| Val's body refused to move as she found herself laying in darkness. All she could feel was the freezing air that surrounded her body as her lungs breathed weakly. She felt the cold grip her heart as her heat began to leave her body. She struggled to remain warm, but she could not move her arms from her side. Her body shivered weakly as Val's body began to surrender in its fight. Is this.... what's it like to be dead? From the darkness, a new warmth surrounded her as she felt a new strength growing within her. Her body relaxed completely, giving itself to the heat as her breathing began to quicken. Val closed her eyes, letting the heat wrap around her body and protect her from the cold. Her body heat soon matched that of the heat that protected her as she felt her whole body relax. The heat surrounding her slowly began to fade, but her own heat did not fade while she continued to lay in the darkness. As light shined on her face, Val slowly opened her eyes, only to see her vision limited to the blurs of color that surrounded her. She shifted slightly, tracing her fingers along the silky fabric that surrounded her naked body. She pulled her hand out from under the fabric, wiping her eyes to help clear her vision. Turning her head to one side, she could barely make out a figure sitting along the edge of where she was laying. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the figure's arm, and as her vision finally cleared up, she saw herself touching the same person she had tried to kill. She watched him turn his focus to her as she felt his hand touch against her head. She struggled slightly, only to find herself too weak to fight against him. Val pulled her hand away from him, gazing into his eyes as her mind began to trace back to the party and her fight with him. She closed her eyes and sighed, turning her head slightly to let her head lean against his hand. "How are you feeling?" Val turned her head away from his hand, sighing. "Why? Even after I tried to kill you... why? "The funny thing is that I don't know myself, but I've done it." "What if I try to kill you again?" "Well... I don't think that'll be happening for a while, since I had to deal with your client personally... so there wouldn't be any money to be earned on my death. Don't worry, I won't do anything against your will. You're free to leave when you are able to under your own strength." Val rolled onto her side, looking away from her generous captor as her mind remained on the events of the night before. She felt the bed shift slightly as he stood up, closing the curtains before he walked to the door. She raised her head from the bed, looking at him as he waited by the door. "If you need anything... there should be a bell near the bed. Ring it. Otherwise, sleep well." Val rested her head on the pillow, closing her eyes as she heard the door shut. She sighed, her mind still focused on the night before. She pulled her pillow closer to her, holding it close to her. Her defeat tormented her mind while her imagination raced through the consequences of her loss. No matter what she thought, one thing still remained the same. Val's life was no longer controlled by herself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Val rolled around in the covers, letting them wrap around her body like a cocoon. She stretched her arms out before she forced herself up, looking around in the room. Next to the bed was a small table with the bell on top. A chair was nearby with a robe resting on top of the back rest. The two windows were blocked completely by the curtains that denied the room of most of its light. She slipped out of the covers, shivering as the cold air hit her skin. Val slipped on the robe, closing it up before she moved to the door. She opened the door and walked out, looking around in the hall. Closing the door behind her, she began to wander through the halls, observing her surroundings. Val blushed as her stomache growled at her, her thoughts turning to getting something to eat. "Hungry are we?" said the voice from behind Val. She turned to see the succubus she saw at the party now standing before her. The demoness smiled coyly at her, slowly approaching the elf as Val stepped back, keeping her distance. "Have you been watching me the whole time?" The succubus stopped in her approach, putting her hands behind her back. "But of course! I worry about my Master, and I am curious about you and your runes." Val scowled. "What mischief do you have planned for me?" "I have much planned for you..." The succubus sighed. "But Master said that it was not allowed. He also told me to show you around the mansion if you so desire it. So here I am, at your service." "Well then show me the way to a place where I can eat." "Right this way... Mistress." The title caused Val to hesitatle slightly before she let the demoness take the lead. The elf watched the succubus's tails swing behind her lazily while the two made their way to the main hall and down the stairs into the lobby. She looked around for a moment, noticing the bareness of the lobby before she followed the demoness into another hall. "Why did you call me Mistress?" The succubus turned her head back to face Val. "Because you are my Mistress like he is our Master." She crossed her arms. "Our Master?" "Aye, our Master. I believe that he defeated you in your Dance of Blades, but I do not think that he knows what he gained from it." Val raised her eyebrow at the demoness for a moment before she looked to the side. "So why do you serve him now?" "Because he has given me my life, and I shall serve him for all of his." The succubus stopped in front off a door, opening the way for Val. "Here you are, Mistress. I'll join you once again if you wish it after you eat." The demoness bowed to the elf before she melded into a nearby wall, leaving Val alone in front of the door. Slowly, she walked into the kitchen, where she was motioned to have a seat at one of the two tables located nearby by the lone cook. She took a seat and waited a moment before the cook left her work to greet Val. The cook bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, m'lady. What would you like today?" "Whatever you have available, thank you." "As you wish." The cook resumed her tasks, leaving Val to think about the words the succubus had said earlier. She shook her head for a moment, clearing her mind before she looked up at the cook. "Can I ask you a few questions while you work?" "If you wish, m'lady." "Do you know anything about the lord of this mansion?" The cook paused, shaking her head once before she resumed her work. "Nothing before he became the owner. But if I must say, he is a good-hearted man. The slaves you'll see here are only here because we want to be here. While our motivation for staying may be different... he still respects us all the same." The cook moved from her work area, delivering a fresh plate of salad with a few bottles of salad dressing set nearby. The cook bowed slightly before she returned her work, leaving Val alone to her thinking once again. Her thinking was cut short by her stomache, however, as she decided to leave her thinking for later and to enjoy the meal she received. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After having explored as much as the mansion as she could alone, Val returned to her room as she began to feel weak once again. She blew out the candles lighting her room before she opened up the curtains to let the moonlight into the room. She slipped into bed, getting comfortable while she stared at the stars outside. Her thoughts now focused on the events that awaited her tomarrow. She closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her last thoughts. Ren.... My lord... |