I took a look at the collection of clothes I had at my disposal and sighed, “I lied, I do need some help.” I called, “I don’t particularly know what to wear, mostly because I don’t know why I’m being summoned at this moment.”

       The servant entered mid explanation and, taking stock of my current wardrobe, tapping a finger against her chin in thought.

      After what felt like an eternity, the fact that I’m still sleepless adding to that, she began moving, relatively swiftly. In the span of a few minutes, she’d taken a number of items off their racks, held them against me, and quickly shaken her head before deciding on the outfit now laying on my bed.

       ‘Bed’, I thought to myself, ‘how many hours has it been since I’ve been in your sweet, comforting embrace?’

       Almost as quickly as she started, I was dressed in the outfit she’d laid out for me, a mixture of reds and golds, ‘Funny,’ I thought dryly, able to figure out why.

       “Anything else you need to do so I’m… presentable?” I ask, the annoyance mostly at the clothing color choices.

       The servant shook her head briefly, before pointing to the vanity, “Just some light makeup touches. You look like you haven’t slept for a week, y’know.”

       I nodded in understanding, as I sat down at the vanity and let her work that makeup magic.

       After what felt like an hour, though was just a few minutes according to the servant, she told me to open my eyes and look in the mirror.

       A soft gasp escaped my lips, as the girl that looked back at me, in spite of my hatred for my eyes, was… Fucking gorgeous! She’d done the barest of makeup, put on a pair of cute earrings with a matching necklace at some point in time, and my nails were stunning!

      The ensemble she’d laid out actually worked well with everything else. Somehow when I was putting it on, I didn’t notice it looked like a pantsuit, but with a… relatively short, deep red skirt rather than pants, a sunflower yellow shirt, with its namesake in little spots here and there. The blazer was a lighter red, though, to accentuate the rest of the outfit. Tying it all together was a pair of stockings whose tops just barely peeked out from underneath the skirt, and a pair of black kitten heels, or maybe the red was just dark enough that they looked black.

       “If you’re done preening and admiring yourself, the Queen wants to see you, remember?” the servant asked, having moved towards the door at some point.

       I nodded and, having checked myself out one last time in the vanity mirror, my face instantly flushed as my thoughts went to what Mai would think when she saw me.

       I followed her through the hallways, wondering if my daggers were still under my pillows, or if they’d moved around somehow. As the thought crossed my mind, I felt a vaguely familiar weight on my hips, underneath the skirt. I looked down and saw no difference, however, when I reached a hand down, I felt a familiar coolness. I smiled to myself and yawned as I stretched, “So, what does she want with me today?” I asked, curiosity finally getting the better of me, even though I desperately needed sleep.

       “I’m not entirely sure; all I do know is she wanted to see you for breakfast, potentially to discuss your role in the coming… war, I guess. I’m only speculating, though, so I can’t say one way or the other.” She replied, rather animatedly, moments before she suddenly stopped, spun on her heel, and curtsied, “well, here we are! The Queen’s dining hall; she’s expecting you, so no need to announce your presence. I shall bid you adieu, and hope you have a wonderful breakfast!”

       I nodded again as she took her leave, and I opened the door I’d been left in front of, not entirely sure what to expect.

       As I opened the door, a warmly lit room greeted me. A nice big window overlooking the forest outside the complex, with a mahogany wood table, big enough for four, but still small enough two people can use it comfortably. Bookshelves dominated one side of the room, while a quaint little fireplace resided on the other, with two comfy looking chairs to read in.

       “Ah, yes; my guest of honor,” Mai started quietly, as she drank in my form with very hungry eyes. “How are you? Well, I hope?”

       My mouth went dry, very dry, as I drunk her in. She was wearing a formfitting pantsuit, all black, with some red accents here and there. Her breasts were proudly on display, though completely covered, they were still very inviting. I took my seat across from her as she took a bite of what looked like pancakes and sausage, only to get a questioning glance in return as she side eyed the chair next to her. I gulped some air down my throat and nodded slightly, taking my place at her side.

       ‘At her side, huh?’ I thought haphazardly, ‘wonder what it’s like to be here… I wonder if she’s figured out the answer to our previous discussion yet.’

       “Rosalyn? Rosalyn!” I hear, loudly that I thought she was yelling, but softly enough to know that she’s whispering directly into my ear, “Rosalyn…? Are you okay?”

       I zoned back in and nodded my assent, taking a deep breath, “I’m sorry, you were saying?”

       “Well, first I asked if you were well, then you never answered, then I started asking about your combat abilities?”

       I nodded, half remembering the initial question, but blanked on the second, “Yes, I’m well, Letty…” I start softly, hesitant to call her by her true name, “As for combat abilities… I was trained in all manor of martial arts from a relatively young age; there’s not too much I don’t know or can’t learn.”

       She merely nodded at that and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, resting it atop of the chair I was sitting in. “Well,” she started, her breath hot against my earlobe, “I had initially wanted you here to discuss what your part would be, though I think we have a rather more important discussion to go over, don’t you agree?”

       I could only nod, the painful memory of just yesterday, or was it earlier today? When I walked out of my room, leaving her naked, but certainly not helpless, as both of us were uncertain about our relationship, and where we wanted it to go. ‘Being with her has really screwed my sense of time,’ I thought dryly, ‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I met her, nor how long it’s been since that first dream..’

       A light, wet feeling against my earlobe brings me out of my thoughts, and my face grew dark red as it flushed over, “What was that for?” I ask in mock anger.

       “Well, I needed you back on Earth with me, so we could have this discussion.” She said as she stood up, and moved towards the fireplace, our breakfast left mostly uneaten.

