Only Human: Monsters and Men

Chapter 29: June Jackson

The second chapter as I promised! Please enjoy!

-Lucinda Croft

Back to Original POV

I hated this. As soon as Hendrix said swimsuit, I was dreading what was to come. I had never really liked wearing swimsuits. It was hard to find ones flattering for my body type, they made me feel self-conscience, and there would be little to no protection from perverted vampires.

"Mary, do I have to wear a swimsuit? Wouldn't what I'm wearing be fine? I don't plan on swimming," I said hopefully. Mary didn't respond. She seemed deep in thought. "Mary?"

"He's never called a human by their name before..." Mary murmured to herself.

"What?"

"He has never called a human by their name. Even humans he has had for months. The first week in and he referred to you as June," Mary said finally looking at me as if expecting an answer.

"Oh. Yeah, I noticed that today too. It slipped out a couple times, but he quickly goes back to Human or Pet soon enough," I said rolling my eyes.

"You don't understand. Master Hendrix hates humans," Mary replied with a serious tone.

"Really, then why does he keep buying them?" I asked annoyed. I mean really. If he hates me so much, then let me go home and leave me alone.

"He buys them because he hates them. He likes seeing that moment where they realize how expendable they are. He likes confirming his beliefs with how selfish, weak, and basic they are."

"That's disgusting." I suddenly felt a hand on my throat as my back was thrown against the wall. Mary stood in front of me with venom in her eyes. Her hand pressed into my throat.

"How dare you speak that way about the master of this house! Like it or not, he is your master and you are his possession. Know your place," Mary hissed.

I struggled and glared up at her. "My place? I am me. I do not belong to anyone no matter how many chains or marks they may leave on my body. My heart is mine. My thoughts are mine. My decisions are mine. No matter what you vampires may think or believe my life is my own." I grabbed her hand and tried to ease the pressure. "I will not give up, and I will not stop fighting."

Mary finally released me and I fell to the floor taking some deep breaths. "Is he possibly just intrigued by your pigheadedness? Whatever the case watch how you speak about the master. If I hear you besmirch his name again, I won't be as gentle the next time. Now get up. We don't have much time."

I stood and rubbed my neck. Gentle? Maybe by a vampire's standards. I had let my guard down. I assumed that since Mary attended to my needs that she cared about my wellbeing. She was only doing what Hendrix ordered her to. She could care less about me, and would kill me without batting an eye if Hendrix ordered it. I followed after Mary silently. I was on my own here.

After a number of hallways and turns I started getting a sense of déjà vu when we finally came to a familiar pink door. This was where I was taken to have my dress made when I first came here. It seemed like so long ago. I was fresh and raw to what was happening. Back before I was turned into a vampire chew toy and sex doll, before becoming a temporary mistress to a dryad, and before meeting the Angel's Heart. I didn't even have this stupid bracelet on my wrist back then. How badly I wished I could rewind time and be back to those simpler days.

Mary knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Fidestro sang from inside the room.

Mary opened the door and roughly shoved me inside. Fidestro was sitting at his work bench comparing swatches of cloth with a few pins sticking out of his pursed lips. The door closed behind us, and after a few moments Fidestro dropped the swatches exasperated and took the pins out of his mouth placing them into a pin cushion.

"I'm sorry if we disturbed you," Mary said politely.

Fidestro waved his hand. "No. I actually welcome the distraction. This outfit isn't coming together at all." He looked up and saw me in front of Mary. His face lit up and he jumped out of his seat. "You didn't tell me it was to work with her!"

Mary was surprised by his outburst. "I apologize. Master Hendrix was hoping you could supply her with a swimsuit. She is to attend a pool party with her highness Princess Katherine."

Fidestro quickly came to me and guided me further into the room by my shoulders. "Of course, that shouldn't be a problem at all." He looked back and noticed Mary still standing in the room. "If you wouldn't mind giving us some privacy? I believe too many vampires makes her tense and that ruins my flow."

Mary seemed offput by this for a moment, but sighed. "Very well. I will be outside the door if you need anything." She then quickly left the room closing the door behind her.

I looked to Fidestro surprised and confused. Why was he so excited? Why did he tell Mary to leave? How did he know my feelings?

"Yes, yes. I'm sure you have a million questions. First, how are you doing?" Fidestro asked sitting me on the pedestal.

"I... I have been better..." I answered hesitantly. "And you?"

He calmly sat in his work chair. "The same. Ever since you left this room with one of my greatest master pieces, I have not been able to make anything else."

"I...I'm sorry," I said not sure what his angle was.

"It is the strangest thing. Nothing seems inspiring anymore, yet the moment I saw you in my dress I wanted to create again. But I am conflicted. You are merely a human. A drop in an ocean. I have worked with creatures of far greater elegance, grace, and beauty. Would it not be a drop in my standards to consider you a muse?"

I bit my tongue and rolled my eyes a little. "Look, I don't know what you want me to say. To be honest I have much bigger concerns on my mind right now."

"Oh? Care to share?" Fidestro said genuinely interested.

I gave him a questioning look. "Why do you care?"

Fidestro stood and clutched his heart in mock hurt. "I'll have you know that I am just a caring type of vampire." Fidestro dropped the act once he saw I wasn't buying it. "This could also solve both of our problems. You dish all your woes out and maybe I can figure out what about you inspires me."

"What if you run to 'Master Hendrix' and blab everything I share? I just got chocked out against a wall for saying something negative about his Richness. As I see it, I am the only one taking a risk here," I said drawing my knees to my chest.

Fidestro stood and went to a bin pulling out a wad of clothes. "You have a point, but you should know I'm not one to kiss and tell. How about I swear on my gifted hands that I won't breathe a word of what you share to anyone without your permission?"

"That depends. How good is a vampire's word?"

Fidestro started sorting the clothes out by color, and I could now see they were swimsuits. "Well, that would depend on the vampire. You may just have to trust me."

I studied Fidestro's dirty blond hair with auburn highlights. His hazel eyes seemed without threat. I do need to speak to someone about what I'm going through, and the Angel's Heart can't give me advice. I doubt Fidestro would risk his position to actually help me escape, but maybe just talking it out would be enough. Even if he were to tell on me, the worst Hendrix would do is something he is already planning on doing.

"Okay. I just don't know where to begin," I said realizing that there was a lot on my mind.

"How about the beginning... but first," Fidestro held up a bikini and a tube top. "What kind of swimsuit would you feel the most comfortable in?"