4 comments/ 11312 views/ 23 favorites The Rose's Soul By: angelicgrl She cringed as a bloodcurdling note screeched from the violin. Whoever it was had been playing- or rather trying to play- the violin for the past hour, and they weren't doing a very good job. Besides, the usually sweet, sensual, calming music of a violin didn't belong in this hellhole. The door to her prison opened, and the stagnant smell of mold and week old human B.O. wafted in. She huddled in a corner, her knees to her chest, praying that she could just die now. The source, a man she'd come to know as Jakob, practically threw a tray of cold rice and beans at her. "That's your lunch," he rasped. She pinched her nose, defending it from the putrid scent of garlic and rotten eggs she instinctively knew was coming. After all, they'd had her there for two weeks now. "When I get something edible," she said, "I'll eat." Jakob glared at her. Damn. She was fragile, yes, but this bitch was always opposing him. "You're going to do this again? Really?" "We both know that Viktor needs me alive. By not eating this shit I'm simply helping that cause." He snarled, making her flinch, then picked up the tray and left without a word, locking the door behind him. She hummed to herself until the violin started again. Who was playing? Jakob? That would explain the atrocity. But by the sound of it, she could tell that the person was actually trying. Jakob would just state that his playing was godlike and continue. She looked at her callused, bloody hands, tears forming at the memory that haunted her. He could have done anything to her and she wouldn't have cared. He could have raped her, but she would have recovered. This... was just cruel. By doing this, the chances of her holding her violin once more were amazingly lessened. She bent her fingers and winced. Yeah. They were almost at zero percent. She heard footsteps above her and froze. They weren't heavy, like Jakob's, or light, like Viktor's. They were somewhere in between, light, yet deliberate. They came closer, and closer, until the source was finally revealed. "Annika Vladmiri. It's nice to finally make your acquaintance."  Viktor grunted as the concubine sucked his dick. Yeah, he thought, if every man worked for a big-shot like his boss, they'd be extremely happy. The man had women falling at his feet, and he simply passed them on. More than half of them he hadn't touched; he'd simply given then to Viktor with a "Have fun" and left the room. He fisted his hands in her hair and brought her head down on him more, shuddering when she accommodated him. Nothing could ruin this moment. Nothing except that uneasy feeling that hovered over him. What was he doing down there with the violin player? Fucking her? Slowly killing her? The thoughts made him even hotter, and he pounded away into the woman's mouth. The violin player was one fine ass chick, but simple. What would his boss want with her when he gave up women like the one choking on his dick? Viktor felt himself going over the edge, and as he came in the woman's mouth, only one thought was running through his mind. If the boss didn't take her, he would.  "Finally? I don't believe we've met before," Annika said softly. The mystery man smiled, and held out his hand. "Dimitri Stanislov," he said. Annika shook his hand, and let go quickly. She didn't want this man touching her for any length of time. "Russian. Interesting." Dimitri smiled again and raked his gaze over her. Yes, he thought, she will do nicely. After all, she was the one with quick fingers. His gaze darted to her hands, the first thing that had drawn him to her. His eyes darkened with fury. "Who... the fuck... touched her hands?" he asked. Jakob, who was right behind him, cringed. "When Viktor brought her here she fought tooth and nail," Jakob replied. "Her hands were important to her, so he damaged them to keep her in line." And judging by the way she sat quietly in a corner meant that Viktor's silly idea worked. So he was right. Annika was very passionate about her playing. He wanted to know what other games she could be passionate about... "It doesn't hurt," she said. "It just looks bad." By the distant look in her eyes, he could tell she was lying. She probably couldn't come to terms with the injury herself. He kneeled down beside her, dirtying his brand-new Armani suit. He took her hands in his, closed his eyes, and healed her. He heard the expected hiss of pain she released when he began, but what amazed him was how she never pulled away from him. When he was done, he looked at her expecting fright and rejection; all that was in her eyes was gratitude. She understood. She'd understood what he'd done, her mind had already registered that he wasn't like her. And she didn't run. "Why me?" she asked. "Why did you want me?" Dimitri smiled. "The reason will be revealed to you in due time, Annika. For now, I've come to fetch you. It's time." Her emerald eyes looked up at him, filled with confusion. "Time for