Faline

I can feel him testing the air before he slowly raises his head, keeping it close to mine as he runs his tongue up my neck to my lower lip.

"If you don't mind, the rooms are what that is for."

By that alone, I almost pull him back to me. My see-sawing emotions are giving me whiplash. His eyes meet mine in a similar look, so I slide my arm around his back as he tugs at my bottom lip with his teeth. Sadly, it doesn't seem to work, as we hear her foot tapping impatiently.

I feel Nicolaus' sigh and I smile as he lets my mouth go. My rear cheeks get pinched in retaliation, but that just makes me smile wider.

"What do you want Madaline? As you can clearly see, I am busy."

He releases me and turns, I stay at his back. One of his hands reaches behind him and grips my apron. As if I'd want any more of her attention. I'm just fine where I am, he doesn't have to keep me there.

The perfume whore is standing next to the counter I'd been using with her arms crossed, high-heeled foot tapping, and glaring. I grip my Vampire's shirt as I peek around to get a better look. I can't help my expression though when I see her outfit this time.

Black nipple tape in the shape of X's tries to cover her nipples along with one of those under-bust corsets below her breasts. It's black as well, I'm sensing a theme here. She's even wearing pants...sort of.

Also black, they look a mix of leather and latex. Peek-a-boo holes that would have been attractive, now just become windows, no, wide-opened doors, to her flesh. There's barely any material left covering half her inner left thigh, a strip down her loins, and right lower calf.

Can't tell about the back, don't think I want to know, and she's complaining about us needing a room? My apron and loincloth cover more of me than her whole outfit does her. More fashionable too, if you ask me.

Tapping foot in another set of high-heeled sandal-like stilettos, her brown hair is piled atop her head in a...not sure what that is, but it looks funny. Once I see it, a snicker escapes me.

It looks like one of those cones you'd put on a dog, only facing outward so she has this halo like thing going on. It, of course, is also black. Her blue eyes fairly flash sparks at me as she hears my snicker.

Not my fault, she's the one wearing it in public. She isn't drowning in perfume today though, which is nice. It's still hella strong, but not cloying. Maybe she took my advice? Nah.

"I would like to talk to you Nico, away from your pet, please. The very sight of her offends me. She's just as bad as your other one."

Oh, no she di'int. My nails dig into his back as I start fuming. I look around, no carpeting in here to ruin, so I look back to her and give her a toothy grin.

"How's your boy doing? I heard he's missing a body part or two. Gee, that has to suck. I'm sure he can still hear your annoying voice though."

Nicolaus almost chokes as he tries to keep a straight face. I see a couple of the wandering submissives looking away hurriedly before their expressions are seen. Even Anthony, who's leaning against a far wall, has a slight grin.

Her squawk of outrage has to be heard throughout the mansion. I cover my ears and wince.

"Ow. Cry out a little louder, I don't think they heard you over there in Canada. Better yet, please don't, I like my ears on my head...unlike your boy."

She explodes again and starts coming at me. I don't even have to tense since Nicolaus rushes to meet her, taking a hard grip of her arm and dragging her out. Not able to help myself, I smile and wave at her, then give a salute.

Once out of the room, I lean back against the fridge, still hearing her outrage echoing through the hall.

"I'd really hate to be Nicolaus right now."

Surprise crosses my features as Anthony actually talks to me of his own free will without yelling or sneering. Scarring over his throat is still very much evident, I look back towards the hallway and agree wholeheartedly.

"Who is she anyway?"

He shrugs while walking after them on bare feet. Old news there, he's always barefoot. That thought actually hurts as I look back to the painting. Kierra was always going around barefoot too. I hope she still is, for that matter.

One of the male Shifter submissives comes towards me tentatively, I smile in welcome. I don't know any of their names aside from Avina, who'd left with the Mistress.

Err...yes...gone. Crap.

I look around, but the only familiar faces I see are the house slaves. I need to be quiet now, no one to hide behind. He comes within a couple of feet of me, close enough that I can tell he barely looks legal.

Asking age won't do any good, as none of them seem to keep up with that knowledge after having been on the street. Blond hair, peach skin, blue eyes, and maybe a couple of inches taller than me. Wearing the typical loincloth and collar that counts as a males 'uniform', his hair isn't pulled back since it isn't long enough. Shaggy, but not long.

"What's up?"

I ask him, and he startles, so I just blink at him. I will break them of looking like that around me one day. Dropping to his knees in front of me, I have to wince as I hear bones hitting the wood floor. Don't ask me why it's wood, it's not my house.

He assumes the position, so I do the same in front of him. Well, the going to my knees part, I will not bow my head or open my hands awaiting for whatever. Reaching forward, I tip his head up till he's looking at me.

"I won't try telling you not to do that around me, because I don't want you to get into trouble, but please don't drop like that again. That had to hurt your knees, super healer or not, pain is pain."

He nods over and over so much that I have to make him stop. Laughing lightly, I ask him again if he needs something while I pull him up to stand again, taking him with me over to my counter as I start cleaning it.

The boy is stubbornly quiet, so I pull over a stool and point to it. He looks confused for a moment, then scared for not obeying immediately, lowering his face and waiting for the hit. I tip his head back up and lead him to it.

"Sit."

That should be simple enough, but he has to make it difficult, dropping once more to his knees next to it. I groan as I hear his knees hit once again, I shouldn't have though because that just makes him fall forward, making himself as low as possible. I look around for help, unsure of what to do.

Just about everyone around is a slave, so no help is forthcoming from them. However, there is a familiar face leaning against the one doorway that I'd originally come in from. The comical look on his face has me crossing my arms and raising a brow.

