And heeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeee it is folks, chapter one of No One's Slave. I did tell you I was going to post it with the preamble didn't I? We all know how bad I am at updating. ~=P Anyway, I want to give props to my girl Lanoa (even though I don't get to talk to you much anymore!) whose birthday is October 12th, and my love Lance, who, believe it or not, according to the state doesn't know what day he was born on. So we'll say it's the 31st! Happy Birthday, luvs! I want to start a mailing list of sorts. Two of them, actually. One for all us NC-17 writers (we've got to stick together!) because I love your stories and I want to know where all you guys are going, and a second one for people who read my fan fiction. Instead of checking back constantly, I can send you an email notifying you when a new chapter is up. If you're interested, my email is on my profile page, so contact me. AIM me at brooklynsiren. In any case, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, no matter how desperately I wish I did. *sigh* A person can dream,right?

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The sound of a shattering object could be heard from the other end of the house. The shouts of a man and the even louder shrieks of a woman could be heard coming from the same direction. The servants and visiting nobility thought is was a couple having a lover's spat and simply ignored the noise. When a set of ornate doors crashed open, however, they were shown otherwise. A man stumbled and scrambled out of the room, ducking for cover as a particularly large vase aimed at his head hit the opposite wall. A ceramic bowl soon followed in its path.

"Insubordinate wretch!"

The man had flung the insult while cowering in some corner. Another bowl, accompanied by bracelets and a small slipper, flew in his direction. The man put his arms over his head to shield himself.

"Me, a wretch? Listen here, you poor excuse for nobility!"

All in the hallway by this time had stopped to watch and listen. This wasn't the first time this had happened, and every time it did, it was more comical than the previous.

"I may be your chambermaid but I am not a plainclothes servant. Nor am I a harem girl! I come to clean your dens and help arrange the garments you wear, not wait on you hand and foot!"

Another slipper flew; catching the man off guard and hitting him square on the nose. Although the thrown slipper did not hurt, he was embarrassed. A servant was berating him. It was Serena, but it was a servant nonetheless. He dared not to say anything, because she was dangerous when angry and lethal when further provoked.

"I come in and do all that you ask of me, and I even ran your bath because the Soap and Water bearers were slow in answering your calls. For which, no doubt, you will have them killed or imprisoned. It will most likely be the former," she cried in a loud voice, "although the apologized and you gave them full pardon and blessing and sent them on their merry way."

The lord shifted uncomfortably. People from all directions were giving him cold stares, now. The look in their eyes read cruelty. He made a small signal to his private guard to have the bearers released.

"On top of it all, you have the gut to ask to bed me, a virgin!"

The chattering of the crowd was hushed. The hard beating of his heart was audible over the tumultuous silence. He began to stutter, trying to find something to say. The look the girl gave him silenced him. Then the crowd started in on him.

"You disgusting man of a pig."

"To even make such an attempt!"

"And even more so to press such things on an innocent virgin!"

"If the sultan knew."

The words "sultan knew" made the man go pale. This girl had ruined him. The crowd had formed a tight circle around him; they would not let him escape. He was trapped. He turned to her when she spoke.

"You may rank higher than me, but only in the books of men."

She took off her decorated slave robes and came towards him, wearing only a plain work shift. The crowd followed her every move. He cowered, expecting to be his, but she simply laid the cloth at his feet. Then she stepped back and backhanded him. Her small red handprint glared back at her from his face. In a voice filled with venom, she spoke again, mockingly reciting the servant's departure:

"Have a beautiful and prosperous day, my lord, and many shaloms to you. May you live a long and virtuous life. You will be in my prayers. Bless also your servants, children and wife."

And then she did it. She bowed to him. She did not kneel as a servant ought to have done, but she bowed, as though she were an equal. Then she turned and left. The crowd parted to let her through and then closed again. As they closed in, the lord knew it was no use to scream or call for help.

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"I must say I am rather sorry to hear what happened to him."

"Though you did instigate it, I cannot say that I can really blame the onlookers for what they did. No one looks kindly upon a man who tries to deflower a virgin that was not given to him to take. As for you, Serena, people will now say that you have the death of a man on your head. You were the victim here but your reputation precedes you."

"I understand that full well, sire."

Serena had been brought before the sultan again a week after the death of Lord Radna. He was pacing again. She stood before the sultan, staring straight ahead, unwavering, even as the large man came face to face with her.

"This is outrageous. It is no longer even safe to keep you in this city! This is the third time this month that you have usurped your status! Serena, I must ask, because you remain silent through all of this. Why do you behave this way? I care for you, but there are still things I cannot protect you from. Who do you think you are?"

"I am a woman, strong, capable of caring for herself and," she added, now moving her eyes to look into his, "deserving of respect."

The sultan sniffed.

"The question was meant to be rhetorical, child. Capable you are, but you will not be able to save yourself in every situation, no matter how you wish it. You may also be a woman, but you must remember you are no princess, but a day laborer. People are not going to give you the royal types of respect of you do not behave the way you are supposed to. There are even some who say you believe you are not a servant." He began to pace and wave his arms. "Which I find preposterous but--"

"Because I am not." The sultan stopped his pacing.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I am a human, equal to any man in that I have a mind and can work twice if not as hard as he can. Is this not true? Therefore, I find that I should serve who I please."

The sultan shook his head.

"I will give you that. If you weren't as lovely, hardworking and intelligent as you are or if I weren't fond of you, you'd have been executed long ago. I wish you luck, my darling girl. I shall make arrangements to send you back to the slave auctions."

She smiled, nodded and kneeled before him, putter her hands in a prayer pose and lowered her head.

"Your will is my will. Thank you for your mercy. It was more than a pleasure to serve you, my liege."

Sultan Ayan touched her shoulder and motioned for her to stand up before him. As he wiped away the tears streaming down her face, the guards stood stupefied. This servant was being given the honor of standing before the sultan! It was more than unheard of, it was blasphemy! The small girl embraced the Sultan and he smiled.

"I will miss you."

"As I shall miss you. Someday, perhaps you may return. Your spirit shall reward you. Go. Go and serve, and never be broken."

She clasped her hands again and bowed her head.

"May you live forever."

When she left, the Ayan motioned to one of the guards. "Now, be gentle with her on the way to the Mirage. If I hear of her maltreatment…"

He made a swift slicing motion by his throat with this finger. The guard nodded.

"On the other hand, I have a special assignment for you."

After hearing his orders, the smiling guard kneeled turned and left. He understood.

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Again with the short chapters and the cliffhangers?!?!?, they say. What is with that girl? Did we not warn her about these things that drive us mad? Don't worry, Chap. 2 is close behind. I promise. I'll be better with this story than I was with my first. Please R&R! I'll kill this story by Chap. 4 if you don't like where it's going. One!