Fantasy Shadow Slaves

[Red Reaper]

"Ok." Rino then teleported to the Italian restaurant Jule wanted to go to.

 

[The Unamed Character]

Jin walks by after the Host nods to her "My dad co-owns this place..." she said to Rino "Free food" she says giggling


 
@Red Reaper

 

[eclipsehowls]

"Yeah I suppose you're right," He replied, "And we have to start somewhere, so I guess I will be content with servitude for the time being." He chuckled "I am a bit out of touch I am something of a hermit, which has left this cabin more or less in the dark ages... I will go the river and get some water, if you would go get the large basin out from the bottom cupboard that would be great, the bathroom is down the other hallway off the living room; you should find towels, washcloths and like in the closet just across from the bathroom. So you get ready, and I will get the water and heat it in the fire for you." Cedric said as he stood and left to the closet across from the bathroom opened the door; and emerged with four large buckets. "Be back soon sorry for the inconvenience." He said as he left the cabin.
@eclipsehowls


(goodnight)

Andalib shook her head at his apology and stood when he left before carrying the bowls and spoons to the sink. Once she had put them in the sink, she searched the bottom cupboard and pulled out the large basin. Shutting the cupboard, she picked it up and walked into the living room and down the opposite hallway, the large basin slightly awkward in her hands as she moved through the cabin to the bathroom. Setting the basin on the floor in the center of the bathroom, she went into the closet across from the bathroom and pulled out a towel, washcloth and surprisingly to her some soap and shampoo. Setting the items on a small table beside the bathtub she went back to explore the rest of the cabin while she waited for Cedric to come back. It wasn't very big for which she was grateful. Not like the mansion her mother's master lived in which mean a lot less work for her in terms of cleaning. The lack of electricity might be a bit of an issue as she quickly discovered there was none but she could deal with it for now. She had lived without electricity for the past eight years between her time in the wilderness and her time in the box. Searching around the cabin, Andalib was relieved to see there were no narrow small spaces anywhere. She didn't think Cedric would appreciate coming home to his pet having an anxiety attack and get rid of her or turn her loose in the forest for that other wolf to eat. Or whatever demons did besides chasing humans without masters and taking them to warehouses. Mentally sighing to herself, Andalib walked back into the kitchen and looked around before spotting a broom and began sweeping the kitchen, making sure to sweep everything to the door which she could then sweep outside. @Flack


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The waiter came back with their drinks and set them down on the table. Seth put Jin's in front of her and unwrapped his straw before sipping his soda. "Some of these demons are arrogant jerks," Seth said. "Don't acknowledge slaves never mind their own, don't keep track of their property, let them wander onto other demons' lands when we can legally kill them or enslave the human as our own in retribution. Though I don't like Gale and if he keeps coming onto my lands I'll snap his neck and leave his broken body in the forest for the wolves and dogs to eat." Pulling a pen out of his pocket he slid it across the table to her. "Just because you can't talk doesn't mean I won't allow you to write. You can use the napkins to write anything on." @The Unamed Character

 

[Flack]

After some time Cedric came back, and entered the cabin; Andalib sweeping the floor. "I'm back, oh I should have told you in the kitchen in on drawers to the right in the middle there are some candles, candle holders, and matches if it gets to dark in here for you." Cedric went over to the fire place with the four now full buckets and put two of th in the fire. "Do like long baths or short one? Oh and thanks for doing the sweeping."


She was the only other person he had willing let into his home, there was this one demon who broke in years ago, but Cedric had hunted him down rather quickly and made sure he wouldn't do that again. But this was going to be a different beast all together having her here, well she seemed to be making herself at home; and that had to be half the battle he thought.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Pausing in her sweeping, she leaned the broom against the wall, being careful to keep it away from the fire, and went over to the table before picking up the pen again and writing. I've never been allowed the luxury of a hot bath, let alone a long one, before. But eight years of not bathing and I'll probably end up taking a long bath unless you need me for something else. It's my job to serve...in whatever capacity or need my master wants or can think of. Thank you for letting me know where the candles and matches are. Human eyes aren't good at night. We aren't like cats or possibly demons when it comes to natural night vision. Do you want me to get wood and kindling for the fire after I'm done sweeping Ma...she scratched out the first two letters of 'Master' and wrote instead...Cedric?


