3 NEW MASTER

"Death is a horrendous reality from which souls ply to a nurturing dreamy life praying every second for short-lived mortality to breathe, " a lie to the face. Maybe this is the pretext to the lie - living the life of Riley. Naah! to me - back to where I could recall - it's always been -'Life is cheap'. Just that simple. Avarice for power feasts on its source and the source is always after power as a moth lured off the flame, ending blazed into chars of its hunger.

Astrid's whole body ached. Every muscle in her body was sore. There was a still splitting pain with a slight bulge on her head. Her throat was painful - too many attacks annihilated towards them - it was painful to even swallow the phlegm. The deep cut on her left forearm starting to heal and she was to make sure of doing no rash runs out to her freedom with no success or the cut would open again causing infection. And one more injury added this not-so-healthy list, a badly sprained ankle. These were the aftermath of her three trivial attempts to run away in the last three days.

Right now she wanted nothing more than a long restful sleep. Her patient turned body needed it real bad after her recent failures, reaching till the porch - fighting those pests - and tripping over on her own, resulting in a specific pair of hands-on her throat _ _ _ _ works blacking out _ _ _ _ next few hours and she is back to living. This annoying cycle darkening the almost irreplaceable fingerprints.

All she would beg for now was an undisturbed sleep. Not so lucky. The next moment she felt glint of sun pelting against her eyelids. She dared peeping at the light source. Those heavy royal purple curtains were drawn apart.

" Uggh!! close them, just dim that sunlight, " she screamed hiding under the covers. Someone chuckled softly. Agghh, so annoying, huh, what is it with them can not they just leave her alone or even better kill her. Silence continued taking advantage of which she dozed off totally ducked in the covers, all curled up.

"Hey! wake up, " that voice called, covers lying halfway on the floor. A shadow loomed over her face dampening that sunset orange haze all over the skyline and through the window. She had slept for only 5 hours and her fatigued body destitute for more.

With a drowsy yawn, she asked, " Now who are you an why are you here?!" she knew she was important to them to be living and they must be desperate for something she could have her hands on to be sleeping in such a luxurious, fluffy bed.

"You have to ask!?" he feigned surprise, "You are at fault, all of your trial run-outs. I am to keep you put and get you on your schedule, " looking at his watch, " And you are almost out of time for dinner if you ain't ready in an hour. Draven's order - 'Tell her to be at the table by 7 sharp 'o clock, " he shrugs with a polite smile.

Astrid gazed at this cherubic guys' features. Around her age, about a year or two younger than Draven. Same almond-shaped eyes, deep oceanic blue with a grey speckled black ring around it, long eyelashes blinking felt oceans blue waves splashing against black rocks. Eyes so pure, if indulged in would reincarnate the soul of anew beginning. His features just as perfect as Draven's, aiding to his boyish features were his blonde hair. Astrid giggled.

"What! is there something on my face?" he touched his face tentatively brows rising up in confusion.

"No, you are too cute to be keeping an eye on an assassin and also isn't it impolite to be in the same room with a lady oblivious of your presence, " she smiled at him.

"Ummm.... I...., " he blushed starting at his feet to eternity.

"I am Astrid by the way, " offering her hand, standing up next to him. So soft, babyish and warm hands, she could crush them if held tightly, he beamed at her.

" I am Galen Nevada Oscar nice to meet you, Astrid, " no surprise he was Draven's brother when he could charm anyone, " And if you don't get going Draven will eat me alive, well.... even worse he would come for you."

Astrid's face scrunched in distaste, " What does he want now?" her fingertips grazed the fingerprint trail left on her neck.

Galen shrugged, "Half an hour. Freshen up, change and meet us at the dining hall." He turned to leave, stopping at the door he called, " Astrid the walk-in closet is next to the bathroom you will find everything you need in there, bye." he left blithely, the door closed with a soft thud.

"Ahhhh! I hate that stupid, arrogant mutt. I don't want to leave this heavenly bed. MONSTER." Astrid stared longingly at the bed, with a diffident sigh she dragged herself into the bathroom. Monster won once again.

Bathroom was designed extending calm and beauty of deep oceans. Walls and floor were constructed entirely of stones found inside the oceans, shells adorned the basin and bordering that large mirror.

