Faline

He gives me a confused look, so I point at my thighs and butt. He smiles as he catches on and comes over. Having him stand in front of me, I hold his shoulders while I gingerly lift each leg off the marble, practically peeling myself from it.

"Think you're strong enough to lift me off? If I try sliding I may lose skin."

Nodding, he grabs my waist and lifts, swings me over, and lowers me. There was a bit of stickage, but it could have been worse. For not looking that old, he's strong. Probably goes in with that whole Shifter thing.

"Thanks. If I could get some actual clothes that would be extremely lovely, but I don't see that happening."

I look around, feeling very uncomfortable. Fidgeting, I look back to Maii, who hasn't looked away from me.

"Don't suppose you know where a bathroom is down here?"

Looking from one doorway to the other, he motions to the opposite one Nicolaus had gone through. Even better. Following after him, I keep my eyes on his bare back. Just as skinny as everyone else, even a few people who have that 'new' look to them are really thin. Guess part of it's from where they've come from. Still though, if I can help a little while keeping from being locked in a room all day, that just makes it better.

He leads me to what looks like a community bath. Just how old is this place? Showers take up the far left side walls, while toilets take up the right with a few sinks on a single counter. Reminds me of a cross between a public bathroom and school locker room showers. One of the toilets is sectioned off, but it's not like I need to use it for personal use. Not in that way, anyway.

Directing him to turn around, he does so with no trouble. I like this kid. Since the hand dryers are those old ones that are a long cloth that just gets washed and reused, I grab a washcloth from a small closet and turn on the shower.

After ridding myself off of all scent markers, even washing my neck, I turn off the water. Maii has stayed turned the whole time with no problem. It only takes maybe five minutes, but eh, people get impatient. So far he hasn't shown to be so.

Readjusting myself and tossing the cloth into a hamper looking thing, I tap his shoulder and let him know I'm ready to go back. Giving me a smile, we return to the kitchen, just in time to see Avina coming in with the girl who saved my ass earlier.

My steps falter as I stumble, looking over her. Her skin had gone very pale, multiple bites all over her body that the Vampire didn't bother closing. I run over, a lot faster than I thought I could move, startling them both into almost falling back.

"Sorry, sorry. What happened?"

After seeing it's just me, Avina helps the girl to a table. Blood shines on her thighs, she looks exhausted and breathes shallowly. Firming my nerve, I get a glass of orange juice, tell her to drink it down, then pick her up.

Both girls gasp, but I look to the boy and tell him to lead us back. He nods and walks fast while I hold her to me with one arm under her legs and the other at her back.

She's probably flashing everyone we walk by, but that isn't the problem right now. When we get back to the 'bathroom', I take her to one of the showers, telling Avina to grab a washrag. The small woman in my arms is keeping her eyes down, which allows me to see the bruising on her face from being hit.

"I am so sorry, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have let you go with him. Avina? Tell me what happened?"

Removing her loincloth carefully and leaving the nipple clamps, I put it to the side as I sit under the water with her on my knees. Since coming to the kitchen today, I seem to have become a very motherly person. Now that's scary no matter how you look at it.

"This might get a little weird, but it's all I know to do right now to close the wounds and help the bruising."

After washing the blood off her that's becoming way too tempting since Nicolaus took who knows how much of mine, the woman starts telling me what had happened as she knows it. While she does so, I very tentatively and awkwardly run my tongue over the bruises on her face, unable to get to the ones on her neck with her collar in the way.

She startles and tries to pull away, but I hold her firmly, whispering that I won't hurt her. She doesn't believe me, and I don't blame her, but Avina is able to calm her enough. While basically giving her a tongue bath, I listen to the story.

"When I talked to the Mistress of what happened in the kitchen, we went directly to the patron's room. She recognized my description of him and knew instantly that there was going to be trouble. Being the Lady of the house, she needs no invitation to any room, so walked right in."

The girl in my arms trembles, keeping her eyes away from mine. That's kind of good, this would be even more awkward if she had been looking at me. Settling her on the floor so I can reach the other bite wounds, they were only made to cause pain.

I keep my anger low and off my face so as not to scare her anymore. Carefully washing over the wounds first, closing them, then washing again.

"When we went in, he had Kerry on the bed where he was...taking his pleasure, not bothering to stop as we came in. The Mistress asking to speak with him is what eventually got him off of her since he wouldn't till he finished."

