*Master* Closing the distance between this little hybrid and myself I noticed the swirling in her eyes, “what is that?” I grasped her chin with my fingers, ‘sorceress behaviour!’ I placed my hand on the back of Merna’s neck, “Just breathe slowly my little pet!” I whispered into her ear. Bringing Merna close to my body I rubbed my thumb up and down her neck whispering in her ear to just breathe. Slightly jumping, “where am I?” Merna appeared surprised for a split second then regained her composure, “that would be the darkness inside me. Death for better terms, it only surfaces when I start to feel irritated. No one ever sees it, how did you?” Why does this human born need to ask questions? Does she not know that I am the only one that asks the questions? “I am the only one that asks the questions!” What I had said only caused the mist to swirl more rapidly, this must have vexed Merna even more. I could not help but smirk, her temper did not scare nor bother me. It interested me … turning me on! Merna gently placed her hands on my arm, taking a breath inwards, “what bothers you more, that I am not scared of you obsidian dragon or that you can’t control me like others?” Whispering, “I.do.not.play.games!” I said with my ear close to her ear. “This is not a game!” She matched my energy. I growled, sending a shiver down her back. “If you would just eat, things would be a lot easier for you!” “If I did as I was told, I would be a lady by now and not a hormonal raging sociopath.” Merna snapped! I barked back, “You are a reminder to why I never wanted a consort.” Merna grabbed her hair lifting up in the air, “Damn the red hair!” It was Merna’s turn to grace her face with the victory smile. ‘Game score, four-four!’ I heard Merna matched her score to mine. Chaos was dangerously close! With his hand still on the back of my neck and mouth close to my ear. Mixed energy was swirling around, the need for control and sexual frustration. Black mist was coming out my nose, “follow me!”*Pierre* The respect I was getting was coming from all directions. My name was starting to be spoken among all hunters. I have never needed anyone's approval, yet at the same time, it was great that finally, I had a place I belonged to. That I was not shunned for what I am. There was only one person that kept on entering my thoughts, Merna. I wondered if she was being treated well. Has she slipped back into the depths of her mind? Would I be able to go to her if she needed my aid? I glanced at Sadragon as we were sitting eating our meal. “Have you heard anything about Merna?” Sadragon let a growl lose, “sorry, I am still jealous of your kindred bond with her!” “You have nothing to worry about. In no way am I physically attracted to women! I am just wondering if the Master is treating her well! I have not seen her since … you know when?” “I have heard that he has started to train her as his consort!” Sadragon shoved food into his mouth. “From the rumours she is excelling in her tasks and duties.” Sadragon started to chuckle, “I have heard that the disagreements those two have had is bizarre and never heard of.” Sadragon glanced at his food. It appeared to me as if he wanted to say more but chose to bite his tongue. “What is it?” I placed some bread into my mouth. “Merna is not popular with her own gender, species or anyone for that matter! She is described as distant even aloof! More of a shrew!” I started to laugh, “Merna does not like people … actually she does not really like anyone but me. She describes individuals to be fake and a waste of her time. When you get to know her, Merna is a great person. She’s … just selective of who she likes and does not like. Merna would give her jacket off her back to a homeless person. Then turn around and scratch out the eyes of a jackass! In other words, she does not trust anyone here, they have not given her a reason to!” “What you are saying is she is just as cold as you are!” Sadragon started to laugh. “I am not cold with you!” I pointed out, “when she wants to be, she can show you levels you didn't know existed. She is just good at hiding it!” Sadragon captured my lips with his, “As long as she does what is asked, she will not have any issues! The Master does not care if she is popular among the others that reside here, he wants the work done!”*Kudiya* “I have my sight on the rabbit!” I informed my siblings as I followed them around the halls. Father has given her more tasks to be completed without his supervision. Everyone knew that sooner or later, this was going to happen. We just did not figure that he would put faith in it so soon. I was not the only one that was following the little rabbit. Though Father loosened up his hold on her, it appeared that he was not comfortable with her wandering around from task to task fully unsupervised. Judging by the little rabbit's body language she was aware that she was being followed. Each of us had the displeasure of listening to the bickering that father and his pet did. The events bothered us all. What got under our hides was the fact that a lot of the time, she was correct! When I brought this information to mother’s attention she just laughed and said that our father finally met his match. Then she wondered if my father and the rabbit were destined to be chosen mates! The thought disgusted me, but my mother had a twinkle in her eyes. She told me that everyone deserved to find a mate whether it was fate or chosen. I was furious, how could she say such a thing, is she not loyal to her father? I know that she is his mistress, but she has more rights to stand beside her father, so why does she not go for it? I followed her to the Mage's quarters. Each time she approached the individual, she would give them a slip of paper and keep on walking, not waiting for a reply. “How rude!” I whispered as I continued to keep an eye on her. I spotted two mages glance at each other, the little rabbit had given both a slip of paper. Both the mages gave each other a nod and headed in the same direction. ‘Did she already know what was on the slip of paper?’ I watched the little rabbit disappear from my sight. ‘How much faith does father have in her? Is the hunter that follows her there to make sure she does what she is told or there for her protection?’ It was clear that the little rabbit was not liked. Her routine was simple, she worked, bathed, and then she went to the chamber her father gave her. She did not try to make friends when she had a relaxing time. Instead many times I would find that she would be found in my father’s atheneum. Sitting in a chair she would have her nose in a book. She would spend her time reading material after material. At points, she would gather paper and start writing things down. When Zefer waited for the little rabbit to leave she told us that she found out that it was reading material based on historical battle events. More than anything the little bunny focused a lot of her research on enemy tactics and strategies.Ashur and I found this to be very suspicious behaviour. When the topic was brought up to our father, he told us to pay more attention to our tasks and less to what Merna was doing. Sabit told us that she had the pleasure of walking in on or I should say eavesdropping on father and his little pet arguing. It had something to do with our mother’s little pet. She told us that she was trying to convince her father not to sell it. The rabbit told the father that he would be sending an innocent woman to her death. That is when the father told his pet that he was going to sell everyone that was non-essential. The little rabbit asked father what it would take to keep mother’s pet here. Father started to laugh and say that there was nothing she had to give unless his little pet was willing to eat for Mother’s little pet. Selling herself to her father. Sabit laughed when she told us the tale. Informing us that father’s little pet was so angry her face was as red as her hair. Father’s little rabbit was a righteous individual but even she did not seem to be willing to sell herself to father to save one measly pleasure! Father’s little rabbit started to stroll over to me with her hands empty of clutter, “I am done for the day, you do not have to follow me anymore! Let your siblings know that too!” She gave me a smirk and a nod of the head. I cleared my throat, ‘father’s little rabbit knew that I was following her. She also knows about our plan!’ I told my siblings.