Hello! Thanks so much for the wonderful reviews! It has motivated me to continue this story. Hope you enjoy the second part of "Only a Slave." Happy Reading!

NOTE: In the first part of "Only a Slave," I made a slight, small, teeny, weenie, spelling mistake…lol, just a spelling mistake. (Blush) But hey, I am kind of a perfectionist when it comes to spelling. So pls, just overlook it as you have done. And thanks again! Oh, and here's the sentence where I made that simple mistake…I can't believe I did that!

"She stiffened when she realized her was sizing her up."

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

It's supposed to be a HE!

HE was sizing her up. Oh gosh…forgive me…

OH! And another thing you might've noticed is that Darien has brown hair in this story as I have described him in the first chapter. Well, actually, he has black hair. So from now on, Darien has black hair, ok? He's going to look exactly like he does on Sailormoon, got it? So does his brother, Braden. Braden's gonna have black hair, too, since they look alike, ok? Good.

LOL, I know I'm being weird. Sorry, it's just that I take my spelling seriously, lol, too seriously. Ok, ok, I'll let you go. ON WITH THE SECOND PART OF "Only a Slave."

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Only a Slave

Part Two

Serena's lip quivered. She tried to blink her tears away. "She's right. I didn't go to school because we couldn't afford it. But we are not stinkin' rebels!" She flushed and murmured miserably, "Now what am I to do?"

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Serena moaned, putting a tired hand to her pale forehead. She'd been sitting outside Lady Josephina's door for over two hours now and her mistress still hadn't come out. "She must need something…I mean, anything…please, oh please, let her come out of her room…"

Serena had made a vow, determined to make her new mistress like her. Even if Lady Josephina was the most difficult person in the entire world, Serena would still serve her the best way she could. She knew the penalty for disobeying, despite the fact that some people were terrible to their slaves. Death. Such a harsh word. Sad and painful memories came flowing back, causing tears to brim Serena's blue eyes. "Why did they have to die? Why did they leave me here alone? Why?" She started sobbing, her face buried in her shaking hands. She didn't notice the tall figure of a man standing silently in the shadows, watching her. After a few minutes, her sobbing subsided until she was just hiccupping. She nearly gasped out loud when she heard a voice call out to her. Her heart dropped. Darien! She immediately stood up, her head bowed. Her long blond hair covered her tear-streaked face. For once, she was actually thankful for the long hair.

"Why were you crying, girl?" Darien asked in a commanding tone, staring down at her.

She kept her eyes properly lowered and answered respectfully, "I-I wasn't crying, my lord."

Darien's eyebrow rose. "Oh? Then why are those tears dripping from your face?"

Heat flooded through her cheeks. She wiped the remaining tears off her face with the back of her hand and looked up…way up at him. Goodness, how tall he was! He was almost shoulders and up taller than her! She quickly thought of a way to direct the conversation away from her. Feeling helpless, she looked up at him and could only say abruptly, "My lord, is there anything I can get you? Some food, water…?"

Darien shook his head, making Serena cringe inwardly. "He's gonna ask me again…oh no, he's gonna ask me again…"

"Why are you standing outside my sister's door and not inside serving her?"

Serena breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't going to ask her why she was crying. Instead he was going to ask her what she was doing. She bowed her head and answered him truthfully. "She doesn't want me, my lord. I'm just waiting outside until she decides to call me in."

He grinned. "And that'll be like…never."

Serena caught a glimpse of him grinning and her heart melted. He was just too handsome…her face turned red as she saw him smiling at her. "My lord…"

"I'll speak with her. She mustn't let her slave stand out here resting, when she might need help with something." He winked at her before entering his sister's room. He slowly closed the door behind him, but not before giving Serena another wink.

Serena blushed and sat down again, hoping against hope that Lady Josephina would change her mind, and call for her. She grimly stared down at herself. She was wearing an old dress and dirty black sandals. Serena grimaced when she remembered her face. "Probably streaked with dirt and tears. I must have big, dark eye bags! Oh, what Lord Darien must think of me…"

She froze suddenly when she heard the door creak open.

