Faline

As I stand, Lady opens a drawer and pulls out a notebook attached to a clipboard with a pen hooked onto it. I blink at her for a moment while she holds it out to me. Her eyes flick up to me for a moment, amusement in their depths. Pursing my lips, I grab them. For her to have these, she'd been planning this for awhile. I narrow my eyes at her but she's gone back to her goodies.

Heading for the door, I motion them all out ahead of me. When Avina doesn't move, I look over at her, but she's called by the woman before I can say anything. Giving her a small smile, steps are then taken to get me out into the hallway.

Heaving a big sigh, I get the notebook set up and make sure the pen works. Looking back up to the healer, I plead with her.

"Trisha, I'm going to need your help. I don't want to fail anyone and you know them all better than I. Walk me through everything you know on each one? It will take a while but I think right now we need to focus on the newcomers."

Still wary, but she gives me a nod, while Danica sports a large smile just behind her. Seth is lumbering at my side, so I look up at him. With what many of them have just gone through, I don't think him being in that form is a very good idea.

"Seth? Can you go human while we talk to them all? The house they came from; it was a Werewolf in half form that had been raping one of the girls. I'm not sure if he went to the others that way, so could you go human for me?"

He nods and starts the shift back. He's completely nude, but that's nothing new. The Werewolf is pretty well endowed though so I have Danica retrieve a loincloth for him.

In human form, Seth isn't even six-foot, but a couple of inches under I would say. Looking to be in his late twenties with light brown eyes that look weird after looking at his blind blue ones. Scars still cover his face, feathered over by his red and black hair. Long in front and short in the back. And I mean long, his bangs reach below his chin in an anime style look.

Thicker body, but you can tell he's fit. He takes a couple of steps around and when I give him a weird look, he explains that the closest he usually goes to human is a half and half state. Ahh, so he’s not used to being on such straight legs.

To hide my amusement at him, I turn back to the older woman and ask how Mercedes is doing.

"She's doing well. Her wounds have stopped bleeding and I got the deeper, wider ones stitched. Scars will appear, but they should be relatively thin. The girl is actually in the same area as the others...if you'd like to see her?"

The question is asked tentatively as if unsure about my reaction. I nod and she gives a small smile. While waiting for Danica to return, the healer and I work out how the ledger pages will be set up.

She gives me a look between curiosity and disbelief when she sees me writing down 'Availability' and 'Gender Preff'. New concepts I'm going to implement, just as a 'Job' listing, so an idea is given to where so-an-so is.

"The Mistress has given me full freedom on changing what I wish. Things will just have to be slow so it isn't so abrupt that it has everyone panicking. Already have Vamps wanting to kill me over some dumb prophecy, so I figure if they're wanting to kill me whether I do anything or not, then I might as well get to work and do something that's good around here."

I get multiple eyes just blinking at me, so I shrug at them. Only way to prove to them that I'm serious is to get to work. Starting out with those that I already know, I list a full workout.

Availability; meaning if they're available to the 'public' or not, name, and any ages I know, which would only be a few. Their race is a two-fold listing since it's listing skin color and if they're human, Shifter, or Were-animal. Species shows just what the specific animals are, gender, and 'Sex Preff'.

That one is to basically show who's willing to go for specific or are okay with both genders. With the house I just came from and what I’d seen, I'm not going to make the new or current residents 'entertain' a gender they do not wish being with. I'm sure that alone is going to start an uproar with some clients, but they'll have to deal with it.

The last listing, 'Job', is where each individual’s duties are, for the most part. I show Trisha just what I mean when I put hers down as 'Healer' and therefore not available, same as Danica. Both human, ages given, and so on.

Where it asks for certain preference, a line is put there to show again that they are not to be used for other purposes. Seth isn't a slave here, but I put down his name anyway as a joke. He plays along, pointing to each and what his answers are.

He's available, a male Werewolf, goes both ways but has a male preference, and his job currently is a guard. I notice he doesn't give an age, but since this was just a joke, there doesn't need to be one listed. I do up Apex as well, filling in what I know, but I think he's along the same lines as Seth is; comes and goes but still belongs to the big guy.

Danica finally returns, wavy blond hair flying around her face while dark blue eyes glitter in laughter as she holds out the scrap of cloth to the male, 'trying' not to look at his nudity. Doesn't seem to be trying very hard, but Seth is totally oblivious to her. Good, would hate to have to kill him for looking at a fifteen-year-old.

All set, we work our way down to the ground floor. Not sure what direction we're going in, but Trisha knows where she's going. While on the way there, I let her know that I'd like to know just how many rooms there are, where it is that the slaves sleep, and which rooms face the outside.

I kind of wanted to keep it a surprise, but being too excited about it, I let them know that I was given 'permission' to have some windows opened in a room or two, as well as getting use of the outside courtyard. Trisha is gaping at me in what is almost horror, and I give a laugh. Just to make sure, I ask her if she knows if any of them have been wanting to run away or anything.

She looks startled for a second, but thinks for a moment before shaking her head. Smiling, I motion to her in a 'told you so' manner, showing by her own words that there should be no problem.

"With it being so cold, I don't see too many of the humans going outside, hence the rooms having opened windows. Still get some sun, but don't have to stand out in the cold for it. The Mistress and I have talked about new 'uniforms' for you guys as well. Not sure how far she's gotten, but I showed her some ideas. Think I need to ask her for some cloaks as well that can be used for ones who wish to go out but will get frost burned if not careful."

If I'm not careful I'll be giving this woman a heart attack; all the mouth drops and gaping at me. Danica looks excited to be given the chance to go outside and run around. Only so much running you can do inside before getting in trouble for it.

"Why would you do this? You were a prisoner here once, and you said yourself you have others trying to kill you. Aren't you afraid of what will happen?"

I smile at the older woman, pretty much eye level since she's only a couple inches taller than me, and slightly hunched.

"I am afraid, yes. Every time I walk around these halls I could see my death right around the corner, but I can't live in fear of that. I'm getting better about using my senses, fighting, and protecting myself. And it's because I was a prisoner here that I know what needs to be done."

Looking up just as we turn a corner, I'm relieved to see that I didn't just preordain my own demise.

"Besides, I've grown fond of many of you, and I made a promise to Danica that I would do what I could to keep her safe. How can I stop at just one’s safety? Knowing that many of you consider this your home, I want it to actually feel more like a home."

Have to stop a moment and think of my words so I'm not fumbling.

"Granted I wish all of you could be doing something other than letting your bodies be used for various reasons, many here have the misfortune of that being all they know. A place like this is needed though, as it becomes a refuge for many, Vampires included. Each has a 'purpose' to their life, I just wish to make it so that isn't the only thing they have to look forward to when they wake up."

Not sure if I'm explaining right, but she seems to understand what I'm trying to say. She looks uncomfortable, and I'm sure many of the others will be too, at first. Change and Vampires don't seem to go hand in hand here, so all the slaves only know of one way to live.

I keep quiet about the other things I want to make possible, as it will more than likely freak her out more. Changes have to be taken slow; piling all this new stuff on her at once when she's lived here for so long...may not be a good idea. The place is stagnant, and all within have grown to know it that way. Altering anything will be considered big, and here I am doing major big.

At least the younger girl is excited, which gives me hope that some of the others who are fairly new will be more open to the idea and help those who may be scared. Avina will more than likely freak-out but I can see my kitchen crew looking forward to it. I hope... Not sure how long they've been here.