I must have fallen asleep, because I wake up on Virgil's lap. He's patting my shoulder gently. Dante must have shown up. Indeed, when I turn over, his shadow looms over me, creating a gap in the stars in the sky.
"Hello, Dante," I giggle, still feeling light and drowsy. "You're quite intimidating right now."
"Hmmmm…" He leans in with a smile, presumably, as I sit up. "Am I? You seem quite comfortable."
I stand up and stretch. "Well, I'm not easily intimidated."
"Well, that is good for you," he replies, and scoops me off my feet again. "But some would just call it foolish."
"Hmmm, perhaps. Will you ever let me just walk on my own?"
"I like to be in control," he answers simply, and I roll my eyes.
"Are you really sure that's all it is?" I prod.
Finally, I can see his expression in the light as he opens the door inside. He's looking down at me with a small smile. "I like how powerless you are in my arms."
"Oh." I feel myself blush and look away. I shouldn't have asked.
Virgil sits next to me quietly as I eat, and I squeeze his hand reassuringly as I do. But Dante's especially impatient today, and whisks me away as soon as I swallow my last bite. To my surprise, though, he takes me not to his room, but to mine.
"Um, Dante?" I ask, even though my heart is already pounding with the answer. "What is your reason for this?"
He's prepared. The room is already lit, and he's laid out a shift for me to wear on the bed.
"Change," he commands simply, and starts shedding his own clothes as well.
I wasn't nervous before, but now I'm actually starting to get worried. What exactly is he planning?
I'm still frozen on the bed. Down to his underwear, Dante turns to me with a sinister smile. "You're my servant, remember? My personal maid. You must do as I command." He reaches behind my back and unties my obi, and I clutch at my kimono as it falls loosely around me.
"I don't see what this has to do with being a maid…" I reply nervously.
He leans down, and pulls the obi away, dropping it on the floor. "Well, you see, little bird, I am not a charitable master. I'm a jealous master, and I take out my whims on my sweet little maid." He's enjoying himself immensely.
"I'll burn you if you try to force me," I warn him, and he chuckles as he pulls down one side of my kimono.
"You won't burn me."
I put my hand on the one that's gripping my clothing, and he yanks it away as it sizzles. His expression turns serious. "I believe you. But I won't earn your ire. You won't burn me because you won't want to." He passes me the shift. "Now change."
I sigh and snatch it from his hands. "I hate how confident you are about that," I growl, slipping it over my head. I stand to put away the yukata and obi, and when I turn around, he's lounging across my tiny bed with a victorious smile.
"So what is your plan, now?" I ask doubtfully.
"Use my title."
"....Master," I add begrudgingly, and his smile widens.
"Come."
I sit hesitantly on the edge of the bed. He raises an eyebrow, and I sigh and move all the way on.
"Very good," he purrs, and strokes my leg. Just in time, I jerk my ankles away from his reach. I don't want him using that damn key on me right now. But he just chuckles. "I don't have it on me today." I raise my eyebrows at him. "Really. In fact," he adds, "I don't think I'll carry it much anymore. I mean, it's not like I can't keep you in place without it, right?"
"Right…"
"Right, Master," he corrects.
I sigh. "Yes, Master." I give it as much sardonic edge as I can.
Dante turns over to straddle me, placing one knee between my thighs. "And you see," he murmurs, "There's one part of you that I just can't reach easily if your ankles are locked up."
I feel myself blazing with embarrassment. His plan worked. Suddenly all I can think about is him, doing...various… I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut, and he chuckles, leaning in closer.
"Can't you just let me sleep? ...Master?" I add hastily. When I open my eyes, his smile has lessened as he considers me.
"...No." He puts his hand under my chin, but doesn't say anything else.
"...Then, what should I do? Master?" It feels awful coming out of my mouth every time, and he seems to enjoy it even more that way.
"Do nothing," he says, and suddenly sits up. I sigh with relief, at first, until he moves behind me, pulling me up against him as he sits against the back wall. He runs his hands along me, just avoiding my off-limits areas - barely. His touch is delicate, and he spends the longest tracing along my most sensitive parts - the inside of my arms, my thighs, my stomach, my neck. I can't help but to jerk away from his almost-ticklish touch.
He responds by gripping my wrist and stretching out my arm. "Do nothing, I said," he murmurs into my ear, and traces his other hand along my stretched-out arm. But I can't stop myself from writhing in his grasp.
