Dragon's Familiar

Chapter Nine

They continued the rest of their way in silence, excluding the light snores from Ivy. As they pull up to the front steps of the castle, the coachman jumps down and opens the door. Prince Rory exits first followed behind by King Xavier carrying a half sleeping Ivy. Other servants offered to take her from him, but he refused and made his way upstairs to a vacant room on the top floor. He opens the door and places Ivy in bed, pulling the covers over her. King Xavier looks down at Ivy's sleeping form before turning off the lights and exiting her room.

Clink. Rattle. Clink. Ivy sits in the concrete room chained to the floor looking up through the window. She stares in hopes of someone to pass by and save her from her prison. Bruises and cuts littered her arms and legs, her once lightly tanned skin now pale white, and her bright red hair a knocked rats nest. That person keeps coming her to do as they say, but she won't let them break her. They rarely bring her food anymore, trying to starve her out. They've tried beating her into submission, but she wouldn't have it. Though she is scared, she has to be tough because she believes that someday someone will come. AHHHHHHH! A scream comes from somewhere outside the room. Ivy pulls her legs closer to her and begins to shake as the door opens. That person walks into the doorway, "Ivy. Its time to be a good girl and cooperate. " Ivy shakes her head, covering her ears, "No. No please leg me go. Please." The person makes a 'tsk' sound and steps into the room shutting the door behind him. Ivy screams.

Ivy wakes up choking and gasping for air, looking around the room to find no one there. The events of yesterday play through in her mind. She sighs and runs her hand through her tangled hair grimacing from the feeling of sweat and oil soaked into it. "Bath time, " she sang and walked over to her suitcase which sat on a dresser beside her bed. She pulled out a floral skirt with a black crop top and a pair of black matching undergarments and walks to the adjacent bathroom turning on the hot water and pouring bubble soap.

Ivy strips off her dirty clothes, placing them in a basket and steps into the tub, slowly sliding down. Her body shivered as he muscles ached to soak in the hot water. She smiles and swishes her hand around in the tub causing more bubbles to form. She grabs a handful and starts making herself a crown. As she was done she made a serious face and mocks, " I'm King Xavier and I have a boot so far up my- ""You might not want him to hear you saying that. I don't think it would be too fun," says a gingered haired girl with a red dress and white rabbit ears.

Ivy gasps sliding farther into the water as she looks at the girl, "Who are you?" The girl puts her hands up in surrender, " I'm Penelope, but you can just call me Penny. I was told by the king to bring you some breakfast and show you around the palace." Ivy calms herself and smiles, "Sorry. Its nice to meet you Penny. I'm Ivy. " Her tail slides out of the water and shakes Penny's hand. Penny chuckles and wipes her hand on her dress. Ivy eyes widen as her ears per, "Oops. Sorry."

Penny shakes her head dismissively causing her ears to flop, " Its alright. I'll come back once you've eaten your breakfast and then we can go explore the building, okay?" Ivy smiles and nods. "Thanks" Penny waves goodbye and exits the bathroom.

Ivy finishes her bath with washing her hair, ear and tail. She climbs out of the tub pulling the stopper and grabs a towel drying off. She puts on her clothes and walks out of the bathroom and finds a rolling cart next to her bed with a covered tray. She walks over and takes the lid off placing it aside as she looked hungrily at the food. Scrambled eggs with French toast and two pieces of sausage. She sits on her bed and begins eating her breakfast as she looks around the room thinking.