I still need to feed and I don't want to do it with Sacha tonight. I have something quite different planned. I ponder.
I linger in the sitting room, until Chancey bustles through on his way to gather provisions and prepare sleeping quarters for the boys. He is startled to see me still here.
"My Lord?" he stutters, caught by surprise, something that is unusual for him.
"I wish to taste a boy, one I have not named yet. I tasted him on the day I brought Aqua."
"Yes. Ara."
"Is that his given name or a name given?" I will not tolerate any boy retaining his given name. Usually, I name them myself, but I hunted the boy for a purpose and, when that purpose was achieved, I lost interest.
"I gave it to him myself, My Lord. When you did not name him within a few days, I believed that it was what you would have wanted."
"Indeed it is. You have chosen well, Chancey. Ara. I like it." Chancey smiles broadly. Sometimes, he treads close to the line, but it is usually only when I am rubbing it out and moving it. He still loves to serve me, and does it with care and affection.
"How many boys do we have now, Chancey?"
He responds immediately. "With the two you brought in tonight, there are seven, not including myself, Sacha and Aqua."
"Is that a good working number?"
"It is very good number, My Lord, provided your household and... needs, remain stable. If you... expand then we will need a larger stable, even with rotation."
"I see. We will need more boys when Aqua needs to feed. Well... I think that we will leave things as they are for now. Ensure that there are quarters prepared for more boys. I think that Aqua should hunt for his own stable when he is able, as his tastes may differ from mine. He can share my stable until he has established his own. It will support him for a time."
"Yes My Lord. What of Sacha, My Lord? Where will he quarter?"
"I had not thought of that. I wish him close to me, and he will spend much time in my suite, but he needs space, and quarters of his own. He is to be part of my household now, and he, therefore, deserves to be housed away from the other boys. Besides, I want to have him close."
Chancey considers for a moment. "I could have a suite next to yours prepared very easily, My Lord. I could arrange for a connecting door. He will then be able to entertain his own 'guests' including yourself and Aqua in suitably appointed rooms."
My house is not as others are. It exists in a fold between worlds and it is therefore possible to mould it, manipulate its form to a certain degree. When I handed the responsibility for keeping the house over to Chancey I also handed over the secrets of moulding it.
"That would be perfect. What would I do without you Chancey?" He glows with pleasure, a flush rising in his cheeks.
"Where would you have me send, Ara, My Lord?"
I consider. I don't want to take him back to my chamber. Tonight, that will be for Sacha and me alone. The bathing room is comfortable, but makes me shiver now that I am becoming warm towards humans in general, and my boys in particular. While I think of it, I direct Chancey.
"I wish the bath in the bathing room to be removed completely. Replace it with a sunken seating area, and fill it with more cushions. I want the room to be associated with pleasure now, and not fear or pain."
"Yes, My Lord." He looks a little surprised, but a broad smile breaks over his face.
I ponder again, then smile. "Send him to the tower room." Chancey's eyes widen and I smile. "Don't fear. He will not be hurt." I think that Chancey is more shocked by my reassurance than my choice of room.
I quickly climb the twisting staircase to the tower room, and take a key from my pocket, fitting it into the lock on the heavy oak door. It swings open silently and allows me into a room, which is dark as pitch. Although I have excellent night vision, I take a taper and box of matches from a small table near the door, and light the oil lamps that dot the room.
In the light of the lamps, the room comes to life, and it is red. The circular room is lined with windows, all the way around, and every window is covered with drapes of heavy red velvet. The floor is carpeted with red and the rugs which lie on it are red and gold. Swathes of red and black silk tent the ceiling, and the enormous carved oak bed is dressed with curtains of red velvet and linen of red and black silk.
Elaborately carved cupboards, built into the circumference of the room, contain many things that I will soon be disposing of. One of the reasons this room is red, is to make it easier for Chancey to disguise the blood stains.
Leather straps, attached to the bed, are dyed red by it, as are the headboard and the floorboards under the carpet. The cupboards contain implements whose handles cannot be cleansed of it, and, despite the heady scent of the incense I light, the room still smells of it. But that might be just me.
As I finish lighting the lamps and the incense, I hear hesitant footsteps on the stairs. Ara is frightened, I can smell it. He has been here long enough to have heard stories about what goes on in this room. The stories are, of course, fabricated as no one who has entered this room, other than Chancey, has left to tell the truth. Along with the dungeon and the bathing room this room is universally feared and it is well known that to be summoned here is to be summoned to death. Except that it isn't, not any longer.
Ara is dressed simply in black slacks and tshirt that makes his hair glow. With the red light of the room it is like burnished bronze and I can't wait to run my hands through it. He hovers in the doorway, his eyes downcast, trying to look around the room without seeming as if he is. It makes me smile. He looks very young. If I did not know better I would hesitate as I have a strong objection to taking children. I have done enough of that in my past when I was acting under orders, I will not do it now of my free will.
I take Ara's hand, and draw him into the room, closing the door behind him. He jumps at the very final sounding click as it shuts.
"What have you heard about this room Ara?"
"I..." He looks up, his blue eyes wide and terrified. "I have heard that those who enter don't leave again, My Lord."
"Does that frighten you, Ara? Do you fear to face death?"
