Disclaimer: Drow not mine…

LadyJanelly: No, not too late. I couldn't let it end like this! I don't want Andy to be his slave…

Nariel: Hihi na dann wisch mal schnell den Sabberfaden da weg g Hatte allerdings immer schon Lust den beiden mal eine Affäre anzudichten. Vielleicht bekommst du da ja noch was zu sehen…Kann mir quasi schon bildlich vorstellen wie Kimmuriel angewidert das Gesicht verzieht nachdem er die beiden irgendwo überrascht hat lacht dreckig und reibt sich die Hände

C

New circumstances

C

When I'm back to something resembling distant awareness I can feel myself being carried down a corridor, a door is opened and then there is some soft material under me. I can't be bothered to move or open my eyes. Every bone and muscle in my battered body must be hurting and it takes some effort to keep from groaning as gentle hands slowly start to pry the stained and sticky clothes off me. At some point the hands stop moving about and what I believe to be a healing potion is poured down my throat. I swallow without resistance, because I recognize the taste. It is the same potion I get from my Master whenever I come back with painful wounds from one of the more violent encounters with a patron. He doesn't me to bear the marks of others for long. I know from experience that it tastes like ork piss, but is very effective and I'm thankful when I can feel it starting to take effect.

Shortly afterwards the hands return to their task and with something resembling bitter amusement I notice how after the worst damage is treated the touch slowly but surely gets a different quality, tenderly, sensually tracing the lines and curves of my body while cleaning me with a wet cloth. So when he thinks me unconscious even Giciel the tower of morality doesn't hesitate to indulge in his desires. I can dimly remember Andy telling me that he's only a half Elf. He must have been wrong, because after what I've seen and heard from him until now he certainly shows all the typical traits I would expect of a full blooded golden Elf Lord, the arrogant bastard. In this moment I nearly wish my Master would come and kill him, so I wouldn't have to deal with his irritating, condescending attitude.

I miss Andy, usually he was the one to look after me when I got hurt and although our relationship certainly had a very sexual basis he knew better than to bother me in times like this! Out of habit I make no move to resist this intrusive contact until I realize after a few minutes that this is not some Master in that damned city whom I have to obey and give pleasure, but an allegedly honorable hero who is currently touching me without my permission. And judging by the soft hiss I can hear, he has now come across the hand shaped bruises on my hips, which are a souvenir from the last night I had to spend with Vergir.

As his fingers come to rest on those bruises with a light, careful touch, I'm pushed past the boundaries of my quiet endurance and even though every move still hurts I firmly grab his wrist and send him an icy glare.

"Thank you for your efforts, but I would appreciate it if you could be so kind as to grant me some peace and let me rest now. Even though I may be a whore I do have my limits."

I manage to ground this out keeping at least the thin veneer of forced politeness towards him, for he did give me the potion after all, which is quite expensive and wasn't strictly necessary to keep me alive.

Surprised to see me wake up so quickly, he pulls back as if burned and blushes. If I wasn't so tired I'd probably laugh now, but presently I'm only relieved to see him look away in embarrassment as he swiftly covers me with a blanket and leaves the room as quickly as possible without actually breaking into a run. At the door he turns and says: "Don't worry, he can't reach you here. I've adjusted the wards." And then he is gone, but I don't feel reassured. Not at all.

The cursed collar is still there and I can only guess why my Master has left me alive, after this. Maybe it has to do with the wards Giciel was talking about or he wants me to come back by myself. Hell I'd probably do it, if I could! I can't though and I don't think Giciel would show any understanding if I asked him to gate me back to the city. So I can only wait and hope that he won't punish Andy for my disappearance. Still worrying I finally fall into a light, exhausted sleep while the potion is working its way through my body steadily mending the damage caused by the collar.

This time I'm woken by the feel of a presence I know only too well. He doesn't say or do anything. He just stands there, but the second I become aware of his projection floating next to the bed I am crouching on the ground in terrified submission all pain forgotten for the moment. Never mind that he can't touch me when he's like this, sometimes all it takes is a single word for him to reduce me to a shivering heap.

"I'm sorry Master!" I whisper trembling. "I accept my punishment."

He laughs softly.

"Of course you do bitch. You should know better than to allow anybody to remove you from my presence."

"Yes Master. Please I'm sorry. He's more powerful than I am. What are your orders Master?"

I ramble on fearfully.

