Lord Parker's Story

I watched the gathered people with my trademark stubborn gaze. Anybody could have been my buyer. Or not, this wasn't my first auction after all. I had been born into slavery. But no matter how many times I had been bought, they had always brought me back. I can't be tamed, the slave traders have tried. This is probably my last auction before they cut me loose because I won't make them any money. Or keep me and forced me to make babies with them. But I doubt they want to risk having them turn out like me. One more auction and I'm free. A shiver of excitement went down my spine. With my bound hands I touched the bracelet hooked on my ear, the gift from my mother before she died. Mother, I wish you were here to see this, your baby will be free at last. I kept watching the crowd, nobody dared to look me in the eye, good. One of the other slaves next to me was trying to hold back tears, it was her turn next. She was a new slave, we had taken her at the last town we passed through before heading here. She was terrified, but lucky, she hadn't gotten the chance to feel the sting of the whip yet. Speaking of, the lead slave trader poked me in the back with the handle of his whip. Hard enough to make any of the other slaves whimper, but I stayed silent. "You aren't going to screw this one up are you." I didn't say anything, giving him my answer. The new slave was sold, I looked out into the crowd to see who had bought her. It was a nice young couple. One of those couples who bought slaves and returned them to their families. I could tell by their eyes. She would be home within a week and all this would just be an unhappy memory. Then it was my turn. I stepped up to the front like I was suppose to and stared the crowd down. Daring them to buy me, to tame me.

"Parker, sweetie" I could hear my step-mothers voice, I woke to see her leaning over me "Happy Birthday" She offers me a kind smile, I repaid her smile and sat up, I gazed around the room, Lightly painted blue surrounded my room. "Ready to go and get you own personal slave?" She smiled again, I frowned Maybe I could put it off another year I thought quietly to myself, "Step-Mother-" She cut me off, "Parker, please call me Rose" I nodded, I didn't feel right calling her mother. "The truth is, I-" My father walked into the room "Happy Birthday my son" He smiled, I gave him a cold look, whenever I looked at him all I had to offer was coldness.
"Let go to the Market, Nice and early" He gazed at Rose and she left the room, returning to her cell. "Father, I feel I'll, Maybe next year..." I could feel my Father's anger rise "No! You are the son of a Lord you will do as I please!" He nearly yelled at me, I flinched, I remember the night he cut me, I played it over in my head. I asked where mother was and he grabbed the knife and slowly walked over to me. "Parker!" My fathers voice brought me back down to earth. "Ok Father, as you please" He smiled and left the room, I couldn't risk another cut, I would do as he pleased, I couldn't win. I was annoyed that I had to leave my soft silky bed.

I walked in and instantly saw slaves lined up and a bulky man with a wipe, I sudden,y felt sick. "Ok Parker, Have your pick" Just as my father finished his sentence people turned and bowed down, I opened my mouth to ask them to stand, but my father saw and pinched right where my cut was, My eyes filled with pain but I tried to hold my cry of pain back. The people raised and I walked along the line of slaves, Not wanting to pick any of them "Hurry up Son" My father protested "I don't know, I don't feel right-" "Stop screwing up!" My fathers words where harsh and I put my head down and looked up to see a beautiful lady.
I gazed in wonder, I didn't want to pick her, but before I could more on my Father called out "I will take that one" I saw he pointed right at you.

I watched as a man, a women, and another man who looked to be about my age, walked up. Everyone in the crowd bowed to them, I guess they were important people. The younger man and the older man seemed to argue for a moment. Then younger man started walking along the line of slaves as the crowd got back to their feet. There was more arguing and then the older man pointed and me and called out. "I will take that one!" The slave master poked me the back again. "You better behave this time, this is a very important family." Then he adressed the man. "Her price is fifty gold. I must warn you that she's a feisty one." I locked eyes with the woman, but she turned away quickly, so I moved my gaze to the younger man.