       I nodded as I followed her; she sat down in a large, luxurious looking leather chair, and as I walked by her to sit in the chair across from her, she grabbed my wrist and yanked me into her lap, a contented sigh escaping her lips as my weight settles on her, and she rests her head against me.

       “I’ve thought about how we… parted ways yesterday morning,” she started, and I finally got some sense of time back, “and I don’t want to let you go like that again.” She finished, ending her sentence with a growl that sounded a little bit possessive.

       “But why? Why me? What do you see in me?” I asked in confusion, turning my head to look at her. “I’ve never… had someone who treated me like you do,” I whisper softly, so softly I don’t know if she heard me.

       At that, she lifts her head off of me and replaces it with her hand, slowly, gently petting my hair, “Partially because you’re my best friend’s daughter, also partially because I’m inexplicably attracted to you, and not just in the sexual way; though that was a lot of fun for me and, I assume by the noises, and the mess, you made, it was similar for you?”

       I nodded my assent, my cheeks getting taking on a darker red as I remembered that night that’d lasted well into the morning.

       “Now… continuing on to the less sexual aspects. My dear Rosalyn, I’ll ask you again, and I expect a proper answer this time, else you’ll be punished. Do you not want to be mine? Mine to love, to cherish, to do with as I please, and all other things associated with dating someone like me?”

       I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, steeling my nerves for the next question I had for her, before giving her the answer she seeks, “We’ve barely known each other for a week. It’s barely been two since the dreams first started; are you absolutely sure you want to be tied down to me? To… well, I don’t know how long my lifespan is… and I don’t want to cause you unnecessary heartache in 50ish years…” I started softly, tearing my gaze away from hers, and staring at the fireplace instead as I trailed off.

       As I trailed off, she let out a deep, endearing chuckle; her hand petting my hair stopped and wrapped itself around my neck, slowly, gently, but surely, tilting my head to meet her gaze again. This time, I saw caring, but I also saw a fire of what I could only assume to be possessiveness, like she’d already claimed me as hers and just wanted to hear me say it, “My dear… I may not be one of the oldest progenitors in existence, however, that doesn’t mean I’ll let you go just because Death has decided to claim you. We’ve only known each other a week? Then let’s spend eternity together, and I’ll show you what I see in you, time and again, and continuously strive to make you feel like the queen you are... Even if you’d be my pet at the end of the day.” She finished with a smirk.

       With her around my throat, I couldn’t do much but stare in her eyes in amazement, and I could practically feel the drool dripping at the corners of my mouth as I gasped for breath, and to speak, “I… Miss… Mai…” I started softly, my mouth moving faster than my brain, the words coming slowly, “I…” I tried starting again, and seeing I was having trouble speaking, she let go of my throat, but hovered her hand there in case I dared to look away again.

       As soon as I was free, I threw myself into her, nuzzling the space between her neck and her shoulder, peppering it with kisses that trailed up her jawline, hesitating when I got closer to my end goal: her lips. She seemed to figure out what I was up to, and let me stop, if only for a brief moment, before putting her hand on the back of my head and pushing it forwards, to claim my lips once more, similar to how she’d done it just two days prior.

      She broke the kiss, a predatory grin playing on her lips as she resumed petting my hair, holding me close, “I have my answer then?” she asked softly, her lips just above my ear.

       I nodded, unable to trust my voice, or the words that would follow should I speak.

       “Now, then. With that out of the way, what role should you play in the coming war, lovely?” she asked softly, still petting me, “What can you do to help us, help me, reclaim my throne?”

       I thought about her question for a little bit, only tearing my gaze away from her face to snuggle into her some, “Well… before their untimely deaths, my parents made sure I could defend myself by teaching me every martial arts they could, and what they couldn’t, well… let’s just say there’s some places I’m lacking in, though…” I trail off briefly, thinking about the daggers on my hips, “they did make sure to teach me how to handle most weapons proficiently; swords, daggers, bows & arrows, namely. Doesn’t mean I can’t learn other weapons; I just know those the best.”

       She let out a soft chuckle as she pet me, a small playing on her lips, “Hmm.. I’m sure I’ll think of somewhere to put you, some way to use you. When do your… dreams happen? The ones where you see…” she trails off softly, the words unspoken known to both of us.

       I shake my head with a soft sigh, “I don’t know; sometimes I apparently just pass out as one comes on, other times I’m already asleep.”

       I yawned and stretched as much as I could in her lap, curling up a bit, nuzzling into her as much as I can.

       She chuckled softly at that, “You really are like my pet, aren’t you?” she murmurs softly, so softly I almost didn’t hear her speak as sleep took me gracefully.

       The last thing I remember is her getting up while holding me effortlessly, and striding out of the room in grace.

       The next thing I know, I’m waking up in bed, but it’s not the room she assigned me. It’s her room, with her throne right outside. I yawn and stretch a little, when I notice a body behind me.

       “Good morning,” she murmurs softly, pulling me closer.

       “How long did I sleep for?”

       “Two days. You’ve been here, or rather, I interrupted your… Mundane life five days ago, now.”

       ‘Five days,’ I thought with a smile, ‘five days since she came into my life. I couldn’t imagine anything better right now.’

       “What are your plans for today?” she asks curiously, pulling me out of my thoughts.

       “Probably explore the castle some more,” I reply, rolling over to nuzzle into her, “but I’d be willing to hear an argument that involves sleeping for another day or two in your arms.”

       She chuckles lightly and peppers my face with kisses as she sits up, pulling me with her, “No. You need to familiarize yourself with the castle more, as you already suggested. I know I can trust you to defend yourself, should you need to. But… Just call for me if you need my help, okay? As long as you’re in the castle, I’m sure someone will hear you and get the message to me.”