Zenobia's Tale [Undergoing rewrite]

Part 9

The door had been shut for a while, Zenobia had closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall while she waited. Suddenly the carriage jerked forwards causing Zenobia to jump and look around, Norman and Sven sat on each side of her while the woman with the strange hair sat across from her. Sven pulled Zenobia in close and smiled proudly. Norman looked at Zenobia and winked indicating this would be her next meal.

"What is the child's name?" She asked Sven softly.

"Try asking her yourself, if she wishes you to know she will tell you," Sven stated coldly causing her to jump slightly.

"What is your name little one?" She asked softly. Zenobia looked up at her and smiled sweetly.

"I am Zenobia Patronell Doeward." She recited cleanly and looked up at the two men as they nodded happily. The woman nodded and looked down to her lap before looking up once again.

"What part of Scotland did you come from?" She asked falling silent as Norman coughed.

"No need to ask such things, and bring up bad memories for the child." He snapped and pulled Zenobia into his lap. "She is so innocent and young," he said and glanced at the woman who seemed to be physically in pain at the comment of young. Sven and Norman both had a little too much fun tormenting the woman, Zenobia was starting to see the appeal. She was a rather annoying thing who would do nearly anything to stay young, even remain in a situation where she wasn't wanted just to be close to the opportunity. Zenobia hugged Norman and smiled.

"You really think so?" She asked with a giggle. "You really think I am young?" She asked and smiled at Sven who was now roaring with laughter at Zenobia's antics. The woman had fallen silent and gone so pale that the white makeup she wore seemed to give her color. Zenobia after seeing this couldn't help but giggle herself, Norman, following suite after he realized what they had started laughing at in the first place.

The entire ride back to Sven's Estate Zenobia had learned many things about Sven. He once had a fling with the woman, and ever since she had held out with hopes of making him her husband. As she aged and Sven didn't not that she knew, she simply thought Sven was doing something to look younger, she became more obsessed over how she looked. Always trying to look much younger than she was, only to end up looking like a ridiculously painted china doll. Sven had explained nearly everything in the carriage to Zenobia, not bothering to leave out the not aging parts. She was going to die anyway so no one seen the point in pretending they were human. However, no one bothered to tell the woman that she was going to die. When the carriage stopped the woman was silently crying with her head in her hands as the trio spoke among themselves. The door opened and the woman jumped out and ran away through the fields trying to escape the men. Norman sighed and shook his head sadly muttering about the generation gap and no sense of humor.

"Zenobia, go get her, please," Sven asked her softly. When she nodded and climbed out of the carriage Norman followed quickly.

"Do try not to ruin the dress, it is one of a kind child!" he called after her as she took off in a blur after the woman. Both men heard a scream of fear as both females disappeared from sight. "Shall we take a bet?"

"Ten pounds says Zenobia killed her," Sven said with a nod.

"Deal I think the girl has some control" Norman muttered and took Sven's hand in his own, "mayhaps we should change the bet?" He whispered and lifted a brow catching Sven's attention.

"What are your terms?" he asked with a lustful tone.

"You win...I get tied up." Norman started "But if I win, I get to confiscate all your drab clothes and replace them with something of my choice while you are at the estate." He whispered as Sven nodded.

"Mm...Deal." Sven muttered and kissed the other man on the lips before ducking away and running into the fields to look for Zenobia and the other woman. After a few minutes, he found Zenobia on top of the woman ripping into her neck. He frowned having hoped he was wrong about her, looking over the woman's body he saw exactly what had set her off. When she took the woman down she had cut her leg on a broken branch causing blood to spill and Zenobia to lose her control. He cleared his throat and smiled when Zenobia looked around at him. "Is there blood on that dress child?" He asked her softly and smiled as she stood up. There was no blood on the dress, but she had blood dripping from her lips to her chin. "Here, we need to clean you up." He said as he pulled out a large bit of cloth and wiping the blood from her chin. "Leave the body and follow me back to the castle," he muttered taking her hand. The day wasn't a complete disaster while Zenobia slept he could still tie up Norman and they could have their fun.

Norman stood by the door and frowned only seeing Sven and Zenobia. He would now have to be tied up and taken advantage of by Sven while Sven wore horrible drab clothes. He couldn't help but wonder if he could convince Zenobia to wear his newest dress that was made with moving clasps on the front of it. Zenobia laughing caused him to snap out of his slight dream state.

"Love! I win!" Sven called over and bounded up the steps to wrap his arms around the man's waist. Zenobia following and slipping inside the building. She couldn't help but think that maybe this forced agreement wouldn't be so bad.

Zenobia stayed with the two men for years learning how to adapt to changing society swiftly. Norman had taught her how to change the clothes she owned into something to fit the style. He showed her how to act like a child even when she did not feel like one. On a particularly bad day, Zenobia refused to do anything she was told.

"I am NOT a child! Why do I always have to act like one?" She screamed at Norman and threw a plate. He simply ducked and paced from wall to wall in the kitchen.

"Because CHILD that is what the humans will see. You must ALWAYS play the part, or you with risk exposing what you are!" He snarled out stopping to face her. "You are small and look no older than six, You look as if you are weak even though you are not. If you show anything other then they want to see you will draw attention to yourself by more than just the humans you have chosen to interact with." He stepped up to her and grabbed her wrist knowing she could easily escape his grasp and has done so multiple times. "You must ALWAYS be the child you look. Do not ever forget that!"

"If I do not want to be a child?" She snapped yanking her arm free. "I did not choose this life! You cannot make me want to have this life!" She kicked at his shin and stormed out of the kitchen and up a set of stairs. she could hear him call after her.

"Then you will burn! They will not pity a demon child!" She slammed the door with a loud scream and fell onto her bed hiding her face as she cried in silence. The sky had started to lighten when Sven slipped in to pull the curtains.

"Zeno," he said softly. "Come to me so I may hug you." Slipping from her bed, she wiped the hot tears from her eyes and made her way towards Sven wrapping her small child like arms around his waist. "Why are you crying sweet?" He asked picking her up into his arms.

"N-Norman..said I would burn i-if I do not act as a child at all times. Is there never a time I can simply be who I am?" She asked with a sniffle looking up at him with big dark green eyes.

"There is always a time, he just wants you safe. When you are around humans you mush be what you look to be. If you are alone or among friends like us you may be who you are in truth." He whispered wiping more tears from her cheek. "Try to make him see what you want without upsetting him. He is trying to help you. One day I may let you go and you will not have us to care for you as we have." He muttered and rocked her as he sat in a chair that had sat in the corner of the room. "Can you at least try for me?" He asked and smiled as she nodded slowly.

"I guess I can try to pretend. For you." She nodded and hugged him around his neck. "I do not wish to sleep alone...Will you stay with me?" She whispered.

"I wish I could, but it would not be proper. I will, however, rock you until you fall asleep if you would like." Sven offered and Zenobia shook her head.

"No, I will just go to sleep then." She muttered and climbed down from his lap moving to the bed without another word.