Journeys of a Demon's Daughter // Nobody x Cherubian //

[I_Am_Nobody]

The ship, if the termite-infested hunk of floating wood that Verialyn was on could even be called a ship, had been far more uncomfortable then she'd expected. It had begun with the discovery that her quarters were little more than a plank of wood hanging from a wall with a few blankets on it, deep within the hold of the ship. Then there had been the handful of superstitious sailors who thought that having a woman on board, any woman, was bad luck of the worst kind. And with the nearly constant storms reducing their speed to a crawl and making sure that everything on board was always soaked in seawater, the price being paid for 'safe passage' across the Inner Sea was just shy of criminal.

But after nearly a month of stale bread and pitching decks, the city of Ael Morish was finally in view. She knew little of the city, being so far away from her usual stomping grounds. But even when it was but a speck on the horizon she could see the ships, an endless fleet of merchant and trade ships in seemingly infinite designs and shapes. Cargo ships stuffed to the brim with exotic goods, warships laden down with ballista and blades, even a few small longships and raiding craft with far more unpleasant cargo stopped at Ael Morish to trade and resupply. It was the entrypoint to the continent, endless opportunity awaiting anyone who dared to take it and endless danger threatening those who thought a large city meant a safe city.

Thankfully she wasn't entering this strange new land completely blind. A lord of her acquaintance had given her a letter of introduction, addressed to Xorien ro Quaric, one of the wealthier merchants that made their home within the city. Supposedly the merchant could use some help with a few "money-making opportunities outside of traditional legality," and at the very least he'd be good for enough cash to get by while she gained her bearings in this new land.


At last the ship pulled into port, the greasy captain who inexplicably smelled of burnt toast was paid off, and Verialyn Kallidis began to make her way through the docks towards the city proper. The docks extended far along the coast before coming together into the massive dock market, dozens of stalls and merchants hawking their wares and luxuries from exotic places and far off lands. Strange spices and foods that filled the market with strong, delicious smells, brightly plumed birds and fierce, snarling beasts, silks and clothes of unsurpassed quality, anything and everything could be bought in the world's bazaar. There was even a large auction block set up in a corner of the market, the chains and manacles upon the block leaving little doubt what was sold there. The people around her were even more strange, a hundred cultures and lands merging together. Tall men with skin as black as coal and simple robes argued loudly with a pale woman wearing almost nothing at all, men covered in dark red tattoos haggled with deeply tanned men in leather vests and impossibly long hair.

Verialyn attracted a certain amount of attention as well; exposed flesh was not exactly rare here, but her casual exposure along with the massive blade upon her back made her an odd figure to say the least. The appreciative stares of many men and a surprising amount of women were accompanied by several vendor's cries, trying to sell her virtually everything. "Perfume from the Vellorin deserts, pretty lady, not a man alive shall be able to resist you!" "Your beauty can only be matched by this flawless emerald!" "Stay and talk beautiful, let me show you these blades unmatched by any other!"

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

'The day I need perfume to get a man will be the day I am done in' was the first thought that occurred to Verialyn as she heard the merchant's proclamation. The appreciative stares that came her way confirmed that opinion, soft strokes to her welcoming ego. But besides that rather humorous incident – from her point of view – she could not deny the appeal this market had, the cacophony of exotic sights, sounds and colors assaulting her senses, intensified by the deprivation of a month long confinement to that derelict ship. The city of Ael Morish was definitely alien to her, but also intriguing. And maybe her new home. A blank slate both ways for now, and hopefully a place that the rumors had not reached, and would not reach any time soon.

But even if the heavy bag slung over one shoulder that contained of her belongings what she did not wear directly on her slender body was not incentive enough to find a place to stay and eschew the temptations of the market for the moment, her nearly empty purse surely was, cutting short any thought of making a purchase at one of the countless stands. She stole a quick and curious glance here and there, but the heavy weight pressing against her back urged her to delay even that leisure until later.

No, her first course of action had to be to visit Xorien ro Quaric. Lord Gelden had given her quite precise instructions on how to find the man's estate, and so she determinedly navigated the crowd northward to leave the square. As she had been told she took the exit to the right of the chalk white house dominated by the large tree in its enclosed garden. The second road to the right, and then the third house on the left supposedly was her destination.

