Ray looked in horror at the body; the body was that of a girl. The girl, a slave, couldnt have been older than twenty and yet, here she was beaten to death. Ray was also a slave, at the age of fifty six he was the oldest on the familys staff. He had once been a promising, young, Libertonian artist until he was kidnapped and sold as a slave to the Leoni familia, his dreams of success ruined.
He was given to his current master, Giovanni Leoni, by Remo Leoni as an eighteenth birthday present. The young slave girl was yet another of Giovannis Chosen. The Chosen being the name given to those that Giovanni chose to pass on his seed, he chose non Maltese girls to increase the chances of conceiving. As of yet, none have conceived.
Giovanni was known to kill people that displeased him, none of them ever died as slowly as his Chosen that displeased him.
Ray, clean the room up and get rid of the body. Im going to visit the slave market.
Ray nodded at his masters command.
Dont accept visitors. If they try and take the highroad, kick them out.
Ray nodded again; he knew that after each of these incidents that speaking to his master wasnt the smartest idea.
Akira Emi panicked as the slavers corralled the slaves into the transport ship. With stun sticks they smacked those that deviated from the group or, when they felt like it. Once onboard, the slaves were forced into crude cages. The cages could barely fit the numbers jammed into them; each slave had little breathing room.
Akira pleaded with the slaves around her to move away, but few listened, those that did, couldn’t move. Her eyes darted from to several different faces, her eyes connected with a guard, who grinned menacingly.
He moved towards her, stun stick in hand. He jabbed her in the ribs, she cried in pain but the laughter from the guards filled the air. Akira fell to the floor crying. Large hands gripped her, she cried out and recoiled.
“Hey, hey don’t worry. I won’t hurt you” Akira looked up, the face she saw was brutish almost Neanderthal in appearance.
“I’m Brad.”
Despite his hard appearance, Brad’s voice was soft, timid maybe.
“I... I... Ak... I’m Akira”
Brad smiled reassuringly at her. Brad was big, a stereotypical muscle head in appearance. He used his bulk to clear a space. None of the slaves were going to argue with his attempts.
The ship shuddered as it lifted off, most of the slaves could barely stay standing.
“Where are..... We going?”
Akira’s voice quivered.
“I don’t know. I heard that the Outcasts use slaves. Maybe we’re going to their home.”
Brad and Akira had talked for hours. Akira had discovered that Brad was from Pittsburgh and had worked as a bouncer at a miners bar. He had acquired a loan from one of the local gang bosses, one thing had lead to another and he ended up on Nivertons slave market.
The ships hull vibrated as the slave ship entered Maltas atmosphere. Several of the slaves cried out as the cage gates opened and the slavers forced them out with prods from the stun sticks. Akira gripped Brads hand as they began to leave the cage. The slaves all halted as the cargo bays opened to reveal the orange fields of Malta.
Akiras eyes opened in wonder.
Wow. It looks so beautiful
Sure. It almost-
Brads sentence was cut short as he and the other slaves lost consciousness.
Akira’s awoke with a shock. Yet again she had been hit with the stun stick.
“Stand up!”
The voice was that of the same slaver who had hit her earlier.
“I... I... Err.”
“You, ‘err’ what? Get up!”
The slaver stomped on her ribs, she rolled over quickly and tried to get up.
“Now!”
The slaver gripped her by the arm and dragged her off the floor. Akira looked around, she was shocked to find herself on full display to the ogling eyes of a small crowd. Another slaver, much more important looking than the rest in his ‘fancy’ clothes, stood to the side of her.
“Now, we have a very nice specimen of human potential here. This one is, as you can see, is gifted with a healthy and keen body. Ready made to keep your body warm.”
With the end of his previous sentence he smirked.
“I personally selected her from a large range of stock to be one of my special commodities. I will start the bidding at five hundred standard credits.”
The crowd was rapacious, bids sprouted fast.
“Five fifty”
“Six fifty”
“One thousand!”
“One thousand and five hundred credits.”
“Two thousand”
“Two thousand and six hundred credits!”
The bidding went on for several minutes before the winning bid of fifteen thousand credits was placed. Akira would not have seen who won her, if she had been looking. Her tear drenched eyes blurred her vision as she wept for herself and the fate that she knew awaited her.
