Faline

Pushing all that to the side, I focus on the now as we come up on several small rooms. They almost remind me of prison doors; solid and heavy with a small window to look in and out. Stopping, I look at them in confusion. Trisha enlightens me.

"These are the rooms specifically for those who need to detox. Made up so they can't harm themselves with any outside sources. This area also has thicker walls so the screaming doesn't disturb any of the patrons that would be nearby."

Not knowing much about the whole process other than what I've seen in movies, I can't say much. I'd had friends in school who had gotten hooked on different substances and seen the changes in them, but never during or after they went to rehab. Pretty sure she isn't used to having to put animals in the rooms since they should be unaffected by drugs.

"You said upstairs that the drug used on the animals can be good or bad, how could it be a good thing?"

Hadn't brought it up earlier since other stuff had been the topic, but now it's needed knowledge. The older woman looks at me as if I'm a little slow, which annoys me. Upon seeing my reaction, she explains.

"Same reason you and I had talked about those teas earlier. Man-made medicines don't work on those who have much higher metabolisms, so things like painkillers won't work. If this drug dulls the senses, it could be used to help deal with pain."

Oh. Guess I was being a little slow on the uptake.

"From what I'd gotten from the woman’s mind, she'd been told it's a mix of herbs and has no effect on humans, makes animals compliant, uncaring, and unresistant. The way I figure it is that it works like cannabis on a much, much higher level. She wasn't given the name of it though, so I don't know what it is. But you're right, it could be useful, as long as it doesn't create a dependency on it."

She nods in understanding. Knew she would, being a student in nursing once. There are people who say that marijuana doesn't have addictive properties, but I've seen many that start feigning for it as if it does.

Mood swings, lack of hunger and sleep, needing it just to eat or get more than a small nap. What I don't understand though, is if it is and acts like that, why does it only affect animals and not humans? I had a reaction to it because of my inner cat, but it was very faint compared to what I'd seen with the others.

We keep going further down, which is where the larger rooms are that house several slaves to each one, up to eight in some that I see lined with bunk beds. Others only have a couple, which makes more sense since not all sleep at the same time. No dressers, mirrors, closets, or other furniture are in these rooms. The uniforms they wear are the only clothing items they own, much of the other stuff isn't needed.

There's a large bathroom, just like the others with multiple showerheads, toilets, and a large sunken tub. Towels, basic soaps, and some grooming items are around, but nothing as 'fancy' as in other areas of the massive house. I can just imagine the utility bills for a place like this.

Since the place is 'open' night and day, the slaves don't all bed down at once, so the beds can be interchangeable. Even more so since no personal items are kept. Even my kitchen crew switches out at times with others so they can sleep.

There are random beds that have someone within them, either sleeping or resting. A couple even have multiple bodies, just in animal form and curled up next to each other. Trisha scowls and moves to wake them, but I stop her, pulling her away from the room.

"What are you doing? They're sleeping."

She shakes her head.

"We are not to fornicate with other slaves."

My mouth opens as I stare at her, even Seth looks at her as if she’s sprouted a new head. How can a healer of the place, one for many years, not know?

"Trisha, animals sleep near each other for comfort. It even promotes faster healing for both Shifter and Were-animal. It has nothing to do with sex. How do you not know this?"

She scowls but looks confused. Unbelieving, but not sure.

"A few have said as such before, but I thought it lies. An excuse to sleep with someone not a client."

The male and I both shake our heads. Having both a Vamp and Werewolf telling her otherwise, she looks chagrined. Can just imagine what she's thinking right now, a woman whose purpose is to help and heal others, having been making them suffer because of her assumptions.

I smile and pat her arm.

"I had to explain it to my sister too, and she is a Werewolf. When animals sleep near each other, whether in human or animal form, it's comforting. Like a child with their favorite stuffed toy. It wasn't until semi-recently that I also learned that it helps with the healing process, all the heat and energy aids recovery of an injury. At home, she and the other animals that stay with her all sleep together in the basement in a nest she made up."

Thought it hilarious that I had to explain the whole thing to her. Not even realizing that the reason she preferred sleeping the way she does now is because of how it makes her feel. She has a love-hate relationship with all the heat though, she hates being hot.

The old woman still looks a little upset, but she leads the way further down to another room. I've noticed that none of them have doors; all doorways rounded at the top. Would wager it a safe bet that behind the wallpaper, it's all stone.

It's pretty dim down here as well, don't know if that is intentional or not though. Looking into the room she motions into, I see Mercedes laying on her back on a bottom bunk. Her eyes had been closed, but open at all the commotion. Light brown orbs direct themselves to me, recognition dawning before she moves to get up. I hurry in, telling her she doesn't need to. She looks conflicted, but grateful as well, pain lining her face.

There's a thin plastic-like sheet over her, it confuses me for a moment before I see the fluid within it. An ice pack-like thing. Freeze or just get really cold then lay it over large areas. Quite genius really, never seen it before but I can imagine it being very effective. Too bad none of the Vamps have volunteered their tongues, she'd heal much faster. When I offer, she shakes her head.

