Valentines Gift

Depending on reviews, I may turn this into something more! So review! NOW! XD

=========================================================================================


Quietly I entered our bedroom, through the third story window, silently as always. Tonight was the masquerade ball, and I had no intention of missing it, even though I had less than thirty minutes to prepare. Sighing softly, I looked about, wondering where he was, before entering the bathroom. Peeling off layers of clothing, I thanked the gods that the night went smoothly, and that I was able to successfully complete my mission. I turned the scalding water on and stepped in, pulling my hair down along the way. My dark hair had grown quite a bit from the shoulder length I originally had it, for now it flowed all the way to my back. Quickly shampooing and washing my body, I hurriedly brushed my hair, before pushing my hands together, and focusing on the inner fire of my inner demon. Soon my body temperature rose, and steam began to come off of my hair.


Within minutes my body was dry, along with my hair, which I put up in a tight bun, only allowing a few strands to frame my face. Applying a light coat of make up, I ran to the bedroom and pulled on the dark green gown he had laid out for me, and put on my mask. The cat shaped mask glinted in the dull light of the bedroom, and I quietly put on the matching green collar, before strapping my trusty knives to my thighs, and sliding the dress over them. The stockings came next along with the black heels. Looking in the mirror one last time, I was happy for the thin black veil that hid my eyes, but allowed me to see. Checking the time, I cursed silently before heading downstairs, realizing I was just barely on time. I watched as he entered through the double doors in front, the other slaves following a bit behind him.


I sighed softly, and grabbed a glass of champagne, taking a sip of it while I watched the procession. Normally I would be on his right hand side, being his right hand slave, and though it relieved me that no one had taken my spot, it was frustrating that I had just barely returned from my assignment to attend the ball that he and I held each year. His eyes scanned the crowd, bowing his head in respect to the people of interest, his eyes finally catching mine. I nodded and curtsied, though I was in the middle of the crowd. A single finger beckoned me forward, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel the heads of the others as they turned to look at me, and I made my way up through the middle of the crowd, and towards him.


He smiled and placed a gentle kiss on my lips, the hint of more lingering in his eyes. I smiled and bowed formally once again before his stern but kind voice spoke.


“Rise my kitten, its time.” He said softly, cupping his hand beneath my chin and raising my head up, placing another chaste kiss on my lips before addressing the people within the foyer. “Welcome my guests! Welcome to my annual ball, I do hope you enjoy yourselves, and I introduce to you the newest members of the Manor!” he said in a regal voice, his deep baritone carrying over the din of the crowd. Soon he began naming all of the new additions, each one stepping forward and taking a brief bow. This ball was mainly held to introduce subs to doms, and doms to subs, so that it would be in a comfortable relaxed and safe environment. As soon as he was finished, I looked up at him once again and nodded towards a more secluded spot, wanting to discuss my assignment while the details were still fresh in my mind. I know I should have written them down, but I didn’t have time with the ball being so soon. As we made our way to the corner, I grabbed him a glass of sparkling champagne, and handed it to him, before looking around to speak.


“I’m so glad to be home Master. Now, the most important news, his lordliness” I started off with disdain, god how I had hated him so much “was, ahem, kind enough to inform me that he intends to use his friends in the law to seize the manor, and basically everything in it. He wouldn’t say how, only that there was a loophole in our title, something about if the state deems it so.” I stopped as one of the slaves passed us by, before continuing on. “I also know that he is going to be here this evening, with the limited time span, that is all I could gather Master. I hope that you are not disappointed with me.” His hand rested on my shoulder as he smiled at me, pulling me into a comfortable embrace.


“Kitten, you always succeed, though sometimes I do not want to know your methods. Come, lets enjoy our ball, and I will take care of his “lordliness” myself if it comes to that.” He said softly, his finger tracing my jaw line. My whole body emitted shudders, and I couldn’t help as a soft mew escaped my throat. A deep chuckle followed my reactions, and as I looked into his eyes, I knew that tonight I was going to get a special reward. I thanked god for my telepathy, because I knew it would come in handy tonight. We walked back into the crowd, being greeted on either side, some making familiar greetings, others introducing themselves for the first time. Seeing a familiar young man, I couldn’t help but smile and hug him tightly as he hugged back, pulling apart as questions began pouring from our mouths at the same time.


