(Ok, that makes sense)
Picult went to go punch the slightly older lad before stopping and letting out a sigh. "Yeah, your right." He said begrudgingly. "What happened with you and that servant girl?"
Cypher froze once the question was asked. He composed himself and looked at Picult coolly. "I dont see why that's any of tour business."
“Hey, you’re almost out of those weird tiny pastries,” Eloise commented, noticing Beck’s nearly empty tray. “I believe that this requires a foray to the kitchen to get more.”
“Undoubtedly,” Beck agreed with a slight grin. The two of them hurried to the kitchen, trays up and eyes averted from everyone.
Picult backed away with his hands in the air. "Apologies for asking you highness." He said in a nasty tone. Cypher sighed an apologized before looking at him intently. "Have you found you soulmate or at least someone whom you would like to spend the rest of your time with?" Cypher asked him, looking up at the brightly shining moon. Picult stared at him with a heated gaze before responding, "I have, but they do not seem to notice my affections for them. We would be great togather." He smiled wistfully. Cypher suddenly realized something and apologized to Picult. "I'm sorry but I have to talk to someone." He said and ran back in without hearing his response. "That's alright, it seems as though you always do."
Cypher composed himself before making a beeline for Ladonia. "Apologies Madame, but if you could spare a moment, I'd like to talk to you about one of your…workers."
Ladonia raised a perfectly penciled-in eyebrow. “You mean my shifters?” she asked disdainfully, studying him. “What would someone like you want with one of them? Was one of them rude to you, Your Highness? If so, I promise that shifter will be severely punished.” She definitely liked what she saw. “You look very handsome tonight, by the way,” she practically purred.
"No, none was rude to me. Why I want one and what I do with them is not any of your concern. I asked you because yours are the more…better behaved than others." He said simply
Ladonia’s lips curled into a frown. “Very well, as long you pay me a fair amount,” she responded evenly. By fair, she meant a hefty price. “Which one, exactly, are you referring to? Was it Honey, perhaps? She’s quite the charmer.”
"Ah, no, it was the shy girl serving drinks. While honey is a good choice, she is a little…extra for my liking." He explained. "I would like to talk to her first then confirm my purchasing."
Ladonia tapped her chin in thought for a moment before realizing. “Oh, you mean Eloise?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “She’s quite ordinary, but to each his own, I suppose. But I should warn you, her lifespan is the shortest of the four. I can send for her.”
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Eloise felt a sharp tug towards the door. “What the hell!” she cried, glaring at the door.
“You’re being summoned by Ladonia?” Beck asked, his eyebrows shooting up. “But why?”
“I don’t know, but if I don’t get going, she’ll skin me alive!” With a hasty wave, Eloise left the kitchen and walked in jerky moments towards Ladonia, coming to a stop next to her.
(Ooh what if eloise convinces Cyoher to take both her and beck? There would be some sort of drama)
(i like that hahah,, i am all for drama)
Cypher glanced down at the girl and felt his heart racing. "If you dint mind, I'd like to talk to her in private before making my decision. Will there be any ritual? I know how you witches are." He said, a teasing smile on his face.
“Yes, there certainly will,” Ladonia said with her nose in the air. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She walked off, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
Eloise looked up at Cypher, doing her best to bite down her angry feelings and smooth her features into a pleasantly neutral expression. “Yes?”
Cypher scrunched up his face before turning his blue eyes towards the girl. "I would for you to come work with me." He said choosing his words carefully.
He kept his ears pointed towards the crowd and made sure to check that no one was listening in to his conversation
“Why?” Eloise asked, the picture of innocence. Within her, though, a fire raged. “Why me?” She wondered what would happen to her friends before realizing something could obviously happen to her.
"That is something that shouldn't be discussed in public. Your mistress agreed to let you go for a fair price. Do you have any conditions before you come along?" He asked. He was taking her away from her home and family, the least he could do was allow her to be comfortable.
