Home Is Where The Girl Is

Chapter 13

Title: A Bloody Mess

It was early the next day when Madame Vastra finally returned. The morning's mist was nearly all gone by the time the ancient warrior's feet crossed the threshold of the kitchen. She had entered the back of the cottage knowing what a mess she was, especially her fifthly muck boots. Kicking as much of the mud off as possible in the doorway, the weary woman paused briefly when her chamber maid came rushing towards the back entrance.

Shock quickly overtook relief as the maiden halted her progress. Gaping mouth she stared at the present atrocity. Standing in front of her, was not the woman she had made passionate love to the day before, but was something the human had never seen from her companion before. Jenny gawked at the figure in great disbelief. Unlike Vastra's previous hunting trips, where only her muddy boots revealed evidence of discord, this time the prestigious Victorian was covered from head to toe in red blood. The animal's dark fluid had greatly soiled her dress and cape. To the woman's assistant, it did not look like she went hunting at all but instead was a participant in a massacred based on the amount of hemoglobin.

Dumbfounded, the servant internally quizzed, Blimey! What did yew eat a cow?

Ripping the willing servant from the horrific image was the blue eyed woman's soothing tone. "Jenny, please be a dear and help me out of this dress."

Her natural instinct took over as she absentminded answered, "Yes ma'am." Moving towards the great reptilian the two of them ceremonially removed the garment within a few minutes. Holding the badly blood soaked material at a distance, as not to get any on her, the former match girl pondered, "How am I supposed ter get dis clean?" The Silurian was half way across the room when the dark hair beauty asked, not really directing the question to any one in particular. "I don't know if I can even get I' all out."

The highly educated woman answered seeing the maiden fussing over the ruined dress. "Leave it be Jenny. It is not worth saving. Just toss it in the fire."

The warrior stared at her as she let the blood soaked item fall from her fingertips. There was so much blood that it had actually soaked through to her chemise and it too was ruined as well. The only thing clean on the reptilian was her feet, where her boots and stockings had been. The maiden's glossy eyes were fixated on the evening's hunter.

While her companion was made avidly aware what her employer did to her prey, she had never seen such a gruesome site before. In time past, the Silurian had taken great care in the manner and method in which she killed; both humans and animals alike. But the barbarism that stood before her now, left the eager student with a low sinking feeling in her stomach.

Realizing that her willing servant was looking a little queasy, the lady of the house offered. "I brought you a little something from my hunt, my dear." Jenny could tell that her mistress had not put much thought into her declaration as she briefly headed back out the door. Returning faster than expected, Vastra carelessly tossed a large piece of meat on to the butcher table. Causing a louder thud then expected, she declared, "There you go."

Wide eyed, the servant spat, "There yew go? Are yew kiddin' me?"

Haphazardly glancing at the meat, approximately three feet long, the reptilian questioned, "What is wrong with it?"

Covering her mouth trying not to spill the contents of her stomach, Jenny pointed at it. "Look at it!"

For the first time, the hunter's true intentions were plainly displayed for all to see. Desiring to look elsewhere, the ancient warrior saw that the leg had been more than crudely ripped from the animal, and based on her previous attire, it was removed while the animal was still alive.

Before the women sat a large hind quarter, looking rather pale being absent of blood, from a very large stag.

Protruding from the meat was a massive piece of bone surrounded by flaps of jagged flesh. This was not the typical clean and precise style in which Madame Vastra would have characteristically sliced through meat and bone. This was ruthless and bloody. Unable to stand it any longer, the dark haired beauty turned away and headed out of the room. Before disappearing completely, Jenny shot back saturated in her native cockney accent, "I'll ready a bath fer yew."

The quiet and somber bath did little to help relieve the emotions the affluent woman was experiencing. Reflecting on the previous night's conversation, she thought that hunting would help. She had let go of her modern day restraints and butchered that animal, yet that still did not offer the woman reprieve. Lying motionless in the hot bath, calmness reluctantly overtook her, but it still did not help. Resting her head on the back of the porcelain tub, Vastra finally came to terms with what she was feeling. It had been a long time since she had felt anything remotely similar to it, but as her hand nonchalantly splashed in the water, the woman's mind concluded, By the Goddess Vastra, you're scared.

Soaking in the tub so long that it would keep her skin moist for weeks to come, the mentor sulked. It was not until the reptilian was nearly dried off that her chambermaid knocked on the door behind her. After a few minutes of assisting her employer, Jenny noticed the reptilian's engorged stomach. She had seen the skilled fighter eat well before, but never had she seen Vastra like this. Adjacent to her was a plump stomach that looked to be about six or seven months pregnant.

Taking a few shocking steps backwards, Jenny panicked, How did I miss that earlier?

Tenderly massaging her belly, there was no verbal apology from the prestigious Victoria. She simply re-wrapped herself in the bath sheet and informed the human. "The sun is hanging high in the sky I believe a good sun bath will do me good."

The reluctant maid simply swallowed hard as the reptilian waddled past her. "I will be by the pool." When Vastra reached the door, she paused, not hearing a response. "It has been a long night and I am exhausted." Gently rubbing her hand over her enlarged stomach, she finished, "Besides it helps the digestive system after such a heavy meal." Sensing that the human had not moved, the curvaceous reptilian requested, "Jenny do be a dear and make me some tea. I have a fretful thrust."

A small curtsy was followed by an even smaller, "Yes ma'am" as the two parted ways.

A few minutes later, the young maid was busy setting up tea for her employer when the stiffness of the mood became too much for the former match girl. Fiddling with the edge of her apron, she finally announced, breaking the awkward tension between them. "Yew know I was worried about yew."

Removing the towel that was shielding her eyes from the sun, Vastra realized for the first time, what the night must had been like for the faithful maiden.

Practically conducting a one sided conversation, Jenny went on to say, "Yew aren't da only one exhausted. I didn't get a wink in all night. I was up all night worried abaaaht yew."

Unsure what to say or do next, the sunbather looked at her companion, "I am sure you were and I apologize." Feeling as empty as her apology, the matriarch patted the ground next to her and offered, "Join me then, please."

Jenny slowly began to remove her clothing. Her heart was pounding and her mind was racing. At this moment and after the thought of loosing Vastra forever, she would have done anything the lizard woman asked of her. Luckily, sunbathing on a beautiful summer day was certainly something that was extremely agreeable to both women.

Watching the young woman's body strip morsel by morsel instantly made the prestigious Victorian forget all her worries.

Settling down on the large blanket that the Silurian already had opened for two, the dark hair beauty hid her front side beneath her. Knowing the maiden was still shy when it came to the bareness of her skin, especially outside the bedroom, brought a small smile to the reptilian's face. As the hand of the pale skin delicately came in contact with her own, all that matter to the skilled hunter was that Jenny was close now.

Also allowing herself to be consumed by the moment at hand, the young maiden likewise pushed away her worry and doubt. All that mattered as she felt Vastra's fingertip intertwine with her own was that her mistress was home; safe and sound. No more would the inexperienced pupil fuss about yesterday, today or tomorrow. She would now focus on now; which consisted of a pair of long green fingers delicately tickling her hand.

It was not long before a pink hand grazed over the reptilian's warming skin. Giving in to the urge to be closer, Jenny snuggled up to Vastra's side. And to her surprise, the ancient warrior welcomed her. For the afternoon, the two women had silently agreed that this would be enough for now.