Chapter Five

Of Pillows and Talking

Ellie frowned as she took notes on the daemon in the cage before her. It had taken time, but she had eventually gotten the courage to go near the things- after what had happened, one could hardly blame her though. She frowned. It had been three days, three days, since the events of lab. Since the daemon… since, the kiss… she shook her head and took down some more notes. The kiss had been wonderful, more than wonderful, it had been amazing. It wasn't her first kiss, but it was so much better than any of her 'make-out' sessions had been when she was a teenager.

However, her teenage years had made one thing simpler, when she had finished kissing them, they usually had to flee as her uncle would catch them, leaving any uncomfortable conversations and aftermath almost non-existent. With Ardyn however, she didn't have, or want, that option. No instead she actually wanted to have a conversation about what had happened, she wanted to talk or anything with him. Instead, after the kiss he had sent her to the infirmary to get checked up and then he had left. She had seen him again the next day when she had been released and he had assigned her the task of researching the creatures, she had barely seen him since!

She watched as they creature stepped towards her, the UV lights activated causing the creature to shriek as it burned, it flinched back. Apparently the incident had caused them to up the security, at least some good had come form her being hurt. She made a note about the UV burns on the creature and wondered what she was doing. They had been researching the daemon's much longer than she had, so why would he ask her to take notes on them? From what she could see, their main weakness was sunlight, which wasn't helpful since they came out at night. UV lights attached to weapons perhaps? UV pulse weapons?

She sighed, she really did not see the point of her doing this. She tapped her pen against her chin. She wondered how much longer he would have her do this, it was pointless, she wasn't going to learn anything new. They knew more than she could ever hope to about the creatures. What was Ardyn's game? What was he trying to gain from her? She wanted to talk to him, for many reasons.

"Besithia did it." She heard a hushed voice.

She paused. Besithia did what? She crept around the corner of the cages to an obscure part of the room. She saw two researchers leaned over the a desk looking through a microscope and reading over notes. She took a quick glance around the room before she leaned against the wall to listen in.

"Of course he did." the other researcher replied. "He's been weird, weirder, lately."

She heard the other researcher snort. "He's always weird… like creepy weird.." she looked around the wall to see them still in their position. She took another quick glance around before continuing to listen.

"Something feels like he… he wants us to be eaten… or turned into daemons..." the researcher made a sound of displeasure.

"Well he certainly wanted it to happen to the Chancellor's assistant, whatever it was."

"Yeah… but there's always a chance that he'll do it to us too..."

Ellie's eyes widened. If what she was hearing was correct, then Besithia had tried to kill her, could possibly try to do it to others. Why? What reasons could he have for that? Surely he had the support of the Empire, so what would prompt such an action? Had she wronged him in some way that he felt the need to release a daemon on her? Her blood ran cold, perhaps it wasn't her, perhaps he was trying to harm Ardyn? Her heart palpitated and she found herself fleeing the room in search of her employer. She would not be able to live with herself if he had died and she had not done anything to stop it.

She shoved past the M.T's guarding the door and ran down the hallway in search of him. She knew this place from her childhood as well as the last few days that she had been there, but even with her familiarity with the place, she still was not sure where he could be. He could literally be anywhere. She searched one room and was met with researchers and more daemon's. Another room was empty, save for some desks and folders. The next room turned out to be a lavish dining room, why they needed one of those was beyond her.

'Is that roast chocobo?' she thought to herself as she stared at the food displayed on the table. After a few moments she shook herself and left the room- she didn't have the capacity to think about why there would be a feast set up in a facility like this. For Besithia perhaps? At the thought of Besithia she turned heel and fled back down the hallway. She searched another two rooms before she opened the third and came to a halt at the sound of her name.

"Miss Tummelt."

She froze. Her wide eyes glanced around the Daemon research room until they settled on Verstael Besithia. Her heart stopped. She wanted to flee, but knew that she would be silly, even if her suspicions were correct, she couldn't just flee at the sight of him- it would be suspicious! She needed to talk to Ardyn first, ensure that he hadn't been fed to a daemon.