I can't keep the harsh scowl from my face as I look up at her, my gold eyes hardening. Avina shows a moment of fear before she looks down. I've finished closing all the bite marks I can see, if there's any more, I can't do anything to help her as trying to do so will just terrify her.

"The Lady had told me to bring her to you."

That's when I look back up, startled and confused.

"To me?"

All I get is two heads nodding. Guess my payment is a little more than just cooking; now I get to deal with battered women that I have no idea how to help. Especially when you consider I'm just as battered as they. Blowing out a calming breath, I look back to Kerry.

"Would you like Avina's help to finish cleaning up?"

She looks up, looking between us before giving a small nod. I stand and leave them to it, walking closer to the exit where Maii is standing once more with his back to the room. Quick learner. Least there is one male around here who knows how to be decent.

"Can you do me a favor and run to the kitchen and get me a new apron?"

He darts off quicker than a cat with a plastic bag stuck to its foot. Leaning against the wall, I look back at the women. Why send her to me? I know squat about this stuff.

My sister, surprisingly, is better at this than I am.

The one who hates people. Go figure.

I don't have the empathy that she does. I can sit and listen, maybe even help with a solution, but the whole advice thing is beyond me. I'd rather sit with and comfort.

They're just finishing up when a blond head comes out of nowhere, spins, and stands with his back to the room while holding out the fresh apron. And this is why you don't give sugar to boys; they start bouncing off walls. I smile at him and step further in to exchange them, dumping the dirty one into the hamper.

"What is the Lady going to do about this?"

I ask Avina, seeing as how she's the likeliest to know and the only one speaking, but all I get is a shrug, to which I frown at.

"I may be one of her favored, but she does not talk to me about such matters."

Inclining my head to that, I can't very well push for information she doesn't have. As she helps Kerry tie her cloth back on, I look over her once more. Long platinum hair is pulled back, but it's loose, as if it had been yanked on, it's also darkened from the water.

Around the same height as Avina, probably five foot five, her lime-green eyes are dulled compared to how I saw them earlier today. That's to be expected though. Can't tell her age, like most of the others here, but I'd judge at least mid-twenties.

My mind flashes back to carrying her here. I had barely felt her weight, yet she's near half a foot taller than me. Let's hear it for super strength. Just as that thought goes through me, so does the memory of the chain that I had apparently broken when we first got here.

Wish I could remember how I'd managed that, would seriously come in handy at some point I'm sure. Kerry is a lot more steady on her feet now, since a lot of the hunching she'd been doing was from the bruises that I healed. She touches at her skin and face, not like she can look in a mirror since there aren't any in this area.

Soon as she tries to stand totally upright though, she winces and hunches back down. I take a couple of steps toward her, but she shies away. Nodding, I back off with my hands up.

"When you guys are ready, I'll be back in the kitchen."

With that, I turn and walk out, lightly touching Maii's arm so he follows me. Don't think I needed to do that though, he seems determined he's going to stay at my side. Makes me wonder what animal he is since he's starting to remind me of a dog who'd been fed by a stranger.

Do Shifters have everyday domestic dog shapes? Hmm. It only takes us a few minutes to get back. Not like the hallways are crowded or anything, they're actually more empty now than they were earlier. The hours of this place are all confusing to me.

Once to the kitchen, there's a new set of people milling about playing with food. As soon as I'm seen they act very busy, but whatever, I'm too weary to deal with anymore.

Going back to my counter, I wash it down once more since my ass had been stuck to it. Have to catch Maii just as he starts going down, and point to the chair. He gives me a lopsided grin and goes to it.

It's situated next to the end of the counter, but his hands are on his thighs. I sigh but leave it alone. Glancing over the five others in here, I call out to them to come closer.

Nervous looks get passed as their heads go down but I ignore it. All five drop once within a couple of feet of me, their knees hitting the floor makes me wince. Four females and one male.

"Do any of you know how to read or know anyone who does amongst you?"

All shake their heads, but the male raises his head a little.

"Kerry does, ma'am."

"The Kerry that was in here earlier?"

He bobs his head as he points it back down. Of course, the one who won't talk is the one who can read. Perfect.

"Alright, are paper and writing utensils available to any of you?"

A couple nod, the other three shake their heads. This is getting confusing, but I direct my next question to them.

"Would it be possible for one of you to grab me some paper and a pencil?"

One nods, so I send her after them and tell the others they can go about whatever they'd been doing. Since there's no telling how long she'll take, and hopefully not get in trouble, I start gathering potatoes, corn, the ears of it since they're there, and peruse over the meat.