Astrid shivered from the unfriendly brackish breeze cutting against her bare skin. Overlooking the ceramic midnight black bath, she turned on the shower, mild-warm water poured on her bared skin. Her disheveled hair now damp, water coursing through her features in streaks. One, two, three, then a rapid continuous fall dripping as raindrops down her firm eyelashes. Splattering against her chest from the upheld chin, deep into gorges revealing out into the vast stretched plain. Leaving its traces draining into the massive basin of nothingness.

The huge sleek mass of flesh and bones heaved down. Astrid was now crouched, leaning against the stone wall, hands tightly wounded around, tucking her feet in close to her chest. Hair sprawled all over her while her head laid in peace on her knees. Astrid shuddered, a harsh low gasp left her lips and few drops of tears left the ocean brimming eyes being herded in the continuous downpour. Warm water soothed her body, scars, tiredness, yet her heart and mind clenched hard against a thought.

No relief to the throbbing pain settled deep stratified. What she remembers, what she had been through and what she could not remember wholly. Those fleeting moments, burdened by a vague car accident. Suffocating under its debris, no light not hope could find it's way prying away from the dark.

Astrid remembered nothing but the horror of fire and heat all around her. Shouts of horror shredding from the throats of the people she learned could only spread laughter - but who were they she never remembered. She remembered suffocating from the black smoke emanating through the fire, spreading through their car to where she was. A vague remembrance of her windpipe choking, guttural coughing, blood-red teary eyes. Lungs longed for air, providing relief to the sizzled lungs and some relief to her body from the unbearable heat. A small figure lying unconscious by her side. She fainted.

Astrid left the bathroom feeling all clean and toned with that flowery perfume of the body wash that she had a deep hatred towards. She dressed leisurely opting for plain blue rugged denim jeans, grey full-sleeved shirt, and black jacket identical to her official POISON jacket - ripped from the knife clash, smelly with her dried blood - too significant to be trash. Astrid was already running late from the intensely distressing shower and herculean mastering through the delicate-vogue fabric sea emptied in a walk-in closet. It be even worse after a few days stay with nothing normal left to wear.

10-minute interval each and 3 knocks, even the maids robotized to function punctuality. They better be getting new functions cause Astrid was stubborn enough to have her way - she has not come this long to be shoved around.

A maid unnecessarily escorted her to the dining room. Security tightened and laughter bubbled in her. Hostile gaze twice the number of guards, starting at her relaxed no-shit-given face. It was now even strenuous with three times the security, hovering pest 24/7, neither the shifts had any loopholes nor did false alarms end with a way out. Three flunked attempts equal one fatal chance for escape in the most incidental suitability.

She entered the dining room, illuminated through the bright sun rays filtering in from the large windows. Maids atoned to leisurely pleasures to Oscar's demand. Two of the ten seats were occupied of the dining table, Draven and Galen immersed in their pudding. Galen constantly chattering with that charming smile of his, Lilith reciprocating his syllables with a somewhat dull smile, her eyes flitting back and forth to Draven's concorded hand-mouth coordination. Pudding until made its way to his mouth, he would hold the old Grumpy Boss look - 'Capricious epicure'.

Astrid cleared her throat deflecting their attention towards her, she reached in front of boys dragging the chair back, accomodating herself to the mahogany antique table and lustful food. "You're welcome, " she smiled politely and started gobbling up her food whatever it was not bothering off table manners. She tore steak against her canines, flaunting her greasy teeth through her bright smile. There passive faces poignant from their static - stagnant expressions. Lilith's eyes widened disgust clear on her face, totally unprofessional to her forced labor of standing as a guard, envying the prisoner's liability to live like masters. Galen started laughing almost tripping his chair over, one hand gripping table and other weightlessly pressing against his stomach. His shiny blonde hair all over his face, so angelic. And devil king sat with his hands in the table, right hand supporting his slightly tilted head providing with the best framework of Astrid's vicious grin. An enjoyable-bemusing very small smile disclosed his expression.

" That was....agghh.....hilarious, " Gale spoke between his coughing and teary eyes.

Astrid finished with her greasy show of barbaric eating. Now we're the most decisive words were to be spoken, to whether this was her last meal me another chance for identically different demonic master to slave her around - wherein she still hoped to slave until she was settled with her duties and dues. Whether anyone has done their duties towards her or if she had this in her future, she did not care. She has to live, no matter what it takes, she will do everything she has to.

