BURN THE WITCH

Brown eyes go wide, and all thoughts of practicing letters (truly that’s all she had been trying to do) vanished from her mind. “Witches and warlocks?” she repeated softly. “Sir, would..would a familiar have reason to know about runes?” The question was hesitant, her expression pleading. She knew so precious little about her kind, any tidbit she might be able to gather was worth risking the ire of the man beside her.

Getting out of the car Violet knew this would be a better chance to impress. After all she wanted out. The cells were terrible. “Thank you.” She told him before smiling at the woman. “Hello Magda.” Following the woman to the bathroom Violet stripped herself of the clothes and turned the shower to a hotter temperature. Stepping in she let it hit her body and wet her hair. She took a moment to let the water ease her body before finding the shampoo. She did it twice to make sure it very clean. Than used a little more than average conditioner and put it up. She would let it sit while she washed to deep condition and make her hair soft. Taking the soap and lathering the cloth she cleaned every inch of her. Seeing the dirt water she washed three time to make sure. She even took the time to clean under her nails so they looked better. Once she was sure there wasn’t a single bit of dirt on her she rinsed the conditioner from her hair. Turning the water off she stepped out and wrapped a towel around her hair and body. 

Violet moved from the bathroom to find the man. “Not to bed unlady like, but I don’t think wearing my clothes would really be good. Do you have a shirt or something I could use?” With the towel wrapped tightly around her body she let her hair out of the towel and slowly began to dry it gently. 

Luca trusted that Magda would take care of Violet’s needs. As she disappeared into the bathroom, he made his way into the kitchen to ensure the meal he’d asked for was prepared along with his own. Taking both meals upstairs to the spare bedroom, which was placed next bathroom, he placed them down on a table and poured a drink. The elder knew it would take some time for Violet to return so he busied himself with returning a few emails and messages. Once he heard the pitter patter of feet, he glanced up to inspect the slave’s handiwork.

She had done her job so he would oblige. “In the wardrobe you should be able to find something to wear,” he signaled. It held clothes that his sister had kept there when visiting as well as some old shirts and t-shirts he no longer wore. “Take your pick but I’d be careful with my sister’s items, she would be annoyed that I let someone where them,” he laughed, enjoying the idea of pissing off his twin a little bit. “Your food is ready too.”

Suddenly being pushed against the bars bought back unpleasant memories of when the last Warlock man handled him. The boy snarled lowly, trying to fight the the hold. The boy’s fists clenched as he glared at the other his chest heating up. “Fuck ya.” He snarled.

Leaning against the bars by her door, Devon was feeling bored out of her mind. God this time of day was dull. After their outside time was over, it often felt like what was left to do was only to stare into the air with bricks of boredom burying you. So at the sight of a master, albeit one who seemed a little picky, her ears perked up and her brows rose curiously. “No? You must have sky high standards then. Could be this time of year though. Lots of claimed slaves, leaving the riff raff to be used over and over.” She said with a shrug. 

In all fairness, Luca had been out of town to visit his sister and coven for a few weeks but it seemed like the Chateau had become more subdued. There was a long moment of silence after he spoke and the warlock was readying to turn away and go down another aisle. When someone spoke up, he pivoted and looked back at a woman leaning against her cell door. “There’s nothing wrong with having standards,” he said, stopping to look at the slave who had spoken up. “Are you counting yourself as part of the riff raff or are you someone new?” the elder asked. So far she was proving to be a stand out compared to the other slaves that were still silent.

“Delphine, sir.” She didn’t look him in the eye, her five years in the cells teaching her that it was safer to look at a masters shoes, just as it was afer not to ask for a name. She didn’t feel brave, but his words did send a nervous chuckle through her lips. “It would be rude, not to reply. At least, that’s what I think.”

“Delphine,” he repeated, pacing a few steps in front of the cell. Luca looked her up and down, waiting to see how behaved she was. When someone had been in the Chateau long enough, he noticed how their behavior was molded by it. “You can look up. I don’t bite.” At least not with fangs. “You’re right, it is rude not to reply but most still don’t bother. That makes you braver. What’s your favourite treat?” he asked, moving from what subject to the next.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, glancing up to see who was helping her. Quickly, she circled the letters he pointed to for fear of forgetting which were wrong before looking up to him again. “My little scribbles are magic?” she asked, eyes wide with curiosity. “What is a rune, please? If you have a moment, I mean, sir.” 

“No worries. I’m smart enough to know not to try anything at your home. You’re no guard, you’re smarter.” Plus she could tell he had power. No way in hell would she mess with that. Brute force was one things, but anything beyond that and she refused. Chuckling she ran a hand through her hair. “I do love my meat, but sometimes I like something simpler. I like the finer things in life a lot more than most people know.” Violet looked at the house impressed by it. “Looks very nice. I’m surprised it’s not a full on mansion.”

