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: this means a dream or thoughts:
A/N: I dont know if the dream sequence makes any since, if it is too confusing, plz tell, and I will try to clear it up.
Chapter 1: The rose is blooming.
:The small girl child is warm and content. She rests in her cradle, nestled in the soft silky blankets, smelling of her mother. The faint scent of roses and cinnamon waft through the air. The child sighs and clutches the material. She wakes as her mother approaches. Voices, angry, loud… then darkness. Cold, the scent of unwashed bodies. Hunger, chill, darkness. . . Days, no heat, no happiness, only fear. . . The door. It opens, pain and fear and something else, something the young girl child can sense, but knows nothing of. Into the door, the world spirals round and round, her mothers hand slips away, the sharp acrid scent of Spice, then nothing. . . :
Serena woke up with a gasp, her heart still beating franticly against her chest like a bird in a cage. She lay on her mat for a moment, clutching her meager blanket to herself and gazing at her little room, little more than a closet, as if she could use it to anchor herself in this world. She closed her eyes, relaxing into her pillow, letting the fear and anger of the barely remembered dream ebb from her mind, until she was breathing calmly and evenly.
With a sigh she sat up in bed, still heavy eyed and limbs leaden. Her eyes were caught by a gleam of light by the edge of her mat, shining in the spare beam of light that struggled through the little window slit by the roof. The dusty moats twirled, almost as golden as the chain the light shone on. Serena reached out and snagged the thin golden chain with one finger. It twisted and turned as it dangled, swinging gently from side to side. She dropped it on her pillow as tears pricked her eyes.
:If this was one of those stories Nema used to tell me, mum would have left this for me as a reminder of her love. Hah!: She closed her eyes and rested her head in her hands, her lank hair falling off her shoulders. :I wish it was.: the truth was that Serena had found the necklace in her mothers room one day when she was in a Spice trance. It had been overlooked, but soon would be pawned off for money. The little Serena had liked the shiny object, and taken it.
" RIA!!! " the sharp voice called from outside of her door. " Are you out of bed yet you lazy slut?!? " Someone banged on the door several times loudly. " The Mistress wants to see you now!! "
Serena quickly stuffed the chain back under her mattress, tucking the ragged blanket in under it. She grabbed a strip of cloth from beside her bed, and deftly wrapped it around her chest, tightly binding her breasts before slipping on the dirty tunic. Standing up she tied the rope that served as a belt around her hips and glanced into the dirty metal bowl she had scavenged from a dump. It was just shiny enough to show her reflection, and she adjusted her hair to cover her face.
" Coming! " she called out as she stepped through her door and shuffled down the narrow hallway. Though they were the same stairs she had gone down every morning for the last 15 years of her life, today she was reluctant to descend into the lower levels. The upper floor was where Serena, the cook, the maid, and at one time Ria s mother lived. The Head Mistress had a room to herself, along with the rest of the working girls downstairs.
Her thoughts still on her mother, Ria was surprised to find herself outside of the imposing maple door. Wood was scarce, she had no idea where the Mistress had managed to scavenge that up. Taking a deep breath she lifted a fist and knocked tentatively on the heavy door.
" Come in. " The honey sweet voice dripped out, barely hiding the steel underneath. Serena opened the door, which protested screeching, and slipped inside, head bowed. " Pull your hair out of your face. Look at me, girl! " Mistress Beuance ordered from her worn armchair. Reluctantly the girl pushed her snarled hair behind her pointed ears, revealing deep green slanted eyes. Ria looked into the piercing eyes of the older woman in front of her. The Mistress examined the thin, dirty creature hunched by the door. The feel of the Mistress eyes sweeping over her body made Serena sweat. It was like the gazes of the hard men who came here for business. The looks had only started recently, in the last year or so. When she had told the old maid, Nema, the old woman had been concerned.
: " Do you know what that means, dearie? " Nema asked, pausing in her folding. The slightly younger Serena shook her head, tears sparkling in her eyes. That evening, on her way to the alley with the vegetable peelings, a dirty man with a cut across his eye and the stench of spirits on his breath had attempted to drag the girl into a shadowed corner. She had only managed to get away because the drunk was already so far into his cups.
" It means your getting too old. " Nema stated carefully, digging through the pile of linens in front of her purposefully. " The men are beginning to look at you like they would a woman. "
" Wha. . . what s that mean? " Ria whimpered, remembering the cruel, hard, hungry look in the mans eyes.
" Ah! Here we go. " The maid brought out a strip of material, ripped off an old sheet and used for a rag. She handed it to the girl. " Wrap this around your breasts. Their beginning to draw unwanted attention. Always look down, keep your face dirty, avoid the customers at all costs, " she instructed sternly. Serena s eyes filled again with tears at the harsh tone in her friends voice.
