Consort of the Master's Court

The feeling of sun on my skin was foreign to me. My eyes strain at the brightness and I am grateful for my parasol. Perhaps I was getting too used to the dim and drafty corridors of the castle. It was not as I had much choice when I got to come and go, however. I decided not to ponder this fact and carried on down the street. My skin pricked as I felt eyes follow me. It was early summer, so my heavy attire stuck out like a sore thumb; it was meant to conceal the wound marks a healing tincture could not dissipate. To cover myself I had lace gloves and a long sleeved dress, but the real kicker was the silk scarf. I saw people eyeing it like it was an extra limb. Perhaps I should have just gone with a high collar instead…. If only I were allowed to choose my own clothes.
“Natalia!” I heard a voice call me from across the street and my head turned at the sound of my name. My lips parted in surprise as I laid eyes on the fellow jogging towards me in the crowded market.
“Iosif…?” It took a moment but against my will my face broke into a smile as he approached. “Is that you, baietel?”
I saw his cheeks flush and he rubbed the back of his dark head. I already knew I would get the ‘I’m not a little boy’ speech from him before he even started mumbling about it with all the timidness of a boy who had yet to come into his manhood. He certainly had grown up in the last couple years since I saw him. I could not help myself as he prattled about his apprenticeship at the tannery and I pulled him into an embrace.
The boy - the young man - fell silent and I could practically hear his ears steaming. He was warm… such an odd sensation to hold a living thing. I held the hug for perhaps a moment longer than was proper, if only just to hear the heart beating in his chest.
“Erm…” he floundered for words when I pulled away fixing his shirt and his hair. “S-So, how have you been? Er, how is your work… at the castle?” He lowered his voice significantly out of caution. Of course it did not matter since my lavish ensemble declared my status as a court consort. It would have been less subtle for him to shout.
I gave him a weak smile and shifted the basket of baked goods on my arm, attempting to ignore the stares or odd whispers of those passing us on the street usually reserved for streetwalkers. “As well as it can be I suppose,” I tried to calm his worried look, unable to stop myself from attempting to console him. “You needn’t fret Iosaf. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself!” I made my tone soft and sarcastic to lighten the mood.
He grinned at that and awkwardly gestured to my small stature; I barely reached his collar bone after his growth spurt. We both shared a genuine chuckle and I gestured for us to move out of the sun. Iosaf cautiously followed, looking curious. I turned my parasol so we could hear each other better, but mostly to cover Iosaf’s face so he would not be seen with me.
“You know what I’m going to ask you, do you not?” He nodded bashfully at my prompt. “How are my mama and the little ones doing…?”
“Since you left - er, went to work - your mother was able to hire a nurse to care for Jan and Gina was able to return to school.” His cheeks darkened and he averted his eyes as if he were picturing her face when he mentioned my little sister’s name.
“That is… exactly what I wanted to hear…” I breathed a sigh of relief. My chest had clenched with tension while he spoke but his words eased my fears.
“What is it like? Working there, I mean?” He suddenly blurted. I could tell he had been waiting to ask that again at the soonest opportunity.
I attempted a smile and a soft tone to ease his trepidation. In reality, I really should not have been comforting him, but it seemed it was a habit I had fallen into. Or perhaps it was always in my nature and recent years had made it more prevalent. I chose to be honest with him instead.
“Cold. Lonely. Sore and dizzy much of the time and hungry the rest since they don’t eat mortal food, they often forget we consorts need to consist of anything other than wine.” I took a macaroon from the basket and took a bite for good measure. “I have made several friends amongst the other consorts and one or two of the masters, however. They like me for being small and delicate. I think they feel they must pity me or protect me.” I mused aloud and finished off the macaroon.
Iosaf clearly was at a loss for words and was circulating between pity, guilt, astonishment, and was that… admiration? I reached out and gave him a pat on the arm to console him.
“It’s not all bad. I think I’ve met someone. I plan to write to him when he returns to his estate.” His lips parted in questions, so I answered. “He is a fledgling. A lord, I believe. We had a… bit of a misunderstanding.” My face tensed at the memory. He thought I had been playing him when I was just putting up a front to protect myself. He was genuinely kind and gentle to me too…
“Well... I hope it works out for you?” Iosaf’s comment sounded more like a query as he fidgeted with his tunic.
I put my smile back on and handed him my basket. “Take this to mama, would you?” Before he could refuse, I reached into my beaded little bag and put a few silver pieces in his hand. “And get Gina some nice flowers.”
Iosaf nodded dumbly, his cowlick bobbing up and down. “Y-Yes, of course.” He scrambled to pocket the money and brusquely hugged me. He held me a bit too tight as if he were distressed to see me go. His voice quivered when he spoke.
“Please be safe, Tali.”

Career

Qualifications

Consorts must be fully human and exhibit decent breeding or if they are lacking in pedigree, be attractive enough to garner attention. Young adults are preferred in many cases.

Career Progression

The most basic consort is one privately kept by a moroi (vampire). They are very loathe to let their possessions go until they tire of them, which could be months or decades. Other moroi in Sulaste often do not care for 'scraps' so once discarded, consorts have trouble finding work in other homes and must settle for privileged fledglings or common work. 
The most envied - and dangerous - position for consorts is amongst the Master's court.

Payment & Reimbursement

Consorts and their families are given privileges not available to other commoners. Their benefits include tax exemption, a generous monthly stipend, and protection from a request for consort services for the next quarter century. The catch is that the loved one that lives and works as a consort may never return. 
To discourage moroi from abusing their consorts, if one is to go missing or die in their care they are required to provide benefits to their next of kin for the next quarter century. Over the centuries, policies have developed that even if a callous moroi attempts to falsify claims of abandonment or desertion, they are still required to make the payment. This encourages the master of the consort to take very good care of their charge.

Perception

Purpose

Consorts exists as a living offering from the nation of Sulaste to their masters that rule over them so they will not prey upon the general populace. The humans and the vampires maintain a symbiotic (albeit parasitic) relationship with the more powerful beings. This does not entirely eliminate the chance of someone going missing at the hands of the moroi, but with their hunger often sated they can focus on things other than murdering mortals.

Social Status

While consorts hold a position over most other humans in Sulaste, their fellow mortals find them distasteful or are fearful of them for choosing their lifestyles. Many bigoted commoners find them to be debauchers and hedonists, coveting the lives of the moroi and vying for a chance to advance as a fledgling. This is rarely ever the case unless a moroi were to take a mortal as their spouse.

History

Over the centuries the moroi of Sulaste found that they were much more fond of holding lavish balls and drinking wine than hunting for their food in the moonlight. Decadence was hard to achieve when one was preoccupied with survival, so they developed a taboo understanding with their prey. 
Policies have developed since then to assure the safety and comfort of the entire mortal population of the nation because the fact that is even more taboo than the reign of the moroi, is that their mortal subjects outnumber them 10,000 to 1 and their identities are not hidden.

Alternative Names

Lambs, courtesans, blood whore, etc

Demand

Very high amongst the master's circles.