Taming His Demon Lover

"Tell him I'm retiring for the night and will talk to him in the morning."

"I understand, master," responded Malachi on tenterhooks.

He felt put on the spot, literally between a rock and a hard place. 

While wringing his hands Malachi voiced another grievance, "but Squire James is also preventing the servants from carrying the buckets of heated water down into the basement."

Angered, Andras let out a few expletives in a string of unknown languages before he moved towards the staircase.

Turning to Robin he said, "I'm going upstairs to deal with Squire James so don't you worry about it. Try not to fall asleep before we return."

Robin nodded obediently. 

"Bloody hell, what is wrong with that fat bastard," muttered Andras while they headed upstairs. "The gold glitter and blood from the lashes have nearly dried on Robin."

Robin sighed. 

This one was definitely being treated differently from the other messengers that came previously on Queen Tiandra's behalf. 

Normally Squire James was careful around the emissaries who came from the Summer Court so why was he acting so reprehensible around this one.

Robin shuddered, it could only mean that he was probably worse than Squire James and he would only be exchanging a cruel slave master for a younger one. 

Now that this man was upstairs and distracting Squire James this could be his last chance to escape from a lifetime of captivity. 

Every muscle ached as Robin stretched out his legs but he preferred it when there were feelings still left in his body unlike when Squire James beat him to the point of numbness. 

He flung off the bedsheet from his body and slowly brought his legs to the edge and sat up on the bed. 

Then Robin tried to stand up, he felt his body jerk and Robin wobbled for a bit as shooting pain shot upwards from ankle to spine. 

After stretching for a bit to ease the pain, only then did Robin bend down to look under the bed to look for his only pair of worn down boots. 

It hurt to put them on but it was a must if he was going to escape from this place. 

To him messengers were a dime a dozen, they always claimed to care and say they will keep coming back but they never return. 

No longer would Robin rely on false promises, Squire James constant harassment had disillusioned him for a long time and he learnt to be more self sufficient. 

Since the basement was below the kitchen there was a medium size vent that allowed air to reach the basement. 

After working on it for a while he had managed to remove all the grills that prevented rodents and small animals from entering the house. 

Since Robin could not walk out the door like a normal human being then this would become his means of escape. 

Like an earthworm Robin took his time inching his way up the vent ignoring the pain in his sore muscles. 

A few of the slashes were still bleeding but it wasn't enough of a blood loss to make him pass out again. 

Finally he reached the final grill, after banging on it a few times, the old rusted panel gave way and he was finally outside in the garden.

While Robin breathed in fresh air, poor Andras was facing the opposite. 

Stale air and the smell of nauseating cheap liquor permeated the air of Squire James study. 

"I'm told you need to speak with me?" inquired Andras perfunctorily. 

Bushy eyebrows raised threateningly at the noble who walked into his private study like he owned the place.

Squire James barked, "You barge your way into my life and have the gall to wonder why I want to meet." 

A lesser man would have cowered at his ferocity but not Andras who was looking at him like he was just a stale fart blowing in the wind. 

"You try my patience my lord. At least have the respect to treat me like an equal. I've already sent a notice to the Queen letting her know that your services are no longer needed."

"That's a pity," replied Andras with little to no concern on his face. "It seems you read the missive but failed to grasp its contents correctly. So let me break it down so your pea sized brain can understand. Squire James you are to show me the same respect you would show Queen Tiandra as her elect. You no longer have a say in anything that concerns Robin McDougal. Let me make it very clear, the boy is mine now."

"That will not do. I will not stand for it!" 

Seeing Andras' facial expression darken, Squire James wisely sat down behind his desk again as if the desk provided some kind of security between himself and the murderous beast facing him. 

Squire James tone became less caustic, "After the letter I have just sent Queen Tiandra will surely understand that Robin is not mentally stable. His case is a sensitive matter and he should not be removed from my household at this time. As the village chief of this community, I have many roles assigned to me, lawyer, doctor and even pastor. I can assure you I know what I'm talking about. It's just not wise to remove Robin from a stable environment; he has destructive habits and needs to be watched around the clock by me."

"As his life partner, I will provide any guidance needed so you need not to concern yourself with Robin's future."

"Robin was given to me from six years of age. No one understands him like I do. Should you leave with him now it will undo all the work and effort it took to bring him under submission."

"As the ruler of Hell's Island with many people under my care I am more than capable of looking after one pale and sickly boy," Andras said sarcastically. "If I lose my marbles, I can always blindly whip him with brute strength until he passes out from blood loss."

"Are you implying that I am insane?" scoffed Squire James, his feathers ruffled. "It shows how much you know about the ill tempered creature the Queen has saddled you with. Without my lashings he would be far from docile don't let that angelic face deceive you."

Bonkers, this man was clearly off his rockers and should be awarded a room in a mental asylum. 

"Let's just agree to disagree. This conversation is a stalemate. Let's just end it here for tonight. Remind your wife that the servants need to bring the buckets of heated water to the basement. I'll be waiting."

Squire James jumped out of his chair in a rage, his fat cheeks jiggled with rage. "Do not disrespect me in my own house. Why won't you not listen to reason?" That boy is the son of the creature that nearly obliterated the earth many moons ago. While his mother is a filthy adulturer and harlot. I'm sure Queen Tiandra didn't tell you whose bloodlines you're mixing with your own when she arranged your marriage. There are evil, malignant spirits residing in that boy just waiting for the day to awaken to finish the mission his father failed. Without my guidance Robin will be led astray. He must not leave this house and I cannot let you marry him. He is the child of a Fallen!"