ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY.
1099 Words
~INANNA~
Walking side by side a beast in my human form is not strange at all.
Claire decided to take a walk in her beast form and invited me to come with her. I didn't feel like refusing because I may be a servant here...but I can still enjoy a bit of the freedom being in the woods bring. To feel the wind in my hair, to be swallowed by the smell of nature. We're walking because I can't shift to go on a run with her.
We've walked very deep into the woods, the smell of the forest is so much clearer and sweeter. My sense of direction is so horrible that, I would have led us right into a pit. So I'm only following her lead.
Her beast form is not on the intimidating side, standing only a foot taller than me in my human form. I have seen beast's that stand about 9 feet.
Her walking on two legs makes me forget she's in her fur sometimes. This is a ones in a lifetime opportunity. with her being unable to speak like this.
We've been walking for about an hour and a half now, and I'm getting fatigued and famished. I used to be able to go without food for at least three days when I was with Papa. But being fed on a regular basis here makes that highly impossible now.
I think Claire is also hungry, when she turns around to lead the way back to the quarters. She changes back to her skin when we get to the edge of the woods, and put on her clothes.
Nudity is not something that is of a huge deal to us. Lycans shift a lot, so we are used to seeing this guy's ass and that girl's t**s in broad daylight.
Still, I turn around to give her some privacy.
"We are having lunch with the guys" she says when she's fully clothed. She's going to kill me with words now that she can speak again.
She doesn't even ask me if I want to eat with them, and pulls me with her into the quarters.
We get to a canteen, much like those in high schools but not that nice. It's at this moment that I notice just how many we are here. I think we close to 90 people.
We get our food from the cooks. It's only porridge with bread. Claire leads us to a round table with 5 seats, 3 are already occupied. Leaving two seats like they were expecting us to be there.
"Hi guys." Claire greets the 2 guys and the girl with them.
She takes a seat by the girl, I think is Lois. And I take the one between her and the guy I recognize as Leo.
"Hi. I'm Leo. Sorry I couldn't introduce myself the first time we met. May I know your name?" Leo asks with outstretched hands waiting for me to shake.
Why is everyone here so happy. Don't they know what will happen to them once they are sold.
I look at his hand and face in disbelief. He seriously doesn't expect me to shake his hand, does he? Not to be rude or anything, I don't know where his hand has been.
"Inanna. That's her name. She doesn't like talking much." a very excited Claire replies on my behalf.
"And how does someone who talks as much as you, survive with having to be the only one talking between you two" the guy with brunette hair, baby blue eyes and very attractive features says and sends a wink my way.
How are they able to live like this. Being so carefree and so full of joy. As if they have no worries, when they already know their fates.
" Hey. She speaks okay, Jared. Just not with words" Claire says.
I roll my eyes at her. What is she talking about? We both know I can't use sign language.
"Mind talking for me, love" Jared says, trying his best to get my attention by flirting.
I raise my brows at his antiques and return to my food with a shake of my head.
Lois laughs. She laughs so hard that tears roll down her cheeks. I tune them out and continue with my meal.
Am I going to go through the same dilemma I went through in Papa's house in the palace? I think to myself.
I can't help but wonder if my mate will want me with me being a servant and all the baggage I carry.
For the first time in a long time I wish Mama is right. I want my mate to love me, to want me.
It's like I'm drowning in despair.
I'm sure I don't need a mate. But if I find him, I won't make the mistake of making him the center of my universe.
It's a mistake I have learnt from, and wish not to repeat. Mama was my whole world, from the sand on the ground to the stars in the sky.
She was my Galaxy.
With her gone, it's like life is swallowing me whole with the assistance of everything.
"Master says we are going to the palace tomorrow. A messenger was sent here from the palace yesterday. Seems like the queen needs more servants to set up the palace for Prince Dominique's party the day after tomorrow." Leo informs.
"Is the second prince coming? I hear he's sexy as hell!" Lois chirps, with hearts in her eyes, and a dreamy look that I'm positive will land her in trouble, and make her suffer, if she's sent to the palace.
"Of course he's coming. It's his party for goodness sake. How dumb are you anyway?" Claire retorts.
These people better learn the difference between a servant and their master. And fast.
"Too bad for you. It's going to be a masked ball. Everyone apart from the servants will wear masks. No one will know his face." Leo says, with a light pat to Lois's back.
"You should be careful. The palace is filled with snakes, and the prince's concubines don't like competition." I say in a low voice, with my head down and continue with the last of my meal.
The table falls silent after my very much appreciated comment. it's probably me speaking, than what I said that makes everyone lose their tongue.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think" Claire says in her usual chirpy voice.
She'll learn when she's bitten. Afterall.... once bitten, twice shy.
- Writer
