Fabian's P.O.V

I continued to sit on Jerome's bed, mindlessly doing things on my phone. I could hear Nina downstairs, she was certainly doing dishes or something with the kinds of noises she was making. I decided I would possibly go and help her, that's one way to try and get to know her right? I also thought she could probably use the assistance. She has to slave over Jerome's every want and need day in and day out, the least anyone like me could do is help her. I put my phone in my pocket and make my way downstairs, I watch her in the kitchen while she cleans out the salad bowl she gave to me earlier. She's… completely stunning.

God do I hate thinking that sometimes… I have a girlfriend.

She looks up and catches me staring for a moment, her eyes meeting mine. I was trying so hard to read what emotion she was feeling, but it's almost as if I was looking at a brick wall. She turned back towards the sink and continued to wash the dishes.

I started walking closer to her, but she didn't turn around to acknowledge me. "Hey, Nina, let me-" is as far as I got. Mid-sentence I lightly placed my hand on her shoulder and she practically jumped to the ceiling, dropping the dish she was holding onto the ground. It made a rather loud crashing noise, and shard of glass went everywhere within a few feet. She just stared at me, with tears in her eyes. "Are you hurt? Nina?" I say to her, thinking maybe the glass hurt her. She quickly shook her head no, her facial expression exuding fear. She fast walked to a cupboard under one of the counters, "Hey, hey, hey, be careful, why don't you let me clean it up I don't want you to accidentally step o-" I was cut off by a soft grunt and Nina keeping one of her feet lifted off the ground, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

"Nina" I laughed out lightly, "Here let me lead you to the couch" I attempted to touch her again, but she flinched away from me. I put my hands up in surrender. "No worries, no worries, you are perfectly able to go to the couch yourself" Watching her limp and hop to the couch I chuckled to myself, still feeling slightly saddened that she wasn't comfortable speaking to me much. She sat herself down on the couch and I sat next to her, "Are you alright with me helping your foot?" I asked her, what I got in response was a confused look.

"To take out any glass?..." She gave me another look before hesitantly nodding her head. I flashed her a quick smile before gently touching her foot, lifting it to my lap. I immediately noticed 3 smaller glass shards pressed into her foot. I looked at Nina, who was looking at the hardwood living room floor rather than me.

"You know Nina, you kind of deserve this for not allowing me to help wash dishes AND not allowing me to pick up the broken pieces for you" I said to her in a joking tone, small hints of laughter at the end of my sentence.

Nina's P.O.V

"You know Nina, you kind of deserve this"

I froze and just looked at him, fear was likely evident in my eyes.

I deserve pain. I deserve bad things when I've been bad. Breaking master's plate was bad. I was a bad girl.

Fabian was probably able to sense my fear, "Nina what's wrong?..."

I didn't say a word, or even look at him after that.

"Come on, it isn't going to hurt barely. Here. Just let me keep talking to you"

Oh. He was still talking about the glass in my foot. Sure, that's what I was scared of. A few shards of glass in my foot.

"So, I know you haven't felt comfortable speaking to me since the couple of sentences upstairs. In that case, I will only ask yes or no questions. Deal?"
I nodded my head yes.

"So, from the little you spoke to me you have an American accent. That means you weren't born in England?"

I nodded my head yes. Right as I nodded my head I felt him pull a glass shard out of my foot, I tried not to flinch too bad.

"How did you end up in London… with Jerome? Did he know your family?"

I had a puzzled look on my face before flattening out my hand and waving it in a motion that said 'sort of'. Next thing I knew, another shard of glass was pulled from my foot. That one didn't hurt as bad.

"Did he know your parents?"

Ouch. That question kind of stung. Before I could shake my head no or nod my head yes the third and final glass shard was pulled out of my foot.

"There…" he started while wrapping my foot in a bandage and clipping it, "See? All done"

I smiled at him, "You never did answer my question… did Jerome know your parents?"