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Beyond the dock markets and the disappointed calls of a dozen merchants, there were mostly the seaside estates and manors of the city's wealthy along the coast while another road led further inland into the city proper. The chalk white house was only the smallest of the houses surrounding her; and the 'third house on the left' turned out to be nearly half a mile down the road. At last she arrived before the described house; mansion was a better description, the three story structure a massive building sprawled across the jagged coastline with endless ornate decorations covering nearly all of the walls. Huge stone pillars dominated the front entrance, the long walk leading up to the door flanked by masterfully carved statues of fantastic beasts. Beyond the statues were wide, colorful gardens that even now were being tended by a handful of people in little more than loincloths, each one with a leather collar about their necks.

The huge blue door had a large knocker in the center, but even after knocking there was roughly five minutes of silence before the door slowly opened to reveal a remarkably old man with a solid mass of grey hair, dressed in the immaculate livery of a highly placed servant. Silently he examined the girl before him, his eyes studying every inch of her and apparently finding little of value. He emitted a disdainful sniff when his gaze landed upon her exposed cleavage, though his eyes still lingered for a moment before he finally turned his haughty gaze towards her face. "I suppose you're meant to look intimidating," he said in a condescending tone, tilting his head up until he could glare down at her over his nose. "However, Master Quaric is firm in his stance that," he paused, issuing a sigh of the long-suffering before continuing in a tone that suggested he was being forced to quote someone, "that if you filthy harlots want your gods-damned money, send a whore that knows what she's fucking doing." There was a pause. "Good day," he added as he began to close the door in her face.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

That manor – palace? - was impressive. A bit too much on the showy side for her taste, but impressive nevertheless. And judging by what she had seen on her trek here it was in good company in the immediate neighborhood. There must definitely be some good money to be made in this city. Sadly the personnel of the estate did not live up to the expectation created.

She had long since dropped her bag and leaned it against the front facade next to the door, a dirty brown speck on the pearly white marble, and begun to lightly pace to the left and right, her hands switching between dangling at her sides and being stemmed into her hips, when finally her call was answered. Wordlessly and motionless she watched the butler's effimate spectacle and listened to his contrived speech, waiting for the final 'Who are you?' or 'What do you want?', but none came. The only useful piece of information she got from his tirade was the fact that indeed she was at the right place. And then he began to close the door on her.

However that door met an obstacle as it was about halfway shut and would not move an inch further. Closer examination revealed that obstacle was Verialyn's outstretched arm, her hand pressed flat against the exquisite wood, and she would not budge.

"I am not meant to look intimidating" she began finally, her voice utterly, disconcertingly calm as her brown eyes bore into his "and it is not my fault that you swing the wrong way to appreciate a nice pair of breasts." After a pause of one second she continued "Tell your Master Quaric that I come with the recommendation of Lord Parcol Geldern, and that I would like to speak with him." And as an afterthought she added "Oh, and also tell him should" there was a special emphasis on the 'should' "I ever be in the mood to whore myself out to him, he will most definitely get his money's worth". Her hand still unmoving planted on the door she waited for a reaction.

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Ever true to his profession, the butler remained unflappably calm as the half-naked beggar woman on his porch forced the antique door to remain open and demand to see the master as though she was entitled to anything beyond a faint snort of disgust and pity. He'd spent a lifetime not reacting to things and he'd be damned if a rude tramp was going to make him start now. But she know Lord Geldern's name, and unfortunately that meant he had to, at the very least, inform the master that she was here. With another deeply put-upon sigh, he opened the door and moved aside slightly, motioning for the woman to enter. "Wait here," he commanded, his eyes taking on a mournful cast as he nonverbally communicated how tedious it was going to be to wash everything she touched after she had left.

The lobby was, if anything, even more ridiculously opulent then the exterior of the house had been. Numerous pieces of art were tastefully arrayed along the walls, paintings and sculptures arranged to complement each other rather than distract. A magnificent staircase led up to the next floor while doorways on either side would take one deeper into the house. After another assertion that she should remain here and a silent plea not to debase herself too thoroughly while in the master's home, the butler vanished through one of those doorways and she was once again left to wait. This time the delay was only a few moments before the butler reappeared at the doorway, bowing towards an approaching figure. "Master Xorien ro Quaric of the Collected Merchant's," he announced as the man himself entered the lobby.

