I do not own any of the characters except Kohana nor will I profit from publishing this work of fiction

Chapter 4

Ruka had been brushing my hair and telling me about the raid she had been on the night before that I, grudgingly, hadn't been allowed to go on when Valentina said my name.

It had been months since the two yoko had come. I had later found out Leader had tried to grab the older Fox's hand and the younger one had cut Leader's hand off with some sort of green whip type thing. Valentina was able to reattach it, but since that day nobody in camp would speak with me. Valentina barely acknowledged my existence. Ruka was all I had that still treated me like a demon being. Ruka had actually been the one to try and heal my cuts; unfortunately I still gained three long scars going from my left temple ending on my nose, one of the scars going across my eye. Ruka told me I was lucky I hadn't lost my vision.

"Kohana, you need to come with me." I only hesitated slightly at her somber look. I thanked Ruka as I stood up, moving a few pieces of my hair to hide my scars. As I walked out of the tent I could hear the voices of everyone in camp talking around the campfire like normal in the mornings. But, the second one of the demons noticed me step out of our tent; he smacked the leg of the demon next to him and nodded to me. Almost instantly the camp went silent as everyone stared at me. I looked to Valentina, trying to hold my smile but feeling it faltering as the pregnant silence continued. I heard Ruka rustling in the tent before finally stepping out as Valentina knelt down and took me in her arms.

"Good luck." She whispered to me before standing up and looking towards Leader's tent.

"Valentina?" I asked hesitantly. She wouldn't look at me, and just pulled Ruka into her arms in a tight lock as if to keep Ruka from moving. My smile fell completely when I saw her do this.

"VERMIN!" I jumped as Master's voice cut through the silence easily. I had been expecting something to come from Leader's tent so I hadn't noticed him not ten feet away in front of his own tent. Next to Master was a man I hadn't seen before.

Run

I wish I had listened to the voice which had become more prevalent as the years past. Master waited for me to go to him and kneel. The second my knees hit the dirt, I felt an electric pulse run across the skin on my neck and I hissed in pain. Master pulled an invisible chain and I hissed again as the force dragged me to my feet. I reached up to grab at the chain but, again, was electrocuted. Master laughed maliciously as he handed the chain to the unknown man. No words were spoken as the unknown man started to drag me towards the woods.

"Master? Please. I promise I will be better! Please!" I started begging as I realized what was happening. I was being sold. I barely knew what I was saying. I was just so terrified it was like word vomit.

"Momma? Momma what's happening?!" I heard Ruka behind us. I took one last look as I was pulled into the dense forest surrounding the place I suppose was no longer called home. Ruka was trying to pull from her mother's arms but Valentina just continued to keep her there. There was some bright blue and white sparks surrounding her and her mom but soon the encampment was out of sight.

I told you so.

After a couple of hours of walking I had stopped yelling, screaming, begging to be let go or to simply take me back. The man ignored me throughout it all and continued to drag me along. I didn't know if the electricity had somehow been turned off or if I had just become numb to it, but I no longer felt pain on my neck from the cuff. I don't know how long we walked but the great red suns had almost set before we came upon a towering Mansion. The man knocked on the door and we waited. We had been walking for so long I realized it was almost time for my normal sleep schedule to start. I wished I knew where we were but my voice had grown scratchy from my screaming, so I didn't bother asking. I probably wouldn't have gotten an answer anyways. Soon a woman was opening the door, the scowl on her face showed her obvious disdain for our presence and I'm sure whatever smell we had. I know I hadn't washed for, easily, a couple weeks.

"What do you want?"

The man pulled the chain, pulling me forward a little.

"Elita asked for a new one. This is her."

The woman looked me up and down before nodding once and moved so we could step into the entry. The woman closed the door and started to walk away. The man followed and dragged me along with him. After countless turns and hallways, I could have sworn the woman was trying to confuse us, I was pretty sure we passed the same statue three times. I was so tired by the time we reached a set of tall double doors. I rubbed my eyes as my shoulders slumped a little. The woman knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Come in."

