Chapter 1

It's warm. I hear birds annoyingly chirping and see how the trees are slowly getting their leaves back. I hate spring. There are times when I think that I hate everything.

I sit at the end of carriage and I see tall walls rise in horizon, walls that belongs to my new owner. I haven't seen the man before. Old master just told me to pack my things this morning, I've been sold. But that is my role in all this, it has always been. I'm hardly the only one, this society loves to put a price tag on lives.

Broken souls for coins.

It's strange though. She didn't intent to sell me yet, she always said that. This new owner must be somehow important for her to sell someone as disobedient as I. Or perhaps someone she hates. Maybe both. That's how she works.

I don't look forward to this. It's not like I'm going to miss the old place, but I don't exactly expect this to be any better. I guess it's the uncertainty that does that. I learned long ago life's instability, nothing will ever be certain when your life belongs to someone else. Well, nothing but the worthlessness of one's life. I wonder, how does someone accept all that and not let it get to him.

...I guess I'm just bitter. But with all the things that I have endured, don't I have right to be bitter...?

The short time I have to think about things ends when the carriage drive inside of the walls. I could practically see the one prison change into another. I hop down, when the horse stops. The driver helps the old master down.

This new place is a mansion. I've heard that the new owner is a lord. A rich guy who owns surrounding lands and villages that comes with it. The place certainly looks like it.

The old master was greeted by one of the slaves. A yellow fox. "My Lady, you have arrived early. My lord will be here shortly. Please let me show you the place where you can sit down."

She eyes the fox and her expression is one of annoyance. "Don't call someone lady, unless she really is titled like that."

"I-I'm sorry ma'am." There is an awkward pause. "P-Please follow me ma'am."

The fox turns quickly and starts to lead us inside, like he is eager to get rid of her. I don't blame him.

Mansion is beautiful inside, if a bit tacky. There is a lot of paintings and statues. Every little thing is stylized and the whole place looks bright and warm. I don't like his decorations, but it could be worse. It can always be worse.

Fox leads us to some sort of living room. And like everything else in this place, it is nice. "Please wait here ma'am. My Lord will arrive soon. Would you like some tea while you are waiting?"

She lit a cigarette. "Yes." She is always smoking. The smell of cigarette follows her everywhere.

Fox bows in hurried manner and almost run out of the door.

The old master turns to me once he is out of sight. "Did you see that disgraceful display. Is he supposed to be a butler? I've never seen such a poor example of one in all my years in the business." The old master is the most unpleasant person I've ever met, but at least she let me know where we stand with her. I can respect that. But that is probably the only thing. She never does check her own manners. But I guess that she can afford that. Being human and all that.

"He did fine."

"Bullshit. He'd be sold or given other duties if his owner would have any common sense." She sighs and shake her head. "But I guess that it's a lucky break that he isn't that picky. I wouldn't have so much trouble selling poor slaves if most people would be like that."

It's funny how I'm used to this. Or maybe not. "Why you changed your mind about me?"

She scoffs, like offended that I even asked. "You aren't exactly worth all the trouble you put me through! I'm tired of you and he doesn't mind you being a pain."

It took her long enough I guess. "You aren't worth it either, boss."

"Don't call me that, you pack of fur!"

Her outburst makes me chuckle. That annoys the hell out of her. It's the simplest pleasures.

We don't have to wait long before neatly dressed man bursts inside the room "Madam Ironside, what a pleasure to see you again!" He kissed old masters hand.

"Cut the chase. I'm here to do business, like you wanted me to."

"But of course."

On the first glance they are complete opposites. Old master being as cold and business like as she is and lord Roderick being all smiles and warm gestures.

The fox from earlier arrives silently and leave two tea cups and a pot on the coffee table. After that he goes to stand in corner in case he is needed. I'm not sure if either of the humans noticed him. If they did, they didn't react to him anyway.

The old master yanks me by the collar. "I left him with the necklace. If he ever causes trouble, you only need to say the words I gave you. Any technician can remove it, but I suggest that you leave it for now. He has an attitude problem."

