Entirely brand new story, here, short story at that as you'll see here soon enough. This was a requested story by 't-rex'. I'm not used to doing medieval but I have put my hand in it, please tell me what you think!

Memoirs of a slave ch.1

Serenity POV

The winds outside were bitter. It was marking the end of the season but they were leaving harsh trails in their wake. I peaked through the slates of wood that was a sorry excuse of a window for the cold comfort compared to the harsh reality that lay within the shack we were all in. I turned and saw my mother lean over the poor excuse for a bed as she threw up once again today I lost count on how many times she had prior.

Her sickness came nearly a month ago. It gradually came from a cough that she felt would go away on its own – not to mention real medicine was a struggle to come by where we lived - to a full on taking over her life sickness. My step father was by her side, though by out of love or obligation was up for debate. I shed more tears for her. I wish I could stop but somehow I already knew that if the right medicine didn't get to her she wouldn't be with us any longer. She was always there for me but I didn't know what to do.

The sickness had taken her strength, her will to care about anything but the darkness that plagued her. She looked close to deaths doors every day that passed. The medicine we scrounged for wasn't working. We could only afford at best the herbs from a practitioner who was kicked out of the medical field for outside practices that lead in deaths, but he was all we could afford. With that she was alive…but barely.

I had to do something as I saw her eyes glaze over. She was close to heaven's door I could feel it. One knock and she'd be there. I think step father saw it to. He seemed to resign by her side before leaving the room, "Watch over her. I will seek 'alternative options'." He left the small wooden home we had, if you could consider a one bedroom shack a home. When papa passed away due to sickness of the heart mama fell ill of heart herself.

I knew it was due to the loose of papa. She didn't want to live without him. He left her me but I could tell the loose was to much. She loved me but loosing someone so close to her hurt her terribly. Then step father, Riorichi, came around offering reprieve for her heartache and mental anguish. She took it heartily feed richly off the crumbs he gave her and for a while things seemed to be okay.

I didn't bother to hide the factor that he wasn't wanted but he made mother happy, and treated her well so I tolerated him. He was the same way when it came to me. Tolerated me. We were civil and that was all that could be done. It was all we could give mama and she settled for it, "Please…" I heard mama speak softly. I rushed to her side, "Don't talk mama, step father will be back with help."

I just didn't realize the help would come two hours later in the form of two men. I opened the poor excuse of a door and saw them both. I was weary of them until I saw step father coming in behind them, "Serenity move back so the doctor can look over your mother." Feeling encouraged by the way the men appeared, well rounded, established, I left her side. It was over an hour before he came out of the room mama and step father slept in. I took my sleeping nights on a small, thin pile of cloth in the room where we normally ate.

It was all we had so I didn't bother complaining. Others outside where we lived in the small village didn't have even a roof or a small bit of clothing on their backs. We had food, bread and rice with water. Meat only came if step father caught a rabbit or pheasant. We had a roof over our heads when it didn't rain too harshly and we had clothes. Granted full of rips and holes from years of use but it was better than nothing.

"The sickness has spread into her lungs." The doctor stated. Not a drop of remorse in his voice as he walked out of the room. He I could tell looked around the place as if it were a disease to be in the room. Clearly step father pulled him in from a far off village that was of good stock for him to care so little for human life. Odd since he was supposed to care the most for human life being in his position.

I worried for her, "Is there anything we can do?" I asked, heart in my throat. My mother was my world. She taught me good values. She taught me how to always be respectful, helpful, and be independent. Of course her own independence seemed to leave her when Riorichi came around. I vowed that I would never be that dependent on a male. "Yes there is." He looked over to the burly man with a grin on his face as he looked at me.

"And that is?" I asked, now suddenly afraid of what would be said. I suddenly wanted to scamper off like a fleeting rabbit away from an ugly wolf with sharp teeth. If I didn't know any better I'd say there was a small amount of drool in the corner of his mouth. I inched away from the large man. I'd rather stand closer to step father than him. I almost laughed at the irony since I could only tolerant Riorichi.

"Serenity you are of age now, 16...an age where a young pretty girl like you can come in handy." Riorichi said in an uncaring tone. As if what he was about to tell me made no difference to him at all. "How?" I asked, trying to keep my emotions strong. I felt cold all of a sudden and wanted out of this room. I briefly wondered if I had left the door open. "As whatever we choose for you to be." The burly man said.

I shot him a look of disgust as he reached for me, "Touch me and I'll - " Riorichi cut me off, "Getting them to agree to come down here was not easy Serenity. Your mother needs the right medicine and he will only administer it if we have the money he will provide if he has payment from me." I couldn't believe my ears as he indicated from the doctor to the burly man. "You…" I was having a hard time answering this apparent shock, "You sold me…didn't you?" I demanded in low tones.

