As the sun shown down warming the earth Annette walked along the side of
Nathan silence lingering uncomfortably in the air. She would occasionally
glance over at him examining his expression which was that of deep thought,
he seemed to have a goal out of all this and was determined to get some
where. Annette was about to question him but as they rounded a corner he
stopped dead. The two young people stood in front of a grand building it
had a stone like structure and stood regally as if it owned the world.
Nathan walked to the building and touched its walls his hands tracing down
them thoughts fluttering through his already cluttered mind. She watched
him as he walked the length of the tall building an expression of that like
sadness upon his face. After several minutes he turned to her and waved his
arm indicating for her to come forward.
"This was her house."
"Cara's?"
"Yeah she lived here till near the end of her freshman year of high school."
"What happened to her here?"
Annette said her hand touching the building now as well. Slowly a small smile crept upon his lips making her uneasy again as he unlocked the door and went in waiting for her to follow him. Once inside he led her up the stairs several flights to a large room at the top. The room was completely empty the walls white and floor wood the ceiling however was painted with a huge cloud mural. Weaving in and out of the clouds were several different paintings each one unique and some what dark. Annette stood back her head tilted up looking at the ceiling as Nathan made his way to a far corner in the room where a big window over looked the city. He slowly sat down on the window bench and stared out. Dropping her head Annette realized his silence and walked over placing her hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
She asked concern filling her, a concern for someone she barely even knew. He shook his head then placed his gaze back on her his smile reappearing and leaving as quickly as it appeared. Now a serious look lingered on his face as she sat down at the other end of the bench.
"Do you want to know what happened?"
Annette slowly nodded he head as his gaze turned once again out to the city and his mouth opened to speak.
Kathryn was at full awake now as she noticed Sebastian was in the room. Her expression turned stern as she stood and walked to Blaine's side.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of having the late Valmont visit?"
She asked anger and sarcasm coating her words. Shaking his hands in frustration he totally ignored her question but rather asked another.
"How do you two know Cara?"
The two looked at each other and smiled mischievously before turning their gazes back to Sebastian. Kathryn walked backwards and sat on the bed as Blaine sat down on a chair at his desk leaving Sebastian standing in the room of silence. It was several minutes before anyone spoke and Kathryn was the one to clear the silence away. Her face changed to a sad serious expression that shown actual emotion no bull shit. Sebastian looked from her to Blaine then back to her again as she spoke.
"Do you really want to know the truth?"
He said nothing but his silence told an uneasy yes. Her eyes looked up at the ceiling as they began to become shinny with tears waiting to be let free. She took a hand to her eyes and wiped them away before redirecting them to his face.
"It seems like such a long time ago..."
She began while in her mind lingered the thought of why she was telling him mostly she blamed it on all the alcohol she had consumed the night before. None the less she continued on telling the story of her and Cara's fall from grace.
Cara and Trevor left the coffee shop laughing and talking together. He took her hand and with a pen wrote his number on it and with that he kissed her on the cheek and whispered bye as he left. Smiling self satisfied Cara walked down the street back to where her car had been sitting then got in and drove off. She drove back to Kathryn's home and went inside. Quietly she walked through to Kathryn's room memories filtering through her mind. This house like so much in New York held bits and pieces of the shattered fragments of the people both her and Kathryn used to be. Tears began to make their way down her cheeks their quiet dance filling her with coldness to the core. She brought her hands around her attempting to warm her self as she leaned back against the wall. She sniffed back and brought a hand up to her face wiping several tears away before hugging her arm to her body again while slouching down to the ground. Memories began to fill her telling the story of her and her best friend's fall from innocence.
Across the city in three different locations the same story was being told a story of heartlessness and manipulation the story of nightmares. Bleeding together in unison the story of Kathryn Mertuiel and Cara Cortez was told. The story of friends and the story of family it was the story of sudden death.
It was around nine pm when the young Kathryn entered her posh New York home. She quietly made her way to her room but however her mother had other plans for her that night. A drunken Tiffany stumbled in from the bar that was located in their dinning room.
"Where the hell have you been?"
She said words slurred and barely audible.
"Out..."
Was all Kathryn said before continuing on to her room. However Tiffany grabbed her arm and whipped her around and immediately slapped her square in the jaw.
"You treat me with more respect then that Kathryn I want to know where the hell you where and I want to know now!"