"He, the one who killed my brother and saved your cousin? This… Elf?"

I can clearly hear the distaste in his words and flinch.

"Yes Master."

"He has healed you?"

"Yes Master."

Is he going to punish me? But the smile which follows my confirmation is one I know only too well. It usually appears when he is about to order me or Andy to go and seduce someone to gain an advantage or merely to give him an opportunity to use us as a bargaining chip to trade for future favors. It would fit perfectly with his twisted sense of humor to have me first seduce and then betray Giciel into his arms. We both are familiar with the procedure and so all he says is: "You know what you have to do slave."

I nod relieved that it isn't me who has become the aim of his wrath.

"Yes Master."

"Good."

And just like that he is gone without a sound, in that discreet, quiet way, which makes you wonder if he has ever been there at all and I am left alone, kneeling on the floor, overcome with a deep sense of resignation. As long as he lives I will never be free and maybe not even after his death, for there are many who envy him the ownership of two beautiful slaves and would go through a lot of trouble to get their hands on either Andy or me.

It will be so easy to do this, to seduce the other mage. Too easy. In fact I have practically started the whole process already without even trying to. With a sigh I get back on the bed where I lie, worry and stare at the lavishly decorated ceiling without being able to take anything in, with my thoughts going in an endless circle.

What will I do now? Can I try and play both parts? Obey my Master while trying to get Giciel to help me. The thought alone leaves me trembling with fear. My Master knows me too well, he would certainly expect something like this and be prepared for it, but if Giciel proves to be stronger than him… he has defeated his brother after all...

I come to no conclusion and decide that for the time being I will go along with the plan and see what happens. After some time I realize that I won't be able to go back to sleep and get up wincing at the soreness in my strained muscles. Since I'm not wearing a single shred of clothing I decide to borrow a sheet from the bed. It is surprisingly clean, which leads me to believe that Giciel has been back in here while I was sleeping to either change the bedding, or move me to a different room. I have no way of telling which one it was, but it doesn't really matter.

I exit the room and walk down a corridor in search of a bath or a toilet, but what I find when opening the very first door I come across is my cousin. Luckily she is fast asleep and I manage to close the door without waking her. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, not angry and tense as she usually is when in my presence and I wonder why she has made the effort to go after me. With my forced departure all official ties between us have been severed so she wasn't actually obliged to do anything, but she did take the risk and I have no idea what moved her to take this step, besides vague guesses about honor and such.

After this I hesitate to open any other doors, who knows what I might find behind them? And after standing in front of the next door for what must be about five minutes I'm relieved that I didn't attempt to open it, because suddenly it is opened from the inside to reveal a very frustrated Giciel. Out of pure instinct I take a quick step backwards and lower my gaze. As a slave you learn quickly to avoid the close proximity of an angry Master. It only serves to make you target of their irritation, which invariably results in pain.

I'm surprised when instead of reprimanding words I hear concerned questions.

"Oh, you're awake." An embarrassed pause. "Good. Do you want to take a bath or eat something?"

"I …um… yes a bath would be very nice." Best I play the part of the "distressed innocent" for now, that way I'll appear more harmless and he'll have no reason to suspect betrayal from my side.

"Very well. Follow me."

He leads me to another room which holds a wooden tub. It isn't nearly as luxurious as the one my Master has in his quarters, but it's got hot water in it and that is all I need at the moment. Without a second thought I let the sheet fall to the floor. I'm used to be naked in front of others by now, but apparently Giciel is not used to have somebody undress in such a careless fashion in his presence, because he blushes once again, but manages to keep his voice steady when he says: "I think I'll leave you now. Please feel free to use anything you need."

"Thank you." I say pretending not to notice how much he's affected by the sight of my naked body. The atmosphere is not relaxed enough for suggestive comments, so I decide to ignore his badly hidden glances.

"Do you wish to dine with me tonight?"

No, I don't, but considering how things have turned out I guess that what I want or don't want is of no consequence in this matter.

"Yes, thank you. That would be nice."

I force a smile on my face, hiding the anger I feel at the pity I can see in his eyes as he once again notes the many marks on my back, neck and thighs. Hypocritical bastard, looking at me like this while I bet all he can think of is adding some more to them! Thankfully he decides not to test my patience by staying any longer and with polite words takes his leave so I can finally submerge my sore limbs in the wonderful warm water and find a bit of relaxation before I have to apply myself to the task at hand.