Chapter 14
Vesper
Iwas trying to be nice to Oryx by getting him breakfast but he was clearly in distress.
He was the equivalent to the dog breed, Cavalier King Charles and needed his companion constantly.
We would have to address this severe separation anxiety, because I would not have him following me into the bathroom anytime soon.
The insane part of me liked the possessiveness though. Instead of feeling overwhelming, to me it was endearing.
Why? I don't know. I’ve never had anyone fuss over me.
I managed to pull away from him and reach for the ladle hanging above the pot of blood gently heating on the stove. I filled a mug with it and wondered how Oryx would eat without creating a huge mess, given that the only time I'd seen him eat was when...
I shook my head, yeah, not going to relive that.
Benedict stayed back, not attempting to assist or approach me. The males in the room exchanged uneasy glances, but I decided to de-escalate the tension by acting indifferent.
I needed to soothe Oryx by letting him know that Benedict was nothing more than a… person to me. I didn’t have any warm fuzzies toward this guy, in fact I found him—odd. More odd than I did Oryx.
Why?
For starters his physique was quite different from Oryx's. He looked like… a fae from a fairy tale. Pointed ears, shoulder length white hair, which was like mine.
I’ve never seen anyone with a hair color like mine unless it was colored or they were much older. When I first saw him enter Oryx’s room this morning I was taken aback that I wasn’t the only one with my hair color. It was tied in a black bow about shoulder length to keep out of his way.
His skin was pale, with a hint of ashen quality to it.
The rest of him was enveloped in a gothic-style uniform that cloaked him entirely from head to toe.
The ensemble featured a black tunic with elegantly ruffled sleeves and a high neck collar.
His legs were clad in knee-high, deep red tights that seamlessly merged into his black knee length pants.
I originally thought he was the Lord of the house and I was ready to lay into him with a piece of my mind. Tell him what a terrible person he was for treating Oryx the way he has. But then he introduced himself as the manager of the house and pardoned himself for the intrusion, I bit my tongue.
After the awkward exchange, I got dressed and he led me downstairs. I wanted answers, I thought Oryx and the Lord were the only ones here but apparently that wasn’t the case anymore.
We had only been speaking for a few minutes before Oryx stumbled into the kitchen.
Because this monster couldn’t be without me.
I continued to stare at Benedict. He cleared his throat and went to the icebox, much different than any fridge I’ve ever seen and pulled out some eggs. When he did so, I thought I saw stitches around his ear.
It was slightly discolored, like it didn’t get enough blood to the area, or maybe it was still healing.
I narrowed my eyes and Benedict caught onto my stare.
“Eggs?” He asked as he moved his head away.
I nodded. “Sorry to be rude, but what are you exactly?”
Benedict snorted. “A fae, and you are human.” He raised a brow. “A human he brought back that he was supposed to dispose of.”
Oryx snorted. “She was not guilty of those sins. She is my pet now.”
We were never going to get over the pet thing, why fight it?
“Either way, the Lord will be displeased once he finds out you brought a human. I was surprised when I found her in your bed this morning. I never thought I’d see a human, but then again I never thought… ha. Never mind.”
Benedict busied himself with the pans, starting to prepare my breakfast as we allowed Oryx some privacy to drink. Oryx leaned in to drink the blood, as if embarrassed. I placed my hand gently on his back to comfort him, and he eased up as I listened to the sound of his slurping.
I twisted the end of my hair. Benedict looked shocked, but there wasn’t much left that could shock me anymore. I’ve got a monster that ate me out last night, a fae species that I didn’t know existed cooking me breakfast and I’m in a giant mansion gothic house with a mysterious Lord.
I sighed heavily.
But then something else caught my eye about Benedict.
Benedict rolled up his sleeve to grab the butter and slap it on the pan.
It sizzled and my eyes widened. His wrist had a line of stitches all the way around them.
Poorly done stitches that sat on the outside of his skin.
I swore I still saw the black wire threading around it.
He was still moving his wrist, like he didn’t feel the pull of the skin.
My mouth dropped as I watched. Benedict spoke, said he would cook my eggs and then have to excuse himself.
Oryx huffed, mentioning because Benedict had pissed himself.
"What the hell happened to your wrist?" I exclaimed.
The skin on his arm and wrist varied in color, as if they belonged to people with two distinct skin tones.