@Flack

 

[Flack]

He smiled, "A long bath it is, and I remember watching humans struggle in darkness, so I assumed you would too. Well once the water boils I can pour some of it in the basin and you can wash your hair the rest can go in the bathtub, then I will go out and repeat the process of heating more water, just to be sure you don't run out of warm water." Cedric said as he went back to watching the two buckets in the fire.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Andalib blinked at Cedric in surprise at his kindness which would take some getting used to for her but nodded and went back to sweeping the floor, having already swept the area in front of the hearth. So far Cedric had proven he wasn't like the other Shadow Demons she had encountered which was...well it was confusing but she wasn't going to complain. Instead she concentrated on sweeping everything out of the kitchen and through the living room, collecting more bits of dust and dirt, the only sounds were the sweeping of the broom across the floor, her light steps and the swish of her kimono as she worked. She reached the door after five minutes and opened it before sweeping everything she'd picked up so far outside and looked out into the darkness of the forest. @Flack

 

[Flack]

Cedric found it odd to hear the sounds of the broom and someone else's footsteps, He was used to him being the only one to make any sounds; but it was knid of nice, to hear something other than him self. He looked up and saw Andalib looking into the forest;


"Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; "He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake


To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." Cedric recited, "It's a poem by a human called Robert Frost, I really enjoy it, especially the woods are lovely dark and deep that is my favorite part. I am often reminded of it during the winter." He smiled. I wonder if she likes poems, humans can be so astounding at times being able to paint such grand pictures in ones head with just a few verses; well even if she doesn't maybe tomorrow I can find a book of poetry, it seems to give me a small glimpse into how some humans viewed the world, he thought.


@eclipsehowls

 

[The Unamed Character]

Andalib shook her head at his apology and stood when he left before carrying the bowls and spoons to the sink. Once she had put them in the sink, she searched the bottom cupboard and pulled out the large basin. Shutting the cupboard, she picked it up and walked into the living room and down the opposite hallway, the large basin slightly awkward in her hands as she moved through the cabin to the bathroom. Setting the basin on the floor in the center of the bathroom, she went into the closet across from the bathroom and pulled out a towel, washcloth and surprisingly to her some soap and shampoo. Setting the items on a small table beside the bathtub she went back to explore the rest of the cabin while she waited for Cedric to come back. It wasn't very big for which she was grateful. Not like the mansion her mother's master lived in which mean a lot less work for her in terms of cleaning. The lack of electricity might be a bit of an issue as she quickly discovered there was none but she could deal with it for now. She had lived without electricity for the past eight years between her time in the wilderness and her time in the box. Searching around the cabin, Andalib was relieved to see there were no narrow small spaces anywhere. She didn't think Cedric would appreciate coming home to his pet having an anxiety attack and get rid of her or turn her loose in the forest for that other wolf to eat. Or whatever demons did besides chasing humans without masters and taking them to warehouses. Mentally sighing to herself, Andalib walked back into the kitchen and looked around before spotting a broom and began sweeping the kitchen, making sure to sweep everything to the door which she could then sweep outside. @Flack
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The waiter came back with their drinks and set them down on the table. Seth put Jin's in front of her and unwrapped his straw before sipping his soda. "Some of these demons are arrogant jerks," Seth said. "Don't acknowledge slaves never mind their own, don't keep track of their property, let them wander onto other demons' lands when we can legally kill them or enslave the human as our own in retribution. Though I don't like Gale and if he keeps coming onto my lands I'll snap his neck and leave his broken body in the forest for the wolves and dogs to eat." Pulling a pen out of his pocket he slid it across the table to her. "Just because you can't talk doesn't mean I won't allow you to write. You can use the napkins to write anything on." @The Unamed Character

Jin rights down one simple word 'Why?'

 

[eclipsehowls]

Andalib jumped as she heard Cedric's voice behind her, having been lost in thought as she stared out at the forest, dropping the broom in her hand so that it fell with a clatter on the floor. Her mother had spoken of some poets, Robert Frost being one of them, but she had never read anything by the man as her mother had loved Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. Andalib tried not to think about her life during her first five years of life. Bending down she grabbed the broom and picked it up before setting it against the wall just inside the door before steeling herself and going outside to go look for wood and kindling for the fire. @Flack


