upset and do as you are told.”

“You can laugh all you want. But I will regain my status even if it is the last thing I do.” Kedade said. She took the bowl from Lady Fay and stormed out of the kitchen while the latter bellowed with laughter.

Arriving in Pavel’s room, Kedade placed a bowl of soup in front of Sunny and sat down to watch her. This made Sunny a little nervous, considering that Kedade’s gaze wasn’t exactly pleasant.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you.” She assured Sunny, making her feel a little comfortable enough to taste a spoonful of soup.

“Ouch!” Sunny yelped after burning her tongue. Kedade smirked sinisterly before taking the bowl from Sunny

“You need to eat this slowly, girly.” Kedade said as she scooped a spoonful of soup and blew on it before giving it to sunny.

“Thank you.” Sunny said beamingly.

“You're so clueless. Don’t you know you have to blow on the soup before having some of it? Clearly, you’re just a beauty with no brains.” Kedade scolded Sunny after feeding her again.

“I didn’t know it was hot.” Sunny replied in a dejected tone.

“Of course. Now I have to babysit a full grown person. The things I have to do for Pavel.” Kedade complained.

“Who is Pavel? Is it that ill-tempered Mister?” Sunny asked as her eyes lit up.

“At least someone agrees with me about his temper. I am warning you though; don’t call him ill-tempered.” Kedade answered.

“Why do you stay around him when he treats you badly?” Sunny asked her curiously.

“Not that it is any of your business but he's mine.” Kedade replied with a big smile.

“I never said he was mine. I literally have nothing at the moment.” Sunny replied blankly.

“I know the feeling. I’m holding on to Pavel because he is all I have now.” Kedade responded with a deep sigh.

“What is this place anyway?” Sunny asked Kedade at last.

“A nightmare. I can’t help but pity you. You should have been ugly at least. What is your name by the way?” Kedade answered her.

“Sunny, I think.” Sunny replied.

“You think?” Kedade was flustered. “Hey, Could it be that you are insane? If that’s the case, then Japheth is monster. How could he pick on the mad girls too? Lord have mercy.”

“She’s not insane.” Saga said as he walked in on them. “Stop trying to make yourself feel better.”

“I wasn’t trying to do anything of that sort. This girl really looks insane to me.” Kedade defended herself.

“Whatever. But what are you doing here?” Saga asked her suspiciously.

“Do you think I love being here with her?” Kedade countered Saga’s question, making Saga laugh.

“Are you not angry with her?” He asked afterwards. His gaze lingered on her eyes as he searched them.

“She is too pitiful; so delicate. I would be a witch to hurt her.” Kedade said. “You watch and wait. I will get her kicked out of here.”

“Does she remind you of yourself….?” Saga asked.

“Indeed, she does. The poor thing.” Kedade stroked Sunny’s hair dramatically.

“She is actually worse than you. She has Amnesia.” Saga added.

“….Lord have mercy on you. I thought she is retarded” Kedade said as she caressed Sunny’s cheek. “You are so cute. You make me want to take care of you.”

“Remember, no emotions.” Saga warned Kedade.

“To hell with that!” Kedade said; turning to face Saga but her eyes met Pavel’s instead.  “I didn’t do anything to her, I swear.”

“I never said you did.” Pavel replied as he took off his shoes to sit on the bed.

“Hi, Mr. Pavel.” Sunny chirped, flustering everyone present.

“You‘re smiling. That means you’re feeling better.” Pavel responded with a chuckle. “Was this lady troubling you?”

“No, infact she was good.” Sunny twittered.

“Did you mean it?” Pavel said, turning to Kedade.

“Mean what? I didn’t say a word.” Kedade responded defensively.

“You said you want to take care of Sunny.” Pavel reminded her despite knowing that she was pretending.

“Well, yes but with your permission.” Kedade spoke in a low tone.

“You always look down on the maids, Kedade. What changed?” Sage asked in a dumbfounded tone.

“Did I say I want to be a maid?” Kedade brazenly asked him.

“It’s one and the same thing.” Saga exclaimed in surprise.

“No, it’s not. I'm educated. I know the difference.” Kedade argued her point. Pavel sighed with irritation, making both Saga and Kedade turn to him.

“I'll let Lady Fay know about this then. You can work at the bar at night only for three days. You have to attend to Sunny’s needs in the morning and afternoon.” Pavel directed her.

“As you wish.” Kedade chirped. “Brace yourself, Sunny. D-day is coming.”

“If you fail me-” Pavel’s voce was cold and stern.

“I know better than to displease you.” Kedade assured him.

“The evening has started.” Pavel said.

“Are you asking me to leave?” Kedade asked in shock.

“Saga, you go with her and inform Lady Fay about this new arrangement.” Pavel said without even looking at Kedade.

