A Surprising Predator

"What the hell are you doing here?" Riku cried in astonishment, clutching the thin robe around himself tightly. Having just gotten out of bed, his hair hung in a matted mess about his head. The black bathrobe Maleficent had given him blocked only slightly the cold wind that blew in with the figure standing in the doorway. He shivered inwardly, not entirely due to the chill that crept from the tile floor his pajama pants failed to protect him from. Even in such attire as this, Riku appeared ready to defend himself to a valiant end.

"Such language, dear," the figure clucked, shaking her head in disapproval. Her blonde hair, streaked with grey, was pulled back into a loose braid as it was when he first met her at the café. However, rather than wearing the apron and simple cotton dress, the austere purple and black uniform of Maleficent's somewhat limited staff clothed her. The seriousness and sense of propriety inspired by the outfit looked rather ridiculous on the motherly woman. "I'm now the chief cook on Her Ladyship's staff."

"Her Ladyship?" Riku echoed, fighting between dashing to the bathroom and locking himself in and laughing rudely in the woman's face. Maleficent was more of a hag with horns than a lady. Her table manners just the night before emphasized her unladylike-ness.

"Yes, the Great Maleficent," she replied with more cheer than should be used when saying the old hag's name. "I've brought you your lunch."

"Lunch? I haven't even had breakfast." His tension at last eased enough to allow him to study the woman with more than just a ready eye to watch for attacks. She held a large, black tray somewhat awkwardly before her.

"Well, you slept rather late, and, as it's already past what I suppose is noon around here, I took the liberty of preparing your afternoon meal."

"Well, thanks, I guess."

"It's no trouble, dear. No trouble at all." The somewhat hungry twinkle in her eyes returned as she set the tray down on a nearby table. She lifted the lid, revealing a dish of spaghetti that appeared dwarfed on the large tray.

"Just leave the lid on," Riku instructed, turning cautiously to go to his private restroom. "I thought I would bathe and dress before eating."

"If you need some assistance in bathing-" the woman began with a hopeful twitch of her smile.

"No! Uh, I mean, no, that's quite alright. I've been bathing myself by myself for years; I think I can handle it. Thank you anyway."

"Then perhaps you might need some help dressing? I could-"

"No, thank you," Riku replied, trying not to snap. He backed away nervously as the woman drew closer with each step like an omega wolf about to snatch a bite of meat before the alpha. With a final desperate move, he practically hurled his body through the bathroom door and clicked the lock on the knob behind him.

"Oh, please, dear," the woman murmured through the thankfully strong wood door, "I only want to help you. Let me in! You might hurt yourself in there… you could slip in the tub and bruise your beautiful body! You could slip on the wet tile, hit your head on the side of the tub, and have a concussion! And be totally helpless…" Her voice trailed off, presumably as she thought more on her own words.

Riku felt his body relax as everything faded into silence. He walked over to the bathtub nozzle and turned on the water. As the soothing sound of the cascading water filled his head, he doffed his clothes in slick motion. He stepped nimbly into the tub, his skin tingling with the feeling of the warm water, and stretched out.

Abruptly, his eyes snapped open and his body tensed as a brutal pounding on the door erupted. He could see the door visibly shake in its frame, the knob jiggling frantically in its locked position.

"Let me in!" the woman cried desperately from beyond, her voice filled with some strange, foreign emotion that obviously clouded her thoughts. "Please, dear, unlock the door!"

"What kind of monster is this?" Riku asked himself with disturbed amazement, his eyebrows twitching nervously. "I'm not that good-looking to warrant this… She's some kind of freak of nature! Maybe she's possessed or something…"

The pounding on the door softened and finally ceased.

"Alright, dear. I'll see you later." Her footsteps on the tile echoed through the door, ending with a hearty slam of his bedroom door.

Riku shivered despite the warm water, recalling the tone of voice as she spoke those last words. He leaned forward and turned off the nozzle. The tub was filled nearly to the brim, covering almost his entire body. He shook his head and tried to relax beneath the calming waters.