The Slave Market

Wendy walked behind Lucy, overwhelmed by the noise and dust of the slave market. Her eyes were looking in all directions, trying to get some idea of where they were. She was aware of people staring at her and she felt really exposed in the outfit they had made her wear on the ship. Unlike Lucy, she was shy and had never even worn a bikini around people she trusted, let alone a market full of strangers. She was fighting back tears as she walked and only the presence of Lucy and Carla had prevented her from breaking down. She drew strength from having her friends with her. In front of her, Lucy was struggling with her own feelings. She had desperately trying to work out a plan to get them away from the slavers but between the chains and the magic suppression collars, she knew that there was not really much of a chance, and without her keys, she was not able to use her magic anyway. She just hoped Erza and the others were coming and had found her keys.

Wendy and Lucy were both abruptly pulled from their thoughts as the slavers came to a sudden stop and Wendy walked into the back of Lucy. Looking around, they finally took in their surroundings. In front of them was, what could only be described as a stage. On the stage, were two girls wearing outfits not too different to what they were wearing. They looked terrified and confused as they were forced to walk around the stage whilst a man shouted out numbers and people in the crowd raised paddles with numbers on them. Wendy moved closer to Lucy and Carla and slipped her hand into their saying,

"What is happening Lucy? I'm scared!"

Lucy squeezed her hand, "It is going to be ok; I am here with you. I will not let anyone hurt you."

Carla was staring at the stage, "They are going to sell you, aren't they? How can they sell us? We are people?"

Marielle looked around at the sound of them talking "Be quiet, did I say you could talk. You three are up next and you will be quiet and do as I tell you."

Wendy gripped onto Lucy's hand harder and got a reassuring smile in exchange. The two girls on the stage were being led off the stage, tears running down their faces. Lucy watched as they were handed over to the person who had bought them. At least they had been sold together she reassured herself. So long as they were together, there was always hope. Lucy was pulled from her thoughts when there was a tug on her chain and they were led up onto the stage. Looking out, all she could see was a mass of faces. She was scared but she needed to stay strong for Wendy and Carla. Marielle walked onto the stage behind them and faced the crowd.

"I have a good bunch for you today! They are young, they will work hard. Let's hear your bids for the blonde!" she started.

Wendy looked over at Lucy in panic. They were selling them seperately. She tried to reach out for Lucy's hand but Marielle has unlocked Lucy and was forcing her to walk across the stage. Numbers were being shouted and paddles were being raised. The noise and the atmosphere were overwhelming and Wendy felt tears begin to flow down her face. She wished she could get the magic restriction collar off, then she would make them pay! At the front of the stage, Lucy was having similar thoughts, she did not understand why Marielle was selling them seperately. This was the worst thing that could happen. She could not protect Wendy if she was not with her. Lucy tried to turn her focus on the people who were bidding but the crowd was too big and the paddles going up in the air to fast for her to work out who was 'winning'. A few seconds later, she heard Marielle shout "Sold!" and she was dragged off the stage giving one last desperate look over at Wendy. As she was pulled down the stairs, all she could think was 'Where are you Natsu, I need you!' As she was led towards her 'owner' she looked back at the stage and saw the procedure being repeated with Wendy and Carla. She smiled sadly to herself, although she was worried about Wendy, at least Wendy and Carla would have each other as they were being sold together. Lucy turned back to look there she was going, for now all she could do was focus on herself and try and find a way out of this nightmare!

Lucy's Nightmare

Lucy sat on her own in a small room. The hours following the sale had passed in a blur and she had not had a chance to focus on what had happened. She had been handed over to a man who had hurried her into a closed wagon and then they had left. She was worried as she had no idea what had happened to Wendy and Carla and since they were separated, how would their friends find them. Lucy looked around the room. There was nothing in it apart from a bed, a small wardrobe and a chair. The small window had bars over it and there was no way she could squeeze through them. They had taken her chains off when she arrived but she still had her magic restricting collar on. Lucy put her heads in her hands, she could not believe that this had happened to her.

Lucy raised her head as the door opened and a woman walked in. The woman smiled slightly and shut the door behind her.

"Hi, my name is Dana. Don't worry I am a slave like you, you don't need to worry about me."

"Where am I?" Lucy asked

"You are in the home of Klaus Fabrial, he was the person who bought you at the sale," Dana said, "He is not as bad as some of the people who buy slaved but you have to be careful not to annoy him. He can have a temper at times. I assume you are a wizard, seeing as you have a collar."

Lucy nodded, "Yes I am a celestial wizard with Fairy Tail. But I lost my keys so even without this collar I can't do much at the moment. But my friends will come for me! I know they will."

Dana smiled sadly, "Don't hope too much. I used to hope that I would be rescued but after 10 years, I have given up on that hope."

Lucy stared at Dana, "You have been here 10 years?"

Dana nodded, "My job now is to make the new girls welcome and let them know what is expected of them. I am too old to dance anymore but he keeps me here so I can sort out the new girls he buys. I am lucky he as not sold me as I could have ended up somewhere much worse."

"Wait, too old to dance?" Lucy asked.

"Oh yes, sorry I should have said. That is why he has bought you. Klaus likes to have young woman who will dance for him. Don't worry if you don't know how, I will show you. You need to learn to belly dance for him. Here, I brought you some clothes that all the slave girls wear."

Lucy looked at the clothes that Dana had put on the bed, the would not cover much more than what she was wearing but they looked less trashy! Whilst they were still basically only a bikini, veils of lightweight fabric hung from the hips and bust, and a small veil covered her lower face. Bangles and anklets with small bells finished off the outfit.

Dana smiled at Lucy, "We are a close group here, the girls look out for each other. Whilst you are here, you are one of us. Now get changed and I will take you to meet everyone else."

Lucy felt slightly comforted in the presence of the older woman and stood up and took off the outfit from the slave market, replacing it with the one Dana had brought in. When she was dressed, Dana looked her over, adjusting her veils slightly.

"You look good in it, Klaus will want to see his new purchase today so you need to have a try at dancing." Dana said.

Lucy blushed slightly, "It is ok, I know how to dance. I had to do it once for an assignment with Fairy Tail. I will be fine."

Dana patted Lucy lightly on the arm, "Well come on then, let's go introduce you to the others."

Lucy smiled and followed Dana out of the room. She thought to herself, when her friends came for her, she would be making sure Dana and the others left with them. She was not leaving anyone behind.

Three hours later, Lucy had met the three other girls she would be living with. They were all young and pretty but had grown tough from their years as slaves. Dana watched over them all like a mother. Lucy was sitting in the slaves living room when a man entered and looked over at Dana.

"Klaus is ready for the new girl," he said.

Dana nodded and motioned for Lucy to get up and follow her. As they walked, she whispered in Lucy's ear. "Just do as he asks and be polite and you will be fine."

Lucy wanted to do the complete opposite but she knew that she had to play the game until her rescuers arrived. As she walked into the main hall, she was surprised to see that Klaus Fabrial was an old man. She had expected a younger man, who leeched over young woman and expected them to join him in his bed. Klaus looked like he was almost dead! As Dana led her over to the area in front of him, he raised his head and looked at Lucy. He nodded at Dana and said,

"Well come on girl, dance for me!"

Dana prodded Lucy in the back and as music stared, Lucy started to dance, moving her body and making the bells on her wrists and ankles jangle. As she spun and moved her body to the music, she was startled as she saw someone she knew out of the corner of her eye. It was only a quick glance and she was not even sure she had not imagined it but if she hadn't then things may just be looking up. She twisted her body around again and almost laughed in relief as from his place hidden behind curtains, Loki winked at her.