And now back to the present. If you need a quick refresher ( since its been two weeks;-)), Rachel had woken up and gone with Alice to get some food in the kitchen. The other humans on Magnus's estate that they encountered on the way seemed...less than inviting ( though Kathryn was kinda nice:-)). Well now Rachel gets to officially meet the rest of the human flock...:-)

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Rachel

Rachel spent the rest of the day shadowing Alice. Though she had offered to let Rachel wander when they'd left her home in the morning, the old woman seemed to have changed her mind, instead instructing Rachel to remain close. But Rachel had been more than happy to stay by Alice's side. The angry scowls the other girls had given her earlier were mirrored on the faces of every other human woman she encountered on the estate. Even the sibla workers she passed seemed to eye her with strange looks. It was unsettling. In spite of the beautiful day she felt as if a dark shadow was following her, making her body remain tense, her mind anxious. How could she possibly feel at home here when everyone hated her.

    She was grateful at least for Alice's protection. Every nasty glare and roving eye was quickly averted when the older woman stared down the offenders. Rachel could tell they were scared of her and she could hardly blame them. She was frightened of Alice as well.

She'd seen how the woman had acted when she'd first arrived. How, in spite of her humanity, Alice seemed all too friendly with the sibla man who owned them. But if Alice would act as her protector from the others Rachel had no choice but to trust her. At least for now. Still, somewhere in the back of her mind, Rachel tried to take note of the paths they walked down, the boundaries of the estate. Was it possible she could escape this place? She couldn't help but wonder. But if Alice was to always be at her side she couldn't possibly have the chance to slip away. The whole situation felt hopeless.

    Alice was a busy woman, that was clear enough. Between overseeing the kitchen, the meals Kathryn and her friends served to the others and their Master, and making rounds throughout the estate to watch over the other humans at their work, the old woman paid little attention to Rachel as the day quickly passed. For her part, Rachel did her best to avoid eye contact with any of the others and was glad when Alice suggested they enjoy dinner together in her cabin. Not that she was very hungry anymore, her stomach too filled with uncomfortable knots to accommodate any food, especially as the hour grew later and her formal introduction to the others drew closer.

    "I assume you are finished?"

    The sound of Alice's voice startled Rachel, pulling her from her troubled thoughts.

    "You have been pushing food around your plate for at least ten minutes now," The old woman commented, eyeing her intently. "If you will eat no more we should go and join the others. They should be arriving the slave quarters by now and will be waiting for us."

    Rachel looked to Alice's own plate and saw it was empty. "I..." Rachel began, wondering how she might stall a bit longer. But Alice did not wait for her to finish the thought, standing and clearing her plate.

"If you are hungry later I will find something else for you to eat," she said as she went to the sink to wash the dishes. "You barely touched your dinner, but I can also see the anxiety that plagues you. The sooner you face your fear the better," she commented. "The girls are eager to meet you I'm certain and you are perfectly safe among them. I will ensure that is so. Food will sit better in your belly when it is not so full with worry."

    Rachel stared at the woman wide eyed. How had she guessed her thoughts and fears so exactly? Alice only chuckled at her clear surprise.

    "I am an observant woman, Rachel," she said. "I have spent my entire life watching those around me closely and I make it my mission to be aware of the fears and concerns of all the humans under my care." She placed a comforting hand on Rachel's shoulder. "I know this is all still new to you, but you will adjust. The others will as well. Trust me."

    Rachel nodded, accepting Alice's reassurance. It wasn't as if she had much of a choice after all.

    "Come on then," the old woman said, walking to the door and grabbing Rachel's jacket from the hook on which it hung. "Let's get going."

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Rachel could see the anxiety on the faces of the women as they walked into the hall. The old woman ignored them as she removed her coat, as well as Rachel's, hung them on pegs by the door, and crossed the length of the room to sink into a large chair by the fire. Rachel stood awkwardly in the center of the hall trying to take in her surroundings, uncertain if she should follow Alice to her seat. But as few of the women shot her nasty glares she quickly moved to join the older woman. The others gave her space, avoiding her like a leper.

    "Come, Rachel," Alice said no doubt seeing her discomfort. "Pull up a stool and sit next to me."