There was quite a lot of Xorien ro Quaric; over six feet in height and nearly a yard across, the olive-skinned man looked like he might once have been a herculean figure had he not spent a large portion of his profits on gourmet delicacies. As it was, he looked as though he might have considerable difficulty getting up should he ever trip. Whatever his butler's proclivities, Xorien seemed more than appreciative of Verialyn's charms and smiled broadly as he entered. His eyes certainly took their time in rising to her face, but when they finally did there was a cold, calculating glint within them. "It's rare that such a beautiful creature enters my humble home," he exclaimed, a pudgy hand reaching out to take one of hers and gently kiss it. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn quickly grabbed her luggage and stepped inside, lest the butler would change his mind on a moment's notice. Once she had a chance to look at the interior of the room, her hand opened and the backpack slumped to the floor without her noticing. She was definitely taken by the display of wealth and also quality of the art on display, and she felt thoroughly out of place. In a life long past she had been a merchant's daughter herself, but her father had never been that rich, and since then she had spent many a decade on the road. Instinctively she treaded more carefully.

As Mr. I-swallowed-a-broomstick left for the owner of the house, she began to settle in for yet another long wait, starting by approaching the first painting to the right and having a closer look at it. It depicted in flawless handiwork a scene of a bathing nymph that was secretly spied upon by a huntsman hiding in the bushes next to the pond, and the artist had done an admirable job to portray the longing and want in the man's expression and posture. Her leisure was cut short though as the butler's booming voice announced the arrival of her host.

She immediately turned and met him halfway, and as his eyes lingered on her chest she could not help but marvel how different his reaction was to that of his servant. Inspired by the sight of his pronounced girth straining the front of his clothes the wicked demons of her subconscious planted a naughty image into her imagination. Her, stark naked on her back on the lush carpet beneath her, her legs spread wide, with Xorien right on top of her, his sizable gut pinning her to the ground as his massive bulk almost completely covered her and under heavy panting he continued to thrust into her with reckless abandon. And right next to him the servant, observing the spectacle completely immoving, nose upturned even higher and a grimmace of utter disdain etched on his face. The thought did cause one corner of her mouth to twitch upward in the hint of a smile.

"You are most flattering, Master Quaric" she finally replied with a curteous bow as her hand slowly sank back to her side after his kiss. "I have come to you on the recommendation of our mutual friend Lord Parcol Geldern. He even gave me a letter for you, wait a moment..." and with that her right hand reached for the universal female safe deposit box, her cleavage. As her fingers slipped in between her orbs and started rummaging, she commented with a sheepish grin "Sorry, but I really did not want that one to get stolen, else I'd be fucked" before she finally did indeed produce the letter, folded several times, slighty bent in the same shape as the curvature of her breast and still warm from the touch of her skin, but the seal intact nevertheless, and stretched out her arm to hand it to Xorien. "Lord Geldern had employed me on several occasions, and it appeared he was satisfied with my service, so when I told him I had to move on and see a new city he thought you might be interested in hiring me, and pointed me in your direction."

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Xorien's smile only widened as Verialyn began to search for the letter, showing no sign of disapproval or surprise as her sudden curse or choice of hiding place. Calmly he took the letter and broke the seal with a thumbnail, scanning its contents just long enough to verify that her words were true, or at least that the letter matched her words, before he casually tossed aside. The butler, who Verialyn hadn't noticed moving up behind the merchant, calmly plucked the letter from the air between thumb and forefinger, holding it as one would a particularly loathsome worm. "Billingsley," Xorien ordered without bothering to face the butler. "Take Miss Kallidis' sword, would you? She'll be joining us for tea in the library," he explained, his tone one of an invitation that he assumed had already been accepted. He extended an arm, far thicker then her own, towards her as he motioned through one of the doors. "Shall we?"

Billingsley's eyes communicated several unpleasant sentiments and the endless inconvenience of sterilizing the library, but with remarkable speed he had undone the straps that held her massive bastard sword upon her back and was carrying the weapon away, a barely dressed slave seeming to materialize from nowhere and following after him with Verialyn's backpack.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn watched in tense silence as Xorien's eyes flew over the letter. She had no reason to doubt that Lord Geldern had meant her well, but she nevertheless was slightly more at ease once it became apparent that her current host's disposition towards her had improved, if anything. She was about to step up to him and take the offered arm, when Billingsley moved behind her.

