The day was beginning to wane by the time they arrived at his home several miles outside of the city limits. He preferred his privacy and did not care for the prying eyes of neighbors, especially considering the life style he led. The setting sun was painting the sky crimson, in an hour twilight would descend and with it his beloved bride, Caressa, would arise from her daytime rest. She knew he had intended to appear at Janarra's wedding today, he kept no secrets from her, but neither had anticipated the outcome. Jana was at his side, silent, still dressed in her wedding finery. There was just enough time to prepare her for Caressa's awakening and to be perfectly honest, to prepare himself as well.
They were greeted by a young woman at the door, a woman that had been in his employ for quite some time and understood the delicate nature of what he was. All of his employees did, or they did not last very long. Likewise all in his employ were female and he knew them all intimately. He was careful not to let his feeding harm the humans, but it was handy having them there should he need them.
The seemingly youthful woman who approached them now and dropped into a quick curtsy knew him better then anyone and amused knowledge shone in her pale blue eyes as she looked between himself and Janarra. Though her glowing skin and glittering eyes might suggest otherwise, Tessa was not human, at least not completely. She was his concubine in many ways, was bound to him completely, and had been his lover for centuries. She also managed his household and kept the lower ranked women in his home in line. Though Caressa was his bride and had full reign in his home, even she treated Tessa with a measure of respect.
"Good evening My Lord. I am pleased to see your trip to town was...fruitful."
Though her words and tone were beyond reproach amusement still glittered in her eyes as she lowered her gaze from Morlis and let a quick glance slide over Janarra before looking back to him. She knew of the girl he had stalked for years, of course, and plenty of questions burned in her mind at seeing her appear at his side but those questions could wait until later when they were alone.
"Instructions, My Lord?"
The amusement in her eyes and the smile she struggled to keep hidden were plainly visible to him and offering an indulgent smile of his own his gaze promised answers to the multitude of questions he could see raging through her thoughts. First things first. Caressa would arise in just over an hour's time and he wished Janarra to be presentable before then.
"Take Janarra to the large bathing chamber on the second floor. She must be prepared to greet her new Mistress with the dusk and we simply can't have her looking as she does."
Janarra, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally snapped out of the haze that had engulfed her since she had given up her life as she knew it to chase after Morlis. Finally taking a good look at the woman standing with him a flicker of concern passed through her eyes. Mistress? Caressa had been her friend before, why would that change now? Not wishing to be handed over to a stranger she turned pleading eyes upon Morlis but before even an utterance of protest could be offered his left hand rose to forestall her words.
"Do as you are told, Janarra. The right to argue ended when you left your groom behind and offered yourself to me. Now go, and do exactly as Tessa tells you."
His hand pressed to the small of her back was enough to propel her forward towards the other woman, a soft squeak of protest at the sudden manhandling the only thing that was given a chance to pass Janarra's lips. Meeting Tessa's gaze over Janarra's head he smiled slightly as she took hold of Jana's arm.
"You know what to do, Tessa. I will join you in just a moment."
With a respectful inclination of her head to acknowledge his orders Tessa firmed her grip on Janarra's arm and escorted her out of the foyer and up the stairs though to the casual observer it would appear more like she was being pulled. He didn't doubt that Tessa was urging her along, forcibly if need be. It would take Janarra time to become accustomed to the reality of the choice she made while in the heat of passion. She would adjust, as would Caressa, though it may take some time for both women to become accustomed to their new roles in life.
Until he entered their lives they had been friends, very close from what he had garnered from watching them, and in a heartbeat everything about their relationship and dynamic had changed. Caressa was the bride of a powerful incubus lord, Janarra now his concubine. As long as Caressa remained his bride she would be Janarra's Mistress though he knew Caressa had hoped he would invite Janarra into their union and make her his bride as well. For his own reasons that would not be happening and he was prepared for Caressa to struggle against the subjugation of her friend.
All this and more roiled through his thoughts as he ascended the stairs after the women, heading to the left and his own chambers as Tessa pulled the quietly protesting Janarra to the right and the bathing room. Once within his chambers he divested himself of the clothing he had worn that day before pulling on a thick robe. Folding his clothes he placed them on the bench at the foot of his bed for the serving girl to collect later, essentially dawdling just long enough to give Tessa a chance to get Jana under control and into the bath and to get his own thoughts and concerns sorted out.
After several long moments he was through brooding and leaving his bedchamber he moved through the nearly silent hallways until he reached the door of the bathing chamber. His hand was poised over the door knob when it turned beneath his fingers and opened from the inside, a pair of giggling maids drawing up short upon seeing him, their giggles increasing as a blush stained their cheeks they scooted around him and rushed down the hall way. Curious as to the cause of their amusement he stepped through the door and closed it firmly behind him, the soft click of the lock being thrown eerily loud in the steam drenched air of the bathing chamber.