Lord Roderick leans closer to inspect the collar. He is way too close for my liking. I grunt at him and try to push him away. He don't seem to mind, but he starts to inspect me generally still way too close. I hate when they do that. "Back off!"

He give me a surprised look, while the old master shake her head "I told you he has an attitude problem."

Lord Roderick does give me a space eventually and his expression turns into an amusement. "I see. Anyway he seems to be in fine condition."

"Of course he is! What kind of merchant sells poor products!"

He chuckles. "My apologies, madam." He turns back to look at me but still talks to her. "Just look at those stripes. People will be jealous when they realize that I have found one of rare breed!"

"If they ask, you didn't buy him from me. I don't need any bad reputation."

"If you so wish."

"And my money?"

"You are impatient, madam."

"Time is money. So if you have done inspecting him, I would like to get this over with."

"Very well. Let's do this in your way."

He drops two pouches on the table. The old master take the scales that she always carries with her and starts to weigh the coins. It doesn't take long until she confirmes that the amount is right. "Here are his papers. My lawyers have legalized them. Only your name is missing." She offers him the papers and a pen. He gladly scribbles his signature. And like that my life was bound to this lord Roderick.

It feels strange how little I actually cared. But that it's the nature of the things. This is the norm. And I didn't exactly like back in the old place.

The old master stands up "I thank you for your business."

Lord Roderick follows her example. "Any day madam." He then turns to the fox. "Show madam Ironside to her carriage."

The fox bows "Yes, my lord." He sheepishly looks at the old master "Please follow me, ma'am."

Before she leaves, the old master turns to look at lord Roderick and nodds for a goodbye. She doesn't do that unless she really knows this person. Could be. I don't really know her friends.

Lord Roderick turns to me "I'm glad that you are finally here, Shadow. You are going to like it here."

I cross my arms. "I doubt it."

He looks surprised at first, but soon he is smiling again. "You say that now, but you will change your mind."

He stares at me uncomfortably long time. I guess that my uncomfort don't show to him, because he suddenly grabs my shoulders and announces "I have plans for you. Others will be so jealous!" I swear, that man has no respect for a personal space.

I give him an angry glance and say in low voice "Hands off."

It seems to work. Though he doesn't look surprised or offended anymore. He is just smiling. This guy gives me the creeps.

"You can call me master or lord. And when we don't have guests, even Roderick is fine."

I say nothing. That is surprisingly laid-back principle though. No one lets slaves call themselves from the first name.

"I expect you to follow my orders. When I have them. If you don't..." He yanks me by the collar, like the old master did, slight threat in his voice. And still smiling that blasted smile. It must be convenient to force others to his will. But I don't expect any less from a human.

I don't like it, but I decide to play along for now. "Understood." I can fight him when I'm not so sick and tired of everything.

"Excellent." He let me go and tries to pat my head, but I brush off his hand before it touches me. He don't seem to think nothing of it.

The fox from before comes back. "Madam Ironside has left. Do you need me for anything else?"

Lord Roderick turns to the small fox "Oh, you're back. Show Shadow around. This will be his new home after all."

Then he turns back to me. "I'll speak to you tomorrow."

I leave with the fox without a word. I sigh when Lord Roderick was out of the sight. I am not going to get along with him I feel.

"I am Miles Prower." The fox introduce himself. "But every one calls me Tails."

"Shadow the Hedgehog."

He is much more relaxed now than what he was when the old master or lord Roderick were present. "Come. I'll show you every one."

We walk the bright hallways. He tries to make some small talk, but I don't feel like talking. I end up just listening mostly.

It doesn't take long for one of the guards to stop us. "So he really bought you..."

I glance at him and cross my arms. I'm not in the mood for this. Even the fox seems to be surprised about that.

"He shouldn't have. Miss Ironside is never been wrong about bad deals. That man never listens." He sighs and shake his head. "Don't cause us trouble." With that he leaves.

I turn to Miles. "What was that all about?"

"Maybe he just wanted to see, I don't know. Human staff usually ignores us."

"Are there many humans?"

