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"There will be no fraternizing with the Guards. You are slaves. Do not forget."

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[Shade Shadows]

The slave quarters are filled with whispers and rumors. Everybody is talking about the horn, the visitors that arrived. I walk in quietly, and no one pays much attention to me as they gossip away.

My body is tired and all I wish to do is sleep. There will be more to do tomorrow and so I curl up on my mat and shut my eyes. I wish to drift off immediately but my ears remain open, listening to the words of the slaves around me.

They talk of the visitors and the cage that came with them in their midst. Some say they heard growls and hisses coming from beneath its dark covers and a shiver crossed my spine.

I can not deny I am also curious about these new visitors. I know there is some sort of ceremony taking place in a few weeks, that is why the tribunal has been called, and that is why there will soon be a hunt, but that was not for a couple more weeks.

Visitors could not be arriving so soon, could they?

What if the master was right and there was some sort of trouble coming over the horizon- if the sun did rise tomorrow that is?

Did I truly care? What could be worse than a fate condemned to these walls? I let out a breath, turning away from the whispers.

I do not believe there was any.

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My dream has changed.

I am no longer in a forest. I no longer see ash and fire. My mother is nowhere to be seen. Instead, I am in a field of white flowers and the sun is beautiful and bright.

I am confused for only a moment before the tickle of the sun's rays relieves me of all panic and I close my eyes, kneeling in the field of flowers.

A moment later I spread out in those soft flower beds and took a rest in that field. I am happy and I am content.

My head rolls effortlessly to the side, an invisible smile on my face. I know I am safe here. I know that I am happy.

Everything is beautiful.

I open my eyes and I freeze when I see him.

The Master.

He sleeps beside me, eyes shut, a ringed hand above his heart. His hair sprawled in the green grass around me. I immediately sit up, pushing away but he does not stir.

I do not think he knows that I am beside him. I stare for a while. My body is stiff, unsure of what to do, whether to speak or do something entirely different.

I notice I can barely see him breathe.
I timidly lean over to inspect him and lose myself. I find my gaze trailing every inch of his face.

He is as beautiful as I thought when I first saw him. I can not think of anything else. I know that I am dreaming, I know my mind has conjured this dream for me for the first time in what felt like forever.

Something new, something that was beautiful, a dream for the first time I did not want to wake up from.

I smile softly, falling back into the space beside him.

I am afraid to change anything. To even touch him might cause me to wake up from this dream.

And so all I do is watch him as he breathes softly in and out. I have to be still to see this movement. He is so delicate it feels like he will fade soon.

It's hours that I've been watching him, but I swear it's only been a second, his eyebrows draw together, his jaw tightens and I wonder what he is thinking.

His breathing deepens, and he twitches slightly. I am
Slightly concerned about the discomfort he shows, his eyes darting beneath shut eyelids.

No, I am concerned even though I know I have no right to be. I can not help when I move closer taking a deep breath in

"Master?" I whisper lowly. My voice is timid.

He is not breathing anymore, he seems frozen in time
And I take in his beauty, his exquisite features. I know that I dream, I know this image is mine -

It is the only place I can ever do this-

I reach out, hesitantly at first, my fingers brushing a strand of his hair off his forehead -

My eyes flutter open and I'm awake again. It's morning- the sun is a sliver on the horizon.

-----------------

I have not said a word to Vale in a day and a half. She watches me from the hoard of girls awaiting their buckets filled. Her gaze is sour and I know she is upset.

I glance away, focusing on my duty. I have already learned how to block the whispers and the taunts from the other slaves but today they do not taunt me.

Their words are still filled with whispers they heard from the guards and masters of the new visitors.

"If there is truly another Arc in this court, then Madam would have told us so," Haven announced, "she would not want us to make any mistake before the Night Wolf's guests."

"You think Madam cares about us?" one of the other slave girls mocked, "Would she not be delighted if there were fewer of us to keep in line?"

"I do not think she cares," Haven scoffs, folding her arms, "No one cares about us. But I do think she is better than others that take care of the slaves. I have come across enough to know we are safer in her care than that of others," she retorted.

I glanced at Haven for a moment as she said this before looking away, focusing on pumping.

I think she cares.

Madam Catherine reminds me so much of AMA. If she did not care, would she have warned me of the library? Would she keep personally taking me to its doors every morning? And though she's never said a word since then her eyes are careful to look me over.

She always looks at me each morning as if to ensure I have not lost my head yet. Perhaps I only see this in my head. Perhaps I am desperate and miss AMA this much that I need someone to take her place if only for a moment.

AMA said she would find us, but I do not think she can. What can she do against the Night Wolf?

I finish and Haven takes her bucket, moving toward the bathhouse.

The other girls wait, and a few offer to pump for themselves when my arms grow tired. I do not think it's because they're kind but simply because I'm taking too much time and they do not wish to be late.

Vale pumps right before Eve and I notice she waits for the girl before they both leave for the bathhouse. They are not the last to do so today, and though I am relieved I am also saddened because I know all isn't well between Vale and me. I must talk to her soon.

I pump for the last few girls and they leave. Resting against the pump I give myself a few minutes, shutting my eyes momentarily, knowing I'm already sweating.

A shadow blocks the ray of sun that warms my skin, and my eyes flutter open, squinting at the shine that reflects from the metal on the guard's uniform.

"Why do you let them make you do it all?" he asks.

I let out a loose breath, stand up, and move back behind the pump, after putting my bucket beneath the opening.