Her reflexes taking over she froze in mid motion and half turned towards him, to only slightly loose her tension as it became apparent what he was up to. Not entirely comfortable with a stranger relieving her of her weapon she nevertheless stayed still, watching with an expression of light distrust as he undid strap after strap and finally lifted the scabbard to depart with it.

Turning back to Xorien, the smile returned to her face, and sliding her arm under his – something impossible to do without also brushing with her hips against his massive bulk - she light heartedly told him "Lead me to that library then."

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Billingsley continued to offer no reaction to her tension or near assault upon his person, merely depressed that his life had been reduced to carrying away the large knives of harlots. Xorien ignored the butler entirely, placing a meaty hand over Verialyn's as she wrapped her arm around his and guided her through the house, his every step bumping his weight against her. The hallways of the house were plainer then the lobby had been, though occasional pieces of artwork still dotted the walls. Finally they emerged into the library, a massive room with two impressively large bookshelves holding hundreds of tomes. Of course most of those books had never been read except by unusually bored servants, certainly Xorien had only bothered to flip through a few of them, but that was hardly the point of having a library.

"Please, take a seat," Xorien said as he released her arm, settling down in an armchair that must have been specially made to hold him. There were many other, more normally proportioned, chairs about the room but the merchant still patted his broad knee invitingly while making it seem as though it was but a casual gesture; for a man who seemed to be at least nine tenths fat, his body language was surprisingly precise. "It has been a long time since I spoke with Lord Geldern; so few take the time to cross the Inner Sea merely for social engagements. I would love to hear what news you bring of him, as well as an idea of what services he engaged you to perform. Letters are so terribly impersonal when describing such exploits," he explained with a smile, his eyes alternating between covertly ogling her body and coldly studying her every motion and word.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn did note the gesture for what it was, and she immediately gave a wolfish grin in return as she demonstratively took a few slow steps, her hips swaying slightly, as she walked over to the chair directly opposite him. While it was a definite possibility that she would let him bed her, and soon, they first needed to establsih a working relationship, and ideallly not one where he only considered her his whore. Finally reaching the piece of furniture, she turned in a swift half pirouette and then lowered herself until her behind sank into the plush velvet that covered the seat, each of her lower arms and hands coming to rest on one of the massive ornated armrests. As the finishing touch she leaned into the soft and comforting back rest and swung one of her legs over the other, giving only the briefest of hints to the very attentive observer that she might indeed be wearing nothing beneath that leather skirt of hers.

Looking at him, still smiling but well aware of the claculating stare that hid beneath his lusty oogling she started her reply. "Oh, Lord Geldern is doing fine. He has established himself well in the city by now, his rivals firmly in check, and about a year ago his third daughter was born, a real cutie." Only a short pause, before she continued "As to my skillset, well that big sword I was carrying is not just part of some costume as your Mr. Billingsley assumed. Parcol came back to me often in situations where he needed muscle but the situation would not allow large numbers. Or when he thought he needed a bodyguard that noone would suspect. A nice revealing dress and some easy to conceal weaponry, and most people no longer will think of me as a threat but rather an ornament. That surprise value saved Lord Geldern's a... life more than once. I guess we pulled that trick often enough to no longer work over there, but Ael Morish is a blank slate."

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Xorien's eyes gleefully took in every detail of her little show, his legs widening slightly to accept her before he was ultimately disappointed. Beyond a mild, exaggerated sigh of disappointment as she sat down he gave little reaction to her teasing, merely steepling his fingers together and paying a bit more attention then he should to the secrets hidden by her legs. "I'm so glad to hear that," he said with every appearance of honesty when she mentioned Geldern's daughter. "He always did have some trouble properly balancing his family with his work; it is good that he seems to have found a way to keep them happy while dealing with his rivals." He continued to nod thoughtfully as she described the work she been tasked to perform, raising an eyebrow slightly as he considered her words. "And what a marvelous ornament you would make, my dear," he said with a smile.