"A dozen or so guards and a stableman." Miles looks at me with concern. "What he meant by saying that you are a bad deal?"

Is he this naive? I point my collar, but he don't seem to get it. I guess that he really doesn't know what it is. Maybe it's not a common practice... I don't feel like explaining it to him now. "Never mind."

He looks disappointed, but let it be.

Miles shows me most of the place. The last stop is the place where I would sleep from now on. It looks like a bigger room was divided to six smaller rooms and a hallway that was way too narrow.

Miles points to the back of the hallway. "The last room on the right is the only one that is still free."

I make my way to there. Room itself is really small and not very pleasant. It has a bed and a drawer that barely fit in there. Walls looks thin as paper. But unlike at the old masters place, it does have some kind of privacy.

"My room is opposite of yours." The yellow fox hasn't moved from his spot from the hallway. I don't blame him. This already feels rather cramped.

I throw my bag on the bed and leave. I don't own much, slaves usually don't. I have time to unpack at night.

"Dinner is soon. I'll show you the kitchen."

So I follow him until we reach the kitchen. Four other slaves are sitting around the table and chatting.

White bat waves at us. "Tails, you're late. Knuckles ate everything."

Next to her sits a very angry looking red echidna. "Don't lie about me!"

She giggles. "You're cute when you are angry, hon."

"Don't do that!"

A blue hedgehog throw a piece of paper at them. "Get a room you too. I'm trying to eat."

The white bat turns back to Miles and ignores the commotion that she caused. "Are you going to introduce to us the new guy."

Miles pushes me a bowl soup. Before I could even thank him he speaks to the others. "Everyone, this is Shadow." Then he turns back to me. "The red one is Knuckles. He is my lords bodyguard. The bat is Rouge, who work as a maid. The blue hedgehog is Sonic. He works at the garden or helps at the stables. And one clinging on him is Amy. She works here at the kitchen."

After that he sits down to eat. I follow his example and sit next to Rouge. "And what you do?"

"I fix things. Or help Amy, if nothing needs fixing."

"So you usually don't attend guests."

"No. Rouge usually does that, but she was busy." He laugh nervously. "That bad?"

I ignore his last comment. "And what exactly am I supposed to do here?"

"Something about social gatherings. I'm not sure. It didn't look like my lord gave it that much thought."

Knuckles jumps in our conversation. "You should train with me starting tomorrow."

"He's not going to replace you, is he?" The pink hedgehog clinging to Sonic asks. Sonic don't seem to appreciate her, he frowns.

Miles shake his head. "No. He made it clear that Shadow have more social duties. At the best Knuckles and Shadow will be working together."

I openly show annoyed face. Social duties don't fit to me. They really don't fit me...

"Don't sulk." Sonic says while stuffing his face with bread. "Those are easiest kind of jobs."

I shoot him angry look. Trying to be polite and civilized for the humans is the most embarrassing thing I know. I get the feeling that he either doesn't care or that he hasn't done it before. Ever.

Rouge turns to him. "Oh, shush you. People have different opinions."

Others talk to each other in the way that people that have lived together a long time does. Cracking jokes and sharing their days. Atmosphere is very friendly, but also very foreign. I am stranger in this group and I certainly feel like it.

I decide to leave. There is no reason for me to try endure this atmosphere.

Miles turn to me with a surprised look as I stand up and start to walk for the exit. "Where are you going?"

"Walk." I don't look at him.

I don't have any plans for the rest of the day, so I wander around the mansion, while trying not to run into human staff.

Eventually I just end up going to my room. It's still rather early for a bed, so I empty the small bag that I have with me in the small drawer. Sometimes it feels like a miracle that we are even allowed to own anything. I guess that in some places that is the case.

I take the book that I have with me. It's some sort of awful and cheesy love story. I'm bored so I might as well read it.

...I wonder if the old master will notice that I took it.

I read until I hear others to come to their rooms.

"Shadow?" Amy's girlish voice is behind my door. "Are you there?"

"Yeah. What is it?"

"Mind if I come in?"

"If you must."

