Hey guys! New story! It's the one I gave a preview of and I think it's one of the best ones I've ever done!
Annabeth kept her eyes forward, watching the narrow plank she was walking on. "Move faster blondie." She was boarding a ship, to get sold into slavery. Annabeth was shoved into someone's grasp, the shackles on her wrists clanging around. She didn't dare make eye contact. "Careful with 'er. She's a feisty one." Annabeth snarled. "One of them Greeks." The man holding her scoffed.
"Ew. Greek. Well I'm sure she'll do."
"Mmm hmm. Save it Octavian. I just need the money, then I got other slaves to sell." Annabeth kept her gaze on her scarred, dirty feet. Suddenly, a hand appeared beneath her face, sharply grabbed her chin and thrust it upwards. Annabeth was forced to look upon her buyer. She sneered down at her.
"Ah look at her." The buyer "Octavian" had light, straw-like hair and a broad figure. "Nice job Dakota." Octavian let go of her face, but Annabeth didn't look down. "She's got strong arms, kept hair..." He leaned over to Master Dakota and whispered loudly. "Quite busty..."
"Oi!" Annabeth yelled. "I can hear you!" Master Dakota raised his hand and Annabeth flinched.
"What'd I say 'bout talking out of turn?" Master Dakota demanded. Annabeth didn't respond. He nudged her with his elbow. "What'd I say?!"
"To not to..." Annabeth mumbled.
"She'll definitely make money." Octavian smiled, looking her up again. "Don't worry, I won't ruin her." He turned to face Annabeth. "C'mon newbie." He cooed. "I have a special place for you." Octavian shoved Annabeth all the way onto the ship, where she tripped and tell. "Get up. I don't have time for this." Annabeth shakily got on her knees and then her feet. "I just got you. Don't make my use my whip already." Octavian warned. Annabeth looked up at him, scanning for any sign of a whip, but he seemed un-armed. Stupid people... She thought to herself. Annabeth was used to this process. Every few years, she's get picked up, and sold off to another drunk bastard who she was forced to call "Master." Octavian, er- Master, turned around and handed a wad of foreign paper money to her former boss. Her hands clenched at her sides, she looked upon the ship she was boarding. It was fairly clean, due to the half a dozen slaves, scrubbing away on all fours, with tall, bulky men, all with whips, towering over them. Most of the slaves that she could see on the ship were girls. Girls of all colors. Annabeth's eyes darted around, looking for a male source, other than the overseers. She didn't find anything. "Looking for a man?" Master Octavian asked, suddenly appearing behind her. Annabeth jolted. She nodded. The guy scoffed. "I only work with girls." He stated. "Makes things easier for me." Then he leaned in close, and whispered in her ear, "And more fun." Annabeth shuddered, placing her eyes back down at her feet. Her toenails desperately needed clipped. Annabeth looked back up, to see another girl, in an argument with an overseer. She was smaller, no younger than 13, and had dark chocolate skin. Annabeth listened closely on their conversation.
"B-but I already scrubbed over there!" She stammered. The overseer kicked her in the side, sending her sprawling. Annabeth almost called out, but bit her lip. The weak girl started to get up, but the overseer pulled out his whip, and she paled and stayed low to the ground. Annabeth was so tempted to stand up for the girl, but she couldn't escape Master Octavian. She glanced behind her to see her former Master Dakota climb in a carriage and ride away.
"Now what did you want to tell me?" The man with the whip boomed. The girl didn't respond. THWACK! The whip came down, hard." Answer! What do I need to hear so desperately?!" Another crack of the whip. The girl cried out and blood sprayed in the air. He had torn her rags and blood furiously started to spread. She whimpered and pushed herself onto her hands.
"I-I-" She began. He whipped her again. She fell flat again, crying out louder. There was more blood. It began to seep onto the deck. Annabeth couldn't stand it any longer. She lept out of her new Master's grasp and ran to protect the girl.
