Part Two - 07 | Through Thick and Thin

. . .

"Yes, Master."

"Anything, Master."

"Forgive me, Master."

It's all she says anymore.

Pursena's head is filled with relentless nightmares. Shadowy images flutter into her vulnerable headspace, though they are not reflections of her mortified expression as they normally are — Pursena vividly sees the face of her owner instead.

Augustus, a man feared across the nation. A man who fears no other man and bears not even the slightest bit of respect for women. To him, they are but toys to be used until they are too worn out to be considered pleasing to look at. They are objects for him to summon when he sees fit and dispose of when they are no longer of any use.

Pursena sees him in her dreams. Lucid ones, unfortunate for her, where she can see through both her eyes and eyes on the ceiling, casting long glances down at herself. In these nightmares, the girl is always tied down to something, whether it be a chair, a bed, the floor, and a warm rag is always wrapped around from the back of her neck to tightly between her lips.

She is always silent in these nightmares, for not even her seamless thoughts can protrude a gray dreamscape. No words comes to her clenched jaw.

Tonight is no different. This time she is strapped to the bed, wrists chained to wooden beams. She looks around the colorless room. There is nothing here for her yet. Master has not come home.

Just when she thinks of Master Augustus, he appears to her right. All Pursena can do is look up into his dim face, her gaze scaling his sharp features, from his thick white beard to his freckled nose to a pair of heartless blue eyes.

The man is just as silent as she is. She watches him mount the bed she is tied down to. In this dream, fear is an impossible emotion. The girl cannot feel her heartbeat. There is not even the subtlest of thumps behind her chest; her petrified heart couldn't possibly respond to such a vile dream.

Or so she thinks. While her heart may not pound violently in this illusion, there is no doubt her heart is racing in the real world.

. . .

Pursena watches that cruel man cup her chin in the rough of his palm and pull her head forward, his stare as sharp and toxic as the viper she sometimes imagines him to be.

She is used, as any toy for a ruthless man would be.

But feeling fear is impossible.

*           *           *

The day you fled the Ranoa Magic Academy alongside the sisters, the three of you had first come close to finding a local inn within the city. However, at Pursena's request, you left the city behind altogether.

"We have to leave the city entirely," she said, twiddling her thumbs. "They'll be looking for me everywhere."

So...

Here you are. A small town to the west of Ranoa. The travel there drained everything out of you because you were unable to bring any food or drinks. Aside from that, Linia's persistent yapping during the walk turned stale and annoying in a matter of minutes. You've never wanted to rip your hair out so badly before.

Unlike her sister, Pursena was rather quiet the whole time. You glanced back at her every now and again, wondering why she'd say nothing and insist on walking behind you and Linia. Every time you caught that solemn expression on her face, she would mask it quickly with a brief smile to make you look away.

And you would, even though she was hurting.

The three of you find a new inn at this town. Luckily the girls have funds on their person, otherwise you'd all be sleeping outside in the dirt. The real problem lies with the inn itself...

"You kiddin' me?!"

Linia stares into the room you were all assigned. She blocks your path in the doorway, so you push her aside a little to see what's making her sound so peeved.

Upon laying your eyes on the reason, you yourself feel compelled to complain to the innkeeper.

Pursena peeks over her sister's shoulder. "It's..."

"Only one damn bed!" Linia whines. She balls her fists like she'll start boxing with an invisible portrait of the young innkeeper's face.

"It's not that bad, calm down," Pursena says and walks past the two of you. Suffice to say you're both shocked to watch her casually sit on the edge of the bed, looking totally unbothered.

Linia shakes her head violently. "I haven't slept in the same bed as anyone else since I was a kitten! I ain't doing it again!"

"Then sleep on the floor," Pursena says, shrugging. Her eyes then flick over to you. "C'mon, Boss. Lay down. I'm tired."

"Me?" You feel silly that you even have to ask, but this situation is just too awkward. "I can't just—"

"Sheesh, don't tell me Linia's stubbornness is rubbing off on you, too..."

You look at her and let out a long sigh. There's no point in fighting it. Sure, the innkeeper considered the fact there were three of you yet still managed to assign you a room with only one bed in it, but you can't afford to stress over something so trivial. Surely it won't be for longer than a week.

Linia scoffs as you walk further into the room. She's in total disbelief that you'd agree to sharing a bed. "Come on, Boss!" she complains. "There ain't no way you're gonna sleep with... with..."

"I'm not sleeping on the floor like you," you say blankly and promptly flop down into the bed. Pursena manages a giggle when your weight tumbling into the sheets makes her bounce up and down on the mattress.

Linia crosses her arms, looking away from you both. "Ugh, freaks."

You snuggle into the oddly cozy blankets that no normal person would ever expect to be among the luxuries of a cheap inn. They're soft to the touch; it's like you're feeling a cat's fluffy belly when you palm them. Before too long you're melting into them, smiling, sighing, basking in the sweet warmth that is only further accentuated when Pursena lays down beside you and clings to your side.

You're startled when she gets so close that she is forced to rest her hand on your chest. You look over at her, trying to read her face for any kind of nervousness or hesitation — but there's nothing but tranquility.

Her eyes flutter closed for a moment, but as if she can sense you looking at her, she opens them and smiles up at you.

"You're warm, Boss," she says.

"Y-you know what? Let me in," says Linia. You look away from Pursena to find the feline-girl still pouting, crossing her arms, but standing close to the side of the bed.

"Um." You start to say something but no more words come. In all honesty you're just lost. These girls...

"Thought you were sleeping on the floor," Pursena mocks her sister with a grin on her face.

"Shut up," is just about the only thing Linia can come back with. She is occupied with crawling in the bed, opposite the side her sister fills. "I ain't letting you get all comfy without me. Plus, um... I don't see blankets on the floor, so I guess I'll have to share."

Pursena's grin softens. She closes her eyes and cuddles up to you, nodding. "Hmph."

As for you, you're not sure how to feel. It's weird being this close to the girls who once tormented you. But to them it's like that never even happened.

You don't say much else. You've got Pursena hugging your right side delicately and Linia hugging your left. And you're thinking to yourself...

I really am a boss.

That night, the three of you slept peacefully. Nothing could wake you or bother you, even in the form of dreams. Pursena slept silently, Linia purred, you hardly snored.

Hugging you made Linia feel like she was invincible and could take on just about every fight in the world.

For Pursena, hugging you chased away every bitter thought and every nightmare. She slept easily for the first time in a long time cuddling with you.

Even you, who stresses about how you're going to protect not only yourself but the girls from whatever may endanger you, slept like a baby.