Merna Getting into the routine here was not an issue, there was plenty of work to keep someone like myself busy. For the first little bit, the Master would not leave my side. I was starting to find it suffocating at how he was always looming over my shoulders. The trust level was what one would think it should be. After the incident that landed with my arse being paddled, I was not in a hurry to repeat myself. I also found out that my actions did not prevent Pierre’s lashing. All I managed to do was increase the amount of strikes he had received. I was not a fool, I knew that Chaos was jealous of Pierre, what I could not figure out was why. Studying the other female interaction with the males here, one would think that I would have been lumped into the same group. The big black dragon must have had other ideas. I could sense eyes following me, the energy was lustful but since Dundragon, no one approached me again with offers to relieve any sexual tension that I may have. To be honest I was too busy trying to learn everything that sex was the last thing on my mind. I needed to study and learn rapidly. I found out that the Master did keep to his words. Markous was still chained and having his life forces sucked out of him. Emma fought at the beginning but as the Master loves to remind me, everyone bows sooner or later. Puabi did inform me that Camile had improved since the first little bit. Camile does not cry as much. I told her that I was still finding a way to give Camile her freedom to stay here. It had proven to be more difficult than I had first thought. The only thing that I had to offer the jackass was my lifetime of servitude and freedom. Something I was not willing to part with. Steve did as he was told since he has been here. As a hard worker, he has proven himself to be valuable. With a smile on Puabi's face, she told me that her daughter Anatu had grown a liking for him. Only in passing do I get to see Pierre. We lower our eyes after we blink twice to say hello. In the beginning, it bothered me that he was stuck here. Over time I saw how much he did belong here. Of all the places, this turned out to be his heaven. I willed for the door to the outside perimeter to open, bumping into Asher, “what are you doing outside here hybrid?” He spoke those words as if I were a bootlicker. It took one session of me wandering around and finishing my task to clue in that he and his siblings were following me. I was not blind, also I walked around the place with no slippers on. Picking up their thoughts was inevitable. Since my last nose bleed I only had one episode where I was close to passing out. I cut my research time that day to rest in bed. Too many thoughts and actions for me to keep up. All of the voices were giving me a headache. I smiled sweetly at Ashur, thinking it would piss him off. “Taking initiative to get the next task completed. I have completed all of the paperwork, set up all of the other details for the hunters that need to be completed. Besides masterbating, walking the border is the only thing that is required to be done.” “Do not move!” Ashur ordered me as twenty-three hunters came out of their cloaking. I could see the glimmer of hope that they would have the chance to rip me apart bit by bit. Little did they know, I had already arranged with their master to complete this task on my own since Chaos had other pressing matters to deal with. In truth, I was looking forward to this stroll. It would give me time to gather my thoughts and unwind a bit. Ashur's eyes were solid black, “did you finish the filing?” I gave him a flat tone, “Yes!” He questioned me again, “Did you polish the shoes?” “Your fathers shoes smell like radioactive swamp puss!” I crossed my arms in front of me while the hunters had to suppress their laughter. “He can get someone else to do that!” I knew that was not one of my tasks so being sassy was my natural response. Ashur glared at his brother. “Kudiya, we are on babysitting duty, the rest of you continue with the task that was given to you.” ‘Shut the front door!’ I mentally hissed. “We have to watch this human born!?” Kudiya was not pleased that we would be taking the round together. “Yyy.e.ss!” Ashur's lips curled in disguise matching his brother's temperament. “If it makes you feel any better I am not pleased with this at all either … I was looking forward to masterbating with a well rounded tree trunk … looks like we are all going to be disappointed this time!” I took three steps away from the two males, “the job is not going to complete itself.” Several times Ashur tried to take the lead, each time I would weave this way or the other to get ahead of him. My goal was to get to the highest peak of the land before the moon reached its height of the cycle. For many here, the blood mood signalled the end and beginning of the next cycle. However, if my dreams are correct, this moon is going to be even better than the others. Rare but it does happen. Selene would be coming to this realm. When she is nearby, the blood moon is crimson red and larger than normal. I wanted to see it for myself. The chances of seeing this again may not happen. We walked awhile before we neared the location I had in mind to sit and observe this event was in sight. The next thing I had to do was get rid of the nuisances. I started to slow down my footsteps. I was hunting for anything that was moving. I needed a reason for the two brutes to leave me. “Why have you stopped?” Kudiya barked at me. “Hunting!” I said as I motioned my head to the right, pushing strands of my hair behind my ear.