I saw her eyes turn to me, "Don't worry, my son will break her" my Father replied to the slave master and handed him fifty gold. I broke away from the girls gaze t secretly thought about her, She was beautiful, You didn't need to look closely to see the sip marks in her back.

We got back to the carriage, My own Fathers slave dragged mine along, "What is your name?" I let my Father lead on while I dropped back to to you. I studied your face but only for a while, "Son, hurry up, don't walk with that girl of filth!" He demanded, I didn't want to follow my Fathers call but I ended up doing it any way. I thought deeply, really I was a slave in my own Manor... A sale to my Father and all he demands I must follow.

"Don't worry, my son will break her" I smirked, if I had a gold piece for everytime someone said that... The older man's slave grabbed my bound hands and started dragging me along. The boy was a little weakling, if I had dug my heels into the ground he wouldn't have been able to move me. But for the time being I played along. I'd cause hell when we got to their house, well it was probably a Manor. I carefully hide the slight limp in my step, from a cut on the bottom of my left foot. Luckily it was a recent injury and hadn't gotten infected yet. The younger man, the older man's son apparently, walked beside his father for some time, the dropped back to the join us. The boy's eyes dropped to the ground the moment he did, the poor thing had been broken, something that would never happen to me. "What is your name?" he asked. Before I could answer the older man called his son away. As the younger man walked back to his father I said my name. "Lucy. My name is Lucy." We got to a carriage, one of those fancy ones with handles on the outside for slaves to hold onto. But of course I wasn't going to use those stupid handles, there's a much easier way. And its fun. I pulled my bound hands away from the other slave and ran at the carriage. When I was close enough I jumped, grabbing onto the railing at the top, to stop luggage from falling off. I pulled myself up, purposely getting my dirty feet on the window and sat cross legged in the luggage compartment. I swear the woman, was going to faint when she saw me do this. I mentally slapped myself when I saw the small amount of blood I had left on the window along with the dirt, so much for hiding the cut.

I couldn't hide my smirk when am saw Lucy climb up on the carriage, My Father yelled at the guards to get you down. My Father cut me with his glare, I looked down and smiled when he left, This Lucy was like no slave I have ever seen I thought to myself. I noticed blood dripping down the window, it was overiois Lucy was cut... I knew what I would do tonghit would come back and haunt me. After an hour the guards gave up, but they tied your arms to wear you sat.
I hoped in the carriage, it was already dark, it would be late when we reached the Manor. "Father-" I began "hold your filthy tongue!" He yelled at me, What this anger would lead to scared me more than his words, Maybe I should hop up with Kucy I thought to myself. Rose sat with my Father trying to stare out of the window the had blood and dirt all over it. "Mark, be kind, he is your son" Rose said, Rose my be my step-mother... But I prefers her over my father any day, My Father glanced at me as if I was a dog begging for scraps, "I don't know that for sure" I'd rather get cut by knives than hear that, my own Father didnt believe I was his.

We traveled in silence until we reached the Manor. I glanced at the huge white walls which he 100 rooms within, "Parker, lead that girl to the cells" My Father said before disappearing into the Manor with Rose at his heels "Parker.... Guess Inam Fatherless" I mumbled. The guards grabbed you and pulled you down, They passed you to me and left me, I grabbed your ropes and lead you down the halls into the cells. I gently put you down, "Don't go to sleep tonight" I said to you trying to hold back my anger my room would soon witness. I left you with out another word. I opened the door to my room, As soon as thu closed I walked over to the picture on me and my Father when I was young, I threw it on the ground and heard it smash, I felt tears pick at my eyes but held them back.

It was already 10:00 and I guessed my Father would be in bed, I popped into my own bar thrown and grabbed something I used for my cut my father gave me, I slid back down to the cells and opend the door to yours. "Here, it will stop the infection" I passed the Medicen to you and waited.

