"Yes I love my mistress she is so very good and kind to me, I honestly don't know where I would be without her." Amai said softly still smiling a bit. It was true though, Amai had originally been owned by a very cruel slaver who took pleasure in harming his slaves and pinning her wings so she couldn't fly. Marzia was a young teen at the time but when she had heard the abuse while she was out with her family one day she knew she had to help Amai. She had been severely malnourished and one of her wings had been broken along with one of her feet, Marzia had taken it upon herself to nurse the servant back to health.

Hearing her, Nunzio laughed and Mauro frowned. Poor Amai sure was in for a surprise. "Ignore my brother, he's always the mean one." Mauro muttered and glared at Nunzio who had finished the juice and the food. "Here you can take this back now." Nunzio said simply. Mauro sighed and took the things before looking to Amai, "Come now and tell me. What sort of books do you enjoy reading?" Mauro asked while walking out of the room with her before Nunzio could do or say anything.

"huh? what's funny?" Amai asked before fallowing Mauro "I like all sorts of books, scifi, drama, romance, I'll read just about anything really, so long as it catches my interest" she smiled easily

"Nothing is funny, he's laughing at you. That's just the sort of person my brother is. Pay him no mind." Mauro replied. He walked into the kitchen were he set the empty plate and glass into the sink and set the tray on the counter. "I enjoy reading poetry books from time to time. I know they are not very popular among people but I find them very interesting." he explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "Amai, may I ask you a question?" he asked. "I apologize if it's too personal but I'm just curious is all." he quickly added.

"Oh..." Amai said before smiling as she listened to Mauro "I sometimes like reading poetry as well" she smiled some then nodded "Of course, ask me anything you like" she smiled easily.

"How long have you been a servant?" Mauro asked softly. She didn't look older than him, he couldn't place an age on her. However she was obviously a teen judging from her small stature. He wondered if maybe she had been a servant since she was a child, that would be a sad life to live but she seemed very happy. That of course was because Marzia was her 'mistress' as she liked to call her, and Marzia was always a nice person to everyone she met. Mace really was a lucky man to have met her, Mauro just hoped that he treated Marzia properly.

"How long? Um... Mistress found me when I was twelve... and I haven't see my mother since I was five... so... I guess 15? 16 years? It's hard to remember really..." Amai said trying to think but that sounded about right... but she really didn't remember much from before Marzia, she barely remembered her mother.

What the heck kind of family did Amai have?! Since twelve? Heck, maybe even before that! "Woah..." Mauro whispered as he crossed his arms and thought about this information he had just obtained. "That is a...a very long time. So you have pretty much been doing this all of your life." he commented and frowned. That was no life at all, to work for someone else and for free! That didn't seem fair and if she was going to be his servant he was going to make sure to be like Marzia. "Did you at least enjoy it all the time?" Mauro asked.

"I didn't like that man... he kept breaking my wings... the doctor Mistress took me to said it was a miracle that I could still fly at all. I honestly couldn't be happier now though, working and living here, it doesn't even feel like work most of the time. Though, I do wish that I could remember my mother at times... the last thing I remember about her was her trying to get me away from the man that Mistress saved me from." Amai said but it was clear that she had no problem working and truly did seem to enjoy it most of the time.

Mauro was silent as he listened to her speak so easily about her past to someone she didn't know too well. Pouring himself a glass of water, he sat at the table and motioned for her to do the same. "So you were taking from your parents at a very young age by a cruel man who overworked you and treated you like trash. He constantly hurt you to the brink of death and Mazia was the miracle savior you needed in order to survive." Mauro said and sipped his water. "Sounds like you had a harsh life until Marzia saved you." he said and smiled a bit. "At least you are happy here and enjoy your work. I do apologize for whatever my brother may do or say. He's always been that way I do not know why, but try not to take it personally." he explained.

"I... don't remember anyone other then my mother really." Amai said honestly before sitting. "What do you mean? He hasn't done anything mean to me before." she said wondering why her masters brother would be mean to her at all. "In any case the past doesn't really matter I don't think, I'm happy to serve your family." she smiled easily.

"Well I was going to ask if you remembered anything about your father but hearing you say you don't remember anyone else, I shall refrain from asking then." Mauro said and shook his head. "My brother likes to pick on people most of the time. He always likes to mess with me and hurt me. If Marzia is there though, she tends to put him in his place for a little while." he explained. "True, the past is the past. No use focusing on that now, we need to focus on the events taking place now." Mauro said honestly.

"that's Awful! He shouldn't hurt you, you're his brother!" Amai frowned worriedly not liking the thought of anyone getting hurt and knew she would step in to protect him if she saw his brother trying to hurt him, even if she got in trouble or hurt for it

Mauro laughed hearing Amai sound so worried, it caused his fangs to be visible for a moment until he calmed down. "Yes he shouldn't, but it's just the way he is and as his brother I cannot ask him to change who he is, that wouldn't be too nice of me would it?" Mauro asked and rubbed his shoulder.

Amai wasn't too surprised getting a slight glimpse of his hangs but frowned softly unsure how to answer that. "I don't know really... it's not nice for him to hurt you... but I don't think I had any siblings so I'm not sure what's okay or not to say to them" she explained rather unsure honestly.

