The Abyss Gazes Back… and Purrs

As the sun sets on the horizon, gas lamps begin to flicker and the clattering of horse-drawn carriages settle down. In the heart of the Cthulhu Household, lies the isolated Ele’yah, daughter of Cthulhu, and next heir to the household. The shadows across her room lengthen, bright hues of reds and oranges illuminate her surroundings before dimming down in the twilight, mirroring the melancholy residing in her heart. This loneliness is further brooded by the absence of her mother, who is frequently out tending to matters beyond her comprehension. Her father, the slumbering Cthulhu, is bound to never speak to her again unless he is awoken. The servants of the estate are of no use to Ele’yah either, they are mindless spawn whose roles are to maintain the estate and its residents. Although Ele’yah had found solace in the silence that surrounded her, she did not know that silence was about to be broken.

“My dear Ele’yah. I am to return to the estate come 2 days from the time that this letter reaches you. I hope you will retreat from your room to come greet me, I have someone I’d like for you to acquaint yourself with. With much love, we shall reunite soon.” A letter received 2 nights ago by Ele’yah from her mother, The Mistress.

She could not rest, not out of excitement, but rather in thought. Ele’yah couldn’t feel any more indifferent about where her mom was at this point, for as soon as she had the slightest grasp on her, The Mistress would be out the doors once again. However, there was no more time to reminisce, as the sun was already breaking the horizon, and as promised, Ele’yah had felt The Mistress’ incoming presence. The servants all scurry to the main courtyard of the estate, lining up in 2 parallel rows, prepared to bow at her arrival. Ele’yah, intending to grant her mother’s request, tidies up for the first time in a while. She bathes herself with extra care, her dark-teal hair, resembling the tint of the Sunken City, now shining and brushed. She adorns herself with a pleasant, yet captivating, black, floral dress. Her corset is fastened slightly tighter than usual. There is no reason for her mother to have written a letter for her foretelling of her arrival, and with a guest that she’d personally like her to meet, no less. Perhaps… The Mistress has brought in a potential suitor for the heir? The answer awaited in the carriage that is to arrive.

The sun shone bright as the carriage carrying The Mistress Cthulhu parked before the ornate steel gates that bridged the gap between the outside world and The Cthulhu Estate. The Mistress promptly vacates the carriage, along with an unfamiliar figure. The Mistress Cthulhu treaded as the individual followed, looking so quaint with their demeanor. The servants orderly bow down as they walk down the main courtyard path. There is Ele’yah, awaiting The Mistress Cthulhu and her guest as they walk down the hall of servants.

“Ele’yah, my dear. You’ve tidied yourself up and finally fled that dungeon you call a bedroom. I’m so glad to see you. Have you gotten skinnier?” The Mistress Cthulhu spoke as she ran her hands around her waist.

Ele’yah brushes her mother’s hands away from her body. “It is good to see you again, mother. I wish to meet this person you spoke of.”

“Yes, my dear. Allow me to introduce you to Chiyo.” She steps aside.

Jokingly, Ele’yah makes a remark.“Chiyo? That is an oddly exotic name, have you invited over a Ne-”

Ele’yah is interrupted by a pink, swishing tail. A woman of a dainty, yet slightly curvy stature stood before her, adorned with the Cthulhu household’s signature maid uniform, her ears perked up. Her medium-length hair swayed as she walked forth to greet Ele’yah.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Ele’yah. My name is Chiyo, and I will be taking care of you from now on.” She bows before her, her tail still swinging.

Ele’yah was taken aback at Chiyo’s appearance. Such an exotic complexion she had been gifted with, as such with the Nekojin race. The Nekojin are a race notorious for their isolationist society, making them very rare to see outside their domain in the Eastern World. They are revered for their beauty, feline traits, and unpredictable behavior. For The Mistress Cthulhu to get her hands on one, what hoops did she jump through? Ele’yah could only wonder.

“I do not need a babysitter, mother.” Ele’yah, now irritated at the reality of her situation.

“This is not a decision you can decide. You will be in Chiyo’s care from now on. There is no one more qualified than her to serve you as I am out of the estate.” The Mistress Cthulhu, standing her ground, calmly explains. The maid is standing with her hands held together below her tummy, her tail swinging and expression remaining unchanged.

Ele’yah, not wanting to argue with her mother, gives in. She did not want to bring down her mood with the little time she would spend at home. The Mistress Cthulhu being at home did not make much of a difference either way, as Ele’yah never left her quarters, and as a result never socialized much with her mother. As they returned to the home of the estate, Ele’yah quickly retreated to her bedroom, not wanting to socialize with the new maid. That was, until she heard a knock on her door.

“Excuse me, Miss Ele’yah. I am coming in.” A voice is heard behind the door.

“Wait, you simply cannot grant yourself entry to my room!” Ele’yah calls out.

Ignoring her comment, the maid came in, her hips swayed with each step she took and her tail swung along. As always, she has that intimidating yet alluring aura to her. She was clearly holding something shiny in her left hand, intent on giving it to Miss Ele’yah.

