The whole hall is buzzing with a mixture of effervescence and dread. I look at my right side and can't help but snort lightly at the sight of Thomas's shining eyes, his cheeks flushed with excitation.

He looks back at me at the sound, his ecstatic expression turning into an annoyed one as he easily deciphers the contempt on my face.

"What is it, Mister Cucumber?" he asks aggressively.

Oh, yeah, right. He once overheard Malik calling me 'little Alex' and he didn't like it, so he decided to give me another nickname. According to him, Mister Cucumber fits me better because I'm "Impossibly tall, skinny, tasteless, looking as dull as the stupidest vegetable"

I shake my head, biting back the snarky comment I want to throw his way - Malik did make me promise to avoid getting into arguments with Thomas and I don't want to break my promise on day one, especially not when all the Masters are around.

Mister Cucumber, though? How old is he, five?

I sigh, before replying as quietly as I can:

"I just don't get why most of the staff looks overjoyed. It's the first time since I got there that the Masters are summoning us all at the same time, it cannot be good."

He smirks at that, his annoyance slowly dissipating to let room to his usual disdainful attitude.

"Oh, I see what it is. Little Alex is scared. Are you hiding something? Now is a good time as any to clear your conscience. Come on, you can tell Thomas everything"

I don't reply anything this time, my jaw tightening in anger.

How dares he? He can call me Mister Cucumber all he wants, I have been called much worst, but Little Alex is Malik's surname for me. I won't let him call me that, especially in such a derogatory tone.

A feather-like touch on my left arm is all it takes to calm me down. I look down at Angus' sweet face, feeling as guilty as always for not being able to reciprocate his affection.

"Don't mind him" he whispers, making me frown because although his expression is pretty blank, there is an hint of amusement in his voice that I don't understand, given the situation.

"Are you not worried at all?" I whispers back, making Thomas laugh.

This time, I have to fight back the urge to hit him in the balls. Rude bastard.

"No, not really. They probably want to talk to us about the upcoming Ceremony. It's pretty exciting, since it's a major annual event here. They are hosting very powerful families of vampires for a week and three days." he explains. "It means much more work for us than usual,  since everyone has to take part in the preparations. However, it also means a week and a half of eating delicious food in a magnificient decor. You also get more free time to yourself during the Ceremony, since the Masters are too busy with their guests."

He keeps on talking but I stop listening to him, the word 'Ceremony' stuck to my mind.

I've heard this word before. When was it? Right, I remember, now. They were the ones talking about a Ceremony.

I look up and sure enough,  Serena and Juliette are already looking at me, from the opposite side of the room.

I gasp, before immediately adverting my gaze. As if I could forget that I'm supposed to meet them at dawn! It's only ten in the morning, though, meaning that there is still a long time to go before I am meeting with them.

Not wanting to focus on Serena, Thomas or even Angus, since I don't want him to get his hopes up, I let my gaze wandering.

Of course, my treacherous eyes have to land on him.

Why is he not looking at me?

I mean, we have to be discreet in public, I get it, but at least he could acknowledge me with a wink, a small smile or something. Anything. Whatever he wants. He hasn't looked at me even once since I got there. Maybe he hasn't seen me yet? That could be possible, the hall isn't usually so crowed, plus it isn't like I stand out  in a crowd.

Yes, but if he had been looking for me, then he would have already see me by now. Maybe he was looking at me when I wasn't paying attention? Oh, God, maybe he was smiling at me but I didn't see it and didn't smile back and now he's feeling hurt and -

"Geez, how more pitiful can you be? He's not paying you any attention. Stop looking at him, there's no point, he won't look at you, why would he? You're painfully plain-looking, and so completely out of his league I don't even understand why he took an interest in you in the first place. I'm sure there must be an explanation to his weird attraction for you"

I shrug, not willing to let Thomas see how deep his words hurt.

He's right. He's awfully right. If it hadn't been for the mate bond, then probably Malik would have never been attracted to me in the first place.

Is he attracted to me anyway? I can't be so sure. He hasn't initiated anything remotely sexual since the time when he spanked me. Maybe he was repulsed to see me enjoying the punishment so much? I mean, who gets hard by getting spanked? What a freak! Maybe I should have let him rimmed me? Maybe he hasn't done anything to me since then because I reacted like a prude. What if I have just lost my only opportunity at being intimate with him?

I hope none of this is true. I need him. My first and only sexual intercourse was a disaster and to be honest I am not expecting much from sex in general. I can't see what's all the fuss about sex, yet deep down I still want to do it with him. I want to be intimate with him this way.

I'm supposed to join him in his bedroom tonight, though. Maybe I should try to initiate something? What if he laughs at me? How am I supposed to seduce him when the word 'sexy' isn't even part of my vocabulary?

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?"

I snap my head up upon hearing Jordan's words. He usually is a very lenient man but when he gets serious, he becomes very intimidating. No wonder the hall grew silent the moment he starts talking.

"As you may have guess, my family and I are here today to talk to you about the Ceremony, an essential event in our Community. This year, I want you to do even better than last year. Now, starting with the menu, I've noticed last time that...."

I let out a low sigh as my mind starts wandering after the first few seconds of his speech.It's going to be a long day.

*******

A long day it was, indeed. How can it be Angus's idea of fun? It's only the beginning, yet the day has been incredibly stressful and I'm completely exhausted.

Once Jordan was done talking, Serena and my other supervisors were in action, giving each of us specific orders and tasks. Nobody was forgotten.