It might have been a circulation issue, but I was skeptical.
It looked like he had undergone a hand transplant, much like what had been done with his ear.
Benedict shook his sleeve down and plated the eggs. “Here you go.” He brought the plate toward me and added the fork. “If you need anything else, have Oryx fetch me.”
Benedict turned on his heel, ready to high tail it out of there, but before he could, I grabbed him by the collar and Oryx still slurping his cup-o-blood didn’t stop me. “I asked you a question!” I snarled and pushed him up against the icebox.
Oryx then dropped his mug and stalked over. He pulled me away from Benedict and snarled into his face. “Answer her.”
Benedict’s already pale face turned an even ghostlier white. “Well I can’t certainly answer that, now can I?” He glared at me.
He glared at me!
“All I can say is, I lost my hand. And some other parts. My Lord put me back together the best he could.”
Okay, so this dude is just like Oryx, but made to look more… like an average fae. At least, that was what I was gathering. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Does he really think I am that stupid? I’ll play his game for now but this is going to get old fast.
I folded my arms. "Your Lordship did a really shitty job. Not only is he failing to handle his first creation's mental state, but he also botched attaching a hand." I examined his arm closely. He couldn't even manage to do hidden stitches to make the skin appear flawless.
I glanced back at Oryx who was hovering over me. He didn’t have any seams on his body, it was flawless, no scars from his body being put together by various parts of… animals and monsters.
Benedict pulled his hand back. “Like you could do any better.”
“I could,” I snapped. “I worked with dead bodies all the time. Now take me where he works and I’ll show you.”
Benedict eyed me. “Truly? You? Why would you do such a thing?”
I rolled my eyes. “Humans like to display the dead for viewings in some cases before they are buried. It was my job to make them look more alive. Now go change your britches and show me where to go before I change my mind.”
Two hours later, I was finishing up by threading the last piece of thread through Benedict’s upper thigh. Oryx had been hovering over me the whole time, his constant growling and rumbling was distracting and downright irritating, as he clearly didn't want me handling the estate manager at all.
“Almost done.” I murmured as I adjusted the magnifying glasses on my nose.
The setup in here was better than the dreary basement where I used to prepare bodies. To be honest, I don't miss that place one bit. If I had the task of prepping bodies in this environment, I wouldn't complain.
The lab was a strange blend of the arcane and the scientific; beakers filled with colorful liquids and mysterious potions lined the countertops, their surfaces gleaming under the soft glow of overhead lights.
From the second floor upward, a vast library lined the walls, shelves heavy with ancient, dusty books. Along one side, a spiral staircase climbed through the room and into a tower, letting in soft, muted sunlight.
On one wall, there was a shadowy hallway, lit with candle light. I’m guessing it is filled with body parts and storage that I would investigate if I ever had time alone.
Right now, my focus was singular. I wanted to complete my work on Benedict without delay or distraction.
Yet, Oryx was getting impatient.
“Are you finished, pet? I need to feed you. You didn’t eat breakfast.”
I smiled and tied off the last thread. “Just a few more minutes, okay? I want to make sure he can move correctly. Alright, Benedict, move at your hip, up and down.”
Benedict moved his hip up and down. He kept the sheet covering his mostly naked body and smiled. “Works great. This is amazing. I won’t have to worry about people seeing those threads. Thank you!” He gazed at me like I was a gift from the heavens but I waved him off.
“No worries. If you give me a few days, I can make some skin toned makeup that can take care of the lines. It will be more like a putty, and thick. It won’t come off easy but that will be the point.”
Benedict sat up and ran his hand over several areas on his arms. “Thank you. Truly and I do have one more favor to ask, if I may.” Pink rose to his cheeks, the first time I have seen color to them.
Oryx growled and pulled me back on the rolling chair.
“Could you? Um?” he scratched his cheek. “Reattach my… my manly bits? I sort of…ripped it off during some activities.”
I coughed into my gloved hand and Oryx snarled.
“My pet will not touch your tiny dick!”
Benedict frowned. “My Lord didn’t do it correctly, I need one, because when I urinate, it goes everywhere! Come on now!”
Oryx shook his massive skull and pulled me away. “No, never. She will never touch it!”
