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here.
    But any resemblance to a prison cell is laughable. It’s large and light and airy, a contemporary designer style with a running theme of white, chocolate brown and red with elegant furnishings, including a dark leather sofa that could fit two of me lying head to toe. This sits at a right angle to a roaring fire contained behind glass, with two matchingarmchairs in front of it. Large protruding windows give extensive views over the city.
    A hallway on the right leads to several more rooms. Mela opens the door to one she says is my bedroom. A great big window is the first thing I see, with another view across the city towards the river and mountains beyond.
    The bed has a modern, glossy, white wood frame, a mattress covered by a luxurious white quilt, a stack of red, brown and white pillows laid perfectly across the head. Crystal lamps sit on bedside drawers of the same polished white wood and against the opposite wall there’s a dressing table with a frameless mirror. A chocolate-coloured leather armchair sits in front. Jewellery boxes, hairbrushes, combs, clips, perfumes, all seemingly brand new, lie on the white wood top.
    There’s a fire in here too, also enclosed in glass. So now I know where the warmth is coming from and I pull off the cloak, which Mela takes and hangs in a wardrobe, which she enters by a door in the far wall.
    I walk over to the dresser and run my fingers over the items spread along the top, catching my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are glassy and bloodshot, grey smudges underneath giving them a sunken look. My skin is pale, nothing like my normal bronze. My hair is a tangled dark red mess I’d like to forget. I hardly recognise myself. My mouth is hanging open so I shut it with what little energy I have left. And, yes, I’m tired. I’m exhausted, but part of this weariness is mood-related. And that’s not going to go away with a few hours’ sleep.
    â€˜Your wardrobe is full of new clothes you should findadequate until …’
    At her pause I catch her eye in the mirror. ‘Until what?’
    â€˜I was just going to say until you settle in, but thought the remark a little insensitive for your first day.’
    â€˜You would be right.’
    She points to the back wall. ‘Your wardrobe and bathroom are through that door. There is another bathroom off the living room, and a kitchen.’
    She pulls a dressing gown from my wardrobe and hands me two lilac towels. ‘By the time you’ve showered, our meals will have arrived.’
    â€˜I’m not hungry, Mela. You go ahead and eat without me. I’ll shower and go straight to bed.’
    â€˜As you wish. I’ll see you after your shower then.’
    When I’ve washed my hair and all traces of blood from my skin, I put on a pair of jeans and a jumper I find in the wardrobe. I want to be ready when Nathaneal breaks me out. Over my clothes I slip the dressing gown on, wrapping it tightly around my waist with the sash.
    I spot the bottle of wine on a side table as soon as I walk into the living room. Mela goes over and pours me a glass. I take it from her hand and sip it, surprised to find it tastes really good. I gulp half of it down in one go, then the rest and put down the glass. ‘I’m done in. I’m going to bed.’
    She holds out a bottle of pills but I shake my head. ‘One glass of wine will be enough to put me to sleep today. You can leave, or stay, or do whatever you want now. I’m not waking for hours.’
    She follows me into my bedroom and pulls back the quilt. My temper flares, not because she’s fussing, but becauseI’m tired, my heart is broken and I want to cry in private, not in front of anyone who lives here and obeys Luca’s commands. ‘I can do that, Mela. Why don’t you go and have your dinner?’
    â€˜I don’t mind, Ebony. And our meals haven’t arrived yet, so if you’re feeling more like you can