Author's Note: Hello, it's been a while and I'm glad I've finally decided to continue this story. A question though, before anything else. Should I change the rating to M because of the emergence of grittier and rather sad themes? Read this chapter and tell me what you think. It would be so much appreciated. :)
It was dark and my left temple was badly hurting. The ground was rough against my exposed shoulder and dirt was clinging too richly to my cheek. The gravel and sand beneath me smelled of wine and pastry. To my left was a burning branch that was probably used as kindling for the camp fire. I blinked several times waited for the blurry image of my surroundings to become clearer. I could not feel my hand and all over me was fire.
Fire.
I picked myself up in a jolted realization and took in the image that was set before me. Our entire village was on fire. Bodies lay dead around me and screams resonated in the night. Black clothed men with swords and daggers and spears and bows were running around, slashing and aiming at anyone that was unfortunate to be caught. With my legs fumbling for anchor and my vision teeming with unshed tears, I trashed around and finally hid behind the horse stable that was mere inches from where I was. I stayed frozen and unmoving, the mid-high gate obscuring me from view. The only thought in my head was…
"Mom…" My voice cracked due to the forming lump in my throat and I felt my legs give out under me. My dress was badly ripped and the sleeves were barely clinging to my shoulders. The liquid heaviness in my eyes finally found their way down my cheeks, parting a way between the patch of dirt on my cheek. I struggled not to sob audibly and held my breath as one of them passed by slowly.
What are they doing? Who are they? What is happening? I have to find my mom.
My thoughts ran in circles until someone grabbed me by my hair and I suddenly once again met the ground, only this time, my face greeted straw and hay.
"We have one here!" he called out. I can barely keep my sobbing at bay. Quickly, other men kicked back the gate of the stable and surrounded me. The first one grabbed me by the arm and yanked me up to a stand. His grip was so tight that I slowly felt the blood in my arm caught in the area where he held me by.
"Do we take her?" one of them answered. I did not look at him but prayed that they say yes. Wherever or whatever they were talking about, my mind was secretly hoping that it would be better than being butchered here in the stable.
"He needs servants. We take her." They dispersed and one of them came up to me with black chains. Their stench was overwhelming and it took everything I could not to throw up. The man with the chains gestured for another and the other man went behind me and covered my eyes with a rough cloth. The one with the chains then haphazardly shoved them around my hands and dragged me by them right after.
I was led outside, as what I imagined. I was somewhat thankful that the cover on my eyes shielded me from whatever horror they left my village in. I stifled a whimper when I realized that if I were to be dragged by these men, I would not be able to see my mother.
"Where will you take me?" I managed to shout. I was answered by a stinging jab to my face that resulted in a nasty crack on my lips. The tears streamed freely on my cheeks and my breath came out in deep gasps but I did not dare cry out in pain.
But there were others who shouted in my behalf. I shrill voice, a woman's as far as I can tell, let out a terrified scream as I stumbled on the dirt, the blackness of the cover enveloped by my mind's own darkness. My consciousness slowly drifted away from me and I let it. I curled up in a ball on the ground and didn't take notice of the kicks and shoves that they sent me.
And then pure black.
When I woke up, I was tied to an upright pole, my hands dangling towards the ground in reverence to gravity. The black cloth was not over my eyes anymore and I could make out dark clothed figured running about and muffled laughter from somewhere near. I opened my eyes completely and took in the scene that unfolded before me. It was a courtyard. Bleak, washed out bricks on top of each other made the walls and stone curves which were surprisingly perfectly polished carpeted the ground. Tables and stalls littered the corners and a stepped platform graced the center.
Huge oak wood doors bordered and filigreed with the blackest steel I ever saw were standing gloriously on my left. And then they opened.
A tall, brown-haired man came out walking fast with a grim expression on his face. He was closely followed behind by a stout, bald man who appeared to be struggling on his steps to keep pace with the first man. A bulky man who was sitting on a stool near a stall stood up and approached me. His face was badly scarred and appeared to be missing an ear. I looked down and did my best to avoid his gaze. He unclasped the chains from the pole and I was thrown downwards. He proceeded to do the same with the other girls beside me.
There were others.
