Pain's Pleasure

Chapter seven
Osalie passed the large group of servants waiting their turn for the bath quarters. She descended the stairs and exited the house via servants’ entrance. Slaves were only allowed so far from the master’s estate, so cautious of discovery, Osalie hurried through the trees surrounding the forest. Turning from the dirt path, she passed the dense greenery. The route was familiar after she happened upon it two weeks ago. It seemed almost surreal that a full two months have past since her arrival. Osalie was surprised to find herself accustom to the demons, people and environment in its entirety. The weather had turned warmer, so a bath outside seemed favorable to the long line in the house. She hopped over a fallen branched and crossed the enclosed trees that gave way to a clearing surrounding a large clear pond. Osalie dropped her wash cloth and soap near the water’s edge, placed her clean clothes on a nearby branch, and undressed. The water was cool but the weather was warm enough to welcome the chill. She braced herself and jumped in feet first. She shivered while she bathed, washing her hair and body with hand made soap. Soon, she became accustomed to the cold and swam to the middle of the pond. She enjoyed any slim freedom granted to her. The cool water felt refreshing against her naked skin, a thought that had her blushing even now.
She sensed a presence near and turned quickly to find a man leaning on a tree truck staring at her with unabashed amusement. Osalie stared back, submerged in water from neck down. “It’s rude of you, sir, to stare at a lady without invitation, but I will be forgiving if you turn around.” He ignored her. She guessed he would. Muttering to herself, Osalie swan to the edge of the pond. She stepped out of the water, grabbed her shift and quickly pulled it over her head. The man remained stationary as he toyed with a long strand of his blond hair. Osalie kept a wary eye on him as she dressed. Slipping into her shoes, she stocked up to the stranger.
Though she trembled on the inside, Osalie portrayed all the indignation of a well bred lady. The man laughed, “how pretty you are when ‘affronted?” he said in a deep, accent laced voice. He touched her collar. “Yey’re a slave.” His dimpled smile broadened. The sun glinted of the multiple gold rinds that decorated his ears. Osalie was captured by the effect. He grabbed her hand and dragged her back toward the close. They headed up the path to the house and through front door, without knocking. The man passed the curious servants, towards Nathan’s office. Osalie briefly closed her eyes, dreading the consequences of leaving the house unattended. The man entered the office without invitation, “look wat I’ve found ‘ere. A lovely bit swimming in ze pond!”
Nathan lifted an eyebrow at the twosome. His friend, Tristan De’morson, stared at Osalie, making her uncomfortable. Her eyes were a mixture of guilt and irritation. Her hair was unbounded, wet, and tumbling down her back. She was delectable and she faced him now with her chin up.
“I was bathing in the pond not far from here…master.” It was clever, Nathan thought, to use the word master in a problematic situation. She hardly said the word. Osalie pressed on, “I was not trying to escape. Then this um...gentleman.” she glared at Tristan, “came upon and kindly escorted me to the house, afraid if I would get lost on my own.” Tristan smiled down at her, his brown eyes amused, “One cannot be too careful in a large woods, I am always ze most chivalrous of gentlemen.” Osalie tried to pull away from him. An unknown hand gripped Nathan stomach, hard, making him angry as he stared at the two. “Osalie, get back to your duties; I will deal with you later.” Osalie turned her attention to Nathan; he was glaring at the man holding her arm. Osalie forcefully pulled away, curtsied, and left the office. Tristan moved to the chair near the window, retrieving a cigar from his inside pocket. Snapping his fingers, the cigar ignited at the tip. Smiling at Nathaniel, Tristan lounged on the chair and smoked. Nathan calmed the twist in his gut.
“I understand you visited Bono to discuss the spread of the virus. Do I need to expound on the particulars or are you well informed.”
“I am well ‘informed. Your King zis in agreement with my king that peace must be maintain. Ze next ball will be diplomatic to say ze least. I believe over twenty of ze forty kings will sign ze treaty. As you know, some of our kings don’t care one way or other if we all die.” Nathan nodded, the situation impacted everyone, even the kings, though some of them thought themselves imperious to ‘human illnesses.’ Every day, dozens of slaves die and their demon masters catch the sickness. It would soon affect this region. He shook his head, he had to act. “We have to retrieve our sage healer. Soon, the whole of eastern province will be affected and I want to be prepared.”
