Rachel

Rachel spent the night in and out of a troubled sleep. Unable to find comfort in her cramped prison, slumber continued to elude her, the haunting echo of the boys' screams range in her ears, the smell of blood still stuck in her nose. Rachel could not help but wonder how long it would be before the same fate found her. It seemed as if she had barely closed her eyes for a few minutes before the sound of the creaking door woke her and light flooded the room. Rachel feigned sleep at the sound of heavy footfalls walking towards her cage, hoping to avoid her new waking reality as long as possible. But fluttering her eye lids she could see Gifre standing over her, a scowl on his lips. Apparently he was not fooled by her act.

"Wake up," he ordered as he kicked the bars.

Rachel closed in on herself even more as his boot kicked the cage again.

"I know you can hear me girl. Wake the hell up!"

Seeing no other option, Rachel opened her eyes obediently and the man tugged the door of her cage open, grabbing ahold of her hair, in an attempt to drag her out. Rachel crawled forward on her hands and knees. Every once of her ached from both the slaver's beating and the confined space in which she had been trapped through the night. When Gifre pulled Rachel to her feet, her legs felt unstable, wobbling beneath her body like jelly.

"Look sharp human," he said eying her critically. "Your new owner has come for you early." 

Rachel said nothing as he tightened the ropes around her wrist, though she winced as fibers dug into the already raw skin. As Gifre gave a great tug on the rope, Rachel felt her legs slip out from under her and she fell to the ground face forward. Her arms shot out to stop her fall and the pain radiated through her body as her elbows and forearms made contact with the hard cement floor. The slaver had no sympathy.

"Get the hell up!" he demanded.

Rachel did her best to comply, but with her bound hands and aching limbs, the seemingly simple task was not easy. Not that Gifre had no patience for her struggle. Eager to get her to his customer, the sibla grabbed the collar of Rachel's dress and forcefully hoisted her up from the ground.

"Do try to stay erect," he said irritably. "Want to make a good impression on your new master don't you? I need the second half of his payment human, and if you do anything to keep me from it I swear you will suffer."

Rachel nodded. When he tugged on her rope again she did her best to keep herself steady, walking awkwardly as the feeling in her legs began to return.

Gifre lead her through a series of doors until they came to what appeared to be some sort of office. She recognized the man standing in wait immediately as the buyer. Rachel could feel his eyes boring down on her as Gifre pushed her towards him. The cold pale blue gaze that made the hair on her arms stand on end. Her stomach sank as he frowned in disapproval and she pulled her head down, trying as much as possible to escape his stare.

"What in the world did you do to her?" the sibla man asked angrily. Rachel cringed as he reached out and snatched her chin in his hand, her heart beating quickly as he examined her swollen eye. Tears dripped down her cheeks and his frown only deepened. "She is even more skittish than she was just yesterday!" he said releasing his grip, and turning his anger towards the slaver.

"We only followed your orders," Gifre answered defensively. "When she resisted we had no choice but to use force to make the animal comply."

The man looked at Rachel and then back to the slaver. 

"This creature weighs less than 50 pounds. I highly doubt much force was necessary to give her a simple bath and see her fed and clothed."

"Well she's your problem now," the slaver replied. "Perhaps you will have better luck with her."

"I have half a mind to demand my money back," the man said. "It is my policy not to pay for damaged goods." Rachel felt a panic run through her at his words. Gifre had made it clear what would happen if his customer wouldn't pay. She turned her head to see the slaver stared him down.

"You think you can cheat me out of what I'm owed?" Gifre spat. "That's never gonna happened. Leave her here if you want, but if you refuse to pay the rest of the money, rest assured, you'll never buy from another trader in this town."

Rachel was entirely uncertain who she might wish to win the fight. Gifre was horrible. She knew the suffering she would face at his hand if she remained with him, but this man was just as frightening. What if he took her away to even worse torture? Her buyer however seemed unconcerned with the slaver's threats.

"Ha," the man laughed. "You overestimate your power, sir. I assure you, if I wished, I could have you run out of business within the week. I may in fact. I am certain that the infractions on animal welfare here are appalling. But lucky for you I am a man of my word." He reached into his coat pocket, removing a wad of bills and slammed it down hard on the wood of Gifre's desk. "There it is, the rest of my payment in full."

The man grabbed Rachel's rope from the slaver's hand and tugged her from Gifre's grasp. Rachel stumbled forward and, for a moment, expected to land on her face once again. But then she felt the buyer's hand reach out, catching her arm before she fell. Rachel cringed at his rough touch. For a moment their eyes met and she saw a flash of concern register in his expression, though it was quickly replaced by anger as he righted her body and turned back to the slaver.

"Have the meat loaded into my vehicle," he said. "It's parked around back. I will back in one hour."

"And the girl?"

"I will take her with me," he announced. "I'd hate to see what further damage you might cause if I were to leave in in your care another moment."

The slaver only glared at him.

"Do not expect my business again," the man said. And with that, he dragged Rachel from the room and out the door.

It had been at least two days since she had been outside for more than a few moments, and when they came into the sun Rachel's eyes burned horribly. She wished she could use her hands to shield them, but as the man tugged at the rope attached to her wrists, she could do nothing more that hobble after him. 

The man walked too quickly for her to keep up with her eyes half closed, and her legs still ached from the cramped cage. It wasn't long before Rachel stumbled to her knees.He stopped, hearing her hit the ground, and turned around. 

Rachel's body tensed in anticipation of his anger. She closed her eyes, raising her bound hands in an attempt to cover her face with her arms and defend herself. But he didn't strike. Instead, the man crouched down beside her and Rachel felt one of his arms wrap gently around her shoulder, helping to prop her up while his other hand came to rest on her back.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Rachel lowered her hands, looking at him in confusion at the kind tone. Still too dazed and incredulous to hear the question from his lips, she didn't answer.

