Just A Nibble

An Unexpected Encounter

A throbbing forced Scar to awaken. Her eyes opened wide when she realized she was no longer in the white room. Much to her discontent she realized she instead was in her cell in the basement. It was dark and moldy just like always. A voice could be heard shouting as they came down the stairs.
The two brutes followed behind the owner as they approached. "Now now scar, how was your dinner and a show last night?" The owner said with a humorous undertone. Scar simply glared at the men and if looks could kill, they surely would. It was like routine, the two men bust in and carry the poor girl by the bruises they inflicted only the morning before. She held back a wince from their vice like grips. Up the stairs she went...although this time Flame wouldn't be there to make light of their situation. The cold metal of her cage stung against her bare skin. The shop felt colder than usual, her face turned to have a look out the window.
The cobbled street was covered in a thin layer of white, powdery snow. A few soft flakes still falling from the sky. That explained the chill in the air this morning. Due to the snow there were less travelers on the roads today. A part of Scar hopped that this would be a slow day going forth, a brief and uncommon pause. While she wasn't usually the one the fell under the Vampires judgmental eyes, their mere presence was enough to off-put her.
The day trudged on monotonously, being suddenly interrupted by a commotion outside the window. Her head turned as she saw a tall man with long black hair that fell just below his shoulder blades smoking a cigarette. The smoke billowed as another man, who seemed out of place in this part of town screamed obscenities at the other.
"You nobles don't know shit about the common folks! Your deluded pieces of crap, with your hoity toity clothes, and your big fancy homes! You can't see that we're out here starving?! I can't afford nothing in these shops!" The haggard looking man slammed his palm against the window of the shop in his tirade. The other man didn't show a drop of empathy and instead dropped his cigarette into the snow. He stalled over to the other man swiftly grabbing him by his collar lifting him and slamming him against the wall next to the window. The sheer force of the slam knocked the man unconscious, The noble let go of him letting the man fall into the snow. He dusted his hands together almost like he was wiping the filth off them before turning and entering the shop.
Scars eyes were locked on him as he entered, and apparently she wasn't the only one watching the scene that has unfolded only moments before. The owner of the shop waddled over with a large grin on his face "Why Lord Alexander! How wonderful of you to join us the cold afternoon. Could I care to interest you in-" the owner was cut off by Alexander's surprisingly rough voice.
"No Leopold I don't want you sales pitch. I am here looking for something specific." Alexander raised his hand shooing him off like a pestering fly. His moves were unnervingly graceful. He began to look into the cages at the end of the row, making his way closer and closer to scars. His eyes didn't linger on any one cage for too long, until his pale blue eyes locked with her own. Scar's lip turned up in a snarl which only caused a smirk to be plastered on Alexander's face. His eyes left hers as he glanced down at her name plate.
"Mmm looks like you're on sale spitfire." He said before looking back up at Scar. "What'd you say if I get you outta here? You'd be mine of course" he glanced over her scared, battered, and malnourished body. "But I think that'd be better than staying here huh?" Alexander said it with such a slight whisper it was a miracle Scar even heard him. Scar didn't get a chance to answer before he was looking back at the owner. He made his way over to his counter. They weren't hushed in their discussion
"Have ya made a decision sir?" The shopkeeper asked eyeing scar.
"Yes I have Leopold, I'd like scar I'll be purchasing her as a pet as opposed to having
her bagged." Said Alexander as he dropped a small bag of coins onto the table. "230 gold pieces is her asking price, I won't ask you to lower it since she's already on sale. But honestly you shouldn't be beating your merchandise." He said as he turned back heading towards Scars cage once again. The owner scrambled from his seat quickly grabbing the key that corresponded to her cage.
The man clumsily undid the lock before stepping out of Alexander's way. Scar on the other hand scooted to the very back of her cage, her breathing picking up. Her heart rate spiking which thundered in Alexander's ears. He grumbled softly before reaching in and getting a firm hold on Scar's wrists before removing her from the cage. Once Scar's feet hit the cold floor she felt a hand clamp underneath her chin. "Now you listen here spitfire, I am not going to have you embarrassing me in public. You will act like a nobles pet or so help me I will have you bagged." He said before releasing his grip on her.
Now that Scar was standing before him he got a better look at the girl. Scar was malnourished and wearing a dress that was torn and stained in her own blood. Her eyes were such an odd color a purple, although they seemed dull, lifeless....doll like. She would have had him convinced if she'd not had a scar that marred her right eye. Alexander let out a soft huff before lifting the girl off the floor, and into his arms bridal style as he angrily muttered carrying her out of the door.
