Behavior at court
Jacob:
He looked at me intensely and his view fell on the collar I had around my neck, after a while he asked curiously "Why do you wear this necklace? It looks neither very comfortable nor really stylish."
That was unexpected! I know I should have answered his question instantly but I couldn´t help it, I couldn´t believe that someone didn´t know that, it was so obvious "Don´t you put you slaves in chains, Sir?"
I was afraid that he would be angry, because I haven´t answered his question, but he didn´t seem to be mad at me, he only shook his head and said "Where I come from we have no slaves. Please explain it to me Jacob; I really want to know it!"
He did it again! His kind behavior irritated me more and more but I thought he would stop to act like that, when he´ll see how the other vampires treated us. It was something completely new for me that someone wasn´t familiar with things like that.
Finally I explained "The collar should stop me from transforming into my wolf-form. All shape-shifters must wear these chains!" As a reflex I shrugged when he raised his hand, my reaction must have scared him because he took quickly a few steps back.
I wanted to asked for forgiveness for my behavior, when he cut me off "I´m sorry, it wasn´t my purpose to scare you, I only wanted to touch your collar" he apologized. I was struck dumb with astonishment, but I closed the distance between us and raised my head so he could inspect the necklace. Like every time when someone touched my neck I was reminded on the day Caius had closed this damned chain around my neck for the first time.
I was about fourteen and I had started to shift a few weeks earlier, it was horrible. With the tight, broad metal strip pressing against my throat I couldn´t breathe properly, it felt like I must suffocate. It was also hard to swallow in the beginning. And worst, all the time I had to suppress the need to phase. You think you get used to it? Wrong! I never get used to the chains that bind me to my human form.
I was lost in thoughts and didn´t recognize that Edward was staring at me the whole time, when I realized it, he looked like he was listening to something I couldn´t hear. The only noises I heard came from our breathing and from my racing heartbeat, but I was quite sure he listened to something else. When our eyes met, I lowered my view instantly, but I raised my head again when he started to speak. "I really don´t like the thought that you have to wear this thing the whole time. Do you think Caius gave me the key to open it?"
My thoughts were racing! I knew he had the key, I could see it on Edwards key ring but it was strictly forbidden to put the collar off – except the strength or speed of a wolf is needed, for a fight maybe or in the rare occasions, when we´re allowed to phase to stop us from aging.
Nevertheless it sounded tempting, but it was one thing when I put it of secretly and something completely different when he would open it. The king wouldn´t be pleased if he´ll find out that his new guest mistreated his rules. I don´t like to be punished, because my master did something wrong in his lack of knowledge.
Again he reacted on things that I didn´t speak out loud, because he put his key ring back into his pocket, sat down and asked "Would you explain to me how I should behave correct, when I meet the king?"
As a slave I had to follow other, stricter rules than he, but I often have been in the thron-room when Caius received guests, so I could tell my master how he should act.
"First of all you have to bow down when you stand in front of the king; you remain in that position until he gives you the permission to stand straight. You speak only, if his majesty tells you to do so. You mustn´t contradict the king when someone else is in the room, whether you dare it, if it is a private conversation depends on his mood. If the king offers something to you, you´re not allowed to refuse it, which would be a gross impoliteness. Consider more carefully what you say and how you put it and ..."
I faltered I would have preferred to omitt that last piece of advice, but after a reassuring look from my master, I took a deep breath and continued," ... and you mustn´t be so polite to the staff at least not to my kind, we are far below you. You have to command and not to ask if you want something!"
"So you think it was wrong to beg you to tell me something?" I nodded, realized my mistake and shook my head "I have no right to criticize you, sir!" He sighed and sat down more comfortable, since it didn´t look like he would continue our conversation I also sat down. I guess I was fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes the room was empty and my master was gone.
With relief I recognized the sound of splashing water from the bathroom, he only took a shower. I went to the dress room and put out some fresh clothes for him and hoped that I´ve done it the right way. To be honest, I haven´t any experiences in these things, the king had a whole bunch of servants which cares about that stuff. I was only there for his pleasure. I wondered if this will be different with my new master. When he stepped out off the bathroom, only with a towel around his hips I thought that I would at least rather touch him than Caius.
"I didn´t want to wake you, you looked so cute while you were sleeping, but I thought I should prepare myself for the meeting with my uncle. There was a delivery boy here, who told me that I´m expected at seven o´clock in the audience hall. I guess that´s not the room we met after my arrival, is it?"
I was speechless. The king was his uncle? I had no idea how this could work by vampires but I guessed he would have a good reason to call him so. To answer his question I only shook my head. As a matter of cause he answered again to my unspoken thoughts, slowly this got really scary.
"Of course he is not really my uncle, but once he and my father were good friends and even if this had changed someday and my dad had left Volterra forever, he still speaks about the king as his brother. So I guess for me he is a kind of uncle."
"Since I don´t know where I have to go; could you please guide me to the Audience hall when I´m dressed?" Only an instant later he added "Sorry, I mean: You must guide me to the audience hall!" With these words spoken, he went to the dressing room to get ready for his meeting.
I had to suppress a grin, even his order sounded like a kind question and not like a command; he must practice to sound convincing, I thought. When he came back in the room he was fully dressed and even if I don´t want to praise myself I must say, I have chosen his wardrobe perfectly, he looked gorgeous. The color of his shirt had exactly the same shade of caramel like his eyes, and the black jeans he wear now, flattered his already perfect figure.
While we went to Caius rooms I reminded him silently on the rules he mustn´t forget. I didn´t want him to get in trouble, because he´ll do something wrong. When we arrived the wooden door that lead in the audience hall, I gave him an encouraged view, but then I had to lower my eyes as some other guests came in our direction. I left my master to them and sat down on a windowsill, from which I was able to see the door, there I waited to bring my master back in his room when the gathering would be over.