"Yes, Sir?" she said evenly.

He smiled widely at her. "How are you feeling? You seem… well, you sustained injuries," he stepped closer to her and looked her up and down as though examining a subject- she felt like one as well. "are any injuries bothering you? Such a tragedy that it had to happen." the older man raised a brow as he locked eyes with her.

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. The older man had always made her unsettled, the feeling was worse now. "I am feeling better now, thank you sir." she gave him a light bow.

He made a sound before turning to go back to his work. She took it as a dismissal but she still needed to know something, she cleared her throat to gain his attention. "Sir, If I may ask," she paused and he nodded in admission. "would you know where the Chancellor is?"

Something in his eyes gleaned at her question. "Lost him have you?" he chuckled.

She inwardly blanched but she remained her composure, she didn't say anything and continued to watch him. He made her skin crawl. She watched as he reached over and plucked a note pad from the table, he read over the notes for a few moments. She felt her lips tighten, he was toying with her. She would not let him get to her.

"I, have not seen him, dear girl." he smiled widely.

She nodded and bowed again. "I thank you." she turned to leave.

"Do look after yourself, dear girl." the humour in his voice was evident and his chuckle followed her down the hall.

She clutched at her notebook as she scurried through the halls. She tried their shared 'office' again and was disappointed when he wasn't there. She left the room and found herself walking into the lunch room. She placed her notebook on the table and walked over to the vending machine. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought about all of the times that she had met him here. Her childhood, life was simpler then.

Her stomach rumbled, all that running around had made her hungrier than she thought. She reached into her pocket and pulled out some gil. She wondered if she could finally get this right. She reached over and pushed the gil into the slot. She picked what she wanted and waited as the item began to move towards the front. It moved. It moved. It stopped. She bit her bottom lip and her eyes went wide with rage, she knew that it would happen and she still wasted her money. She hit the machine.

"Piece of shit!" she growled and hit it again.

"I hear tell that you wanted to see me?" she jumped and turned to see Ardyn leaning casually against the door frame. His eyes glinted humorously as he took in the sight before him. He pushed himself from the frame and stepped towards her. "Is this why? Do you need help?"

He was teasing her. "Sir, I wanted to talk to you, I need to make a report, it's important."

He patted her head and smiled at her, he then hit the machine and smiled as the food dropped into the compartment. He picked it up and held it out to her. "It can wait until we get home." he said simply in response to her words.

"But Sir!" she protested, but stopped when he 'shhed' her. She stared up at him with wide eyes.

"It can wait." he said simply and put a hand on her shoulder. "Now go pack our things, I have a meeting with our friend Besithia, then you're driving us home." he winked at her and walked away.

She held the crisp packet in her hands and stared at the spot where he once stood.

X

Elise sighed as the wind whipped through her hair. She had been against driving this close to nightfall, especially after what had happened to her. But Ardyn had wanted to leave and she while she had protested, she had given in to his demands- she always did. She glanced at the Chancellor, her eyes softened. He was sleeping, his hat was clutched in his lap and his head was leaned back into the car seat. He looked so at peace when he was sleeping, as though nothing were nothing to give him worries in the world, she liked seeing him like this.

She looked back at the road, it was getting darker, but so far she had yet to see any daemons, which was good. She glanced back at Ardyn, he twitched in his sleep, she looked back at the road. She had tried to make her report while they drove but he had complained about being tired and wanting sleep and that anything she had to say could wait- he had 'promised' that he would listen to her over some coffee, or wine, the moment they got home.

She wasn't sure she believed him.

"Aera..." she heard him mumble in his sleep, she looked at him and frowned at the pained expression on his face. She looked back at the road while she reached out to touch his shoulder. She wanted to offer some comfort, anything. He seemed to respond instantly and leaned his cheek onto her hand.

"I'll get you home Sir." she breathed looking out at the road.

