𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

二十四 | 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄

adulation (n.)
adoration. worship.
admiration. devotion.
reverence. favor.

「 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑾𝑬𝑵𝑻𝒀 𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹 」
𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄 

꧁꧂

    "Welcome home, (Y/N)," Ferid crooned in that condescending way of his as he jerked on the end of her chain to lead her further back into his mansion, looking awfully pleased about something she didn't bother to find out. "Hm... saying your name is going to take some time getting used to. I like calling you my pet, but then again anyone can say it. Isn't it fun that I have a label to call you just for me?"

    "Sure, master," (Y/N) mumbled, casting her gaze to side since she didn't care too much.

    It's not like he'll ever understand.

    At least not the meaning of a name to someone.

    But I can't stop him, either.

    "Lord Ferid, you've returned," Ayal announced as he turned a corner to meet them in the foyer, not even bothering to look in (Y/N)'s direction. "...and with your pet, as always." He sighed in a not so subtle manner to show his irritation, missing the smirk Ferid shot (Y/N), and continued, "Regardless, I assume the meeting with Queen Krul went well? I would hope there will be no issues?"

    "None at all," Ferid hummed.

    "That is excellent, sir," Ayal nodded.

    "Yes, but unfortunately I had to leave my dear pet in the care of Crowley Eusford," he sighed whilst placing a hand on (Y/N)'s shoulder, giving her a tight squeeze as he used the term 'pet' to call her once again, committing to the ideal that he would only call her by name when they were alone. "I can practically smell his scent all over her, and it's quite vile, in all practicality. Therefore, me and my pet must be off so I can clean her up.

    "Pardon me, sir... but 'her'?" Ayal uttered, his brow twitching in disbelief.

    Ferid stilled.

    (Y/N)'s breath hitched.

    Ayal's right... Ferid didn't call me 'it'.

Silence lingered between the three of them as the other two waited for Ferid's reply, but from the smile curving at his lips, it wasn't clear if he did or didn't have an answer. It was that type of expression that allowed for Ferid to gain the upper hand over both comrades and enemies, mainly just for the thrill of it so no one ever expected what he would do next. It was true that Ayal had surprised him by pointing out how he had addressed (Y/N), but then again, explaining would be quite easy.

"Yes," Ferid nodded, somehow his grip on (Y/N) tightening even further. "'Her'. She's not livestock anymore, now, is she? With that awful blood? Of course not. She's my pet. Even the humans call their pets by 'her' or 'him'. Why not do the same? It's not as if it changes her lowly status."

"...I suppose not, sir," Ayal eventually muttered, clearly not pleased by the answer he was given. "But even you can tell its blood is... improving, somehow. So, in the future if that blood becomes edible, will you hand it back over to Queen Krul's control so that vampires may make proper usage of it? After all, if Queen Krul notices its improved blood before you do anything, sir... she'll take your head."

"Silence, Ayal," Ferid uttered coldly, his smile dipping into a chilling line.

Ayal's lips twitched.

    However, he did listen, and stayed quiet.

    Satisfied with his demands, Ferid released his grip on (Y/N)'s shoulder only to keep pulling her by the chain up the winding stairs down the familiar hallway towards the bathroom. Since that first time he had bathed her, he made sure to do so regularly considering it was what kept her clean, and though she still squirmed in discomfort at having to be disrobed in front of him, she couldn't do anything about that particular fact. Turning her back to him as she always did once they had reached the room, she waited until he had filled the tub with steaming, sudsy water before quickly undressing and submerging herself to hide her body.

    Using the soap she had scavenged with Ferid on her body whilst he used the shampoo and conditioner on her hair, they slipped back into the routine of what baths were like in the mansion. At least for (Y/N), this was the routine, as Ferid had no need to bathe due to his vampiric genes that ensured his body stayed hygienic and clean.

    The fact still baffled her.

    It made her a little envious, too.

    Of course, she quelled such envy as she had no need to feel that emotion towards vampires.

    It didn't aid her in the least.

"(Y/N)," Ferid spoke suddenly, his voice making her jolt slightly, an action that in turn made the water slosh around her slightly. "What did you and Crowley speak about while I was in meeting with Krul? It would be best if you told me the truth, because I can see it in your eyes, can feel it in your body temperature, and can hear it in the rapid beating of your heart if you are lying."

    (Y/N) swallowed thickly, keeping her gaze forward on the steel tub wall.

    "So, what was it?"

    "You... already know what we talked about."

    "Ah, yes... the name," Ferid hummed as he dug his sharpened fingernails into her scalp, watching with a rather vehement smirk as she winced from the dull pain. "But I have a feeling that's not all that was talked about. (Y/N)... do not keep the truth from me. I can always just rip it out of you another way. I'm only asking because you are my dear pet, and I wouldn't want you to be unable to have a coherent thought when I use other methods to finally obtain the information I want."

    (Y/N)'s blood chilled at his words.

    Those subtle words that wrapped around her squeezed tightly, allowing her to know that Ferid's recent niceties could all be taken away just as fast, replaced with the torture he once made her go through that tested her sanity.

    She couldn't go through that again.

    If she did, she'd surely lose her mind.

    "That vampire mentioned... an interest in me," she finally uttered, carefully making sure not to say Crowley's name so as not to incite Ferid's ire more. "He thinks I'm... calculative. That is why he asked my name. I think... I think he just wants to know why you've decided to take me on as a pet despite my awful blood." She winced at how she had patronize herself, but continued on by saying, "And that is all. After that, before you arrived, we merely spoke about chess strategies and obstacles."

    "I see," Ferid hummed.

    (Y/N) let out a slow breath.

    However, as she somewhat relaxed, she failed to notice Ferid's darkening gaze.

━━━━━━━━ ꧁ ♥ ꧂ ━━━━━━━━

「 𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑬𝑫 」