I love this bed, the fur. Naked and huddled under layers of otter. I’ve never dreamed of waking in a feather bed so warm aboard a ship where I was like a queen. Master is so good. My room next to his, a porthole looking out onto the island where I perform tonight.
I rolled over grabbing the neck of a bottle drinking back the spicy honey. It drips from the side of my mouth and I wipe it down my cheek and onto my neck. The liquid gets soaked by the lambskin that lines my collar, the black leather plated with gold and my Masters’ name, K K.
I stretched out my feet escaping the warmth of my blankets and touching the brisk air.
“Mmm…”
With a big yawn I hug my blankets not ready to pull away.
One, two…
I throw my blankets off and jump from my bed with my arms outstretched, coming to my tiptoes. Shivering quickly takes over, someone has put the basin out. I go to my armoire of redwood and pull out a black woolen dress to throw around my body.
“This will do.”
I had a huge smile on my face; I love show days. Skipping to my door I pull it open, squinting into the sun overheard. The men aboard the ship glance and quickly return to their work. I gingerly made my way tiptoeing across the planks to a burly bearded man. Red skin, red hair and smelling of the sea.
“Mmm, where is Mastah?” I asked him.
He didn’t respond, his eyes staying on the barrels he was pulling up from below. I placed two fingers on his shoulder, running them along the bone.
“Mastah, where is Mastah?”
My hand clasped onto his shoulder my nails biting into his skin. He turned around, green eyes wide and looking at me. He shook his head rapidly side to side.
“Something got your tongue?” I cackled and released him.
I skipped around the deck making my rounds towards the gangplank. If my eyes could smile, they would. I ran down the gangplank towards him.
“Mastah!”
He turned at my squealing and stepped aside revealing he was with another. My skipping turned to a walk, my arms tense, hands forming a fist.
“Ah, what perfect timing.” Master said. “Sin, this will be your new sister.”
I wrinkled my nose and spat at her feet. She was so skinny, more bones than skin. Her hair thin and falling out. Eyes sunken in… How could Master ever…
“Sin!”
I looked at Master and sneered, “Mastah deserves betta.” I glare at the girl. “Sin should be enough for Mastah.”
Masters’ red eyes peered right at me, the entire world living in his eyes. I am never afraid of him, but what I saw stopped my heart. My hands came up to my chest and gripped my dress tight. I couldn’t look at him anymore, my eyes going to the floor. If I didn’t look at him, then he couldn’t be mad with me, he couldn’t be mad with his Sin.
I saw his pale hand come under my chin and lift my head to look at his eyes once more.
“Sin… This is your new sister.” He moved my head to face the girl. “You care for her half as much as you care for me, Master will be happy.”
I flashed a smile, holding it back from her… Whoever she was.
“She is not replacing your shows Sin. That is your world.”
The words were a relief. My grip on the dress loosening. She could never do one of my shows, she was too scrawny, too weak. I was strong, Master loves how strong Sin is.
“Betta.”
Master glared at me again.
“Mastah K K.”
Master released my chin and took the girls’ hand and placed it in my own.
“Show your sister your room.” He looked between us. “You will be sharing.”
Even her hands were dry and wrinkled like the rest of her. I couldn’t help but sneer at her touch, but I took her hand squeezing her fingers in mine.
“Okay, Mastah… Let’s go…” I looked at Master who was watching us. “Sistah…”
I led her up the gangplank without speaking to her. She complained though.
“You’re hurting my hand…”
She was weak why could Master ever allow her? I let go of her hand and stopped on the deck.
“You will neva replace Sin. Sin is Mastah’s favorite.” I poked my chest.
I spit over the ledge waiting for her to speak up, do anything besides shake in fear. She gulped and slowly stepped onto the deck, her eyes darting around examining her surroundings.
“Come! I has a show to prepare for.” I snapped at her grabbing her wrist this time.