I knew there was something to bad happen tonight. I just didn't know what. Like livestock I was sold and to be bartered away. I should have seen this coming. Riorichi disliked me so why not? I am nothing more than property for him to use to his disposal. It's unfortunate how we women are treated. Yet we don't stand up often enough to stop it. "It's time your usefulness as a female came about Serenity." I shot a glare to Riorichi.

"You've refused the hand of any man who tries to ask for yours in marriage and honestly even if you did accept I would still have to waste money to pay them a dowry." He said it like I was nothing more than a burden, "At least this way I can rid myself of that loose of money and save Selene." I couldn't help but voice my opinion, "What if the medicine doesn't help?" he looked to me, "Then the rest I get from you will be money saved to take me away from this place." Did he ever love my mother?

"I hope when she gets better that she finds out what you've done and leaves you." I tell him. I tensed, preparing to flee. However one look at my mother and I slump. She looks begging to me, as if I held the cure to her sickness and was holding it from her. I knew she couldn't hear what was happening but could sense I was holding it back, "She won't." Riorichi stated. I looked to him, "You see as far as she will know you 'volunteered' and begged for a way to save her and choose this path."

I wanted to call him out on his lies but alas I could not. She knows I'd do anything for her. So with my head held high I growled, "Let's get this over with." The burly man pushed me into a small horse drawn cart to leave off in. I sat back and felt panic rise within me but refused to voice it or act out, "We'll be going to my tavern to ensure your flesh has not been tainted before continuing on." I looked to him.

Anger in my voice, "Not that it's any of your business but I am not as worthless as I appear. I am still with my…" I looked away unable to finish off due to my own blush. I wasn't very vocal on my personal life or lack thereof as such. My virginity is something I promised myself would only go to the man that I loved. In the small area we lived in people were so poor that marriages did not happen. It was highly frowned upon but others understood, didn't accept but understood. It was just morally wrong.

"I believe you. Your reaction to such a trivial thing is true but I have to have you checked out for proof for my buyers. They have special needs and requests. Purity is HIGHLY sought after and very pricy. You should be glad. The money your step father gets from you will cure your mother." He stated, "You really believe that?" I asked, a sliver of hope that this wasn't for nothing, "Yes I do. I've seen that doc bring them back from worse than her so she's in good hands." He assured.

I looked to him, "You've seen this?" my question left an impression. I doubted him and he knew it, "The village we both came from has had a touch of that sickness pass through it a fortnight ago, he cured it within a week. The village is ever grateful and for such a thing turns a blind eye to my entrepreneurship." I looked to him, "You think you're father was the only one we have struck that deal with?"

I turned my head away, "He's my step father. Don't mistaken in calling him my father again." I warned. He merely huffed before forcibly turning my chin to look at him. I glared at him with anger, full force. "The people in the small village you come from will die off within a month without the proper care." It sickened me that they were so close to death. Some of them good people, some bad.

"Why does he not aid them to?" I asked. A corner of his mouth turned up in a near yellow smile, "Why work if you're not going to be compensated? We make bargains all over different villages and a hefty price to. its quite a profitable business we have. Desperate fathers or mothers that sell their children into my world." I could deny it but still, "He could just be nice and kind to a lady's mother and cure her." he smiled.

"My, my…you are so innocent to the world yet." I ripped my chin from his grasp. He snuck in closer. I felt my skin crawl. His hand touched my arm and I felt revulsion. I grabbed his fingers with all my might not letting him see all of my strength in it, "Do NOT touch me. I'm sure your 'clients' wouldn't want the merchandise to be tainted or damaged." He merely chuckled, "No but they will enjoy breaking you." I looked at him angrily.

"It's refreshing. They'll get a kick when they find that you are spirited. In fact they will take that much more pleasure in breaking you. You'll fetch a fine price not just for your father but for me as well." He laughed, I muttered some choice words beneath my breath as he leaned in again. I tried to hit him only for him to grab the offending hand, "You'll be eaten alive by the end of the week and a concubine by nightfall tomorrow night. So do whatever you like. It only entices some of them more. They want something delicate to break."

I spat at him, "Go to hell you filth Cretan. And if you dare lay a hand on me again it will be the last hand you lay on a female ever." He laughed at my words and released me to myself as I sat in silence the rest of the way there. I made sure to avoid any bodily contact with him as we traveled through a great deal of terrain. I refused to let the tears fall from my eyes and let him see the weakness.

Hours later we arrived at a two story establishment. I was pulled inside to find the ladies of the night dressed in barely there outfits. Their chests nearly on full display as select ones grinded against the men while other waited on them, "These are my girls." I gulped and blushed at seeing such a display of flesh before me. The most I had seen was of myself as I bathed near a river bank at our shack. Or of mother when I was younger. This was all new to me.

"They are closer to the bottom of the barrel. Already whoring themselves out long before I got to them but in need of reprieve from hypocrites or those of opposition. They are here to do what they do best and under my guard. Provided they compensate me well of course. Where you're going will be where the most profit gets made." I was pulled to a door which I assumed lead upstairs only to get lead downstairs.