Tristan shook his blond head. “How does one fight chemical warfare. Airborne viruses spread fast and far. It’s a weapon zat is near impossible to disarm. Ze bastards are smart.” Nathan gave a grim smile, “Doesn’t matter what battle we’re fighting, we win. That’s our duty, our lives.” He touched the tattoo crossed up his arm. The mark represented his allegiance. The elite of demon society vowed to their king to protect the welfare of their own. Nathan noticed Tristan touch the winding black ink on his own arm, his expression pensive. There was a spell attached to the pledge, binding and inevitable. A demon gives unyielding loyalty to his king or the mark consumes him, kills him. Nathan opened the cabinet and removed a bowl and vile filled with black liquid. He placed the bowl on his desk and filled it with the contents of the vile. He grabbed a knife from the second drawer and cut the pad of the index and middle fingers, watching the blood drop into the bowl. The ripples grew and churned and if by a ladle. Nathan drew back his fingers and sat down. The liquid circled around the bowl until it turned white as milk. Nathan placed it back into the vile and shook the bottle. Truth serum, a vampiric secret. “Come let us head to the hermora district. No doubt, Agnes will tell us something useful.” Nathan pocketed the vile and left the office with Tristan. He heard the commotion from upper floor.
“You stupid little whore! I’ve been nice ta you ‘cause ta master thinks you’re a fine bit, but to go against mi rules is too much girlie!” He descended the stairs and found the housekeeper, red faced, heaving with anger, grapping Osalie’s damp hair. “I’ll teach you ta disrespect me!” Oslaie remained silent, her eyes downcast. Nathan commended her silence.
“Enough Marge, leave the girl. She has gained my permission to bath in the pond.” His voice left the housekeeper ridged. She released Osalie’s arm. The girl straightened and stared at Nathan. He smiled at her as a he formed a plan. “Come serving girl, I have use for you.” His tone was commanding and amused. Nathan grabbed Osalie by the elbow and near dragged her outside and into the carriage. Osalie sat there, bewildered and wondered, rubbing her elbow, if she was to be hauled about all day. Tristan stalled Nathan’s entry into the carriage with his words, “Why bring ze human along. She will get in ze way.” Nathan grinned. “The sage welcomes only humans into her home. Osalie can talk to Maggie while we question Agnes.” Tristan looked skeptical but nodded. They entered the coach, Nathan next to Osalie and Tristan opposite her. As the carriage approached the hermora district, the driver had to veer off to the side to avoid upturned dirt and holes in the road made by thieves. The surrounding buildings lacked the pristine exterior of the manors Osalie has known. She wondered if the people inside emulated their buildings; she liked the idea. Children ran bare foot in the sewage coated streets. They were ragged but laughed as they chased each other. Osalie had a vague recollection of sitting in her room as a girl staring at three boys play fighting with wooden swords. Such play she couldn’t understand, she wanted to but didn’t have the conditioning. She wished she knew what it was like to have ‘fun.’
The carriage stopped in front of a cottage on the outskirts of the district. Nathan turned to Osalie.
“I need you to do something for me. The woman who lives in there does not allow us in her home. I need her services and she well,” he grinned with Tristan, “doesn’t trust our kind, so you will be my messenger. Simply tell her King Alacark calls in his favor.” Osalie nodded, unsure of the sudden command. She had no choice but to agree. She left the carriage and approached the wooden door of the cottage. She heard the hooves of the horses leave before the door opened. She whirled around to see the carriage leave back down to the town. She cursed Nathan for leaving her in the care of an unknown demon for who knew how long.
