The Wolves Belong Underground

Chapter 9

The next morning came in a fog, Maria squinting her eyes open. Her head felt like it was made of lead and her mouth full of sand. Her vision was a blur for a moment before her eyes adjusted, seeing the grey morning outside the window. She was still for a moment as she collected her memories from the night before. She rolled over, the other side of the bed empty. 

"Jesus," she laid on her back, staring up at the canopy with a hand on her forehead. Despite how drunk she was last night; she remembered every detail with him. Every touch, every bite he placed on her, the warmth of his touch. "What have I done...?"

She sat up, her head pounding so hard she thought her eyes would pop out. She covered her face, but it only made the visions of last night more clearly. She could see Zorath's face, intense and sadistic. Never has a man looked at her with such ravenous hunger. To devour her flesh and mark what was his. 

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. She couldn't put a name on what she was feeling. Shame? Excited? Worried? What was next to come for them? How did he feel about all of this? How did he feel about her? She couldn't even ask a question like that, for she wasn't exactly sure how she felt about him. One minute she had decided after the party she would do everything in her power to avoid him and then the next he's deep inside of her? Pondering these questions only hurt her head. It suddenly occurred to her what the time was.

"Shit," she whispered under her breath and threw the blanket off her. She was still naked, seeing her torn dress lifeless on the floor. She looked around, seeing some of his clothes from the night before on the other side of the floor. She found she had no choice but to put on his white dress shirt and trousers.

She was swimming in them, but it gave her more support than her dress. She scurried back to her room, trying to go unnoticed by Mr. Clarke.

Thankfully she made it back to her room unseen, quickly getting herself dressed into her uniform. She went to the mirror to fix her hair and let out a gasp at the sight of herself. Deep purple and blue bruises covered the sides of her neck, trailing down to her chest, a few red bite marks here and there. Panicked, she buttoned her dress as high as she could. It covered her chest, but she decided her hair would have to stay down to cover her neck. She prayed nobody would notice and hurried into the kitchen. She found Anne doing the washing at the sink, cleaning up what looked like breakfast.

"Morning, sleeping beauty." She greeted her with a smile.

"I'm so sorry," She stammered "Did you have to serve the master breakfast?"

"Yes, but it's alright." she waved her hand "He told me you weren't well and to let you sleep in. He must have really taken a likin' to you. He couldn't give two shits if any of us were unwell. Well, accept Horrace and I. Say's he don't want us spreading any 'disease' we got." she chuckled. "But he told me before he left that once you're up and about to continue with your chores."

"He left?" 

"Yep, not too long after breakfast." She finished scrubbing the last plate and setting it on the drying rack. 

"Where did he go?" She tried to hide the fear in her voice. Was he so embarrassed after last night that he couldn't even be in the same house as her? Was he afraid he'd run into her and must tell her how last night was a mistake? 

Anne shrugged and dried her hands with a towel. "Probably some business work or somethin'. Every now and then he ventures out of the house for it. How are you feelin, love? I've gotta admit, you look like hell. You want a cuppa before you start workin'?"

Maria stared at the floor, feeling more like hell than she looked it. Never has she been in a position like this. What was to be said? What could she do? Perhaps it was a mistake. A drunken one-night stand. The sexual tension between them the last two weeks was obvious, finally smacking her in the face last night. But maybe this is what masters do. They have their way with their pretty little maids while they wait for a proper noble woman to come their way to marry them.