I turned to my right and sure enough, there were three others who were released from their poles. Amidst the sobbing and terrified faces, I caught a familiar face and was momentarily glad to know that I wasn't alone. Nanami Konishi from the other street was one of them. Her short hair was a welcome sight to me.
"Stand up, pesky rats!" growled the bulky man, linking us together with a chain from our shackled hands.
Right then and there, the tall man who came out of the doors and his servant came up to us, his expression still grim. The bulky man quickly stepped away, the chain link still on his broad hands.
The tall man approached us quietly, his brown-hair almost obscuring his eyes. He wore a leather three-piece garment. His pants amply tucked inside black leather boots. His coat made him look like the master of the house, coat rattling in the muffled sound of deerskin. His jaw was firm, no hint of stubble. The way he arches his body and the empowered stance he showcased told more of his personality than his rank.
He took me in quite fully. His dark eyes roamed me, I was aware of them. Then he looked straight into my eyes and I quickly looked down. There was a force I could not fathom that forced me to find something interesting between my feet. He proceeded to the next girl beside me and scrutinized him as well.
"How many?" I involuntarily shuddered. His voice was sleek and has a rough undertone. The man behind him fidgeted and pulled out a piece of scroll paper from his feathered hat.
"Four of them, Your Highness."
He nodded and was off before anything.
We heard a yell and a gruff order of "Get moving!"
The shackles around my wrists were pulled fiercely and I could only do much to keep myself from falling down. The chains rattled wildly that the sound of them seemed to resonate all over the place.
We were led to a large room occupied by several other women, some of whom were in the process of undressing. There was a collective gasp when we were unceremoniously thrown inside. The bulky man left quickly without so much of a glance.
A moment of silence ensued soon after which was quickly replaced by the loud sobbing of two of my companions. The other ladies were kind enough to help us up on our feet and guided each one of us to a free mat on the side. They offered the two sobbing girls a cup of water each which they eagerly gulped in just a few sips.
"What is this place…" I whispered to myself, my hands unconsciously rubbing each of my badly bruised and slightly bloody wrists. My eyes searched for Nanami and found her drinking from a cup as well.
"What's your name?" A girl beside me asked. I looked at her and saw the pale face of a woman who seemed to not have decent sleep in a long time. The bags under her eyes were scarily visible under the dim light of the lamps. Her ponytailed dark green hair had become wispy and frail but the concern on her face was genuinely comforting.
"Miyu. I'm Miyu Kozuki." I stuttered. She took my hands and wrapped them in a clean cloths; making makeshift gloves from my wrists to just over my palm area.
"I guess you're in a foul trauma right now, Miyu Kozuki." She said while giving me the same glass full of drink as the others had. I was not thirsty nor was I in the mood to listen to anything. "I'll be giving you the introduction to this horrible place." She continued.
I looked at her unpleasantly but she only gave a slight shrug. "Where you are now is Kanata Saionji's barracks. His stronghold. His..well, home." She looked at me with testing eyes.
"Saionji?" I managed. "Is he?"
"Yes. He's the youngest son of Heiomachi's king. But you see, he's a bastard, the result of an illicit affair of the King and one of the maidens in the central village. But as the King's son, though unlawful, he still gets a slice of the Royal Family's wealth. That's why he has this run-down part of the kingdom." She said. "And we, dear Miyu, are his servants. "
I took in all the details that I heard. It was hard for me to not think of the village that Saionji's men burned down and all the people they killed in a mindless spree. I clenched the cup with both my hands; the pressure poured forth the slightest blood from my injured hands.
"That doesn't give him the right to murder my entire village!" I unconsciously shouted. The whole room lay silent on the aftermath of my outburst. An older woman approached and knelt before me, her calloused hands gently stroking mine.
"I know. We all understand you. I am so sorry but you have to try and forget your family and friends now." She helplessly gazed at me with so much pain in her eyes, as if she were also telling this to herself. "We can be your family. I know it's not much but if we could stay together and be there for each other, then it counts for something isn't it?" she weakly smiled and I melted. I broke down and fell in a heap of helpless cries and sobs on the ground. They stroked my hair until I fell asleep.
