Malachi resumed his seat on his throne. With a wave of his hand, the doors opened. The souls of the once living entered. It was going to be a long day.
Obsidain led the lady to their best suite, as instructed by his lord. He opened the grand doors, revealing a parlor first. Through the next set of doors was a magnificent bedroom. There was a bathroom beyond that a closet that could have been considered a small room. "If there is anything you need, ask and it will be brought to you my lady." The creature bowed to her.
A woman entered next. She would have been considered beautiful if not for her bottom half. Her legs were that of a bulls, furry and muscular. A thick tail petruding from her backside. "My lady, I am Celeste. I will be taking your measurements for you clothing. Please hold out your arms."
Zoey blinked around the whole room. "This is huge…" She murmured, stretching her neck to look around at it all. She registered Celeste's words and automatically did as she asked. She kept looking, coming to the conclusion that a mistake had been made, and this was someone's house. Inside a bigger house. She watched Celeste closely, trying to comprehend what she was seeing without being rude.
Obsidain nodded. "It is our best guest suite. My lord ordered it so and it has veen delievered. If you wish to decorate or have any other needs, write it down and I will fetch it for you. Such as your feminine and hygine products?"
Celeste brought out her tape measurer. As she murmured the measurements, an invisible force was writing it down on a clipboatd behind her. She stodd when she got everything she needed.
"Your first gown will be ready for your dinner this evening my lady." She said before leaving the rooms.
"Well, thank you. And yes please, that would be great." She gave Obsidian a hesitant smile, unsure of how she was supposed to act. When Celeste finished, she relaxed and thanked her as well. Once they were both gone, she took a moment before deciding to explore. She crept through the rooms, feeling like a trespasser but at the same time fascinated by the sheer size and grandeur of the place. Time flew as she memorized each room and object in the room.
Obisdain left a pen and paper on the near by table. "Do not leave your rooms. The palace is a maze. If you get lost, you will never be found. My lord will be by later to collect you for dinner. If you require food or need any assistance, ring the bell."
The creature exited the rooms and left to join his kind in the throne room.
Malachi was relieved when his servant reappeared. "I take it she is settling in?"
"Yes, sire. Though she does look in shock. It should pass soon."
He nodded. "Good, good. Thank you."
Zoey eventually made her way back to the table. She hadn't left the rooms she'd been taken too, but it still seemed like a vast amount of area to explore. She tapped the pen and considered for a moment, but couldn't think of anything she needed. She eventually went to the bedroom and curled up on the bed with one of the pillows, trying to get some sleep.
Time had passed and Celeste was proud of the town she had made for the lady. After a knock on her doors, she and several other servants walkes into the room. Some carried jewelry, others had bath products, some had makeup, and the others with hair products.
"Rise, my lady. It is time for your bath. We will having looking like perfection by the time we are done with you." She spoke .
Zoey lifted her head, having fallen asleep. Her hair was a tangled black mess over one shoulder. She sat up and stretched, rubbing one eye before swinging her legs off the bed and standing. "Yes ma'am. Whatever you say." She followed Celeste uncertainly, unsure of what she should do.
"You do not need to hse such formalities. Call me Celeste. Now into the bath, quickly. We are on a time limit." She shooed the lady to the magnificent bathroom. The bath was already filled with warm water and bubbles. "I assume you will wamt to bath yourself. You mortals are so modest. We will be waiting in your bedroom. So hurry now."
She left the bathroom to join the rest if the servants in the bedroom. She dismissed half of them, no longer being needed.
"Bye?" Zoey said, as they all left. She shook her head and quickly undressed, dipping herself into the water and enjoying the warmth. She was brief, in and out within ten minutes. Once she was out, she dried off and wrapped the towel around herself. It was big enough to cover her from shoulders down to almost her knees, and wide enough to go around her easily. "I'm done!" She called out through the door.
Celeste and the rest of the maids rushed in. They her sit in front of the vanity mirror. A maid working on her makeup and the other on her hair. They asked her what she would prefer and followed her preferences. In the end, Celeste dressed her in the beautiful gold gown. Jewelry was laid in from of her. "Choose your favorites my lady."
Zoey sat through the whole procedure in awe of what was happening. Her hair was quickly dried and braided up and around, with the soft smaller pieces falling out and already getting some natural curl in them. She looked around the jewelry for a long moment before simply selecting a small golden bracelet for one wrist. She looked to Celeste for approval, still unsure of how formal she was expected to be here.
With a flick of the wrist, the rest of the jewelry disappeared. "My king will be with you shortly." She and the rest of the servants bowed before making their exit.
Malachi dismissed the last soul that had entered with his punishment. He stood from the throne and walked to his chambers. He shrugged off the cape and dawned on an embroidered jacket. He ptook the crown off his head and placed it on the table. He left his rooms and walked through the maze of halls until he came across Zoey's suite. He knocked on the door and waited patiently for them to open.
Zoey sat on the edge of the bed nervously, waiting for a knock on the door. Once she heard it, she bounced to her feet and made her way over to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it, swinging it open and standing next to it. She looked at him closely, meeting his eyes and feeling even more out of place, even while feeling right. She shifted her weight back on one foot and ran a hand anxiously over her braid, twisting one of the loose pieces back behind her ear.
Malachi straightened as the door opened, revealing her. The sight of her almost made him smile, almost. "The dress compliments you. I hope you are finding your suite acceptable." He said. He offered her his arm to take, and when she did, he guided ger through the twisting halls.
She took the arm hesitantly, walking alongside him but focusing on the floor. The dress was long, and it was all she could do to avoid tripping on it without leaning on him. "It's very nice, thank you."
Malachi nodded. "Celeste has not had a mise to work with in centuries. She is very excited for your arrival. I am sure she has already started on your other gowns. Though I know your people do not often wear gowns. You will have to ask her for different clothing if you want it." He spoke. They came across a dinning room that had room for dozens of people, though it was just set up for the two of them.
Zoey looked around the halls, already confused about how to get back to her room. She stayed close until they reached the hall, following him closely. "So why am I here?" She hated to be bold, but she was thoroughly confused. First she'd thought she was paying her end of the bargain, but whatever was happening didn't feel like payment.
Malachi looked down at her, arching a groomed brow. "You are paying the price of your wish. Is that so hard to believe?" He asked her. What he had told her was truth. That was the price he had named and she had agreed to it. He walked to her seat amd pulled out the chair for her. He then sat at the head of the table.
She sat down slowly, unsure of his meaning. This was somewhat outside her comfort zone, and she shifted in the seat awkwardly. She was nervous about the silence, but didn't know how to break it. She had questions, but didn't know how to phrase them. Yet.
A goblet of wine appeared in front of the both of them and took a drink from his. "Ask me your questions. I know you have many." He said, setting the goblet down.
Zoey hesitated. "Alright. Why did you want me here? What am I supposed to do?" She stopped herself before continuing, fighting the urge to get up and pace to relieve her energy.
"Balance, my dear. To send a life I must claim a life. And that just so happened to be you. Just because I am the villian of the stories Dow's not mean that I am cruel without reason. You have done nothing against me. You will be treated as royalty. As to what you do, that is up to do. You are free to roam the palace. I only ask you bring someine woth you so you don't get lost."
(This is me with a new account, my old one got lost)
Zoey nodded slowly, her eyebrows furrowing as she thought it over. She didn't understand, but she didn't have anything else to ask. She was free, she supposed, to do anything but leave.
(Okay)
Food was brought out by servants, all cloaked, their features hidden. "I wasn't sure what you liked so I had the cook make a variety of mortal food." Malachi spoke. "Now, I would like to discuss the rules of your stay."
