It was close to dusk when they reached the castle ground. Janine gasped softly as the house came into sight. Christopher heard her.
"This is the castle DeWinter. Your new home."
"It's gorgeous," she whispered, enthralled by the entire grounds.
The three horses entered the gates surrounding the castle, and stopped by the stables. Stablemen came out to hold the horses as the men got off of them. Raymond directed one of the men to Darius, who led him off to show him his new home.
Christopher dismounted, then held out his hand to Janine, who allowed him to help her down. Her breath caught in her throat, as his hands slipped around her waist as she slid off the horse. Ice-blue eyes raked over her body and for the first time since she'd arrived in this time, she was painfully aware of how little the rags she now wore covered. He caught her gaze and held it. She couldn't move. A small smile played on his lips. "Magdaline will show you to your new room, then you will join me in my lab," he told her. Another person came into view and he glanced over at them. Janine realized they weren't alone. The woman standing next to her, had her head cast down in front of him. "You will find her some suitable clothing, then bring her to me," he told the woman.
"Yes, m'lord," she said, leading Janine away from him and towards the castle. Only then did she raise her head. She looked Janine over.
"So, you're the newest unfortunate to catch Lord Christopher's eye," she said. "This is a bad thing?" Janine asked. "Depends on how strong willed you are," the woman smiled. "I'm Magdaline. I work in the kitchen."
"Janine," she said. Magdaline nodded. "Your room is this way. Christopher's women get more privileges than the other slaves, but always remember, you are still a slave. And pray Lord Michael never gets a hold of you, because you won't be long for this life then."
Once dressed, Magdaline led her to the tower, where she said Lord Christopher wanted her.
"Lord Christopher spends most of his time here. We hardly ever see him, unless there's a ball or something important is going on."
"I was told at the block he was a necromancer," Janine said. Magdaline laughed.
"No. He's an alchemist, and practices some sorcery, but he's never dabbled in necromancy, to my knowledge. That is the devil's work."
She stopped at the top of the tower, in front of a huge oak door. "This is Lord Christopher's lab." She knocked, then opened the door. Janine followed her in, looking at the enormous room. She felt like she was walking into Egon's lab back home, with all the tubes and bottles and burners. "My lord," Magdaline called out. "I've brought her."
From the far side of the room, there was a movement, Christopher poked his head out towards them, then nodded. "Thank you Magdaline, you can go."
Magdaline bowed, then patted Janine on the shoulder. Then she was gone. Janine looked around, still quite impressed at the resemblance of this lab to the one at home. Granted, she never stayed in the one at home for very long, since Egon only tolerated Ray in there for certain periods of time. Even Peter and Winston didn't go in there very often. She walked over to the window, and looked out. The view was breathtaking. She looked over the forests and the fields in the distance.
"It's quite spectacular, isn't it?" a voice from behind her said. She gasped, spinning around to see Christopher right behind her, looking out the window. She hadn't even heard him approach. "This is one of the reasons I stay up here," he said softly. "Sometimes I just look out the window for hours." His gaze slid down to her briefly, then he turned and walked off.
"Welcome to my world, Janine," he said, pacing around the floor. "You will be my assistant. You will help me when I need assistance, fetch certain things for me when I need them. You will bring my breakfast up when you arrive in the morning, and you will not leave until I allow you to. There are times I will not need you at all, that time is your own to do whatever it is you will. But you will come when I send for you." He stopped pacing and looked at her. "Is that understood."
Janine just looked at him. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she played along anyway.
"Yes m'lord," she mumbled out.
"And for God's sake, don't call me my lord. My name is Christopher. When we are up here or anywhere else other than in the company of Michael, you may call me that. I'm afraid Michael is particular about that one thing with our slaves." He turned on his heels and walked off, calling after her.
"Come along. You will need to get aquatinted with the lab if you are to assist me."
