Pain's Pleasure

Chapter eight

By the time guest started to arrive, Osalie came to an curious conclusion; Nathan was avoiding her. He felt remorse for the earlier events and anger that she had power over him. Yes, Osalie understood Nathan. He hated to have anything out of his control and something she possessed sent him over the edge. He didn’t mean to feed from her (even if he did, she didn’t care, there were worse ways to die), but she knew his craving was unquenchable and the control he had over his thirst was admirable. She knew the collar around her neck protected her from demon attacks and him from losing control. Osalie touched the cool metal on her neck. She remembered the slave auction only too well.
She awoke in his bedroom alone and left shortly afterward, covered in his jacket. She forgave him even as she felt the soreness in her neck and flesh between her thighs. She quickly washed and changed into her simple black gown with white apron. Wrapping her hair into a white cap she joined the other maids in the kitchen. The housekeeper assigned them into groups; Osalie along with eight other maids will serve the drinks and refreshment to the guests, the second group work in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, while the rest have the luxury of simple watching the coat room. The maids spread out to do the housekeeper’s bidding. Osalie was use to decorative ballrooms and wealthy noble men and women in formal attire. What had her mesmerized was the mystical and slightly dangerous air that radiated from the guests to manor itself. Demon females glittered and sparkled with jewels on their hands, necks and heads. Their gowns varied, as did the shape and texture of their own bodies, in color but showed similarities in style and cut, low and very reveling. The demon males wore simple black pants and coats with white shirts and vests. The faces assessed the females, their expression remain bored. Osalie moved through the crowd, serving a strange assortment of hors d'oeuvre (some of which smelled less than appetizing). Her eyes searched for Nathan but failed to find him. He had to greet his guest or make an appearance at least.
“Osalie!” Adele approached her from the side grapping a green crust-like concoctions from her tray. Popping it into her mouth, Adele looked down at Osalie.
“Not as pleasing as breeches I must say.” She grinned, her sharp teeth flashing. Her gown of green silk simmered as she moved closer to Osalie.
“Where is that master of yours? I have not seen him since the last time he seduce me for your key. The bastard will pay for that.” She smiled grew as her expression turned sly. Osalie smiled as she shook her head, Adele was forming a plan. From Osalie other side Lord Tristan De’morson joined the two ladies. “As always you are compromising ze pretty slaves, Adele.” Adele scoffed at the large male.
“Jealous that female Tehals like me more?” she smiled up at Tristan as she caressed Osalie’s arm. “Why don’t you try to seduce someone who actually wants your attention?” Tristan leaned forward and touched her cheek, “Like you, Adele.” Adele laughed right in his face and walked away, her red hair disappearing into the crowd. Tristan just smiled unaffected and turned to Osalie. The servant’s sweet face looked uncomfortable by the scene. She bowed and hurried away. Tristan grinned and wove through the crowd, conversing with his social peers. Bored, bored, bored. Lady Wintrope eyed him across the room. He shrugged and followed her through the alcove. Maybe what he needed was some bed sport.
Nathan kept his eyes on Osalie as he conversed with his guests. She was graceful in her movements and smiles. It was obvious that she was highborn. Her accent was refined and her hands only currently dry and coarse. He wondered what noble human family sold her off. He seldom wanted to delve into lives of his slaves but Nathan could admit he was slightly obsessed with the girl. He felt strangely at ease when he was near her. As if to prove a point, he felt a discomforted when lost sight of her.
His gazed shifted around when a pair of arms clasp his waist from behind and demanded his attention. He turned and smiled for the first time that night. Large gold eyes looked up at him and he felt comforted to see his sister. It had been a year since he’d seen her and she looked no different. Vampires took much longer than humans and other demons to age so his not so young sister looked the tender age of an adolescent. Her black hair fell in curls down to her waist and pushed back from her face with pearled ribbons. Her large gold eyes and ivory empire cut gown made her look angelic. Nathan shook his head when she smiled innocently at him.
“Tell our parent no, I know they sent you Rosaline and you are welcome to stay but the answer is still no.” Rosaline simple smiled and folded her hand. Her eyes glittered with wicked amusement.
“Dear brother, mother and father only want the best for you. To protect your lineage and see you procreate. Since it is well passed your time, I personally feel it my obligation to help you in this matter.” Nathan scowled.
“I do not need help” he said with an air of indignation, “run along and play, I’m sure you can find the nursery on your one.” He smiled as his sister glared. She turned and went off to find Adele; they were old friends. It irked him that his parents would send his sister to give a rather obvious message. They wanted him to fulfill the sage’s prophecy. His sister grabbed his arm and forced him to converse with her friends she had no qualms bringing to his gathering.

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The night progressed with success. Osalie left the confines of the ballroom and into the garden. Hoping not to be caught she moved to the darker side of a large fountain and sat down. Her feet hurt and she was sweating. She removed her cap and tiled her head back, allowing the mist of water to fall on her. She sensed a presence near and opened her eyes. Nathan was watching her. He looked a bit nervous as if seeing her made him on edge. She smiled in welcome. He approached her, seating smoothly next to her. It was a quite moment interrupted only by the whispers of the trees. Osalie listen to his breath, smelled the gardenias, felt the cool breeze. Nathan moved closer. His presence coursed through her body, she wanted to reach out her hands, to touch him. But she stayed still waiting. Her heart raced and the hairs on the back of her neck prickled, she shivered. Something was about to happen.
Osalie pushed Nathan to the floor just before the knife flew past, a knife that was headed for his heart. She jumped to her feet, Nathan following. Osalie eyes roomed the dark alcove, she spotted a blank smiling face in the distance. Nathan pushed Osalie behind him. He discovered the face watching them closely. Nathan smiled back, beckoning the stranger. The face (attached to a lanky body) jumped smoothly on the ledge and onto the roof, walking away into the night. Nathan contemplated going after him but decided to postpone the pursuit. The demon trying to kill him would come back, he could wait. He moved with Osalie pass the ballroom and into his library. After what happened, he felt a little uncomfortable going into his study. He stared at her for a moment, question swimming in his mind. He looked serenely back, unfazed by the night’s events. Before he could speak, the door opened and the sage Maggie entered. She looked at Osalie and nodded as if resigned to a decision. He approached Nathan and said firmly,
“You will stop the girl’s serving duties and she will be my apprentice. I know what happened tonight and if you want help you will do this.” Osalie eyes widened as she stared at the woman. Nathan understood all at once, “the scent…she is a sage.” Maggie pondered the statement. “I’m not sure. But she has the gifts. I’m not sure of the extent of her gifts but I need to nurture them to completion.” At this Osalie shook her head.
“No. that part of me is not something I nurture. I’m fine the way I am.” Maggie’s eyes filled with understanding, “you can not suppress what you are child. You have to control them and learn how to use them. If not, then they will consume you.” Osalie stepped back away from them. How could the older woman know of her secret? And Nathan…he looked at her differently. She felt a pang in her heart.
“I have controlled these ‘gifts’ all my life, I can’t let them loose.”
Maggie’s hand rested on Osalie’s shoulder. “They already have. Don’t you feel it, slight pulse inside growing stronger? Soon it will be too much to cope with, let me help you.”
She did feel it, the slight pulse deep in her skin. Every angry emotion fed the pulsing. It was getting harder to cope, but she wanted to handle it on her own. With stringent resolve, Osalie shook her head, curtsied and quickly left the room. Neither Nathan nor Maggie called after her. Maggie signed and turned to Nathan. “She needs time, this is a burden but she is a smart girl, she will understand.” Maggie headed to her room, leaving Nathan in the library, his thoughts, as always, consumed with his servant.