Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

70.) How it Will Be

"If I didn't think it would damage your productivity I would remove your legs for that." He said taking a drink.

There was no way I could respond to that so I didnt, only stared forward. How do you argue with someone who was willing to eat and had eaten your species in the past?

"Dont be so stiff." He told me, he began snapping at a spot next to me and a drink was brought out. "This is a celebratory meal. I have not one but two new female descendents added to my line. Its a joyous occasion!"

"The first of many more celebrations." The high lord said looking at me meaningfullly rasing his cup.

After his toast he began eating while i did not receive a plate. This is what I had expected when i came. He eats first no one talks. The head eats than everyone els. Despite my hunger I wasnt focused on the meal that would likely come. This was a warning. Dont run again or we make it where you cant run anymore. We expect you to have more children, accept it obediently. I gritted my aching teeth.

He sucked out the gellatonous marrow from the bone and ate the meat in his plate. His sleaves were carefully held back by two humans on sither side of him under the table. When he was finished he placed his silverware down and a new plate was brought out along with one for me.

"After my sons have their own hatchlings, Visitation will be negotiated. Your extreamly valuable for your ability and given your species I dont expect you to live a long time. Sending you out to another territoy with a stronger guard may cause issues regarding our ability to retrieve you. I've decided rather than sending you off to another territory, well extend an invitation ourselves. Keep everything in house were I can over see it."

My eyes grew big. Visitation? It wasnt enough he wanted me to be shared between his sons but also complete strangers for his benefit? I felt enraged.

"And if none are born?"i asked.

"Isnt that unlikely? Three children in less than three years. If you can't lay I'll find ways of motivating you. You seemed rather attached to that servant you brought.  Even telling my grand daughters to bite the maids if they interfear with her. Now that you've grow horns and a tail you dont seem to care for your fellows, how vicious."

"The girls dont have teeth." I reminded him.

"They will." He said shaking his head.

I felt his gaze on me. His black eyes, that were passed on to Dante and Talon.

"Stand up." He told me. I complied.

"Turn around." He said gesturing with a finger in a circular motion. I twirled. He grabbed the skirts fabric in hand and rubbed it between his fingers. Then nodded to himself.

"It seems the maids arient used to dressing females correctly." He remarked. "This batch wasnt alive to serve the previous madam."

"This was my doing." I told him. 

His gaze turned thoughtfull. Grabbing my chin and turning it side to side in his hand.

"While your appearance has improved. You still lack basic etiquette. Shouldn't you thank me for the room, the servants, and the clothes I gifted you? Sitting when you should have been standing. Failing to agree when your meant to. Im treating you astonishingly well despite your previous poor behavior." He said releasing my face. " I'll send Dante to teach you etiquette in the future. It wont reflect well on me if you are lacking infront of the other clans."

He was a towering man, I came in here almost itching for a fight. To prove myself to be stronger than I had been but when I came face to face with him, there was an overwhelming sence of smallness. A mouse and a bear. Running away didn't solve my problems and theres no way I could fight him head on as Gorza would. If I wanted to live well I had to think my way around him.

"Thank you High Lord." I told him. "For the clothes, food, and shelter. Ill try my best to not let my behavior reflect badly on you." The words tasted sour on my tounge but I said them with a smile.

"Its good that you understand, eat." He said motioning me away to my seat again. I swallowed back the bile in my throat and tried to stomach my meal.

One thing was certain. As long as he was alive my life would be difficult. If I wasn't strong enough to fight him on my own, I needed to find someone who could.

.......

After the meal I walked back to the wing and stopped at Vees room. I didn't knock and opened the door. He didn't seem to be inside but I entered anyway. His bed was a nest of things he liked: Soft blankets, bones, shiny things. Blankets I had left in my room when I left, and clothes that I had made for him that were now to small to fit made up part of the bedding.

Seeing them there left a heaviness in my heart. It would be enough if he didn't hate me. I hugged the clothes to my chest thinking back to memories when I held him in these clothes last. Soft baby skin, and the way his head smelled. It was alright if I my heart is broken I could could carry the weight and survive, but he shouldnt have to live that way. I rubbed my body all over the bed to add my scent to it.

There was no way to know when he would come back but at least he would know I was looking for him. With the girls waiting for me, I returned to the wing. Opening the door all seemed well.I heard a faint giggling in the distance, could be a good or bad thing with dragons.

"Im back!" I yelled out.

"Here!" Jen yelled back.
"Her." Two small voices attempted to copy her.

I walked up the stairs to find the girl in the room the maids had called the nursery. It was grand in size. They were swinging in a long stretch of fabric from the ceiling. Both ends of the long roll had been attached to the ceiling and the girls were currently inside the hamock like thing being pushed back and forth by a maid.

"Im glad your having a good time." I smiled at them.

"Yeah!" Jen said happily. "They set this room up for us, isnt it great!"

I looked around and the room was truly nice. Pillows and toys everywhere. Chests full of shiny trinkets. Thick logs of verying sizes were brought in that were arranged and stacked in a way that would be ideal for climbing up. Notches were carved out so that they fit together in a precise way. It was a place that would appeal to any child.

I sat in the floor for awhile and watched them play. Admiring the room. The ceiling glittered while the room was a light airy blue color. Wooden rafters had been added to the ceiling but i couldnt tell what purpose they actually served.

Aelia and Idelia eventualy got out of the swing and started running widly up the logs like cats with to much energy. They chased after eachother bumping into eachother and falling to the soft cushoned floor before jumping up and doing it over again.
My eyes started feeling dry. I blinked once then rapidly several times trying to fix them. Slowly I think I began to nod off. Before i realized it the girls were no longer playing on the logs but were now draping blankets over them to make "houses."

Jen mostly lead their play while the girls just copied what she did. While Aelia and Idelia understood the first language they had only spoken a few words from each language. They were mostly just happy to play. They stacked pillows and argued over which one got to have what item in their nest.

I felt movement against my side and looked down to find Vee leaning against me. He held a book in his hands, a heavy gilded thing, and he was dozing peacefully. I was afraid to move. There wasn't many perfect moments in life and when they came about it was best to live in the moment as long as possible. Take in the smells, and sounds. The way the light fell. On a bad day I could remember this moment. Come back to it and live off of it.