11The revised edition!
Fragile
Things that are strong are most often brittle. The toughest and the most fragile are two in one. People are fragile in nature. No armor protects us and our minds are vulnerable and susceptible to influence. Yet man rises above the animals. Our weaknesses become strengths and we become a force to be reckoned with...
"Milady? Are you decent?" She tapped the door stiffly and waited for the reply. The young mistress always took the longest time to change. One would think that she had gallivanted off to see the world before returning to her lascivious room. What a boyish young mistress she had often sighed to herself.
"Not quite Vivian. Please, just a moment!" the voice inside let out a startled cry, followed by a thump. Vivian anxiously rapped the door and twisted the handle in vain.
"Milady? Milady!" She cried fervently.
"I'm quite alright Vivian. Just a stumble." Vivian pressed her bony hand over her heart a mouthed a silent prayer. Often this child was so careless she ended up with a multitude of bruises and bumps all over her body.
"Are you quite certain?"
"Of course Vivian." She reassured in a teenage-like fashion and tone. Vivian knocked once more.
"Don't be long dear. There's a surprise for you downstairs." At this the girl's voice inside became one of excitement similar to that of a child. With a squeal and the sound of rustling clothes the youngster promptly appeared to open the door. Vivian arched a delicate eyebrow at the girl's disheveled state.
"Done so soon?" the delicate looking lady before her gave curt laugh. "You must stop this habit of lazing about in your underwear. It's not ladylike."
"Vivian, Vivian, Vivian..." She tutted. " Whenever shall you learn? I'm not a lady at heart. Nothing you say shall sway me. Now... Tell me about this surprise..." She swung an arm around Vivian's shoulders causing the graying woman to eye her distastefully and pluck her arm off its perch.
"Its a gift from that nobleman's son, Sir Jonathan of Hamperton. If you ask me Faylin he is the prime choice as a candidate for marriage..." With sigh Faylin brushed off her comment.
"Everyone says to me 'Faylin he is handsome, smart, is of noble blood and adores you. What more could you want?' But he is not the one I'm looking for. I don't love him." She lifted her skirt to avoid tripping as she scaled the stairs alongside Vivian.
"You can grow to love him! Love doesn't matter that much! Honestly dear, its stability that you ought to be looking for. Plus, the union is perfect! It'll unite the two strongest competing families of the-" Faylin shrieked at the very thought of marrying him. Her audible noise caught Vivian off guard causing her to stumble.
"Have you forgotten that incident?" Vivian's face contorted in a way that looked undoubtedly painful. With a start her memory returned and granted her the knowledge of the horrible day.
"He was five!" She retorted in exasperation.
"Five years old and already a bully!" she cried indignantly.
The grand library on the second floor's doors were tightly sealed making Faylin pause to wonder what was such a surprise that they would close the heavy doors of the library. Even of a good day the doors took four men to open. Mostly the doors were left open because it made little sense to have four men yank the door open just so one could have the pleasure of reading a novel.
"What is going on Vivian." Faylin asked with her hands clasped tightly together.
"A wonderful surprise dear." The bony lady took a few steps forward and grasped the brass knocker tightly. She banged it with expertise to create a sound that was not only loud but tuneful. The doors creaked and opened slowly to reveal the grand library in all its glory with the addition of a rather large package on the floor.
"What could it be?" She raised a hand to her lips in astonishment the crate was large enough to contain a small elephant! Vivian nudged her forward.
"You ought to open it and see. I never expected him to give such an expensive gift just to court you." Faylin took a few light steps before bounding towards the crate in delight. The side of the crate had been pried off and the crate's opening faced the same direction as the entrance to the library leaving her guessing as she approached the box. She peered into it and tried to feel her way around.
Perhaps it was a necklace? Wait! It was furry... But this part was smooth... She knelt and crawled into the box on her hands and knees. She gazed... And gazed. With a smile she pressed her fingers on the creatures neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You have the most beautiful ears." She tugged gently at the fox like ears that rested upon his head. A single eye cracked open as he roused from his slumber. His eyes were blue, a startling contrast to his pale white ears, hair and tail. The body of a gangly body with some body parts resembling an animal…
"Who are you?" T'was a beautiful voice to match his fine features. She smiled gingerly at the strange creature.
"I am Lady Faylin. Your new mistress." The creature rose to crouch on its feet using its hands to balance shakily. Faylin stretched her hand out to press again the crates sides and muttered a silent spell. The crate vanished in an instant leaving the creature before her bewildered, he flopped forward loosly.
"Who be you, dear creature?" She asked him. The crouched creature rubbed his face in the crook of her neck. She placed her arms around him as his weight threatened to topple her. His skin was cold enough to make her jump. He craned his neck backwards to have a better look at her.
"I am Kyuu. I am a hybrid between an artic wolf... Mistress." He said as an after thought. He would have to address her as such now. He hated that he was cowering in her presence but she eluded the aura of one with great wealth and power. His very life lay in her hands. She placed a hand on his shoulder and eased his shivers immediately. Her hand was warm and heated his chilly skin.
"They did not clothe you well. Your skin is dreadfully cold..." She embraced him like a long lost child. She whispered strange words and like magic the warmth of her body crept over his skin and heated him gently.
"Vivian. Please, are there any spare blankets?" She shook her head at her question with a frown.
"Mistress... Today is cleaning day and all heavy duty upholstery are soaked." Faylin stroked the top of Kyuu head gently. Her touch was soothing and kind. His eyes were heavy with lack of sleep. The journey here had not been kind and it had taken its toll on his body.
"I'll teleport us to the room." Kyuu slumped against her. Perhaps just for the moment he was safe. It was too hard to ignore the cries of his body that demanded sleep. It had only been willpower alone that had kept him going.
"Your father-" Vivian began before being swiftly cut off by a sideways glance from Faylin.
"Isn't here and doesn't need to know." Faylin finished for her. She concentrated and pulled on the well spring within her. The teleporting magic always made her feel drained and sleepy but the other servants were busy with chores and she and Vivian were not nearly strong enough to carry him all the way to a bed.
"Telepotascious crenatrus." She whispered and drew a circle in the air around both her and Kyuu. She pictured her bedroom in her mind. In an instant they were there and on her bed. Normally she would take some time to applaud her- now safe- landings but first she must attend to Kyuu. She pulled the cover back and steadied herself. She was woozy due to the spell and would be alright with some rest...She hoped. Faylin moved Kyuu beneath the covers and covered him with the comforter.
"Get better soon..." Faylin said softly before her legs buckled beneath her. She curled at her bedside deep in slumber. Kyuu shifted his body warming and felt a tug at his lips. It drained her so and yet she would use up so much energy to make sure he had warmth and a proper resting place.
A smile... It had been a long time since he could smile so openly…
She only saw him as a pet. He was not human and he was her's.
He was her's.