Mauro frowned and rubbed his shoulder. "Well yes it's not very nice. I tell him to stop and he does for that day but then the next day he just does it again. Sometimes he won't hurt me for a few days and then I guess he gets tired of waiting so he just hurts me again. It's not fun being the youngest child but you get used it after a while." Mauro admitted with a sad smile. "Sometimes I think he's going to break a bone in my body." he whispered and looked over at his brother who had walked down to the kitchen and was looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Done painting Mauro?" Nunzio asked.

"That's... that's horrible!" Amai said before looking over as she heard his brother coming down and talking to him. She looked back to Mauro wondering if there was anything she could do for him before she left him be... she didn't want to get him in trouble with his older brother after all

Mauro shook his head. "I was just taking a break and talking to Amai." he answered. "I noticed." Nunzio said coldly. "Go back up there and get back to painting or at least clean it up and put it away!" he hissed, making Mauro flinch. "Jeez Nunzio, I'll get to it soon. I'm coming up blank right now away." Mauro answered. "Then go put it away and get it set up when you actually are going to use it!" Nunzio said angrily, hitting the back of Mauro's head. Mauro took a deep breath as he stood up and turned to punch Nunzio. "Just back off Nunzio!" he yelled only to get hit back again, resulting in a fight between the two of them.

Amai gasped as she saw Mauro get hit and frowned biting her lip knowing she could get in trouble but hated seeing people fight "P-please stop! Please don't hurt each other!" she said trying to be loud enough that they could hear her over their fighting

Both Mauro and Nunzio stopped to look at Amai, "Oh why don't you just shut it and get back to work or something!" Nunzio snapped. "Hey leave her alone! You can't yell at her like that, you know she'll tell Marzia when they return." Mauro warned. "Whatever, I'm not scared of Marzia. What's she going to do? Yell at me? Please that's something she always does." Nunzio muttered and pushed Mauro away from him. "She would be smart not to tell no one though." Nunzio said before leaving. Mauro sighed and wiped some blood off his face then left to put away the painting he had been working on.

"My lord are you okay?" Amai asked worriedly seeing the blood after she had shivered hearing Nunzio's threat. she then frowned a little when Mauro left too and sighed softly heading off to help clean hoping that her interfering wouldn't cause more trouble for Mauro or herself... but she would prefer to get in trouble herself rather then Mauro getting hurt

Mauro stared at the painting he had started and sighed. When were his mother and sister getting back? Well he did know that girls always took forever shopping, especially if it was for a wedding dress. He stood in front of his painting and decided to at least try to finish it. He didn't like leaving things halfway started, it bothered him. His entire body hurt though, but he'd get some rest later.

(so his brother won't try anything until his sister leaves for good right? does that mean we should skip? or do you have any ideas?)

---------- Post added 03-16-2016 at 02:06 AM ----------

A few weeks pass and it's finally the day of the wedding Marzia had put off telling Amai anything until the very last moment and even had her in the wedding as a bridesmaid. After the wedding the reception Mace decided to go ahead and get everything set up while letting Marcia say her good-byes since they had a long honey-moon planned. Marcia smiled as she got changed and finished up her packing before heading down to the doors where her mother, father and two brothers were along with the staff and her personal servant. "I can't believe the day is already here, I'm going to miss you all so much. But after the honey-moon I will be visiting." she smiled trying not to tear up as she looked at her family and the staff she had come to think of as family.

When the day finally came for Marzia to get married and leave, Mauro was sad and afraid. His sister was leaving and now he would have to stand up to Nunzio. That's the scary part, Nunzio was probably already planning on what he was going to do to him once Marzia left. When she spoke up, Mauro gave her a sad smile and glanced over at Nunzio who had a serious look on his face as always. However, Nunzio looked over at Mauro and smirked. "Oh Marzia don't start crying." said their mother, pulling Marzia into a hug. Their father smiled and gently smoothed out his daughter's hair. "You know you can come over whenever you want princess. You let us know if that man isn't treating you well okay?" he said and smiled then hugged her.

"I love you both but Mace is wonderful really." She smiled wiping away her slight tears after hugging her parents back then looked to her brothers and gave Mauro a loving hug "I promise I'll be back and will visit as often as I can, and you are always welcome to come and visit me." she smiled a little before looking to Nunzio. "I love you but please try and leave Mauro alone, he's your brother you should be nicer to him!" she said before stepping back from her brothers and heard her ride outside. "Well I guess it's time for me to go." she said softly but then frowned a little sadly when Amai stepped forward. "Amai... I'm really sorry.... I didn't know how to tell you but... Mace said that we didn't have enough space right now for another servant... please, i know this will be hard on you but please stay here, I'm sure you'll still be very happy and well taken care of, and we'll still see each other and we'll still be friends... but... at least for right now, I can't take you with me so... I want you to keep Mauro company okay? and try not to let Nunzio pick on him, it's very important to me that they don't fight you know?" she said and Amai looked confused for a moment before tearing up and hiccuped a little trying not to cry, especially when she was given a hug by Marzia before she left. Amai didn't know how to react to this... or how to feel... all she knew was that she felt really hurt and sad at the same time.