Abigail sat bolt upright in her bed. She quickly got out of bed and walked to the mirror. She looked into the mirror and took several deep breaths then she calmed herself and just looked into the mirror.
'Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.' She breathed in then exhaled "okay" in her mind over and over again. Then she opened her mouth, fully intending to say "My name is Abigail." And nothing came out.
She did it again.
And again.
She did it seven times before she finally gave up.
She sat down in front of the mirror and looked at herself. 'You know what this means don't you.' She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. 'Should I make a recipe for myself? If I must go I hope to taste good to him. He should enjoy me.'
Her eyes weld with tears again. She sniffed, hit her cheeks, and went to take a shower. Abigail had become great friends with all the workers in the den. She cooked them special meals, always made sure they had food to take home to their families, and she made sure they were treated well.
By now anyone who knew about Abigail believed that she was the Dark Serpent Lords favorite mistress. Everyone knew that they could not even think disrespectful things about her.
It was going around that one of the Centaurs had gone missing because he thought, to himself, that she was not very pretty. They say the Dark Serpent Lord removed all of his skin and then forced him to live for ten days more. Then beheaded him and cut him up in no less than ten pieces and scattered him in ten different locations.
Needless to say everyone thought she was very beautiful now and that chestnut colored hair was probably the best color of hair a female could have.
Abigail fussed over first breakfast and then she debated about taking it to him or not. She had to face him eventually. He did not want her in his bed last night but that was because he had not been home last night. Tonight would be different.
'Take master his food. I have a few things I need to do today.'
'Yes mistress Abigail.'
She paused walking for a brief second but still rushed out of the kitchen way too fast.
Michele raised an eyebrow when he saw someone else bring him his food. It was not unusual but he knew what today was and Abigail had kept him blocked off from her stray thoughts all day.
'Abigail? Where are you this morning? I hurt a few scales last night and I will need some of your salve.'
'Good morning Master. I apologize I needed to do some research. I will try to be done by first lunch.'
His eyes widened at her saying that he would not see her until first lunch. For some reason that bothered him quite a bit. He sat startled for some time and wondered how he could tell her that she needed to come to him now. Could he say that? Why would he?
He exhaled deeply and ate some of the food before him then stopped and looked down. The food was especially delicious today.
He exhaled again. He truly wanted to see her now but he also needed to remember that she is just a servant. He had already killed three random beastkin because of things they said about her and one for actually asking to buy her as if she were a commodity.
He couldn't really explain why his instincts always seemed to kick in when it came to her. He could never just be alright and stay calm. He continually responded with action and thought about things later.
He did not need a reason. 'I want you in my room as soon as possible Abigail and I want you to bring me all of my meals today. Also I will be sleeping in your room tonight.'
His blood was rushing through his veins and his breathing was ragged as if he had been running some sort of long distance race. When he almost threw his food he immediately calmed himself and slowly finished eating.
Abigail almost jumped out of her skin as he gave her commands. She could feel an odd emotion coming through as he spoke to her and she was sure she had never felt anything like it before.
'He must be really upset. I should never had tried that. She quickly finished writing and returned to the kitchen. She found her favorite helper and gave him the slip of paper she had been writing on in the library.
'Hans. If I am ever unable to cook for the Master take this new recipe I just worked out and make me proud!'
Hans smiled broadly. "Of course Mistress."
He had just finished his second breakfast and Abigail had nervously applied salve to his scales.
"Why are you so nervous? I can feel you shaking!"
'Um, nervous? Well. Um… I am not… nervous.'
Michele just looked at her for a long moment. In the end he did not say anything.
A knock came from nowhere. Abigail had learned that this was how her Master's second asked for entrance.
"Come!"
Ka rose from a shadow not far from them. He bowed to Michele and then to Abigail. 'Master. Lady Abigail's family has been asking about her. They have told others that she is not dead and has stolen money from them.'
He almost laughed out loud. These people were ridiculous. He made sure that they had nothing left. They had to sell their business, their home and most of their other assets. He only left them with a shack that they had not yet remodeled. That was where they lived now.
'And what do they want?'
'They are claiming that they just want Lady Abigail back safe and sound.'
'Find out why they think that she is still alive and what they truly want with her. Do we have a human operative that can handle this?'
'We do My Lord.'
'I want to know as soon as he knows.'
'Yes My Lord.'
Ka bowed to both Michele and Abigail and sunk back into the shadows at their feet.
Abigail woke up slow. A smile on her face. She frowned, why was she feeling so good this morning? Then she felt cool scales against her skin. Her Master was in his second form. His arms and long tell were wrapped around her drinking in her warmth. She smiled.
She hadn't noticed how much she enjoyed being next to him. It was like he needed her and only her. Like her warmth was the only warmth that was right for him.
She wanted to cry but he was to close to her. She was not sure she would be able to keep the emotion from him if he was this close to her. She let the emotion drop from her and she covered herself in resolve.
He was her Master and she was his slave. That could not be changed. And why should it. All she knew now was to serve. How could he want a servant for anything more than to serve him properly.
But she couldn't even do that. She asked him to ensure he was happy in bed and with what came from the kitchen and he wanted her to speak.
Being in service meant that you always had complete every task. Less than one hundred percent would not do.
He felt her as she stirred beside him. It made him want to pull her in closer but he stayed still. He felt peace, then panic, then sadness and finally resolve within her. He frowned. He would need to keep an eye on her for a while.
He could only feel vague emotions. She had gotten very good at shutting him out and he didn't want to force his way in.
He stopped. Why didn't he want to force his way in? Were things getting complicated?
He didn't care. He pulled her closer, her warmth radiating off of her in luscious waves. She was his and he was prepared to weather any storm.