I glanced at him sadly, sadness evident in my face. My parents died in a car accident when I was 6… I'm 22 years old now. I don't even remember the sound of their voices. I barely remember their faces. As time goes on the memories that I do have get more faint. I guess the silence was a little awkward because Fabian followed it up with something else.

"Actually, it's fine. I don't need to know yes or no. That's not important right now. Is it alright if I clean up the mess and finish the dishes for you before Jerome and Joy get home?"

All I could do was… look at him. I felt like that's all I ever did. Look at him. I had already broken several of Master's smaller rules. I spoke to Fabian upstairs in the bedroom, I told him my name. But god… did hearing my name for the first time in years sound wonderful.

Especially from such a kind, gentle voice.

I snapped out of it and remembered his question, quickly shaking my head no. I saw his face drop into a frown. "Nina… I can. It's the least I could do"

I started thinking… about everything. I spoke to Fabian without his permission. I held eye contact with Fabian. I told Fabian my real name. I broke one of his dishes. I let Fabian touch me, even if it was just to bandage my foot up. It all overwhelmed me, he was going to find out. One way or another I knew he would, shit. Shit shit shit. He can't. I'm going to have to be punished. I was a bad girl today. A very, bad girl. I felt myself start to hyperventilate.

"Nina… Nina calm down…" Fabian said, in a very soothing tone while he attempted to put his arm around me, all I did was shy away and flinch. I looked up at him, nothing but fear and sadness in my eyes with tears welling up in them. I was about to have a panic attack.

"Nina…hey. Nina look at me."

I looked up at him and was calmed by what I saw. Calm, ocean blue eyes were staring back at me. I felt… comforted. His face was soft, and he always knew when to smile at me to make my heart start to melt. To make my heart start to feel safe. My breathing began to regulate some, and I didn't even realize he was holding my hand.

"See Nina? You're looking at me. Everything's fine. You're fine, Nina"

And for once, everything was. That was until I heard an all too familiar voice from the front door.

"What did he just call you, slave?"

The voice immediately made me pull my hand away and look, it was master. He quickly shut the front door and hung up his coat.

Fabian could see my demeanor instantly change. I didn't care. Jerome started walking over to us, I quickly moved as far from Fabian as I could, practically kissing the side of the couch.

"I told Joy to wait in the car… go ahead Fabian. She brought you home something from the aquarium…" Jerome tried to say as nicely as he could through gritted teeth. Fabian just looked between Jerome and I, seeing how scared I looked. I didn't look back, my eyes were locked on my master and his on me. His fists were clenched, and I was curled into a ball on the couch. I knew what was coming. I knew exactly what would happen the moment they left the driveway.

"Jerome… I'm sure Joy wouldn't mind coming in and staying for a few more hours…" Fabian tried to say, looking at me with obvious concern.

"No. You're not feeling well, you best be getting home anyways. Sitting in the comfort of your own living room. I'll be in touch, Fabian" Jerome said, brushing Fabian off. I saw him give me a concerned look before gathering his things, and walking out the front door. Jerome locked it behind him before smiling sadistically. Soon enough we both heard their car leave our driveway.

"You spoke to him… didn't you?"

I shake my head no rapidly

"Don't LIE to me slave. Your punishments will only get worse if you LIE…" He yelled while walking around, seeing the mess in the kitchen.

"What's this?..." He began, "SLAVE. WHAT. IS THIS." He screamed at the top of his lungs.

I started to shake, trembling from pure fear. Bad girl. Bad girl. Bad girl.

He stomped back into the living room and wrapped one of his hands around my throat tightly, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"You. Are going. To pay. Slut."

I wasn't exactly sure of the specifics he had planned, but I knew I was in for a shitshow. I was at my master's mercy until he decided to stop.

And you know?
I can only blame myself.

Anddd that's it for chapter 5! There will be a big warning at the start of next chapter, for reasons you can probably guess.

Just when Fabian and Nina were getting somewhere….