I begin to pump, glancing up at the King's guard. He has moved from his post. For the first time.

He was here before me, awaiting an answer. I glance at him before my gaze moves downwards, "I am a Keffer."

"You're all slaves. Surely status is the least of your problems," he huffs, a small grin on his face.

I ignore this pumping.

He pauses for a moment, "It is not right. What they say about you. What they make you do."

My heart is pumping harshly. I am irritated at best. I do not wish to be antagonized so early in the morning. These were the few minutes I had all to myself. But the guard seems to be keen on getting a rise out of me.

Is this what it was then? What sort of bet had he made with his fellow guards?

I did not understand him, or why he was here. I did not wish to know his hidden agenda. I only wished to be left alone.

"We are slaves, not sisters. Nothing changes for a Keffeer," I quip, speaking harsher than I intended. I glance at him after this, softening my expression, knowing I have no right to be angry with a guard.

"It can."

I chuckle, yet not amused, "No, it can not."

"It will."

"Not any time soon."

"I'll change it then-"

I scoff and a large hand wraps around the pump. I am unable to push-

My eyes widen, "Liston!"

His eyes meet mine in a shining haze, nodding, a wide smile on his face, blond locks blowing lightly in the wind.

"Shade.." he drags moving toward me.

I do not understand this King's guard. I do not know why he chooses to be like this all of a sudden. I move back, away from him, seeking avoidance and he takes the position by the pump, eyes gently moving forward as he begins to pump- silver gleaming in the new sun.

My mouth drops, and panic sets in. My gaze darts everywhere to see if anyone can see this impossible feat.

What did he think he was doing????

Was he crazy?

Goddess! Had he lost his mind?!

"No, no! S-stop, j-just stop it!" I tried to tell, as lowly as I could. I did not want anyone to hear what was happening or even worse, see it all.

"No." he plainly states continuing to pump, each pump stronger and swift, the water almost filling the bucket in seconds.

"Y-you can't! You must stop. Stop it now!" I squeal, my voice in a high pitch. I do not know what to do. I can't push a guard away! I can't do anything but watch as my bucket fills to the brim.

"Should I carry it for you?" he asks then raises a hand, "don't answer that, I will," he states nodding to himself before walking back around.

My eyes widen and I make haste to snatch the bucket before he can.

His eyes raise to meet mine at my defiance.

"Shade.." he warns, looking at me and then the bucket.

"I-I can do it, sir." I gasp, standing in front of the bucket to block him.

I can see that he is either mad or drunk. I do not wish to get in trouble. He is trouble!

"I wish to do it for you," he states.

My eyes only widen at this and my head shakes fast, "no, no, no, no, no, ha," I smile, praying this is a joke, "I will do it myself. I do it all the time-" I assure him.

"I know. I see you."

My gaze meets his for a moment and we hold each other's eyes. There is something in them. Something different from that guard that looked away all those days ago.

He moves forward to take the bucket and I block him, I try my hardest not to touch him moving backward as he leans forward, hovering over me-

"Please-" I whisper, panic in my voice, "do not do this."

His eyebrows arch, a smirk playing against his lips, "do what?"

Before I can think, he snatches the bucket and moves toward the bathhouse. I am astonished. I do not know if I am still dreaming or perhaps I have awoken in a different dimension altogether.

I watch as he stalks away for a stifling moment before sanity returns to me. I run as fast as I can to catch up to him, "You need to stop this! I can lift it-"

"Yes, you have said so-" he grins glancing at me. His smile is cheeky and abominable in such a situation.

"Please, sir!" I hissed desperately, "Someone will see!"

"Let them see," he shrugs, looking forward as if he has not a care in the world.

I am baffled by this. This can not be the same guard that did not care for the plight of a Keffer weeks back. No, he must have a twin because this was... Not...this couldn't be happening.

"Do you not care?!" I hiss, "What will they think of you for helping a cursed Keffer? Your reputation?!" I screech trying to appeal to his sanity-

He does not respond.

"Sir!" I squeal.

"I will pump and lift for you every day, starting from today," he promises.

My eyes widen- "No, no, no- that is not necessary. Please sir-"

"Oh I insist, I'm afraid."

"What do you want?" I ask, skipping and half running beside him backward as I looked at him, "Fine! I-I will speak from now on-"

"You're speaking already," he winks, a smile on his face.

"I'll hold conversations-" I rephrase, my eyes pleading as I glanced behind. We were almost near the bathhouse where the other slaves would soon see us.

"Please-" I paused in front of him, a desperate plea in my eyes "Let me lift."

He held my gaze for a moment, his gaze flowing upward to the bathhouse, then back to my pleading gaze. He seemed to contemplate for a moment.

"Please-" I repeated.

After a moment, he nodded, handing me the bucket, "I guess it's near enough."

I smile widely, relief flooding my features and I nod aggressively, "Thank you-"

He pauses, "I do have a name."

I let out a loose breath fingers wrapping around the handle, looking up at him, "Thank you....thank you, Liston."

"It's my pleasure," he smiles softly, he leans forward something foreign and soft passes through his gaze, my name is a whisper against his lips when he speaks above my ear "Shade," he adds.

I am taken aback by this for a moment, but I catch myself, nodding, my gaze falling to the ground before heading to the bath house.

I know he is watching me. I feel his eyes on me until I disappear into the bathhouse.

I do not know what madness has poisoned his mind but I do hope his promise were mere words of a drunken man.

If not, I fear I am in trouble.

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