The man frowned slightly. "Perhaps that is a foolish question to ask you at the moment," he acknowledged. "Here let me help you." The sibla slipped his arm under Rachel's and helped her up from the ground with care. "I apologize," he said. "I should have considered your state before dragging you along so. That man made me so angry I wasn't thinking. Are you hurt?"

Rachel shook her head.

The man stared at her skeptically for a moment. She wondered what he was thinking. Was he regretting taking her with him? Would he send her back to Gifre and his men? The idea was terrifying. Already he seemed far kinder than the slavers had been. If he demanded his money back she knew Gifre would make her pay as he'd threatened. But in the end the man simply sighed and shook his head slightly.

"Come with me," he said.

Rachel obediently followed her captor, noting that he had slowed his pace significantly.

As they walked through the sibla town, no one paid them much attention. She stared at the different buildings, the sibla men and women going about their daily lives. It reminded her of her own village. Rachel fought to keep the tears from her eyes. Her home was gone. Her family was gone. It would have seemed impossible if she hadn't seen their destruction with her own eyes.

Before long they arrived at a small building in the center of town.

"I have been staying here the last few nights," the man informed her. "The establishment does not allow humans on the premises or I would have brought you with me yesterday. I did come back as soon as I could, but it seems that was not enough to protect you. I am sorry for it." 

Rachel stared at him wide eyed, unable to figure out what she might make of his words.

He knocked on the door to the establishment and a surly looking sibla woman answered.

"You can't bring that animal in here," she said, frowning deeply when she noticed Rachel by his side.

"I'm only here to pick up my things," the man said. "The steward should have prepared them already."

The woman nodded and disappeared back inside, returning a minute later with a large trunk. The man tipped her and took his luggage, before leading Rachel to the side of the building.

Once they were off the main street he let her lead rope fall to the ground, not bothering to place his foot on it to ensure she couldn't escape. Not that she'd dare run. Rachel watched as he opened the trunk and rummaged through to retrieve a small jacket.

"Here," he said kindly, "I've bought you a coat. I knew they were unlikely to find you suitable clothing. I will find you a more adequate wardrobe when we return to my home, but I did not wish for you to be cold along the way. The summer has yet to fully take hold here." He put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's try it on shall we?"

Rachel looked at the coat distrustingly.

The man frowned slightly. "I'm sure your captors did not treat you kindly," he said, "but I will be a fair master. In return however, I will require your obedience. Is that understood?"

Rachel nodded.

He looked to her bound hands and took something from his pocket. Rachel saw a polished piece of wood in his hand and was horrified when the sibla pushed a small button  that revealed the object to be a pocket knife, its shiney blade glinting in the sun. She felt her body go rigid with fear, instinctively backing away as he came towards her with the weapon.

"Easy now," he said, seeing her reaction. "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help. If I cut your bonds entirely, will you promise not to run from me?"

Rachel nodded again.

"Hold out your hands then."

 Rachel obeyed, squeezing her eyes shut, holding her breath, tensing every muscle in terror as the blade slipped under the ropes around her wrists, so close to her skin. But no pain came. She opened her eyes in surprise feeling the presser on her skin release as the fibers unwound, freeing her hands. She quickly pulled them into her body, rubbing her sore skin to bring feeling back into her wrists and hands. The sibla man put the knife away.

"What is your name?" he asked.

Rachel hesitated.

"Don't worry child," he said. "You are free to speak. I want you to feel safe in my presence. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

He smiled at her. "Your name?" he asked again.

"Rachel," she answered, raising her eyes slightly to stare up at him. The man's gentle manner seemed sincere, but she had seen his anger in speaking with Gifre. She had heard him speak of her as a piece of meat, just as callous as the slavers had been. His kind gaze stared back as their eyes met.

"Rachel," he repeated, nodding his head slightly. "My name is Magnus Kendrick. From now on, I will be your master, and that is how you will address me. As long as you follow my orders and do as you're told I promise you that under my roof, you will be well cared for."

"Yes Master," she answered, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

Magnus frowned slightly, though he did not appear angry, only sad. "They made you watch, didn't they? The slaughter of those boys."

She nodded slowly, wondering how he'd guessed.

A look of true sorrow seemed to overtake him as he shook his head in frustration. "I didn't mean to cause you such stress," he said. "I should have known better than to leave you there."

Rachel didn't answer.

"Here." The sibla man slid the coat gently onto her shoulders and Rachel obediently slipped her arms into the jacket, looking up at him in confusion. His soft touch and kind words were comforting, but she knew the truth. He'd had the boys murdered. He implied he had the same plans for her.

"Are you going to kill me?" she asked.

The man met her stare in silence for a moment Rachel's heart pounded painfully in her chest as she waited for him to speak, not certain she should have asked the question or if she wanted his response.

"You needn't worry about that now," he answered finally. "Come, we gave a long journey ahead, and I wish to reach my estate by nightfall. You will like it there. The countryside is much like your old home I believe. You will have ample food and shelter and there will be other girls like you. You will have friends."

She didn't answer.

"I know you are frightened, Rachel," he said. "But I will treat you kindly." He laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. "Trust me," he said, "the worst is over now."

So what do you think of Magnus Kendrick? I'd love to hear first impressions. The next chapter will actually be from his point of view, though 30 years in the past. I'm trying an experiment in this book and there will be an entire interwoven story from the past that will trickle into the present timeline. Hoping it works for readers and will be very eager to hear your thoughts on the style. Stay tuned;-)