When she finished, he was silent for a few moments before he spoke again. "Certainly impressive accomplishments, and his letter spoke very highly of your skills and other attributes. I believe I will have some use for you, assuming Billingsley can get over his distaste of anyone who actually enjoys life," he chuckled. "But tales and recommendations are one thing; I'm afraid proof is something else entirely. I do hate to inconvenience such a beautiful woman in any way, but there will need to be certain..." he waved a hand slightly, searching for the proper word. "evaluations. I trust you understand, men in my position need to be very careful of whom we hire for any task. And if I were to engage your services for the tasks you are undeniably qualified for, then I would need to be able to trust you completely," he explained, his eyes hovering upon her cleavage for a moment before he looked up again. "I assume this will not be a problem?"

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn's whole posture stayed completely calm as she listened to how Xorien was ever so carefully beating around the bush, and while she did her best to not let her exterior show it her mood darkened slightly as his speech progressed. She had a vague inkling what this test of his would be like, and if that were true it had nothing to do with her martial prowess. The way his gaze returned to her cleavage time and again rather added to that suspicion.

Finally she did move, bringing her legs back into a parallel position and leaning forward until her elbows rested on her knees. Whether it was wise to grant him that improved view point was to be seen, though. Now a bit closer she looked him straight in the eyes as she spoke "I do not hope it will be a problem, either. But what way exactly would you want to ... evaluate me so you can be confident in my capability?"

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Xorien's eyes gave her the answer she had been expecting, but his mouth simply laughed slightly while he waved a hand dismissively. "But where are my matters?" he asked rhetorically, completely sidestepping her question. He reached out and delicately picked up a small bell from a nearby table, comically small in his thick fingers, and rang it, briefly filling the room with its soft tinkling sound.

"Yes, sir?" asked Billingsley from directly behind Verialyn's chair; she was no stranger to people sneaking up on her, but the old butler might as well have been a ghost for all the sound he had made approaching her.

"The tea, Billingsley."

"Of course," the old man murmured, vanishing back through the doorway for a few moments before returning with a large teapot and several cups upon a silver tray. He set a cup on the table beside Xorien before pouring the tea, steam billowing from the liquid as its delicate aroma began to fill the air. At last the butler turned towards Verialyn, his face blank. "Would you care for some tea, my lady," he asked, his mouth twisting around the words as though they tasted of sewage, "or perhaps you would prefer to get a head start on the night's drunken stupor?" he continued, pointedly ignoring the disapproving glare from his master.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Xorien did have a sense for the dramatic, she had to give him that as she was sure it was no unintentional memory lapse that had made him remember the tea at just that moment. Ah well. Let him have ...

She jerked immediately in surprise as she heard the butler's words out of nowhere, her head twisting reflexively to face the origin of the sound before she had identified it's source. Immediately relaxing again, and leaning back into her chair her hands finding back to their previous position on the armrests as the adrenalin slowly faded back from her bloodstream, Verialyn continued to watch the butler produce the tea set.

At his last question, obviously intended as an insult, her face brightened up for no apparent reason as her glance shot up at the butler and she replied "But Billingsley, are you too shy to admit it openly? Does your low self esteem warp your longing for me so much that you think you have to get me drunk for a chance at my body?" She paused briefly, watching his immediate reaction, before she bent her upper body over one of the armrests in Billingsley's direction and looked upwards right into his upturned nose. In her most sensual tone, even feigning something like admiration and only the wry grin on her face casting a shadow of doubt on the seriousness of her statement, she added "But no, a man of your charm and sex appeal does not have to resort to such lolwy means to get to ravish me. Do you want to do it right now, or can you reign in your passion until my conversation with Master Quaric is over? If you can, I would love it if you could pour me a cup of that delicious tea."

Wow, she was seriously proud of the wordsmithing she had produced there.

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Xorien had just taken a sip of tea when she spoke. He emitted a faint choking noise, clapping a hand over his mouth and watching the inevitable confrontation with wide, eager eyes. It had been a while since anyone had dared to respond to Billingsley's not-so-passive-aggressive taunts, but it was always a wonderful show when someone had the nerve.

Billingsley's eyebrow quirked up, the open disdain in his eyes slowly fading to be replaced by calm consideration. The woman was not merely a poorly dressed thug only capable of uttering threats and practiced speeches then. Such a shame that she leaped immediately to such vulgar topics instead of casually working them into otherwise innocuous statements, but he could hardly expect her to pose a significant challenge. "Of course," he began softly, calmly pouring another cup of the tea before handing her the cup and saucer. "If you will excuse me, I shall fetch a sponge to clean up the remnants of your self-respect. Or would you prefer I simply throw it away along with your dignity?"