The older man was furious, he was yelling at the guards to get me down. But I wasn't going anywhere. They eventually gave up and just tied my already bound hands to the luggage rail. Smart move, because I would have jumped if they hadn't. I sat with my head at an odd angle, to keep my bracelet from falling off my ear. It was my secret treasure and I would die if I lost it. We reached the Manor after a while. The guards untied me from the luggage rail and pulled me down. They handed the rope to the younger man, I think his name is Parker. Parker lead me into the Manor, down too many halls for me to keep track of, and into a room full of cells. Gee, what a surprise, a cage. It seems that people still don't understand that caged doesn't mean tame. It means dangerous. As soon as you let the lion out, it tears you to pieces. He put me inside one of cells and told me not to sleep tonight. No dur, all slaves know that the first night is the most dangerous. There a hint of anger on his face, I was only able to see it because I know people. Then he left. I decided to look around the cell a little bit. It was a typical cell, small, brick walls except for the bars at the from, chains hanging from the wall, dirt floor, a old mattress that had springs sticking out of it, the works. Well that only took about three minutes. I sat down on the mattress and examined the cut on my foot, I needed to take care of it before it got infected. I tore the sleeves off my dress, one was for cleaning it, and the other to keep it clean tonight. Just then Parker came back and opened the door to my cell. "Here, it will stop the infection" He handed me what I guess was medicine. I took it and I stared at it for a moment, then I opened the jar and sniffed it. Then I stared at it some more. I decided it was actually medicine and not poison or something. I took one of the sleeves and carefully cleaned my foot. I was proud of myself, I didn't even make a noise as I cleaned the inside of the cut. Though I'm sure I went really pale. Then I smeared some of the medicine over it and tied the second sleeve on to protect it. "Thanks." I said to Parker.

I watched Lucy for a while before she must of givin up that it wasn't poison, I smiled at her thank you, "You must be hungry" I smiled kindly at you before walking towards the kitchen none was awake thank god, I couldn't imagine what would happend if I was caught. Why was I risking everything for Lucy's safety? The question ran through my mind. I grabbed some fruit and bread than quickly ran back down to the cell, I handed Lucy the fruit and grapes "Don't worry it's not poison" I say before you can inspect it again.
I sat down, watching you, I wanted to get to know you but I didn't want to make you nevous, after all I was a lord and you where a slave. While you ate I tried to pull down my jacket so my cut wouldn't show... I gave up after a while all the jackets I wore where always too shot I thought as I pulled it down again but it failed.

"What is this!?!?" I sudden scream made me turn... It was my father... I was sure This was the end they would find me tomorrow dead. He stormed towards us I closed you cell door, I still had the keys... "What are you doing her in the dead of night!!!!" He yelled again soon joined by Rose and Cherie... Great my whole family here... "Mark... He might be helping her so she can work for him" Rose said, She was so kind even though I wasn't her son. "Maybe so... But A punishment must be givin" My fathers words where cold... This could be the excuse he has been waiting for to disown me.
My Father brung out a whip we kept down here, why would he punish Lucy when I am the one to blame? At the end of my thought I felt the harsh bite of the wip, I screamed out in pain... Never had I felt so much pain. My father left followed by Rose but my sister, Cherie she ran over to me hugging me, I layed on the floor barley able to move, "Go" I mumbled to my sister, she obayed me and followed after my Father.

I might just lay here, I was sure I as bleeding, Maybe I would be better off dead, I thought to myself. I let the cold ground cool me down as my wip mark warmed up.

"You must be hungry" My first though was that he was taunting me, then he left again. He returned with food. I didn't get my hopes up, he might just eat it in front of me. Then he gave it to me. Some grapes and a piece of bread. "Don't worry it's not poison" Right after he said that I literally inhaled the food. Something I've learned in my years as a slave, when you're given food you eat it fast or you might lose it. The older man entered the cells and started screaming. Parker closed the cell door as the older man stormed towards us. He yelled some more and two females entered the room. The older one and a younger one. The older woman tried to protect Parker, but it didn't work. The older man, Mark apparently, took a whip off the wall. I braced myself, I thought he was going to hit me. Then he hit Parker, his own freaking son. Parker screamed, I couldn't tell if it was from the pain or surprise. Parker dropped to the ground and younger girl came over and hugged him. Parker told the girl to go and she left after Mark and the older woman. Parker just lay there, mostly likely in shock. I rolled my eyes, slaves don't react like that to being whipped, they simply take it and keep going. I tried in my own not so helpful way to make him feel better. "Aw you'll live, it isn't that bad. Try being whipped a dozen times. It isn't bleeding much, by morning it won't even hurt anymore. If you put some of this on I'm sure it won't scar." I held out the medicine he had given me for him to take back.