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Seth looked at the question and sipped his drink again before replying. "Why am I allowing you to write or why can we enslave humans or kill them if they enter our lands? Well the answer to the first is because since you're now living with me, you may as well know about me so that you can learn what pleases me and what doesn't please me. It'll make things much easier for you then finding out the hard way and I hate having ignorant pets. As to the second question, demons are very territorial and the more powerful let's just say idiots for lack of a better word put a nice little law in place that allows demons the right to kill or enslave any human on their lands that is not their pets and the offending demon just has to deal with the loss of their pet for letting it wander." @The Unamed Character

 

[The Unamed Character]

Jin nods and writes a simple statement 'Most of this world has gone to hell' @eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Seth looked bemusedly at Jin after reading her note. "The world's been a lot worse for Shadow Demons with us having to hide. But there's one good thing about humans being slaves and controlled breeding of pets. Those who are weak will die and the planet can slowly recuperate from decades of pollution and overcrowding." @The Unamed Character

 

[The Unamed Character]

Jin nods, although she did not know a world without demons

 

[Flack]

Cedric sighed I scared her, he thought as he watched her go. He went back to his the buckets,listening to the quiet of the cabin; he hoped she wouldn't go far, it's wasn't the safest place for a shadow demon to wander around at night, let alone a human. He would keep his ears and nose open, to be safe. The first two buckets finally began to boil, Cedric waited for them to really start going before removing them with a poker for the fire and an oven-mitt he carried one of the buckets to the bathroom; good she found everything he thought when he saw her bathing supplies on the small table by the bathtub. He filled the basin with the water from the first bucket; then returned to the living room made sure the fire was still going strong and placed the other two buckets in the fireplace. Lastly he took the second bucket of the boiling water and poured it into the bathtub.


Cedric went back to waiting for the water to boil and Andalib to come back. It was amazing how quickly the loneliness entered his thoughts and heart; but it was worse than before. I want other sounds, I got them for a moment and now they are gone and I am left alone with my thoughts, I have become truly pathetic; needing a human to give me happiness; he thought. As he continued to wait, he groaned got up and lit some candles and put a couple in the hallways, two in the bathroom and two in her bedroom one was lit the other not. Cedric then went back to his waiting for the buckets and Andalib to return.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

"Humans created the destruction of the world. Getting into wars over any little thing, enslaving their own kind, torturing prisoners they caught in war for information, abusing animals and their wives and children, destroying their own civilizations through their greed and power. Great empires rose, lasted for a few centuries and then fell due to a result of their corrupted leaders but they did some good as well. Not all humans were bad though. They made great strides in education...well some countries did, they gave female humans the right to vote and access to their own bodies which was an important event for the women of the country the United States of America, improved healthcare and made advances in science and mathematics." They came out with some good art pieces and books as well, he thought to himself. "But enough about that. I'm surprised you haven't asked me about my powers. You already know I can turn into smoke of course." @The Unamed Character


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Stumbling slightly in the dark, Andalib searched the darkness around the cabin for any signs of a box or a pile of stacked wood where she could get firewood to fill the wood box by the hearth. Her foot hit something as she walked and carefully felt around in front of her with her hands before feeling the rough bark of cut logs. Smiling that she hadn't had to go very far to find firewood, she pulled one off and held it in her arms before gathering a few more logs and carried them back into the cabin, stumbling a little in the darkness as she walked across the ground towards what she hoped was the door. Reaching the door, she walked into the cabin and to the kitchen before dropping the logs on the floor and left, motioning that she would stack them when she was done collecting the firewood and kindling before disappearing back out into the darkness, her breathing again becoming erratic with every step she took in the dark. She did three more trips of collecting enough firewood to fill the wood box and picked up kindling as well by searching blindly on the ground for any sticks and dried grass and leaves that could be used to keep the fire going before bringing that in as well. Putting the kindling on the wood box after she had shut the door, she began stacking the firewood until it was full, only to see she'd ended up bringing more than needed so she stacked the rest beside the wood box. @Flack

 

[Flack]

