Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sanctuary characters.
The sun was shining brightly outside, but that mattered little to the occupants inside the tent.
"Get up, you pathetic excuse of a pet!"
Lilith whimpered and curled herself into a ball when Haddock's foot connected with her stomach. She wheezed and managed to roll to the left, avoiding the second kick he aimed at her. Hastily, she scrambled to get to her feet but a wave of dizziness almost sent her to the floor. She barely fought it off and remained upright, panting softly with the effort.
"Sorry, Master Haddock! I'm up!"
"What are you standing there for? Get going! The laundry's not going to wash itself!"
He raised his fist and with a yelp she scurried to the right, away from his aim and outside the tent. She grabbed the heavy basket and made her way toward the riverbank. Though a laundromat was located not even a mile away from the circus, she was not allowed to go there. No, she had to hand wash the laundry and dry it on the line behind the tent. She resented her Master's old-fashioned ways but objecting only resulted in bad things happening to her.
"Lilith! Lilith, a moment, my dear."
She groaned to herself. Mama Buntah was heading straight for her. She kept her head lowered, her long hair falling in her face, concealing it from view. She didn't want to talk to the kind, but meddlesome woman. Every time she spoke to Mama Buntah, Master Haddock got angry. She wanted to make it through the day without punishment.
"Stop right this instant!"
The power in Mama Buntah's command locked Lilith's feet in place. She tried to move but she couldn't. She shivered. No one really knew for sure what kind of powers the ancient woman had, and Lilith didn't want to find out, either. Mama Buntah frightened her for totally different reasons than her Master. Both reeked of power and both could make her do things she didn't want to. At least in Mama Buntah's case, her wishes were not painful.
"Yes, Mama Buntah?" she spoke quietly.
"When someone calls ya name, ya answer. Don't ignore them."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Where are ya going?"
"To the river to wash the laundry."
"He's making extra work for ya again, isn't he?"
She didn't answer that. To do so would invite disaster.
"I really need...," she yelped in surprise and jerked backward when Mama Buntah's fingers tangled in her hair and tightened. She froze, her breathing harsh. A none-too-gentle tug of her hair forced Lilith to raise her head and look at Mama Buntah.
The anger reflected in the depths of the older woman's dark brown eyes scared Lilith. She flinched from the light touch of Mama Buntah's fingers on her cheek.
"He beat ya again, didn't he?"
Warm fingers cupped her jaw, keeping her from glancing away. What could she say? It was all true.
"What did I tell ya, Girl? Next time he hurts ya, come to me. Why didn't ya listen?"
"Sorry, Mama Buntah."
The older woman growled and her fingers tightened around Lilith's jaw. Lilith whimpered and felt the woman's fingers relax.
"What the hell are you doing, Lilith?"
Haddock's roar sent a wave of fear coursing through her body. Guiltily, she pulled away from Mama Buntah. She automatically dropped her head, hunching in on herself as he came to a stop near her.
"L-l-laundry."
His heavy hand fell on her shoulder. His fingers dug painfully into her shoulder and she swallowed a whimper. Any sound would lead to more pain.
"Really? Doesn't look like it to me."
She stiffened when his fingers moved from her shoulder, sliding across her collarbone and stopping near her breast.
"Maybe you need more motivation to do the job properly?"
She frantically shook her head no. She had a pretty good idea of what he was planning. She didn't want any part of it.
"She doesn't need to be motivated, Boy. I interrupted her as she was going about her chores. Release her."
Lilith was grateful for Mama Buntah's help, but worried it might backfire. Haddock snorted and grazed her breast with his fingertips before stepping away from her. She startled when he slapped her butt.
"Move your ass, Lilith!"
"Yes, Master!"
She scurried away, her face hot with embarrassment. Other performers had stopped and seen the whole thing. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she raced to the river. Once there, she let them flow as she started on the laundry.
She began to sing softly and with it let her spirit soar in the melancholy of her song.
It was a beautiful day, yet Will Zimmerman was tense. He couldn't exactly pinpoint the cause of his unease and it bothered him.
"Hey! Earth to Will!"
"Huh?"
Kate sighed and threw him an exasperated glare. "If you didn't want to come, you could have said so."
"I'm sorry, Kate. I do want to be here."
"Uh, huh. You've been spacing out all week. Have you talked to Magnus about it?"
"I didn't realize I was that out of it. And, no, I haven't. It's nothing, really. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Yeah, obviously."
He chuckled and made sure to focus on the task at hand. They were downtown, investigating a possible abnormal sighting. Twenty minutes later, they reached their destination and found the sighting to be false. They thanked the informant and headed back outside to the car.
Will reached for the handle and paused when the most beautiful song he had ever heard filled his ears. Yet, it sounded so sad. Will turned to see where it was coming from, but, just as quickly as it had begun, it vanished. He shook his head and climbed in.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Well I don't think it was anything."
"Okay, Mr. Vague."
He chuckled and shook his head. "I thought I heard singing."
"Okay, see now you're freaking me out. When we get back, get some rest, Will."
"I think you might be right."
Kate started the truck and they rode the rest of the way back in silence.