Akiras crying lasted for an hour as she was transported to the villa. Once there, she was met by a woman.
The woman was middle aged; Akira thought that in her heyday the woman couldve quite possibly have been one of the most beautiful women to have lived, but now the lines of ages were showing distinctly on her face.
The woman was escorted by several other females of varying ethnicity, all of whom were younger than the first.
I am Elisa and youre?
The middle aged woman spoke in an authoritative tone.
Akira sniffled softly before answering.
I... Im Akira.
Well, Akira, welcome to the villa. Come, we will show you to your room and then we will speak about your duties.
Elisa turned gracefully and entered the villa. All but one of the escorts followed Elisa.
Dont worry about Elisa, she may same like a bitch but shes actually very nice.
The escort smiled.
Akira returned a small, unsure smile.
Oh! Im Kayleigh. But people call me Kay. Right, lets catch up before Elisa bites our heads off.
Kay grabbed Akira by the hand and dragged her into the villa.
Giovanni stood beside the body of his father. His father had, for far too long held the family back, his constant squabbles with the Dons has been his undoing. The plan had been so simple, yet so unexpected.
He had been invited to a dinner, celebrating the anniversary of his father’s ascension to head of the family. Leoni has simply walked into the villa with a smile on his face and two automatic pistols hidden with his coat. Once inside the dining room, he had sat down and ate the meals prepared for him, when he had finished, he drew his pistols and killed the majority of the guests, the few that survived were on his side.
Remo was not amongst the dead. He had survived the initial gun fire; Giovanni had found him cowering under his bed. Their conversation was short, as was Remo’s death.
For Giovanni’s part in the attack, he was elevated to family boss and he received a place on the Outcast Council of Dons.. Remo was drawn and quartered, by Giovanni’s order.
Akira cried herself to sleep the first night, but she swore shed never cry like that again.
Elisa had outlined her duties to her. Cleaning and cooking were her main duties, she was warned however that the master of the house was known to use the prettier girls as playthings and something more. When she asked what the more was, she was met with eyes of sadness.
Kayleigh had spent the last few days with Akira, showing her what she actually had to do. Akira thought Kayleigh was one of those slaves who came from a poor and hard background. The kind that accepted the slave life with little reluctance.
But Akira would not be one of those people; she knew she had to escape before the cardamine got to her head. As a new slave, she wasnt shown all of the villa, the slave quarters and the kitchen were the furthest she had got.
Akira was waked by Kayleigh the next day.
Wake up sleepy head.
Akiras voice was groggy in comparison to Kayleighs sunshine tones.
What? Who? Oh....
Akira slowly sat up in her bed.
Come on! We need to get a early start.
Why?
Because the master is having a celebration and everyone is needed to prepare the food. So, hurry up and get yourself ready. We need you in the kitchen.
Akira smiled inwardly at herself, she now had the chance to map more of the villa.
Akira woke at 5 AM, she quickly went to the bathroom.
Hello Akira, Akira turned to see Elisa standing in the bathrooms doorway; Akira hated how quietly Elisa could sneak up on her.
Oh... Hi.
Youre up early, shouldnt you be sleeping like all the other girls?
Well, I made a decision to be a good slave. I mean, the better I am, the easier thisll be for me; right?
Akira was afraid Elisa could tell she was lying, she was told Elisa could always tell if someone was lying. Though she suspected it was fear mongering, she still didnt want to take the chance.
Elisa smiled tediously, If you say so. Youd be best waking Kayleigh and the other girls up. They need to start work soon.
Akira bowed her head, Okay. Ill go wake them now.
Elisa nodded and left the bathroom.
Akira finished dressing before walking to Kayleighs bed to wake her up.
Kay? Akira shook her gently, Come on. Wake up.
Kayleighs eyes opened with a shock as Akira stood above her, Whoa. Dont do that. I hate people crowding me, Kayleigh sounded unusually angry.
Oh, Akira backed off a few steps, Alright. Sorry. Its half five. Err, Elisa told me to wake you up.
Of course she would... Sorry for biting. I didnt expect to be woken like that, Kayleigh smiled brightly.
Its alright. Im, um, going to find Elisa to find out what were doing today.
Okay.
See you soon, Akira left the room, intent on getting lost.