Five

"Achoo!"

"Ay, he alright?" Asked the rough looking man behind the counter. The black haired woman rolled her eyes and waved her hand, dismissing the store clerk's concern. Her hair was unevenly cut, with the longest strand being a natural blonde color hanging over the front in a wavy fashion. They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and this young woman certainly displayed the saying. Her numerous rings glimmered and shined just right when hit at a good angle. Almost every finger of hers came with a nice gold ring to it, and each ring had a unique colored diamond embedded at the center.

You would expect such a woman to have numerous suitors at every city she ever visited, and plenty of broken hearts in every country. Her very appearance gave off such a rich appeal, even her aroma smelled of high class. An hourglass figure if I have ever seen one, a nice tight ass which thousands fantasized to see it bare and bouncing up and down their laps, even her chest was decent enough to handle a man's touch. Everything of her body shouted sex, and she knows it.

However, much like the trope goes she never found someone which captured her heart as she has done to many, many others. Never once thought twice before dismissing a lover from her bedroom, and didn't seem to mind the rumors flaunting about calling her the country whore or the rich slut. She is a rich slut, how could she not be when men are willing to give everything just to get her to see them? It was pathetic, but mildly entertaining. As much as they fought, and they certainly have, she never gave them enough to substitute as love. Never bothered learning names, well not from those whom she slept with who weren't important to her. For it seemed that only people in a position of power were worthy of her seeking for their attention.

Politicians, Royalty, High-Class, those with power and influence were her true focus to sleep with. To get in bed with, to savor and taste, to desire and have under her touch. Naturally, this came off as high tier propaganda which behaved as support to the rumors of her being an easy lay if you fit her taste, she wouldn't deny them. She welcomed being viewed as a slut, but rejected the title of being a prostitute. Not that she didn't mind prostitutes, they certainly know their ways to please a woman after all, they're professionals. But sex was only a selfish desire, she had bigger goals in mind, a darker treasure... a personal secret.

So yes, call her a whore. Pay no attention to her outward appearances at night parties or festivites, celebrations and honorings. Ignore the fact that she prefer her windows shut and curtains drawn, don't mind the bright skin tone or flushed blood red lips. She is a gold digger and nothing more, for those rumors help paint a better facade, a better lie to uphold.

For who doesn't love a good slut, after all?

The bartender frowned and cleaned the surface from where her assistant had sneezed, throwing the dirty rag over his shoulder as he leaned back to tuck in his belt. "If he starts coughing up any blood, I don't want any sickness in here. I see anything I don't like then he goes out, that clear?"

"Crystal clear." She shrugged, leaning over and tapping her black fingernails into the polished surface. "Now do your job and get me a Bloody Mary."

The man grumbled and turned around, grabbing the necessary ingredients to fix her beverage of choice. The young woman turned back with a silly smile, pinching her younger assistant's cheek and speaking in a childish tone.

"And you won't be having any more accidents now, will you, Five?"

Five quickly shook his head, biting his bottom lip before feeling himself descend fast. Before he noticed, he had fallen out from his stool and hit the floor hard, getting the attention from anyone present. Lots of folks began to laugh and shake their heads, several remarks mentioning that the boy has had too much to drink. The woman laughed it off, pulling him up roughly by his arm as he stared wide-eyed with a slight tremble. She patted his shirt and tussled his brown hair making his head look messy.

The bartender had returned and looked unamused.

"Lady, I asked you nicely. If the boy doesn't look well, I don't want him around. Either he goes or you both go." He demanded, placing her drink down and grunting before walking away.

The woman flashed him a warm smile until he was attending someone else, her head turning in an uncomfortable manner with her green eyes staring deeply into her helper. He felt her distinct cold hand fall upon his shoulder, sliding closer to his collarbone before settling into a grip, pulling him close until their noses touched. "You may leave, Five. Await for me at the bedroom, keep it nice and well prepped when I get back. Oh, and do tend to the others while you do so, be sure to feed them enough for the night. But not too much, you know she doesn't like her pets to be fat and plump after all."

