Chapter 20: 20

20

A murmur of discussion went through them. If questions made me happy, they would tolerate them,

the men finally decided. I had been a good slave today, I had earned a question was the consensus.

Master Damien raised an eyebrow at me and waited.

"There are slaves on earth and they treat them terribly. I know you could hurt me if you wanted.

Why don't you hit your slaves?" I asked rambling, part of me was scared what the answer might be.

Master Damien let the little group file into the bath house and walked with me into a shallow part of

the pool. He handed me soap and a silky rag, so I started to wash him.

"We did beat slaves, in the beginning. They never asked questions and they always did what we

said. They just didn't live very long.”

"We are very competitive, as you've noticed. We started to try to keep our slaves alive. It became an

honor, to see who had the oldest slave," he said and then continued with a warning. "Don't confuse

not wanting to hurt you with a lack of discipline. If you continue to need reminders about how to

behave, they will only get harsher.”

Promising to be good, I decided to keep going with my luck, so I asked him, "Another question,

Master Damien?"

He sighed but seemed to be enjoying the soapy massage, "One more, Ciara, you were a very good

slave today."

"Why do you feed me and bathe me. I can do those things myself. I CAN take care of myself,” I said

a little indignantly.

"You told another slave you were free and the slavers took you, isn't that correct?” he asked.

I moved the rag between his toes as I answered, "Yes, Master Damien, I walked into a strange light

and woke up at the auction.”

"Were you able to fend for yourself, you would not have been kidnapped and sold. We care for you,

because you are ours and it is our responsibility. Your illness would be seen as weakness on our

part, that cannot happen,” he said.

I continued to wash him, but didn't argue. It was good he had answered some questions.

Other Warriors came and talked to him as I worked. Several commented I seemed more obedient

today. Master Damien thanked them for their help in that matter. I was cringing while they talked, I

recognized their voices from the platform. As I worked, I did not look up and kept at least one hand

on Master Damien at all times.

The threat was in his eyes, I had pissed him off. "Come here, slave,” he said bluntly.

Gulping down my fear I moved to stand in front of him. All the men were lounging on steps in the

water. They watched me with interest, I must be better than having a TV. Master Damien looked

calmly up at me while I trembled.

"Do not ever move away from me when I reach for you, do you understand?" he told me.

I was learning that whenever he asked me if I understood that was something that would get me in

trouble if I did it again.

"Yes, Master Damien, it won't happen again," I answered watching him warily.

"Good, have a seat next to me," he commanded.

I sat and the men talked. They moved around, but I stayed in my spot. I hadn't noticed them move

away slightly, it was a heated conversation about the campaign that had drawn them in.

Water splashed up as new male bodies joined me on either side. I wanted to scream, but I didn't

want to be talking to other men. I just sat quietly as the new men ran their hands over my body.

They twisted my nipples hard and I didn't make a sound. One man bent my fingers back until they

feared they would break, but I didn't even whimper. They pinched between my legs and drove their

fingers deep inside of me. I fought hard not to cry out.

The treatment was ten times worse than the posts, but I stayed silent. Another male body was

standing in front of me, blocking my line of sight to my owners. Tears streaked down my face as I

watched the hands torture me in the water.

I heard the angry shouts when my Warriors noticed me. Damien was talking in a cold voice to the

men, but I was too scared to understand him. The whole area had gone quiet watching us. The man

was speaking harshly back to Master Damien. The aggressive conversation was the only speaking

going on at the pool, everyone else was silent.

Suddenly, one of the offending men had me by the throat pulling me out of the water. I felt his

fingers digging into my neck above the metal collar. My air was cut off and I tried not to panic. Both

my feet dangled over the pool.

"If you cannot protect it, you shouldn't have it," he taunted Master Damien squeezing my throat

tighter.

My vision started to blur around the edges. I clawed at his hand, but he wouldn't release me. The

way I was being held I saw most of the pool. All the Warriors looked pissed. Many of those

surrounding us were shouting at the man holding me angrily. I started to fade out listening to them.

The General's booming voice cut through the haze that was starting to invade my mind. My new

captor heard it and dropped me. I never hit water or the side of the pool. Master Bane had moved

from the beside us and caught me. I took a much needed breath and felt my pounding head start to

clear. I pressed my face into Master Bane's hairy chest and gulped down mouthfuls of air.

No one at the pool was talking and I looked up to see why. The General was having a staring

contest with the Warrior that had been holding me.

"You touched another Warrior's slave without permission. Am I to understand you did this because

you do not believe Damien and his brothers can protect what is theirs?" he asked the other man.

"I do not believe they can protect anyone. They should no longer be called Warriors. The

shopkeepers go to meet the women and a Warrior refuses to go? It is an embarrassment to all of us.

No Warrior lives in fear, they are not Warriors," he stated authoritatively.

"You are presumptuous Andre, remember your place,” the General said.

He turned to look at us and I dropped my eyes down. I winced when I moved my head, my neck was

really sore.

"Give me the slave,” I heard him say and my heart dropped.

Master Bane stepped us out of the water and set me on my feet. "Might as well get it over with’, I

thought to myself and took four confident strides up to the colossal man in front of me.

The General examined my neck and passed his hands over my breasts. My light skin had already

started to blacken where they had abused me. I saw a thin line of blood dribbling down the inside

of my thigh. The General saw it, too and made an irritated sound.

In what I considered a shocking move he put an arm around me as he addressed Master Damien.

"Andre is yours to deal with as you see fit. No Warrior will ever touch another's slave without their

permission.”

The Warriors let out a deafening yell. I took a chance to glance quickly at Andre and I thought he

might have paled just a little. Not wanting to get caught I looked back at the ground and had to

stifle a smile. Asshole deserved it.

The General had his finger under my chin and caught the smile. "Follow me, slave,” he commanded

turning on his heel.

I glanced back hesitantly at Master Damien, but followed the General obediently.