"Stay, BIllingsley," Xorien suddenly ordered, grinning slightly at the non-expression on his butler's face.

"Sir?"

"If Miss Kallidis is going to be working for us for any length of time, the two of you are going to have to become much better acquainted. I would hate to think that two of my employees are arguing with each other, especially not after she's made such a generous offer to extend the olive branch," the merchant explained with a smile that suggested he'd be more than happy to watch them continue to fight, especially if there was a chance of watching them make up afterwards.

"I hardly think-"

"That's an order, Billingsley."

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn raised an eyebrow at the unexpected exchange between Master Quaric and his servant. Had he taken her offer more literally than the butler, and was he really planning on watching the two of them fornicate in front of his eyes? A similar image to the one she had in the entrance hall flashed up, only now with their roles reversed, and she leaned herself comfortably back into her chair, her lips twisted in a wicked smile in appreciation of Xorien's deviousness and interesting taste, as she watched the end of the one sided debate.

Calmly she took a sip from the cup offered to her, only to add in the most conversational tone possible "That is indeed some kick a... very good tea." Not that she knew much about tea herself, but to assume this to be true was a safe bet in such a house. As she put down the cup again her tone became more serious immediately, though.

"It is interesting" she started her reply to no one in particular "that my self respect should be measured by my adherence to rules put up by others." Giving special emphasis to the words 'self' and 'others' to accentuate the discrepancy. "Rules" she continued "that were made up by a male dominated society as leverage to treat their women as closely controlled property. So much for dignity." A brief pause, and she continued, now looking at the butler again. "I am aware that I have dropped one thing or the other to the ground during my stay in this estate, but rest assured my self-respect was not amongst them.".

Looking at Xorien, her face brightened slightly and her tone became more cordially as she added. "Speaking of which, I can sympathize with some of the discomfort I must have caused the beautiful Mr. Billingsly. A month on that wreckage of a ship, and a trek through the dusty roads of the city were unlikely to leave my body impeccably clean. So with respect to his justified longing for tidiness maybe we could adjust the day's schedule a bit and allow me to have a bath and maybe a change of clothes now?" The last question posed at the host and owner of the mansion.

"I am sure someone as capable and diligent as Mr. Billingsley has already made all the necessary preparations, and will be happy to assist me for the best possible result."

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Billingsley was already geared up to respond with another blatantly condescending remark, possibly casting aspersion upon her upbringing among those with the social graces of syphilitic prostitutes, when Xorien cut him off. "That sounds like an excellent idea. I would hate to run down the opportunity for you two to enjoy yourselves, or witness such a delightful reunion," the merchant said with a smile; he hadn't missed her appreciation, and perhaps an idea of the twisted thoughts in her mind. The old butler seemed to also have an idea of what was floating through his master's head, and was very close to breaking the creed of the servant and breaking a teapot over the fat bastard's head, but instead merely shuddered with the horrible inevitability of his fate.

"Very good, sir," he murmured, motioning towards the door for Verialyn to follow. Several more hallways eventually brought them out a back door of the manor, passing through another garden before finally arriving at a much smaller structure with faint wisps of steam issuing from the door. A pair of slaves, a boy and a girl no more than eighteen and obviously chosen for their appearance, approached as Verialyn entered and bowed towards her. "Would you care to be washed, Mistress?" the boy asked as Billingsley attempted to make his dignified exit before that dignity was shattered.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn wondered for a moment what exactly she had gotten herself into. But there was not much she could do now – except for completely blowing that employment opportunity – and neither did she really want to. The whole scene appealed to a darker side inside her, and for the moment any apprehension Xorien might limit her employment to similar activities in the future was ignored.

So she followed in the butlers wake, silent all the way but not without shooting him a smile of good natured glee now and then, until they finally reached the bathhouse. She looked at the boy and girl first, and then her head turned over her shoulder towards Billingsley as he carefully took one step after another towards the exit. "Oh, I would love to. Please do not be offended, but as dirty as I am now I really need to be taken care of by the best. And who would be the expert in personal hygiene if not our beloved Mr. Billingsley." The last part of the sentence was clearly spoken in the butler's direction.

Spreading her arms to make disrobing her easier for him she added, her back still facing in the butler's direction "If I were you I would take off some of your clothes as well. Once they get wet you will have to completely start over starching them."