Already pale mocha skin looks even more so when she moves wrong and causes pain, writhing just creating more pain. I scowl and have Trisha and Danica remove the cool pack from her body. She whimpers, eyes closing while jaw clenches. I hadn't really gotten a chance to see her wounds before, and seeing them now has me cursing. She winces, but I can't tell if it's from pain or my words.

"Seth, come in here, please. Kneel by her head and tell her what happened to the sick freak who did this, will you? Mercedes, keep your eyes on him."

She looks scared but does as told. While he tells her very colorfully what we did to the man, I hunker down and do what I can to help things along. The young healer’s apprentice runs to get some scissors and when she returns, I have Trisha cut the stitches over some of the worst wounds and set about closing them myself. Healing saliva is one of the good things about Vampires. Many here choose not to use it though, wanting to be cruel and spiteful.

The front of the woman's body is a mass of cuts and slices, no actual stab wounds, which is the only good here. I've seen pictures of the before and after of someone getting scarification done, this reminds me a lot of that. This, however, is in no way beautiful, wanted, or done correctly.

This is all from a sick man who didn't want to pay for what he really wanted. Injury like this is allowed on the animals but not the humans, as they don't heal the same way. From what I hear, many of the Were-animals and Shifters have grown into what they call a 'painslut'; ones who like and even enjoy pain.

For them, it's fine, I guess, but not every single one likes to be beaten or carved into just because they can heal it all within a couple of hours or a couple of days. Before I came, it would take a few days and thick scars would form because they weren't being cared for or even fed properly. Since I've gotten better food into them all, they're healing much better and faster, actually having the energy to do so. Even the humans, but this is still too severe for a few sandwiches to fix. It will help though, so I have Danica once more run an errand for me. Sent to Kerry with a list of foods to start making and a specific plate and drink made up for Mercedes.

There's a roast and veggies set up in the giant pot, but I doubt it's ready yet. By the time I finish most of the bigger wounds, she's breathing easier. Since Vamps can only take in tiny amounts of water, saliva is in short supply when not feeding.

Granted some of her wounds had opened and bled, but the taste was awful since it was mixed with a healing agent Trisha had put on earlier. Poor girl had been exhausted but couldn't get to sleep. By the time I finish though, she's out. No real expression was given to Seth as he recounted what was done to her attacker and his ultimate destination of Lady's 'red room', discomfort being her foremost thought.

With the type of clientele that comes here, I'm not surprised that what I'd done had made her feel that way. Doubt many are into any type of foreplay, which is mostly what that action would be considered. Of course it could be from having a female predator licking the soft killzone areas.

After pulling away, Trisha looks over her and assesses the current state of the wounds. While she does that, I go to the bathroom and swish water, trying to get rid of the Neosporin taste and feel. May help heal, but it sure doesn't taste all that wonderful.

Seth had followed after me like a good little guard, his face going blank to not reveal anything. That's fine, I have enough to deal with without worrying about his moods. A toothbrush scrubbing is what I'm resorted to, just swishing not getting rid of the oily substance.

After several minutes and a tiny amount of mouthwash, I finally get the majority of it off. Need to look into tongue scrapers or something. Ugh.

"You make some interesting noises when you have your mouth hanging open."

Looking over to the smiling wolf, he doesn't even try to conceal his amusement at my predicament. Raising a brow, I look back haughtily.

"If you're not careful I'm going to use you as my mouthwash next."

My face falls in horror at the gleam in his eyes, followed by a loud burst of laughter.

Oh gawd.

"Blood! I meant blood! Dammit, you suck."

"No, I believe that's your thing."

Hiding my smile with a scowl, I toss a wet washcloth at him. Will get caught before it hits him, but it's wet enough that he'll still get pelted with some water. I make sure to throw it hard enough that more than a few drops hit him.

With that, I smile sweetly and walk out. Danica is standing there looking all sorts of confused, so I'm guessing she didn't catch all of it. That's fine, I'm not explaining.

Trisha comes out of Mercedes's room shortly after, but I'm looking back to the detox rooms.

"She more comfortable now?"

I ask, but I already know. Replying in the affirmative, I lead us back to the small rooms.

"Danica, could you go into one of the bigger rooms and get the mattresses off the beds and line them on the floor? Make one big bed in the middle of the room then toss the blankets and pillows on it, they don't have to be tidy."

She nods and rushes off to do so. Need me a little gopher, they're quite handy. Trisha motions for one of the others that are standing around to go and help.

Being the healer and set apart from them, she's looked to for direction. I won't be taking any offense if I give an order or ask something and they look to her first. Could basically call her the matriarch around here. In a fashion.

When I'm looked at by her and a few of the other humans milling around, I explain again.

"Shifters and Weres draw comfort and healing when sleeping together in animal form. I'm sure it works in human form since they still give off a lot of heat, but it's more effective I think as animal."

I look over to Seth, but he just gives me a shrug.

"You know, you're about as helpful as a phone without a signal."

He grins at me as he crosses his arms and leans against the opposite wall. Looking around, there's a couple of other animals around, I can smell them, just can't place them. Rolling my eyes, I open one of the doors a little cautiously.