Janine managed to find her room again, later that night, with the help of Magdaline. She collapsed in the bed, exhausted. Christopher had kept her up there until late in the night, showing her where everything was and what they were used for. She didn't think she could remember what everything did, but she at this point, she didn't have much choice. He finally let her go, and Magdaline had found her, wandering around by the kitchen. She'd given her something to eat, then directed her to her room, telling her that she would give her a tour of the grounds the next day. She yawned and covered herself up, laying back in the bed. Maybe she'd wake up tomorrow and find out this was all a bad dream."Wake up. Lord Christopher will be upset if you are late."
Janine groaned, and rolled over, recovering herself. "Go away," she muttered. "Wake me up at a decent hour."
The covers were thrown back, and Magdaline shook her again. "Janine, get up now."
Janine opened her eyes and glanced out the small window in her room. She groaned again. "God, what time is it? Did the sun just come up?"
"The sun's been up for almost an hour. You're late in getting up." She pulled out a dress and threw it on the bed. "Hurry and get dressed."
Janine sat up, yawning. She glanced over at the dress. "I have to take a shower." she mumbled.
"There isn't any time," Magdaline said. "You were supposed to be in the lab with Lord Christopher's breakfast ten minutes ago." Janine yawned again, then got up to get dressed. "Trust me, I'm willing to bet he doesn't even know I'm not there yet."She walked into the lab, carrying the tray, and looked around. He wasn't anywhere to be found. "Lord Christopher, your breakfast is here," she called out. Still nothing. Grumbling, she put down the tray and went in search for him around the lab.
She finally found him in the back, pouring over some books. Shaking her head, she walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped, scattering papers over the floor.
"Sorry," she said, bending down to pick them up. "Breakfast is ready."
He frowned at her, uncomprehending, then nodded. "Right, breakfast. I'll be there in a moment."
She placed the papers back on the table then got a good look at him. He was unshaven, and wearing the same clothes from the day before. "Have you even gone to bed yet?" she asked. He mumbled something incomprehensible. She nodded.
"That's what I thought. Come on, let's get you fed, and dressed."
"I am dressed," he muttered, not looking up from the books. Gently, she closed the book and took his hands. "In yesterday's clothes."
He pulled his hands from hers and looked at her. "You are not here to tell me what to do," he snapped. Her eyes narrowed, and she stopped, her head held high, her gaze not leaving his.
"No, I'm here to assist you, which I cannot do if you waste away in here. Now, if you want to spend the day pouring over old books, go for it, I could use the day to get aquatinted with the grounds. But you aren't going to do that until you've eaten and you're not looking like a beggar. Now go eat."
His eyes flashed, not used to being talk to like that from a slave. "I could have you beaten for that," he snarled.
"If that's what's going to get you off, go for it. But don't expect me to give one rat's ass about you after I recover. I'm just doing exactly what you told me to do last night."
He relaxed, knowing she was right. He had told her that last night. "Very well. Where's my breakfast?"After getting him fed and dressed into clean clothes, she left him to his books, and wandered around until she found the door that led outside. Blinking from the sun, she looked around. The grounds were just as spectacular as she'd found them the day before. She walked around, looking at all the sites, until she stumbled upon the stables. She walked in and found Darius throwing hay into the horse's pens.
"Morning Darius," she called out. Darius looked up, smiling when he saw Janine.
"Good morning Janine. I'm glad to see you unharmed."
She shrugged. "It doesn't seem to be that bad yet. I just have to baby-sit Lord Christopher. How are you doing?"
He nodded. "It's less terrifying than I'd imagined. Hard labor, but I'm used to that. They treat us well."
"Have you seen the grounds?" she asked, he nodded. "They showed us last night," he smiled at her. "You should walk through the garden. I think you'd like it."
