Chapter 03 She's a Monster. So Why Does She Look So Cute Drinking Coffee?

Fiona stood in the doorway of the closed one. She was holding a towel.

"I'm going to take a bath, Kuzu-kun."

"Okay? Why are you telling me this?"

"Huh? Because you're going to help me, silly."

"What? Help you?"

"You're my slave now, Kuzu-kun. You're my property. My attendant. That means you do things for me. Things I don't want to do myself."

"Wait! Wait! Wait! And... and bathing is one of those things?"

"It's the most important one. Who do you think has been washing my back for the last seven years?"

My face went red.

"I don't! I'm not! There's no way I'm—"

"You don't have a choice. But don't worry. You'll get used to it. The first few are always awkward. After that, it becomes a norm."

She pushed open the door. Stepped inside. My body followed.

The bathroom was surprisingly large. A stone tub dominated the room, big enough for two people. Steam rose from the water. Candles flickered on the walls. It was warm. Intimate. Romantic.

But for me, a Japanese sixteen-year-old cherry boy, it was a scene from a nightmare.

Fiona turned to face me. She was already untying her robe.

"Now, Kuzu-kun. The first thing you need to learn is proper technique. Water should be hot but not scalding. Soap should be applied in gentle circles. And you must never, ever make eye contact. That's the rule. No eye contact."

"I'm not doing this. I refuse. I absolutely refuse."

Fiona's robe slipped off her shoulders. My soul left my body.

No. No no no no no. This is not happening. This is a dream. No! This is a nightmare. This is—

"What's the hold up? I'm ready. Oh well, it would seem you need a little convincing. I command: wash me, Kuzu-kun."

My hands moved.

"Good. Now... gentle circles. Not too hard. You're not scrubbing a pot."

My hands moved. Gentle circles. Just like she said. But my eyes were squeezed shut.

"Now, now, Kuzu-kun, you need to be able to see what you're doing. We don't want your hands slipping into funny places."

"No... no I don't."

"Or you miss spots."

"Good."

She laughed. That sharp, delighted laugh.

"You're adorable. You know that? Absolutely adorable. I haven't had a slave this shy in years. They're usually volunteer for this job."

"I'm not shy! I'm... I'm mortified! There's a difference!"

"Is there?"

"Yes! There is! A huge difference! Shy is when you want to do something but you're nervous! Mortified is when you want to die!"

She laughed again.

"So, you want to die? I'm afraid I can't allow you that."

"Right now? Yes! Absolutely yes! This is the worst moment of my entire life!"

"Worse than the moment you realized I tricked you?"

"Yes! That was bad! This is worse! This is the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone, ever!"

"Are you sure about that? Because I think dying in a dungeon is worse. Or being eaten by monsters. Or—"

"I don't care! I'm dying of embarrassment right now! That counts!"

Fiona laughed again.

"Kuzu-kun, you're supposed to wash the front too."

"I know!"

"Oh silly, so why aren't you?"

"Because I would rather die!"

"I told you I can't allow you that. So... front. Kindly please~"

I can't do this. I can't do this. I CAN'T—

But my hands moved. They reached for the front.

"Kuzu-kun."

"WHAT NOW?"

"Your eyes still closed. You need to look."

"I DON'T CARE!"

"Fine. I'll guide you."

Her hands reached out. Gently grabbed my wrists. Guided my hands.

"I hate you. I hate you so much."

"I know, silly. I know."

"I mean it. I really, truly, genuinely hate you."

"You mentioned that."

"This is the worst. This is the absolute worst. Are you almost done, or is this going to be a long night?"

"Okay, okay. Let's finish up. I'm getting cold. I think we're done here."

My hands stopped. Immediately. Like they'd been waiting for permission.

"You can open your eyes now. I'm decent."

I didn't open my eyes.

"I command: open your eyes, Kuzu-kun."

She was wrapped in a towel. Smiling at me. Her hair wet, skin glowing. She looked like a goddess. But I wanted to punch her.

"You did decent job. Not as good as my other slaves but decent enough."

She walked past me. Patted my cheek.

"Rest well, Kuzu-kun. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

She walked out of the bathroom.

"I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her so much."

Fiona climbed into her bed. She pulled the blankets up to her chest, fluffed her pillow, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Ahhh... nothing like a warm bath and a soft bed after a long day of enslaving people."

