Lily
The smell of fresh herbs filled the air as Lily rose from her sleep. The cage allowed her just enough room to sit upright within its steel frame. She wrapped her blanket tightly around her. She was thankful to the brothers, for allowing her the comfort it offered. Her yawn announced her waking, as her eyes locked with Damien's for a moment before Lily tore them away embarrassed by his intense stare. He smiled, placing plates upon the table as he looked down upon her. He loved it when she blushed like that.
She stretched, filling the cage to its limits as she twisted smoothly within it, meeting metal upon her skin as her arms reached the walls. Her soft moan brought the attention of Damien back to her, and it was gone just as quickly as he finished the table chuckling to himself. She leaned forward cautiously to scan the kitchen for the others as her senses were flooded with the savory smells, and sounds of a homemade meal. She could hear Johnny Boy, and the loud pang of spoons against pans above her. She didn't know what they were cooking, but it smelled delicious. Wrapping herself tightly within her blanket, she found her place back in the corner waiting.
"Dinner is served boys." Damien yelled as he set the last plate of food upon the table.
The men gathered quickly and took their seats as Lily watched on hopeful for a plate as well. Damien sat on the left, Luke in the middle, and Johnny boy on the right. The table was covered in a delicious spread of Sautéed green beans with garlic she could smell from across the distance, steaming hot risotto she watched being spooned upon their plates, and the thickest steak she had ever seen. Her mouth watered as her stomach grumbled.
"Are You hungry, Lily? Luke asked, directing his full attention to her now as she came to the bars quickly. He decided to give her a chance to redeem herself from her earlier offense. They had argued amongst themselves, and this opportunity was due to the kind suggestions of his brothers. He hoped she would not let him down.
"Yes, Sir. Starving." She managed to say loud enough for him to hear. "Please Sir." She added.
His reaction was hard to read as she kneeled anxiously, waiting for a response. Luke smiled redirecting his attention to his grinning brothers. After her rest, Luke felt she still needed correction for her earlier disrespect, despite the compassionate suggestions of his brothers. He was not one to let that level of disobedience slide. She would learn that quickly, but her manners could not go unnoticed now regardless. He smiled down upon her as he approached her fishing his keys from his pocket to grant her release from the cage. They had discussed her potential corrections as she slept, and she was going to receive the lighter of the corrections for her respect shown now to the relief of the brothers. The added please made them smile, and they would happily feed her upon the ending of her punishment. Luke nodded to Damien signaling his choice. What was happening? She wondered as Damien, and Johnny Boy got up, each heading in a separate direction smiling down upon her as they passed.
Luke reached her as the brothers exited, and her stomach tightened at the thought of being alone with him now so soon after upsetting him in the training room. Lily clutched her blanket settling in the farthest corner from the lock, but maintained the eye contact Luke had locked upon her now. He opened the door slowly, filling the space with his frame. Luke didn't want to chance Lily doing something stupid now, although he had a strong feeling she wouldn't. She was definitely in the flight group over the fight. What a shame, he thought to himself. He liked a little fight in his slaves.
"Fold the blanket, and hand it to me Lily." His first order came out softly, and he delighted at the quick response she offered already folding the tattered fabric without question. He wondered what the connection could be to this worn out blanket, and his curiosity got the better of him as she handed it to him with shaking hands.
Damien and Johnny Job returned retaking their seats at the table watching the exchange before them, and setting the items they brought out of Lily's view to her disappointment.
"What is so special about this thing?" He looked it over closely, returning his gaze just as quickly to her as she searched for the words. "We could get you a far nicer blanket than this tattered thing." He commented, regretting it instantly as he saw the hurt in her eyes. She had the full attention of the trio now as they awaited her answer.
"My Mother made it for me Sir." She responded. A single tear rolled down her cheek landing upon her chest. Her answer came before he questioned her further, and he felt a knot form in his throat as he watched her hold back the flood of tears that were near release. "She died last year Sir, please let me keep it."
"Of course, you can keep it little one." He answered, kicking himself in the teeth for his insensitive comments. "I'm sorry about your Mother Lily. I didn't know she died last year. Come out now, follow me crawling, and kneel beside the table." He ordered her softly trying to distract her from her tears. He couldn't handle another breakdown from her right now.
Lily waited for Luke to stand watching his every movement as he waited for her beside the cage door. She placed her hands upon the hard granite following Luke as he walked slowly to the table where the brothers awaited her company. She paid extra attention to her posture careful not to make a mistake now as she kneeled for them as gracefully as she could manage. The marbled granite was cool upon her knees, and her chest rose and fell quickly as her heart raced before them. She hoped it was dinner time.
Luke
Luke turned to Johnny boy accepting the pencil, and paper with a nod of thanks. His attention turned back to Lily who knelt so perfectly now between them. She will be a such a good girl in time. He thought to himself as he cradled her chin in his palm feeling her quiver as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Her trembling was delicious to him, and he couldn't wait to savor her fear on his nights with her. For now, that would have to wait. His food was getting cool, and there was a correction to deliver still before dinner would be enjoyed.
"Lily, what mistakes did you make downstairs?" He asked, firmly holding her face up to meet his eyes.
"I forgot to say Sir, and I ignored an order when you told me to come because I was scared." She answered timidly. Please, no more pain. She pleaded silently in her mind as she awaited the consequences for her earlier discretion.
"That is correct, Lily." He released her face from his grip as he set the pen and paper upon the floor in front of her. Her eyes followed him as he moved, and her mouth watered as she watched Luke fill a silver bowl upon the table. The snap of his fingers brought her attention back to Luke.