what?" Jakob chuckled, and Dimitri smiled once more. "Our wedding, of course." The Rose's Soul Ch. 02 Annika choked on what little saliva she had left in her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said. "I thought I heard you say wedding." Dimitri smiled, sending involuntary shivers down her spine, which didn't make her feel any better. She didn't know whether it was attraction or fear. All she knew was she had to keep as far away from him as possible. "Is that a problem, Annika?" he asked. She didn't reply. She glanced down, avoiding his gaze. "Are you going to let go of my hands?" "It depends. Are you going to marry me?" Annika bit her lip, holding back the hiss that would have escaped. Son-of-a-bitch. Kidnapping her... to marry her? It didn't make any sense at all. "Why do you want to marry me, of all people?" she asked. "I'm not that special." Dimitri tilted her head up with his index finger and stared into her eyes. A warm feeling seeped through her, and she found herself unable to look away. She didn't even want to try. What the fuck is going on? she thought. "But you are," he said. "You- and your hands- are a great asset to me. You are something I must possess." "So I am just a mere possession?" Dimitri licked his lips, and Annika's eyes followed his tongue with ease, drinking in the sight. His gaze became sensual, and his hand dropped from her chin to her neck. "No. I desire you as well. According to my sources, you are untouched. I intend to be your first- and your only." Annika's breathing increased. Damn it, what was this man doing to her? He got her from hell to horny in a matter of seconds, and all he'd really done was look at her. And healed her. It wasn't the first time she'd been touched so delicately, healed so selflessly. In fact, simple healing was something she'd mastered at the age of ten. And yet he'd done it so quickly, so expertly. Performing such a task with that amount of perfection was something that took years to master. The question was, how many years did it take him? "Don't you think our relationship is one-sided?" she asked with a smile. Play the game with him a little. "Oh really? How so, my dear?" Dimitri's left eyebrow rose, and Annika smiled again. "You know my secret, and apparently everything about me, right?" "Correct." "Then why do I know nothing about you? I've never even heard your name. And you said it was nice to meet me, finally. How long have you been waiting? How old are you? Why was your main concern my hands? And why would you marry a person you don't love?" Dimitri stood, taking her up with him. He looked her directly in the eye, and gave her a breathtaking smile. "You know nothing about me because it was meant to be that way. I deliberately omitted myself from your life up until this point. I am twenty-seven years old. Your hands are important to me, but believe me, they are not my main concern. And did I tell you that this marriage was loveless?" Annika took a deep breath. "You missed a question." "Did I?" "Yes, you did." Dimitri chuckled. "You're sharp," he said. "I like that." Annika rolled her eyes, took a step away from him, and turned her back toward him. "Answer me," she said. "How long have you been waiting?" "My entire life, Annika. I've been waiting my entire life for you." Annika's breath caught in her throat. Fuck. He wasn't supposed to say that. How could he say something like that with such conviction and ease? And why did his words make her heart stop and lungs fail? Why did she respond so familiarly to him, when he was a complete stranger? Fuck, fuck, fuck. Nothing was right at all. She'd had control the entire time she was here, using her life as a bargaining tool, and now this man was taking all rights from her. He was the true Boss. "Now, are you coming with me?" Dimitri asked, jolting her back to reality. "Our car is waiting." The promise of freedom, food and soap called to her. But she wasn't going to give in. Not yet. "On several conditions," she said, turning around. Dimitri laughed. "You think you have a choice?" he asked, evil laced in his seductive voice. "If you loved me, that privilege would be a given." Dimitri nodded. "Proceed." She leaned on the wall. "Condition number one: court me." He burst out laughing, and Annika had to work hard to keep a straight face. She had to be serious. "Court? Does anyone even use that term anymore?" "Just listen. If I have to marry anyone, especially someone whose love I don't return, I would expect them to try their hardest to make me fall in love with them." "Done. Next?" Annika paused. He agreed so readily, as if it was his plan. She smiled. He was slick. "Condition number two: I will have the freedom to do what I want. I will not run away from you, or this deal will not be fair." "Done. Any others?" Annika exhaled. "Yes," she said. "There's one more. Condition number three: you will not touch me until I ask you to. If we marry, don't use it as an excuse to... to ravish me." Dimitri smiled at her, and