Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4) novel Chapter 1

Natalia’s mouth was dry, and she found it hard to swallow.

“This is so exciting,” her mother said, squirming in her seat.

Her father nodded with a big smile on his face.

Natalia managed a swallow and almost choked.

“I… I wanted to go to college.”

She almost coughed the words.

“Nonsense,” her mother said. “I never went to college and look at what I’ve accomplished.”

“How can you not want this?” her father said with a wave of his hand, indicating the room in which they sat.

“This is just a waiting room,” Natalia muttered, but her statement was misconstrued.

“Fine imported mahogany woodwork. The finest tapestries. Gold. Silver,” her mother said, pointing out the lavish decor of the room. “I almost feel under-dressed.”

Her mother smoothed her skirt and fiddled with her necklace. Natalia knew the dress was an original creation that cost a lot of money. Her mother had accessorized with matching shoes, a hat, and gold jewelry with diamonds and rubies. Natalia thought she was overdressed considering where they were. However, she nodded in agreement with her mother. The richness of the room did seem to make her mother’s outfit and even her father’s tailored suit, appear shabby.

Natalia smoothed her own dress out of uneasiness. She swore her white dress glowed, making her feel even more self-conscious.

“I meant this room is supposed to look over the top. They’re trying to impress you,” Natalia said, startled to find her voice raspy.

“Of course,” her mother said as if reprimanding her. “A position in this church is quite an honor. An honor to be proud of.”

Her mother looked ready to explode with joy.

“This church is at the forefront for helping the poor.”

“A lot of people could be helped with the money in this room,” Natalia murmured.

She wanted to reiterate that she wanted to go to college but decided it would be futile.

“I didn’t know we were coming here.”

“You’ll be taken care of for life,” her father said, looking about the room as if this lavishness would soon be hers.

Natalia grimaced. This was not where she thought they were taking her. This was the last thing she ever wanted for her life.

“Can’t we wait and decide when I’m eighteen?”

If she could make it that far then she would be free.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” her mother said.

“You need to grab these opportunities when they arise,” her father said.

“What on earth are you going to do when you’re eighteen when you can be settled here?” her mother said.

“College?”

She barely whispered the word.

“Nonsense. Your brother, Beryl, has already been to college. He’s happily married, and we already have a grandbaby.”

Her mother scrunched her shoulders and smiled as if she was admiring her grandbaby.

“Such a precious little boy.”

“You have everything you ever wanted,” her father said to her mother.

Natalia thought the smile plastered on his face seemed a little forced.

“Not many get an opportunity like this. To be accepted in the most prestigious church,” her mother said.

“I don’t want to be a nun.”

“Not a worry in the world,” her father said under his breath, sounding almost as if he was envious.

A wave of horror swept over her at the finality of her parents’ decision. She found she could hardly breath as if a huge rock was sitting on her chest.

“Do you think we’ll get tea?” her mother said in a quiet voice as if afraid she would be overheard.

“Not this early in the morning,” her father said in an equally quiet voice.

“Tea?”

Natalia was aghast that her mother was wanting tea. Her parents were destroying her life, and her mother wanted tea?

“We’ll get you some later,” her mother said, reaching over to pat Natalia’s knee as if to comfort her.

Natalia jumped. A door panel, concealed in the wall in front of them, opened to reveal an office. A man, dress in sandals and a rich ornate green robe, stepped out. In silence, he ushered them into the office with a wave of his hand. She felt him staring at her, hardly giving her parents a glance.

Natalia swallowed hard when she rose. The office beyond the door was more lavishly decorated than the waiting room.

“Please, sit.”

The words were a command.

“Your Lordship,” both her parents said while they settled into chairs in front of the desk with Natalia sandwiched between them.

Natalia recognized the man as the Lord Abbot. She had seen him on the news. His business suit was expensive and adorned with gold cuff links and a gold tie pin. She thought he hardly looked the part of a humble servant of God. He looked as if he was a banker and they were a family applying for a loan.

“I’ve received your application,” the Lord Abbot said.

Natalia felt as if they were inconveniencing him by their presence. He never even rose from his desk, denying them any respect. She also noted with distaste that he didn’t even bother to introduce himself. Of all the times she had seen him on the news, he had only been called by his title. She wondered if anyone knew his real name. She set her face to show no emotion, already hating him immensely.

“Excellent to hear,” her father said, rising and placing an envelope on the desk.

Natalia swallowed hard again. She knew there was a check in that envelope and hoped her father hadn’t been too generous. The Lord Abbot shifted in his chair making Natalia think he was going to grab up and open the envelope to see how much, but he didn’t.

“The application will be reviewed by our board, and you should know in a week or so.”

His eyes fleetingly took in the envelope.

Natalia stiffened when his eyes moved over to her. She had the odd feeling he was staring at her breasts. His look was creepy, but his words gave her a ray of hope. She feared they would take her at once. She had time to plan an escape.

“We are so please you are considering our Natalia,” her mother said with a gush of pride that made Natalia embarrassed.

The Lord Abbot smiled and nodded, but his eyes never moved away from her. Natalia almost expected him to lick his lips. She envisioned a forked tongue like a serpent.

“My assistant will provide information on preparing your daughter should she be accepted,” the Lord Abbot said, gesturing with his hand toward the door.

The same robed man that admitted them stood in the open doorway holding a packet. He also gestured with his hand. To Natalia, it was an obvious sign that the meeting was at an end even thought it seemed like it had hardly started. She rose with haste. The open door was her escape. She wasn’t going to wait another moment. Her movement spurred her parents into realizing that the meeting was over. She hurried ahead of them out to the corridor toward the front entrance.

“Natalia, don’t walk so fast,” her mother said.

Natalia felt she needed to get outside for air before she suffocated. She rushed out the front entrance and trotted down the steps before she stopped and sucked in air. Her lungs found the smog of the city refreshing. The heavy traffic that flowed in front of her looked like paradise. She had the brief feeling she was a doomed prisoner who had received a delay in execution.

“Let’s have lunch at the cafe,” her mother said when they caught up with her. “I know it’s a little early, but we can have a cup of tea beforehand.”

“If we must,” her father said.

“Cafe Green or Paula’s?” Natalia said, falling in behind her parents.

She felt a malicious pleasure in knowing that the question would irritate her mother.

“Paula’s, of course,” her mother said, almost sounding snippy.

“Green’s has better food,” Natalia said in a quiet voice.

Her mother didn’t respond. She knew her mother preferred Paula’s. It was the place to be seen, and it was the last place Natalia wanted to go. The cafe had a huge outdoor area with artistic tents over it that allowed people to sit out at tables rain or shine. There tended to be more rain than shine during the early fall days.