Out walked a frowning Josephina and a smiling Darien.

Josephina glared at Darien while ignoring Serena. "You expect me to keep her? Darien, it mustn't be so! She's ugly! Oh, how Julia will laugh at me!"

"Josephina, you're a 15-year-old child. Why must it matter what your slave looks like? You have a maid! Many of your friends can't even afford them! And why must you care what Julia thinks?" Darien threw his hands up in despair at the mention of the pretty but spoiled 18-year-old brunette with deep hazel eyes and a curvy figure.

Josephina screeched angrily, "I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY OTHER SO-CALLED FRIENDS! I CARE ABOUT WHAT JULIA THINKS BECAUSE SHE'S MY BEST FRIEND!" She growled at her oldest brother. "Now LEAVE ME ALONE!" She shot Serena dirty look before she slammed her bedroom door shut.

Serena winced. "Oh, dear…"

They were both silent after that, with Darien gazing at Serena intently and Serena could feel his gaze as she stared at the floor in heavy concentration, wishing for him to leave. They both looked up from their trance when they heard footsteps walking towards them.

Braden saw them at the other end of the long hallway and waved. Although he was only 17 years of age, he looked as though he was 20. He appeared beside his older brother and Serena couldn't help but stare at them. They looked exactly alike! Darien was probably just an inch or two taller than Braden.

Serena remembered her place and said monotonously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, "Would you like something to eat or drink, my lord?"

Braden shook his head. "No, thanks." Then he looked around. Josephina was nowhere to be seen. He scratched his head and asked, "Where's your mistress, girl?"

Serena answered, "She's decided to rest a little, my lord. Her ladyship has had-"

Darien interrupted gruffly, "We don't even know your name. What is it?"

"Serena, my lord." Joy shot through her body when she realized he wanted to know her name.

"Serena. Serena. Nice name…" Darien tested it.

Serena shivered. It sounded so wonderful when he said it. She glanced up and saw him staring at her again. She blushed and looked down.

Darien noticed it and looked away. He could feel his stomach tighten every time he looked at her. She was beautiful despite the fact that she hadn't taken a bath yet and changed her clothes.

Braden cleared his throat awkwardly. He could feel the growing attraction between the two but decided it best to say nothing. "Uh…"

Darien focused his attention on his younger brother and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I was looking for you everywhere. I have something to tell you. I, um, Raye called. She's coming over for tea. She, um, she told me to tell you that she, uh…" his face grew red, "She misses you and can't wait to see you…" he flushed, embarrassed.

Darien hid a smile. Raye Carlsford. His nineteen-year-old girlfriend. His father insisted he "hook up" with someone as rich and powerful as Raye, well, let's just say, her father. He sent Serena one last look before he started for the stairs. He noticed his brother followed him as well. He had to go and prepare tea for Raye. His stomach growled. He had skipped lunch to go check out what his sister was doing. "Oh well," he mused, "I'll just eat at teatime with Raye." He raked a hand through his spiky black (lol) hair and sighed. "Serena…Serena…Serena…" was all he could think about.

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Serena watched him until he was no longer visible. She sat down again and sighed heavily. "He has a girlfriend…" she thought sadly, and then scoffed at herself. "Why should I care? He's my master, er, well, you know, and I'm-I'm only a slave…" She could feel tears brimming her eyes. "Why do I always have to end up crying?"

She squealed loudly when she heard a quiet but demanding voice call out to her. She straightened up and turned around. Her eyes widened.

Lady Josephina was standing in front of her, arms crossed over her chest, staring at Serena crossly. She tapped her foot impatiently as if waiting for something.

Serena bowed her head and asked softly, "My lady, what would you like me to do for you?"

Josephina stopped tapping her foot. She said crisply, "I want you to take a bath and change your clothes. You reek of disgusting odors and you are filthy. Do that and you can serve me." She tossed her head arrogantly.