"What's wrong with you mother?"
She replied her hand on her cheek.
"Wrong with me nothing is wrong with me it's you and your son of a bitch of a father!"
"Daddy? What does he have to do with any of this?"
"Nothing your father has nothing to do with anything any more, you fat slob..."
However before Tiffany could go on Kathryn ran off to her room and locked the door. Frustrated she ran to her vanity and pulled out a secret compartment. Out of it she picked up a rather large rosary. Quickly she unscrewed the bottom of the cross and took a hit of the drug that lay inside. Screwing it together again she returned it to its place and went to her bed where she wrapped her self deep with in the covers trying to go asleep.
Screaming seemed to be everywhere that night for not far away Cara stood outside her home screaming to the young man next to her.
"Nathan I just can't take this any more ... I'm not yours to rule. I'm sick of having to be at you beck and call when ever your horny and need a good fuck because you know damn good and well none of those dumb blonde debutants at our school cant even come close to me! But no you screw them anyways then expect me to come around and help you out to sleep with you or pamper you to be your little slave on call at your command. Nathan I can't deal with this any more we..."
Before she could continue he reached forward grabbing her face with his hands and kissed her passionately. Breaking away Cara immediately smacked him square in the jaw. He stepped back startled as the two of then stood in utter silence for a moment both breathing hard before Cara turned and began to walk away.
"It's over."
"I love you Cara."
Nathan yelled after her causing her to turn an amused smile on her lips.
"Love me? Nathan cheating on me forcing me to fuck you is that what you call love?..."
She yelled at him as his head dropped.
"Besides love doesn't exist its just something they tell children so they look forward to growing up but when in reality all they are doing is masking the shit that awaits them. You helped me see that Nathan!"
"But I do love you."
"Ha, You have the funniest way of showing it."
She said shaking her head hands on her hips as she turned to leave.
"Wait."
Slowly she turned around again impatience on her face. Slowly he walked up to her and took her face gently in his hands directing her gaze into his watery eyes.
"I am sorry."
He said with utmost sincerity causing tears to well up in her own eyes.
"Then show me."
Cara whispered looking deep into his eyes searching his soul. Slowly he brought his head down and kissed her. He kissed her soft yet passionately a way she had never been kissed before. Overcome she brought her arms around his neck pulling him closer as the kiss intensified.
"I love you."
He whispered between kisses as the two made their way inside the building and up the stairs to the top floor of the house. Finally on a small mattress in the corner they collapsed. That night they made love for the first time in there young and experienced lives.
As that week passed Cara's life improved Nathan had not been abusive and had been completely loyal to her she even found her self using less and less coke. However the story was not the same for Kathryn every night her mother would be drunk and would hit her screaming on how ugly she was and useless. Her father had filed for a divorce and left leaving her whole world in shambles. Their weeks were like this for the most part that was until Saturday night.
Kathryn shaking and scared made her way slowly to Cara's house. However when she got there no one was there so she collapsed and fell asleep in her bed. Not more then fifteen minutes later she heard faint footsteps approaching the bed. Quickly she sat up thinking it was her friend, though when she opened her eyes it was Nathan...a very drunk Nathan. Slowly he crept towards her.
"Hey Kat."
He said slowly words slurring as she backed up on the bed her back against the wall every bone in her body tense.
"I haven't seen you in a while... you are very pretty."
Each word more slurred as he walked around the bed and sat next to her. Leaning forward he whispered in her ear.
"I would like to see how pretty all of you is."
With that her eyes drew wide and she slid off the other side of the bed heading fast for the door. Sadly he was to fast for her and blocked her exit.
"There is no need for that now; I just want to get more acquainted with my friend."
He said walking forward causing her to move back until she fell on the bed eyes wide and frightened.
"Please don't"
She whimpered as he crawled on top of her putting a finger to her lips before trailing it down her body pulling off her shirt. Kathryn tried to break free but he only blocked her efforts and began to rape her. However in his actions they both did not hear the approaching steps. Wide eyed in shock Cara watched her friend being raped by her own boyfriend in her bed none the less. Nathan, the same man who had claimed to lover her not but a week ago.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"
She screamed.