she shrank back, the wall preventing her from moving any further. He walked up to her and placed his hands at both sides of her head, pinning her there. "When we marry," he said, "the choice is yours. And you will not ask me, you will beg me." "Are you sure about that?" "Oh, I'm absolutely positive." Annika blushed as he leaned in- and brushed his lips on her forehead. "Now then, shall we go?" Annika gave him her hand. "Yes," she said. "Take me away." Dimitri looked at the woman sitting a few centimeters away from him. Damn, she was beautiful. And she'd agreed to go with him, giving him only three conditions. There was something she knew. And he wouldn't rest until he found out what it was. She fiddled with her fingers as she stared out the window. She was nervous. After all her false bravado, she was nervous. "Are you ok?" he asked, his voice cracking. God. He was getting horny just by watching her. He shouldn't have agreed to the last condition. "I'm fine," she whispered. He saw her inch further away from him, and her fingers twitched again. No. Her fingers weren't twitching. They were moving back and forth. Fuck. She was fucking herself. Right in front of him, her jeans unzipped and slightly pulled down. How hadn't he noticed it when she started? She wasn't as innocent as he thought she was. And the fact that she couldn't wait intrigued him more. He had a thought, but he wanted to be sure. "Oh, Annika," he breathed. "What are you doing?" She gasped and her fingers moved faster. "Nothing," she whispered. "Ignore me." Ignore her? With her, the one woman he desired pleasuring herself right next to him? Like hell. And this proved his thought right. She was using him as her image. Apparently he wasn't the only one regretting the last condition. The car hit a bump, and she moaned. He silently thanked the driver and prayed he'd do it again. "Fuck," she moaned. "Did you say something, Annika?" "No, I didn't..." Oh fuck it. He couldn't just watch. He had to help. He grabbed her by her shoulders. She looked at him in surprise, but didn't stop. Fuck it, she went even faster. She put her fast hands to good use, he noted. There was no way she just figured it out. She'd intended to not let a man touch her. And he was going to show her how good it felt. The screen blocked the driver's view of them, and he thanked his lucky stars for it. The last thing he needed was a voyeur. Well, another one. He moved her fingers, replacing them with his mouth. She gasped out, her nails digging into the back of his head. God, she tasted good. And, he noted as he stuck his tongue inside her, his source wasn't wrong. His act elicited both a moan and a hiss of pain, which turned him on more. She held his head in place, moaning softly, but her hips stayed still, only giving the slightest quiver. The bitch was holding back. He gripped her hips tightly with both hands, and thrust forward. "Oh god!!" she screamed. "Oh my god!" She began thrusting wildly on her own, gasping and moaning loudly. That's it, he thought. Lose yourself in it. Enjoy it. See what life with me would be like. She was relentless. Obviously this was the first time she'd ever experienced something like this, and she loved it. So did he. He expertly twisted and thrust his tongue, drawing a series of moans, gasps and screams. The car hit another bump, and she moaned loudly, arching her back. She was coming. Sad thing was, he wouldn't let her. He moved away and sat on the far side of the back seat, leaving her hot, wet, and irritated. He waited for her to yell at him, to grab him and pull him back down so he could finish what he started. But she didn't. Instead, she closed her legs, fixed her jeans, and sat up quietly. What the fuck! he thought. She gave up? She just gave up?! Her mocha colored skin glistened with sweat, and she steadied her breathing with amazing ease. She'd been stopped before. The blatant look of irritation stated that this was the furthest she'd ever gotten. And he'd stopped her. Shit, could he be any more evil? He just wanted her to crave him the way he craved her. Well, that plan was a failure. The car stopped, and Alex, the chauffeur, opened the door. She jumped out like a bat out of hell, and sped toward the house. He chased after her, taking care to run normally, and he couldn't catch her. She stopped at the door. When he got there, he smiled at her. "Why didn't you go inside?" he asked. "The door is locked." Her answer was frank and simple, and laced with anger. Oh yeah. She was pissed. Dimitri unlocked the door, and she walked ahead of him, stopping in the hall. "Where's my room?" she asked. "Upstairs. The second door on your left." She began walking up the stairs. "Aren't you going to eat, Annika?" he asked warily. She whirled around, fire in her eyes. "I think I'll pass," she said. "After all, how much disappointment can one girl take?" She glared at him for a few seconds, and then went to her room, slamming the door. Great, he thought. This was supposed to be