"Your quite thoughtful." Cedric said watching her make the trips outside and then stack the wood. "I put some water in the basin and once the nest two buckets boil your bath should be ready." He looked at her, "Are you ill, you seemed to be having trouble breathing earlier." He commented, "If you are I won't hold it against you I just need to know." he added. Cedric wasn't sure if illness was something humans were sensitive about but you never know some of the oddest things seemed to upset them. Regardless watching her react would give him some sort of answer; at least about her personally.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Wiping her hands off on her kimono from where she sat on her knees in front of the wood box Andalib turned her head towards Cedric and had to think on his question about if she was ill before shrugging. She wasn't sure if she was ill though it may be possible as she had never been given any medical care. She looked towards the hallway, seeing a lit candle in the hallway for which she was grateful. Rising to her feet, she walked towards the table and grabbed the piece of paper she had been writing on and the pen she'd been using before coming back to sit down beside Cedric. Leaning over to write on the floor Andalib wrote, making sure to keep out of the way so Cedric could read what she wrote by sitting parallel to the fire: I don't know if I am ill or not. I've never been given medical care. My mother's master never found the need to take me to a doctor and it was something that wasn't offered for me at least in the warehouse. I'm not sure about the others and if they got medical care or not. It's not illness-at least I don't think so-....I'm... she paused, not sure if she should write down that she was afraid of the dark for fear that Cedric might use that as punishment against her if she disobeyed him, remembering how it had been used against her when living with her mother. Finally she thought he might be more angry if she didn't write it down. I'm scared of the dark and being outside alone. I always try to get into some type of shelter before sunset so I don't have to be outside in the dark. I'm scared of the dark, heights, being sold to another master, and narrow small enclosed spaces. If I'm in a narrow and small enclosed space I begin to hyperventilate and suffer panic attacks.


She wasn't sure if she would tell him about her years running and trying to escape slavery, her years of being trapped within the box in the warehouse or how to explain the hopelessness at seeing other slaves being picked and the eventual resignation that nobody would purchase her-it might make her seem odd-or of her time with her mother. Andalib hoped that by telling Cedric about her fears that he wouldn't use them against her as punishment but knew if he saw fit to punish her for any disobedience or infractions that it was his right as her owner and master. Maybe one day if she could learn to trust him she might. Thinking on something important and appalled with herself that she hadn't thought to ask sooner, she wrote down her question. Cedric what do I refer to you as outside? I'll bring paper with me so I can answer questions and orders so I guess I won't really be referring to you as anything but to keep you from getting in trouble with the powerful ones of your race...And do they ever check on the slaves? Like...like do you have to...what was it? Oh umm...register that you own me? She wasn't sure how the slave process worked really. Her mother had never explained anything beyond that she was a slave and would one day serve a demon and be at their mercy until she died or was sold to another master. @Flack

 

[Flack]

"Hmm," Cedric pondered, "Well I'm glad you were honest with me, and the dark isn't what you need to be afraid of, it's the things that are in the dark that should scare you." He grinned, "But now that I know how you feel, please don't push yourself to go outside in the dark it's dangerous out there, and I would hate to find you'd been harmed." He started to pace, and turned towards Andalib, "As for how you should address me in outside call me Mr. Adair, and in regards to the someone checking up us well it's no of their damn business how I treat my property, and if they have a problem with it they can deal with me and then you can help me dig a shallow grave for who ever was brazen enough to think they could come onto my territory, and think they could tell me how to live my life! To be honest with you I have never owned a slave before and don't know if anyone would even bother coming out this far to check. But if they do let me handle it; oh and the only way you will ever need a new master is if I die; so don't worry about that." He went back to watching the buckets waiting for them to boil. "I suppose it would also be a good idea to take you to a doctor tomorrow as well, make sure you're not ill." Cedric said still watching the buckets.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Andalib stared in surprise at not having to go outside in the dark or worry about being sold off unless her master died before ducking her head in thanks. Pulling a couple logs from the stack beside the wood box, she got up and put them into the fire before getting up and disappearing into the closet to get a washcloth so she could clean Cedric's wound though the thought of helping him dig a grave for any demons that trespassed on his lands was funny and she silently laughed to herself. @Flack

 

[Flack]

She seemed surprised and happy. Which made Cedric happy; he watched her disappear and wondered what she was up to now. Who knew maybe washing her hair he didn't really know. Humans were interesting indeed. He smiled at thinking of what some demon from the city would think of his life out here, the same he thought of them for sure; that he was crazy and no sane person would continue to willingly live like this. He chuckled. He continued to wait for the water to boil, what was that saying..oh yes a watched pot never boils he thought watching the flames dance around the buckets.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Andalib came back with the cloth, some more herbs, some bandages and gauze that she'd found by rummaging around in the closet next to the bathroom before putting them all on the floor. Twisting the washcloth in her hands nervously she got up and went looking for something that she could get the washcloth out after dropping it in the hot water and found a pair of tongs in a drawer. Removing them, she shut the drawer and went over to Cedric before dropping the washcloth into one of the buckets of water to soak. Walking back to the kitchen, she found a tea kettle and filled it with some of the water from a bucket, removed the pot of stew from the fire, set that aside and then hung the kettle on the hook over the fire for the water to boil. While waiting for the tea to boil she grabbed some White Willow Bark and began chopping it before placing on a piece of blank paper and then grated some cinnamon sticks to make 1 teaspoon along with 1 teaspoon of ginger before placing the ingredients in a mug and pouring some cold water into it. Her bath could wait a while longer until she'd healed Cedric's wound.