"Your outfit is not suitable in this weather! And you have no shoes." He grumbled. Scar new the man was right because as soon as her skin hit the air outside shivers racked her body. Not to mention this man was here trying to play knight or something. Crunching snow sounded from under his feet as the man carried her to a small boutique along the street.
Warm air surrounded her form as she was gently set back onto the floor. The floor was carpeted, scar's eyes flew down to her feet. She scrunched her toes raking carpet fibers between them. The plus floor was such a different change from the hard woods and concretes. Once she looked up from her feet she saw Alexander talking to what seemed like a very friendly woman behind the counter. Watching the woman's face Scar noticed the woman's attempt at flirting which seemed to be going straight over Alexander's head.
Once their conversation ceased the woman nodded and made her way towards scar. "Alright miss you're going to follow me this way. We're going to get you sized" she said shooing Scar back to some small rooms in the back. The door clicked shut behind them the woman removed what looked like a ribbon covered with numbers from behind her neck and began to wrap it around different parts of Scars body. The woman grabbed a small notebook from a pouch on the front of her dress along with a pencil. Furiously she jotted down the numbers.
"Now Miss I'll be right back I'm going to find you a nice winter dress and coat." The woman said exiting the room. In front of scar was a floor length mirror, she turned to face it looking at her own haggard reflection. 'Is this really how I look?' She thought.  Scar reached out the the mirror dragging her finger across the own scar over her eye leaving a smudge on the mirror. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts as the woman returned.
The woman reached in and hung up a lovely navy blue dress. "Please do put this on for me if it fits we shall show your master." She said closing the door with a click. Scar sighed as the reached down grabbing the deteriorating hem of her dress pulling it up and over her head. It hit the ground with a soft thud and again scar seemed to be completely absorbed in her reflection. She stepped closer to the mirror, she couldn't help but to stare at the way her ribs protruded and how thin her arms were. Her body littered with scars and bruising another knock pulling her out of her trance. "Miss do you need assistance?"
Scar quickly perked up pulling the dress from the hanger as she murmured back "N-no ma'am on moment." She undid the top couple buttons and slipped the dress on. Her eyes drifted back to the mirror. Admiring the way the dress puffed out at her hips, and the navy blue fur collar that tickled her neck. The golden details along the pleats of the dress were also exquisite.  Scar reached out and opened the door. The woman's gaze fell upon her.
"Oh yes this one looks lovely on you dear." She said with a smile guiding scar back into the lobby area where Alexander was standing waiting. His stare fixed upon scar, taking in the dress. A nod of approval was followed by him handing the woman a lace collar with a pendant on it...it was about the pale color of his own eyes.
"Please put her in this collar, and accessorize as you please. I'd like her to be warm." He said and with that the woman went off scurrying around the store collecting a few things. She had a couple fabrics laid over her arm and a pair of what looked like black fur lined boots. She ushered Scar back the the changing rooms handing her the items and again closing the door.
A pair of white fleece lined leggings went on first, followed by some socks and the boots. Lastly was a white shawl which she wrapped over her shoulders before exiting.  The woman beamed at scar. "Yes that looks wonderful," the woman said before reaching around scar as clasping her collar on "come along." Finally she brought Scar back to the front. Alexander smiled when he saw her.
"You did a wonderful job at dressing her I'll take the full outfit." The pair discussed prices and payment all whilst Scar was mindlessly playing with the tassels hanging from her shawl. It was no time before Alexander was ready to leave he turned to scar motioning his head in a 'follow me' gesture. It wasn't a shock he no longer carried her now that she had on shoes. She trudged along behind him in the snow. Pulling her shawl tighter and bringing one end to cover her nose which had started to turn pink with the cold.
The crunch of snow beneath their feet echoed through the quiet street as they approached a waiting carriage. Its dark, polished exterior seemed to absorb the soft glow of the falling snowflakes. Scar, ever alert, kept a discreet distance. Alexander's figure, tall and regal, contrasted starkly with the wintry landscape. His long coat billowed gracefully around him, a cloak of midnight against the snow.
As they reached the carriage, Alexander turned with a nod of acknowledgment, his piercing gaze meeting Scar's. The unspoken understanding between them was palpable. The carriage door creaked open, and they entered, leaving behind the tranquil, snow-kissed streets.

Word count: 1971