Chapter 12

The hallway leading to the staircase is shorter than I remember it appearing to be last night, and it takes no time at all to reach it. We turn right and walk back behind the staircase, through the perfectly placed sofas, and head toward the wall lined with windows. This time, I can see clearly what lies behind them. A beautiful garden with paved walkways, majestic trees, and many varieties of flowers stretches as far as my eyes can see.

It's like an enchanted forest in his back yard! From what I'd seen last night, I thought that the fireplace was attached to the wall, but behind it is an alcove with a set of white doors, and paned glass windows. Two black suited men, wearing bow ties pull the doors open, while Elise and Anna walk through. I start to follow, but pause before stepping out onto the path, to look at my bare feet.

It's not that I haven't run barefoot through the fields a million times before. In fact, I quite prefer living life without being tied down by shoestrings. It's just that I feel uneasy walking around this fancy house without shoes on. But I'm not royalty or of high esteem, right? I shouldn't concern myself with these trivial things. Looking forward, I step out and keep pace with the attendants. The courtyard is cool and the air is slightly sweet with the scent of flowers. It's so peaceful here.

This garden must be where fairytales derive from. I'm not sure if it's because of the breath taking sights, or because I'm so nervous about seeing my master again, but my heart begins racing. I don't understand this feeling. Is it anticipation? Fear? Merely excitement from looking out at such a stunning courtyard? Yes! That's got to be it. It's just overwhelming, I'm sure. I must be dazzled by the utter beauty. Even the birds are singing their praises, as the breeze swishes through the leaves.

Momentarily forgetting my current situation, I let my guard down, and become mesmerized by a beautiful pond with white and orange fish swimming in it. How beautiful! Little flicks of their tails cause blips in the water, and tranquil splishing and splashing sounds fill my ears with joyful noise. Who would have guessed that such a place could possibly exist within the walls of one's home?

"This way.", says Anna, and I snap back into reality.

We soon approach an identical set of doors to the ones we exited from, and I look behind myself. Did we just walk in a circle? The grand doors swing open, revealing another large room, but with vastly different furniture. This room boasts a green felt covered table with holes and a triangle full of colorful balls on it. There are some other pieces that I don't know how to describe, as well as some arm chairs and tall tables. But unlike the room at the manor's entrance, this room is rounded.

Instead of an open space with hallways, this room has 5 doors, and the same large windows lining the opposite wall. It lacks a staircase, but despite this detail, the room is very much grand and regal, much like the rest of the house. I'm led straight forward from the twin doors we just entered through, toward the third door, which lies directly in the middle of the room, and aligns with the white doors we just came through.

As with all the other doors I've crossed paths with, this wooden door now opens before me. Celestial stars, how many black suits can one house even hold? This time, it reveals a very large dinner table with a white lace runner down the center, and gold embellishments, strategically placed along the top. Hanging from the ceiling is a gold chandelier, encrusted with shimmering stones. Every time I think I've seen it all, this place shows me a whole new scope of wonders.

"Are you not even going to greet your master?", comes a voice to my left.

That distinct voice sends shivers down my spine. The low vibration in my eardrums is all it takes to shake me to my core, and I forget about the beauty of the house to turn and look at him. I can't believe I was so distracted by the contents of the room that I didn't even notice his powerful presence at the end of the table. I'd better greet him quickly, before he gets the mind to punish me. Scrambling for words, I try to compose myself and speak but it comes out in rambles.

"I-I'm sorry, Master! I did not see you!", I say bowing my head.

"Come.", he finally utters, after what feels like an eternity of silence.

Without a second thought, I start walking to his side, stopping about an arm's length away. My head still hangs but I slowly shift my eyes to look at him. To my dismay, I make direct eye contact and I can no longer avoid looking at him. I straighten my back, broaden my shoulders, and ball my hands into fists to give myself the appearance of being braver than I really am.

"Sit.", he says, pointing to his thigh.

"Sit... There?"

"Must I repeat myself?"

This little phrase, coupled with the look on his face, is threatening enough to convince me to follow his command. Sit? Sure! That's easy! In fact, I'm an expert at sitting. Though embarrassed, I take a deep breath and I sit sideways on his lap. With my hands on my knees, I look down once again.

"Good girl.", he mocks, and lifts his hand to touch my face. "Now what are we going to do about your etiquette?"

"I apologize, Master. I was raised on a farm, so I don't know proper etiquette. I will do my best to learn."

"Well, I'm about to teach you a lesson so that you will never forget to greet me when you arrive in my presence again.", he growls softly.

His long fingers push my hair behind my ear and he leans in closer. What should I do? If I pull away, he will punish me. It will make things worse for me in the end. Begrudgingly, deciding to just bite my tongue for once, I allow him to invade my personal space this time. There's no point in trying to fight with him. That will only make him angry and more determined to torture me. Well, I'm not going to give him the satisfaction.

"You've been naughty, my little toy. How am I going to teach you to behave?", he whispers in my ear, as a tingling sensation sweeps over my entire body.

His lips touch my ear, and I instinctively pull my shoulder up in shock. In reaction to this, he roughly places his other hand on the opposite side of my neck and he pulls my ear lobe into his mouth. For a moment, the blood rushes to my head. What is this? Do I hate this so much that I'm losing my mind, or am I enjoying the feeling of his lips on my skin? It's so intense that it's making me dizzy! I can't think clearly, and then, all of a sudden, I feel pain.

I gasp as he pulls away. Turning my head to him, he pulls me close to his face. Whether shocked or mesmerized, I can't look away. I'm entrapped by his steely gaze, and there's no escape from here. The tickle of the breath leaving his lips and touching my own, causes the fire in my belly to burn a little hotter, and a million thoughts of what's about to happen flow through my mind. Our noses are almost touching when he utters his next words.

"Now you know that my bark is not worse than my bite. That is your punishment for ignoring me. Don't let it happen again, or I might have to get creative next time."

Finishing his statement, he looks into my eyes for a moment longer, and then down at my lips. I don't want to move and make him angry, so I hold as still as possible. His fingertips brush a cut on my lip and then move to a bruise on my cheek. As I try not to wince, he traces my jawline and settles his hand over a row of bruises above my collar bone. He closes his eyes and shifts his head so that I now feel his hot breath on my neck.

As he inhales deeply, I feel like he's breathing me in. There is something hard now under my thigh, making me uncomfortable. It's growing, both in size and firmness, but I dare not squirm while in his lap. His hand grips my arm tightly for a moment, his thumb resting dangerously close to my breast. But, as soon as he takes hold of me, he releases his breath in a steamy sigh and leans back into the chair, eyes still closed. As if pondering the solution to a very serious problem, he looks terribly troubled about something.

"Go eat.", he says, pointing to the other end of the table, where Elise is setting down a platter, covered with a large golden dome.

"Yes Master.", I say, as I struggle to get out of his lap.

It takes me all of a fraction of a second to communicate to the rest of my body to get moving. Once my feet touch the floor, I stand up and begin to walk with haste. I'm so flustered by my feelings in the heat of this hectic moment, I'm just beside myself. The hard lump has left an impression of sorts on my thigh. It's almost as though my skin is yearning for it now that I've stepped away. But shaking off my feelings of confusion, I resign myself to the fact that there are just some things in life that I simply won't be able to understand. What I do understand is food!

Behind me, my master gets up from his seat and walks away with his hands in his pockets. As soon as he exits, the entire aura of the air changes. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and comes to life again.