The Among

Part 2: The Creed

Chapter 6

"I am home!" Flamour squealed gleefully as she thrust her arms around one of her uncles who lifted her up and spun her around before setting her down, placing long and dainty fingers around her shoulders, staring into her eyes as he smiled brightly. Perfectly balanced crooked white teeth peeped through semi parched lips as the male let out a soft sigh of content.

"Darling, I was wondering when you were going to come visit us!" he spoke softly ushering the girl inside as a tall and thin man wearing a long tail tuxedo shut the door behind them.

"I have missed you so much uncle Syd!" she spoke wildly as she looked around.

"You have no idea! How mutual the feeling is!" Syd spoke in a rather luxurious effeminate tone. Flamour let out a large gasp as she saw a large bulky dog lay cozily by the grandeur fireplace which hung a large painting cascading with array of a floral menagerie.

"Is that your dog? Flamour asked bewildered with excitement. Syd left out a smile of prowess as he nodded. Flamour let out a small gasp of awe as she stared at the large Bull Mastiff who had taken up most of the room in front of the fire place.

"Can I pet him?" Flamour asked softly.

"Pet him? Honey you can ride him" Flamour cocked an eyebrow as she looked at him, then at the dog, then back at her uncle.

"You're joking?" she asked, "I would never..." she began to speak, but before she could finish her sentence, Syd had already pursed his lips and let out a soft whistle. The dog lifted its massive head as it stood to its feet and shook his head. Drool and saliva flung from every angle as the dog shook, splattering the walls, carpet, and furniture with massive spit. He then pranced over towards the girl and his master, large massive tail wagging excitedly as he sat on his haunches next to the weary lass and put a hand on her lap, sniffing her gown. A large massive tongue rolled out of the side of his mouth as he parted his jaws, panting a few moments before placing his large black lips on the girls face, lapping at her skin with a friendly gesture.

"Looks like he likes you already!" Syd squealed excitedly. The dog laid a massive head on her lap as she stroke his ears gently feeling the short fur under her dirty fingernails. The dog groaned with delight as he felt the gentle ear rub.

"Were you really serious about riding him?" Flamour asked still suspicious about the remark.

"Well I don't see why not, darling. I mean you must be exhausted, and if Bruno has already made a friend with you, I am sure it's alright. Isn't that right Bruno?" The dog let out a large gruff bark of approval as he got to his feet pushing his head into her side with affection.

"Well, alright, I must say I have never rode a dog before," she said. Syd smiled gleeful as the dog of massive proportions stood by her side. Syd lifted the girl from under the arms and put her on the dogs back just behind the collar. He took a step back as he clapped his hands together and squealed with delight.

"How delightful! You two make a fabulous pair," he smiled as he led the way through the large house. "Come I will give you the grand tour." Flamour smiled as Bruno followed close behind his master, as the young girl felt the wave of the dogs muscles ripple through her buttocks as soft nails clicked softly on the tile flooring. Syd smiled gleefully as he showed each room with such confidence that seemed to have little of importance, but still worth something in the grand scheme of the proud and well-toned man who gave the history behind each room. It wasn't until they reached the kitchen, when Bruno sat lazily on the ground, offering Flamour a proper dismount as he licked his powerful black jowls which sagged off the corner of his mouth. Saliva dripped from his long, saggy skin as he looked pitifully up at a man who was chopping chives and onion while the smell of minced pork roasted delicately on the stovetop burner. The man continued to chop the exquisite herbs not glancing up from his task. He was rather slender, and lean but had an aromatic sense about him. He spoke lowly in a sinister tone with a slight foreign accent.

"Syd, how many times have I told you not to use the dog as a mount with our guests, it's really bad for his back, and who ends up paying for the vet bill?" Syd scoffed a laugh as he glanced down at the dog who had put his head between two massive paws, giving the allure he had given up on trying to convince the chef that he was worthy of any scraps that may fall at his feet.

"Relax, Chad, you haven't even met our guest yet. You should have seen the way Bruno and this young lass connected. It's as if they had been waiting a century for this kind of friendship to come about. You know how Bruno is to other guests, usually he's as useful as a throw rug," Syd smirked.

Bruno lifted his head and tilted it to the side giving his owner a grunt of disproval. Syd looked down at him as if he was to start an argument with the lazy canine.

"Well it's true!"

"All right, enough! I can't concentrate on your consistent banter. You know how I am when I trying to prepare a meal," Chad spoke softly. Syd sighed, as he grabbed a few cookies on the counter and handed one to Flamour.

"And, don't spoil your appetite, I have worked very hard this delicacy for a very long time," he made a gesture with his hand where he would kiss the tips of his fingers and open them with an exaggerated explosion. "Perfecto." Syd sighed a bit as he ushered the girl out of the large kitchen.

"Terribly sorry about that, darling," Syd said as the two of them walked down the long hallway. Flamour tucked an strand of blond hair between her ear.

"If you don't mind, I would like to take a nice hot bath, I have been through a lot since I left my mom's house and I would just like to relax for a spell," she added softly.

"Of course, darling. All the amenities you need are in the cupboard in the bathroom, take your time, and after we will get you that make over,"

"Actually, I prefer not to have one, if that's okay, I just want to get clean,"

"Not a problem darling, dinner is an hour, so do try to be prompt. Chad gets very.....testy when people are late,"

"I will be there," she said as she walked up the large marble staircase from which the both of them were standing by as Syd watched her for a moment before heading into the parlor to mix a fruity cocktail.

If there was anything that Flamour missed it was the feeling of a warm bubble bath. During her stay with her parents she was often deprived of such luxury; another expense that her parents would often fight about: How much water was being used, who was going to pay the utility bill, so on and so forth. Often times Flamour's depression had gotten so bad that she wouldn't have bathed for a solid week. There was even an instance when Flamour would share the water trough with her farmer friend's cattle. Honestly she didn't mind it so much, when she did that—the long tongues of the cattle that rubbed her pale naked skin acted as a exfoliating sponge which helped open the pores. Of course, there were a few times where she was cited for indecent exposure so she learned to take cold baths under the cover of the night.

Warm bubbles popped and fizzed as Flamour stepped into the large Jacuzzi. The hot water shocked her for a brief moment, but then the feeling subsided and the she stripped her grimy clothes down and stepped into the luxurious tempered water, a gasp of shock, relief, awe, and comfort escaped her lips as she nestled herself into a relaxed state of mind. She rolled a large fluffy towel into a log, and slipped it behind her neck for added support and comfort before closing her eyes, drifting into a hypnotic state as she let the jets of underwater currents wash her cares away.