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

The slaves blinked in surprise, glancing at each other for a moment; this wasn't exactly something that happened every day, or ever for that matter. Finally the girl shrugged slightly, and the boy nodded. "Um...of course, Mistress," he said hesitantly, shooting a glance over at Billingsley; the old butler's face was as still as ever, but a faint red tinge was starting to creep its ay up to his ears. "We will remain here, should you have need of us," he said as the two of them bowed, backing away from Verialyn until they were kneeling upon mats beside the door to the baths.

It was a few moments before Billingsley turned towards her, his eyes threatening to rip out her tongue and shove it down her throat before he was forced to endure any more of her vile suggestions, but at last he stepped forward and reached out towards her. He moved quickly and clinically, touching as little of her skin as he could even while stripping away the chain and leather that was all she wore. The slaves kept their eyes downcast even as every bit of her was revealed, and when she at last stood naked the girl stood and gathered up her armor and clothes, taking them away to a side room while Billingsley, with a deep shudder, motioned deeper into the baths.

The baths were two large pools, one kept steaming hot by a conveniently placed hot spring beneath the bathhouse while the other was frigid by comparison. The water was scented with a faint, flowery perfume that pervaded the air, and even this place was adorned with finely carved sculptures, most of which would have made the bathing nymph blush.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn waited patiently as the butler’s fingers began to undo the scant pieces of her armor and then helped her to slip out of her boots. All the while a faint smile was stuck on her lips at the sight of the sculptures adorning the room, and the rather ... open way Xorien would state his preferences on occcasions like this. Finally her body in all its nude glory was put on public display. The slender but toned and well shaped limbs, the heavy breasts hanging weightily from her chest crowned by thick nipples that now stood up proudly that they were rid of any constraining confines, and last but not least the sweet shaved spot between her legs. Her arms slowly dropped again, to finally hang loosely by her side as she followed Billingsley’s suggestion and took the few steps towards the warmer of the pools, her behind swaying naturally but enticingly in his field of vision as she did so.

Testing the temperature with the toes of her outstretched right foot first, one long and shapely leg followed the other sliding into the hot water. It took a moment to get used to, but then the intense warmth felt very comfortable and relaxing when she finally stood firmly inside the pool, the water reaching to about mid thigh. Striding or rather flowing a few more steps into the midst of the basin – coincidentally to a place where he could no longer reach her from the outside - she finally turned and with a good natured smile waved at him to join her, sending her breasts jiggling as she did so. “Come in Billy, what are you waiting for? I still need to be cleaned thoroughly.”.

All the while behind her good natured and friendly façade her eyes thoroughly scanned his body for any reaction he might exhibit as a consequence of laying his eyes on her sensual bare form. In particular whether some part of his body lodged between his legs would dare to rebel with a visible display of arousal against the doctrine of defiance and revulsion that his misguided pride had imposed on his body.

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

The amount of starch in Billingsley's pants and his truly prodigious amount of sheer bloody-mindedness meant that any such reaction was virtually invisible from the outside. Not yet, anyway. The internal war between disobeying the direct order of a guest of his master's and maintaining the impervious facade of decorum lasted for quite a while before duty ultimately won out. Sighing deeply in resignation he snapped his fingers, the slave girl quickly appearing beside him. Silently Billingsley began to disrobe, the girl quietly accepting the clothes until he shooed her away. The old butler was almost entirely skin and bones, his skinny frame covered only by smallclothes around his waist. Despite the suffering expression on his face, Verialyn could nevertheless see a lump underneath the thin cloth that was almost certainly a much more interesting type of bone.

"Do try not to embarrass yourself further," he muttered as he stepped into the pool, though it wasn't entirely clear who he was speaking to. When he reached her naked form he reached out with hands that were determined to be professional regardless of the circumstances, collecting a bar of sweet-smelling soap and a rough cloth from a small dish by the pool and starting to build up a lather. He sighed deeply again, the lump in his smallclothes giving a faint jump as he finally began to touch her bare skin, methodically sliding the cloth across her bare flesh to scrub away the salt of the ocean and dust of the road. He began with her arms and moved around to her back, apparently determined to see as little as possible despite the impossibility of seeing anything less.

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

“How embarrassing could it possibly be to have a bath?”

