My room is pale green, and it looks like it was made for a princess. It's actually amazing. The closet is filled to bursting with dresses, but I resist the urge to try them on. I open another door and find a bathroom. The tub is already full of steaming water. How many invisible servants are there?

"Um. Is this for me?" No one answers. "Okay….I've been in the woods for like two days now and I really need a bath, so I'm just gonna use it. Thank you?" I'll take the lack of response to mean that there's no one in here.

The water envelopes me in wonderful warmness, and the soap smells like roses. The rap on the door startles me.

"Yes?"

"Miss, the Master wishes for you to join him for supper in one hour," a light voice says.

"Who are you?"

"Celeste, dear. I'm your personal maid for your time here." My time here being forever?

"Tell him I'd rather not eat with a psycopath."

"I think it was more of an order than a request," Celeste says through the door.

"I'm not going."

"Please, Miss? I — I don't want him to be angry at me."

An hour later, I'm dressed in a silver gown and walking down the steps into the dining room. I'm also pouting. I'm only doing this out of sympathy for Celeste...and maybe I'm a bit curious too.

"You're late," he says flatly, when I walk in.

"You're a monster."

He smirks. "What, for inviting you to dinner?"

"I'd hardly consider it an invitation, but no. I was thinking more along the lines of because you almost killed me earlier."

"Oh, still sore about that are you?" I have no words. None. His eyes trail down my gown. "You look magnificent." Ugh, that voice. When he looks at me, his shadows fade a little, and he looks more human than I've seen him.

"I know."

"Please, sit down." When I refuse, he shoves me into a chair.

"What a gentleman," I snarl. "Are you going to force food down my throat too?"

He sits opposite me. "No. If you want to starve yourself, it's hardly my problem." He leans across the table, green eyes flashing. "But I am the master of this house, and no one disobeys me." Or what? Do you kill them or something? Probably. Unless there's a torture chamber in the basement. I flash him a perfect smile.

"What is your name?"

"You needn't speak unless I address you." He raises his voice. "Where's the food already?"

"Just a moment, Sir," someone calls from the kitchen.

"Look, Shadow-man, if I'm gonna be stuck here, we're going to have to set some ground rules. Firstly, I don't take orders from you. You may ask me to do something. But I decide whether or not I do it."

He laughs out loud. "You do realize I have a pack of wolves at my command?"

I meet his eyes evenly. "Yes. Though, it's one less then a pack now, isn't it?"

His face grows suddenly cold, and the shadow grows so thick, I can barely make out his face. "If you ever lay a hand on them again, I swear I'll kill you myself and feed you to them." Oookaay then.

I stand leaning part way accross the table. "Alright, I'm done. Have a nice meal." I stalk back toward the stairs, half-expecting him to grab me. Part way up the stairs, an arm slides through mine, and I jump. "You really have to stop doing that."

"You should really be careful. Master isn't one to forgive easily."

"How long have you lived here, Jase?" I say, changing the subject. I'm not sure why, but I don't think Shadow will kill me. I could be wrong, bt if I'm going to be here for a while, he's going to have to play nice.

I can hear the frown in his voice. "Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Fine, I'll ask an easier one. How many of you are there?"

"There's only one of me."

"I meant invisible servants."

"Oh, six. Me, Celeste, Ria, Chef Jorje, Nate the stable boy, and Annie. The others weren't here, so they weren't turned invisible." Weren't here...weren't here when the others were turned invisible.

"That must have been awful for you," I say, hoping he'll offer another clue about….well all of this.

"It was. It took us awhile to even realize that we were. I can see myself just fine, but Master is the only other person who can see any of us." So….were they cursed?

"Do you think you could show me around? This place is gigantic."

"I don't see why not, as long as we keep out of Master's way….We'll have to be quiet too, since he's already upset as it is."

"He seems sensitive," I say bluntly.

"He is. I think he's afraid to trust after what happened." I'm literally dying of curiosity. Maybe I'll learn something on this tour?

A/N: What did you all think? Any suggestions for next chapter? Please review!

Hope you all have an awesamazing day!

~Alyssa