Slave To The Fang

13, Past hurts

There's a really important Author's note at the end of this chapter. Please please read it. It's really important.

Gale's POV

The food was delicious and Cezar and Reena made polite conversation with Elisa and I as we ate. They filled us in on little happening around the mansion. They were just silly things, not really the important ones. I didn't mind though, I didn't have to reply and I would learn all I needed to know with time anyways.

A few slaves came and left in the time that we were there eating. A curious glance in our direction was all we were afforded but apart from that they didn't pay much mind to us. Just how I preferred it. The mysterious slave in black still piqued my interest though. The whole time she was in her dark corner and I caught her once or twice staring at me but that was it. She seemed to mind her business and everyone else steered clear of her.

Turns out, Cezar controlled the happenings of the other slaves. That was how much power he had in the absence of the masters and mistresses. I wondered just how powerful his owners were. Were they close to Lord Kyryaan? How high up was their station? How long had he been with them? But at the end of the day, it was really none of my business and I had to do well to remind myself of that.

I scraped my wooden spoon on the bottom of my bowl, scooping off the rest of my food and shoved it unceremoniously into my mouth. I knew and had table manners; one of my mistresses had taught me and others had insisted upon it. But I had not eaten for three days now and I was hungry. The day before yesterday, the master at the slave establishment had not bothered to give us food and yesterday I had given my food to Elisa. Then the trip today. I was famished.

Elisa ate more daintily and she finished her food a few minutes after me no matter how hungry she was. It made me more curious about her roots and where she came from.

I pushed my now empty bowl away from me, my belly warm with food and I sighed in satisfaction. Sometimes you really don't know just how hungry you are until you are given food. Elisa looked much better as well and her eyes were wide and expectant waiting for our next move.

"Good you're done. Seeing as Melanie is not back yet, I will show you both to your room." Cezar beamed at us and stood up. I stood up awkwardly after him my shirts ruffling around me while Elisa managed a less awkward movement. My cheeks burned and I shooed away my embarrassment. Cezar then clicked his hand and another slave came and carried our dirty empty dishes away.

"I'm sorry I have to excuse myself girls. I have an errand to run for my master." Reena said and her and Cezar shared a knowing look. Huh. Interesting.

"I hope we meet again." She said cryptically, smiled and left. I could not help the sad smile that came unto my face for no reason at all. Her words had been laced with more meaning and sadness than I would have preferred. But I understood. She then left the room in a swish of material, her hair flowing behind her.

"Come with me." Cezar then said kindly, pulling his gaze away from Reena back to us. I nodded and followed him. Elisa followed. For some reason she seemed to stick to my presence like she was afraid of being out of my presence.

We passed the guards stationed not far from the elite servants' kitchen and they just nodded at Cezar in acknowledgement but said nothing more. We passed through more pathways but it wasn't long after that we found ourselves in a wing of the mansion that had many corridors with rows and rows of identical doors on either side. There were more guards in the entrance and just like the others, they paid no mind to Cezar.

"These are the quarters of the slaves of high ranking nobles." Cezar introduced with a small smile and more flair than was necessary. I rolled my eyes. I was already growing bored of his cheerfulness. It was becoming rather annoying.