Eight: Marythelia

I have showered and brushed my hair, feeling cleaner than I have in years, when I hesitantly put my hand on the bathroom door. I had a towel wrapped around me, but I felt vulnerable. I wasn't confident that when I exited the bathroom and went to the bedroom, something bad wasn't going to happen. Zargis seemed honest enough, but that could be because he is trying to lure me into a trap. I looked at the clothes I folded up and set on the counter by the brush: my slave clothes.

Heart in my throat, I tip-toed out into the hall and down to the bedroom. The door was open, so I poked my head inside and looked around. Zargis was nowhere inside, but on the bed was a beautiful purple dress. It was simple, no lace or ruffles or anything, but was more than anything I had ever worn in my life. I walked over and I noticed a note beside the dress.

Put this on and take the hall all the way to the end, you'll find your way back to the kitchen and sitting area. Hope you like it.

Smiling, I put on the dress and found a mirror. It was a modest attire, with the square neckline hiding my breasts. The upper piece fitted nicely around my body, not too tight, before the skirt flowed about my legs and ending with the hem around my ankles. I twirled and the skirts spun about me beautifully. Overall, I loved it.

I found my way back to the sitting area and kitchen, running my hands constantly down the dress, unable to stop myself. I had just stepped into the large space when I was taken by surprise by someone lifting me and twirling me in the air. I giggled and grasped the wrists, before he set me back down. I turned and saw Zargis smiling down at me. "You look beautiful."

I look down at myself and blush. "I love the dress!"

"I thought you might," he said, then took my hand and led me to a chair in the sitting area. At first, I hesitated, but then sat and straightened the dress about me. "Stay here," Zargis said and I nodded.

He disappeared behind me into the kitchen and that's when I noticed the delicious scent of something on the stove. My stomach growled.

After a moment or two of waiting, Zargis returned with a plate and silverware. "Close your eyes," he commanded. I did so. "Open your mouth." I obeyed again and immediately felt warm meat on my tongue that nearly melted into sensations I couldn't explain.

I put a hand over my mouth and chewed, hoping I wasn't drooling. When I swallowed, I said, "That is the most delicious thing I've had!"

I heard him chuckle at my statement. "Open again for me." I did so, this time tasting vegetables in some kind of butter sauce I wanted to bathe in, it was so good.

Zargis continued to feed me, my eyes closed and my mouth alive for the first time, until I couldn't eat another bite and shook my head at the probing fork against my lips. "I can't." It was the most I had ever eaten in a day, let alone a week.

"Open your eyes, please." I did so and found the plate set aside and Zargis starting to stand up. It looked like I hadn't eaten most of his creation and I felt bad. Zargis must have noticed my mood change because he said, "I wasn't expecting you to eat all of it, Thelia. What you did eat was good enough for me, considering your diet."

"I would have thought I'd eat more than that," I said with a frown.

"In time, you'll eat a whole plate or more. For now, that was a lot for your body and I don't want you getting sick." He took the plate away and to the kitchen. I sat in a deflated mood while he cleaned up his mess. I wanted to finish off the plate, I didn't want the food going to waste because it could be going to a good cause. I knew people like Zargis didn't think of lesser people like me or homeless children, so I found it hard to even keep the portion I ate down when others could use it more than me.

I began to heave and an instant later, Zargis was there, hands on my face. Tears streamed down my face and I closed my eyes against his imploring gaze. "I can't!" I cried.

Zargis didn't ask questions, but hauled me to my feet and led me outside to the cool air. I dropped to my knees several paces away from the house and wretched. The delicious food came up and onto the grass and pine needles. I shuddered as finally the final bits came out and I sat back.

A cloth touched my face as Zargis cleaned it and wiped away whatever I still had. "Do you think you can stand?" he asked.

I turned my head away from him and tried. I felt weak and tired. He led me into the house again and onto the chair. I sat, curled up in a blanket he provided, then closed my eyes, welcoming sleep.

"Thelia?" I woke to his voice and blinked at him. "Here," he held out a glass of water and I took it gratefully. I looked around and noticed it was dark. My heart sped and I feared what would happen if I returned home. Before I could do anything to prepare to leave, Zargis made me look at him. "Don't worry about Citron. He knows you're with me and I've made you my personal servant until I leave. He agreed to it and cannot interfere."

Relaxing, I drank the rest of the water and handed him the glass. I was still tired, but my eyes wouldn't close, instead watched Zargis add a log to the fire and grab a blanket for himself. He threw it onto the couch before coming over and lifting me into his arms. I didn't protest, but let him take me to the couch and lie me down gently, my head on a pillow. Then, he threw another blanket on me and knelt. I smiled at him. "Thank you."

"If you need anything, I will be in one of the bedrooms. Do not hesitate to call me or barge in. I'm a light sleeper so may come out here at the sound of your footsteps, but if I don't, call me."

"I am sorry for throwing up."

He shook his head. "Don't be. I'm not offended. If anything, it was my fault for making the food so rich and feeding you so much. I didn't think about how the richness might affect your body. You should feel better by morning."

My eyes fluttered now, and I tried to keep them open. "I didn't want to stop eating though."

He smiled. "At least I know you liked it."

Before sleep could take me away, I asked, "What did you do with the leftovers?"

"I ate what was left on the plate, then I wrapped up what was left in the kitchen for someone to eat later. If no one eats it before I leave, then I will make sure a person in need gets it."

I fell asleep after that, his words giving my mind peace.

After having a morning meal, Zargis and I went back to Citron's so he could have political discussions. I had on my slave clothes now, and felt sadness at having to leave behind the beautiful purple dress. I had thought about sneaking it out, but then remembered Citron would find it with ease.

To my further disappointment, Unda was waiting for Zargis. Otreg was behind her, looking relieved to see his friend again. We entered the house and Unda tried to make her move, but Zargis easily pushed her away. I knew he noticed how my mood deteriorated and was trying to reassure me, but nothing could make me happy.

After remembering how I acted last night and missing the chance to fly with Zargis, I was furious with myself, disgusted too. I wanted to hide and never to be seen again. Seeing Unda and her lust for Zargis only made everything worse. So when we entered the sitting area where Citron was waiting, I turned to Zargis and smiled politely. "Please excuse me. I have duties to attend to and groceries to fetch." With that, I pulled away from him and left the house, heading towards my spot in the forest.