The Slave Haunting

Summary: In old pre-revolutionary America, the South enjoyed a major deal of the wealth of the New World. With large plantations and prospering aristocratic families, Souther Plantation owners lived comfortable, wealthy lives...All but the Shield's family, one of the most prosperous of the Southern Plantation families in Virginia, Stationed in one of the oldest regions of the state the family manor begins to undergo a series of "odd" events centered around one of the families young black servants. And just as things seems to be getting better, the Lord's sons, from abroad in London come in at the end of the school year and the haunting take on a whole new turn.

NOTE: This might portray sauced up image of slavery, but Slavery was not a fanfic, not romantic or happy Gilmore in any way...I just prefer making it happy because there's too much sadness in the world already

Chapter 2: The Strange Beginnings

I told her of my numerous ventures at some of the best universities, of my studies in France; the epistle of intellectualism and artistry. I also did a few years of study in Spain another home of the arts. I told her of my several encounters with the philosophies of the era. I even described to her the nature of various of my romantic encounters with some of the women, a few of whom had been colleagues at the colleges.

Mother laughed at several of my comments about French culture, having grown up in many of these parts she understood my resignation and my admiration. The nostalgic gleam in her eyes as she remembered the past helped cover the sadness in her eyes.

I did not finish my recollection when a butler came in and announced dinner. We had been talking the whole afternoon, and now that I could finally stop I felt my hunger gnawing at me.

"Dear god...what kind of mother starves her own son, forgive me I just lost the track of time listening to you. We prepare to dine, eat and you shall retire for the night." Her tone was motherly and the commands she was issuing were like the ones she gave me when I was younger. I couldn't help but smile now at the way she was treating me. I have the strangest feeling that mother and I would have to deal with the fact that I am no longer three years of age, but actually in my mid-twenties.

"Its alright mother, I lost myself in telling you the tale. I have been dying for someone to listen to my complaints. I shall meet you at the dinner table in a few then." I kissed her goodbye and left for my quarters. The chamber had not changed much from the time I was a child, there was a new and larger bed, and the little chest that use to hold my clothing was now an armoire the size of a small room.

Everything else was the same, from the toys, to the curtains with clouds painted all over and the rug with the gentle looking animals.

"Young master, a bath has been prepared for you in the grand-bathing hall...or if that is too much of an inconvenience then we can bring one to your rooms." The old butler Mr. Smith had been around since I was a little kid, the smile on his face made mine light up in response, I flashed him my old childhood grin and he shook his head.

"Have not changed at all have you?" I exclaimed hugging him to me.

"I dear say I have, aged a bit I have." I laughed at that and let him lead me to the bathing room. The grand bathroom was beautiful, it was a roman like bathroom, with the bathtub build into the peach cobble stoned floor. There were stairs leading into the bathing pool, chandeliers shone golden light in the room. And the mist rising from the tub warmed the entire place and cast an almost romantic atmosphere.

I took a quick dip in the hot water and let it unclench all my knotted up muscles, I used the soaps to clean myself up and before getting out of the water.

Mr. Smith brought a towel for me, I wrapped it around my waist and held a robe out for me. I took the robe and wore it, tying the sash around me.

I dressed quickly and met mother at the dinner table. A table filled to the rim with all my favorite dishes since, I sat down and planted an even bigger kiss on mother's cheek before taking the seat across from her at the head table.

We began to eat and there was light chatter, mostly mother talking about her work and the current business dealings she had made with some of the other planters here and merchants in the North.

As we were commencing with the final part of our meal; the dreaded desert one of the servants came in and whispered something to my mother.

"Yes do, and tie her down gently this time. And have Clara keep watch at the door, and Benjamin stay near incase something happens." She was whispering, but I could still hear her words clearly enough.

And having heard her, my curiosity was once again piqued. I watched at the servant left and several minutes later several of them walked by the dinning room door carrying something in their midst....a body...the young girl from earlier. Her hair tied in a scarf, and her body wrapped around a blanket which one of the male servants had heaped over his back while two older women trailed behind holding blankets and ropes.

"Mother you have yet to tell me what is going on." What was my mother up to? Who is that young lady about to be tied down with ropes.

"Mother...surely you are not thinking of...lynching!: The idea itself was impossible, my mother could not surely do such a thing, and yet she had just condoned the strapping of a young black servant girl and several guards to watch her....has the depression of these years changed my mother into something unfamiliar.

"Dear god no child. How can you think such a thing... No we are not punishing her, we are trying to stop her from hurting herself. She...is a bit...disturbed nothing more. I shall explain later." And with that the discussion was over.

I finished my meal, wished mother good night after seeing her off to her own room and retired to mine.

Sleep came to almost immediately. The excitement of returning home again after such a long time and the long journey all tired me out both physically and mentally.

A loud horror filled shriek drove me out of my bed sometime around 3 in the morning. I jumped out of bed, and with nothing on but my shorts I emerged from my chamber and headed in the direction of the screaming.

When I arrived, there were already several people there including my mother and Mr. Smith; they were entering the chamber as I was descending the stairs to the servants quarters.

"What in the name of the devil is going on?" My voice even to my own ears sounded menacing, several of the servants moved away from me in fear.

"Not now son." My mother's voice rang strong like mine, commanding, furious. I did not linger on the issue, just let it pass unnoticed.

"Whe..." Even before I could finish talking another bout of shrieks came from the room. Angry and confused, I shoved aside the servants standing in front of the door and entered.

I wish I had not.