8 Black Mail and The Decision 2.4

"I'm not a damn rag doll put me down." I demanded pounding my fist into his firm back.

"You wouldn't come with me if I didn't do this, right?"

"DAMN RIGHT!" I shouted kicking and squirming.

Suddenly I felt the arms release me, and I fell to the ground landing on my bottom. It hurt, but no way I'd let him know that. Looking up at him I glare. He turns away then glances back at me smiling, then begins snickering under his breath again. What the heck was wrong with this guy, and why did he know me? How did he know me?

"If you don't hurry up, I'll pick you up again." He's having fun with me! Men can be so damn annoying I swear. I roll my eyes.

"I'm only coming because I want to know how you know me." I said chasing after him.

Our footsteps where loud, clomping down the sidewalk, as if there was no noise in the busy street. It was as if it was just us walked in silence, turning and twisting down many streets. If I wanted to, I could turn and run away at this moment. So why is it that I'm stupidly still following him? No, I'm not just listening to what he says. I shook my head pushing aside those thoughts. I'm not a dog obeying it's master. No, it's because I'm sure if I disappear he'll come find me again, and start a commotion.

"Oof! Why did you suddenly stop?" I bark annoyed mostly at myself but I take it out on him. "Warn me next time will yeah." I had ran into the back of the man, lost in my thoughts and for some reason I get even more testy about it then I normally would.

His face has became so serious, I hadn't noticed till now, his skin was tanned lightly. I found it hard to look away.

"Do I really look that different?" He suddenly said looking back at me.

"What are you babbling about?" I say trying to laugh at his sudden seriousness. However when I see he's not smiling, I rub the back of my neck in confusion to the sudden question feeling dumb.

He starts laughing so hard his eyes began to water.

"What the hell is wrong with you mister? Do you have a screw loose." I say now really confused but his up and down emotions.

"I could ask you the same?" He says trying to stop laughing. Do I look so different from being in my robes? He was still snickering under his breath.

Robes? Looking at him carefully; I feel dumb struck, my mouth almost hitting the floor.

"Master Alastar," I gasped in surprise, covering my hands over my mouth as I spoke. He wasn't wearing his big circle glasses either. My vision of him was completely different. His smile was radiating. I knew I should have run, but it was too late.

"Now will you listen to me?" He asked smiling. "If you run I'll just hunt you down!" The smile faded from his face, and all that was left was the feeling that he was going to be trouble as I stared at him. This mysterious feeling gave me shivers, but I probably had no choice now.

Swallowing hard I mumbled, "Alright where too?" I managed to force out a smile while asking.

"Good girl!" His eyes turned light, but his smile crept out again and curved up looking as if it was toying with me.

"I'm not a child you know so don't talk down to me." I say feeling annoyed again. "I'm seventeen already." I gesture to my body as if to say look grown up. Though I can see him holding back another laugh at my expense. "Just get a move on I got things to do." I bark impatiently.

Walking again I followed behind as he led me around many streets, till we came to a tiny restaurant called Papa's Taste, were we stopped outside. He suddenly motioned with the wave of his hand to go in with him. We got a booth in the far corner of the restaurant away from the two other couples in there. It was quiet, I swear you could hear the sound of water in the back running and the sizzling of the grills. The scrapes of forks on plates as others ate. It gave me a scary calming feeling.

"Now!" Alastar suddenly whispered.

"WHAT?" I shouted surprised from the break in silence. The other couple looked at me shocked. Lowering my head, I whispered this time matching his tone. "What did you say." I apologize.

"Are you going to tell me why you were disguising yourself as a boy, and went through the trouble to join the monastery?" He jumped right to the point.

"No!" I replied with no hesitation.

"Just like that, you're going to say no without considering the situation." He was staring into my eyes curiously.

"Yes I am. How can you prove it was me if I never go back?" If I told him than he'd win. Least that's how I felt, and I refused to let that happen.

"Now that won't work for me." He sat back in his chair looking around then returned his attention back to me meeting my eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I mumble feeling like this conversation is not getting anywhere fast. "What's it got to do with you if I go back or not?" I sit waiting for an answer expecting something stupid.

"I want to become your new master!" He said seriously no ounce of joking came from him this time. Is he crazy? This was beyond the stupid I was expecting. What on earth is going on in his head? I couldn't understand this monks' thought process. First he threatens to expose me, now he wants to take Master Briggs place. Not to mention after what happened even if he doesn't report me I wouldn't be surprised if I was saw as a threat and they wanted to dispose of me. It was Master Briggs Biggest fear and now the secret was out.

Answering as if he could read my confusion he replied. "You saved my life so I'll save your secret, but in return I want you to be my apprentice; I think we can help each other out." he waves his hand in a circular motion as if to say there is more to that.

"How can I help you?" I asked almost afraid to know.