I knew I looked pathetic, It's not that it just... It's just the shook that my own father would whip me... I got up slowly and took the medicine form Lucy I smiled "thanks" And put some on my back, I didn't want to leave Lucy, but tomorrow I would have to ignore the fact that I had feelings for her and be her Master. I grabbed the cell and held on as I pulled myself up, I left the medicine incase Lucy needed it again, after tomorrow my Father would have wiped her more times than any an could count, With out another word I slipped out of the cell room and into my bedroom. I didn't know if I was welcome back into the Manor but I couldn't sleep in the cells, I wasn't spoiled but my body was made for a soft silky bed, Quickly after my thought I felt bad and guilty, I had left Lucy there... All alone with no bed only a scratchy mattress with no cover.
I almost went back down to the cell to give her some supplies to make the night livable, but a gentle knock at my door stopped me... I was so sure it was my father coming to disown me, but I was glad to see Cherie's little face, She closed the door and walked over to my bed. "Why did Father whip you?" Her voice sounded Brocken, I was furred that Father had made had made her watch that, "Cherie, father does many things I don't understand" That was the best answer I could give, Cherie kissed my check and gave me a hug before she slipped out of my room and left me alone, I sat there for a good hour thinking about what the morning would bring.

Parker got to his feet and took the medicine back. He smiled and said thanks as he did. He put some of the medicine on the whip marking. He set the medicine back in my cell and then left. I put the medicine under the mattress, hopefully I'm returned to the same cell after whatever happens tomorrow. I decided to put my bracelet under there too. If Mark found out about it I'd never get it back. If it was in here then it would be safe. I peeked out the small, barred, window sent into the wall. It was dark outside so I could see anything. So much for that. I heard someone enter the cells so I moved away from the window. It was a guard. Aw they think I need to be watched. I'm flattered. He took a seat in a chair next to my cell, a key hanging on his belt, tauntingly close to the bars. I smirked, I could get grab it with bound hands but... The springs on the mattress were sharp enough. I started quietly sawing through the rope. It took about an hour, but I finally broke through. And in that time, the guard fell asleep, like all good guards. I quietly reached through the bars. When my fingers were just inches from the keys, the guard grabbed my wrist. Shoot, someone who was actually good at their job. "Lord Mark will be hearing about this in the morning." the guard said. He didn't bother retying my hands, probably knew I was just going to break loose again. He moved the chair so that he was across from my cell instead of next to it. I would have flipped him off but I was trembling and trying to hide it. I wished that he would just punish me now and not say anything like most guards would have done. If Mark would whip his own son what was he going to do to me?

I didn't sleep that night, I sat down in my chair waiting for my Father to summon me. Right at that moment my Father's slave opened my door to great me, "Lord Mark request your company at the cells" Without another word he left. I don't need to change as I didn't change to sleep, I got up and Made my way down to the cells Why did my father want me... In the cells... Maybe this was it I dreaded what will happen in the next hour.
I opened the cell door to find my father with a whip, I closed my eyes expecting to feel the bite of the whip, A moment passed and I felt nothing... I opened my eyes to see Lucy in her cell with her hands tied, "Morning Son" My Father spoke, he called me his son... Why was going on? "Morning... May I ask why you called me?" I spoke to my Father but my eyes fell upon Lucy. "This brat tried to escape last night," He spat at your feat and I knew what was coming, I studied the whip.
"Here, you can have the pleasure," My Father handed me the whip... I wasn't going to whip Lucy, But I had no choice... "Father, Lucy will suffer enough" I offered you a cold twisted smile "I poisoned her food, She will be dead by next week" I was glad I learned how to lie, I would never poison Lucy's food, But I needed Lucy to believe I did so my Father would believe my story. My Father smiled, "You finally make me proud" I felt guilty I lied to my Father... But he would do the same to me without feelings.
My Father put his hand on my shoulder and left the room, I walked toward Lucy, I bent down at her cell "Lucy, I didn't poison your food, I would never do that." I studied your face "I would never do anything to hurt you." I smiled and watched Lucy for another hour or so.