Nathan looked at her examining her for a moment before being brought back to reality. He quickly jumped off Kathryn who pulled covers around her utterly hurt and scared more then ever. Before Nathan could say or so anything Cara ran tears streaming out of the house. She ran not watching where she was going and knocked straight into someone. Standing up she realized who it was. Before her stood Carter, a tall dirty blonde teenager who also attended Manchester. Carter wasn't like the rest of them he did his own thing music he lived for it playing guitar, drums, singing the whole bit that was his life. For that he excluded himself from the rest the preppy self indulged students. The only thing was he was incredibly handsome. Dirty blond tall with a perfect athletic figure as well as blue eyes he was the guy you dreamed about. Smiling he reached out his hand and helped her up.
"Hey I'm Carter, your Cara right?"
She nodded her head looking into his eyes examining him. It was then he noticed the tears in hers.
"Are you ok?"
She shrugged and began to walk away but he stopped her.
"Cara..."
After Cara had left Nathan left in a hurry leaving a broken Kathryn with no explanation. Kathryn sore and bruised through on her cloths and made her way slowly back to her house for another round of mommy's beatings after all what was there for her to do.
Later that night drunk and confused two teenagers fell into a bed at the top of a very wealthy home. The two of them lost their worries in one another. Cara getting out of her mind all her problems the only way she knew how other then drugs, sex. As for Carter he had wounds of his own to forget and the two of them found shelter in one another. The next day a sobered up Nathan returned to Cara's home to explain however when he made his way to her art studio at the top he found her wrapped in a another mans arms in the same bed they had made love in for the first time not but a week ago. However he would say nothing but left in silence.
The next several weeks as school went on again Nathan was no where to be found he seemingly disappeared. Cara as well was doing her own disappearing act slowly everyday she would become more and more a shell of her former self screwing any guy she pleased and manipulating to get what she wanted with a sunshine smile and a frozen core. On a Wednesday night she made her way in silence to the Merteuil household. Upon entering screaming could be heard and shortly after the slamming of a door. Slowly she made her way to Kathryn's room. When she entered she found a crying Kathryn sitting at her vanity just staring at her face as the tears rolled off. Cara cleared her voice to gain attention meekly Kathryn turned. Quickly and wide eyed she ran up and hugged her friend.
"I'm so sorry Cara..."
She kept repeating crying into the girls arm. Cara patted the girls head before she released then sat down on the bed.
"I know it wasn't your fault..."
She said with no emotion while removing the dark sunglasses that sat on her face.
"Kathryn, I know that what happened with Josh, your parents, Nathan ... it's all too much..."
She nodded slowly.
"Well listen to me when you go to Manchester next year its going to be a hell of a lot worse. They are all drones every single one of them a Nathan and Josh Copy. I swear their all sick twisted little dunks that will stop it nothing to control you. That is if you don't control them first. Promise me Kathryn you won't let them control you."
"Never."
"Good Kathryn you can rule that school all you need is to find their leader control him and you have it. Make them love you. Trust me you're going to need that to survive. Promise me you will get back Manchester for what it did to me and what its all ready doing to you."
Kathryn looked up at her confused at the way she spoke.
"Promise?"
Though she was confused she nodded and with that Cara left sliding on her sunglasses and slipping out the door.
In the darkness of the night as the water ran into the tub Cara sat staring at the mirror before her. She was truly dead. She slowly reached down and picked up several very small vials and snorted the contents before lowering her self into the bath tub. Water running, blood dripping from two small incisions on her arms, and on a high like you wouldn't believe she passed out into the steaming water.
A long time after she sat in the bright room of a local hospital eyes glued to the television but not paying attention to a word it was saying instead she was listening to the doctor and her parents outside the door.
"We believe she was attempting suicide not only did she suffer much blood loss but she had been on a large dose of cocaine..."
Both Liana and Luis Cortez stood in shock.
"Your daughter also lost the baby."
Now more shock filled both her parents but also Cara herself as in unison she and her mother mouthed baby.
"Cara was a month pregnant unfortunately the baby did not make it."
Cara raised her hand to her mouth in utter disbelief.
"I was pregnant."
Several days later Mr. and Mrs. Cortez with drew her from Manchester but failed to cover up their daughter's near death incident and pregnancy.