While he knew not to believe a slave, he trusted that Violet was smarter than that, at least from what he had learned so far. “Good to hear. I’d like to think I’m smarter but we all make mistakes.” The elder was too paranoid to really drop his guard for long. While he didn’t have the strength of a guard, he was an elder for a reason. “I can’t fault you from wanting something better, especially if it’s on offer. It will be ready for you once you’re clean.” After turning off the car and getting out, he walked around to her side and waited for her. “I’m only one person, a mansion seems like overkill,” he shrugged. “However, I do like having someone take care of my home. This is Magda, she’ll show you where the bathroom is and clean towels,” he explained, signalling to a middle age woman who was waiting for them by the front door.

Luke wasn’t expecting the sudden invisible force to pull him up to his feet, the boy flinching from the invisible grip with a low growl. “Dont touch me!” Luke snapped, trying to twist out of the magical grip.

Quint shrugged. “I got a well behaved bitch, so probably not…I dunno I’m still teasin the idea of puttin him back.” He replied honestly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey if ya want I aint gonna stop ya. Long as ya keep his brand on I dont care.”

Oh, so now he was getting fucking belittled for actually doing what was asked of him?! Luke’s shoulders seemed to tense up more, his jaw clenching with anger as the other sneered down at him. “I did what ya wanted.” He growled lowly under his breath.

“No worries. If I wanted to attack or escape I’d have done it by now. I had a chance when I was claimed. But I’m still here. And your guards learn. Started cleaning their pockets when they move me. Guess they got tired of missing items that showed up a week later.” Waving a hand she chuckled looking from the window to the man. “I’m no thief, but I do like to borrow.” She nodded when he mentioned he appreciated her time management. “Food would be nice. Nothing too heavy. Seafood is good energy, but I’d also like some fruit on the side if that’s okay. Peaches or mangos preferably if that’s alright.” 

“While it’s a clever thing to do in your position. I wouldn’t recommend doing it in my home,” he warned. “I’m not as careless as guards and unless you want your flesh burned off, I’d keep your hands to yourself.” The elder was well trained in keeping things secret, especially with magic. It would have been fun to watch the hellhound find out for herself but he was being kind for the moment. As Violet spoke, he began texting her requests to his house staff, making sure they were preparing a decent meal. “That’s healthier than I expected,” he chuckled. “It’s my own ignorance but I didn’t expect a hellhound to enjoy fruit and fish.”  Within a few more streets, they pulled into the driveway of a two story home and up the long winding road to the home’s door.

“That..that doesn’t look quite right, does it?” she muttered, frowning at the letters she’d just written. Frowning at the lines, the familiar couldn’t decide just what she’d done wrong. “Maybe the direction?” Acacia looked up for a moment, eyes darting around, hoping that there might be someone who could help, before looking back down at her work. 

Luke glanced up at the voice, golden eyes holding the other’s gaze for a moment…almost challanging. But than again, Luke didnt know who this was, so he couldnt really take a risk. Huffing softly, he dropped the rock and pulled his knees up to his chest.

Quint waved a calloused hand. “By all means, ya can play with him all ya want. More cocks in him the better behaved he was.” At least Baz had started out fighting…and maybe it was just all of the slaves who were compliant that were getting on quint’s nerves…he didnt know. 

“Time is only wasted if you do nothing with it. Pacing my time and using it to hear what people say works in my advantage. Most guards don’t realize they should watch their mouths and grumbles. And some who take me for the night don’t realize I was raised to gather information. You’d be surprised how many leave paper work out around their place.” Getting into the car she nodded understanding and glad he would use her name. “Luca. Understood. I won’t take too long to clean up. Enough time to get myself clean, but in an appropriate amount of time.” 

The elder gritted his teeth, trying to hide his displeasure. He would be having a stern word with the warden so his guards could be put into place. The last thing they needed was another outbreak because of careless work. “Thanks for the heads up. I know what to keep hidden from you then.” Not that Luca would ever be that careless. He had better ways of communicating than with paper work. “Good, I’d appreciate it.” It wasn’t like he would be timing her but he was acutely aware of people wasting his time and he didn’t tolerate it. “Do you need to eat as well?” he asked. The warlock had never been intentionally cruel to anyone who didn’t deserve it, at least when he wasn’t bored. “I figure you could use some energy.”

Luke was scratching a rock he had found on the stone floor of his cell, brow furrowed a little. Violet had been rented, leaving him feeling a little alone….not that he would admit that. Luke was just growing to dislike being alone with his thoughts. The thin blanket from his cot draped over his shoulders, red hair wild from a nap earlier, Luke marked up the stone with cross hatching and squiggles from the rock he had found. He didnt bother glancing up, figuring if he showed disinterest then people would leave him alone.

@elderverne

Quint shrugged. “Eh….they are a good hole to put my cock in.” He replied rather bluntly. Quint didnt claim often, and when he did all his slaves had expiration dates…it was only a matter of time until he got bored and threw them back in the cells. “Use to be a fighter but not so much anymore.”