She shyly come inside. The room looks stuffed when both of us are inside. It's a good thing that I'm not a claustrophobic.

I lazily raise my eyes from the book. "What do you want?"

"How are you feeling?"

What kind of question is that? I let my bad mood show in my voice. "It's none of your business."

She get surprised and then angry. There is no hint of shyness in her voice any more. "Don't talk to a girl like that! Here I was genuinely worried about you! Especially when you didn't even eat anything!" She push me a sandwich. "Here!"

I take the sandwich. I must look dumbfounded. "Don't you get in trouble for this?"

"I don't if I don't get caught."

...It is nice of her to even bother, I wouldn't have done that. And I am getting a bit hungry. "Thanks."

She looks rather happy with that. "Oh, it's nothing."

Sonic shouts from his own room "I wouldn't say no, if you brought me one."

I shout back at him "Don't you know that it's rude to eavesdrop?"

"These walls doesn't exactly muffle sounds. I can't help but hear you if you talk normally."

Just as I thought.

Knuckles apparently can't stay out of conversation. "Why you never smuggle anything for me?"

"Don't encourage her." Neither can Rouge.

The atmosphere is getting again very friendly. It's not like it never was in the old place, but I managed to be outside of it. It felt foreign back there too.

Amy glance the book I took from the old master. "You read?"

"Occasionally. When I don't have anything better to do."

"...It's love story!" How did she even noticed that from there? The book have no pictures. "That's... surprising. I didn't think that you would be the type. Is it any good?"

"No. It's rubbish. I didn't look what I took, so I ended up with that."

She inch closer to examine the book. "I think it looks interesting. Do you mind if I read it after you?"

I close it and give it to her. "You can have it. I don't care to read it any more."

She take it and smiles to me. "Really? Thanks!" She looks the book, but for me it seems more like she is looking somewhere really far. "I used to read all the time before I came here. You know, I lived in the castle middle of the city before I came here." She sighs. "It was a shock, when I was sold. I thought that I would live there rest of my life. Still miss it sometimes."

She does look sad. We've all been there. Still I don't know how to respond, I didn't expect her to open up. But before I even have a chance to answer Miles starts to talk. "It was shock for me too. Though I grew up in a small village with my family. I sometimes wonder how my parents are doing."

I hear Sonic's voice next. "You might have been sad to be sold, but I have always been glad that I'm not in the old place any more. Sometimes change of scenery is needed."

"You say that only because master leaves you well alone." Rouge sounds angry.

Sonic just grunts. It's clear that he doesn't really want to talk about this.

"Hey, Shadow" Rouge continue. "You are from one of those slave camps, right?"

I agree. "That's right."

"Me and Knuckles grew up in one too. We were on same one, but we didn't know each other that well until we were bought."

"I didn't grew up in there."

"Oh. I didn't mean to assume." She keep a small pause. "Those places can be merciless for the people who grew outside."

"It wasn't that bad. Old master made it always clear what she thought about us. I much rather deal with honest humans like her than the ones that tries to hide their thoughts behind false compassion. I probably will miss that horrid witch."

I hear Knuckles laughs loudly for my comment.

Amy looks serious. "There are some nice humans too."

I am surprised to hear her say that. "Bullshit." She can't be too innocent to not have noticed the way we are treated.

She is getting slightly more annoyed. "I had human friends when I lived in the castle."

"You are naive. They most likely wanted something from you. If they act nice there is always a catch." Humans can't be trusted. I learned that on the hard way.

"I'm not naive! I know what I'm talking about." She stomps her foot. That woman is easily flammable.

"You can't swipe away years of suppression from my mind, no matter how much you yell."

She is quiet for a second before finally giving up. "Whatever! I'm going to sleep." She storms to her own room.

"I agree with Amy." Knuckles say. "Wait till you meet lords fiancé. She is nice person."

I sigh. "I get the feeling that you didn't completely heard what I said."

"I did. I'm just saying. There is no evil thought on her."

He seems to be rather naive too. I don't feel like fighting about this. I just go to sleep while others are still talking about the matter.