"I'll tell you that when; you tell me your story. For now, Masing wants to assign you a new master, you will suggest me, and I won't tell on you." I start coughing as if choking on air. A new master are you kidding me. "Plus, it will be easier if you're with someone who knows your secret, and I can help protect you from having that strength of yours abused by them." I close my eye trying to calm down and get a grip. The man did have a point; it would make it easier, but what's he up to. What he's not telling me makes me nervous. How do I know he will keep his word once he's done with me?

"A friar isn't allowed to choose their master" I say waving my hand in a matter of fact gesture. Asking our opinion is just for show, we always have to say yes to who they suggest even if we hate it?

"That's perfect than. I'll get him to pick me, and you'll say yes." He was so determined and sure of himself.

"When?", I asked in wonderment.

"Masing has summoned you to report in today." If I had been standing up I would have trip in shock at this news.

"I've had no call, and I have no time for him today, I have a lot of makeup homework I need to get done." I stammer on.

"He doesn't know you're a student, if he did you would have been found out. Do you want that?" He says matter-of-factly.

I feel like I'm being black mailed. If I don't agree he could tell them possibly, if I do listen and go with him then what is in store for my future. I barley know him. That's it maybe if I knew more about him.

"Hey; how old are you?" I asked trying to ignore his last statement.

"I'm twenty and attend college here in town, and don't changing the subject."

"College you can't take your vows while still going to school?" I say raising my voice in surprise. All he did was shrug though. "Are you seriously going to make me decided without telling me a thing about you?" He just sits back stretching his arm out across the back of the booth. he shrugs again and and looks out over to someone who's standing at the counter that looks to be the waitress. I sigh in resignation.

"Fine I'll go see Master Masing today, but in turn you have to do my homework after to get me caught up, and it better be an "A" paper." I figure if he's still in school, doing this should be easy, and I could use him since he plans to use me.

"Did you abuse Briggs like this?" He asked chuckling turning back to me and leaning forward putting his hands on the table.

"No but he was nicer than you." I started laughing at his now contorted looking face.

I found myself smiling for real for the first time in a long time. Trying to hide it, I turned around getting up to leave. I only looked back for a moment over my left shoulder to see him laughing and smiling. Guess I'm more amusing then I thought. Waiting for Alastar to follow, I stood outside the restaurant; what's taking him so long I wondered as I tapped my foot impatiently. Cars where passing by, I felt like they were mocking me. A silver mustang pulled up on the curb. I tried to pay no attention to it than the driver's seat door opened.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Alastar said getting out and looking at me. He had changed into his robes and had his glasses on.

"How?" I asked dumb founded unable to finish what I was saying.

"I changed in the bathroom inside, and then left out the back entrance. Here I brought you a set." He leans back down into the car grabbing something out of the passenger seat and tosses them at me. My robes that I had left at the monastery they were cleaned.

I had almost forgotten I was still in my school uniform, and had my hair styled and makeup on. I was annoyed at my ignorance. Holding the robes close and smelling the clean soap on them, I turned to walk back into the restaurant to change.

"You can always change in the car not like there's anything I haven't seen." He hollered after. Probably thought it would embarrass me, sadly it worked but I wasn't going to show it. That jerk thinks its okay to harass me. Well I'll just play along with his game.

"Well that might be a better idea seeing as I'd be safer in the car with a monk who's taken the vows, and is forbidden to touch a woman ever then in the bathroom were anyone could walk in." I didn't have to turn to see his smug face of amusement from his own joke turn to a stern stare. I finally won one.

In the bathroom, I locked the door behind me undressing I took the bandage and began wrapping it around my chest and stomach area making everything look flat. It's good my chest size is small already. I quickly changed clothes everything fit the way I liked it. I used water and soap to remove my makeup. He'll probably complain I took too long. I rushed out the doors to meet him. He was sitting in the car playing games on his phone or texting I wasn't sure which. He turned it off as soon as I climbed in the car. The ride was quiet, it felt relaxing to just sit in the car. I couldn't help laying my head against the door; I didn't get to be in cars often in the past. Briggs didn't own one, and he said walking was part of the training. Before I knew it, the car had stopped, and I was about to climb out.

"Hey wait!" He grabbed my wrist pulling me back from opening to car door.

"What now." I grumble turning to look at him.

He reached for my hair removing the clip I had forgotten, and then ruffled my hair with his hand. It looked like I had just crawled out of bed. I could see his eyes closely now they were the color of amber and.... what am I thinking again. I shook my head snapping out of his gaze. I need to return to reality.

"Now what will your answer be?" He asked again keeping me from getting out of the car. The fact that he keeps bringing it up is really annoying.

"Guess you'll see inside." To be honest I hadn't made up my mind, I had no clue who they'd pair me with there might be a better choice than this guy I tell myself.