The woman opened the door and allowed the man with my chain and I to enter the room. Without waiting for an invitation the man strode to a chair in front of a woman I barely saw. My vision was becoming blurry and I felt as if ready to faint from how tired I seemed to be.

"Why is she chained up?! What, you can't handle a small thing like her?! She barely reaches your hip! Take those off her now!" I looked to the where the voice was. I barely made out the shape of the woman. The man immediately moved to me and took my neck chain off. I immediately felt as if a small burst of energy had shot through me. I didn't hesitate before getting to my knees and bowing deep to the woman. She exuded power and confidence, but as I looked at her eyes I saw something almost….warm in the deep blue depths.

"Inpu. You'll find the rest of your payment at the front door. Leave now." I didn't lift my head a fraction of a hair during their exchange. After I heard the door slam closed and footsteps fading into the distance I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked up at the woman. She had the smallest hint of a smile on her lips.

"Stand."

I didn't hesitate as I pulled myself to my full height. Okay. I know it wasn't intimidating in anyway, but it seemed this woman would likely be my new master…err…mistress and I needed to start proving myself now. Her eyes looked me over and I felt as if she saw every last hair and scar I had on the front part of my body before she told me to turn around. I did as told and without moving my head I looked at the room I was in. It looked very similar to a room I had once searched for shiny things during a raid. Back when I had been allowed on them. Books lined every visible space. I couldn't read any of the titles but soon felt a soft hand run down my forearm until it hit the spirit cuffs.

"How long have you had these, girl? And why were they put on you in the first place?"

I was caught off guard.

Lie.

I wasn't sure if I should listen to the voice or not, but I didn't feel as if lying right now would be the best thing to do with a new Mistress.

"I've had them for approximately three years and I was told so I wouldn't be a problem." My voice was still slightly scratchy but I managed to make myself heard.

"Hn." I wasn't sure if I was supposed to respond or not so I stayed still. I heard the brush of fabric on fabric and soon Mistress came into my view. She walked to a little box in the wall I had not seen as it had been just out of my view. She pulled a little cord inside the box before closing its panel and turning to me.

"Tell me girl. What type of demon are you? I can't seem to sense your power through these cuffs. I don't want to take them off just yet. I don't know if you will try to run. I would hate to have to kill you so early." She stepped near me, and knelt so her eyes were directly to mine. She leaned in and sniffed my neck. I felt a little chill run down my back, the small hairs on my arms and neck rising as she moved my hair over to the shoulder she wasn't near, her fingers brushing against my skin gently.

"Psychic?" Most my body was frozen. I tried to squeak out an answer but I couldn't. My voice had failed me. Before I realized what was happening, Mistress had grasped my face between two of her fingers and was forcing me to look into her eyes.

"Ma'am?" I hadn't even heard the door open. My new Mistress turned without taking her hand from my face. I continued to stay still, not wanting to anger her further. Standing at the door was a woman with light brown skin that contrasted nicely with leafy green hair holding a tray that had an empty cup and a pitcher.

"Oh Sezja! Good to see you. Thank you please set the tray on the table and take a seat. This won't take long." She nodded and did as told. Mistress let me go, stood and poured a glass with her back towards me. I stole a large breath while Mistress's back was turned. I saw the Sezja woman looking at me. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with everyone staring at me so much. I was used to being unseen like a good bandit should be. Mistress walked back to me and handed me the glass. It looked to be simple water. I looked up at her with a question clearly written on my face.

"Drink, girl. It was silly of me to not think of it sooner." I put the cup to my lips and drank the entire glass in only a few gulps. The liquid was so soothing against my throat I didn't notice the small amount of water that drizzled out of the corners of my mouth. I held the empty glass in front of me and noticed Mistress had sat down in her original chair again and a smirk graced her beautiful face. I felt my face flush in embarrassment.

"Now. Girl. Tell me what type of demon you are."

I fidgeted a little. I didn't want her to be angry with me. I looked nervously at the new woman, Sezja? Yes. Sezja. She seemed to notice my discomfort and winked at me with a small smile and it immediately brought me comfort.