"Please," I moan, and immediately cut myself off, flustered by the sound of my own voice.
"Please…..?"
"Master," I spit out.
I feel him smile against my neck. "I don't understand what you're asking for," he murmurs, delighted, as he slides his hands up my thighs.
"Please, stop teasing me, Master," I manage, in what could maybe pass as a non-erotic voice.
"Oh?" His hands stop and squeeze my hips. "Are you telling me to go right for it?"
"No!" I cry. His hands start kneading into me. "I mean, no, Master," I choke out.
I can't handle this. It's moving too fast and I can't concentrate. I come up with a last-ditch idea.
I spin around and slam my hands on the wall on either side of his head. His shock is obvious, but I don't give him time to smile in triumph. I lean in and give him a deep kiss on the lips, my cheeks hot as fire.
He grips my upper arms tightly in response, and I pull away. "There. You got what you wanted. Are you happy now, Master?"
But he's much more affected than I expected. He stares at me through half-lidded eyes, and pulls me closer. "No, not in the least," he groans, and pulls me in roughly for another kiss. His tongue explores my mouth, and his lips consume mine. He digs in deeper and deeper, and nips at my lower lip. I let out a little cry of surprise, and he squeezes me harder. I can barely breathe. His hands start wandering, and he leans into me, pushing me down onto the mattress. I can barely keep up, dizzy with his mouth and his hands, running all over me.
At last, he releases me, and I gasp for air, shoving both my hands against his chest to keep him from diving back in.
"That...was a mistake," he growls, squeezing my waist. I do my best to stay still, knowing any movement might unleash him again.
"I-I didn't know you were so pent up," I stutter. "Or so...uhh, genuine- ahh!" He squeezes me again, even tighter this time.
He just looks down at me, panting, and I stare up in trepidation, not knowing what I would do if he pushed me any further. Finally, he sighs, and pushes my hair away from my face. "I suppose I can't blame you. It is undeniably...unusual. But now you know."
He sits up, and pulls me up with him. He leans in. "The next time you push me, you had better be prepared for me to take you all the way."
I nod, cheeks blazing. I'm still reeling from his intensity, unable to concentrate on anything.
"Lay down," he commands, but in a gentler tone from before. I do, but look up at him in confusion. "I need you unconscious," he explains. "You're too damn tempting right now otherwise." I glare at him, and he sighs. "You're right. I'm too easily tempted right now. So I'll take my meal now."
I nod slowly, and he leans in to bite me. Finally, I think, something familiar. I just wait for him to drink enough to knock me out, and slip gratefully into the darkness.
But when I wake up, we're back in Dante's room. He must have carried me back last night, although I still have no idea why he took me to my room in the first place. Perhaps he simply wanted to invade my space. Speaking of...he's stroking me again. He really is an oddly touchy person.
I sigh and stretch, sitting up. "Good morning."
"Good morning…?"
"Master," I sigh. Is he ever going to get tired of this? I turn around to face him. "Sir, do you have something I can wear? I have been unable to wash my clothing and I do not wish to serve in an unsightly state."
His eyes narrow at me. I tilt my head to the side in question, and he sighs, shaking his head. "No, not like that. Don't be formal with me. And don't call me 'Sir', call me 'Master'."
"Yes, Master," I grumble.
He smiles. "Good. And wear this." This time, he gives me a refreshingly simple ruqun - plain, white, and with narrow sleeves so I won't get caught on anything. It's only slightly too big.
"You had this made for my size as well? Master?" I ask, examining the sleeves. "Isn't it difficult to make such a large size adjustment?"
Dante shrugs. "Adrian was more than happy to, and I wanted you to look the part. Speaking of…" he combs through my hair thoughtfully. "You need to put up your hair." He guides me to his vanity, and I sit in front of the mirror, unsure.
"Well, I will try." I sigh. "Uh, Master." After combing it out, I try to imitate what Adrian had done and manage to pin it up somewhat successfully, though I have no idea how traditional Chinese hairstyles work. "Is that good enough? Master?"
"Hmmm." He barely looks it over. "That will do. I simply wanted your neck exposed," he replies, tracing his finger along my nape.
"Ah." I shiver at his touch. I suppose I should have known. I stand and bow. "Well then, Master, shall I make you some tea?"
Dante smiles down at me. "Yes, we'll begin there."
I follow him to the main room, giving his looming back my best glare. It doesn't mean anything, of course, but it makes me feel better.