As Kathryn continued the story and finished it right up until she met Sebastian he sat at a loss. For he always thought he knew Kathryn and he thought Cara was just some woman hired by her but in reality it went much deeper then that. Annette to was at her own loss never in her life had she been exposed to such a story and sadness to filled her. Cara unsuspecting it all entered the empty Merteuil house and quietly made her way to her room and slipped out of her clothes and into a robe as she walked and started the shower losing the robe and stepping inside not a care in the world.
"This was her house."
"Cara's?"
"Yeah she lived here till near the end of her freshman year of high school."
"What happened to her here?"
Annette said her hand touching the building now as well. Slowly a small smile crept upon his lips making her uneasy again as he unlocked the door and went in waiting for her to follow him. Once inside he led her up the stairs several flights to a large room at the top. The room was completely empty the walls white and floor wood the ceiling however was painted with a huge cloud mural. Weaving in and out of the clouds were several different paintings each one unique and some what dark. Annette stood back her head tilted up looking at the ceiling as Nathan made his way to a far corner in the room where a big window over looked the city. He slowly sat down on the window bench and stared out. Dropping her head Annette realized his silence and walked over placing her hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
She asked concern filling her, a concern for someone she barely even knew. He shook his head then placed his gaze back on her his smile reappearing and leaving as quickly as it appeared. Now a serious look lingered on his face as she sat down at the other end of the bench.
"Do you want to know what happened?"
Annette slowly nodded he head as his gaze turned once again out to the city and his mouth opened to speak.
Kathryn was at full awake now as she noticed Sebastian was in the room. Her expression turned stern as she stood and walked to Blaine's side.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of having the late Valmont visit?"
She asked anger and sarcasm coating her words. Shaking his hands in frustration he totally ignored her question but rather asked another.
"How do you two know Cara?"
The two looked at each other and smiled mischievously before turning their gazes back to Sebastian. Kathryn walked backwards and sat on the bed as Blaine sat down on a chair at his desk leaving Sebastian standing in the room of silence. It was several minutes before anyone spoke and Kathryn was the one to clear the silence away. Her face changed to a sad serious expression that shown actual emotion no bull shit. Sebastian looked from her to Blaine then back to her again as she spoke.
"Do you really want to know the truth?"
He said nothing but his silence told an uneasy yes. Her eyes looked up at the ceiling as they began to become shinny with tears waiting to be let free. She took a hand to her eyes and wiped them away before redirecting them to his face.
"It seems like such a long time ago..."
She began while in her mind lingered the thought of why she was telling him mostly she blamed it on all the alcohol she had consumed the night before. None the less she continued on telling the story of her and Cara's fall from grace.
Cara and Trevor left the coffee shop laughing and talking together. He took her hand and with a pen wrote his number on it and with that he kissed her on the cheek and whispered bye as he left. Smiling self satisfied Cara walked down the street back to where her car had been sitting then got in and drove off. She drove back to Kathryn's home and went inside. Quietly she walked through to Kathryn's room memories filtering through her mind. This house like so much in New York held bits and pieces of the shattered fragments of the people both her and Kathryn used to be. Tears began to make their way down her cheeks their quiet dance filling her with coldness to the core. She brought her hands around her attempting to warm her self as she leaned back against the wall. She sniffed back and brought a hand up to her face wiping several tears away before hugging her arm to her body again while slouching down to the ground. Memories began to fill her telling the story of her and her best friend's fall from innocence.
Across the city in three different locations the same story was being told a story of heartlessness and manipulation the story of nightmares. Bleeding together in unison the story of Kathryn Mertuiel and Cara Cortez was told. The story of friends and the story of family it was the story of sudden death.
It was around nine pm when the young Kathryn entered her posh New York home. She quietly made her way to her room but however her mother had other plans for her that night. A drunken Tiffany stumbled in from the bar that was located in their dinning room.
"Where the hell have you been?"
She said words slurred and barely audible.
"Out..."
Was all Kathryn said before continuing on to her room. However Tiffany grabbed her arm and whipped her around and immediately slapped her square in the jaw.
"You treat me with more respect then that Kathryn I want to know where the hell you where and I want to know now!"
"What's wrong with you mother?"
She replied her hand on her cheek.
"Wrong with me nothing is wrong with me it's you and your son of a bitch of a father!"
"Daddy? What does he have to do with any of this?"
"Nothing your father has nothing to do with anything any more, you fat slob..."