XXX

Ellie sighed and rubbed the shampoo through her hair. Once they had gotten back to the house she had tried to give her report, only to be told to 'take some time for herself', to say that she was frustrated would be an understatement. She grumbled and reached for the conditioner. The man frustrated her! Why did he have to make this so difficult, all she wanted to do was warn him about the possible risk to his health, only to have the man continue to put her off. She rinsed the conditioner out of her hair. She sighed again and leaned against the tiles, she enjoyed the feeling of the hot water against her spine, she closed her eyes, she was so tired… she jolted against the tile and stood straight, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for her to fall asleep in the shower.

She stayed in for another few minutes before switching the shower off and wrapping her towel around her head and another around her body. She checked herself in the mirror, she looked tired, her face was pale, even after her shower, and her under eyes were dark. She needed a sleep. She frowned, she had to make her report first, sleep could come later. She shook her head and walked into her bedroom.

"This is positively sinful." she jumped at the sound of Ardyn's voice. She looked at her bed to find him sprawled out on it. He was wearing a simple shirt and his pants, in his hands was a book. One of her books.

"I...I… sir?" she gasped, her mouth opening and closing in shock.

He adjusted a pair of reading glasses he was wearing- had she ever seen them before?- and cleared his throat. "he leaned forwards to nip at his throat before he pulled back, the crop raised in his hand, the youth cried out as the stick smacked against his pale flesh. He cried out in pain but his 'member' showed just how much he enjoyed it, it strained, clear beads leaking from the tip." he held the book away from him and clutched a hand against his chest. "How indecent! My poor fragile mind has been damaged, my poor innocent eyes!"

A small part of her blanched at the idea that his mind had been damaged, but it was overwhelmed by the shock, horror and embarrassment at the situation. Pushing the fact that he was in her room aside, the fact that he had found one of her books. She wished that the world would swallow her whole, she wished that the daemon had eaten her. She opened her mouth but no sound came out, she was frozen to the spot her body shook.

He flipped ahead several pages and Ellie felt her heart palpitate, god she hoped he didn't read page two hundred and fifty-one. "I came here to check on you and listen to your report, and instead, I find this novel." his eyes scanned over the two pages he had open and his brows raised. "Oh Ellie," he glanced up at her. "sweet innocent Ellie."

He was taunting her, she knew it. She should have demanded that he leave, put the book down and respect her privacy, but she couldn't find her words, the mortification was too much. "S-sir… I..." she fumbled for words, but nothing came.

"How familiar are you with this book, how many times have you read it?" her silence told him everything that he needed to know. "What about these pages?" he turned the book to her and her heart sank as she saw the numbers, two hundred and fifty-one.

"Sir! Please, put it away!" she started. "It's-" she cut herself off, unable to finish her sentence.

His eyes gleamed humorously. "It's what?" he chuckled. "Tell me what happens on the page."

"Sir-" she began to protest but he cut her off.

"That's an order Dear Ellie."

She froze. He hadn't wanted her report, but he wanted her to tell him what he had just read. Why? "Sir, please… this is..."

"Now Ellie."

She sighed and eyed him. She wasn't sure how to deal with this, this was an Ardyn that she had never seen before. He had always been a teasing personality to her, but he had never been mean, demeaning or cruel to her, and currently this is what it felt like to her. "The detective..." she began shakily. "He puts a collar," she shifted uncomfortably, god she wished that she was wearing something other than a towel. "around the prisoner's neck, and he, and he t-takes him outside and..." she felt her face flush and she turned her head, unable to look into his eyes. "Sir please, this is...inappropriate..."

She heard him pull himself from her bed and step towards her. Fingers grasped her chin and tilted her face to look at him. His amber eyes gleamed with something that she could not name. His thumb brushed circles along her cheek. "tell me." he said gently.

"He walks him around the yard like a dog, before he has… sex… with him on the grass..." Her voice was quiet, but she found herself unable to stop herself unable to stop herself from answering him, something about the look in his eyes compelled her to answer.

"Absolutely sinful..." he murmured and then his lips were on hers, soft, gentle, but firm.