Naturally, the other three are already in the room. I'm not looking forward to this. I can feel my cheeks turning red before I've even said anything. I don't want to speak at all.
Dante seems to notice this, and beckons me over as he settles down. "Aren't you going to ask me which tea I would like today?" he asks with a grin.
I hate this. I hate this so much. I can feel everyone's gaze on me, just as intense as Dante's. "What variety would you prefer today, Master?" I growl. I hear Adrian giggle and my cheeks blaze even hotter.
"Very good," purrs Dante. "Bring me that pu'erh from the other day." Ah. I had hoped he had forgotten. "I want you to tell me why you chose it for me."
"Yes...Master," I sigh, and finally escape to the kitchen.
I scarf down my food as fast as I can while I wait for the water to heat up. I don't want to give him any excuse to keep me in there any longer than I have to. It's bad enough having to say that to his face, but in front of the other three is even more mortifying.
I bring out his tea and silently pour it for him once it's ready. After I do, I try to slink away and stand behind him, but he catches my wrist. "Stay here." He pats the seat beside him. "I want to hear why you chose this. You had a very strange reaction when I asked you the other day, and I've been dying of curiosity."
"Well, I wonder if perhaps you and this tea come from the same region, Master," I begin.
He frowns. "Why?"
"Because-" I look down, painfully aware of everyone watching. No one else has spoken yet, which just makes it worse. "Because it smells like you," I mumble, sinking my face into my hands.
Dante stares at me for a couple seconds before bursting into laughter. "So that's all it was," he laughs, patting my head. "You are a strange one, little bird," he chuckles into his tea, and I just groan and hide my face in my arms. Luckily, he doesn't force me up, and I keep hiding, knowing what the ensuing conversation will probably be about.
"Dante, you really seem to be enjoying yourself," giggles Adrian, "but you know, you really are lucky."
"Lucky?" he asks. "She's simply holding up her end of the deal."
"True, but," begins Lucien, "originally, she planned to use it against you. It's too bad, I would have liked to see that."
"Oh? Is that so?" Dante lifts my chin with his fan and turns my face towards him. "Do tell, how could you have possibly ruined this for me?"
It's easier to show than it is to tell. I stand up and bow incessantly. "Oh, Master, I dare not sit by your side. A humble servant like me would surely ruin your elegant tea. I shall simply wait in the corner, out of sight, so that you may call me when I am needed." I stop and look up with a grin.
As I had thought, Dante's face has fallen into an irritated scowl. "Yes, that is...unpleasant," he says finally, and beckons me back over. "But you chose not to. Did you fear the punishment?"
I can't help but let out a short huff of laughter. "No. I…" I sigh regretfully. "I realized I needed the practice. To show that I've been...broken…"
"Hmmm, I see," he replies with a grin. "I suppose I shall have to hold you to higher standards then."
I glare at Lucien and Adrian, who both just stare guilelessly back. "This is your fault," I growl.
Virgil finally speaks up. "Actually, I would have said something if they hadn't." His red eyes stare me down. "You were doing a very poor job playing the obedient servant."
My heart sinks. "Right…"
Next to me, Dante's practically thrumming with delight. "Come, Adelaide. I would like to take a bath."
"Yes, Master," I reply and follow him out, flushing painfully red.
Well, if he wants me to be a better servant, I won't give him anything to complain about. Why did I give him three days worth??
Once we're in the bathroom, Dante walks over to the side, and as I had expected, waits patiently for me to undress him.
"Let me get a stool, Master, so I can reach your height," I say, heading for the spout, but he grabs my arm.
"No, you can reach, if you stand on your toes," he replies. "Besides, you wouldn't want to cause problems by falling and injuring yourself, would you?"
"Yes, Master," I reply as patiently as I can. I try to keep my face neutral, but inside I'm burning with anger and embarrassment.
As he said, I can reach his shoulders to take off his outer jacket, but I have to press against him to do so. He does absolutely nothing to help, instead placing his arms around me, smiling all the while.
"Master, must you hold me while I work?" I ask.
Dante's grin widens. "I'm an indecent master. You'll simply have to deal with my whims."
"Yes, Master," I sigh, and finally pull his coat away. But next is….I feel myself flush again.
"Go on," he purrs, placing my hands on the tie around his waist. I turn my head to the side as I untie it, and pull it away.
I feel like I'm going to burn up. I move to his back to help him out of the rest, even though it's harder for me to reach his collar. I can't stand seeing his face grinning down at me for much longer.