    Rachel quickly obeyed, taking the small stool Alice had indicated and pulling it as close to the older woman's chair as possible. She could feel the vibe of hostility and distrust only intensify at the action, but she was glad to have Alice's protection. It seemed clear that all the others were afraid of her and as long as she reminded by Alice's side they wouldn't hurt her.

    "What did he say, Alice?" One of the women finally asked, breaking the awkward silence in the room. Rachel could hear the fear in her voice.

    "He didn't say anything Sarah," the old woman said, warming her hands by the flames of the fire.

    Sarah cast a nervous glance in Rachel's direction. "But the girl," she protested.

    "Ah yes, the girl," Alice answered, turning to place a hand on Rachel's shoulder and addressing the room. "Everyone, this is Rachel, the newest member of our flock. She arrived late yesterday, as I'm certain you all know now. I expect you will all make her feel very welcome here."

    "He truly has said nothing?" Sarah asked again, ignoring Alice's words.

    "If there was anything I had to share I would do so," Alice replied calmly.

    Even Rachel could hear the evasiveness of her answer.

    "We all know who will die."

    Rachel turned at the sound of a new voice. The girl was pretty, her chestnut brown hair pulled back in a soft bun highlighting her long elegant neck. Rachel realized she'd seen her earlier by the slave quarters. Her face was solemn.

    "I am the oldest among all of you. I've been here for too long."

    "Judith, stop it!" Sarah said, rushing to the woman and grabbing her in a tight embrace. "Alice says we are safe for now."

    The other girls cast their eyes down at the ground but Judith only shook her head.

    "It has been months since he has taken any from us. I was always going to be first on the next list. I was only a matter of time."

    "Alice, tell her!" The younger girl insisted, shaking her head in denial. "You said we were safe."

    Rachel watched as Alice stared at Sarah, her face expressionless.

    "That is not what I said," she answered. "I told you that our Master has not yet told me anything I might share with you."

    Tears slipped down the younger woman's cheeks as she hugged her friend again.

    "No," she sobbed, continuing to shake her head. "There must be something we can do. We can get rid of that thing."

    Rachel shivered as the woman pointed an accusatory finger her. Was it true? Would Sarah's friend die? Was it Rachel's own fault?

    "Stop this now!" Alice's commanding voice cut through the girl's sobs, silencing them. "You should be ashamed of yourself. Nothing has yet been decided, but even if it had been, it matters little. We belong to Magnus Kendrick. Our lives are his to take at will, and we all know our ultimate fate. I will hear no more of this nonsense."

    "Yes, ma'am," Sarah answered hanging her head low and nodding.

    "And you should apologize to Rachel," Alice continued. "She is certainly not responsible for your pain. This poor child has spent the last week of her life in the hands of brutal slavers. She has lost her family and home. How dare you suggest furthering her suffering to spare yourself?"

    Sarah gave Rachel a quick glance before mumbling somthing that seemed to be an apology.

    "Now, that that is settled," Alice said, continuing to hold her command over the room. "I suggest we all make an attempt to have a pleasant evening. Introduce yourselves to Rachel. I'm certain you all recall how frightening it was when you first came here. Let us show her how welcoming we are here on the Kendrick estate."

    Murmurs of assent rippled through the room though none seemed willing to meet Alice's gaze.

    "Though I know there is no need to repeat this warning, there is one thing Magnus bade me share with you all. Any who harm the newest member of our flock, in any way, will find themselves facing the knife far sooner than expected. I assure you it was not an idle threat."

    A few of the women nodded and came forward. They introduced themselves half-heartedly, filling Rachel's ears with names she knew she would not remember. She recognized Kathryn of course, the only one who's welcome seemed somewhat heartfelt, but even she quickly left to join her other friends. It was obvious the others only sought to placate Alice. Rachel's mind was too unfocused to care anyway, unable to erase Sarah's accusations from her thoughts. Soon all had moved away to their own groupings, ignoring Rachel and Alice altogether.

    "They will come around," Alice told her when the last of them had lost interest in pretending to offer welcome. "They are only anxious. You and I should get some rest anyway." The old woman rose from her chair.

    "Alice wait!" Rachel turned in surprise at Sarah's voice. Alice only frowned.

    "What is it now, Sarah?" she asked in exasperation.

    "No, Sarah don't!" Judith clung to her friend's arm desperately trying to keep her from coming forward but Sarah shook her off.