“Hurry up! The sooner we finish this the faster I can get rid of you!” Kudiya’s eyes started to glow red, showing that his rage level was building. My ears picked up movement. In my mind's eye, I could see two blurry figures moving. “Two objects are moving in the far North.” Snorting, “Deers!” Kudiya was quick to reply. “I would agree if deer didn't move radically as these two objects are moving. I normally wouldn’t consider this odd behaviour but … considering assassins and spies have been sent here a lot lately.” “Just stop IT from speaking … I will go and see if it is telling the truth.” Kudiya stormed off in the northern direction. “Would it not be wise for the both of you to go? I will not move from this location. Kudiya you may need assistance.” I was hoping that my voice did not betray me. In the blink of an eye, Kudiya had me pinned to a tree with his oversized hand around my throat. “Know your place. My father may find you entertaining, I on the other hand would have snapped your neck a long time ago. Hybrid or not, you're still weak.” “They are moving north-west!” I choked out. Pretending to be the weak helpless human born has been a permanent tactic of mine. Gathering enough information about them was the goal. Holding down my temper was a daily struggle. Closing my eyes, “they have reached the creek that leads to here.” I kept my eyes closed so that neither of them would see the black energy swirling in my eyes. Lowering my head had become a practice of mine. Chaos saw it as a means of learning my place. It was a way to hide the irritation that was begging to be released. Once Kudiya released me, like I had done in the past, I lowered my eyes to shield my anger. ‘Conceal … do not feel … let no one in!’ I chanted to myself. I heard the sound of feet shuffling as the two spoke, ‘you go and check out and see if it is telling the truth.’ Ashur told his brother. A menacing growl erupted from Kudiya’s throat, ‘do not worry brother. It will slip …’ Ashur let out a dark chuckle, ‘when that day happens, we will have the pleasure of ripping it apart!’ “The two objects are halfway here now. I informed your father of the situation. I suggested to him that the both of you would go and deal with the task at hand. I am still waiting for your father's reply!” I said as my head was still lowered. My temperament was still the same but a wicked smile on my face did help me to feel better. Was I playing with fire? Yes but so were they, they just did not know everything about me. Which gave me an advantage. The Master had a habit of holding back information. As he loved to tell me, everyone is on a need-know basis. ‘Kudiya, go in the direction that Merna said, Ashur you remain with Merna. Merna … do not do anything that would get you into trouble!’ The Master’s voice boomed in all three of our minds. If looks could kill, Ashur and Kudiya would have fried my body into dust. “You are wasting time!” I snapped my fingers at Kudiya. “Since when does a human born have telepathy?” Ashur was stomping my way, lifting my head higher with his hand. There was a zap of energy that I chose to ignore as I glared up at Ashur. ‘Since the day I was born dumbass!’ I did not reply as Ashur studied my face. Not saying a word he backed up towards his brother. “Go do as father says!” The chances of me getting to the perfect spot were squashed, yet I could see the blood moon partially through the tree branches. “What are you? Does my father know?” Ashur questioned me. “It is always fascinating how many individuals ask those questions. What are you? How can you do that? Who else knows? It is as if you can not wrap your mind around the thought that a meat sack like myself could possibly have skills that surpass your imagination!” I crossed my arms in front of my body. “Of course, your father knows … Why do you think I am so entertaining? Here is a question for you, what are you going to do with this information? Go and tell your auntie and uncles? Telling them there is this big bad sorceress that is standing beside your daddy and you do not like IT?” He grabbed me, “You are still disposable and weak!” Ashur said as he gripped his hands around my neck and started to squeeze slowly. The energy was licking at my skin from his hands. ‘I do not care!’ I took a step towards him, “if you want me gone so badly … show me where your father has hidden the portal to get out of here!” Ashur didn’t take his eyes off of me as he released his grip. The wheels in his mind turned, what was his next move? Ashur had a gift to block others from reading his mind. Knowing what he would do next would be a guessing game for me. ‘Interesting!’ Ashur’s voice echoed in my mind. “Father is keeping secrets!” “No, he is not, it is a need-to-know thing!” I pivoted and started to walk to the desired spot that would have more of a clearing and give more space between myself and Ashur. If he does not talk to me the remaining time that we are here, I will be all too thankful. ‘What information did he find out?’ I thought as I sat down on a tree that had fallen.