Pulling back the strip of cut kimono, she removed the poultice and put it aside examining the wound. It didn't seem infected despite not being treated but to be sure she grabbed some Feverfew which she knew helped with anti-inflammation and put some fresh Feverfew in an open hand before quickly writing: Please chew this. It should help with keeping your wound from being inflamed. Turning back to the bucket she'd dropped the washcloth in, she grabbed the tongs and dipped them into the bucket, grabbed the hot washcloth and pulled it out before writing it in her hands to squeeze out the excess water, not making any noise as the cloth burned her. Looking apologetically at Cedric, she placed the washcloth on his wound and began wiping at the blood, the hot water getting the blood to flow freely again. @Flack

 

[Flack]

Cedric did as the note asked, and flinched when the hot rag was put on his shoulder. "Isn't that a little hot for you to handle?" He asked trying to keep his mouth as shut tight as possible. He was almost hoping she'd forgotten about his shoulder, but apparently not. It will be good in the long run to get this treated now as opposed to waiting for it to get infected which is what he usually didn't bother him much it could be left alone when it started to become a bother then he would take care of it.Well it seemed she knew what she was doing, so he let her continue to treat him without much fuss; figuring she would take car of her self when she was done with him.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Nodding at his question about the washcloth hurting her, Andalib continued wiping away the blood until it stopped bleeding. Picking up the different herbs she'd collected, she chewed them into a poultice and mixed it with some primrose oil before putting the poultice on his wound and pressing a large piece of gauze over it that was covered with some bandages that were wrapped tightly around his shoulder. Tying it in a knot she wrote down: Try not to move that arm too much until it heals. I'm not good with sewing. Hearing the tea kettle boil, she grabbed it and poured some water into the cup before covering it with a cloth and letting it steep for fifteen minutes. While that was steeping, she picked up the pot and carried it back to the counter before setting it there. Walking back to the cup she motioned towards it before writing: Fifteen minutes to let it steep and then it will be ready to drink. Putting the pen down she bowed and disappeared to the bathroom to wash her hair, leaving the door open in case Cedric had need of her. @Flack

 

[Flack]

He chuckled 'Now she's giving me orders' he thought and sat and waited. Soon the other buckets where boiling so he removed them with his good arm, and headed to the bathroom; seeing the door open he peered in. Cedric cleared his throat; "the water for your bath is ready." He pored that bucket into the bathtub and left and got the last bucket and poured that in the tub as well. I will get a couple more bucket of water, I promise to only use my good arm; I will leave you to your bath." He said. Cedric left the bathroom and grabbed two of the buckets and made his way to the river, which wouldn't take to long and he looked forward to the tea.


He got the water and put the buckets into the fire place so they would heat up. He sat in one of the chairs and waited for the tea to finish steeping. He looked forward to Andalib smelling better, it wasn't the worst thing he smelled but it was hard to smell anything else. Once he got sprayed by skunk that was a foul odor one he never again wished to experience and did his best to avoid skunks at all costs.


@eclipsehowls

 

[eclipsehowls]

Andalib looked at him a bit suspiciously before nodding and closed the door, locking it behind her. Once she heard Cedric's footsteps disappear down the hallway she dropped the washcloth she'd taken and put it in the water, watching it sink to the bottom of the basin before removing her kimono and dropping it on the floor. Bruises marred her skin along with a couple of scars and some fresh marks from being cut by knives and whipped. She winched as she lowered herself into the water and it got into her wounds holding her breath and ducking her head under the water to get it thoroughly wet before she would wash it. It took her several bouts of washing her hair over the course of an hour before she managed to wash eight years of grease out of it and at half an hour before she'd effectively gotten rid of eight years of dirt and grime from her body. Grimacing at the state of the water but feeling slightly better, she dried off and then put her kimono back on before dragging the basin out of the bathroom and to outside to throw the water out. @Flack