“As you wish.” Saga said as he took Kedade’s hand; dragging her out of the room.

“You like that lady, don’t you?” Sunny chipped in as soon as Saga and Kedade had left.

“Not more than I like you.” Pavel answered, making Sunny smile. “How was your first day in your new home?”

“Amusing…” Sunny answered smilingly.

“Do you always answer questions with a few words?” Pavel asked her.

“I don’t feel like talking too much.” Sunny absentmindedly responded to Pavel. She seemed to be distant.

"You'll regain your memory. I have called the doctor to come and examine you. But you must pay me back in the future.” Pavel reassured her. Sunny took Pavel’s hand in hers; and smiling profusely, she gave it a gentle squeeze, flustering Pavel.

“I'll do my best.” She said amidst her smile.

“Good but remember your best isn’t enough if you're not bleeding.” Pavel said as he coldly withdrew his hand, folding his arms above his chest.

“That is an eccentric ideology.”  Sunny sensed a dark nature in Pavel’s statement and it made her quite uneasy. Noticing that Sunny had become uncomfortable around him, Pavel cackled. After all, that is what he wanted. Sunny was getting too comfortable around him and that was intolerable.

“That is because you're thinking of the worst scenarios. But rich people use it as an inspiration to get richer.” Pavel replied with a sinister smile, instilling fright in Sunny.

“If you say so.” She replied as her thoughts ran wild, thinking deeply about his statement.

“I will now summon the doctor in…” Pavel said, clearly unfazed about Sunny mortified state. He bossily clapped his hands and the door swung open, revealing three creepy-looking men in the doorway. They walked into the room in the company of another man. lear thaEvidently,  he wasn’t with them because his face was covered with a black cloth.

“Dr. X is unavailable but he recommended him. He is Dr. Matteo.” One of the men spoke first.

“Unveil him.” Pavel ordered them. The man’s blindfold was removed before he was seized, arms pinioned to his back.

“Welcome, Dr. Mateo. I went through a lot of trouble to find you. Were you possibly hiding from me? Because if you were, I will have no choice but to kill you.” Pavel said expressionlessly.

“Who are you and where am I?” Dr. Mateo asked blankly. The man knew that he was in deep trouble but he was least afraid of his captor.

“I can tell you who I am but that means you have to die here and now.” Pavel replied with a crooked smile. Sunny flinched at the sound of the word ‘die’ and knowing she was afraid, Pavel looked at her, nodding as a way of assuring her that all was well.  Sunny forced a smile but deep down in her heart, she was about to explode with fear.

“Please spare my life.” Dr. Mateo said, finally giving in to his captor’s resolve.

“I don’t have time to kill you. You're here for a patient. Will you attend to her, doctor?” Pavel said. Although he was smiling, his voice was cold and harsh, a sign that the doctor’s refusal would result into his end.

“I'll start with the check-ups right away.” Dr. Mateo readily agreed.

“Not here, doctor. We have an infirmary. My men will direst you there while I wait for the results.” Pavel responded pompously. The doctor had nothing more to say, he rather followed two of the men behind while the other one followed after him, carrying Sunny in his arms.

***

Later that evening when Sunny returned to Pavel’s room, She noticed that the lights had been switched on, and with the scary shadows gone, she could sleep comfortably now.  Walking further into the room, Sunny noticed that there was a gift box on the bed, and wondering what was in it, she gladly opened the box and took out her gift, a beautiful red dress. Sunny excited picked up the note in the box and read it. It was definitely a gift for her and Pavel had sent it. Feeling elated, Sunny tried the dress on and it was a perfect fit, making her even happier.

“How did he know my size without even taking measurements?” Sunny thought as she twirled around in the room, feeling exalted. Suddenly, the lights flickered in the other room, making Sunny turn to its entrance; eyes fixed on the flickering lights. Up until that moment, she didn’t even notice that there was another room in Pavel’s room and this prompted her to go and take a look.

“Hello, Mr. Pavel.” Sunny’s tiny voice filled the empty space as she walked into the room but her calls were met with a creepy silence and the sound of a vehement wind, hovering around the curtains of an open window. Sunny shut the windows and went back into the room, planting herself right under the chandelier that held the flickering lights. She gazed at them as she thought of how they had suddenly turned on if there was no one in that room before looking around the room in awe. It was beautifully decorated with a huge picture of her above the bed-stand. Although she was completely nude in that picture, she didn’t care. Pavel obviously took it when she was sleeping but she could not help but wonder how Pavel had managed to furnish a room for her in one day. Sunny was on cloud nine, feeling exulted when she suddenly heard a snap sound above her head and looking up, she stiffened, watching the chandelier make its way to crush to her. The room went dark as the chandelier hit the floor noisily. Suddenly a small flickering light went on, revealing Pavel, lovingly holding Sunny in his arms while she gawked at him helplessly.