Count D led Paul quietly into the shop. "What kind of pet are you
seeking?" he asked. Paul shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Just something that
I can love, and it will love me back. I'm single...I lost my entire
family...I am alone in the world. Rachel was my only friend..." Paul
replied, his green eyes brimming with tears. "Raechel?" questioned the
Count curiously. Paul nodded. "Rachel...she was a mutt. Part retriever,
part spaniel. She was one of a kind...the greatest friend I ever had. And
now...she's gone..." Paul's voice trailed off as he broke down and sobbed
over his lost companion. Count D didn't bother to comfort the man. He had
other plans...
"Thank you, Count." Paul said, wiping his eyes and finishing the last few drops of Chinese tea. It didn't matter that it was heaped with sugar...it did the trick. Count D nodded and took the dishes away. Paul rose to his feet. The Count smiled reassuringly and led Paul down the corridor to the back room. "I have just the pet to make you happy. It will love you back if you love it first." he said as he opened the door. Paul peered through the darkness into the room. A loud splash was heard from the depths. "It is in here." said Count D, gesturing for Paul to go in. Paul nodded and obeyed, pushing past the curtains into the room where a large pool was. The splashing continued. "Please, take a look and choose which one you find fitting." suggested the Count, and stepped back. Paul peered into the water. All he could see at first was a few pairs of eyes staring at him in the dark. Count D started burning incense, since during the confusion with Leon he had forgotten. Paul watched as the room slowly became dimly lit, and peered into the pool yet again. This time, he saw beautiful women. "Oh." he breathed, taking in their beauty. He found it hard to choose just one. "They're all so...so..." he began. The Count smiled. "Extraordinary?" he offered. Paul could only nod, his eyes transfixed on the mermaids and mymphs. They were all so lovely, but one caught his eye. She was in the back, in the corner. Her hair was an amazing shade of red, her eyes the color of sapphires. She was a nymph, so she looked so human there was almost no difference between her and an average woman. Paul kneeled by the side of the pool, and the maiden instantly swam over to him. Her gaze was mesmerizing. "She takes to you well." mentioned the Count as he watched. Paul just stared at the nymph lovingly. "I'll take her, no matter what the cost!" he cried, stroking her arm. Count D smiled. "Very well. I have a contract for you to sign to ensure she is taken care of." he said, holding up a piece of paper.
"Thank you, Count." Paul said, wiping his eyes and finishing the last few drops of Chinese tea. It didn't matter that it was heaped with sugar...it did the trick. Count D nodded and took the dishes away. Paul rose to his feet. The Count smiled reassuringly and led Paul down the corridor to the back room. "I have just the pet to make you happy. It will love you back if you love it first." he said as he opened the door. Paul peered through the darkness into the room. A loud splash was heard from the depths. "It is in here." said Count D, gesturing for Paul to go in. Paul nodded and obeyed, pushing past the curtains into the room where a large pool was. The splashing continued. "Please, take a look and choose which one you find fitting." suggested the Count, and stepped back. Paul peered into the water. All he could see at first was a few pairs of eyes staring at him in the dark. Count D started burning incense, since during the confusion with Leon he had forgotten. Paul watched as the room slowly became dimly lit, and peered into the pool yet again. This time, he saw beautiful women. "Oh." he breathed, taking in their beauty. He found it hard to choose just one. "They're all so...so..." he began. The Count smiled. "Extraordinary?" he offered. Paul could only nod, his eyes transfixed on the mermaids and mymphs. They were all so lovely, but one caught his eye. She was in the back, in the corner. Her hair was an amazing shade of red, her eyes the color of sapphires. She was a nymph, so she looked so human there was almost no difference between her and an average woman. Paul kneeled by the side of the pool, and the maiden instantly swam over to him. Her gaze was mesmerizing. "She takes to you well." mentioned the Count as he watched. Paul just stared at the nymph lovingly. "I'll take her, no matter what the cost!" he cried, stroking her arm. Count D smiled. "Very well. I have a contract for you to sign to ensure she is taken care of." he said, holding up a piece of paper.