However before Tiffany could go on Kathryn ran off to her room and locked the door. Frustrated she ran to her vanity and pulled out a secret compartment. Out of it she picked up a rather large rosary. Quickly she unscrewed the bottom of the cross and took a hit of the drug that lay inside. Screwing it together again she returned it to its place and went to her bed where she wrapped her self deep with in the covers trying to go asleep.
Screaming seemed to be everywhere that night for not far away Cara stood outside her home screaming to the young man next to her.
"Nathan I just can't take this any more ... I'm not yours to rule. I'm sick of having to be at you beck and call when ever your horny and need a good fuck because you know damn good and well none of those dumb blonde debutants at our school cant even come close to me! But no you screw them anyways then expect me to come around and help you out to sleep with you or pamper you to be your little slave on call at your command. Nathan I can't deal with this any more we..."
Before she could continue he reached forward grabbing her face with his hands and kissed her passionately. Breaking away Cara immediately smacked him square in the jaw. He stepped back startled as the two of then stood in utter silence for a moment both breathing hard before Cara turned and began to walk away.
"It's over."
"I love you Cara."
Nathan yelled after her causing her to turn an amused smile on her lips.
"Love me? Nathan cheating on me forcing me to fuck you is that what you call love?..."
She yelled at him as his head dropped.
"Besides love doesn't exist its just something they tell children so they look forward to growing up but when in reality all they are doing is masking the shit that awaits them. You helped me see that Nathan!"
"But I do love you."
"Ha, You have the funniest way of showing it."
She said shaking her head hands on her hips as she turned to leave.
"Wait."
Slowly she turned around again impatience on her face. Slowly he walked up to her and took her face gently in his hands directing her gaze into his watery eyes.
"I am sorry."
He said with utmost sincerity causing tears to well up in her own eyes.
"Then show me."
Cara whispered looking deep into his eyes searching his soul. Slowly he brought his head down and kissed her. He kissed her soft yet passionately a way she had never been kissed before. Overcome she brought her arms around his neck pulling him closer as the kiss intensified.
"I love you."
He whispered between kisses as the two made their way inside the building and up the stairs to the top floor of the house. Finally on a small mattress in the corner they collapsed. That night they made love for the first time in there young and experienced lives.
As that week passed Cara's life improved Nathan had not been abusive and had been completely loyal to her she even found her self using less and less coke. However the story was not the same for Kathryn every night her mother would be drunk and would hit her screaming on how ugly she was and useless. Her father had filed for a divorce and left leaving her whole world in shambles. Their weeks were like this for the most part that was until Saturday night.
Kathryn shaking and scared made her way slowly to Cara's house. However when she got there no one was there so she collapsed and fell asleep in her bed. Not more then fifteen minutes later she heard faint footsteps approaching the bed. Quickly she sat up thinking it was her friend, though when she opened her eyes it was Nathan...a very drunk Nathan. Slowly he crept towards her.
"Hey Kat."
He said slowly words slurring as she backed up on the bed her back against the wall every bone in her body tense.
"I haven't seen you in a while... you are very pretty."
Each word more slurred as he walked around the bed and sat next to her. Leaning forward he whispered in her ear.
"I would like to see how pretty all of you is."
With that her eyes drew wide and she slid off the other side of the bed heading fast for the door. Sadly he was to fast for her and blocked her exit.
"There is no need for that now; I just want to get more acquainted with my friend."
He said walking forward causing her to move back until she fell on the bed eyes wide and frightened.
"Please don't"
She whimpered as he crawled on top of her putting a finger to her lips before trailing it down her body pulling off her shirt. Kathryn tried to break free but he only blocked her efforts and began to rape her. However in his actions they both did not hear the approaching steps. Wide eyed in shock Cara watched her friend being raped by her own boyfriend in her bed none the less. Nathan, the same man who had claimed to lover her not but a week ago.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"
She screamed.
Nathan looked at her examining her for a moment before being brought back to reality. He quickly jumped off Kathryn who pulled covers around her utterly hurt and scared more then ever. Before Nathan could say or so anything Cara ran tears streaming out of the house. She ran not watching where she was going and knocked straight into someone. Standing up she realized who it was. Before her stood Carter, a tall dirty blonde teenager who also attended Manchester. Carter wasn't like the rest of them he did his own thing music he lived for it playing guitar, drums, singing the whole bit that was his life. For that he excluded himself from the rest the preppy self indulged students. The only thing was he was incredibly handsome. Dirty blond tall with a perfect athletic figure as well as blue eyes he was the guy you dreamed about. Smiling he reached out his hand and helped her up.
