Faline

She and I are going to be very busy for the next several hours. Two other females are animals, I may be able to have them brought out together. Having someone familiar next to them in a new place tends to make things a 'little' easier.

There are small benches along one wall under the showerheads but the spouts come out enough that the seats stay relatively dry. Trisha gets back before Tasha is finished, so I look through what she has. A lot of it is what you'd find in medicine cabinets in any home, with the addition of bandages and creams.

"Since you're the one who knows what to do here, you can take the lead. Since Danica is predisposed, I'll help where I'm needed."

She nods, her features taking on a stern appearance as she goes into Nurse Mode. While she examines the girl's nethers, I take the upper injuries. Not much I can do about the track marks or bruises, but the scratches, rub burns, and split skin get tended to.

Old scars are seen, yet many are years old, which has me questioning her.

"Tasha? Where were you before Eddie’s?"

Tender breasts and pelvis are prodded, but again, nothing can be done. She shrugs, but when she sees my look, she sighs.

"A pimp had me, before that I was on the streets. After havin’ my own freedom, the pimp who 'owned' me didn't like my rebellin’. He sold me to Eddie three days ago."

Looking over her, she has the body of an adult, but I get the feeling she isn't. I leave the rest of the tending to Trisha while I question the girl. I had wanted to wait, but if she's talkative now, I'll take it.

"How old are you? Were you on the streets on purpose or do you have family you can go back to?"

Her clear eye flicks in defiance, body stiffening. I'm all for being yourself and having a backbone, but if she tries anything like this with Lady, she'll be hurting for it.

"I was on the streets by fourteen, runnin’ from a drug-crazed momma an don't know who my daddy is. I'd been on my own, dodgin’ gangs and pimps...but one got me by promisin’ safety in his home. It was startin’ to get really cold and the friend I'd been stayin’ wit got picked up for sellin’ weed."

She winces as the healer probes swollen areas, the action causing her to relax from her stiff posture.

"I shoulda known better. Thought he and I was friends, but he decided differently. When I proved too difficult to handle after a few weeks, he sold me. He'd wanted to kill me, but said he'd get more satisfaction knowin’ that I'll be in pain for a long time."

Her face falls as tears start forming, but she refuses them from shedding. Body had stopped shaking while under the water, but it's starting up again. The girl looks directly at me before continuing.

"I'm seventeen, an I've known that there were others around... I'd seen a few hangin’ ‘round before. I saw you go from a cat to a girl, but not like how the others do. The others who'd been in the basement with me...they would try to avoid they grubby hands by turning into animals, but that didn't stop the big guy, he just said it was more sport."

Fishing is done while avoiding the thoughts of where she'd just been. On the streets by fourteen and this is what it led to three years later. I give her a small nod, reading her reactions while trying to ignore that even in animal form they couldn't escape.

"I'm different, yes. You've seen the Were-animals and Shifters, have you seen any others?"

She looks a little confused and shakes her head. Oh boy.

"I think that knowledge can wait for now. Just know that unless you try to hurt any others here, I myself will not harm you. Now that Trisha is done, I want you to take something to help you sleep and build your strength. We need to make sure all drugs are out of your system before you can join everyone else. When you are more healed, you'll be taken to the Mistress of this place. Were you on any other drugs before going to Eddie?"

Head shakes before she shrugs and admits to the marijuana. I nod and drop it, motioning for her to drink what she's given by the older woman. Pills can be hidden away, so capsules are gotten then broken open into a liquid or food.

So far she hasn't shown any fear of knowing about the homo-mammals, but I would think the knowledge of Vampires walking among the living is more jarring. The bottoms of her feet also had some lacerations, but they've been cleaned and covered. Giving her a new towel, I lead her back out and head to the room.

"What you see the others wearing is the current uniform for each gender, Trisha and Danica excluded as she's the healer and the girl is too young. The Mistress is a pain in my ass, but I'm glad she discourages pedophiles. Any that are found are dealt with immediately. Do you understand what this place is?"

She nods while looking around, so I continue.

"I'm working on getting a different get-up for everyone, but it will take some time. You and the others have come just as I've been given the responsibility of caring for all the submissives here. You will know them from clients by what is worn. Once you and the others are cleaned up and rested, you'll be taken to the Mistress where she'll tell you all what's expected of you."

Her voice is still quite raw, but she's proving to be quite stubborn, I hope it doesn't count against her.

"And just what is expected?"

I shrug, trying to be nonchalant.

"Same thing you were doing when on the streets to begin with - if that's what you'd been doing, anyway. The reason I asked if you had someone to go back to is because if you had, I'd make sure to get you back to them. You said you've been on the streets, and by choice. Anything more, the head honcho will tell you. The doors lock from the outside, but I'll have someone around if you need to use the bathroom. Since you weren't a previous user and not held long enough to get much of it in you, you should be able to come out soon."

The door is opened when we get back and she goes in with no problem. She turns and looks at me, her face serious but mixed with fear.

"I won't be kept in this room all the time will I?"

My head shakes, damp hair heavier than normal.

"No. Once cleared, you'll be shown around and given a bed. Sleep for now for as long as you can, it will make the time pass sooner. Food will be brought to you soon."

She nods but still looks scared, can't say I blame her. Hope whatever Trisha gave her to sleep kicks in soon, last thing we need is for her to go into panic mode. Sleep is much better than staring into the dark anyway.

The door clicks shut and I give a small smile through the window before stepping away, exhaling heavily as I step closer to Seth in his leaning pose. He's holding my clipboard with attached notebook and writing utensil.

I get written down the ledger info, then make a side note elsewhere on what else I learned from her. The background information. Think I'll do that with each of them, so I'll get a better idea of where to place them when they enter 'gen-pop'. General Population.

Danica is at my side when I look up, a smile on her face. For a young girl living in a brothel, she's awfully chipper, almost like those peppy morning people. Those that you tend to want to strangle until after a heavy amount of coffee, and maybe even then.

I don't want to strangle the girl, don't get me wrong, just seems so weird. Or does to me anyway. Some point at a later date I'll have to ask her about her background.

"Big bed is all put together. Is it true that they heal faster when sleeping together? That no sex is involved?"

I nod, unnerved by her interest in possible intercourse. Her next words help relax the feeling, however. Her face taking on a serious look as she concentrates internally.

"That's really cool. Too bad it doesn't work for the humans that way. Even for the comfort factor, it would help some of them."

Nodding again, I think over it as well. The only problem is many don't want to be touched after leaving a patron. Can understand that, so can't fault them for it. Maybe sometime later something can be arranged but right now my plate is full.

Trisha comes up with her purse-bag and tray, signaling she's ready. Telling her that I wish to do the two female animals together has her looking nervous, but I doubt anything can happen that we couldn't handle. She finally complies, pointing out the doors that each is in.