As for me, I am in charge of the floral composition in the hall as well as the garden, which has to look on his very best, since the guests will enjoy the appetizers outside.

Now, I see you coming. Yes, I love gardening, that's true and it sounds like a lovely and easy task, from an outsider's perspective. However, there are two important factors that you may take into account before deciding that my task is as easy as a walk in the park.

Factor 1: yeah, precisely, I say gardening but what the Huserdown's family has isn't exactly a garden. It's more like a park. It's huge. No arguing with that.

Factor 2: I will take care of the park with Rose. Yeah, you've heard correctly. Rose. The most difficult, picky, perfectionist person I've ever met. Ugh. I swear, even Thomas gave me a sympathetic look when Serena told me I was going to be under Rose's command. If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

I am excited to spend the night with Malik, though. He said I could come after midnight, no problem at all since at that time everyone will be in their bedroom plus his own bedroom is at the end of the corridor, so nobody will hear me.

Another bad surprise awaits me in Malik's bedroom, though.

No, not that bad. No Thomas, tied up on the bed and wearing thungs, or similar kind of horrific pictures that I would never be able to unsee.

It's not that bad, but it still enough to make me want to lauch my own pity party once again.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, I'll cry if I want to.

The thing is, Malik isn't here. Oh, he left a note. A very sweet one, at that.

Pup,

I'm very sorry for not being here tonight. I was about to go to bed, but then I got a phone call from my idiotic brother, who once again managed to get his ass in trouble. He is in a shaby pub in town, and I am the one who has to make sure he's fine.

I am going to take the boat now. I will have to sleep in some inn, since there's no boat going from the village to the Island at night.

I would have prefer a thousand times to spend the night with you instead. Sleep in my bed and dream about me, and I will see you very soon, my little Alex.

Your  Charming Prince (how fitting!)

That's life. At least, I get to sleep in Malik's bed, surrounded by his familiar scent. I am sure I will fall asleep easily.

Or not.

At 1:00 am, I am making myself an infusion.

At 2:00 am, of course I need to relieve my bladder.

At 3:00 am, I am listening a poadcast about the importance of being lazy in a crazy world.

At 4:00 am, I'm reading a yaoi with tentacles sex in it. Only God can judge me, bitches.

At 5pm, I decide to get up and open the new box in Malik's room, that is hidden under his bed. You can all see how long I tried to resist the temptation.

I open it cautiously, not expecting anything.

I yelp, and its content falls on the ground. Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

Sadly, it isn't Thomas's middle finger. No, I've never had one before but I know what it is. It's a ... sex toy?

Why does Malik have it in his bedroom? Is he using it for himself? I thought he mostly top, but maybe I am totally wrong about it. You shouldn't expect to know a person's sexual preferences based on their looks and behaviour in society.

All this tentacles sex made me horny. There's no wrong in trying it, right? Malik will never know about it and to be honest, I've heard a few guys marvelling about sex toys and it made me a bit curious.

After taking a quick shower and thoroughly cleaning up the small and black dildo, because you never know, maybe it has been too close to Thomas's arse, I start puttting some coconut oïl on it, because of course I don't have lube.

It should still be okay, though. The dildo is very small. As for its shape, it's huh... you know... in the shape of a ...

I can't believe I'm actually considering doing that.

I take a deep breath, my eyes meeting Jack Torrance, the main character in Kubrick's film, The Shining, played by the genius Jack Nicholson. I would never have this poster in my bedroom, the guy scares me way too much, but apparently Malik doesn't have a problem sleeping with the picture of a murderer.

We actually watched this movie together a few weeks ago. Malik had already seen it three times, but it's his favorite movie, so he agreed to watch it again with me.

I spent the second half of the film with my eyes half-closed, in Malik's laps.

God, I can't believe Jack Nicholson is watching me put a dildo in my behind.

What's the sentence he wrote so many times, a clear sign that he was loosing his mind?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Mmh, how fitting. Well, all work and no play makes Alex a dull boy too.

Okay. Let's try this dildo. Werewolves just wanna have fun, and Malik isn't going to be back anytime soon. I've never touched myself down there but I've heard it can feel good, when it's done properly.

I carefully press the bulbous head against my opening, but as I am about to press further, there's suddenly a small click and the dildo rushes forward as if it had a life on its own, quickly disappearing completely inside my ass.

I yell loudly, but thankfully my voice is muffled by the cushion on which I have pressed my head.

It didn't hurt, no, surprisingly, but what the heck was that?

It's now.. Moving in me on its own?

Realization hits me as I take the box, only now noticing the small piece of paper inside. The notice. I skip the instructions on how to use the dildo, before reaching the important part.

"Caution:  This is a MAGICAL dildo. It shouldn't be used by first-timers, or people not expert at handling magic."

No, no, no, no please.

Jack Terrance, help me! I will die from shame if anyone learns about it.

Well, it's okay, Alex, I tell myself in my most reassuring voice. It's only half past five in the morning anyway. You're not supposed to go to work before seven and -

I almost forgot about that! I'm meeting with Serena and Juliette in fifteen minutes. Does it mean that I will have to spend the whole day with this weird thing stuck inside my ass? How will I ever manage to take it out? Maybe it can only be done using magic?

Shit. All work and no play, huh?

I should have probably stick to that.

A/N A magical sex-toy... I know, I know! Please don't judge me, quarantine is fucking up my brain. Hope everything is okay on your side. Thank you for your kind words on the last chapter, there were much needed. You're the best, please take care of yourselves and make the most out of the time you have to stay at home xx