But once I've stripped him down to his underwear, he still stands there, waiting. "This is a bath, little bird. Your job isn't done."
I cover my face in my hands. "Please, Dante, I can't," I whisper, and he chuckles, rubbing my head. I hear his last garment hit the tiles.
"Very well," he says, "But in return…" He pulls at my collar instead, deftly untying my waist tie with his other hand.
"D-Dante…" I try to squirm away, but he holds me fast.
"Use my title," he murmurs.
"M….Master, please," I manage, but he's already got me down to my lowest layer.
He hums with delight and pulls it all the way off, then leans in and kisses the nape of my neck. "Relax. It's just a bath."
"With you, Dante, it's never just anything," I reply wryly.
"Title," he reminds me, steering me towards the spout.
"Yes, Master." I still can't get used to saying it. "Let me wash you then," I add, positioning myself behind him. He's already got his soap and shampoo set out for me to use.
"Just how far ahead did you plan? Master?" I ask him and I start lathering his soap into my hands.
"I had little else to do but plan for today," he replies lightly. "Mmm, your hands feel good. I want you to massage me later."
"Um, okay. Master." Not like he has any soreness to work out, I imagine, so I can probably make it simple and short.
But when I reach for the spout to rinse him off, he stops me by grabbing my wrist again. I have a bad feeling. "I need you to wash all of me, little maid," he says with a dark smile.
I swallow. "In that case, Master, let me fetch a washcloth," I reply, and start to stand, but he won't let go.
"No. Your hands will do."
I sigh in resignation, "Fine, but there are obviously parts of you that I won't touch, Master."
He simply smiles. Well, for now, I can wash his arms while staying behind him, and I rub them down as quickly as I can, trying not to spend too much time thinking about the slippery feeling of the soap on his skin. But I haven't even gotten to the hardest part yet. Hesitantly, I come around to face him, and try to ignore him watching me. Which will be worse, legs or torso?
I meet his smug gaze for a half a second before I look away. Legs first, then.
"Please, put your legs out for me...Master…" I feel myself turning redder and redder. Dante leans back languidly, stretching his legs out for me. Lord, they are long.
Again, I concentrate on speed as I lather up his feet and calves, keeping my eyes pointed as far from his groin as possible.
"Take your time," Dante hums, pulling me closer with one soapy foot. "Wouldn't want you to miss any spots, would we?"
I give him my best long-suffering look, and he chuckles. "What, hesitant to speak now that you have to call me Master?"
Well, yes. I have to wash his thighs next. I sigh and brace myself. I wish I could close my eyes, but that would be altogether too dangerous. I start with the outside of his left thigh.
"No, no, let me make it easier for you," Dante says, and draws back his legs to reposition himself. Soon, he's boxed me in with his legs, smiling amiably at me as if this was normal.
I feel like my heart's going to burst. "Master, you are a bastard," I huff and I quickly wash down his thighs, taking care to leave plenty of space between my hands and his groin.
Finally, I finish washing his legs. Time for his chest...I slowly look up to meet his smug grin, not sure how much longer I can take this. Still, only one last thing to do.
I lather up my hands and begin, keeping my eyes fixed on his chest. Dante leans into my hands, putting his hands around my shoulders.
"Master, must you?" I stutter. "Things are difficult enough as is."
He tilts his head to the side. "This isn't your first time washing someone in the bath, little bird. Aren't you being a little too nervous about this?"
"No one has ever made it so suggestive, Master," I huff. "There, I finished. Please let me rinse you-ah!" He's pulled me all the way into his embrace.
"Relax, I said," he murmurs, squeezing me tighter. "Is this really that unpleasant for you?" He strokes my back gently, and slowly, I relax into his embrace.
"It's not that bad.." I mumble back. "I'm just trying to resist you and you're making it very difficult."
"Then stop resisting," he replies quietly. "You said yourself that we shouldn't put up pretenses. So why are you stopping yourself from doing something you obviously want to?"
"I...I'm scared."
Dante finally pulls back and looks me in the face. "I suppose that is understandable," he sighs, "but I am not a patient man."
This time I meet his eyes squarely. "Well, treating me as a servant isn't exactly the best way to tempt me into your bed," I reply wryly, and he laughs.
"True, but this is far more enjoyable for me," he replies, and reaches for the spout himself to drench us both in the water.
