I was staying at a place where I had no internet. But I have two chapters to upload here and now! Enjoy. . .
"What do you mean you're leaving?!"
Arielle was standing behind The Kurgan as he was preparing to leave. He was on his horse and was satring down at the woman who looked terrified. His true mate wouldn't have been so scared. She would have wanted go with him, this woman did not.
After Belfeiro had left and The Kurgan had gone to his room, the woman watched him. she had followed him when he stormed out of the front doors and kept asking the same question; "What had happened?"
At first it hurt him too much to reply, even as he sat atop his horse he it pained him to see her in such a way. But he was an expert in keeping his feelings hidden and he did so now. As she begged for an answer he fixed his gloves and checked his sword.
"I said I'm leaving. It's simple. You are to stay here and behave." That was all he said.
When she had first asked he was frustrated but now he was furious. She should be fighting to join him not begging him to stay. She stood on the front steps wringing her hands nervously. In her mind she was terrified to live without him; he was her protector as far as she was concerned. She was still confused about who she really was and it was showing.
"B-but you can't. . ." she whispered as she hung her head.
He finally looked at her and when she met his eyes she saw that he wasn't looking at her with kindess. He was angry with her. . .
"And why should I stay?" He asked.
She looked off to the side and mumbled something.
"Speak woman!" He shouted.
She jumped.
"Who will protect me?" She asked in a low voice.
At that a bubble of fury burst in his head and it took strong will power to keep in contained. Instead he laughed as if it was the funniest question ever asked.
"No one," he said cruelly.
He turned his horse away before he could see the terror and hurt on her face and kicked its sides. Ride and animal sped away into the distance. Feeling rejected she turned and ran from the steps up into her room where she flung the door open and laid out across the bed crying. She carried on for hours like that, fear causing most of her tears.
Around the castle the servants carried about their normal duties. Mel was sad for her friend but knew she had a job to do and that her place was in the kitchens. She had tried to comfort her mistress but the woman was inconsolable. The middle aged mortal had left the woman to her crying, ever she knew that this wasn't the same Arielle they all knew and remembered. This wasn't the same woman who had changed their master into a different man.
They all saw the way the mistress had changed when she had returned. None of them understood and didn't want to, it was their master's business and they were but humble, lowly, servants of the castle. In The Kurgan's absence they had been given slightly more authority since their master didn't believe in bringing in officials to help run his house hold.
It was a surprise to them all when there was a resounding, and persistent, knock on the front doors. The lead servant, the one who had served the master the longest made his way to answer the call. He gave the man he greeted a cold stare.
It was the Belfeiro man, the one who wore pompous clothes and carried an air that was just as evil as the master. He stood there with his mute of a manservant. He smiled smugly at the servant waiting at the door, his appearance was that of a new home master.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Almand. The Kurgan's man. Thank you for opening the door, now if you don't mind, stand aside." He rudely pushed by without waiting for his order to be obeyed.
Almand had no choice but to let him pass. This was a man of nobility and was far superior to himself in class and sword. He knew that if he didn't stand aside the Italian would cut him down to place, so to speak. He didn't make it any easier for Belfeiro to pass though, standing solidly in his way and forcing him to push by roughly. The discomfort on the noble's face was clear, it made Almand smile.
When he strode into the castle, the new master turned and full admired the place. "My! The Kurgan, a brute he may be, has fine taste in nobility. He certainly made sure this place stood for his title, but still rings with his brute humbleness."
The other servants had all gathers at the end of the great hall and were looking at the Italian and his intimidating man servant. They all thought the same questions; what was he doing here? Why? What did he want?
He looked at them and opened his arms wide, his servant behind him wordlessly. "Ah! The most willing, and bravest, of servants I have ever laid eyes on! To brave being this wicked man's staff so willing, it's admirable." He grinned. "And now you will all belong to me."
Mel blanched and hid behind her husband, her son Eric, pulling in beside her to protect her. Almand slammed the door shut and turned to face him with a glare in his eyes.
"You?" His deep voice rang out through the stunned silence. "How dare you waltz into our master's castle and claim ownership after he goes to fight a battle for your gain!" His voice was aged and measured with each word. He was a man who learned from his master over the years and knew how to sound big without losing his composure.
Belfeiro's grin shrunk to a smirk. He turned, his man servant turning before him and taking two steps toward the German. The Italian put a gloved hand out to stop his man. "Now, now, Mortitz. This man just needs to be taught his place. It would seem that The Kurgan does not properly educate his servants on status' and class."
With a false smile he strode back towards the mortal. He chuckled in his throat but Almand held his ground. This may be a noble but he was still the enemy of his master and therefore Almand disliked him immensely. The German stood his ground, even when Belfeiro straightened his glove and landed a heavy punch across the elder mortal's face. With a gasp from the crowd of servants the man stumbled but was otherwise unaffected.
The Immortal grinned manically and as soon as Almand stood straight again punched him again. The blow made the mortal's nose begin to bleed. The Italian yanked him towards him by the collar of his vest and hammered five more blows into his face before stopping for breath. Not once did Almand fight back, he was old for a human though he didn't look so. He knew his classes and knew he didn't fight a nobleman back, although this man hardly deserved the title of Noble. He was far from it.
From the crowd the onlookers gasped with each blow and not one dared to help him, it was how Almand wanted it anyway. He'd rather they protect themselves than attempt to help him. It was the sad order to their world but the only one they knew.
He let the man drop to the ground and then stood up straight and smoothed out his chemise and over coat, making the wrinkles go away. He shook out his hand and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood away from his knuckles. As soon as his back was turned though the tough old man began to laugh and spit a glob of red saliva to the ground behind the man.
The Immortal raised an eyebrow and turned around, this wasn't what he expected. He saw blood mixed drool dripping from the other man's chin, despite the blood and bruises the human was grinning. His eye was beginning to darken and swell, his cheek was swollen, but the glare in his eye was still there.
"So you are resilient." Belfeiro remarked. "If I didn't have someone else to tend to I'd drop you like a fly. No matter." He looked to his servant, Mortiz, and nodded once.
The mute went forward and grabbed the laughing German, dragging him to the outside to beat him as he wished.
"Let him live for today!" The new master called out as Almand's laughter faded out. "I don't want to kill anyone on the first day." He made it sound like it was an action he really wanted to stand by. He turned to the crowd, "I am master now. Your old one will be gone for some time, but I am here. Now!" He grinned again and looked up the stairs. "Who will care to show me to the Mistress's chambers?"
At that another man lunged out of the crowd, Mel's husband. "Ye leaver her alon! Und'rstand? We let ye abuse our own and claim this place but the mistress has had enough don to 'er."
Belfeiro turned his head and eyed the man with one eye. "Oh? And will anyone care to stop me from going to her? I will eventually, after all it's not like one of you will stop me. Like your master I am not what you would define as a normal man."
He stared the human down until he dropped his gaze. It was obvious they all felt ashamed but they all knew the Italian was right. They didn't know what their master really was but they knew he wasn't altogether human, apparently he wasn't the only one of his kind because here was another claiming to be the same. Something about the mistress was different as well. Was she one of them? She seemed weaker. . .
They all dispersed as Almand's screams finally echoed through the courtyard and reached the servants on the inside. The younger men grit their teeth and took the screams of their elder. They all wanted to retaliate; while The Kurgan was a master to be feared and strictly obeyed he gave them their livelihood and provided a home for them when they had none otherwise. They weren't fond of him but they respected him were fond of their mistress and right now things were going to be difficult for her. None of them liked this Belfeiro man just from watching their master act around him, they knew they could trust his lead and did so.