I stood in the doorway. My arms were crossed, face still red from the bath.

"And where do I sleep, oh mighty goddess Fiona?" I said exaggerating my sarcasm.

"You can sleep outside in the stables. Or you can sleep here on the floor. Your choice, my loyal fallower."

I looked at the floor. Hard wooden planks. No blanket. No pillow.

"Tck. Floor," I said through gritted teeth.

"Ahh! Excellent choice. Make yourself comfortable."

I lay down on the hard wooden floor. Stared at the ceiling and tried not to think about what had just happened in the bathroom. But I failed. Miserably.

Damn it! Her skin was so soft. Her voice was so nice. My hands were on her... STOP! Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about her. Stop thinking about her body. I need to escape. I need to get out of here. I need to... to... I need to... kill her.

The thought came out of nowhere. Dark. Cold. Right.

If she's dead, maybe the contract ends. If she's dead, I might go free. If she's dead, I can look for a way to go home.

I looked at her. She was lying in bed, her breathing already slow. Her eyes were closed. Her face was peaceful. She looked like an angel. Beautiful. Innocent. So fragile.

Great! She's asleep. She's completely asleep. She doesn't know I'm watching her. She doesn't know I'm thinking about... No. I can't. I can't do that. I'm not a murderer. But she's a monster. She's a monster who enslaves people. She's a monster who throws them into dungeons. She's a monster who laughed while she told me about... About the father. The one who lost his daughter. The one who died protecting her.

She used him. She used his grief. She used his love. She's worse than a monster. She's evil.

----------------

One hour passed. Maybe two. And still, I lay there. Staring at the ceiling. Staring at her. Staring at the space between us.

Just do it. Just reach out. Just put your hands around her neck and squeeze. She won't fight back. She's asleep. She's defenseless. It would be so easy. Get up and do it, you coward!

I stood up. My body moved on its own. Quiet. Careful. One step. Two steps. Three. I was standing over her.

She looked so small. So fragile. Her blond hair spread across the pillow like spilled gold. Her lips were slightly parted. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.

She's asleep. She has no idea I'm here. Do it. Do it now. Before you lose your nerve.

My hands hovered over her neck. I could see the veins. The soft skin. The pulse beating gently beneath the surface.

One squeeze. That's all it takes. One squeeze and she's gone. One squeeze and I'm free.

My fingers trembled. They were so close. So close I could feel the warmth of her skin. But I couldn't do it.

Damn it! I can't murder someone. I can't kill her. Even if she deserves it. Even if she's a monster. Shit! I'm just a normal high school kid. I'm not a killer. I'm not—

I started to pull my hands away. Then her eyes opened and her hands shot up. Grabbed my wrists. Pulled my hands gently down to her neck. My fingers rested against her throat. I could feel her pulse.

"What's the matter, Kuzu-kun? Aren't you going to do it?"

Her voice was soft. Calm. Almost sad. But I froze.

"Wouldn't it be so easy? Just squeeze my fragile neck for a few minutes. That's all it takes. And you'd be free."

She smiled. But it wasn't her usual smile. It wasn't sharp or predatory. It was a sad smile.

"The slave contract will be canceled. You'll be free. You can go look for a way back to your world. Back to your life. Back to everything you lost."

She released my wrists. Let her hands fall to the bed. She didn't try to push me away. She didn't try to defend herself. She just lay there. Under my hands. Waiting.

"I haven't given you any commands to defend myself. I haven't restricted you in any way. You can do whatever you want. Right now. In this moment."

Her eyes met mine.

"It's your only chance, Kuzu-kun. Your only chance. If you put your arms on my fragile neck and squeeze hard enough, I won't be able to command you. It's the perfect moment."

"Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you—"

"Because I want to see if you'll do it. I wanted to see what kind of person you are, Kuzu-kun. Are you a killer? Are you a monster like me? Or are you one of the good ones?"

"I'm not a murderer. I'm not! I can't!"

"I know, silly. I know. That's why I'm still alive."

She reached up. Touched my cheek. Her fingers were gentle.

"You're one of the good ones, Kuzu-kun. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I tricked you. I'm sorry I enslaved you. I'm sorry I made you wash me in the bath."