“God I haven’t seen you in forever Enrathiosende, how have you been?” He asked, his eyes always the bright blue they were.


“I have been well, but busy Tesch, you know how it is running your own business!” I stated happily. It had been years since I had seen my fellow comrade, in fact since the Great War, and with a glance over to Master, I knew he had invited him special.


“So that’s the guy huh? Lucky fellow, too bad you were naive when you were younger, or else I might have stolen you away!” he said jokingly, a smile on his bright face. He always reminded me of Shaggy from Scooby Doo, fun loving, easy going and a total prankster when he wanted to be. I watched him walk over to Master, standing at least four inches over his head but rail thin like he was in high school. He shook Master’s hand, and smiled, before speaking once again. “So you are the lucky fellow eh? Thanks for inviting me; I promise I will leave this place in one piece, and that you have my best wishes for the both of you.”


“Your presence has brought happiness, how could I not invite you. And on that note, thank you for coming, I know she appreciates it. Don’t let me get in the way of catching up!” he said smiling, and with that I knew that there was no animosity between the two. We talked of our lives outside of high school and college, and how the world seemed to have turned bonkers in that time.


“So when is the wedding?” he asked suddenly, causing me to choke on my champagne for a moment, before blushing furiously and looking at him.


“You know how it is, he has to propose before the wedding” I stated simply, looking over at Master while I said this, smiling a bit before turning back to Tesch. “Someday, will you be coming to the wedding?” I asked jokingly, not expecting to get an answer from him.


“Of course, as long as I can spike the punch” he said with a wink, causing me to laugh and smile. With a brief look at the time, I blanched and told him I would talk with him later, and that I had to go. Placing my now empty glass on one of the serving trays a girl was holding, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of smugness radiate from the girl. I raised an eyebrow, but was pulled away from my thoughts as Master grabbed my hand, and led me out to the open dance floor. As he nodded to the sting quartet, he smiled at me and bowed, acknowledging my bow in return. He grabbed my hand and began to lead me around, in our favorite dance, the tango. Soon we were both breaking out into a small bit of sweat, our breathing rasp. At that moment, I didn’t care if we were in the middle of a crowd, or the middle of a dance floor, at that moment in my mind, it was just us two. Our hips and feet and bodies swayed, trembled and twirled in unison, and if that wasn’t just as gratifying as a rough bout of sex, I didn’t know what was. Soon the music ended, and the applause followed momentarily. I looked around, and realized that people weren’t just clapping to clap, but were really applauding our performance. We each took a bow, and parted, taking a partner from the crowd and bringing them to the dance floor, getting the rest of the crowd into the dance.


Not long after I found myself dancing with the man I had been spying on, and a cold sweat broke out over my body. We may have been in masks, but I would recognize that scent everywhere. The cheap cologne that went with his expensive coats and the smooth hands only an aristocrat would have. I remained quiet throughout most of the dance, until I noticed a dull gleam coming from under his coat. Upon closer inspection I realized that it was a gun, and I found it loaded. Unable to contain myself, I disguised my voice as best as I could then spoke quietly so only he and I were privy to the conversation.


“I would advise keeping that sidearm holstered, lest you are looking for trouble my lord.” I whispered threateningly. He eyed me over for a moment, before a spur of recognition spread over his face, and he pulled me closer, twirling in the center of the crowd.


“Ah, dearest one, I thought I left you locked in a cage. I should have known you were nothing but trouble” he said softly, twirling me around expertly as if putting on a show.


“You know me, a mistress at picking locks” I snarled, hating the fact that I had to escape out of a bloody cage just to get home. I looked around, and found Master watching with a knowing eye, and nodding towards me. “What are you doing here, I don’t remember seeing you on the guest list” I said softly, looking around and taking in the surroundings.


