Part 16
#14 of Reincarnation: Dragoness
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I dedicate chapter 16 to Drake ~Yours only
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I awoke, finding it was morning I rose. The curtains had been drawn back, letting the sunshine into the room. I looked around quietly. My room was so lonely, as if it had not been used in years. As I stood at the window my door opened, I turned to see whom it was.
"Oh my!" a maid screamed seeing me, falling to the ground.
"Are you alright?" I reached her side, helping her sit upright.
"When they said the wolves room was used last night, I had not expected to see anything living in it this morning. The master finds this room more comfortable for his virgin sacrifices, less of a trial to drag them here to feed before the actual sacrifice. How is it that you escaped?"
"He did not drag me anywhere, if that is what you mean. I am not a sacrifice for him, at least not in that way. And since I am not human, he dose not want to feed upon me."
The maid breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked up. "Not human?"
"I'm a dragoness, would you like to see?"
"Oh no, please do not do magick for me. It isn't right. Since you are living though I expect that you shall need breakfast. I will be beaten for not thinking of it before."
And with that she rushed off, leaving me alone in the sunlit room again. I dressed, this time in a gown the color of Amber that I found in the wardrobe. It was a little long, but I figured if I had a problem, I could fly though the halls... they seemed to have enough room for a full-grown dragon almost. After the maid returned with food, she showed me to the sitting room adjacent to the bedroom so I could eat at my leisure as she cleaned.
I took the rest of the day to explore the house, making sure that any door that was sealed by magick like my chamber or the one that the master was in I did not touch. Most of the doors were normal, and though I did not see the house staff a lot, I knew they were watching every move I made, reporting to their lord about my actions.
I stood in the rose garden at sunset. I shivered gently as a shadow passed over me, but as I turned to look what had cast it, the maid called to me.
"My lady, if you would come inside. It is getting dark, and the Lord wishes you to join him for dinner. Please come with me, it has taken me too long to find you, and you still need to bathe and dress..." with that she ushered me off to my chambers again.
As I bathed, which was strange for me. My last owner had me wash her, and now I had a servant doing all these things for me. But she was a free child, for child she was I found. She was from a local town, coming to work for the master, to look after the house in the day as a job. She was paid well, and he kept her family safe from those who would bring her, or her sisters as his offerings.
I learned also that the master was a vampire, but not. A vamp that could stand the sunlight, who could not die by steak to his heart.
"What is he then?"
"We think a fallen angel, or a god that is toying with the world. Until I learned you were a dragon I guessed that was what you were as well, when I saw your wings... you look almost of the same kind as he..."
I fell silent, and let her work in peace. I sat before the window in my soft underclothes, brushing my hair as she searched for a dress for me. She kept looking at me then the dresses she pulled out.
"You are a lot smaller than the last mistress we had. She was the master's mother; at least that is what some say. Others say he is a demon who came and posesed the house killing the old owners, driving all away from the land. I shall have to hire a tailor to adjust these for you."
"Who was she?"
"The lady? No one rightly knows. Her father built this house, when he got married to bring his bride home to. She passed from this world giving birth to the mistress. She was dearly loved by all, and they say that she was buried beneath the rose gardens. Her husband too when his time came.
"The lady though, she was a gentle creature. Almost as you are... Dark hair, dark eyes... such a dark soul... She never married, and rarely had company to cheer her. After he father passed no one except the staff came to the house." She sighed a little moving to my side.
"Until one day, when she started acting strange. She was in perfect health; the doctors came to check on her all the time. She just went funny like, if you don't mind me saying. She threw a ball, then another... Inviting nobles and peasants alike. Any who would come were welcome. Bringing them to her home letting all who wised to pass a pleasant evening come and have fun. I was told that there were lights that twinkled for miles around the estate. And then it ended..."
She moved back to the closet looking again.
"What happened?"
"Well, at first it was thought that she had run away with a man to be married, since she had been seen talking to men at all the balls... but that was not the case. She was seen now and again peering out the windows of the house. About a year later, a child appeared as well. That would be your master now. No one knows who or what the father was. Some speculate that the lady was possessed by some demon trying to get her to create a host for it to be born into. No one really knows... But I shouldn't be talking like that... I'm sorry miss. Ah, now this dress just might work..."
I walked into the dining room, the crimson and black dress brushing against the floor gently as I moved. I turned my head, my dark hair falling across my shoulder and the exposed portion of my chest. The stone floor cold at the touch of my bare feet.
"You look wonderful. I must remember to reward that girl. She is always so pleasant, and never complains no matter what task I assign to her. She seems to have taken a shine to you as well, that is good. Come sit with me my child."
And so we ate, as every night after we would. We spoke little during dinner, retiring to one of the libraries after. I sat on the rug before the fireplace, my master in a high backed chair watching me as I looked into the fire.
"Fire elementals are amusing, they seem to always be drawn to fires... no matter where they hide. Tell me, little one where did you come from? How is it that you were brought to me? I believe they meant you to be a virgin sacrifice, but after your performance last night I can tell that is not true. Also, how is it that the magick lights work for you with ought my having to bid them to light?"
"That I do not know, I thought they were your doing."
"Only to lead to your chambers. They lead where I tell them too, but they brought you to me before I called."
"I do not know..."
"And my other questions?" He asked, reaching to pick me up, placing me in his lap.
I told him my tale, watching him as I spoke. His eyes flashed a little as I spoke of Zero, and Edge's betrayal. He smiled gently at the mention of Kitt.
"You have led an interesting life for one so young in the world." He kissed my forehead, setting me on my feet, as if I were only a child. "Go to your room, rest as you feel you need. I will come for you later, don't expect when but I will be with you soon as I may."
He rose, exiting the room and leaving me alone with the dwindling fire. I made my way back to my room, changing to a soft nightdress. I watched the shadows crossing the moon from my window as I brushed my hair again. It was very relaxing to that in that place, in that way. Almost as if I... or some one like me had done it before. I lay down to rest, falling asleep as the silvery light of the moon moved across the floor.
I awoke to the touch of lips against mine.
"It is time."