Disclaimer: I still do not own Dragonball Z.

          Chapter Three—Slave

          "Sire, here is the daughter of the traitor Braca," said one of the guards that dragged her forward. "His two sons were, unfortunately, killed in the battle," the man added with a grin.

          Her head snapped up. Killed?! Her brothers? She'd known all along that they were probably dead, but without hearing it, she'd been able to pretend they were safe and well somewhere. Now, to hear it, to find out she had no one left in this world…

          "No!!" she screamed, struggling to get away from the men who held her. "Murderers!" Her gaze went to the king, seated on his throne. "You! This is all your doing! You ordered my father's death, and my brothers' deaths! You've even ordered me to be killed! You just had me brought here so you could watch me die! You're no king! You're a monster!"

          Someone hit her from behind, knocking her to the ground. "How dare you speak to the king that way, traitorous wench!" one of the guards said. She tried to struggle to her feet, but they pushed her back down, pressing her forehead to the cold marble floor. "Bow before your king!"

          "Let her up." King Vegeta's voice was deep and commanding. "Bring her to me."

          She felt herself lifted up and dragged to where the king sat.

          "Look at me, girl," he ordered.

          She lifted her head and glared with hatred at him.

          Vegeta gasped softly. "Blue eyes…" he murmured. Nearly all Saiyans had dark eyes, but hers were the color of the sky. He'd never seen a Saiyan with eyes that color before.

          He quickly composed himself. "What is your name, girl?"

          "Taita," she said, scowling.

          "Taita," he repeated. "A fitting name for one as beautiful as you. How old are you?"

          "I was fifteen last month. I don't know why you're so interested in knowing all of this, though, Sire," she said scornfully. "Obviously you didn't bother to learn about my father or brothers before you had them killed. If you had, you'd have known that my father was a peaceful man who never hurt anyone. You would know that my brother Rubaga was gentle and kind, and that he loved this planet of ours with all his heart, even though I always thought it was a stinking desolate rock corrupted by bad rulers! You'd know that my brother Clova was barely even a man! He wanted so much out of life, and you took that life from him. He was only sixteen! How dare you try to talk to me as if you care about the names and ages of the people you kill?"

          Vegeta was looking at Taita with interest. "Are you through?" he asked calmly.

          She opened her mouth, but was too shocked to say any more. She nodded dumbly.

          "Good." The king rose and stepped up to her so he now stood over her. She shivered a little despite herself. He reached out and cupped her chin in one hand, lifting her face and forcing her to meet his gaze.

          "So beautiful," he whispered. "Such lovely eyes. And a little wild too. I'm not sure I should kill something so exquisite."

          "Let me go," Taita said quietly through clenched teeth. She tried to pull away from his touch, but his grip tightened and she gasped from the sudden pain in her face.

          "You are a wildcat, I can tell," King Vegeta said, still keeping his voice low. "But that's part of the fun, the challenge. I think I will not have you executed after all."

          She sighed, half from relief, half fear.

          The king wasn't finished. "No, I won't kill you. I believe I will keep you instead."

          "K-keep me? As a…a slave?" Taita glared at him. "You will not! I am a slave to no one, and especially not to you! You will have to kill me. I'll die before I serve you!" She finished by spitting in his face.

          A collective gasp rose from everyone present. No one could believe what the peasant girl had just done. Nobody could do such a thing and hope to live.

          A backhand across the face sent the girl flying along the floor. She sat up dizzily, tasting blood, and instinctively felt her cheek. There was a long gash that was dripping blood, the mark of one of the king's rings.

          Vegeta jerked Taita to her feet himself, pulling her close to him. She saw the rage in his eyes, and she was afraid, more afraid than she'd ever been in her life.

          "I know you were hoping I'd kill you," he hissed, "and ordinarily I would. But as I said, I intend to keep you, and I prefer my women alive."

          Taita gasped. His women? So that was what he wanted her for! This was worse than she ever could have imagined. She could deal with being executed, provided it was quick, and being someone's slave would be bad but bearable. But for her enemy, her family's killer, to take her to his bed…she wouldn't do it! She wouldn't! Her family's honor depended on her. She would not dishonor their memory by allowing that man to have her body!

          Composing herself, Taita looked into Vegeta's eyes. "Go to Hell. I will never be your plaything."

          "I am going to Hell. I know this already, girl," he said in a soft, deadly voice. "You will be mine. And I will teach you obedience.

          "Take her away!" he ordered the guards. "Have the servants clean her up, and have her brought to me this evening." Turning back to her, he smiled. "I will see you tonight, little one. I hope you will be better behaved then. I'd hate to scar that pretty face—or body."

          Taita tried to lunge at Vegeta as the guards began to drag her away, but she couldn't reach him. He chuckled at her feeble attempts. The laughing king was the last thing she saw before they pulled her out of the room.