easy. Easy just flew out the fucking window. The Rose's Soul Ch. 03 Viktor bit his lip so hard that he could taste blood. Why did she have to go with him? Why did the boss take her away? The sound of her screaming played in his mind, and he got hard all over again. He'd wanted to make her scream, but not only in pain but also in pleasure. He'd wanted to bite her, and make her climax on him over and over again. But she was already engaged. "Viktor." Viktor turned around in anger, only to be humbled at the sight of the speaker. "Master Aleksandr. What brings you here?" "Annika. Where is she?" Damn, thought Viktor, what was with the Stanislov brothers and this bitch? "Master Dimitri has possession of her now, Master Aleksandr. He collected her just a while ago." "Fuck." Viktor looked on in shock as the heir to the Stanislov throne ruffled his hair and cursed, obviously irked. "May I ask why she is important, Master Aleksandr?" Aleksandr glared at Viktor. "Because she is my bride-to-be, Viktor. She has been promised to me from birth." Annika sat on the floor in her room, steadying her breathing. What the hell just happened? What did she let him do? Why did she let him make her feel that way? She got wet all over again just at the thought of it. What he did with his tongue... how the sensation exploded when he made her move her hips... No, scratch that. She'd wanted to move her hips. In fact she wanted to hold his head there and have him eat her out. She looked at her hands... the same hands that delicately held and caressed a violin surely put a few marks on Dimitri a few minutes ago. Shit. And she was hungry. She leaned on the door and hugged her knees to her chest as a flurry of questions bombarded her mind. Why her? Why now? And... if he cared so much for her, why did he keep her in such a horrible place? A knock at the door jolted her back to reality. "Annika? Are you ok?" Dimitri. It had to be him, as his voice sent a ripple of desire straight through her. "I'm fine," she said. He chuckled. "Sure. That's why you're leaning on the door, thinking of me." She swallowed a gasp. "How are you sure that I'm thinking of you?" "Because you're wet at this precise moment. I can smell you, Annika." Annika bit her lip, stifling a moan. He was just making her torture worse. "You want me to come in there and fuck you senseless over and over again." Her fingers darted to the source of her discomfort and pleasure, and she played with herself. "You want me to eat you out. And I want to, on my dining room table." One finger slipped in, and she let out a soft moan. "But I won't." She stopped. Not because she had to, or because she was angry at his statement. No, she stopped because he spoke that statement without arrogance or a sense of conviction. He said it gently, with a tinge of regret, and it touched her heart. "Not that I care, but may I ask why?" she whispered. He chuckled again, and her breath caught in her lungs. "You do care, Annika." "Answer my question, Dimitri." She felt him lean on the door, and heard him sigh. "I am not going to take you until I marry you," he said. "I know you want me to, and god knows how much I want to, but I refuse to touch you until there is a ring on your finger and a mark upon you stating that you belong to me, and me alone." A lump formed in Annika's throat, and she struggled to find words. "When that time comes, our first week of marriage will be spent indoors. The second, outdoors. The third, fourth and fifth in a country of your choice. All five weeks will be spent exactly the same way... consummating our marriage and christening any surface we can find." Annika closed her legs and blushed a fierce red. "I'm...not that experience. I doubt I'll last that long." "Don't worry Annika," he said. "It's amazing what the human body is capable of when the right stimulus is introduced." She twiddled her fingers and tried to even her breathing. She was wetter than before, but she didn't need to fulfill herself. According to him, he was going to do it for her for five weeks straight. "How long do I have?" she asked "For what?" "To be a single woman." Dimitri laughed. "You never were single in my eyes," he said, "but I will give you a month's time." "Three months," she said. "Two, and not a day more," he said. "I've waited a long time, Annika. I can't last three months, but I can bear two." She sighed. "Fine," she said. "Two months to do as I please." "And two months for me to coerce you into shortening the time. After all, I have to court you." He stopped leaning on the door, and knocked again. "Just open the door a little," he said. "I have your dinner... and a gift. I suggest you use it wisely." She obeyed, and Dimitri gave her tray with her dinner, a glass of red wine and a plate of strawberries... and a violin case. She closed the door. "Oh my god," she said, opening it. "My violin." "I would like to hear you play," he said. "And not for an audience. Just for me. Can you do that for me?" Tears formed in Annika's