@ Jinx...
Thibault had taken Cassia into his home when she was very young, after passing her by in the city one day. Her beauty, even as a child, had astonished him, and her scent had mesmerized him, and so he'd taken her as soon as he'd had the chance, allowing her to grow up in his home, always keeping a watchful eye on her, despite never meeting her directly. However, now that she was old enough, he'd deemed it time for them to meet properly.
He sat near the fire when she entered, a cup of tea on the table next to him, an old book in his lap. He studied her closely when she entered, noting how she averted her gaze, and how scared she looked. "There's no need to be afraid, Cassia. I will not harm you." He reassured her, voice carrying a thick French accent, although his English was perfect. "I'm sorry to have woken you so late in the night, please, come sit. Have some tea." He offered, gesturing to the seat across from him and the waiting cup.
----
Rosemarie was shoved into the room by her handlers, threatening whispers sent her way warning her to behave. She had been a graduate student before she had been taken, attending university on scholarship, but that seemed like a lifetime ago, even if she had only been taken the week prior. Ever since then she'd been beaten and abused into submission, the only trace of injuries left from her 'training' were a fading bruise on her cheek and a half-healed cut to her lip. Her short brown hair hung in ringlets around her face, warm, but fearful brown eyes looking around the room nervously before settling on Zane, staring at him nervously. She had been
dressed simply in a white cotton nightgown, the sleeves slipping from her shoulders as she trembled slightly, both in fear and from the cool air.
She frowned as he asked her to come closer, fiddling anxiously with her fingers as she took a few nervous steps closer, although she remained distant, wary of the man her handlers had told her was now her owner.