hellhound-noxâ:
It was a valid question given the way he spoke to the fairy. And while he did not have to explain the tale he saw no reason in withholding the story. âNo, Tully is not my slave but a servant and resident of the town. HeâŚowes a debt to me. Repaid in his servitude for life. He is free to come and go as he please. And there are times that I must hunt him down when he ventures too far.â But it was all apart of their game in a sense. Though he could see how that may still seem close to a slave. On some level the dark fairy held gratitude and respect to the hound. Enough that he would not try to steal away the human while under his roof. So Nox felt comfortable in leaving Maxwell under Tullyâs eye while he attended to other matters. Those of business were quick enough to manage. And once done he stepped into his back yard to scratch that itch under his skin. Taking off running he quickly tore out of his close before he shifted into the form of the hound and slid under the cover of his veil. Tully served the purpose of attending to his guest and their needs but Nox preferred he hunted for food himself.
There was another reason Tully had use. As commanding as he was Nox was still a hound and sometimes lacked the manners learned by some. Proven as he return through the back of his home carrying a steer he killed while hunting. Dragging a trail of blood across the floor in the process and dropping it in the kitchen not far from where his guest ate. âYou can hang this in the freezer for tomorrow. I ate a few things along the way before taking this one down.â Nox mightâve appeared more wild in that setting. Naked with smears of blood coating his dark tinted skin. âAnd bring Max up to my room once he finishes his meal.â Tully didnât say much more than nod before he gathered up the kill and took it downstairs. Returning for Max once he was finished and then attending to the mess Nox had made. Upstairs there was hot bath already waiting for him. His servant knowing well enough that the hound was in need of good bath after his hunt. When Max was brought to him he was still sunk beneath the water with just his head above the surface.
As Max ate, he thought about the idea of a supernatural being in servitude for a master but not being a slave. It sounded strange to him, the idea that a supernatural could be close enough but not really like the ones that sat in the cells in the prison. Still, he didnât bother to ask anymore questions, especially not to Tully lest he take it the wrong way. Max wasnât looking to start a fight in the house of a master, especially not one that had proven himself rather formidable. And that was especially after the man returned home carrying what looked like a human body. He paused mid bite, confused and somewhat startled at seeing the hellhound carrying a deer as it appeared to be upon a bit closer. He didnât hear what was said to Tully but found himself trying not to stare at the master as he disappeared up the stairs, blood clinging to his skin. The timing of Tullyâs return and when he was finished eating seemed extraordinary. As the dishes were whisked away, he pulled himself to his feet.
His examination of the house continued as he followed Tully up the steps and through a few more doors. When one final door opened and Tully left him, Max walked inside, a small quirk of his lips appearing to see the master relaxing under the water of his own bath. âYou asked for me, sir?â he said with a raise of his eyebrow. In his mindâs eye flashed the image of the man covered in blood and part of him wondered if he should be worried to be so close to him. He decided against it, only because he could not think of anything he might have done to insight the ire of the elder hellhound. He was keeping his cheeky personality under control and he was doing his best to remember all of his manners, all of his training. He figured he was fine in his presence. So instead, he let his eyes flick over the water covered form of the man who was currently renting him before sliding them back up to meet his eyes. He had been given no proper instruction, so he assumed meeting his gaze would be more respectful than not.













