Warning, mentions of rape

Chapter 1

4 months later

"And this one is used for cleaning wounds, but it can also be used for healing potions…"

Fay looked at her master's second youngest son vigilantly, trying her best to memorize everything he was saying to her. She knew something about herbs, but not nearly as much as he did. Clearly his mother had taught him well. Fay was still somewhat cautious around her mistress, even though she hadn't mistreated her. Her master on the other hand… Fay was smart enough to be afraid of him.

His oldest son, Master Finn, hadn't paid much attention to her, not even when she had been alone with him. He was always very gloomy and he didn't speak much. The second oldest son, Master Elijah wasn't too bad either; he had never laid a hand on her. Neither had Master Niklaus. He didn't speak to her very often, but he wasn't cruel either.

Mistress Rebekah often requested her assistance with all kinds of things, but she wasn't mean. The young master Henrik was always kind to her and she understood why his whole family adored him so much. Then there was Master Kol. He had been more than kind to her and he often gave her extra food with a smile and a wink.

She knew what that meant. Kindness like that was never free and she had waited for him to claim his payment, but he hadn't done that so far. That was strange. When her master had brought her to his home for the first time and she had seen how many men there were in the household, she had been beyond terrified. She had been sure that she wouldn't survive.

For days she had been alarmed day and night, expecting the first one of them to take her body. Then the second, the third and so on. Surprisingly that hadn't happened. Her master had been cruel to her, but not that way. She had expected something much worse from savages known for their cruelty. Vikings took pity of no one, not even babes.

It had been many moons since Fay had been taken from her village. Her father and her brothers had been slaughtered in front of her and she had been given to a Viking warrior called Olav. He had been a big, loud and dirty man. A cruel master. Fay hadn't understood the Viking language when she had been given to him, but she had learned.

He had often been drunk and talked about his wife, Alva. Sometimes he had torn off Fay's dress and touched her while calling her Alva. He had groped her, sometimes very roughly, but he hadn't bedded her. Fay didn't know why, but she was grateful either way. He had sold her to a slave trader before he had traveled back home.

She had been young and healthy enough, so the slave trader had brought her to the new world with him. Many slaves had died during the long voyage across the sea. One woman had been with child. She had been so badly broken that her eyes had been empty. Fay had tried to talk to her, but she hadn't said a word. She had drowned herself before the babe had been born. Most women had been violated and Fay had known that it would happen to her as well.

"And this one…" Master Kol continued, picking up a blue flower. "Well… It doesn't actually do anything, but…" He paused and put the flower behind Fay's ear. "It's very beautiful," he continued smiling and touched her hair. This was it, the moment she had feared. Yet she tried her best to smile. Angering him would only make this worse, but if he would be pleased, he would maybe keep giving her extra food.

"You are a very pretty girl, darling," he hummed. "I just wish I would know your name."

Fay hadn't said a word after her new master had bought her, she had hoped that her silence would somehow protect her. At least she wouldn't say anything that would displease her master.

"You have been an excellent student," Master Kol continued. "I can see that you are smart."

Fay didn't flinch when his thumb touched her lips.

"I would very much like to kiss you," he hummed. "May I?"

What was she supposed to do? Shook her head? Push him away? They both knew that she couldn't do that. He had every right to do anything he wanted with her. Slaves who disobeyed their master were flogged or something worse. She couldn't fight him. Somehow she managed to force herself to smile.

He smiled as well and cupped her cheek before touching her lips with his. It didn't feel so bad, his lips were surprisingly soft. She didn't really know what to do, but he took the lead and deepened the kiss while slowly coaxing her mouth open with his tongue. His hands stroked up and down her back, finally settling on her hips.

"Please don't do this," her timid inner voice pleaded. "I'm scared."

She struggled to silence that voice and concentrated on her heartbeat. She could do this, just like all those other women. Fighting would do her no good. Finally his lips left hers and wandered down her neck as he carefully laid her down on the ground. She tried to concentrate on her heartbeat, but it was beating like a drum now. He pulled his shirt off and laid it under her head. That was a kind gesture. He had been nothing but kind to her, he had earned this. She could do this. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad…

"Kol? What are you doing?"

Fay tensed as she recognized Master Niklaus' voice. Her first thought was that he wanted to do this after Master Kol. She wasn't in any way prepared for that.

"I'm a little busy, Nik," Master Kol replied, clearly annoyed.

"You can't do that," Master Niklaus stated firmly. "What is the matter with you?"

Master Kol stood up and crossed his arms.

"Excuse me? You don't know what you are talking about; I would never force her into anything…"

"She is not like the girls in the village," Master Niklaus cut in. "She is in no position to turn you down."

"What… That's not…" Master Kol paused and turned to look at Fay. "Darling? You wanted this, didn't you?"

Fay got into a sitting position, trying desperately to decide what to do. Could she risk angering her master? But what if she would have to do it with both of them? What if…

"She's scared," Master Niklaus said quietly. "Can't you see that?"

Master Kol stared at her for a brief moment before bowing his head.

"I am so sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean… I thought…" He paused and got down on one knee in front of Fay. "I am sorry. I should have noticed."

She looked at him disbelievingly, unable to do anything. He picked up his shirt and walked away as fast as he could. Suddenly she was alone with Master Niklaus who was looking at her.

"My brother isn't a bad man," he stated quietly. "He is young and impulsive, but not bad. I hope you can believe that."

She nodded cautiously.

"That's good. Come on, I'll walk you back home. These woods are not safe for a girl."