Status Change
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan fic
Author's note: I do not own the characters in this story, just the situations involved. All characters are the property of Joss Whedon. I would also like to say that I in no way condone or endorse what happened during Slavery. That being said, enjoy!
Prolouge
It was as though the weight of the world had come crashing down. Until mere moments ago, Buffy Summers had been a respected member of Tennessee's upper class. Her parents, Joyce and Hank Summers, headed one of the richest families in town. The year was 1850. Though she herself abhored it, her family owned several slaves. Her father owned one of the largest cotton plantations in Tennessee. They were not excessively cruel to their slaves, which set them apart from other owners.
At sixteen, Buffy was a picture of beauty. Her pristine face was framed by the most beautiful and well kept blonde hair in all of Tennessee. Her parents took such pride in their daughter's appearance. They insisted on showing her off at countless functions. "It's the price we pay for being rich," her mother always said. She was even a favorite of the family's slaves. There had one instance, several years ago, when an overseer employed by Buffy's parents had almost beat one of the slaves to death.
Buffy had interjected in the slave's behalf. She detested slavery in every sense of the word. She could not comprehend how someone could be so cruel to their fellow man. She could not stand the word "nigger," and at her behest, that word was never allowed to be uttered in her home. Neither was it allowed to beat the slaves, as her parents saw them as an integral part of the house hold. If a slave could not work that was a bad thing. On this particular occasion, she attempted to stop the overseer, who threatened to turn his whip on her. If not for the timely entrance of her father, she would have certainly suffered. The man was relieved of his duties and thrown off the Summers' property, but the experience stayed with her.
But back to her current problem. Her family had recently purchased several new slaves. Among them was a white girl. Buffy couldn't believe that a white girl could ever be a slave. "She's a mulatto," her mother explained. "What does that mean?" Buffy questioned. "It means I'm part negro," the girl clarified. Buffy felt a connection to this girl that she'd never felt with anyone else before. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt like she'd known her her entire life.
Joyce got a good look at her one day, and in a fateful moment, both girls worlds were turned upside down. Buffy happened to walk in on an argument that would change her life forever. "Hank, I want an explanation!" Joyce demanded.
"If perhaps I knew the question," her father replied. Joyce's expression hardened. "I want to know why that mulatto has such a resemblance to you. It's as if she were related to us, which is impossible!" she screamed. Hank wasted no time. "Have her sent in," he said. The order was given, and minutes later, the girl appeared before him. He took a good look at her face. "What is your name child?" he asked softly. The girl smiled. "My name is Dawn, massa." Mr. Summers nodded. "And do you remember your mother's name?" he questioned. Dawn's face lit up. "Oh, yes, massa. my mother's name is Kendra." At this, Hank Summers looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"Oh," was all he could whisper. "Oh, what?" his wife asked angrily. He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. "You didn't," Joyce said coldly. She turned to the overseer. "Get this nigger out of my sight," she ordered. It was at this moment that Buffy walked in the room. "What's going on?" she asked. She saw Dawn being dragged from the room, and tried to stop the overseer. "Let go of her!" Buffy demanded. Joyce tried to restrain her daughter.
"It's for the best," she said. The deliberation in her tone did not go unnoticed by her daughter. "What's gonna happen to her?" Buffy asked. Joyce looked her daughter square in the eyes. "Tomorrow, she's going to the auction block," she replied angrily. "I never want to see her again," she continued. Buffy couldn't let that happen. "Please, don't send her away. She's my best friend." Her father tried to reason with her. "She's your half sister," he said.
Joyce slapped him hard across the face. "That thing is not a member of this family. We have our reputation to look after." Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I don't care about our reputation," she protested. Joyce looked hard at her daughter. She seemed to be considering it. "Very well then," she said. She snapped her fingers, and two of the drivers entered the room. "You can join her. Since she's your sister, that makes you mulatto anyway, and I will not have a nigger child."
The tears flowed freely down Buffy's face as she was restrained. "As of this moment, you are disowned. I never knew you." Buffy sent a pleading look to her mother. "Please, don't," begged. Her mother looked away. "Get these niggers out of my sight. At dawn I want them taken to the auction block. I never want to see them again," she ordered. The men said, "Yes, ma'am," in unison and proceeded to drag the girls from the room.
Instead of her own bedroom, Buffy found herself thrown in the slave quarters. She was in disbelief at what had just happened.