I was so confused. First Parker was nice to me, then he said he poisoned my food, then he said he didn't. Now he was just... watching me. I didn't know if I should trust him or not. Or even if I could trust him. I got to my feet and started pacing. I was getting claustraphobic and restless. "Why buy a slave if you aren't going to have them do anything?" I stopped pacing when I realized I had said that out loud. I decided quickly to follow up, maybe get myself a little freedom. "I mean, seriously. You should have a nice little contract saying that I'm your slave. Yet you let your father decide what happens to me? What are you five? The name on the contract is the person who owns the slave. I know they exist, I've seen them torn up enough times." I stopped there, my tone had been a little harsher than I meant. Also a little more... desperate. It made me sound weak. And I am NOT weak. You can't be a slave if you're weak. I brushed a few of my over long bangs out of my face and sat down. I watched Parker, waiting for his reaction.

I listened to Lucy as she walked around her cell asking me question after question, I watched as she sat down, "Do you know what my Father does to slaves?" I got up and said a little hasty, "I remember when I was only seven, My Father tried to get me my own slave, My slave disobeyed my Father and do you know what he did?" I found myself looking down. "I can still hear the screams" I got up and left, I needed to be alone, "I am surprised that a smart girl like you hasn't worked this out yet: I am not like my Father" I opened the door and exited the cells.
I opened my door to my room and let myself fall down on my bed, Why was life so complicated? I heard my noble horse, Fantasy galloping around in her pen outside my window, I hadn't rode in ages, I pulled myself of my bed and went down to the stables where I meet Fantasy "Hey girl" I smiled as I patted her neck before I scratched her ears. I stood their for an hour just patting her before I decided to ride, one last thought ran through my mind, What was my Father going to do if her discovered what I had done for Lucy?

Parker lectured me. I guess he had misunderstood what I had said. "That isn't what I mean't..." It was too late, he had already left. With nothing else to do, and no guard watching me, I decided to look out the window again. Now that it was daylight I could actually see. It seems I have a perfect view of the stables. I love watching horses, they're so graceful, so powerful, so... free. I spotted Parker at the stables. I watched as he rode around on one of the horses. I can't believe I'm saying this but, he looked so princely. I was so bored that an image popped into my head. I was a princess wearing a schmancy blue dress, Parker was a sword wielding prince who was fighting his evil, fire-breathing, dragon of a father. I couldn't help but laugh. My fun was ruined when I heard the door opening again, another guard, joy. It was the same actually smart guard from before. He sat down in that same chair across from my cell. I sighed and flopped down on the mattress, carefully avoiding all the springs. I let my mind wander, there wasn't much else to do. It went back the image from before, this time it was moving. Parker slayed the dragon and we rode off into the sunset on a pure white horse. Man the things your mind will come up with when you have nothing to do.

I smiled as I held onto Fantasys mane, She was a beautiful mare, Whenever I found myself tense she would calm me down, just one single ride. I looked up where Lucy's cell was, I saw her face watch me and than disappear I slide off and lead Fantasy back to her stable, I handed her an apple before I left to return to my room.
I sat down but only for a minute, I realized how harsh I had been on Lucy, I forced myself to get off my bed, Just as I got up my Fathers servant walked into my room "Your Father requires you in the hall" I nodded and half followed him what now? I thought as I saw my Father holding Rose in his arms, "Rose, Father what is wrong?" I was concerned, "Cherie has fallen ill, very ill" My Father replied, Rose cried in his arms and I nearly balked them over as I rushed to Cherie, I guessed she would be in her room and I was right.