The lower leveled basement area held several well established men there. None that I recognized but then again I had never seen wealth before. Only in others descriptions. "One of them will own you by tomorrow morning. Come along." The burly man stated. I never did get his name, "What shall I name you?" I asked. "I'd prefer master but that will be the name you call to the man that purchases you. If he so chooses it." Bile rose in my throat.

I was lead into an area full of draped clothes. It looked close to a dozen or so of the formidable fabrics draped over the lines strew up. I couldn't get my bearings before I felt the coldness of the basement like area hide my exposed skin. I saw other women in there to but they appeared to be in another zone. As if waiting for it to be done with. "Get over there." He pushed me into a draped area, still visible to him. There was a young lady with short blonde up in a tight bun that came to me.

"Strip then spread your legs." I was about to protest when two more ladies came around. One brunette, same tightly wound bun, a bit heavier set and another blonde. The burly man never moved from his spot. He wanted to see the goods he was about to ship. "If you don't do as asked we will be forced to do so for you." Her tone held no compassion for me. My tongue could not help itself, "Might I suggest loosening up that bun on your head. Might improve your outlook on current situations."

She almost appeared upset but just imposed herself on me, "Are you defying us?" She asked me in a tone that spoke of no arguments. I looked to him and swallowed my shyness and pride over the matter. "No." with as much dignity as I could muster I stripped the essentials that I had and was nude before her, "Satisfied?" I asked. I covered my breasts up as she cold as steel, dropped down to her knees and checked me over. It was uncomfortable and a bit painful. The burly man I saw smiled, "Physical inspection is fine. She is of value."

"Good. Make sure she is bathed before giving the appropriate clothing. Then ensure she has a meal and takes care of things." He indicated. His hand movements gestured to know that if I needed to use the bathroom I could. "Want to make sure the product looks and smells nice for her new master. They wouldn't want to pay for rooting meat so why pay for stench of the flesh?" The burly man left as the ladies, or as I would love to call them, cold devils, lead me to a sectioned off wall.

My clothes I was forced to leave behind as I was walked nude to the wall. Fearing the worst I sent a prayer to the heavens above only to get water doused on me. I gasped at the cold feeling before turning around as ordered. Splashing more I shivered. Then a white powdery substance was tossed at my form. I knew not what it was only that it burned my eyes when I did not react fast enough to close them. They tossed me a towel before giving me a cover up as clothing and settling me into a small sectioned corner.

"This will be yours for the next few hours. Get dressed. Rest. Eat when food is provided. That is you're…" the rest of what she said got garbled in my head as I looked around and saw the five foot by five foot clothed up corner area. "Midnight tonight you will be sold, and morning when payment is made you will be sent to your new home. Attempt to leave and you will be whipped and lose your food till you're sold." She left with those parting words.

"Lovely." I went to sit on the small blanket over the hay when I saw a mouse leave from under it, "EK!" it startled me but no one seemed to care. I didn't dare speak out as from what I could see past the clothes hanging, other women were enjoying the food or sleeping soundly. Getting dressed I huddled my knees to me I kept reminding myself to relax, to calm down and that I was doing this for my sick mother. So when the cold blonde came back to pull me from my sleep I had noted that I hadn't even eaten my food.

At least I'm not in the cold damp corner any more. I thought to myself. Then I saw the men in the room where there was several other women. Maybe the damp corner was better….Well established, some drunk on the wine others looking bored. I looked away as the lady before me was sold for 300. The petite red head was even smaller than me. She was of skin and bones. A leaf could blow her over. I could only tell because the slaves that were being sold at auction were nude on the stage.

If they didn't disrobe when ordered to they were stripped once up there. She was tossed her clothes once sold and escorted off stage by one of the women that worked there. Then I was pushed to her placement on stage. Trying to look as small as possible was not an option when the 'salesman' tore my robe that was covering me down and away. He was a seedy man that was amplifying the sale using my body.

I felt humiliated and disgusted. My pride was all that kept me from covering up. So instead I closed my eyes and hoped it would be done with soon. I ended up hearing two separate men calling out bids on me. I only looked to the younger sounding man. Silvery white hair that went to his neck. He was dressed in fine clothing. Oddly enough as much as I wished for it to be him the way he looked at me was disturbing. I banished his image from memory, hoping the other man, whomever he was won.

"SOLD!" I heard the seedy man shout out. I saw the extremely happy look on a man of greying black hair. His stature spoke of money and power. His clothes of a type of nobility that much I could tell. So I assumed I would be working in a castle. Moved from the stage I was once again put back into my corner where I ate the food with vigor. Bread and water. I was hungry so I didn't care. I feel asleep with tears in my eyes. My only hope was that the medicine worked on my mother.