"Puella Domina," a servant said as he came into the throne room. "The child is here."
The girl looked at him with her cold red eyes and said "Bring him in,"
The next moment the door had opened and two guards came in, each carrying the arm of a little boy who was struggling weakly. For a moement they all stared at Puella as she looked at the boy. She seemed to study the child for a long time. As she watched him the boy looked up. He had a determined look on his face and he looked at Puella with a look of pure hatred.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTGItpbs1u
Then Puella spoke, "He will do."
"Put him in the barred quarters." Darius said.
"No!" The boy yelled as the guards began pulling him back. "This is your fault!" He screamed, looking straight at Puella. "Because of you I will never see my family again! I hate you!"
The servants stopped and looked at Puella, anticipating what was to come. Slowly the red started to fill her eyes.
Jade suddenly couldn't look away. He felt a sort of energy go through his body, making him feel dizzy and weak. Then as soon as it came he was gone. The whole room was silent. Everyone looked from Jade to Puella in astonishment. Puella, although she still had that cold look on her face, looked slightly confused. Then she spoke.
"Take him away."634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMuMJNjqyK
The guards grabbed Jade and pulled him out as he screamed curses at Puella.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhY2HPoK8e
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The next day Darius came to the barred quarters. As he entered he saw Jade sitting behind the bars, looking at the wall.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4aRoXSd14
"How's the kid?" He asked the servant who was on guard.
"Who knows." The servant replied. "He won't talk to anyone or look at them. He won't even eat."
Darius looked at Jade with a sinister smile. He walked into his cage and crouched down beside him. Jade continued to look forward as if he wasn't there.
"If you think being silent is going to make a difference your wrong." Darius hissed with a twisted smile. "You can't stay a stubborn child here for long. You may have been able to get away with it at your little farm house but that life is over now. You belong to me now, you follow my rules. Don't think you'll see your family again. Now you're just another servant. Expendible."
He laughed. Jade continued looking forward, unmoving. With sudden violence Darius reached forward and pulled Jades jaw towards him.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Darius screamed in his face. Suddenly Jade sent a ball of spit fly towards Darius' cheek. Darius was eerily silent as he got up, wiping the spit off his cheek.
"You little scum!" He shouted, then slapped the child across the face sending him flying onto the hard ground.
"You need to learn your place!" Darius growled.
"Hitting a child doesn't make you strong." Someone said. Everyone turned and saw an older servant named Peter. Peter was in his fifties but harsh years had given him a weathered look. The rumour was that he had been servant to Puella's family before she was even born and now he had nowhere else to go. He was given jobs no one wanted: garbage duty, dishes, and, especially, bringing Puella her meals.
"What is it old man?" Darius asked bitterly.
"She has asked for him."
Darius looked at Peter for a moment. "Fine," He said "Take him." Then he left in a huff.
Peter went up to Jade who was still on the ground and grabbed his arm. Jade pulled his arm away and gave Peter a dirty look.
"Look," Peter sighed. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Jade gave him a suspicious look, then let Peter pull him up. They walked side by side in the hall, Peter holding his arm. Jade looked around as they walked through the halls while still giving Peter the odd look.
"Don't mind Darius." Peter said. "He thinks he's tough but really he's just a coward. Besides, I can tell just by looking at you that you're far stronger than him. Maybe not physically, but mentally."
Jade still looked at Peter, unsure if he should trust him or not.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53gN3QHx27
"What's your name?" Peter asked.
"Jade,"
Peter laughed, "So you can talk."
Jade remained silent. They came to a door and stopped suddenly. Peter knelt down so he and Jade were eye to eye.
"Look," He said, I've heard some amazing things about you but please listen. I've seen too many people die at the hands of this girl and I don't want to see the same happen to you. So, please, just use your sense. Don't make her angry with you or you'll regret it."
Then he sighed and brought Jade into the room.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae19iHaYvf
634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMj5BC9M6w
Jade sat at the little table with a tea cup and a crumpet in front of him. Across from him was the Puella Domina, holding her teacup and sipping from it contently. Jade looked down, avoiding her.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsFszCuS5U
"Do you like your tea?" She asked. He didn't answer or acknowledge her. "Do you?" She asked again. When he didin't answer for the second time she reached out her hand to touch his face.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMngWPB1hK
"Don't touch me!" He barked at her. She quickly pulled her hand away.
He sated at her with hatred, his face contorted with anger.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre7LK2JFiA
"I'm not afraid of you," He said.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVtZ6bnnCa
There was silence and then in her tiny voice she said. "Of course not. Why would you be afraid of me?"
Jade looked at her in astonishment. "Everyone's afraid of you, don't you know that? Why do you think everyone does exactly what you say?"
There was silence.
Jade shook his head. His face looked as though he was fighting back tears. "This is all your fault! If it weren't for you I would be back home with my family!" He looked down again. "But you don't care. I'm just an object to you. You don't even know my name."
"Your name?" She asked. Jade could see the confused look in her eyes.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ62TDlq8y8
"My name." Jade said looking up. She still gave him a confused look. "You don't know what a name is?" She shook her head. "It's what people call you." There was a silence. "Do you mean to say you don't know any of your servants' names? What if you need to call them?"634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AD3c6lgXf
"I never have to." She said.
Jade looked down. "They're not even people to you.
"I never though about it." Puella said quietyly. "What's my name?"
"Well what do people call you."
Puella though for a moment. "Sometimes they call me my grace or mistress. Sometimes they say Puella Domina."
"Then that's your name." Jade said. "Puella."
"Puella," Puella said under her breath. "What's your name?"
"Jade."
Puella repeated it quietly to herself. "I like that name. It's a pretty name."
Jade said nothing but just gave her a suspicious look.
"Puella," He said after a paused. "What do you think happens when you get angry."
"When I'm angry..." There was a pause as Puella thought. "People fall down."
Jade looked at her, expecting her to say more. When she didn't he continued. "Then what?"
"I don't know." She responded.
Jade looked at her for a moment, confused. Then he looked down and continued eating. They didn't talk for the rest of the meal.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfpkZY1IKR
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Later that day Peter was bringing Puella's dinner into her room. He got to the door and took a deep breath. He always hated this part of the day. He never liked being around Puella. It could be very nerve wracking. He walked into the room. Puella was sitting by the window looking out silently. This seemed strange to him but he quickly shook it off. He put the platter of food beside her and slowly backed up. Just before he turned she spoke.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPua8fnt4M
"What's your name?" She asked. Peter just looked at her, his body trembling.
"My name?" He said.
"Yes," she replied. "It's what people call you."
He looked at her, astonished. "P-p-peter. My name is Peter."634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvTfA919E3
For the first time ever she smiled and said. "Hello, Peter." Then she turned and Peter took the opportunity to leave quickly.634Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzeH6SkdGT
