lli

As soon as he disappeared from sight and the door closed behind him, it melted into the wall, becoming stone. Stepping forward, I gently rubbed my hand to see if I could f

to warm to my touch and open outward as it had before. Patiently I stood, fear slowly bubblin

dn’t say anything about whether or not I could exit. He also hinted

l, hoping the beast would hear my shouts.

vocabulary, especially when they feel they are being cheated. I already knew that I wouldn't be getting a fair deal in this arrangement, but what kind of person

it felt like the walls were closing in on me, even though this room was bigger than even my imagination could produce. When I was new to Crimson, the orphan mistress would lock me in a da

nwanted path of other abuses, each one worse than the one before, each one relived in such vivid detail that my body reacted

cing, my cheek cold from the floor where I lay. Not remembering lyin

through the wall. “Primus sent us to

e door, my voice long gon

prince ins

are!!” I sc

e the door. There is a shuffling of peopl

through the wall, muffled and soft through t

Why did you leave me here? Why am

by questioning the ways of their master. “I hardly understand their reasons, and I've worked amongst them my entire life.” I nod t

These servants do not deserve to face Primus' wrath for just doi

Standing up, I use my dirty apron to clean my face and place a hand on the wall. It is still not responding to my touch. “How can I let you

t of me are 4 maids, cleanly dressed, in crisp aprons, and one young man with brown hair and a bemused

ld be able to get you…” he pauses, looking me up and down, “Pre

one eyebrow in que

idea.” He pats me on the shoulder. “If you would be so kind, please let the

I call after him as he strides quickly do

e,” he states simply as he continues down the hall not bothering

ught, I wave as I w

f making me “presentable” to dine with my beastly overlord. Stripping me quickly of my soiled clothing, they throw them

to dispose of your or

ut…” I

ve an appearance that meets a certain…” her lip curls a bit as

over undergarments in several layers, including multiple petticoats and a restrictive-looking corset of apricot-colored silk. Each garment is exquisitely crafted, made by the finest most capable hands, ornamented with silk embroidery and g

e remnants of my previous life, now reduced to ember-edge scraps. In the hands of one maid is a brush, in

ut to beg that they cut it all off, they declared themselves finished with detangling, and began messaging sweet scented oils on my scalp, slowly working their way down to the tips of each strand so that it began to curl gently around my elbows like spun gold. Slowly they began to twist, braiding my hair tightly before t

elf, I followed the maids out of the room and b

ly balanced like a matched set, they are all around the same size and height, and their faces are similar in expression and appearance. As I watch them continue down the hall, I fe

ntly as we progress towards the main hall. “T

e room with an eerie green sparkle, the green flames dancing along the fixtures within. At the table, tall tapers glimmer, highligh

lord of the manor himself, Prince Primus. Sitting at the head of the

ere topped with leather boots that had large claw-like spurs at the ankles made of some kind of bone, jutting out and to the side, pointing back towards his heels. His helm is gone, and his face, glistening with a pearlescent sheen, was made of hard, sharp lines--chiseled like the stone t

--soil and sand, dappled leaves and lavender, rubies, emeralds, and fine sapphires. They change as he watches

m taking a step back as he stands, the legs of his throne-like chair scraping on the floor

outs at me. “You too

eded.” I take the seat the furthest away from him, not quite

, preferring to keep my mind sharp as I sit across from such a deadly predator. Just because the f

u girl,” he inquires,

ll him plainly. “

terrible name. I refu

t my name, something in his dismissal made me bristle. “It i

ng. “You must have somet

red. I take a big gulp of

sts. “Or Topaz. Both are na

constricted by the corset, making it harder for

a jewel. A beautiful, shining jewel. You are too fin

a bit taken aback. “It sounds li

away as he answers through bites of flesh. “It is not a comp

. My face is hot, my thoughts are caught between anger and…appreciation. No one had eve

“I am certain you lie. I am no beauty

white tendrils. His fingernails extend into claws as he grasps th

o kill the entire

voice is f

squeak. “Y

ne again and I find myse