Serpentine

TWO

Sheee...

I wake up to the sound of my shower running, and though I'm only half lucid, I grab Mortifer from under my bed and rush out of my room as quietly as possible.

My sword feels familiar but unnatural in my hand, something that I hate, but I focus on the problem at hand before any memories could be drugged up from the sensation.

Just as I make it to the bathroom door, I let out a yawn the has my eyes watering and my world swaying. I shoot out a hand to stop myself from falling against the wall and curse myself when my palm thumps against the wall.

I'm getting weaker by the minute, sooner or later I'm going to have to tell Amethyst...

I shake my head a little, blink a couple of times, and wipe my eyes before grabbing the handle and turning it slowly-

And freeze.

Everything from yesterday comes back to me in a rush as I remember who is in my home. Yesterday I wasn't concerned about what the king looked like, or if there were muscles or fat under that cloak and blood, but now...

I can't look away...

I was right in my assumption that he was much taller than I, but it was more like by four to five feet rather than three. That curtain of white hair that I thought was straight is actually quite curly and fell down his back to brush his ass, an ass I am trying very hard not reach out and smack. Thick thighs flex as he turns half way to look at me, and all the muscles in his back sift and twist to allow the movement. He has a broad chest bread from wide shoulders, abs that flow down into a defined v and a big, massive-

A blush brands my cheeks as I jerk my gaze up to his face, and I can't help but take it in as well. His face is full but every line sharp, with slashing cheek bones, a sharp jawline, arched brows, a sharp but full mouth, and naturally narrowed eyes that still some how take up most of his face.

Oh wow...

His eyes, when they lock on mine, widen a bit. They shine like galaxies, dark but light, shining with violet's and reds and blues, crystalline pieces reflecting in the light like stars or shards of ice.

God's, he's absolutely-

"Beautiful..."

I blink at the sound of his voice, at how jarringly rough it is, at how it rumbles and vibrates against my skin. He turns to completely face me, his man hood on full display, and I turn away before my skin melts off from the heat crawling up under my cheeks.

"You, your the one that has helped me?"

I blink again, and bend down to pick up Mortifer, "If you mean I brought you to my home and let you bleed out on my couch, then yes."

He hums incoherently then is suddenly in front of me and grabs a hold of my chin. His eyes capture mine again, and I'm so caught up in the way they swirl that I almost miss his next words.

"What name is yours?"

His weirdly phrased question gives me pause, and I pull away from his cool fingers.

"None of your concern, old King. Since you seem to be fine, and apparently not dying, you may leave my home," I back out of the doorway and gesture with Mortifer towards the stairs, "have a nice life."

He looks down at me with those eyes, a tense silence forming as we stare each other down, and let's out a noise some what like a purr.

"I do not have any clothing to continue my journey in, do you have anything I can borrow?"

"You have a cloak do you not, tie that about your waist and you will be fine."

He's stare narrows slightly, leaving just twinkles to shine from a cloud of white lashes, "my cloak is torn and I have discarded it, so what do you suggest that I do?"

He steps closer as he says this and leans a shoulder on the door frame, a small smile gracing his lips and revealing some wicked fangs. These fangs are not regular bleh bleh-bleh I want to suck your blood fangs, they are more like anaconda tusks.

Obviously snakes don't have tusks, but if they did, this is what the would look like.

I shake my head at my thoughts, I think of some weird s**t, and focus on the Kings little issue.

I sigh through my nose, "wait here."

I turn and walk towards my room, my mind occupied by what I have that may fit him, and make it into my room before I realized he followed me.

"I told you to wait."

"I wished to see more of your dwellings."

I turn to look at him and keep my eyes on his face, "just because your a king does not mean you can do whatever you feel like on my territory."

We stare at each other again, and I see a spark of amusement in his eyes that has me growling in frustration. I turn away from him and grab one of the sheets off my bed and throw it at him.

"Tie that around your waist and be gone!"

I leave my room and thump down the stairs towards the kitchen, the king close on my heels.

"Lady of the wind, would you leave a broken man to starve alone on these unforgiving roads?"

I startle at his use of a old title of mine, and turn towards him again, since I can't seem to look away for more than a minute. My eyes narrow as I take him in, the cloth still hanging from his fist, his eyes twinkling.

"Don't call me that again and I will feed you a fest, how about that?"

