ii

CHAPTER 2

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MARIAH

My new master forced me on his lap as he placed his nose to my neck, inhaling deeply."You smell delectable, slave" he said, licking the crevice of my neck. "I can't wait to taste you when we get back to the house".His large grubby hands came to my breast squeezing it tightly before he forced me to face him. His hand came to my cheek squeezing it and forcing a kiss to my lips.

I found myself gagging as he pushed his tongue into my mouth, biting my lip and drawing blood."Your blood is delectable" he murmured sucking on my how bleeding lip. The carriage came to a halt and I was ever so grateful when the driver spoke out."We are here, sir".

The old man sighed but stood up, making me fall to the floor."Get up, bitch. We have a meeting to attend. " he said, but didn't bother waiting for me to get up and dragged me out if the carriage. I fell to the floor with a thud hitting my arm on the step of the carriage. I began to cry as I tried to stand up while he pulled me along by my neck. I finally got to my feet, my heels aching from the hard floor

"Keep up, girl" he said as we came to the first door for the mansion. The door swung open and a young man stood to the side."Sir John. The master is waiting for you in his study" the young boy said as sir John and I stepped in, he closed the door behind us.

The meeting was a blur of being smacked around and degraded as sir John kept showing me off as his newest piece of property. By the time we left the masters house, I was beyond starved. I don't even remember the last time I had even the smallest meal. I was already feeling faint as sir John dragged me to the carriage again, I didn't put up any fight as he made me sit on the floor and I said nothing as he carelessly grabbed my hair and pushed me around.

"Listen, girl. The next meeting I have is with the king himself. I know I can't leave you in the carriage without being sure you won't run, so stay quiet, not a single sound. Am I clear? The king won't think twice about killing both of us. " he said seriously as he gripped my chin tightly. I nodded my head as tears welled in my eyes. He gave me one last threatening look before he nodded his head in satisfaction."Good. Don't make me have to kill you, girl." He said before glancing out the window again.

The rest of the ride was filled with an ominous silence and a feeling of dread in my gut. Something was going to happen. I could feel it. And it scared me. As we continued to drive for another 15 minutes all I could think about was what was happening to me. Sold, beaten, sold, beaten. I was in what seemed to be an endless pattern.

Sold by my father.

Beaten by those guards.

Sold by the auctioneer.

Beaten by this man.

I feared what lie ahead in my path. Could things get any worse from here? Could the world be so cruel as to hurt me anymore than I've already been? What did I do to deserve this?

My thoughts were cut short as the carriage stopped abruptly. My jaw dropped in awe as I stared upon the most beautifully designed erection I had ever seen. The castle walls were high, higher than I could even see, but as the gates opened and the carriage was allowed in. I looked upon a fountain, the water shot high up and feel into the surrounding pond and the multi coloured fish inside were a sight in the glistening sunlight.

As my eyes drifted to the structure my jaw dropped in amazement. The beauty of the castle itself were beyond words. The white wash bricks accented the large building that seemed to retreat in layers as the the middle was much higher than the sides. The flowers to the front of the castle seemed to grow in endless rows with some even growing on the sides of the establishment.

It was large, it was beautiful and it was everything I would never have. I was so in awe of the castle that I didn't even notice as Sir John dragged me to the entrance the slave boys and maids waiting with their heads bowed as we walked past them. Sir John nodded as we approached the butler of the castle, who seemed to hold more power than even a nobleman like sir John himself.

"Good afternoon, good sir. His majesty will see you in his tea room on the seventh floor" the butler said before turning around and leading us up the many flights of steps. I didn't pay much mind to the butler or sir John as I was to busy staring at the intricate artworks that adorned the walls of the castle and the beautiful stories they told. Even the carpet was grand as it seemed to bless my feet with very step I took on it with my bare feet.

By the time we had arrived on what I hoped was the 7th floor I was slightly out of breath and slightly on the verge of falling back down the steps I had just walked up. I didn’t think I would make it up another set, but thankfully, the butler didn't approach the next set of steps and rather, took a left down the long corridor.

We finally reached a large set of double doors that were left slightly a jar and my heart thundered with nerves and fear, no matter what the situation, I still wanted to live. The butler knocked twice and waited for the king to allow us entry, bit when the kings voice rang with power and intimidation through the thick doors, it did little to ease my dire nervous.

The butler pushed the heavy doors open and bowed as he allowed Sir John through, but then, as if only noticing me for the first time his head shot up to sir John. "You dare bring a mere slave to a meeting with the king. Are you kneeling for death?" The butler sneered his nose turned up as he glanced at me. Sir John's face went pale as he began to stutter. "I-I " .The butler raised his hand, signalling for the guards to come forth, but everything froze when he spoke."No need for that Aldridge. It's okay" The king said calmly, appearing nonchalant about the whole thing.

The butler turned pink in the face as he glanced at the King. "But sir?!" The butler objected. "ALDRIDGE!" The king roared and the butler was suddenly on his knees begging for forgiveness."Relax, Aldridge. We don't know. We can only hope that sir John has a viable excuse, maybe this slave is even a gift for me." The king joked, sir John broke out into nervous laughter.Both sir John and I knew that I wasn't for the king.The butler merely nodded his head before allowing me in and closing the door behind us.

"John. How are you?" The king asked. I kept my eyes down, not even looking up as sir John shoved me to the floor, making my knees hit the hard floor with a thud."I've been well, your majesty. Just very busy with the medical needs of a lot of the smaller villages here in Italy. They seem to be getting worse through the last few months." John said as he took a seat on the couch beside me. I could feel the burning glare of the king as he cornice to speak to John.

"That's not good. I'll have to send some people to investigate the sudden increase. " the king said not looking away from me."Of course you highness, any help would be appreciated." Sir john said as he began to stroke my head."Who is this?" The king said gesturing to me as I kept my head down, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. Sir john chuckled and suddenly sat up, eager to show of how he hits me

His hands hooked under my chin as he forced me to look up at him."This, my king , is my newest toy. I got her for my son since his almost an adult now and I feel he needs a good to slave to fulfil his needs. " sir John said squeezing my throat as his fingers traced patterns along the base.

"As soon as I saw her I knew I had to have her. I just got her this morning".