I sighed and leaned my head back. “Orie, why don’t you let me fix it or he’s going to complain. We don’t want him leaking urine and stinking up the place. And you scare him a lot, you are the big meanie of the mansion. You don’t want him to accidentally urinate near our room do you?”
“Orie?” both of them said.
I smiled. “Yeah, I gave Oryx a little pet name. A name I can only call him.” I nudged my big bone head.
Oryx lifted his ears and they twirled. “For me? You gave me a gift of a nickname?”
My sweet little innocent monster.
“Yes, now will you let me sew on his penis so we can go do whatever you want.”
Oryx lowered himself closer to my ear. “Like the licking of your pussy?”
My eyes widened and I placed my hands over his snout. “You can’t say that out loud. Shh!”
Benedict snorted and when Oryx went to glare at him he looked away like he heard nothing.
Benedict swung his legs over the side of the table, careful to keep the sheet wrapped around his waist. "I'll go gather the, uh, necessary parts," he muttered, his cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.
He avoided Oryx's glare and shuffled out of the room, leaving me alone with my possessive monster.
Oryx grumbled, his eyes following Benedict until he disappeared into the shadowy hallway. "I do not like him," he declared, turning his gaze back to me. "You are mine. He should not ask such things of you."
I patted Oryx's boned cheek, his coarse fur rough against my palm. "He's just asking for help, Orie. Nothing more. You don't need to worry." I stood up and began to clean the workspace, organizing the tools I had used. "Besides, I think it's kind of sweet that you're so protective."
Oryx preened under my touch, his ears flicking happily. "I will always protect you, pet," he rumbled. His skull moved with my every movement, curiosity piqued by my actions. "What are you doing now?"
"Cleaning up," I explained, wiping down the countertops. "It's important to keep a workspace clean. Plus, it gives Benedict some privacy while he... gathers what he needs."
Oryx snorted, a low rumble in his chest. "I still do not like it."
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Duly noted, Orie."
Benedict returned a short while later, carrying a closed jar. He looked even more embarrassed than before, if that was possible. I took the jar from him, careful not to look too closely. Professionalism was key in these situations.
At least, I guess it was, my patients were usually dead.
"Alright," I said, turning back to the table. "Let's get this over with."
I opened the jar, ready for a smell, but there was none. Instead there was a big fat gray looking dick poking out, staring at me.
Oryx huffed. “It is small, I don’t need to worry about my pet liking that. Mine is large and robust.” He sat back on his hind legs and looked at his claws.
Benedict growled. “Excuse me, for my body it is quite large! I’m sure Vesper finds it nice!”
My eyes widened. “Do you want this sewn back on or not? Shut up!”
Oryx leaned over my shoulder. “Do you find his dick appealing?”
Why am I here? How did I get stuck holding a dick in a jar and being asked about a fae’s appendage and if it is appealing?
“You can read my mind, what do you think?” I glared back at Oryx.
He huffed. “I want to hear you say it.” His hot breath blew in my ear and my nipples hardened instantly.
Why was he doing this, since when did he get all… demandingly hot?
“I want you to say it… Outloud so he can hear. I want him to know you only crave my cock. The one I want buried inside you. The one that you want to memorize every vein down that pretty little throat.”
I gasped. “Stop reading my mind, you pervert!” I turned and pushed him away.
He chuckled. “You just said to read your mind.”
I shook my head. “Not anymore. You lost that privilege. Do not do it again.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just when I tell you. Now pinky promise.”
He whined. “No, I don’t want to.”
Benedict cleared his throat. “Are you just going to hold my dick in the jar or put it back on?”
I grimaced. “We will talk later, Orie. I’m mad at you.”
“No you’re not, you think I’m cute.”
I pursed my lips and turned away from him.
“Now you are mad.”
I paid no attention to the creature lurking behind me as I placed the glass jar on the table. Benedict kept his groin area shielded while I donned a fresh pair of gloves and retrieved another spool of wire threading. I gestured for him to remove the cover, and when I glanced down, I grimaced.
“Dear Lord, did you rip your dick off or something? There is shredded meat everywhere.”
Benedict shielded his eyes with his hand. "I figured if Oryx could handle private matters, I could as well, and, well, I got a bit too enthusiastic. I ended up being too rough."
“No kidding.”
Oryx snickered and I elbowed him in the gut.