eyes as she looked at the violin once played by her mother. Memories of how she taught her from the age of four, and how she'd play it for both Annika and her father. She'd promised her that when she grew up she'd play it for her husband. She never broke her promises. "Yes," she said. "I'll play it for you in the morning." "Thank you. Good night, Annika." "Good night, Dimitri." His instinct had been right. Annika responded better to kindness and honesty than to arrogance and lies. Sadly, the base of their meeting was nothing but lies. Dimitri looked at the moon through his window. Aleksandr would find him soon, and see that Annika was with him. But Annika would already be attached to him by then, and if he played his cards right, she'd already be his wife. And Aleksandr would never lay his hands on her. Aleksandr pounded his fist on the desk, causing the figurines on it to fall. Damn that Dimitri! he thought. As if relinquishing the title and responsibility to him was not enough, he took the one thing that would have made it worthwhile. Annika Vladmiri. Daughter of Stefan and Amelia Vladmiri. Heir to the Vladmiri throne, unknown to her. He was sure she didn't even know what she was. The fact that she was promised to Dimitri was no longer relevant when he gave up his position. The head of the Vladmiri clan was supposed to marry the head of the Stanislov clan, not the former head, or just a member. It was forbidden. "Damn it!" he yelled, pounding the desk again, this time with even more force. It broke and fell at his feet, ruined. "Henry!" His assistant rushed in. "Remove this and use it for firewood. Order another one, due to arrive tomorrow, do you hear me? No later." "Yes, Master Aleksandr," Henry said. "I shall send the servants in and place the order immediately." Henry rushed out, and Aleksandr sat on his chair. Dimitri was going to regret the day he found him. He would make sure of it. The Rose's Soul Ch. 04 Kara Stanislov watched as her son paced wildly in front of her. "You knew this was going to happen when you relinquished your title to him," she said, "so why are you upset?" Aleksandr whirled around and glared at her, only to shrink back when she returned. Even if he was her son, she would not tolerate disrespect. She'd gotten enough of it from his father. "Because I love her," he said. "Do you think if I knew she would be part of the sacrifice... that I would still give up my position? Do you know how long it took for me to track her down? Dima was clever... sticking her with Viktor. It was the last place I'd ever look." "Why?" Kara asked. "Because he loves her also," Aleksandr said. "We're more alike than we thought. Even if it meant putting her in a hellhole... to him it was still better than having her be with me. He's always been so fucking selfish!" "Oh? And you aren't?" Kara asked, fury lacing her words. "Like you said, you two are more alike than you think. You both never think of anyone but yourself. Have you even considered Annika's feelings?" "Her feelings are not important," he said. "Women never know-" Kara stood up and slapped him across the face. "Dima was right to take her away," she said. "He may be selfish, but he has a better understanding of women than you... or have you forgotten that Annika always liked him better than you?" Aleksandr looked at her, shocked. "She would always come here, bringing gifts for him... or just wanting to see him... she loved him. If her memories of her true self weren't repressed, who do you think she'd choose?" She walked over to the door. "I think you should look at yourself before judging Dima... maybe you'd see something." She left, and Aleksandr just stood there, staring after her. The sound of her fingers on the strings, and her hand expertly guiding the bow sent bolts of desire and admiration through him. She was magnificent. He focused his gaze on her, her eyes closed, her long burnt-sienna colored ponytail swung slightly as she swayed with the violin. She was beautiful, wearing a sky blue muslin sundress and white flats. She seemed free, and her emotions were conveyed into her playing. She was happy, and she was thanking him for it. He'd made her happy. The thought made him proud. The dress shifted, and he spied the upper mound of a mocha-colored breast... with a solitary mole adorning it. He inhaled sharply. Did that one mole have a twin? Or was it all alone, yearning for the feeling of a man's touch, his mouth covering it... "...you ok?" Annika asked. He blinked. "What?" "Are you ok? You just blanked out on me." If only you knew, he thought. "I'm fine. I just got lost in thought. You are magnificent." She blushed and turned her back to him. He stood and walked to her, and ran his fingers through her hair, making the thin rubber band fall out. "Don't confine something this beautiful," he said. "Let it out." Annika shivered as he ran his fingers through her hair, and moved away, much to his dismay. "What are we going to do today?" she asked. "Excuse