He grins as I sputter. "Dante," I giggle, smacking his chest, "I never did have time to take my hair down, now those pins are going to be everywhere."
"Oh." He starts rooting around in my hair to find them.
"Here, we'll take the opportunity to shampoo our hair together," I tell him. "You're more than happy to do it while facing each other, I'm sure."
"Yes," he smiles. "I would like that."
He closes his eyes when I massage the shampoo into his hair, relaxing under my hands like a cat. I can't help but chuckle to myself, and he cracks one eye open.
"What do you find so funny?"
"Well," I begin, "you're always petting me like I'm a cat. But when I do this-" I massage his head, and he groans and closes his eyes again- "you're the cat, now."
"Hmmmm…" He lays his head back again. "Well, you have skilled hands."
"Hmm, maybe," I muse, rinsing his hair out. "Or maybe you're just touch-starved."
"You think so?" He pushes back his wet hair and heads for the bath. "Come."
I follow him in, finally sinking into the warm water next to Dante. "Well, yes. Most people don't react so strongly to something like that unless they need it. Here, sit in front of me. You wanted a massage, didn't you?"
"Very well." Even kneeling in the bottom of the bath, he's so tall that his head still rises above the water.
"Damn, I still keep forgetting how huge you are," I mutter as I comb his hair away from his back.
He chuckles in return "You're suddenly much more casual, little bird. Is that how a servant should act?"
I flick his back. "If you minded, you would have already told me off," I reply with a smile. "I can't relax enough to talk if I have to keep calling you 'Master'." I start massaging his shoulders, and he groans appreciatively and leans into my hands. I position my knees behind him so I can support him, and start working deeper and deeper into his muscles.
"Mmmm, you really are skilled," he groans. "Why is that?"
"We humans had to take care of each other," I reply. "Vampires don't understand human stamina. The human servants were always overworked, and if anyone had snacked on them, it was even worse. So there would be knots in the muscles, here, here, here, all kinds of places." I work my fingers at each spot as I explain, and he shifts in the water. "It was a sort of...mutual understanding between the human servants and the thralls that we would help each other where we were strongest. Thralls never have any energy, so they would help us with strenuous tasks or errands that we didn't have the strength for. But the servants were always physically overworked, so in return, we took care of them like this. We'd give them massages, cook their food, watch their health, and try to lessen the damage their bodies took."
"Hmm. That's…"
"Yes?" I lean over, trying to catch his expression.
"...Sweet," he finishes.
"Hmph. It's survival," I scoff, massaging around his shoulderblades now. "Neither group of us live for very long, regardless," I add quietly.
He doesn't have a response for that, so I continue my trail down his back. When I reach his lower back, I have to lean so far over that I just rest my head on his shoulder. To my surprise, I actually find some stiff muscle, and he groans and arches his back.
"Wow." I dig in even harder, kneading circles into the hard muscle. "You actually have something here." He twitches away a little bit, and I giggle in response, pulling him back. "You haven't felt soreness like that for a while, have you? Hold still and relax."
Still, he keeps tensing up whenever I push a little harder, and I try to hold him still. "Dante, I can't-"
Suddenly he tugs on my arm, pulling me into a tight embrace in the center of the bath.
"Umm...Dante?"
He squeezes tighter. "Did you truly not realize," he says in a low voice, "that you were gripping my hip just now?"
"...Oh…" That's right, I suppose I was…
"Why do you keep pushing me?" he groans into my ear, and I shiver. "You say that you're afraid, but then you touch me like that,"
"I- that's just-"
"Listen to me," Dante growls, and positions my head to face him, inches away. "If I didn't know you better, I would think you were doing it on purpose. Leaning over my shoulder, brushing your chest against my back, and then holding onto my hip like you were about to-" He groans again, and smothers me in a kiss. "I shouldn't have taken you to the bath," he says, running his hand down my spine. "I should have known that you would be too comfortable." He grips my hips tightly, trying to resist the urge to maneuver me forward. "And I shouldn't have accepted that massage."
"I, I don't understand," I stammer. "Why- why are you having so much trouble holding back?"
"I don't know," he replies, voice low in his throat, "but I'm not giving you up today. You're mine today," he adds, pulling me back into his embrace. "It just…" he runs his hands down my back again, and I shiver - "makes it so much more difficult when I know you want it too." Dante puts his face into the crook of my neck. "I can smell it on you."
I cling to him, heart pounding, trying to think through the haze of heat filling my mind.