That gets him to chuckle and walk over. As he gets closer I have to keep looking at a more upward angle.

"As my sister would say right about now, you are freakishly tall."

He laughs at that, grabbing another stool and bringing it next to the other where he sits on it. One leg up on one of the lower rungs while the other is planted on the floor. Even the tall stool looks tiny next to him.

"Get up kid, she wants you to sit on the chair, not next to it. And I don't believe she's the type to strike another that doesn't mean her harm."

I nod and smile, side glancing at him at that last part. He grins at me as the boy slowly rises and gets on the chair.

"I've been hearing all sorts of stories about you today, that you are a famous painter to a professional chef. I was in the hallway when you had another spat with Ms. Madaline."

His black eyes are sparkling quite merrily. I didn't know black eyes could do that. I shake my head and return the smile. A small piece of the strawberry and mango tart I had made is dished out and given to the boy before I jerk my head to the large painting to my left.

"That one, I would bet, huh?"

He inclines his head as he looks at the piece I get out for him. It's twice the size of the one I gave the boy, and he looks between the two curiously as I disparagingly wipe perfectly good tart from my fingers onto the apron. I don't want a repeat of earlier.

"You're bigger. And I don't imagine he's had any of it before so I don't want him to get sick. You look tough enough to handle it."

The big guy is just all smiles as he digs in. The boy also goes from tiny bites of his to almost shoveling it into his mouth. Well, guess that means it's good. Putting the rest of it to the side, I go about cleaning up before I mention anything more about the picture.

"My sister painted it."

He stops and looks up from his second piece, eyes going from me to the canvas.

"No shit?"

"No shit."

With that, he walks over to it, black ponytail swinging, the tips look to be a light brown or tan. Neat. I watch the boy as he sucks on his fingers. Caving, I give him another. His face turns into a thing of beauty as he takes it.

"When did she paint this?"

He's not that far away, so it's not like he's shouting, his voice is just so deep you'd swear it vibrates your ribcage as he speaks. I look over to him as I reply.

"Around three years ago."

I can tell he's looking from the cat in the painting to me, so I nod.

"Creepy isn't it? She had dreamt it. I remember her getting up that day and running everything outside to our back porch, waking me up. While setting everything up, she was talking to herself, then went dead silent for over four hours while she did it."

I feel tears fill my eyes and have to look away from him. The boy seeing them looks sad, his eyes flying to the lion who's walking back over.

"I miss her so much, this whole situation is so fucked."

The rag in my hands gets tossed hard into the sink as my face scrunches. Leaning against the counter, gripping it so hard the marble top cracks, I let go instantly and cross my arms over my hollow middle.

"I get the feeling you're not here because you want to be, are you?"

I keep my head down as it shakes.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know. Hell, I don't even know where I am. I haven't seen her since Nicolaus took me. I feel her sometimes though."

I have to smile at that as I look back up to the painting. It wilts a bit, since the last time I had felt her she was being raped, but I felt her. And her need to find me.

"He took you?"

I glance back to him at the sound of his voice, he doesn't look happy. Cocking my head, I look at him curiously, not wanting to say anything that will bite me in the ass later, figuratively and literally. The lion's black gaze goes to the boy, who drops his head instantly.

"You're the one they call Maii aren't you? The coyote Shifter who doesn't speak?"

He nods, keeping his head down. My mouth drops open, no wonder he wouldn't answer me. I recover as the big guy turns back to me. Don't want to get too close in case wagging tongues start, so he talks as if talking to himself. I keep my head to the side so I hear him, but it doesn't appear like I'm paying attention, my eyes going to the painting.

"He did, didn't he? That's why you're here, he's hiding you."

I nod my head as I reach for the dishrag, wetting it down again and rubbing it over the counter.

"That's why he doesn't leave after all the trouble you get yourself into, and especially after Max was sent after you."

My shoulders rise, then fall. Looking around to the people milling about, all are submissives passing through or sitting far off across the room. Turning, I pull myself up onto the counter.

Startling at the coldness of it on my rump and thighs, I keep my legs together with my ankles crossed, very aware that the scent of my arousal is still on me.

"I was taken while Anthony attacked and tried to kill my sister."

An evil smile crosses my face, my eyes dancing as I look at the lion.

"You've seen his face, yes? His groin? All the scars, she did that."

I can't help but sound proud, my chest puffing out, a big smile on my face. His eyes had widened, leaning back a bit as he swallows that. He then looks me over, not sexually, thank God, but just a perusal of shape and judging of ability. The tall man sitting on the seemingly small stool looks around while he smiles.

"I guess spunk must run in your family. I've seen his scars, the ones before you'd added yours. They're pretty gruesome. I'd like to meet her, this sister of yours. Any human able to do that much damage to a Werewolf just isn't heard of, not by hand anyway."

My smile stiffens in wariness. The last thing I want to do is possibly put her in danger because of my big mouth. Noticing my unease, he backs off with his hands raised.

"I know you won't yet, but if you ever need to get word to her, I will help. I cannot interfere any more than that. Shouldn't even be offering that, but I gave you my protection and I've seen what Nicolaus is capable of. He's different since you've been around, but that boy still isn't all there upstairs. You be careful girl and watch yourself around his Werewolf, he's short of a full load himself."

I have to snort at that, already knowing this. His offer is very tempting, heart-wrenchingly so, but I don't dare trust it. I tilt my head, offering my thanks.

"And on that note, I better get out of here. If he catches me with you, he'll be very unhappy, and that won't bode well for either of us."

With that, he nods and leaves. I look after him then look to the boy, a little confused. Moving to jump off, I stop abruptly and wince.

"Uhh, it's Maii, right? Can I get a little help? I seem to be sticking to the table."