I rushed along the deck while she stumbled with. Getting to my door I pointed at it, dark red wood. Then pointed at the other white and black wood door.
“My room… Mastah’s room.” I got close to her. “You neva go into Mastah’s room. You knock three times. He says when you go in.”
I opened my door stopping and looking back at her once more.
“What does Mastah call you?”
She shook her head, “I… I don’t know… My name is-”
“No, Mastah tells you your name.”
My eyes glared at the girl. For a long moment I questioned if I could throw her overboard, my eyes glancing to the starboard side, the handrail short enough. Moving my eyes back to her I shook my head silently turning back to the door.
I pulled the heavy redwood and embraced the soft smells of vanilla exuding from the room. It’s warmth returned to it, the basins lit. Walking in I dropped the woolen dress from my body.
“Dis is all mine.” I pointed to the armoire and the bed. “You..” I turned to her a long finger raised. “You get those.”
“Okay…” Her voice squeaked.
I motioned my finger at a pile of pillows in the corner. Grabbing the otter skin from my bed I crawled underneath the covers and swam to the pillow reaching underneath. I pulled out a bottle of spiced honey and drink. I took three large gulps the bottle left empty. Tossing it to the side I watched as the girl was still standing, looking around the pile of pillows.
“Mastah deserves betta than you.” I like my lips, the sweet honey present. “Sin does not know why Mastah picked you. But Sin is his favorite. Tonight we perform, just me and Mastah.”
She looked over watching me holding out against the wall before lowering herself onto the cushions.
“What.. What kind of show?” She asked meekly.
My fingers rolled through the fur of the covers and squeezed tight.
“Mmm…” I smiled, goosebumps covering my body. “I am there, Mastah makes me look so pretty.” My eyes shut picturing it. “Everyone is watching me, they watch Sin.”
I opened my eyes and looked at the girl, smirking.
“You see tonight. Sin will show you why Mastah deserves more.”
I released the covers and leaned over the edge of the bed reaching underneath. I found another bottle and pulled it up by the neck, a small gulp siting at the bottom. I lick the rim before taking down the spiced honey and heard a knock at the door.
“Yes!?” I shouted.
No answer came, only another knock.
“If you want to enter… Say something!”
Another knock.
I cackled and pointed at the girl.
“Let them in.”
She stared back at me and I snapped.
“Let them in!”
She jumped and ran to the door pushing it open. On the other side was an older woman, blonde wilting hair, rough spun clothing and a tray of food. Grapes, melons, berries, cheeses and dried meats. She raised the tray towards the girl and her pale blue eyes glanced at me. Rather quickly the older woman released the tray shutting the door as she left.
The girl turned around looking at the food then me.
“Are they not allowed to speak?”
I laughed holding my hands in front of my mouth.
“If they can, they can… But with no tongue…” I sneered.
The girl stood there with the tray in hand. I was not sure if she was shocked, or scared but she was still as a board. I rolled my eyes and sat up in bed reaching a single arm out to her.
“Bring it here!”
She didn’t budge, my fingers wiggling. I heaved a disgruntled sigh when she finally came back to this reality. She brought the tray over and I pulled it from her and placed the sweets in my lap. I licked my upper lip while fondling a vine of grapes.
“Mastah brings these from all ova. He wants Sin to have energy for her show.”
I looked at the girl, so skinny. I lifted a bowl of figs off the tray and handed them to her.
“Eat these.” My eyes still on the tray. “Maybe we can fatten you up for Mastah.”
She didn’t grab the bowl from me at first. My eyes coming up to see the paleness of hers. My lips twitched, and she quickly grabbed the bowl and walked back to her corner of pillows.
The fruits were so sweet, juicy, their liquids dripped over my chin, droplets falling on the tray. I took the small dagger off the tray to cut a piece of hard cheese, it salty. I watched the girl in the corner, the bowl in her lap, the small bites she took off the fig. She then gobbled the entire fig. I laughed smacking my chest, nearly dropping the tray.