A Bird Among Serpants

1.3

I lay on the bed, the pain on my back slowly bringing myself back as i try to get past the spell. My head hurts, everything about my body it hurts. I need rest, months of it. I can't even remember what I said, but it was enough for him to stop. Think back to what you said. If it was what made him stop then it was something you probably should remember and repeat if you ever can't take it.

I try to go back, but it proves impossible as the dark spots in my memory continue to grow. As terrifying as it is, it's probably a good sign that all of my memory is fading. It means that it has a higher chance of all coming back, and I can see what I did to make him stop.

A soft hand on my shoulder wakes me out of my trance as I glance up to see the same maid as before. I guess I never really saw her face before, but I recognize her touch. I'm so tired that the touch almost makes me pass out. The one appreciated comfort I have gotten in this hellscape. God, I miss feeling safe. It's been 2 days and I'm already yearning for it.

Her hand grabs the clothes off of the dresser and seems unsure of what to do from there, "Can you hear me?"

"Yes." I swallow, half telling the truth. I can sort of understand, my hearing is fussy though.

"Try to work with me then." She grabs my upper body and leans me against her, me taking the hint and grabbing her white dress as a way to stay upright as she puts on my shirt. She does it gently by all means, but my back still burns as soon as it reaches over. I just want to go to sleep, I don't even care about clothing anymore. I'm hungry.. how long has it been? Did he say he'd give me food? I'm not sure.

She finishes up my shirt and moves to my legs, going to help me up then hesitating, "Are you... filled?"

I think back, the feeling of leaking out of me becoming apparent as I realize what he's done. God damit, I can't remove it myself can I? I know she probably won't hurt me, but I don't want anyone to touch any part of me right now. If I had a choice I might never have sex again, "No."

She bites her lip, obviously knowing that I've lied. I don't think I've given any indication of lying so it's probably a theme of him cumming inside hores and such, "If you do, it would be better to tell me so I can help you get it out. I know it's probably an embarrassing thought, but-"

"I don't."

She stays silent for a moment before sighing and sitting down beside me, "How about a bath then?"

I look down, the thought of taking off the little clothing I have on making me paranoid as her hand slowly reaches over and runs it through my hair, "It's fine, it can be done later. Let's finish with your clothing."

She leans me on her softly, helping me with my undergarments and pants. The entire situation made me feel embarrassed to hell, but it feels better to have something covering me at the very least. I glance at the mirror to see that everything is obnoxiously large on me. I guess they expected me to be bigger. It's probably for the best, the fact that no one can see an inch of my body feels amazing.

The servant girl tilts my head up quickly, "You look happier, it would be beneficial for you to get some rest."

No food then? I doubt she'd forget about that, it's probably some form of torcher mechanism. Either way, I'm happy for what I've been given, "What's your name?"

"Pearl, Pearl Edgewater." She smiles once again before looking in my drawers, myself laying down and getting under the covers.

"Have you been working here for a long time?"

"Yes, I have."

"Do you know what he'll do to me next?"

She freezes for a moment before continuing, "How would I know that?"

"Every once in awhile you'll find a pattern in behavior, an order in which things are always done. Does the emperor have a pattern?"

She freezes again before taking a breath and finger drumming the top of the dresser, "There is no order to doing things, but he always treats other species harsher than humans, and when his slaves have spoken negatively or positively about humans, their positions have changed correspondingly."

I stay quiet for a moment, processing what I've just heard. That's extremely useful information. I wonder if she's seen anything else? It's far fetched, but there's no harm in asking about what I did to get him to stop. The memory will probably come back, but just in case it doesn't so I know. There has to be a pattern in behavior with slaves that she's picked up on, "Do you know what I did to make him stop?"

She turns around and glances at me, sighing and biting her lip, "You were most likely acting too submissive."

"Too.. submissive?"

"He likes his slaves to put up a fight every time, once they stop they get killed, put in the castle brothel, or freed. He didn't kill you because he put a spell on you making you act that way, but if you were acting that way normally he may have."

I stare in shock for a moment, before looking away, "Isn't that how you tried to get me to act? On the first night we met, you told me to act as if I was extremely attracted to him and loved the feeling of him inside of me, or in other words submissive. You were trying to get me killed or worse..."

Pearl stays quiet for a few moments before closing her eyes and taking a breath, "I figured it would be better for you to die quickly. It had been a day and you were already on the verge of breaking. I thought it merciful to give you that information."

"What changed?"

"My opinion of you." She smiles and speaks quietly, "What can I say other than speaking with you made me feel guilty.. I don't want you dead."

I attempt to meet Pearl's gaze, herself smiling as I do so. She wants me to do something. I wonder which advice I should take, they both have an equal chance of being false. Let's question a bit further, get her to spill. I'm feeling a bit better not anyway, "Something tells me your help isn't entirely for my sake, what do you have to gain from this?"

After a few moments the door closes behind her, Pearl not answering before leaving be alone. I guess she's not too keen on telling me her intentions. It's reasonable I guess, It's good to have this shakey alliance at least for now. I don't trust her by any means because at the emperor chose her to take care of me, but I feel as if she will help me if it's anything small that I need. At least I hope so.

I lay down in my bed and slowly attempt to drift off to sleep, my body desperately clinging to it as if it were the best experience I've ever had.