"Hey!" Her master yelled. Annabeth didn't want to hear him. She was desperate to not let the girl get another beating. The whip came down again, but this time, instead of landing on the poor girl, it snapped down on Annabeth's strong forearms. The overseer gasped in surprise.
"You weren't even letting her finish her sentence!" Annabeth protested. The girl weakly looked up at her, tears in her eyes. Another girl ran up to the bloody, beaten one, both girls with shackles on, and picked her up. The new girl was very tan, Annabeth presumed she was some sort of Native American, and was dressed in the same way. The girl took the other one away, stroking her hair. Annabeth's arms stung, but she kept a firm glare on the man. A hand clamped around the collar around her neck, and yanked her backwards, throwing her on the ground. Master Octavian stood over her, very pissed.
"I really oughta give all my slaves neck collars. Useful." Annabeth stood up and stared daggers at her new master. "Don't get cocky and act like you're 'miss hero' just 'cause you're new. Pretty soon, you'll be treated the same way if you do that again." Annabeth took a sharp breath as Master Octavian grabbed her by the neck again and dragged her towards the front of the ship. She passed tons of girls, all scrubbing, dirty and staring in awe at Annabeth. Octavian opened a door situated next to the stairs that led to the helm. In the door, was a short staircase leading to a large room with a few girls and lots of "beds." Master Octavian tossed her down the stairs, where she landed with a loud "thud." Some of the girls turned to Annabeth and gawked. "This is the slave quarters." Master Octavian announced. "I'm sure you've seen better, but this is only temporary. Right ladies?" The girls in the room straightened up and answered with several "Yes Master's." Annabeth scanned the room as Master Octavian was leaving. She was relieved to find the chocolate-skinned girl in the arms of the Native American. She stood up and made her way over to them.
"Are- are you alright?" She asked the girl. The Native American was ripping strips of fabric off her own clothes, and was applying them to the younger girl's wounds. The girl looked up. She had startling golden eyes, which were wide and scared. Her chin was trembling. "What's your name?" Annabeth questioned. The younger girl looked at Annabeth.
"I uh-" She stammered.
"Hazel." The other girl answered. "That's Hazel." Hazel swallowed.
"And who are you?" Annabeth asked. The girl cleared her throat.
"Piper. I'm Piper. Who are you?" Annabeth blinked.
"I'm um..." She looked down at herself. Who was she? "Annabeth. Annabeth Chase."
"Ooh, getting fancy with the last names." Another girl came over, with a dark braid and pale-ish skin. "I'm Reyna." She said, and firmly stuck her hand out. Annabeth stared at her and hesitantly shook Reyna's hand. Reyna looked over at Hazel, who winced in pain as Piper applied another bandage. "She get her first beating today?" Reyna asked. Piper nodded grimly.
"A bad one." Hazel took in a deep breath. Piper squeezed Hazel's hand. "Last one. I promise." Hazel bit her lip as Piper tore another strip of fabric off. This left her with no left sleeve and a hole caving over her breast. Annabeth watched gravely as Piper tightly tied the last strip over the lower part of her neck. Hazel cringed and whimpered a bit. "There- you're done." Without a word, Hazel stood up, approached Annabeth, and tightly wrapped her small, frail arms around Annabeth's waist and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you." She whispered into Annabeth's chest. Annabeth blushed, and rubbed her head. The small girl released her grip and sat back down on the wooden plank flooring, next to Piper. Reyna looked confused.
"What was that all about? You've only met her." Piper looked up at Annabeth, then to Reyna.
"Hazel's first beating would've been a lot longer and a lot harder, if it wasn't for Annabeth." Reyna looked at Hazel, who spoke up.
"She stood over me when the whip came down the last time." Master dragged her away, but Piper came and got me." Reyna whistled. She opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly, the door at the top of the steps opened, showing a large silhouette.
"Chase. The Master wants to see you." She said, grimly.