    "I am sorry for how I acted," Sarah said, lowering her head in shame to Alice.

    "I forgive you," the old woman answered, "and I'm certain Rachel does too."

    "Sarah nodded, her gaze rising again to lock with Alice's. "I beg your help," the girl said.

    "There is nothing I can do, " Alice began, "You know that I..." but Sarah cut her off, falling to her knees in supplication.

    "Let me die too!"

    "Sarah, please stop!" Judith begged, running to Sarah and grabbing her arm in an attempt to pull her from the ground. "Stop it."

    "No," Sarah turned to face Judith, though she would not rise. "We talked about this. We decided that if our Master came back with a slave."

    "But..."

    "I will be with you until the end. Like we promised each other."

    Tears streamed down Judith's cheeks now as she held her friend's hand tightly, but Sarah did not cry. She set her face in a determined mask as she faced Alice again.

    "This is my wish," she said. "I want to die with my friend."

    Rachel marveled at the strength with which she spoke. That she could love another so much to be entirely willing to sacrifice her life. Alice too seemed moved. Rachel watched as the old woman's stoney facade faded to some degree.

    "Are you certain, Sarah?" she asked, her voice compassionate. "You are young still and your master is pleased with your service. You may have more than a year still ahead of you yet."

    The girl nodded, her resolve unwavering. "If Judith is selected to die, I don't want to live. Please, Alice. If there's anything you can do."

    The old woman stared into her eyes a moment longer before sighing and shaking her head slightly. "Though I can make no promises I will speak with him, if that is truly your wish," she answered.

    "Thank you, Alice," Sarah said, slow climbing to her feet.

    Alice nodded. "But for now, I suggest you all put the matter from your minds. What Magnus decides is out of our control."

    Rachel heard the women in the room mumbled in tentative agreement, watching closely as Alice placed a protective arm around her shoulder.

    "I am going to sleep and I suggest you all soon do the same. Until Rachel is more comfortable in her new home, she will be staying with me but I do hope you will reach out to her. Remember how difficult it was to adjust to your new home when you first came here. Remember those who helped you and give honor to their efforts in extending the same generosity to this child.

"Perhaps you left sisters or children behind when you were taken? Imagine that they were here now, having been ripped from their homes. Imagine the welcome you would hope they'd receive and extend that same kindness to Rachel."

    Rachel wondered if they could possibly heed Alice's call for kindness. She was the reason someone would die. Tears welled in her eyes at the thought. She had seen what slaughter entailed. Now she would escape death again and others would be made to pay in blood. She remained trapped in her own thoughts as she and Alice made their way back to Alice's cabin, glad that the woman was quite and did not press for her impression of the others. Rachel wasn't sure she could speak without releasing a new cascade of tears and her eyes were still sore from the previous evening.

    Once inside, Alice helped Rachel into a warm bath and reapplied salve to her wounds.

    "Already the swelling seems to be coming down," the woman said encouragingly. Rachel didn't answer. It was not the wounds on her body that troubled her after all.    

    Rachel took the tea Alice offered her, along with a snack of bread and cheese to fill a grumbling stomach that protested her lack of dinner. But though she'd hoped that the food, coupled with the relaxing tea might help her to sleep, as Alice tucked her into bed she found the sound of the boy's protest and screams ringing in head. They'd died so horribly. She couldn't stop it. Judith and Sarah suffer that same fate and again there was nothing she could do. Her anxiety would not let the thought go. So much death...

    When Alice turned off the lights and left her alone in the empty house, claiming she had other business to attend before bed, the screams only grew louder, taunting her impotence. Promising that pain would eventually find her too. As her heavy eyes finally closed, unable to stay open a moment longer, Rachel could do nothing but pray that they would not haunt her dreams.

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So there is certainly a bit of a dark underside to life on Magnus's lands...What did you think of the chapter? of how Rachel is adjusting ( or not) to her new home? And what about Alice? Any knew thoughts on her? I'd love to hear people's reaction to how the book is progressing. As I have said before, this is a rough draft and I'm still very much cobbling the book together to a certain degree. Its getting a bit longer than I anticipated so if there is anything that drags for you, I would love to know. Hopefully the world and Rachel's predicament is enough to keep reader attention. Plus, we still need to find out what happened in the past that led Alice and Mangus to where they are today...:-) Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and if you did? Dont forget to click the star! <3