" I. . . I dont understand. . . "
Nemas eyes softened, and she hugged the trembling girl. " You will all to soon sweetheart. " :
And she did. Standing there, feeling Mistress Beuance s eyes rake over her, taking in every little detail. Her gaze swept over the skinny ankles, sticking out of the dirty skirt that was too short for her, the torso concealed by the baggy shirt, thin face, dirty lank hair. The slotted eyes showed some spirit in the otherwise broken body, a glint that belied the droop of the shoulders. " How old are you, girl? "
Serena looked down, allowing her hair to fall into her face. " f. . . fifteen ma am, " she whispered meekly, staring at her hands. The Mistress face grew cold and in an instant she was out of her chair. She slapped Ria across the face, throwing the thin girl against the wall.
" Dont lie to me, girl!! " she gritted through clenched teeth. Serena stared at her in shock, a hand clapped across her stinging cheek. The Mistress advanced, glaring. " I m not stupid, I know you have been here at least 15 1/2 years, and you were several months old when you arrived. Now tell me the truth. "
" 16. " Ria blinked away the tears the sharp blow had brought to her eyes.
" That s more than time to start earning your keep. " Mistress Beuance pulled the hair out of Serena s face, examining her cheek bones and lips. " Hmm… not too bad, you inherited something at least. Show me your teeth. " Reluctantly the girl opened her mouth, revealing dirty but strong, sharp teeth. " Good, good, a little skinny, but we ll work on that once you start your new job. " She moved to her desk, and returned with something in her arms.
Ria started as the Mistress shoved the item into her arms. It was a ragged, grimy lace nightgown. She bit her tongue to prevent herself from crying out in disgust and held the garment by two fingers. The older woman returned to her chair. She sat back with a sigh and steepled her fingers. " Do you know Alexis? " she asked.
" Yes ma am. " Serena had seen the tall black canineoid (eck. what would you call a dog person?) in her room before. She had never said much, but her big brown eyes were filled with an unspeakable sadness.
" Go to her for instruction. Your not very developed, but humans like the exotic. " She smiled nastily. " You d better be glad your father was felinoid. Hmm, a little young and inexperienced, but there s always the customer that will pay extra for that… " The Mistress seemed satisfied by this thought and smiled smugly. She looked up and saw Serena, still frozen by the door. Her smile faded slightly. " Go on, girl. "
With a knot in her throat, and a sob seeking to escape from her lips, Ria turned on her heel and fled the horrid room.
A/N: so, how was it? I know its kinda angsty, but it will get better. She should meet Jim next chapter (Petals in the Wind). Ive been busy lately, so I dont know exactly when I will have it up. :P
: this means a dream or thoughts:
A/N: I dont know if the dream sequence makes any since, if it is too confusing, plz tell, and I will try to clear it up.
Chapter 1: The rose is blooming.
:The small girl child is warm and content. She rests in her cradle, nestled in the soft silky blankets, smelling of her mother. The faint scent of roses and cinnamon waft through the air. The child sighs and clutches the material. She wakes as her mother approaches. Voices, angry, loud… then darkness. Cold, the scent of unwashed bodies. Hunger, chill, darkness. . . Days, no heat, no happiness, only fear. . . The door. It opens, pain and fear and something else, something the young girl child can sense, but knows nothing of. Into the door, the world spirals round and round, her mothers hand slips away, the sharp acrid scent of Spice, then nothing. . . :
Serena woke up with a gasp, her heart still beating franticly against her chest like a bird in a cage. She lay on her mat for a moment, clutching her meager blanket to herself and gazing at her little room, little more than a closet, as if she could use it to anchor herself in this world. She closed her eyes, relaxing into her pillow, letting the fear and anger of the barely remembered dream ebb from her mind, until she was breathing calmly and evenly.
With a sigh she sat up in bed, still heavy eyed and limbs leaden. Her eyes were caught by a gleam of light by the edge of her mat, shining in the spare beam of light that struggled through the little window slit by the roof. The dusty moats twirled, almost as golden as the chain the light shone on. Serena reached out and snagged the thin golden chain with one finger. It twisted and turned as it dangled, swinging gently from side to side. She dropped it on her pillow as tears pricked her eyes.
:If this was one of those stories Nema used to tell me, mum would have left this for me as a reminder of her love. Hah!: She closed her eyes and rested her head in her hands, her lank hair falling off her shoulders. :I wish it was.: the truth was that Serena had found the necklace in her mothers room one day when she was in a Spice trance. It had been overlooked, but soon would be pawned off for money. The little Serena had liked the shiny object, and taken it.
" RIA!!! " the sharp voice called from outside of her door. " Are you out of bed yet you lazy slut?!? " Someone banged on the door several times loudly. " The Mistress wants to see you now!! "
Serena quickly stuffed the chain back under her mattress, tucking the ragged blanket in under it. She grabbed a strip of cloth from beside her bed, and deftly wrapped it around her chest, tightly binding her breasts before slipping on the dirty tunic. Standing up she tied the rope that served as a belt around her hips and glanced into the dirty metal bowl she had scavenged from a dump. It was just shiny enough to show her reflection, and she adjusted her hair to cover her face.