Eloise blinked, not understanding. She was equal parts angry and terrified. Not something to be discussed in public? What the hell did that mean? “If you have to take me, take Beck too,” Eloise said bravely, biting her lip. “Please. He’s my best friend.”
Cypher looked at her with a warm smile. "You have my word. I will do everything in my power to get the both of you." he responded with a smile. "Where is that witch of yours, i do suspect she wasn't far, listening in as best as she could." he muttered
Eloise brushed back a lock of hair, looking around for Beck. She didn’t see him in the crowd, but the second she turned back around, Ladonia was once again by her side.
“So? Have you decided?” she asked, pretending that she hadn’t been near enough to hear Cypher’s comment.
"Yes I have. I have taken a liking to two of your workers. I'm.not sure what both mean to you but I feel they will help me better adjust to the new responsibilities of being king. I do like this ones personality and her work ethic, but another one, Beck, also caught my eye. Of course you will be compensated for this, name your price." He spoke. Cyoher decided to go formal in his efforts to purchase the two from Ladonia, but knowing her, she may have changed her mind already and that was something he prayed didn't happen.
Ladonia thought for a moment. “Well, I really care for those two,” she responded, all fake sugary sweetness. She didn’t actually care much for either of them, but would get as much out of the transaction as possible. “Hmm…I could really use your heart…but if that doesn’t work for you, just one of your hairs and fifty thousand dollars is just as good. Because I need something to distract me from my sadness at having to part with my babies.” Eloise glared at Ladonia, who was thankfully not able to see it.
"Of course, I'll give you your required items, but you must sign this contract before taking it." He said, waving his hand to produce a sheet of paper. The co tract was legally and magically binding so it would benefit both parties equally. Cypher also took out his checkbook and wrote a check twenty-five thousand dollars. "You will recieve the rest of the money once the two of them have joined me at the palace and have broken their bond completely with you."
Ladonia’s eyes sparkled with greed as she took the contract. She read through it quickly before signing it. “Here’s your contract,” she responded. “I can do the parting spell tomorrow then, and Beck and Eloise can pack their bags tonight.”
"They are welcome to stay in my hotel if they would like." He said, waving a hand a.d the contract burned into flames.
“Tonight?” Eloise asked, her eyebrows shooting up. It was the first time she’d spoken other than one on one conversation that night. Ladonia glanced at her with (clearly fake) motherly affection.
"Of course. I have the entire upper floor to myself and my guards. There are a few rooms empty there so you will each have your own and have as much privacy as you seem necessary. That is, if you accept." He said bowing slightly, glancing up sneakily at Ladonia and looking away before she noticed.
“Of course they don’t accept,” Ladonia snapped, before Eloise could say anything else. “I need to say my goodbyes, and they need to get their things.” Eloise pressed her lips together, her cheeks flushing slightly. She barely had any belongings, and what she did have was pretty ragtag. However, she knew that Beck might actually care about the few possessions that he had squirreled away.
"Apologies Mistress Ladonia but I am quite certain I was addressing the girl and not you." He said, looking at her intently. "If you choose to accept Eloise, you will be guaranteed protection under the Fae crown." His eyes didnt move away from Ladonia. He expected that she made quite a few decisions on behalf of the workers but as new master (which sounded quite awful to him), he would make sure they had a voice of their own.
“I don’t know…” Eloise mumbled, feeling Ladonia’s quiet rage beside her. The witch had always had a bit of a temper. “Beck might actually want to collect his things, and I don’t want to go without him…”
"It is your decision and according to the contract your old mistress signed. She cannot punish you for not following her orders because you have been signed over to me." He said
Eloise frowned, trying not to shudder at the mention of ownership by anyone. Just because she was made from a rabbit, why she treated as lesser? She still had the brain capacity of everyone else, whatever Ladonia and the others said. “Well, I’ve got to find Beck then,” she replied, looking around and then spotting him. She waved him over, and he strode over to their group.
