Four
The villa was large and luxurious next to the mud and sticks that made up the Hold. Sin's eyes grew large trying to consume the detail of ornately carved stone and the different shades of wood latticed into intricate patterns, sandstone slate and glossy tiles. The whole world seemed crafted from a dream.
There was a large willow tree in the courtyard and torches lined at intervals along the outer wall. On the gates was a golden seal of the Phenix and Sin crossed her chest superstitiously for the Phenix cry was the harbinger of death.
The slaves were queued according to their appearance, both height and colouring: Dolor and her quiet companion at the front, Sin and little sister amongst the middling slaves and Evi and the other main land accruements were placed at the end.
There were Hounds to greet them at the gate, closed mouth and cruel eyed, they fastened heavy metal collars about the slaves' throats. The metal burned and itched against Sin's skin, it forced her head to come straight and lift her chin for the weight that bore down on her shoulders caused her to hunch ever so slightly.
The stewards had dismounted from their horses and were already walking toward the entrance to stand before a small stone fountain decorated with elaborately carved salamanders, but the fountain bore no water.
Sin could feel the Hound's eyes on the back of her head, a prickling sensation of its own.
The steward who had inspected Sin approached them first; his hair, as long as any woman's sat in a perfectly unruffled honey blond curtain at his back. He paced slowly back and forth in front of them, his intelligent brown eyes moving carefully over each girl, assessing them.
"I am Maegester Arin and this is Maegester Danüs." He motioned to the dark haired steward who remained by the fountain. "Our voices deliver the word of the Lords and Ladies of this House, and you will obey."
Maegester Arin's voice was cold but he spoke calmly and the sound drew Sin's eyes to study his face. He was younger than she had first thought for his face was smooth and hairless but there was a deep knowledge and weariness about his eyes that spoke of age.
"This will be your home for a time, we find it is a convenient preparation house for all slaves." He continued his march, up and down, up and down. "You will be well maintained here for your purpose. Some of you may go on to serve in the House above and some will not." His eyes on Sin at that moment, she lowered her head using her hair to conceal her face.
"Ah, here is Maistresse Ankti."
Sin's eyes rolled to the side and saw a tall silhouette against the sun, Ankti was indeed tall and her skin was brown, even darker than Sin's tribe who were darker than Dolor's. "She will instruct you in your services here. You will address her as Maistresse or Maistresse Ankti as she desires."
Ankti had a lash in her hands of which Sin could see the cruel strands swaying just above the dusty ground, her eyes moved to the woman's thick strong ankles and then the swell of her thighs, she was built as strong as a man, muscles defined her legs and arms. Her black hair was braided neat and long, snapping around her like a cat-of-nine tails.
"Thank you." She nodded to Arin. "You have all been Chosen this day to serve your Maegesters in a higher capacity. For many your hard efforts here will be rewarded with service in the House, for others, you will have but a taste of glories never to be yours. You will sleep in the villa and do duties as instructed by myself and our good stewards. You are not to speak unless spoken to or move without being bidden." She looked to Arin. "Is this understood?"
Arin struck his staff to the ground and all grew stiff backed.
"It is understood, Maistresse Ankti."
"You." Ankti stepped up to Dolor and put the hilt of her whip under the girls chin to lift her face to the light. "Who bloodied you?"
"The new purchase, Maistresse." Dolor answered deliberately loud.
"Why?"
"She did not like it when I called her nigger."
"Where did you learn such a word?"
"In the cart, Maistresse, the girl called herself such."
Maistresse Ankti moved up the line of shivering slave flesh to the end where Evi stood tall almost of the same height, Evi glared into the Maistresse' face without hint of fear or remorse. "You."
Evi sneered and Ankti responded by striking her face with the hilt of her whip. Evi doubled over with shock, the other slaves held a collective breath and only released it when Evi straightened up and faced Ankti with a broad grin.
"You are going to be trouble." Ankti said with a peculiar kind of sensitivity. "Kindly escort this one to the atrium and I will be along shortly to mete out its punishment."
"You can't hurt me you sly old cunt. I'll kill you. I'll kill you all." Hounds came forward, grasping Evi's limbs, a hand clamped over her mouth to dull her screams as they dragged her away.
"There will be no violence amongst you, no words exchanged or else you will receive punishments liken to that one over there."
"What about that one?" Sorken asked pointing at Sin.
"What of it?" Ankti asked.
Arin whispered in her ear and Ankti looked at Sin. "Well, well, well."
Ankti stepped up to the girl using the whip she forced her chin up, as she had done with Dolor, to look into her eyes. Sin saw perfect black eyes, depthless and full of unspeakable evil and knew she would be a fool to disobey this woman.