She smiled and nodded, walked off in the direction he'd pointed out. Eventually she found the gardens. Darius was right, she was amazed at the way it was spread out. She stepped in, walking slowing, taking everything in. She was so enraptured, she didn't notice Raymond until it was too late. She ran right into him and they both fell. "Oh, my lord, I'm sorry," she said, trying to get up. Her skirt kept getting caught between her legs. Raymond stood up and offered his hand.
"It's all right., I tend to drift off in here also."
She took his hand and allowed him to help her up. "Thank you."
"Janine, right? You're Christopher's new woman."
"Um, yeah, I guess so."
"Figures," he said. "Christopher always did have excellent taste in women." Janine smiled, feeling her face grow hot. "Uh, thank you my lord."
"Have you been around the grounds yet?" he asked. she shook her head.
"No. Magdaline was suppose to show me around, but I think she's been detained."
He looked uncomfortable for a moment. "You could say that. Allow me to show you around the grounds."
She eyed him. "Do you usually do this for slaves?"
He grinned, reminding her of her Ray. "No. But then again, you aren't really a real slave."Raymond showed her around the grounds, then escorted her into the house, stating he had some business to tend to. Janine wandered around the house, looking around the main rooms. She wasn't sure how long she was going to stuck here, so she figured she'd better make the best of it. She wandered into an open room, looking around. Just then a voice rang out in the large room, startling her.
"Do you usually walk into rooms uninvited?" Janine squealed, spinning around, to see Michael sitting in a chair at the end of a long table. "Uh, no, m'lord. I'm sorry. I was just aquatinting myself with the house. I'll leave."
"Wait." he said, stopping her in her tracks. She mentally cursed her stupid luck. This was the last person she wanted to deal with right now. It seemed like the qualities of her four bosses were intensified in these men. And Peter's qualities was being a hard ass, and too full of himself. Which meant there was going to be a fight.
He walked over to her, smiling in that pompous way he had. He touched her face.
"You're very beautiful," he murmured, his finger sliding down her face towards her neck.
"So I've been told," she said. She grabbed his hand before he could reach the lining of her dress. "You don't want to do that."
His eyes narrowed, his green eyes glittering. She knew there was going to be a fight.
"At last check I was lord of this house," he replied scathingly. "I can do whatever I want."
"I never said you weren't lord of the manor. I just asked you not to touch me."
"I do what I want," he snapped, grabbing her and pulling her roughly to him. "Being Christopher's slave doesn't make you exempt of the demands of the rest of the household."
"Probably not, but I don't plan on becoming your bedroom buddy." she snapped back.
He laughed. "Do you plan to stop me?"
"Well, if you touch me, I could make it so you can't have children." she stated. He let her go. She spun back and before she could find her balance, he slapped her across the face. Her head recoiled, and she snapped back, her green eyes glittering as brightly as his.
"No one hit me and gets away with it." she snarled. He glared back at her.
"Wanton bitch," he spat out.
"You touch me again, you stupid pig, and I'll rip your balls off and feed them to your brothers," she snapped back. His hand went back again, and she stood straight, ready to fight him, if she had to. Before it could go any further, they heard someone else walk into the room.
"What is going on?" Christopher demanded, looking at both Michael and Janine who were in stance ready to fight. Michael looked over at his brother, waving towards Janine.
"Christopher, get your slave bitch out of here," he snarled. Janine laughed sharply.
"Quit flattering me. I still won't sleep with you."
Christopher looked sharply at Janine, then at his brother. Both Michael and Janine were still staring at each other, not ready to back down. Christopher sighed. "Janine," he snapped. Janine looked over at him sharply.
"Go to my lab, now."
She looked back at Michael, a small smile playing on her lips. She bowed. "My lord." she drawled, then walked out of the room. Christopher glanced back at his brother after Janine left the room. "This is why my experiments never work, you break my women. I need her intact, Michael." he said. Michael watched the now empty doorway, then looked back at Christopher.
"Don't worry, Christopher. She'll be intact when you need her. But you'll tire of her soon. You always do. Then she'll be mine."