"Um. I'm not actually positive? I was sold to the bandits when I was three, Mommy was supposed to return within a year to buy me back, but never did. We moved around several places so she probably hadn't been able to find me. Though the Yoko Voss, um about 2 months ago, told me she has died." I noticed I had been rambling and tried to clear my throat a little as I looked at Mistress, noticing her smirk had disappeared.

"So…um…anyways by the time Master…er…my old Master realized it had been over a year, he no longer remembered what my mother had even looked like. He believed women were for his pleasure alone. Not to take note of. I never knew my father." I looked to the ground.

"Voss? What connection does he have? Is he your kin? Do you have sisters? Brothers? Cousins?"

I shook my head. "I don't know if I have any kin. I am not sure what Yoko Voss's connection to my mother is…was."

There was silence in the room. I didn't dare to look up. I knew of Masters and Mistresses that only took certain types of demons. We had had many different demon slaves pass through the troupe that would be sold off. I thought I had been special as I hadn't been given away…well, until now.

"What is your given birth name? Do you have one?"

"Kohanna is my birth name. My old Master favored the name Vermin."

I heard a slight chuckle from who I assumed was Mistress.

"Sezja. The girl is under your care. You kept begging for someone else in the kitchen. This is yours. She will stay in the room down the hall from the entrance. You know the one. See that she doesn't get in my way."

I heard who I guessed was Sezja stand and walk towards me. She put her hand on my back and steered me out of the door.

"Thank the ma'am."

Startled, I looked up at Sezja.

"Thank the Ma'am!" she whispered at me a little louder. I nodded and ran back into the room. I landed in front of Mistress on my knees in a bow.

"Thank you, Mistress for allowing me to serve you and for taking me away from my former home." I didn't wait for a response before jumping to my feet and running back to Sezja, the door closing quietly behind me. I thought I heard a slight chuckle from the room but would never be sure.

"Now. It is late. I will show you to your room. In the morning I will wake you and show you how to live here."

I nodded as I followed her down the twisting hallways. I had been right to think the original woman had made us go down pointless hallways. It took a lot less time to get to the front of the house. Sejza…Mistress? Is she my mistress and the other woman is now the equivalent of Leader? Either way she opened the door for me. Inside were things I had only seen in houses we had stolen from. There was some sort of wooden box that usually held pieces of clothing but sometimes shiny things that were easily sold for coin. On the other side of the room was a rather large…rectangular…thing. It had a large piece of cloth that I thought might be used as a blanket but wasn't sure what was underneath it. I looked around the room a little but wasn't sure what to do in it. I had never been in my own quarters before.

"As I said I will come for you in the morning. Tell me, do I need to lock this door? Or are you still going to be here in the morning if I don't?"

I looked up at her with sad eyes as I realized something, "I have nowhere else to go. I'll be here. Thank you…M-Mistress?"

I wasn't sure how to address her but didn't want to upset her for not addressing her correctly. Mistress started to laugh.

"Oh Malysh! Please! Just call me Sezja. Our Ma'am is our only Mistress. She may have put me in charge of you but that only means if you mess up I am at fault." With a chuckle she started to close the door.

"Mi-err…Sezja?" I called out. She paused and waited for me to speak.

"Where do I sleep?"

She looked at me curiously before walking over to the rectangular thing. She pulled back the blanket and made a motion for me to get on. I quickly walked to her and climbed, and I mean literally climbed, onto it. Sejza put the blanket over me and warmth started to flow through my body.

"This is called a bed. This is where you will sleep." She walked back to the doorway and again started to close it.

"Thank you, Sejza." I called out before snuggling into the warm 'bed'. Sezja barely paused before the door completely clicked shut. My mind seemed to simultaneously race and be exhausted. The exhaustion seemed to win the war because soon enough I was in dream world.

Author's note: Oh boy this was a longer one! So, we have already seen some faces that are known to the series, and will see more...soon? I'm going to go with soon. I'm sure you all understand how you have this character in mind and then they seem to have a mind of their own. (yes I have a mini Kohana yelling at me when I try to make her say things she doesn't feel she would say). Either way! As always, please tell me what you think, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestion, preferably by commenting! They help motivate me when I'm having a bad day!

Thank you for reading and I hope you have enjoyed!