“I just decided to invite myself” he stated simply, before dipping me low and pulling me back up. “I should have known that he would have sent his most cunning whore to do his bidding” he snarled, emphasizing the word whore. I growled softly, and pulled myself away, turning around to make one last statement before disappearing into the crowd.


“Keep that sidearm holstered or I will make sure your hand can never draw it again.” Grabbing a glass of mead off of a tray as I made my way through the crowd, I downed it quickly and thanked the gods I came out of that alive. Walking towards the kitchen to see how things were going on behind the scenes, as was my duty as Alpha slave, I began making my way silently behind the rather loud crowd. Hearing voices upon entering the kitchen, I stayed silent and out of sight and listened, getting the information that I needed for missing the past few days.


“I really wished she hadn’t come back” came the voice of one of the younger slaves.


“Why? You really think you had a chance at him?” came another voice, one of a seasoned patron here at the manor.


“He was complimenting my work, I even got pets! I know I had a chance. I know I am prettier, without the ghastly scars over my eyes or a blue red tint. She isn’t natural, I don’t like it.”


“Neither is the Lord, but you learn throughout time, that they are inseparable, she would skin you alive if she knew what you were thinking of. She’d skin ye twice if she learned that you had seen her face without the mask on.”


“She couldn’t skin me, the master would defend me.”


“You better think twice, she’s stealthier and deadlier than all of us here combined.”


“I don’t care! I know I could slip some of this stuff into her drink without her noticing!”


At this I had heard enough, and quietly surrounded myself in the shadows I had come to love so dearly. Soon I pulled out of another shadow, directly behind the first girl. It was the newest addition to the manor, Elizabeth. Drawing a single blade silently, I stood behind her silently while she ranted on and one to the other slave, who noticed my appearance.


“All she does is missions, its not like she is ever here! He needs someone who is always going to be here, someone who will love him because he is the way he is, not because he is powerful. I bet she is a gold digging whore, little bitch…” she trailed off quietly as the back of her neck was exposed to my sharp blade.


“Don’t forget, slave, that I outrank you, and I am far more powerful than you. I have known the man longer than you have been alive, and I love him with all my heart. It is my job to do missions. Now, for future reference, if you’re going to plan something heroic and cunning, don’t talk so loudly in the kitchen.” I snarled, leaning in close to her ear. “Your lucky I’m not allowed to kill slaves anymore for plotting, oh how I miss those days” I added, before tucking the blade away. Exiting as quietly as I had come, I left the kitchen and headed outside, looking up at the stars before heading back inside. I could hear sounds of commotion breaking out before I got to the main ballroom, and I found Tesch at the entrance to from the kitchen, looking scared.


“You better get in here quick, this doesn’t look pretty” he said gravely, leading me back inside. Elizabeth was standing shocked by the door, her jaw hanging as she gazed onto the scene that was mass chaos. I could see “lordliness” standing over what appeared to be a heap of rags. I began to push my way through the crowd, my heart beating faster as I approached, and recognized Master’s cloak. He had been shot, and by the look of it, in the neck. I knelt down; gently feeling for his pulse, thank the gods I had found one. I found the bullet, and thinking quickly, used the little control I had over shadows to pull the bullet out, and cauterize the wound before it bled further. Standing, I looked at the attacker, and snarled, the black glow starting around me.


“I claim his land, and his home, and all of his…property. Tonight, you will be mine” he said, looking right at me.


“You can’t claim from the living idiot” I snarled, and watched his expression of surprise. The silence in the ballroom was almost deafening, I could hear his rasping as he looked from me, then to Master, until it registered in his eyes that Master was still breathing. He raised the gun to fire again, only it didn’t even make it half way before I caught his wrist, and twisted behind his back.


“I warned you, I would ruin your hand. You tried to take what was most precious to me, you will pay” I whispered in his ear, giving the arm an extra jerk, feeling the gun drop to the ground. I let him go, and called out so everyone could hear. “No one is to interfere, someone come get this gun, and get Master out of the dance floor. NOW!” I barked sharply, sensing others rushing to get the gun, and even more pulling master off the dance floor, and into chaise lounge in the back of the room. Ever since I had lost my sight, my senses had heightened, and ever since I got it back, I had used them to every advantage.