Serena felt the anger boiling inside of her. Lady Josephina was such a brat! Argh! Suddenly, she remembered her vow. She swallowed her pride and nodded her head. "I will do as you say, my lady."

Josephina smiled, satisfied. "You'd better, or I'll sell you!"

Serena gulped and hurried to do as her mistress bid her. She didn't look back once as she started down the stairs to the slaves' rooms on the other side of the mansion nearer to the kitchen. She found the small room she was assigned to and was pleased to find a plain blue and white dress, a navy blue shawl, and new black shoes. She hurriedly took a shower, finding it difficult because of her long hair, but did it anyways. As soon as she got of the washroom, she quickly tied her long blond hair into two buns, each one streaming past her knees. She examined herself in the small mirror and was pleased with the effect her hair had on her face. She could actually see her own eyes! She grinned when she saw how clean her face was. She no longer had dirt on it. All she could see was a soft flawless complexion and laughing blue eyes. She quickly slipped on the blue and white dress, throwing her old one in the trash. She placed her old sandals under her bed, and tried on the black shoes, happy when they fit her small feet perfectly. At the last moment, she decided she didn't need the shawl. "Oh, you look much better than you did before, Serena…maybe now Lady Josephina will be nicer to you…" she told herself, feeling much more confident. She ran out of the room and went in search of her mistress. She looked everywhere until she found the beautiful Lady Josephina sitting contently in a chair on her balcony, overlooking the breathtaking site of mountains and valleys. She stepped forward, not wanting to scare her mistress. She cleared her throat, causing Josephina to look up in surprise.

"My, how fast you are, slave, er, I mean, Serena," she drawled sarcastically, rising from her comfortable seat. She walked inside, and then turned around to face Serena. Josephina studied her carefully.

The slave definitely looked better than she did before. Her face was clean and the smile she now wore radiated with happiness. Her long blond hair had been tied into two loose buns at the top of her head, making it appear like two meatballs. Josephina's lips curved. "Meatball head…" she grinned to herself.

Serena squirmed under the intense gaze of Josephina.

Josephina smiled at how the blue dress fit her nicely and accentuated the girl's slender figure. But she was still too thin. Josephina breathed out slowly. She was gonna have to force-feed the slave and make her a little bit plumper before she showed her off to Julia. Julia hated skinny slaves. She said they looked like "dead skeletons." She often quoted, "Skinny slaves are like the dead among the living. They're sooo pale and thin that they could die out on you anytime. That's why I prefer plump but not fat slaves. They last longer." Then Julia would laugh callously, as if slaves were pieces of furniture and not human beings.

Why Josephina even hung out with her and called Julia her best friend was beyond her family's knowledge. Julia was 18 years old and Julia was only 15. The entire family thought Julia Livingstone was a stuck-up rich snob who lost so many of her other rich friends that she turned to a 15-year-old naive girl for comfort. (Julia was really mean and selfish, that's why she has no friends.) But everyone in the family knew that the 15-year-old truly admired Julia. Josephina knew that if she hung out with an 18-year-old rich, pretty girl like Julia, she would be popular with the boys. And now, she was. Very.

Snapping back to the present, Josephina eyed Serena warily.

Serena kept her head bowed, waiting patiently for her mistress to say something.

"Alright, since you clean up pretty nicely, you can serve me. But I'm warning you, one false move, and I'll sell you, understand, slave?" Josephina threatened. Although she knew that Serena was older than her, she refused to acknowledge it. In her eyes, she had complete control over her maid despite how young she was. "And that's the way it's gonna be. Serena disobeys me once, and she's gone." She smirked to herself, and then commanded, "Now come, slave, we're going for tea." She smiled secretly to herself, knowing that Serena hated that name by the way she acted. "This'll be fun…"

Serena groaned inwardly. "Oh boy…I'd better behave or else, "she gulped, "Lady Josephina will sell me…" With that in mind, she followed her mistress obediently out of the room, closing the door with a soft thud.

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That's the end of the second chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Stay in touch for the next one. It should be posted by the end of this week! Hopefully! Adios!

Stay sweet,

Jade Ocean