I felt as someone had stabbed me through the heart... I looked upon Cherie's face, pale, her light blue eyes witch once held such light now held dimness, "Parker, I am scared" I barley heard her little voice, "Don't worry, Everything will be alright" I walked over to Cherie holding her small body in my arms, I kissed her forehead, "I want leave your bed until you are better" That was a promise.

Another guard came into the cells anad whispered something to the smart guard. Both guards left, something was happening. Perfect, time to make my escape. I had noticed that some of the bricks on the wall to the next cell over were weakened. I slammed my shoulder into them and they collapsed. I got my bracelet and put it around my ankle, there was no way I was leaving that here. I went through the broken wall and smiled, the next cell wasn't locked. I opened the door to it and simply walked out of the cells. Outside the cells I found myself in an empty hallway, good. I went into the first door I saw, I was planning to jump out the window. Just my luck, I turned out to be the younger girl's room, and Parker was there too. "Don't mind me." I said and started walking toward the window.

I couldn't help but smile as I saw Lucy walk towards the window "Clever girl" I mumbled, Cherie held my hand, probaly afraid something would happen "I hope your not planing to jump, you'll never make it, it is 100meter jump, but good luck" I smiled again. Just at that moment my Father walked in before screaming "guards!" My Father did to much screaming I thought to myself, Right before my eyes the guards took you away, "Father, Lucy was helping me look after Cherie, no punishment will be laid" I spoke to the guards, they obayed me. I watched them walk out the door, "Parker, why do you make exceptions to that girl?" Cherie asked sweetly "Because that's what you do for a friend... You must tell no one, ok?" I turned to Cherie and sat on her bed still holding her hand. "Ok" I heard her mutter before I watched her close her eyes and drift off.

The guards started dragging me out of the room. I watched the younger girl, Cherie, she was ill. I could tell just by looking at her what the illness was. It was something they wouldn't know how to treat. The methods were crude, something that these people never would have thought of, or even thought to ask anyone about. I looked up at Mark. "She has a sickness of the blood doesn't she?" He wouldn't answer, which meant yes. "I know how to treat it." The guards and Mark stopped. Mark motioned for the guards to let go of me. He nodded his head toward the room, telling me to go back in there. Guess he cares more about Cherie that he does Parker. I went back in the room and smiled at Parker. I turned toward the guards. "I'm going to need a knife, some very clean bandages, and a rose, preferably a living one." Then I turned to Parker, "I can treat her, but the method is... scary looking. Do not stop me at anytime, you can ask questions though. Oh and if its alright with you, I need to cut your forarm. Family blood works best." I stopped there, I wanted to see how he reacted.

I wondered if Lucy was planning on killing us all, but I was willing to do anything, I nodded and rolled up my sleeve, "I understand" I frowned as I saw my cut which my Father gave me... I hoped no one would notice. It hurt a little, but I didn't move when the knife was entered, I couldn't help but sigh when the knife went out, I didn't know what to do from here, I had no idea why she needed a rose, "Lucy how do you know about this" I asked when everyone was gone, I listened to her before I grabbed Cheries hand, She smiled at me, her face was even more paler than a few minutes ago, I heard footsteps and than the door opend, Rose had grabbed some clean bandages and a red living rose, I watched you for a second before I turned my gaze to Cherie, "Everything will be ok" I hope, I swear this was the first time me and my Father have been in the same room with out screaming at each other. I watched Cherie's face go paler by the minute, I rolled down my sleeve again trying to cover the cut while Lucy healed Cherie. I wondered why Lucy was doing this... Helping the people that are her Slave Masters, maybe she was hoping that for her good deed she would be let go, If it was up to me...