“Stupid whore, you can’t stop me” he taunted, a grim smile on his face, his eyes beady and his face already broken out into a thin sheen of sweat.


“That is where you are wrong, bastard” I taunted back, seeing him come in for the first move. He was slow and clumsy, and all I did was dodge his attacks, throwing taunts at him every few seconds. Soon he was stumbling and catching his breath, and while I stood a way back, I drew my knives, one in each hand, and prepared myself. He gave out a bloodcurdling cry, and ran straight for me. Quietly I dodge, stabbing his hand completely through with one knife, and his wrist with the other. I a scream rendered the silent air, and he collapsed to his knees, holding his hand out and shaking, looking at the two blades protruding from his forearm and hand.


“I warned you once, and any smart person would have taken my warning, but you pushed your limit, and now you don’t have the use of your right hand.” I stated, leaning down and pulling out the blades, healing him the same way I had Master, only with him he couldn’t use the hand anymore. I quietly cleaned off the blades and sheathed them again, looking around for anyone who dare challenge what I had said. A single shot rang through the air, and I felt the piercing pain in my left shoulder. Turning round, I found Elizabeth with the gun, glaring at me with a look of hatred, and satisfaction.


“He is mine now” she whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear, before I too fell to my knees. My head swam for a moment, and I could feel all the pent up anger in my body breaking free and I knew that if I lost control, it would mean that every person in the manor at this point in time would lose their life. Going through my list of options, I did the second best thing I could have done, besides losing all control, I changed. Soon my body erupted in stripes and a set of ears and a tale, then fur, and finally, a tigress’s body. The mask and clothes were gone, and what stood in their place was a six foot long white tigress, and four and a half feet tall. I snarled, a primal sound erupting from my feline body, before I lunged an attack, catching her off guard. I felt my jaws connect around her neck, and I brought her down. The only thing on my mind was the suffocation of the one who I could turn all my anger towards, the one person I could unleash on. My vision grew red as I clamped down harder and harder, her flailing arms and weak punches not doing a thing to stop me, nor the hot blood falling out of the fresh wound.


Soon her punches became weak, and her body began to grow limp, and I would have kept going until she was dead, but a recognizable voice broke through my thoughts, and I found myself stopping, as Master had commanded me.


“Kitten, let go, she has learned. You cannot have another death on your record.” He said softly, and simply. I let go; for the first time in a long time, I let go. Her coughs and sputters echoed in my ears as I turned to face him, my body changing back into its human like appearance. Most of the people in the ball room were staring at me with a mixture of horror and curiosity, though there were a few, like Tesch, who just stood grim. He was one of the few who knew that I had done the girl a favor; I had done everyone a favor, by changing.


Soon I stood, bowing before Master as he rapped out orders for the two to be taken away, and I watched as they were drug off by two of the slaves, and the other guests soon followed. The only people that were left were me, Tesch, the slaves and Master.


“I’m surprised you know, your temper has simmered down a bit since the war days. Thank your mother for that one; she was always kind to others, even when I was a kid.” Tesch said softly, taking one last swig of mead before taking a bow. “Until our next fun occasion Commander Enrathiosende, be safe, and don’t kill anyone” he said, leaving in a flurry of shadow movement. The slaves all went to bed after that, and I was left with Master alone in the ball room. He smiled at me and put his hand on the shoulder, a glowing pulse from his hand healing the bullet wound.


“I’m proud of you today, and you will be rewarded, once we both are well enough to celebrate” he whispered softly, leading me upstairs. Soon we were naked under the sheets, somewhat wet still from a rushed shower. As I lay there, I looked up at him from his arms, and just watched as he fell asleep into oblivion. His breathing evened out, and his eyes would flitter every now and then, but a slight smile lay upon his lips constantly, and his arm gripped me convulsively. I smiled, and lay my head down, listening to the steady heartbeat that had put me to sleep over the years, and smiled. I was so happy that I was home…I had missed it so.