I wake before the sun, stretching and washing quickly.

I look at my reflection in the cracked mirror. In this form I have high cheek bones, a small nose, large flame green eyes, full lips, slightly sharp canines, long dark hair, my shifter's marks on my face, chest and shoulders, and a slim yet curvey figure.

Shifters like myself are rare, and often used for their ability in brothels, I am no exception. Though I do not work in a brothel, I use my other form to earn enough coin to eat.

I grab a pair of trousers and a shirt, both big on me, and put them on. I shift to my other form to make sure my entire isn't too snug.

This form is male. I'm taller and have broad shoulders, a well built physique including a toned chest and abdomen, and my hair now only comes just past my ears. My eye, teeth and shifter's marks remain the same.

The shirt is a bit tight on my chest so I undo the top two buttons, exposing more of my chest in turn.

I roll my shoulders and shift back into my female form, noting that the undone buttons now expose much of my cleavage.

I sigh and redo one of the buttons before heading to the kitchen. I take a slice of bread and one of the oranges I had picked two days ago. I peal the orange and put the slices on a plate and head down to father's room.

I open the door quietly and step in.

Father lay peacefully under his covers, soft snores resonating from him.

I walk to the nightstand and open the pill bottles, taking out his prescription.

"Pa," I shake him slightly, "pa, it's time to wake up."

His eyes open slowly and he looks at me, the glazed look in his eyes telling me all I need to know.

He doesn't remember me.
Again.

"And who might you be young lady?" He gives me a sweet smile that make my heart break.

"I'm Milo," I keep my voice soft, "I'm your child."

His eyes flash with recognition.

"Good morning Milo, did you sleep well?" He smiles even brighter than before now that he remembers me.

"I slept fine, pa," I hold out a glass of water, "you need to take your pills."

He takes the glass from me and I hand him the pills which he swallows quickly.

"So when do I get to meet your partner?" He asks as I place the plate on his lap.

"I don't have a partner, Pa," I sigh as I watch him pick up one of the orange slices with his shaking hands.

"But shifters need a partner," he slowly brings the fruit to his lips, "you're 880 years old, you don't have that long left."

"I'm 912, Pa," I stand from the edge of his bed, "I'll find one eventually."

"Good," he munches on the orange slice, "then can I meet them?"

"Yes, Pa," I chuckle and place a kiss on his brow, "I have to go now, Mrs. Tiea will be by for lunch and to help you, I'll be back for dinner and bed time."

"Okay," he smiles up at me.

I leave the room and head out as I throw my long coat on. My feet connect with the dirt path and the cold chill of the air and I smile at the sensation.

I always keep my feet bare so that they aren't injured while I shift.

I walk to Lady Simel's estate, going in through the back at the servants entrance, leaving my coat on the small hook.

"Milo."

I halt and turn towards the person talking.
It's Lady Simel.

"Yes, my Lady?"

"I have guest coming, I want the entire house cleaned except the sitting room," she says with a wicked grin, "once the guests arrive, I want you to be in your other form and cleaning the sitting room from top to bottom."

I sigh but nod.

"Yes, my Lady."

"Good," she raises her chin higher, "begin."

I bow slightly and hurry to get the supplies to start cleaning.

I sigh once I'm out of earshot.

Lady Simel's husband died a year ago and it wasn't until then then that she hired me. She knew I needed the money and made the contract in a way to benefit herself. She stated that I was to do any task she gave me without question. I hadn't thought of what it may have implied at the time, but she knew of the benefits to my ignorance. One of those benefits being the satisfaction of a bed partner whenever she felt she needed it. Another was that she could display that she indeed had a shifter working under her foot.

I grumble to myself as I make my way through the halls, cleaning and shining anything and everything in sight.

Hours later I find myself finished with every crack and crevice of the house except for the sitting room.

"My guests are arriving," Lady Simel says from out of no where, honestly terrifying me, "change. Now."

I shift into my other form, feeling my shirt tighten, reminding me that I had rebuttoned one of the buttons on it this morning.

She eyes me up and down, a snuggly satisfied grin on her face before she points to my shirt.

"Take it off."

I hesitate before lowering my head and undoing the buttons one by one and sliding the fabric off of my shoulders. I feel her cold hands on my abdomen as I continue to tug the shirt of my wrists.

In this form I am taller than her, making it so that she has to look up at me to see my eyes as she runs her hands up my chest.

"When my guests have left, I want you in my chambers," she says uncomfortably close to my lips, "understood?"

"Yes, my Lady." My voice is deeper now, matching my male appearance.

It's not that I don't take pleasure in fucking self righteous women like her out of their minds, I take much pleasure in it. It's that she doesn't give me the choice of partner.

The sound of approaching horses outside causes her to pull away.

"To the sitting room," she orders, turning on her heels to go ahead of me.

"Yes, my Lady."