"Hey I'm Carter, your Cara right?"
She nodded her head looking into his eyes examining him. It was then he noticed the tears in hers.
"Are you ok?"
She shrugged and began to walk away but he stopped her.
"Cara..."
After Cara had left Nathan left in a hurry leaving a broken Kathryn with no explanation. Kathryn sore and bruised through on her cloths and made her way slowly back to her house for another round of mommy's beatings after all what was there for her to do.
Later that night drunk and confused two teenagers fell into a bed at the top of a very wealthy home. The two of them lost their worries in one another. Cara getting out of her mind all her problems the only way she knew how other then drugs, sex. As for Carter he had wounds of his own to forget and the two of them found shelter in one another. The next day a sobered up Nathan returned to Cara's home to explain however when he made his way to her art studio at the top he found her wrapped in a another mans arms in the same bed they had made love in for the first time not but a week ago. However he would say nothing but left in silence.
The next several weeks as school went on again Nathan was no where to be found he seemingly disappeared. Cara as well was doing her own disappearing act slowly everyday she would become more and more a shell of her former self screwing any guy she pleased and manipulating to get what she wanted with a sunshine smile and a frozen core. On a Wednesday night she made her way in silence to the Merteuil household. Upon entering screaming could be heard and shortly after the slamming of a door. Slowly she made her way to Kathryn's room. When she entered she found a crying Kathryn sitting at her vanity just staring at her face as the tears rolled off. Cara cleared her voice to gain attention meekly Kathryn turned. Quickly and wide eyed she ran up and hugged her friend.
"I'm so sorry Cara..."
She kept repeating crying into the girls arm. Cara patted the girls head before she released then sat down on the bed.
"I know it wasn't your fault..."
She said with no emotion while removing the dark sunglasses that sat on her face.
"Kathryn, I know that what happened with Josh, your parents, Nathan ... it's all too much..."
She nodded slowly.
"Well listen to me when you go to Manchester next year its going to be a hell of a lot worse. They are all drones every single one of them a Nathan and Josh Copy. I swear their all sick twisted little dunks that will stop it nothing to control you. That is if you don't control them first. Promise me Kathryn you won't let them control you."
"Never."
"Good Kathryn you can rule that school all you need is to find their leader control him and you have it. Make them love you. Trust me you're going to need that to survive. Promise me you will get back Manchester for what it did to me and what its all ready doing to you."
Kathryn looked up at her confused at the way she spoke.
"Promise?"
Though she was confused she nodded and with that Cara left sliding on her sunglasses and slipping out the door.
In the darkness of the night as the water ran into the tub Cara sat staring at the mirror before her. She was truly dead. She slowly reached down and picked up several very small vials and snorted the contents before lowering her self into the bath tub. Water running, blood dripping from two small incisions on her arms, and on a high like you wouldn't believe she passed out into the steaming water.
A long time after she sat in the bright room of a local hospital eyes glued to the television but not paying attention to a word it was saying instead she was listening to the doctor and her parents outside the door.
"We believe she was attempting suicide not only did she suffer much blood loss but she had been on a large dose of cocaine..."
Both Liana and Luis Cortez stood in shock.
"Your daughter also lost the baby."
Now more shock filled both her parents but also Cara herself as in unison she and her mother mouthed baby.
"Cara was a month pregnant unfortunately the baby did not make it."
Cara raised her hand to her mouth in utter disbelief.
"I was pregnant."
Several days later Mr. and Mrs. Cortez with drew her from Manchester but failed to cover up their daughter's near death incident and pregnancy.
As Kathryn continued the story and finished it right up until she met Sebastian he sat at a loss. For he always thought he knew Kathryn and he thought Cara was just some woman hired by her but in reality it went much deeper then that. Annette to was at her own loss never in her life had she been exposed to such a story and sadness to filled her. Cara unsuspecting it all entered the empty Merteuil house and quietly made her way to her room and slipped out of her clothes and into a robe as she walked and started the shower losing the robe and stepping inside not a care in the world.