“Miss Ele’yah, as your personal servant, it is only right to give you ease of access to summon me when needed, especially considering the lifestyle you live, so I’ve heard from The Mistress Cthulhu.” Her voice, seemingly emotionless, it was impossible to tell what the maid’s intentions were. “I grant you this, you may ring it when you need me, and I will attend to you as soon as possible.”

It was a bell. The bell in particular shined a vibrant gold unlike anything Ele’yah had seen before. The rim of the bell was adorned with intricate engravings, as if the artisan who created this intended to tell a story within the etched patterns. Ele’yah, curious to hear what the bell sounded like, shook it. No sound came out of it. The maid, looking another way, furls her ears towards the bell and slightly tilts her head.

“How may I serve you, Miss Ele’yah?” The maid smiled, the gaze of her green feline eyes piercing Ele’yah’s.

“It was nothing…” Ele’yah pouts.

“The bell can only be heard by those with sensitive ears like mine, Miss Ele’yah.” she smirks, “It is why I bestowed it upon you.”

Ele’yah scoffs, “I do not wish to play games with you, maid. leave at once.”

The maid, abiding by her mistress’ rule, bows before Ele’yah before promptly taking her leave.

Ele’yah returns to her time reminiscing in bed; minutes turn to hours, hours turn to days, not once does she call for her maid. The maid drops meals in front of Ele’yah’s door, as per her request. Ele’yah’s nineteenth birthday is approaching, tomorrow, in fact. However, there was no celebration to await her, her mother had already left the estate without saying her farewells as usual, the servants had never prepared anything for her birthday either. To her, and everyone else, Miss Ele’yah’s birthday was no more than another passing day, another cycle of the dance between the sun and the moon, uneventful it was, really. That was, until she heard a knock on her door.

Ele’yah remained silent, she did not want to speak with her maid. A faint, warm glow peered under the door. The young mistress hid under the covers, her body’s silhouette sculpted under the draping of the blanket. However, she would open her eyes with a confused expression on her face upon hearing the door creak open. It appeared as if the maid behind the door anticipated Ele’yah’s negligence to answer the door, and so she took it upon herself to enter.

“I believe even you would know that it is forbidden to ent—”

Ele’yah is interrupted by the maid’s soft voice, she is wishing her a happy birthday..? The maid sings for the startled mistress, her voice an alluring melody. Ele’yah sits up abruptly, fleeing the domain under her blanket, her dark-teal hair spilling over her shoulders as she clutches the blanket. The warm glow she had seen under the door now illuminated the room; the maid, her voice softer now, almost tender, makes eye contact with her mistress.

“Happy birthday, Miss Ele’yah.”

The maid presents the cake on a decorated plate. The cake was small for one, yet elegant for a queen. Decorated with black swirls, berries, and a singular candle that glistened the ornaments below. It was baked and prepared the way Ele’yah had always liked it.

“You knew about my birthday… the way I like my cake, it’s my favorite too…” Ele’yah blinked several times, her lips parting slightly in disbelief. “How did you know?”

The maid’s tail curled gently as she stepped closer. “What good is a servant unfamiliar with their master?” She winks, setting the cake on the bedside nightstand.

Ele’yah could not remember the last time someone celebrated her birthday. As she pondered briefly, she looked into the candle of the cake, its glow lighting up the abyss in her purple eyes. The silence stretched between the two, thick with unspoken questions, it would be up to the maid to break the silence. So she did.

She pulls out a small velvet box. “A gift,” she said simply, placing it in Ele’yah’s hands.

She hesitates before opening it. Inside lay a delicate silver pendant, its centerpiece a dark, iridescent pearl, one that shimmered with hues the same dark teals and greens that were present in the mistress’ hair, like the depths of R’lyeh.

“This is such a beautiful gift…” Ele’yah paused briefly. “I don’t understand…”

The maid’s ears twitched, her expression unreadable. “It’s your birthday, you are allowed to celebrate it.”

Ele’yah’s breath hitched. How did the maid know? Her birthday, her favorite cake— How did she understand the ache in her heart? What else does she know? It almost intimidated her, but she could do no more than trace patterns around the pendant that was gifted to her.

“Maid. Whatever you try to do to get me to warm up to you, you’re no more than a servant in a foreign land. You don’t belong in the House of Cthulhu.” Ele’yah scoffed.

Before Ele’yah could make another remark, the maid bowed slightly. “If you’ll permit me, I’ll leave you to enjoy your cake. Should you need anything…” She gestured to the golden bell, also on the nightstand, her lip curving into a knowing smile. Her eyes, warm yet laced with an enigmatic undercurrent.

Ele’yah watched as the maid turned to leave, her pink tail swaying gently behind her. For the first time in years, the silence of her room didn’t feel oppressive, it felt… different?

She didn’t understand how she couldn’t brush this pest off her shoulder. The maid, whom she refused to refer by name, continued to persist. Yet, this relentlessness turned out to be something that even a pessimist like herself could get used to…

“Maid.” Ele’yah suddenly called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

The maid paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Yes, Miss Ele’yah?”

Her lips tremble. “...Thanks.”

“Always.”