"You have been a busy little slave." Ankti put her lips on Sin's. "There will be no time for dalliance under my care."
Ankti stood back to address them all. "There will be no coupling, no cavorting with any males nor amongst yourselves. You have not been Chosen to breed and you shall have no such privileges."
The island slaves looked perplexed but Sin blushed wildly thinking of how Arin's hands had been over her body, inside her body whilst he inspected her in the Hold.
"Sorken, would you be so kind as to escort the slaves to the atrium, there is a lesson to be learned by us all."
They were marched inside the villa, making slow progress for the slaves did not know how to move in tandem. Sin found the scent of Jasmine was strong within the gates, and if she could have looked up she would have found that the villa stood in the shadow of the House and the grounds around the building were blanketed in night blooming jasmine.
As they were lead into the atrium, Sin was aware of the scent of food and warmth escaping from half open doors and her stomach protested for she had not eaten for more than a day.
"Look upon it, you slaves." Ankti said using her whip to direct their eyes toward Evi whose shackled wrists had been tied to a large wooden crucifix.
It cast a long shadow across the atrium and Evi upon it was a horrific sight. Sin could taste the climbing rhythm of her own heart as Evi's mouth hung open in a silent scream, blood matted her hair and stained the tepid water rippling in the shallow pool beneath the cross. She could hear little sister gasp and Sin sought out her hand, squeezing her fingers.
"For each disobedience you will find yourself hung beneath the noon sun." Ankti said calmly. "For each persisting disobedience you will find the bite of my whip."
"You are not in a world of comfort and luxury now despite appearances for some. This is Elysion and you all must learn that you are but meat for your Maegesters." Ankti struck her whip against the floor tiles. "Do you understand?"
A shuddering breath passed Evi's lips and the girl raised her head with visible effort. Her face swollen with bruises and seeping cuts, she bared her straight white teeth. "Fuck you."
Pearl watched with the eyes of a glutton, drinking in all that would be hers, from the sumptuous silks that hung the inside of the carriage, the silver and gold filigree of its handles, the gleaming spires of the house, the emerald gleam of the canopy of trees, the strong scent of jasmine flowers.
The path was smooth despite its rough appearance. There were no roads in Elysion, it seemed.
"It's very beautiful." She said trying to catch the attention of Lady Linnea who sat beside her with her face turned to the window. Linnea's whole body was turned away, taking no interest in her new sister-in-law to be not even a sound to acknowledge her presence.
Pearl had expected the Ladies to be jealous of her; she was after all young and an incomparable beauty, her father had often told her so. They would covet her expensive wardrobe and talk snidely behind her back because that was what Pearl was used to.
Her eyes moved to the window which Linnea stared out of and saw a rickety wooden cart, she had to squint to make out the forms of male slaves, their well-muscled bodies bronzed by the sun. "Impressive." She said.
Linnea glanced at her with a raised brow.
"Did your father not keep slaves?"
Pearl felt a warmth rush her cheeks. "Well…we didn't….I mean, he never…"
Linnea made a careless gesture with her hand. "It has said Elysion has a stock like no other."
Pearl pouted, put out that she was not able to defend her father. He did not keep slaves, slaves of course were not permitted in the modern world, the Council itself had prohibited it on the main land so as not to rouse suspicion from the human authorities. Elysion had no such worries.
"Where are they going?"
"To the field." Linnea said and then with an exasperated sigh. "To pull the ploughs to plant the seed."
They took a sharply sloping path and the higher they went the sweeter the scent of the island. The more they progressed the more Pearl realised how different her life would be, she would be transformed into something more akin to a Queen. The pleasure at the thought of being a Queen turned her lips into a smile.
The cart came to a sudden stop and she lurched forward. Linnea stepped swiftly out of the carriage, Pearl felt the flutter of hesitation, her hand reaching for the carriage door but it swung open and she found Lucerne waiting for her with a cool expression. She took his icy hand and helped her onto the path.
She looked about her, beautifully kept hedges and white petal flowers added to the mystic beauty of the house…it was more a castle than a house…"Do you approve?"
Pearl could hear the warmth of displeasure in his voice and raised her head. "It's lovely."
Lucerne forced a smile to his lips though it never reached his eyes. "You must be exhausted from your journey. Verain will take you to your chambers."
She turned and saw the boy from the harbour, his features were lovely and he appeared only a little older than herself. He gave Lucerne a curt nod and offered Pearl his arm, she didn't hesitate to perch her fingers elegantly on him.
She felt the warmth through his sleeve and the smell of him filled her nostrils, she recognised the scent with a burgeoning frown. She turned her nose up in the air, glaring at him from the corner of her eye. "So Lucerne likes to keep dogs?"