He grins triumphantly, and reaches down to scratch, to my relief, his left thigh.

"Being feed by a beautiful women while in the nude, that sounds delightful, I expect your offer."

I scuff and pivot towards my kitchen with ever intention to cook the quickest thing possible so I can get him out of my house, but then I spot the time on the digital clock mounted over my stove.

It's almost four.

"Shit."

I spin back around, almost slap the Kings chest with my face, and scurry towards the door that links my dwellings to the mess hall and kitchens. I unlock it and rush in, my hands immediately finding the light switch positioned next to the door frame, and let out a stream of curses as I hustle over to the huge refrigerator.

As I begin to pull out ingredients for breakfast, I feel, rather than hear, the king enter. I pause for a moment and look at him.

"I have to get started on their breakfast, but once I'm done, I'll cook for us in my kitchen, but until then I'm going to need you to stay in my house alright?"

He has yet to put on the sheet, but I ignore it and stare into his eyes as I wait for his answer.

"No."

I let out another frustrated sigh, "why the hell not?"

He strides over to the counter near the stove and hops up, the sheet now thankfully secured around his waist, and leans back with a soft smile.

"I want to see you at work."

I give him the must frustrated look I could muster, but turn away from that smile before I get distracted, deciding I don't have time for this.

I start by taking out the dough I had made and saved yesterday, rolling it out into a long, snake looking roll, then cutting it into fourteen pieces. Then I grab my pan, slather some butter on it, then curl the dough up into little swirls. I turn on the oven, spin away from the stove and rush back to the fridge. I pull out the cartoon of eggs, grab a bowl form the cabinet, and slap it all down on the counter. The onions and peppers are in separate baskets in the corner between the wall and the fridge, and I grab the half-fed onion left over from two days ago. Along with it is a green pepper that I cut in half, part of it gets finally chopped, the other in long slices. I through the slices in a pan and put it on low heat, while the rest it put in the bowl. I crack all of the eggs, pour them in the bowl, the begin whisking it.

After I finish that, I go back to the pan and rotate each slice of pepper, then go back to the baskets and pull out eight red potatoes. They get diced into big squares, stuffed with home made cheese, slathered with some butter, than thrown into the oven.

I go back to the fridge, grab a mixture of fruits, like apples, kiwi, mango, strawberries, and pears. I cut them up into thin slices, and throw them in the pan with the slowly cooking peppers. I grab another pan and pour all of the egg mixture in, then put it a medium heat. I go to the dough I swirled up, finally place them on the pan, and toss them in the oven as well. I take the crackling potatoes out, go to the fridge, and grab the ham. I dice it, through half of it in the eggs, and the other half in the fruit. I sprinkle a bit of sugar in the fruit pan, then stir up the eggs.

I return to the fridge, get out the cream cheese, the milk, some white chocolate, and grab a can of condensed milk.

I scoop out a table spoon of cream cheese in yet another bowl, chuck in a chunk of white chocolate, poured in some whole milk, and used half the can of condensed milk.

I know the mixture sounds a little off, but the combination makes a heavenly cream.I mix it all together, then pour into a small pan and heat up on the stove. By now my eggs and fruit are done, and I turn their eyes off, the take out the cinnamon rolls out of the oven.

I had already put the cinnamon in the dough when I made it yesterday, so all I had to do was cook it then pour that sweet cream over it. I then put each of the cinnamon rolls in separate bowls, serve the eggs, potatoes, and roasted fruits on large flat plates.

I run over to the fridge, smacking my head on the way for my forgetfulness, and grab a arm full of limes. I drop them off at the counter, the go back for the strawberries.

I toss the strawberries in the juicer, put another bowl underneath it, and pour half a cup of sugar in the bowl before beginning.

After all the strawberries are juiced, I cut the limes in half and use a fork to squeeze the juice out in the bowl.

I go to the freezer, grab multiple trays of ice, and distribute them into fourteen glasses before pouring the lemonade.

I glance at the time, and see it's ten minutes from six, and huff out a frustrated breath before going to unlock the door to the mess hall. I go in and switch on the lights, walk over to the cupboard, and pull out the runners I had washed yesterday. I set up all four tables, rushing back into my home for the petunias, and put the vases in on the table before setting the food on the tables.

I finally rush over to the entrance of the mess hall and unlock the doors, opening them wide, and step aside as fourteen women come thundering in just as the clock on the wall struck six.