"What is to be done?" Astrid spoke in a businesslike tone, leaning back against the plush cushioning of those antique royal chairs, placing her folded hand on her crossed legs. From her ruffian ways, she morphed into a businesswoman. The bustling air rushed out of the long open windows and estrange winning over its territories.

"To live, you will be loyal to me, " Draven's voice cut through the air, aiming straight to Astrid's motive, " Or you'll die a miserable SLOW DEATH, after killing so many of men and allies for last few years. If you chose to live by working for me full-heartedly, you will be receiving all kinds of benefits but if you chose to differ even a step you yourselves will be agreeing to the death warrant.

All were on the track, only she wouldn't be loyal to anyone buying her. She had been POISON's most valuable merchandise, auctioned once every month for the last 3 years. The case or murder or destruction of any sort which needed urgency was dealt with by her - only if you have shit loads of money and connections. This was no different than those auctions - for some time she would be Draven's until boss had her back in his hold. A mysteriously cunning smile slide into Astrid's features, her mind brewing something funny maybe, some kind of irony.

"I will work for you, only there won't be no loyalty expected, neither by you nor will I. If I slip from under your vise, if your peril of death hovering like a halo over my head is dispelled by someone else's in the near future, I am a turncoat, " Astrid stared straight into Draven's sea-green eyes. They were her favorite in all that perfect mess of his debonair features - 'so convinced to win anyone over'. But not her, she would make sure of it. And right now for the first time, she would make sure of being her own seller for the first time, she would make sure of being her own seller proposing her own terms-of-use.

"See, I already told you, she would never work for us, I am your best shot. This bloody betraying wit...' pop', " a pea popped itself into Lilith's mouth.

Her eyes widened equally as Galen's expressions brightened, "I want her in team, pleassseeee brother." he pleaded Draven with his puppy eyes, left unaffected for his eyes trained at Astrid's challenging gaze with hostility.

She looked at Lilith with amusement, " Can you down that hypocrite screech of yours, that loyalty monologue does not suites your shriveling ratite face."

"You. ..... you...how dare y..., " Lilith spoke enraged.

"Cut the crap girl. That is my condition to work with you, or here I am at your service to the road to hell, you can kill me on spot."

Astrid's voice turned grave with each syllable. A heavy silence filled in the surrounding. All eyes stationed at Draven anticipating his final call. Astrid could not read his thoughts penetrating that stubborn poker face with two icy-cold eyes, all she knew was his mind racing a hundred miles/second, calculating what his words would cost him. Astrid too harnessed these same thoughts, lest the stacks here were her blood, flesh, and bones. Was this condition stupidity on her part? Did she step out of her role in this world of being an item worthy to be bought and sold? -

' Please, please don't kill me. I am ready to back down, kneel down to any condition you put forward, ' she repeated these words in her head, confirmed now the mayhem she had caused would silence her forever.

"Alright, " Draven's deep voice boomed disrupting their, ambiguous thoughts. He stood to his full height profounding merit of his decision. He walked across the table towards Astrid, his regal aura looming over her head now. She stood to face him straight at head. She was 5'8 and still felt petite, he must have been 6-6'1. He was less than a few inches close. Astrid could see his neck at line straight, his slow breath enhanced out its veins and a deep upturned triangle at the base.

Draven's index finger traced a pattern over Astrid's jaw to her chin, tilting upwards a surge of tingles running through her spine, it actually shocked her to experience something so new to her. It might have vouched for a romantic scene, two livers about to kiss passionately after a heated argument. Only here were no lovers, only enemies filling up the proxy of boss and servant. But those eyes told a different story Draven was delighted instinctively, whereas Astrid rapt under it's effect.

"Darling, 11'o'clock sharp I would be waiting by the driveway and don't be late this time, your work starts tonight. And yeah, do wear something fancy, not too classy and not too slutty, " Draven walked away teasing her, with a sense of satisfaction overwhelmed by some familiar feeling longed to be forgotten.

Astrid was standing there in a trance until Galen tapped her shoulder welcoming her into the fam, well, more like 'welcome into the goons happy party as their puppy'. Well at least someone was happy, unlike ms. she-is-the-reason-my-life-is-miserable. Astrid was still looking over at the door, only now she had to make sure to be sure of herself, to be able to earn her living in here.