"And bitches." He shot back.
Pearl met his stare, though they continued as if the exchange hadn't happened. "Where are you taking me?" She tried to steel her voice.
"To your room, my Lady."
"What about the feast?" She asked glancing behind her shoulder, trying to catch sight of Lucerne or Linnea.
"The feast is in the feasting hall."
"I want to go to the feast." She said imperiously, her grip tightening on his arm.
"The Maegester wants you in your room." He said through his teeth.
She bit her lip, confounded by the whole thing, surely she should be present at her own welcome feast? She took time to look at the house, it was cool inside, almost cold, there were no electric lights…no heating…just the spicy scent of hearth fires and candlewax.
He took her up stair cases, past tapestries picturing beautiful women and the blue shades of great oceans. It was enchanting and yet her heart continued with its uneasy fluttering.
Verain opened a set of doors, lilac flowers were delicately engraved on the front. She paused before the threshold. "What's your name?" She asked.
He met her eyes, his iris were golden and intense and she struggled not to look away. "Verain."
"I want you to be my personal guard, Verain." She said.
A dark eyebrow rose. "You must speak with the Maegester." Was all he said and he gave a low mocking bow. "My Lady." He turned and left.
She was surprised to have been given her own room instead of being taken to the marriage bed. The room was sparsely decorated but there was an exquisite tapestry of the shore of Elysion, a beautiful bronze skinned woman with long dark curls and large brown eyes. She was nude, decorated only by the cresting foam of waves depicted in bright and deep blue threads.
The woman's beauty was so very unlike her own.
She turned her back on it, finding her belongings spread around the four poster bed, her trunk filled with saris and chitons and ball gowns already open. She had brought her own perfumes and ornaments, even a hair dryer but that would be useless here.
She was thirteen and had come upon her womanly blood only a year ago, she remembered how she had begged her father to marry, her father who loved her best and spoilt her too much. It wasn't unusual for the Lamia to marry young; she had sisters who had been given away when they were much younger.
Pearl perched on the edge of her new bed, could smell the goosefeathers that plumped the mattress, a sparkling set of jewels adorned the bed spread, the stones cool beneath her fingertips.
"Do you like them?" Lucerned asked startling her.
She stood quickly, her cheeks warm. "I didn't know you were here."
He moved from the outer shadows, stalking like an elegant and dangerous beast, he was tall and all slender muscles, his pale skin gleamed like moonstone in the lamplight. She could not deny his beauty, a beauty carved in ice but a feeling came of her, a trembling kind of panic. Though Lucerne appeared young, she knew he was old, far older.
Despite being enamoured with the thought of being the great queen of a secret kingdom, knowing her name would be whispered in the same breath of the patron goddess of the island, a siren whose beauty would be hanging in tapestries and whispered on the main land, she was afraid.
"I hope you find your dwelling comfortable."
"It's fine." She lied. It was far too cold, not that she was affected by such things but it had none of the opulence of her father's house.
Lucerne stepped so close she swayed at the proximity, with icy fingertips he took her chin and angled her face for inspection. She tried to remove herself from his grasp but it was like a vice and it only became more painful to resist. "There's no need to lie to me, Pearl." He said, his voice soft, almost romantic. "Do you like the necklace?"
"I do." She said through her teeth.
"They belonged to the last wife of mine." He said and she sensed no residual fondness for his last wife. "You will be the Lady of Elysion by the next moon and all that was once hers will be yours."
He released her and she fell back bust mustered enough pride to glare.
"Do you know why you have been brought here, Pearl?"
She turned her back on him, tangling her fingers in the bedspread, refusing to let him see the shiver of her features. She was afraid: she wasn't used to being handled roughly or spoken to in such a way. "I am to be your wife."
"Yes." He said a smile in his voice. "You are to be my wife and you are to bear my heirs."
She spun around, dazzled at his brazen words. She had heard rumours of his last wife, a poorly little creature who could not give him a son. Pearl had seen her once, the dark haired girl had been shivering and was sickly pale, the rumour said she was mad, perhaps even driven to it by Lucerne.
It was as if Lucerne could read her thoughts he rushed toward her, she was forced to sidle back on the bed, his hands threw up her voluminous skirts, exposing her pale thighs. He slipped one hand between her legs fingers questing to her private parts.
He withdrew as quickly as he had come upon her; he lifted his fingers to his nostrils and smiled.
"How dare you." She hissed and raised a hand to strike his face but he caught her wrist with ease.
"Just one moon." He said. "Just one."
Tears rolled down her cheeks, she was still a virgin and could not begin to anticipate the pain, fear prickled in her to think of Lucerne and his cold cruel hands.