“What good for nothing demon sent you to disturb my peace.” Osalie turned to face a slight woman covered in shawls of multiple colors. Her braided hair was silver but her face was that of only a slightly older woman. She looked no more than forty with sharp light brown eyes that peered into Osalie. “I see.” After a pause the woman ushered Osalie into the cottage. It was cluttered, from the book, glass and scroll covered shelves and tables to scattered fabrics and clothes. There was no leftover food or dust; a clean mess. The woman moved a group of papers aside that upset a rather small dog, with a bark he jumped from the sofa and onto the floor. The dog gave Osalie a reproachful look for taking his spot. Osalie sat with her back straight, adjusting the skirts of her coarse wool gown. The older woman settled into the small sofa near the window waving her hand in a circular motion she conjured a two tea cups, a kettle, milk, sugar and scones on a tray. Laying the tray on the table she fixed herself a cup.
“Help yourself girl.” Osalie nodded took a cup of tea, added a little bit of milk and a lot of sugar. Her mother always scolded Osalie on how much sugar to put in tea but then again, her mother always scolded on one thing or another. The woman peered over the rim of her cup as she assessed the younger woman in front of her. “As your demon master must have told you I allow no demons on my property. You are a slave no doubt and I do not harm humans, being one myself.” She set down the tea on her lap, Osalie watch the untouched spoon swirl. She looked up into the woman’s face. “I find it difficult to believe you are human.” The woman grinned. “So you are a new slave. No worries, soon you will understand this place.” Her sly tone indicated her amusement of Osalie’s ignorance. Osalie blushed slightly feeling a bit foolish. “I am Maggie, Sage to all who need me and I deem worthy of my services.” Maggie chuckled at Osalie’s confused expression. “I believe humans in your countries would call me a witch, making pacts with the devil to kill my neighbor’s dog or some such nonsense.” Osalie smiled. It was true that the more superstitious people believed in ghouls and witches that made pacts with the devil. It made sense that if demons exist why not witches or sages. Osalie hadn’t thought of the make believe or realities. Her world, the demon world, and any other world, everything just was and nothing more. “I take it you have a message for me.” Osalie was brought from her musing by the statement.
“Yes,” remembering word for word what Nathan told her to say she replied, “Nathan um…my master has need of you ma’am. ‘King Alacark calls in his favor.’” Maggie expression changed from amusement to acute seriousness. “I see.” She stood and crossed the room to one of the shelves. “I had thought this message concerned you but I think neither of you know.”
“Know about me?” the woman retrieved a book and stared at Osalie with those sharp eyes. “You know in a way, I suppose.” Osalie eyes widened as her mind brought the memory of her youth; a dark night, her siblings, her secret. The woman gave Osalie the book then clapped her hands. Two bags appeared before her. Grapping the satchels, Maggie walked to the door. “Come along girl.” Osalie hurried behind as Maggie donned a large purple colored hat that tied at the neck. The green and blue feather, protruding from the hat, bounced slightly as the woman walked outside. The waited only a few minutes before Nathan’s carriage pulled up to the cottage. Stepping out into the late afternoon sun, Nathan and Tristan approached the two women. Bowing, Nathan said, “I’m glad you have come to reason Maggie. I had thought you would despite your last missive that was less than encouraging.”
“I clearly stated I wanted nothing to do with you and if I did so through a message that catches on fire when opened well that is my prerogative.” Maggie lifted her chin and entered the carriage. Osalie tried to stifle her giggle but at Nathan’s bemused look she failed. Her laughter caught his attention and he almost smiled back. The sun shined on her dark brown hair and her face light up when she smiled; she looked beautiful. It was a weird reaction to have for this small human. He shook his head and frowned. Tristan, on the other hand grinned down at her. “I zink she finds your set down amusing and I like her all ze more for it.” Nathan glared at him as he passed them and entered the carriage, grabbing Osalie hand in the process. As grapping went, she didn’t mind this at all. The ride back was filled with disagreement. Maggie only had two requirements, a single room and an assistant. Nathan had requirements of his own; she would not bother his household with unnecessary demands or jinx him and his demon associates. Maggie responded blatantly, that if he she would deem what were necessary demands and “fix” (for jinx was a useless word in her opinion) whoever she deemed needed it. At this point Nathan crossed his arms and shook his head. They argued the rest of the way.