She froze unable to register what was happening. He was kissing her, why was he kissing her? Was this a continuation from what had happened in the research facility- his hand tugged her towel away and buried his fingers in her wet hair, while at the same time his tongue probed at her lips and she lost all thoughts except those of him. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, her movement caused the towel around her body to slip and fall to the floor.

She shivered and moved to pull away, to cover herself, but he clutched tighter at her. He gripped her hips and pushed them against his. She gasped against his lips and closing her eye, she plunged a hand into his red locks, holding tightly to the hair. He let out a sound at the action, and suddenly she felt herself being lifted his hands grasping her thighs and her legs instinctively wrapped around his hips.

He chuckled against her lips at her actions and moved them. She felt her back press against something hard and cold, she quickly realised that it was the wall. His lips moved from her neck and trailed down her cheek to her neck. She leaned her head back and allowed him access. He chuckled again and bit down against her neck, while he rocked his hips against hers. She cried out and rocked against him.

"Shall I stop?" he murmured against her neck, he nipped at the skin.

She blearily opened her eyes and looked down at him, his amber eyes gleaned up at her from her neck. "W-wha?"

He chucked and rocked his hips, she whimpered and clenched her hands his hair. "Speechless my Dear?" he rocked again and a hand slid down across her buttocks and towards her core, a finger traced her core sending shivers through her body. "Shall I stop? Shall I let you rest?" he moved to pull away.

"Sir!" she gasped, her thighs tightening around him. "P-please..."

He lifted his head, his eyes locking with hers. "Please what Dear Ellie."

"Please don't..." her cheeks reddened. "Please don't stop Sir."

His grin turned feral.

X

Ellie laid curled against his side. She was sore, in many places, but the good kind of sore. She had never imagined that it would be like that, she had never had sex before- she had fooled around in her teenage years, but nothing had ever come from her fooling around, either they would be interrupted by her uncle or some other cause, usually her uncle though. So sex had been something that she had always wanted, but had never had the chance before, until now…

Her cheeks reddened and she buried herself closer into his chest. She could hardly believe that she had done it, with Ardyn of all people! She wondered what would happen from here, would this change her relationship with him? She inwardly snorted, of course it would, she had slept with him! She had finally done what the rest of the Empire believed her to be doing. She squeezed her eyes shut as memories from a few hours ago flowed through her mind. It had been amazing, she had no words to describe how incredible it had been. Ardyn was… he liked being in charge and he knew what he wanted, and that suited her. She liked how he had given orders and had put her in all sorts of positions.

"You had a report to give, Dear Ellie?"

She jumped at the sound of his voice. She looked up from his chest, he was looking down at her with relaxed eyes. He smiled at her and she felt herself smiling back. 'Now he want's his report.' she thought with a wryly grin. She reached up and brushed some hair out of his face, before she placed her head beside his on the pillow and proceeded to give her report, when she was done, she was surprised to find him chuckling.

"Sir?" she asked with confusion.

"Dear Ellie," He patted her head. "I know. Besithia is ambitious as he is cunning, I know all about his plans." he ran fingers through her hair and his other hand drew circles on one of her breasts.

She stared at him with wide eyes, while also shivering at his touch. "You… know? Do you mean to do anything about it?! He is a danger to us, he-" she gasped as he pinched her nipple. Hard.

"You don't need to worry about it, Dear Ellie." he said calmly. When she went to protest, he pinched her again. "Do not think about it." he grinned. "Everything is as it should be."

She frowned at that. She could accept that perhaps he knew what was going on, but to say that it was alright, that it was as it should be, was in her opinion, not the response that he should be giving. If Besithia was doing dangerous experiments with the daemons, then shouldn't they be reporting it? Her eyes widened, unless they were aware of it, what if the Emperor knew and was allowing it to happen. What would this mean for the Empire.

"Dear Ellie, do stop worrying about it." she looked back at her employer with a raised brow, causing him to frown. "Just think about this," a hand slid down her chest towards her abdomen, he then grinned a toothy grin. "And all the fun we're going to have!"

She could certainly do that...