4. Cassia

4

CASSIA

" G ood morning," Elara, one of the other maids, greets in passing.

Her words fly over my head.

Since the nightmares began, I've had a hard time remembering them. But there are always a few things that I can never seem to forget.

One: The nightmares are always consistent. I wake up in a cage wearing nothing but rags as four elven men paw at me like horny mutts. They speak about me as though I'm not there, saying vile and lecherous things about just what they'd like to do to me.

Two: The Master is always in them. Though he isn't one of the four dark elves who enjoy making me squirm, my Master is always present in some form. Beside the men, off to the side, in the corner of the room. Wherever he is, I can feel his eyes as if he were actually touching my body.

And three: Last night, there was an orc.

I'm not sure why I remember him so clearly. He was just standing there, watching me with a strange intensity. He didn't say anything, didn't move. Just stared at me with those dark, piercing eyes.

I can still feel the weight of his gaze on me, even now. It's unnerving, to say the least.

I try to shake off the memory as I go about my day, but it's hard to focus on anything else. The dreams have been getting worse lately, and I can't help but feel like there's something more to them than just my subconscious playing tricks on me.

And now… an Orc?

"An orc," I repeat aloud, drowning in confusion.

I've heard the stories, of course. The gruesome tales of orcs rampaging through villages, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. They rape, they murder, they pillage. They're monsters, pure and simple.

But the orc in my dream... he wasn't like that. He didn't look like a monster. He looked... well, handsome.

His skin was a deep, rich green, like the leaves of a forest in the height of summer. His eyes were a piercing black, like the darkest night sky. And his body... well, let's just say he was built like a warrior.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. His chest was sinewy, sculpted as if he were a statue come to life. And his legs... they were strong and powerful, like tree trunks.

But it was his face that really caught my attention. His features were sharp and angular, with a strong jawline and high cheekbones. His nose was straight and proud, and his lips were full and sensual.

He was the complete opposite of the dark elves I've grown up around. They're all sharp angles and pale skin, with calculating eyes. But this orc... he was different. He was warm and inviting, with a spark of life in his eyes that I've never seen before.

I can't stop thinking about him. I know it's ridiculous, but I can't help it. There's something about him that draws me in, that makes me want to know more.

I've never seen an orc in real life, and I'm not sure I want to. But if they're all like the one in my dream... well, maybe I've been missing out.

"But that's not the point," I remind myself.

When I look up from the floor I've been scrubbing, three maids are staring at me like I've grown a horn from my forehead.

I smile awkwardly, letting out a hollow laugh. "Just… musing aloud," I say, all four of us clearly very uncomfortable.

The three women scurry off, leaving me to sit back with a sigh and scrub my face. What has gotten into me? Evil elves and handsome orcs? My life at the manor is a good one, why am I sabotaging myself this way?

I can't seem to get over this change in my dream as I go about my day, distracted and slightly disoriented, tired like I haven't slept at all. I'm so out of it that I almost drop a tray of silverware while setting the table for dinner.

"Careful there, Cassia," says one of the other maids, catching the tray before it crashes to the floor. "You look like you could use some rest."

"I'm fine," I say, forcing a smile. "Just a little tired, that's all."

But it's more than just tiredness. It's like there's a fog in my brain, clouding my thoughts and making it hard to focus on anything. Even the simplest tasks seem to take twice as long as they should.

As I'm folding napkins, another maid comes up to me. "Hey, Cassia, have you seen the Master's favorite wine glass? I can't seem to find it anywhere."

I search my memory, trying to recall if I saw it earlier in the day. "I think I saw it in the pantry," I say, hoping I'm right. "Check the top shelf, it might be hiding behind something."

The maid nods and hurries off, leaving me to my thoughts. I can't shake the feeling that something is off, that there's something I'm missing. But every time I try to put my finger on it, it slips away like a wisp of smoke.

Maybe I just need a good night's sleep, I think to myself. Maybe then I'll be able to clear my head and get back to normal. But as I finish up my tasks for the day and head to my small room in the servants' quarters, I can't help but feel a sense of unease. Like there's a storm brewing on the horizon, and I'm right in the path of the storm.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the dark thoughts. I need to focus on the present, on the tasks at hand. There's no use worrying about things I can't control.

But as I lay down on my narrow cot and close my eyes, I can't help but wonder what the night will bring. Will I have another nightmare? Will the orc be there again, watching me with those intense black eyes?

Gods, I hope so.