me?" "Courting me was part of the deal. Where are you taking me?" Dimitri smiled, and took a step closer to her. "I can take you anywhere," he said. "From the dark depths of promiscuity to the shimmering heights of pure sexual bliss. Your choice." Annika scoffed, and laughed. "I mean a place that actually exists, Dimitri." He pulled her into his arms and placed his lips at her ear. "I wouldn't say it, if it didn't exist." Annika gasped, and Dimitri pulled her against him. She expected him to kiss her passionately, but instead he planted a chaste kiss on her lips before releasing her. "I can only have so much control, Annika," he said. "But I did accept your terms... and I still want to hear you beg." Annika bit her lower lip and averted her gaze. She knew he just wanted to ease the mood... but it just couldn't happen. She recalled how she'd looked into his eyes just a few minutes ago, expecting the obvious... and him proving her wrong. That kiss, even though she didn't want it to, touched her heart. "Annika?" She blinked, and smiled at him. "I will never beg," she said, "but you will." A slow, seductive smile played upon his lips. "And if I beg now?" "Haven't you been begging all this time?" "Aren't you being vain, Annika?" "Being vain again, aren't you Nika?" She paused. He hadn't said that last comment. Where had that come from? And why... was she so sure that the statement... was once spoken by him? Her eyes darted to his face again. Recognition flickered in his eyes, and then he spoke. "Is something wrong, Annika?" "Something's wrong, isn't it Nika?" Annika's hand darted to her forehead, and her eyes closed. She was getting a headache. And where the hell were these things coming from? She opened her eyes and looked at Dimitri. The room spun. "Annka?!" "Nika!" "I'm not Nika!!" she screamed, closing her eyes again. A stream of images played in her mind, moving too fast for her to recognize any. Her eyes flew open. Dimitri held her in his arms, and she fought against him, tears streaming down her face. "Who is Nika?!" she asked frantically. "Who- who am I?" Dimitri held back the sob in his throat. She'd been like this before the last time he'd seen her. Her father had looked at him, hatred in his green eyes, and demand he return his daughter. "But she is your daughter," he'd pleaded. "Your daughter is coming back." Ivan Vladmiri spat on the ground. "My daughter is human," he said, "not vampire. I will deny her everything. Now turn her back if you wish to remain in contact with her." Tears streamed down his face as he touched his fingers to her head... ...and as he repeated the action, it seemed like he was going to cry again. But he wouldn't. He'd promised her. "Ivan, find my daughter." Natalya banged her fist on her lover's desk. "And do what?" Ivan asked. "Bring her home and tell her all about her lovely past? Have her take away Andrei's right?" "Andrei's right?" Natalya sneered. "Annika is older than him. She is your firstborn. And she loves her current life. She wouldn't take Andrei's position." Ivan stood up at once. "And you think that's a solution?" he asked. "What about the coven? And the others? Do you think they'll approve?" "You're such an asshole," Natalya shouted, hitting the desk again. "Annika was supposed to marry the leader of the Stanislov clan. You know that with one attack they can crush us. An alliance is what we need." Ivan began to speak, but Natalya held up her hand. "No," she said. "I know what you're going to say. The royal family doesn't have any daughters for Andrei to marry, and marrying Annika off to an underling would insult them." She headed for the door. "I don't care that Liliya is your favorite consort," she said. "But my daughter has her right also. Find her and return her to her human parents at least. And Ivan?" "Yes?" he replied. "If I do not know that she is safe, you are going to regret the day you killed my husband." His hands were at her throat at an instant. "You are a mere consort," he said. "One, I might add, that I haven't touched in a while. Would you like me to revoke your punishment?" Natalya smiled. "Punishment?" she asked smoothly. "I thought you were rewarding me? Oh well..." His grip tightened, and he pressed his lips to hers. "Don't test me, whore." "Are you sure... you don't mean tease?" He released his grip, and grazed his teeth against her neck. Much to her dismay, she shuddered with pleasure. But then again, it was expected. It always started like this. It was how Annika came into being. And if she wasn't careful, another one would be on the way. "Natalya..." Ivan's lust-filled voice shot common sense back into her brain. She couldn't do this. One rake of her nails and he was on top of his desk, holding the side of his head, blood running down his hand. She licked the blood off of her nails. "I told you on the day you sent away my daughter," she said, "do not touch me, you vile son-of-a-bitch." And, with a regal turn of her head and sway of her hips, she left the room.