She let out a weak laugh.

"That was probably the worst part, right? But I can't let you go... I won't. Now... go back to sleep, Kuzu-kun. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

I didn't say anything, just lay down on the floor and stared at the ceiling.

I'm not going to kill her, but I'm not going to stay either. I'm going to escape. I'm going to find a way. I'm going back home.

And as I closed my eyes, I heard her whisper one more thing. So quiet I almost missed it.

"Thank you."

-----------------

Now it was morning. And Fiona was still asleep. I sat up. Rubbed my eyes. Looked at the bed.

She was curled into a ball. Her blankets were twisted around her legs. Her blond hair was a wild mess; tangled, sticking up in every direction. One arm was dangling off the side of the bed. Her mouth was slightly open.

She looks like a child! A stupid, helpless, drooling child. She's adorable. No. No. She's not adorable. She's a demon. A demon in the body of a pretty girl. A demon who made me her slave! I hate her. I hate her so much. I will not be deceived by her cute looks!

I shook my head. Forced myself to look away.

I need to wake her up. I need to get this day started. How do I wake her up?

I looked at her again. She was still sleeping.

Should I shake her? Should I call her name? Should I just... let her sleep? No. No, I need to get her up.

I cleared my throat. Nothing. I cleared it again. Louder. Nothing.

"Fiona? It's morning. Time to wake up."

She stirred. Mumbled something. Rolled over.

"Mmmmph... Five more... minutes... Kindly please."

"Oh, miss Fiona, it's morning, sun is up."

"I don't care... I hate... sun."

"The dungeon—"

"Can wait." She pulled the blanket over her head, "I'm the one in charge. I say when we go."

"Fine. I'll just wait."

I sat back down on the floor. Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen. Then I heard it.

"Mmmmmmm..."

The blanket fell. A blond head emerged. Her eyes were still closed. Her hair was a disaster.

"Mmmmmmm... what time is it?"

"Late," I said.

"Late is a concept. I need numbers."

"I don't know. Do you see a watch around? I don't. The sun is up, that's all I can say."

"The sun is a liar."

She opened her eyes. Just a crack. Just enough to see me.

"Kuzu-kun?"

"Yes."

"You're still here?"

"Where else would I be? Yes, I'm still here."

"Good. I thought you might have run away."

"I though the collar didn't let me!"

"I didn't give you any command preventing you from running away. I forgot."

"You forgot! You're telling me I could just up and ran away?"

"I was tired."

"You were tired?"

"Very tired. Enslaving people is exhausting." She yawned. A big, wide yawn that showed all her teeth. She sat up. Slowly. Groggily. Her hair was a bird's nest. Her sleeping cloths were twisted sideways. One shoulder was exposed. She didn't notice.

"I need coffee. Could you kindly make me some? Pretty please."

"Fine. Where is it?"

"In the kitchen. Get me some."

"I don't know where the kitchen is."

"Downstairs. First door on the left. Bring it to me. Up, up and away with you, silly."

She flopped back onto the bed. Looked at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes.

"Before you ask. Black. No sugar. No milk. Just... coffee."

I'm a slave. I'm her slave. She just ordered me to get her coffee. I should refuse. I should say no. Why am I doing it? Why am I getting her coffee? I hate her. Why does she look so cute when she's sleepy? I hate her so much. I should put salt in her coffee! Maybe that would banish the Satan out of her!

The kitchen was small. Cozy. A pot of coffee was already on the stove. Still warm. I poured a cup. Black. No sugar. No milk.

I walked back up the stairs.

Fiona was sitting up now. Her eyes were open. Barely. She was staring at the wall with the expression of someone who had forgotten how to function. I handed her the coffee. She took a sip.

Her whole face changed. Her eyes opened. Her shoulders relaxed. A soft, satisfied sound escaped her mouth.

"Mmmmmmmm... that's better. Much better."

"Great. So, what now? You gonna put me through some nasty work? How about setting me free instead!"

She blinked at me. Slower than usual. Like her brain was still booting up.

"Kuzu-kun."

"Yes?"

"That won't happen any time soon, silly."

She's a monster! She's a monster! She's a monster! Why does she have to look so cute when she's drinking coffee? She's a monster who looks like a helpless little girl when she's sleepy. I hate her. I hate her so much.