Five nodded rapidly, feeling a huge weight lifted from him once she let go and allowed him to leave. He stumbled and pushed the doors open, breathing in large gasps as he hurried to the room she had booked for them to stay in. Fix them some food, ration it, for it was his job to look after them and serve her as best as he could. He cupped his mouth as he began to cough once more, his pale hand surpressing the sudden force. The grumble in his stomach had become a faint memory, often meals were a luxury to be earned when serving her. Glancing at a mirror added a knot to his heart, he didn't look healthy to say the least. That was not good news, if he didn't look healthy, if he was beginning to get sick then...

No, feed the pets and fix the room, feed the pets and fix the room. God he felt exhausted all around.

The door parted open sneakily, like a girl trying to tiptoe her way into bed to avoid waking her parents late in the night. A quick scan around the room confirmed her servant did as he was told, which pleased her somewhat. Kicking the door shut behind her made enough noise to shake him awake, lifting his head up and looking at her with those tired eyes.

"Aww, poor baby. You're all worked up and sleepy, aren't you?" She cooed, flashing a toothy grin and approaching her bed. Sitting down, she patted her thighs signaling him to lean forward. He did so, slightly hesitant and reluctant but submitting to her or else. Leaning down, she brushed his brown hair softly in a gentle way, like a mother would fix her child's hair. Her eyes noticed the pale complexion he was starting to have, which meant no dessert for tonight. Her eyes looked up at the open window, seeing the morning sun begin to rise. "You left the window curtains open."

Shit, shit-shit-shit!

He felt her push him slightly, yet the impact seemed akin to being thrown by a man twice his size. He fell back hard with a groan, quickly rolling around and lifting himself up with a dazed head. He reached up and pulled the two curtains together, hearing his owner giggle from behind before she began to clap her hands. He could feel the eyes from her recently awoken pets staring at him, wondering if today was the day he had long dreaded. Her sadistic chuckle was enough to make his heart sink beneath the ground as he slowly turned to face her. There was a sudden throbbing at the back of his head, which didn't help with the intense level of fatigue he was suffering from and the panic he was under. Her hands finally clasped together as her tongue slithered out to lick her lips, a sight he was all too familiar with.

"Someone is hurting, come here. I'm not mad at you, you can rest easy now. There we go, there we go."

She resumed playing with his hair, remarking how he needed more iron in his diet. Her fingers searched around before finding the area of impact, he was bleeding from the back of his head. It was tempting, oooooo so very tempting, but ultimately she remained resistant to her instincts and continued her playful nature. After all, at this rate he was good for a few more days left, just enough before they arrived to the castle. She could choose a new 'assistant' by then.

"Are you feeling sleepy? You've done a very good job. Mary would be so proud of you, Five."

He nodded slowly, too tired to worry and too weak to resist. It was so exhausting, it felt like he had weights in his limbs. Her fingers were icy cold, and the false warmth in her words were fake enough to give him a misplaced sense of comfort in his tragic role. Soon, his eyes felt heavy as her soft voice took its toll.

"Five... Five? Five?"

So sleepy...

"Felix!"

He jolted up, feeling something sticky on his cheek as he looked around, catching sight of Janette. She shook him again, reaching up and wiping the drool off his face. "Hey, she's up and asking for you. I tried but she has something private she wants to talk about. Sorry."

He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head and feeling his hair for any bumps or bruises. Gods, that memory just won't go away, some nights were always a burden to repeat. Those nightmares were beginning to resurface, the last time he had them was before... well, before he met her. Without his mate, he was beginning to feel lost and alone again, fighting an uphill battle with no end in sight...

"Yea, I'll-I'll be there." He said, reaching for his clothes.

Janette felt his head with a worried look on her. "Hey, that's twice now that you wake up sweating like this. Are you sure you're doing okay?"

His response was to hold her hand and squeeze it gently, leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

It was a lie of course, how could he tell her the truth? It felt so miserable and unreal, the life of before and the life he has now. "You know you don't have to lie, I told you I can help if you talk to me."

"I know." He sat up, pulling his pants on and looking back. "Thank you."