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Osalie coughed as a waved of dust greeted her from closet she opened. Airing out the dresses, old hats and shoes, she proceeded to clean the interior. The spring air wafted in from the open window in the attic. Out of all the other rooms in the manor, she liked this one the most. Osalie wondered why the attic room was left to the dust and mice. She cleaned it at least once a week. Although the housekeeper had told her no one uses it. She smiled slightly as she looked around. The floor was swept and washed and the furniture dusted. There was a settee that on one wall and a sofa near the window that overlooked the grounds. The slaves were allowed one hour of rest a day, Osalie pictured herself reading in this room, letting her imagination explore with the characters in this peaceful setting. Since the attic is of no use it would be hers for a while. She had nothing to call her own here, not even her own body. This could be hers, if only for a little while. Heading down stairs, Osalie passed the slaves bustling about, cleaning for the ball tonight. Osalie moved to the side as maids passed with large vases of dark red roses. Approaching the housekeeper she curtsied and inquired about her duties this afternoon. “You are to clean out the guest bedrooms and clean the upstairs and downstairs floors, you will not get off easy with me girl. Do so quickly and come start back I have more for you to do today.” Osalie spent the rest of the day washing dust and cleaning. Her once smooth hands were now chapped and calloused with work. Her back ached and her muscle felt sore but she didn’t complain, this was her new life, she barley gave thought to the old one had.
A little before dusk Osalie was summoned to Nathan’s study. She found him bent over, writing on papers scattered on the table. Without lifting his head, he motioned for her to sit on the chair in front of him. Osalie stared at the top of his head until he leaned back, stretched and stared in return. He opened the draw and reached inside, revealing a key in his hand after he closed it. He had a hell of a time getting it from Adele, using all the seductive and teasing techniques he processed, he didn’t mean it and she found out quickly enough but it was too late and he had the kept in his procession. It had been a while since he smelled her scent without the collar. He wondered if it wasn’t as potent as he remembered and could he control himself if he smelled it again. That scent had a power over him and felt galled that a mere human had the means to make him weak.
“Come over here and sit on top of me.” Osalie moved around the desk to stand in front of him. She felt desire in her belly that moved to her lower half, even though he’d taken her the night before, she wanted him again. She turned and sat on his lap. Nathan untied her apron and undid the buttons of her gown. When she was clad only in her chemise he pushed her braid over her should and stared at her neck. He reached for the lock of the collar but hesitated. Frowning at himself, he undid the lock and took off her collar. Osalie touched her neck, it felt good not to have the chain’s weight on her neck but before she could muse anymore on the subject, Nathan grabbed her hair, pulled her toward him and bit her neck. She gasped as he let go of her neck, ripped the chemise and bent her over the desk. He clawed at his pants with nothing but fueled emotions dictating his actions. Freeing himself, he pushed into her pussy in one powerful thrust. She moaned loudly as he pounded into her hard. He was beyond thought and reason. He wanted to possess, her all of her. The scent had him crazed to point of madness. She was dripping down her legs and onto his balls and the smell of her arousal had him cumming. He was still hard and kept thrusting in and out of Osalie making her cum instantly. He grabbed her neck and pulled her to his mouth, he released himself into her tight sheath. He drank her blood, feeling it fill his body as she squeezed his cock with her second orgasm. He kept drinking. Osalie screamed as she came. Her head was light and her vision was blurry and still he drank her blood, he was going to kill her. She tried to fight back, tried to tell him to stop but she felt weak, aroused and surrendered. She uttered one word, “Please…” before the world turned black. It filtered through his haze and his eyes widened. Letting go of her, Nathan staggered back but quickly grabbed her before she fell to the floor. He was breathing hard, almost shaking. He felt her pulse with an unsteady hand, weak but steady and let out a breath. He could have killed her, would have if she hadn’t stopped him. Her scent still consumed him; he quickly grabbed and put the collar back on her throat. He covered her, lifted her gently in his arms and left the study, uncaring of the audience and his nudity. In his room, he laid her on the bed and watched her sleep. He had taken many lives, drank blood freely from many woman, headless of their deaths. As he watched Osalie, however, the thought made him feel hallow with fear. Why, he wondered, did her life matter to him?