(no subject)
Sep. 26th, 2006 10:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shelley_wintersShelley doesn't move for a few minutes, the soft wind outside the windows roaring mutedly in her ears. Slowly, she pushes herself up on her elbow, dry-eyed and distracted. The blood soaking the front of her dress has cooled quickly, feeling sticky and horrible. The knife lies beside her, and with dizzying fascination she notes the faint line of red along the end of the blade.
The girl doesn't move again, cold and silent. More than anything, she feels sick.
The girl doesn't move again, cold and silent. More than anything, she feels sick.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-09-27 10:22 pm (UTC)"No, I will not. Without Lord Ishamael here, there is no one else trustworthy to watch over you."
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Date: 2006-09-27 10:25 pm (UTC)She doesn't trust anyone. And she isn't moving until she has something to cover herself.
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Date: 2006-09-27 10:30 pm (UTC)"Did you know that this is one of only two rooms in the building which has no surveillance in it? Do you know how easy it would be for me to kill you and then disguise it as a suicide? But I have not."
She was loyal to the one she served. That was the only way of advancement.
"I alone in this house may be trusted of anyone. Oh, you are welcome not to trust me, but unless you feel like actually assuming your proper role as lady of this household, then you will continue to be treated as a willfull child."
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Date: 2006-09-27 10:40 pm (UTC)"You'd die if you did that, anyway, having been ordered to watch me," she points out lightly. "I know that much. When I said I don't trust you, I mean anyone. Nobody will acknowledge it when I try to point out that I didn't consent to be brought here. So my proper role? Would really be stuck in a dungeon somewhere, or, or - here's a novel thought! - in my home. But no, I get to live with a man who claims to love me and tortures me by turns, and then to be kidnapped because of that and hurt more for what I might know and Compelled into loving Graendal, and then have servants call me their mistress but treat me like anything but and where in this is anything that says I have a proper role?!"
Her voice rises as she speaks into almost a shriek.
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Date: 2006-09-27 10:49 pm (UTC)"You do not understand. Regardless of how you got here, you have been appointed as the lady of the house, and if you want to be treated as such, then you must act like the mistress. If you do not know how, then ask me. It is to my benefit for you to do so, after all, I am the steward and it would ease my life considerably. Trust my intrinsic self interest."
Raising a finger, she commented quietly. She did not understand.
"As for Lord Ishamael... I saw him when you went missing. He travelled all around the world, fighting many battles against dangerous opponents, and calling on numerous allies. I should know. I aided his efforts. He loves you... and as for if he hurts you...well, you should know better than to anger the man. Everyone else does."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:03 pm (UTC)She rubs a wet hand over her face. Her forearm stings - the hot water has caused it to start bleeding again.
"Treated as the mistress? I'd rather be treated like a human. I suppose you people don't do that, here."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:10 pm (UTC)"Ah, there is the problem... If you do not assert your control, then you will not be treated like a human, but just a tool. Do you not know that any order you give will be obeyed without question unless Ishamael, for some reason, orders it reversed?"
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:19 pm (UTC)She sits down on the damp floor of the shower. It's cold.
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:22 pm (UTC)"Then show that you do not need to be kept safe."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:34 pm (UTC)(Stand. I want to get a good look at you...
No. No!)
"T-turn around. Now."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:36 pm (UTC)"As you wish, Mistress."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:45 pm (UTC)(Do not make this difficult.)
She tugs it unsteadily from the woman's hand, wrapping it warmly around herself, and resting her forehead on her knees.
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:54 pm (UTC)"Remember what I have said, Lady Shelley. If you no longer want to be treated like a child and a prisoner, then behave like the lady of the house."
The door slid open.
"I will return with tea and some food in a few minutes."
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Date: 2006-09-27 11:59 pm (UTC)She can take being patronised. It's better than the alternative, and Vashti is leaving.
Vaguely, she wonders what is stopping her from drowning herself. She might have no intention of doing so, but contemplating the woman's reaction is satisfying. This room contains no surveillance, then? Interesting to know.
Slowly, avoiding the cuts on her left arm, she dresses.