Verialyn had watched the butler's struggle with his conflicting interests silently, and while the scene provided ample food for her curiosity she gave no outward sign of enjoying the emotional turmoil she had but the man into. Instead she just stood there, hands lightly gliding through the water as her arms swayed slowly, and ever patient gave him a look of pure friendliness. She could not help but notice, though, that he was not completely averse to the situation, at least not all of him.

And so he had finally come up to her, and the soaped up cloth was rubbing over her soft skin, washing away weeks worth of residues. It was feeling genuinely nice, and after enjoying his professional hands for a bit she did not hesitate to give the according feedback “You are doing really well, Billingsley” as her eyes began to close at least partially to better focus on the tactile sensations she was experiencing. Staying silent from then on she waited until he would be done with her back, curiously waiting for whether his hands would go down over her buttocks, and once that was resolved, how he would tackle her front side.

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Billingsley resolved the matter by ignoring it, giving the taut skin of her cheeks no more then a cursory swipe with the cloth before he continued down to her legs and thighs, taking great care to avoid contact with the treasure hidden between them. Unfortunately for the old butler's peace of mind there was little more to wash, and at last he was forced to move around her to her front. There was only a moment's hesitation, barely noticeable at all, before he resumed his ministrations. The cloth swiped lightly over her breasts before he began to scrub her stomach more earnestly, his eyes fixed upon a point on her shoulder as possibly the least alluring part of her he could look at.

It didn't seem to be quite enough; Verialyn could notice the old man's hands starting to shake as the cloth continued down to the front of her legs, a faint sheen of sweat that was probably not related to the heat of the pool appearing on the man's forehead. Even more telling was the bulge in his smallclothes, the fabric straining to keep his ancient manhood concealed. With a faint look of relief he finally pulled his hands away from her, a brusque voice ordering her to "Rinse."

 

[Cherubian]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Verialyn had indeed noticed the old butler’s increasing signs of reaction to the proximity to her nude body, the seeming irrational discomfort that it caused him, and his rather significant strain to not get too close to her most intimate parts. It took a bit of effort, but she managed to not let any wicked satisfaction at that sight shine through as she continued to look at him impassively and politely, a friendly little smile staying on her face.

Therefore she pondered only briefly whether she should reprimand him for the rather impolite tone of that last command of his, rather ill fitting for someone as educated as he was supposed to be, before that notion was discarded. Staying neutral, polite, and seemingly ignorant of the ordeal he was going through seemed the better course of action. And so she replied in the most innocent tone she could muster as she stood there all soaped up, a contiual embodiment of temptation.

“You performed really well, Mr. Billingsley. But …” a brief pause for dramatic effect as she tilted her head lightly to one side and continued to muster him “… wouldn’t you know that dirt settles most easily in the less accessible parts of the human body, like the crack between my buttocks, the genital folds between my legs and most importantly the underside of my breasts where they rest against the skin of my chest?” For illustration of her words her hands were lightly raised and two upturned index finger pointed in perfect symmetry towards the biggest – in every sense of the word – culprits. “And somehow I got the impression it was in those precise spots where you were not quite as thorough as everywhere else. Not thorough enough, at least.”

 

[I_Am_Nobody]

RE: Journeys of a Demon's Daughter

Billingsley's eye seemed to develop a rather severe twitch as she spoke, his implacable facade starting to crack as she so 'innocently' pointed out the areas he'd missed. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally came up with an answer. "My training is in other fields, my lady," he began, completely forgetting to insult her. "It would be improper for me to act in any other way. Should you require further assistance I shall fetch the bath slaves," he added quickly, seizing the opportunity to move away from ehr and start back towards the entrance to the baths.

"Quite unnecessary," Xorien's voice boomed, his massive rolls of naked fat dwarfing the the young slaves standing beside him. His own manhood was unashamedly erect, bobbing in the air as he walked through the chamber and into the warm pool. "But I'm afraid they'll be helping me," he explained as the two slaves quickly removed the thin strips of cloth that had made them technically decent, stepping into the pool after him and quickly gathering soap and cloth. "As you were, Billingsley. I'm sure our guest cold use some more assistance," he said with a chuckle, openly drinking in her exposed, soapy flesh.

"...I..." Billingsley started, but his escape was completely blocked by his master's form. Very slowly he turned back around, once more starting to approach Verialyn with soap and cloth.