Exalted - Book I:Subsist

new toy, whom which they had just purchased. As the maid turned the corner, a smile grew on Clara's face, almost as if she were overjoyed.

Racing over to her, she grabbed the leash from her maid, looking her up and down. The girl was completely naked, with the exception of her

collar and leash, which was required by law for any girl that's been purchased. Gasping, Clara dropped to eye level with the girl's knees,

the maid simply walking herself to the car without a word.

"Oh my goodness! What happened here?!" Clara exclaimed with an eerie shriek of a voice. The girl simply didn't speak, fearing whether or

not her new master was the type to be very demanding of her, both emotionally and physically. Clara simply smiled to her, patting her back

as she began to walk back toward the car, leash in hand. "Please, don't be so reserved. I won't bite. Now isn't the time for that," Clara

explained with a giggle.

The girl seemed confused, but it wasn't as though she had a choice in the matter. Whether she wanted to understand her or not would only be

left for time to decide, following Clara into the car. Just as she was taught by her previous owner, she closed her eyes before stepping

into the car, bowing to Clara, who had already entered the vehicle. "My name is Anna. I am eighteen years old. My measure-."

"Oh no. There isn't a need to be so formal. Just come into the car. We need to get home. This area is festering in dust," Clara cut her

off, tugging on her leash for her to enter. Anna jerked forward, not letting out a noise. She wasn't used to being treated nicely at all,

her mind still blank on how to take her situation. Clara smiled to her, as though she were trying to extend an emotional hand to her. In

Clara's experience, the girls she purchased never really had much of a personality. And with good reason. But she never held it against

them. "My name is Clara Bryce. I'm an advisor to the High Council for the NOH office of Sydney. It is nice to meet you Anna." Clara

continued to radiate her smile toward Anna, trying to get her to open up to her.

Anna simply looked down, still afraid to show any emotion, though she was glad that she was being shown some light affection. It was the

only bit that she'd been shown since her previous owner died.

*****

The car had stopped in front of a large house. Not exactly a mansion, but it definitely was not something typical of the local people to

live in. Clara stepped out of the car, Anna following behind. In front of the two, the maid seemed to lead the way, making sure the path

happened to be clear for the two of them. Clara began to explain the situation that Anna was just bought into, leading Anna into the house

as she spoke. "This is where you will be living from now on. If I do not happen to be around, please ask Kyuumaru for assistance or advice,"

Clara gestured over to the maid, who was bowing at the door to Anna. Anna almost cracked a smile, but simply nodded to the maid at the

door. Walking further into the house, the foyer was rather large, almost as if they really did walk into a mansion, Clara simply

continuing. She walked up the stairs now, Kyuumary leading up the rear. "The house is yours to use to your liking. You do not have to

adhere to pet standards, so long as you are within the confines of this house's walls. Isn't that great?"

Clara turned to look at Anna, a large smile on her face. Anna blinked at her, simply confused now. Was she bought out of slavery? That

couldn't be the case. She would have been free to go then, and wouldn't have that collar on her neck. She blinked a bit, then tugged on her

collar a bit. It was a simple bad habit that she had. She clearly wasn't struggling. "Master Clara... But I am a pet, right? Wouldn't it be

illegal for you to grant me so many freedoms...?" Clara blinked to her obvious confusion, then simply smiled, turning from her and heading

into a room.

Gesturing in toward the door, Clara looked over to Anna. "This will be your room. Please, change into whatever you like. We will be waiting

for you in the dining room." With that, Clara and Kyuumaru walked away from her now, leaving her to her own devices. Anna wasn't used to

being dressed, so she didn't know much of what to do. On top of that, she'd never had her leash let loos

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