"You will not disappoint me." He said pointedly and turned and left
She heard the door lock.
Sin lay on the bunk she had been given, real feather matted beneath a linen sheet and another sheet to serve as a blanket to ward off the draft. Her head lay on her arm and her eyes remained open in the dark staring at the back of Evi's head.
Evi's body trembled with both pain and tears, the fight had deserted her body. Sin watched the blood seep from the wounds on her back.
"Are you asleep?" Little sister asked with a voice shivering and emotional. "What will they do with us now?"
"Shhh." Someone hissed in the dark.
"I don't want to die." Little sister whispered fiercely.
She was numb, far removed from the fear that took hold of her sister and she had no idea what to do. "Pray." She whispered and listened to the lull of her sister's prayers.
Dolor's cot was at the foot of hers and Sin saw that she too was awake. "There's no use in praying." The blond girl's lips fluttered in the dark. "The gods are dead."
"What makes you an authority on the gods?" Sin asked.
"They have never answered my prayers."
"Perhaps you were praying for the wrong things."
"Have you not heard a word Maistresse Ankti has spoken?" Dolor said from between clenched teeth. "We are meat, Sin and slaves have no need for prayers or freedom or rebellion. Look at what disobedience rewards you with."
They all looked at Evi's shivering body.
"She was lucky the Hounds had not been set upon her. Have you seen that before, Sin? Have you ever seen a sister or a brother torn apart by a Hound, limbs wrenched from sockets and flesh ground to naught but blood and dirt?"
Sin shivered at the thought but shook her head, no but the image of her sister's open throat haunted her still.
"I don't think even Jesus can save us now." The girl with the deeply bruised eyes voice rose to interrupt them. She sat up, putting hands in her sweat clotted strands of brown hair. "I prayed that this was just a dream and I would wake up in my apartment. They came at night." Her voice was trembling now, tears rolling down her skeletal cheeks. "I was just getting milk…for the baby but…"
Sin's mouth formed a frown. The girl had a baby.
"What's your name?"
"Inez."
Sin would pray for Inez and the child that had been left behind.
"You must stop your prayers and be done with your cursed names. We have all had our lesson today." Dolor hissed and drew her bed clothes over her head.
Little sister stubbornly continued her prayers and Sin joined her in a lulling chorus, praying for life, for the slaves, for her home, for Inez and her little baby. She prayed until they had all passed into sleep.
Sin woke up in the night with a start as if she had felt icy hands upon her throat. She turned her head from side to side, eyes slowly becoming accustomed to the dark she noted Evi lay awake too. The girl's features were molded into sad lines, her eyes staring into nothingness, lost in thought.
Sin sat up, drawing knees to her chest and wrapped arms around he legs, she stared at Evi, making out the play of light across her lovely face, high cheekbones and shining eyes. "Where did you come from?" She asked in a whisper.
Evi didn't respond at first but Sin had the grace to wait. "New York." The words rasped from between her generous lips.
"What was it like?"
Evi turned to face her. "Noisy. Fast." Sin tried to imagine as Evi whispered words into the night. Tales of a extraordinary city of iron, smoke and steel. A place that sounded as terrible as it was wonderful. Evi spoke of light that blotted the beauty of the heavens and such freedoms that a human had not had on Elysion for a long time.
Sin could never truly grasp all of what was said for she was cut from Elysion flesh and didn't know the electric touch of the modern world.
Evi soon succumbed to her exhaustion, the tears that had possessed her whole body pacified and she passed into sleep. Still awake, Sin was content to listen to the sounds of the villa, the creaking, beating and breathing of this strange new place.
She knew that slaves were trained by night too, she could hear them moving, and she could hear the rumble of Ankti's voice and the snap of her whip; and then a light appeared in the hall, the glow coming from beneath the door of their room. A shadow moved across, making blades of the light. Sin quickly slunk down into the bed, pulling her covers high over her head.
Someone entered the room. Their footsteps were light, almost undetectable but she could feel the presence, something icy and oily moving over her making her flesh crawl.
The sensation of icy fingertips on her heel, sliding up her calf made her bight her lip to stop the shock and whimper.
As soon as it was there it stopped and she heard the abrupt sound of the person moving away, their footsteps a mere whisper. She opened her eyes to slim cracks and caught the sight of one of the stewards silhouetted against the light from the hall. When the door closed she released a breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding.
She curled herself into a foetal ball and closed her eyes willing herself into sleep and when it came the sight of great metal cities rose in her imagination but those images soon dissolved, succumbing to the irresistible and familiar world of Elysion.
Updated 01/04/2012
Miss S