His Slave Luna

Slave 10: New Day

Slave 10: New Day

Behati

“Trust them, Behati… trust them, my child…”

I stirred awake, the lingering echoes of a dream still resonating in my mind. The words, though cryptic, held a strange familiarity. I rubbed my eyes, the grogginess of sleep slowly fading. As my consciousness returned, the events of the previous night flooded my mind.

I recalled venturing into the garden. The beauty of the flowers, the serenity of the night, it had all been so captivating. But the last thing I remembered was falling asleep on the bench, while the thorny blue rose still clutched in my wounded hand.

How did I end up in my room?

I examined my palm, the one I’d used to pluck the thorny rose. It should have been bleeding and marked by sharp thorns. But there was no trace of injury, no sign of the wound that should have been. I can’t help but frown.

How could my wounds have healed overnight?

I had no healing abilities. My contemplation was interrupted by the soft creak of the door. There, in the doorway, stood Lady Mariam. A warm smile spread across her face as our eyes met. Behind her, a maid pushed a trolley laden with food, a sight that held little appeal to my appetite.

“Hi. It’s me again,” Lady Mariam greeted, her smile warm and inviting. I simply stared at her while my mind was still foggy from sleep. “I brought you a loooot of food. You missed lunch and dinner yesterday and I didn’t want to disturb your peaceful sleep,” she explained, her voice soft and gentle.

I listened intently, taking in her words. I had never felt so at peace, so truly rested. It was a strange sensation, something that I had never experienced before. I have spent years living in fear, always on edge, and always expecting the worst.

But in this place, I had found a sense of peace, a sense of belonging. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. As she approached, I could feel a sense of calm washing over me. I was strangely at ease in her presence, a feeling that was both foreign and comforting.

“I want to feed you again…” she pleaded, her eyes filled with a gentle hope. “May I?”

My gaze drifted to the trolley, laden with food. I had no appetite, but the sight of the orange caught my eye. It was my favorite, the only thing I’d craved. I could only eat oranges; Other foods made me sick. Luckily, the soup Lady Mariam gave me yesterday didn’t upset my stomach.

“Oh, no, little miss,” Lady Mariam intervened, her voice stern. A wave of confusion washed over me as I met her disapproving gaze. “I know the orange is your favorite, but you need to eat a proper meal first. You can’t survive on oranges alone,” she scolded gently. I pouted, my lower lip jutting out. She chuckled, her eyes filled with amusement. “You’re so cute,” she cooed, ruffling my hair.

I allowed Lady Mariam to feed me, just as she had done yesterday. After brushing my teeth, I ate only five spoonfuls before feeling full. She then offered me an orange, which I devoured with relish which she only sighed with a smile on her lips.

“I’d like to take you outside for a stroll,” Lady Mariam suggested, her voice cutting through my enjoyment. My heart suddenly pounded in my chest because of what I heard, and I felt a surge of anxiety. Lady Mariam immediately noticed my distress. “No, no, no. You’re safe here,” she reassured me, taking my hands in hers. “I just want to show you the garden and for you to get some sunlight. You’ve been cooped up in your room for a week, and your doctor recommended some fresh air. You love looking at the garden from your window, right? It would be better to see it in person, in the morning this time,” she smiled warmly and her voice gentle. “We could even pick some blue roses and bring them here to your room.”

I hesitated. The thought of venturing outside, a place I’d been forbidden to explore since I can remember, filled me with a strange mix of fear and curiosity. I shook my head, a silent refusal. Lady Mariam sighed softly. “You are safe here,” she assured me gently. “No one will harm you anymore, and I am here to protect you,” her gaze, filled with kindness and care, met mine. “I’ll go with you and I won’t leave you. I simply want you to experience the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the garden.”

Her words, like a gentle caress, swayed my resolve and I just found myself nodding, a silent agreement that brought a radiant smile to her face. She even let out a small, excited shriek while I simply stared at her, perplexed by her sudden elation.

Why was she so thrilled by my mere agreement to visit the garden, a place I’d already explored last night? A thought flickered through my mind: Had she discovered my clandestine visit to the garden? Yet, instead of punishing me, she was encouraging me to venture outside once more.

“Alright, you should take a shower! I bought you soooo many dresses!” She exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. “But I’m not sure if you’ll like them,” she added, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her tone while I was stunned.

Had she bought me dresses?

“Would it be alright if I helped you take a bath?” She asked softly while her eyes filled with a gentle concern. A shiver ran down my spine as I vehemently shook my head. The thought of her seeing the scars that marred my body filled me with dread. “Alright, alright. I understand,” she said quickly, and her tone laced with urgency. “Then… I’ll just prepare your bath, would that be alright?” I nodded, avoiding her gaze while my arms wrapped tightly around myself.

How can I tell her that I don’t want her to see my horrible body?

***