I nod at them as they shout their good mornings, walk over to the entrance of the kitchen, and close the door while everyone focuses on their food.

I walk in between the tables to inquire if the food was good, then make it to Amethyst's table.

She looks at me over the rim of her glass, smiles with her eyes, and sets it down with a click.

"Good morning, Chudo, the breakfast is wonderful as always."

I smile at the large woman, and eye a piece of coarse blonde hair that's clinging to corner of her mouth. I try not stare at it, and instead look into her metallic blue eyes.

"Thank you, I'm sorry if it's simpler than usual, I didn't sleep very well."

She nods, those eyes closing for a second before they flash open once more, and land on mine.

"I have a favor to ask you, if you don't mind."

I nod for her to continue.

"Last night I caught Lidia sneaking in a man through her window during the wee hours of the night, and had to put her on house arrest. I have gone through ever other girls homes to make sure they aren't breaking the rules. Your not one for bending the rules, but the others will get mad if I don't check yours, do you mind?"

I blink, mostly to think before speaking, but know there is only one answer I could give her.

"Of course, you can check anytime you want, this is you territory after all."

Oh no, this isn't good, I can't be put on house arrest, I have so many responsibilities that need to be done.

I somehow manage to keep the worry off my face, out of my sent, and look her in the eyes.

She smiles, "oh, good, I hope you wouldn't get offended."

I wave away her concern even as mine clingy's to my skin like glue, "don't worry, I don't care. I will be in the kitchen cleaning if you need me."

I spin away from her and continue down the table, smiling and conversing like nothing was wrong, and once my rounds we're done, I go back into the kitchen. I don't rush, that would make me look suspicious, instead I just put one step in front of the other. But as soon as I make it through the door, I rush over to the sink, to find the sink absolutely clean. I pause for a minute, my eyebrows narrowing, and go to look in the cabinets.

"What are you looking for?"

I jump and whip around, my eyes growing wide as I take in the king laying on top of the island, his head propped up by a fist.

"Where the f**k- how did you get there so fast? Where you inside the house? Did you clean these dishes?"

He grins at me, and lifts a brow, "who else could have done it?"

My eyes narrow, "don't get smart with me male, I'm asking if you did them by hand or used some type of majic on the dishes."

"Does it matter?"

I scuff and plant my hands on my hips, "of course it matters, when you just majic the dishes clean, the food may be gone, but the essence of it is still there. That's gross, imagine eating cake, and your plate and fork smells like boiled cabbage."

As I say this, I spin back around to start pulling the dishes out, but a large hand grabs mine and stops me. I look to my left to find him leaning against the counter, a frown on his handsome face.

"I'm not stupid, love, I know that. Smell my hand if you must have proof that I did it by hand."

He lifts up his hand from my arm and stretches it out for me to grab, his palm facing the ceiling. I eye him for a moment, and grab his hand in my much smaller ones, and cant help but notice that my longest finger is shorter than his pinky. My eyes widen for a moment, and I take in how nice his hands are. He has wide palms and long finger like and artist, and I can feel calluses on the upper part of his middle fingers. It impresses me that hes ambidextrous, and I catch myself caressing his clean, oval shaped nail beds.

I blink and bring his palm up to my nose, and almost immediately catch the clean sent of my dish soap on his skin, then blush in shame. I look up at him and let go of his hand, and watch his eyes study my face with a lifted brow.

His hand comes back and cups my cheek, and I jump at the sudden contact. He tilts my face up, his eyes moving all over me, and I start to fidget under his stare.

"What, do I have something on my face?"

He lets out a noise between a growl and a purr and leans into me.

"What bloodline do you hail form? Your aura, it's absolutely glowing, and I find it to be quite..."

Hes voice trails off, and the violet specks in his eyes begin to expand and swallow the sparkling stars one by one. I watch in unguarded fascination, unconsciously leaning closer as I do, but I abruptly stop when he slams his eyes shut and pulls away. He spins away from me, and I do the same, my face catching fire as I do.

What the hell was that?

"I apologies, I didn't mean to grab at you like that."

I let out a dry laugh, "Its fine, I don't care-"

"Don't care about what?"

My eyes widen and I whip around to find Amethyst standing in the door way, her eyebrow lifted to her hair line. I don't dare look in the direction the king is in as I feel my heart climb into my throat.

Shit...