" Coming! " she called out as she stepped through her door and shuffled down the narrow hallway. Though they were the same stairs she had gone down every morning for the last 15 years of her life, today she was reluctant to descend into the lower levels. The upper floor was where Serena, the cook, the maid, and at one time Ria s mother lived. The Head Mistress had a room to herself, along with the rest of the working girls downstairs.
Her thoughts still on her mother, Ria was surprised to find herself outside of the imposing maple door. Wood was scarce, she had no idea where the Mistress had managed to scavenge that up. Taking a deep breath she lifted a fist and knocked tentatively on the heavy door.
" Come in. " The honey sweet voice dripped out, barely hiding the steel underneath. Serena opened the door, which protested screeching, and slipped inside, head bowed. " Pull your hair out of your face. Look at me, girl! " Mistress Beuance ordered from her worn armchair. Reluctantly the girl pushed her snarled hair behind her pointed ears, revealing deep green slanted eyes. Ria looked into the piercing eyes of the older woman in front of her. The Mistress examined the thin, dirty creature hunched by the door. The feel of the Mistress eyes sweeping over her body made Serena sweat. It was like the gazes of the hard men who came here for business. The looks had only started recently, in the last year or so. When she had told the old maid, Nema, the old woman had been concerned.
: " Do you know what that means, dearie? " Nema asked, pausing in her folding. The slightly younger Serena shook her head, tears sparkling in her eyes. That evening, on her way to the alley with the vegetable peelings, a dirty man with a cut across his eye and the stench of spirits on his breath had attempted to drag the girl into a shadowed corner. She had only managed to get away because the drunk was already so far into his cups.
" It means your getting too old. " Nema stated carefully, digging through the pile of linens in front of her purposefully. " The men are beginning to look at you like they would a woman. "
" Wha. . . what s that mean? " Ria whimpered, remembering the cruel, hard, hungry look in the mans eyes.
" Ah! Here we go. " The maid brought out a strip of material, ripped off an old sheet and used for a rag. She handed it to the girl. " Wrap this around your breasts. Their beginning to draw unwanted attention. Always look down, keep your face dirty, avoid the customers at all costs, " she instructed sternly. Serena s eyes filled again with tears at the harsh tone in her friends voice.
" I. . . I dont understand. . . "
Nemas eyes softened, and she hugged the trembling girl. " You will all to soon sweetheart. " :
And she did. Standing there, feeling Mistress Beuance s eyes rake over her, taking in every little detail. Her gaze swept over the skinny ankles, sticking out of the dirty skirt that was too short for her, the torso concealed by the baggy shirt, thin face, dirty lank hair. The slotted eyes showed some spirit in the otherwise broken body, a glint that belied the droop of the shoulders. " How old are you, girl? "
Serena looked down, allowing her hair to fall into her face. " f. . . fifteen ma am, " she whispered meekly, staring at her hands. The Mistress face grew cold and in an instant she was out of her chair. She slapped Ria across the face, throwing the thin girl against the wall.
" Dont lie to me, girl!! " she gritted through clenched teeth. Serena stared at her in shock, a hand clapped across her stinging cheek. The Mistress advanced, glaring. " I m not stupid, I know you have been here at least 15 1/2 years, and you were several months old when you arrived. Now tell me the truth. "
" 16. " Ria blinked away the tears the sharp blow had brought to her eyes.
" That s more than time to start earning your keep. " Mistress Beuance pulled the hair out of Serena s face, examining her cheek bones and lips. " Hmm… not too bad, you inherited something at least. Show me your teeth. " Reluctantly the girl opened her mouth, revealing dirty but strong, sharp teeth. " Good, good, a little skinny, but we ll work on that once you start your new job. " She moved to her desk, and returned with something in her arms.
Ria started as the Mistress shoved the item into her arms. It was a ragged, grimy lace nightgown. She bit her tongue to prevent herself from crying out in disgust and held the garment by two fingers. The older woman returned to her chair. She sat back with a sigh and steepled her fingers. " Do you know Alexis? " she asked.
" Yes ma am. " Serena had seen the tall black canineoid (eck. what would you call a dog person?) in her room before. She had never said much, but her big brown eyes were filled with an unspeakable sadness.
" Go to her for instruction. Your not very developed, but humans like the exotic. " She smiled nastily. " You d better be glad your father was felinoid. Hmm, a little young and inexperienced, but there s always the customer that will pay extra for that… " The Mistress seemed satisfied by this thought and smiled smugly. She looked up and saw Serena, still frozen by the door. Her smile faded slightly. " Go on, girl. "
With a knot in her throat, and a sob seeking to escape from her lips, Ria turned on her heel and fled the horrid room.
A/N: so, how was it? I know its kinda angsty, but it will get better. She should meet Jim next chapter (Petals in the Wind). Ive been busy lately, so I dont know exactly when I will have it up. :P