Born to be a slave.

Edmund - fortunate protector, wealthy guardian

Thea - God's gift

It was cold. My skin was freezing under my torn and dirty tunic. I could feel fine raindrops falling on me. It was more like a fog, making everything look gloomy and grey and making me shiver in my humid clothing. I suppose it was midday. I don't know. I haven't lifted my eyes for hours. The only thing that indicated it, was constantly growing chatting and shouting around me. People were coming to the marketplace to get some goods - vegetables, fruits, tools, and slaves. And I was one of them. A slave. I think that is the only purpose for me in my short life. Since I can remember, I have been working as a slave. I think it will be for seven years. Though, sometimes I am not even sure about it. I have never attended a school or learned anything useful, reading, counting. Just basic stuff, but not enough to function on my own. Right now I was sitting on a tiny stack of hay, waiting for somebody to buy me. I didn't want to go to another place. I just wanted to not exist. No one has ever taken care of me. I had to endure the hard work, everywhere I went. Different owners, different rich people houses. But the attitude everywhere was the same - cold and cruel. Like I was not a human. They beat me, gave me food, just enough for me to stay alive. I was living worse than a dog. I just wanted to die. There is nothing in my life, that keeps me here. I will not survive in another place. This time I will not last.

I could hear some people talking near me, discussing the prices for other ones, that were here with me. I hold my head low and made no eye contact with anyone. I didn't want to be chosen.

I felt someone's hand examining my black, greasy hair. I didn't bother to look up. I just wanted them to leave.

"We are buying this one!" I heard the voice of a young boy.

"Why! Look, she is tiny, just skin and bones. She will not last long. You don't need her. We can find someone better if you need." a low man's voice responded to him.

"Dad, I said I want her."

A boy sounded so confident. Like he held some power over everyone else. Even over his father, I assumed. His statement was clear, his voice stern and demanding. I felt his small hand touch my shoulder, as he shook me to get my attention, but I gave him none. I just didn't want to be chosen.

"Hey, look at me!" he ordered.

I didn't budge.

"See, she is totally disobedient. You are gonna regret if you take her." his old man said again.

A boy didn't answer him. He bent down, a little bit closer to me and pulled some strands of my hair away, to get a better look at me. My eyes were shut tight. Please, not me, not me. I was chanting in my head. He curved his smooth fingers around my chin and pulled it lightly, in an attempt to make me face him. As I did not, he took a stronger hold of it and forcefully made me finally look at him.

"I said, look at me!" his voice was more threatening than before.

I opened my blue, teary eyes and finally looked at the boy, who was bugging me.

He looked not older than 10 or 12 years old, with dark brown hair, perfectly combed backward. His clothing was those of the rich. The white shirt was enclosing his neck, a dark, thick, blue jacked was cowering his slim body and keeping it warm. And a black, silky scarf was loosely around his neck. But the most striking thing about him was his eyes. They were almost white, with a hint of purple in it. It looked so bizarre and strange. I have never seen anything like it. My eyes couldn't leave his. Suddenly I got back to reality and turned away from him. I am not supposed to look at him, not like that. I curled back in a ball and starred at the ground in front of me.

"What is your name?"

....

"What is y...."

"Thea, " I said quietly, barely audible.

"Good. That's better. Better get used to obeying my commands."

"Edmund, are you really going to buy her? annoyed said his father.

"Yes, I will. She will be my personal slave. Only mine."

My eyes have made their way back to both of them. I couldn't believe they will buy me. This boy is going to be my master?

I was standing beside a man who was selling me. My eyes glued to my naked feet - dirty with mud and tiny bits of dry hay, which have been scattered throughout the marketplace. A lump was sitting in my throat, too hard to swallow, the tension in my mind was unbearable. Another home.... another master.... and another set of nightmares. Unconsciously I found my fingers fumbling on the rim of my torn tunic.

The day was gloomy, rainy and it made everything look like the world has lost its vibrant colors. Or maybe it is just me, things how I see the world around me - devoid of beauty and happiness.

Looking up at my new master's family, I saw the boy's old man glancing around somewhere in the distance, like the stuff in front of him seemed to be bothersome. This boy with those strange eyes was taking control in handling the deal between himself a man selling me.

In my eyes, he looked too young to be capable of understanding the things he is facing. His stance was firm, confident, seemed to be engaged in the matters of business. He looked so tidy and clean, not a single speck of dust had found it's way on his jacket. Face so serious, his pale skin was shining in the grayish looking light, that masked the day. My eyes roamed his face until they reached his bizarre eyes with thick black eyelashes.

Who was he? Was he human?

In split second those pale irises reached my form, my face and they looked deep in my own eyes. Totally startled I moved my gaze away. I was too aware of the fact it was not polite to stare or look at your owner in the face by me - a lowly slave.

"Thea, come with me, " he said sharply, but his voice was so calm as his face.

Thea.... a word I have not heard in a long time. Usually, no one bothered to remember the names of a slave nor made an effort to call us by it.

I walked behind him in small steps. Road under my feet felt cold as the rain had made it dump and dirty. His father followed us, I could feel his presence by my side.

He was tall and lean with the same colored hair as his boy. Eyes of him were the regular shade of brown, as of any other person. A high-quality black coat accented his strong shoulders. A very confident and high born man he seemed.

We had reached the carriage lead by two massive black horses geared up in fine leather binds, the hair on their bodies silky, shiny and well taken care of.

"Get in."

I looked up at the seat next to a man leading horses. As I lifted my leg to get up, I heard my master's voice again.

"Not there. Get inside." his voice was a little bit annoyed.

Hesitantly I moved near him, still watching his strange act as he held a door for me. Was I really allowed to climb inside the carriage? It was not a place for a slave. I was a bit afraid to do as he said, but his hard stare with those unnatural eyes told me to follow his orders.

"Just be careful. I don't want anything to get dirty from you. Watch it!"

I nodded and pulled my legs up to be faced with a fine interior decorated with fine silky fabric and patterns made of golden threads.

Was this boy some kind of royalty?

We rode in silence. His father had not said a single word since we left the marketplace. His gaze was set upon the scenery outside. My master, on the other hand, stared intently on me nonstop. His body swayed from time to time by the rough road under the wheels, but his eyes never wavered away from mine. My master..... was he really my master? I suppose his father will be in charge of my existence and I will have to put up with his son. But like everywhere, every one from his family will be viewed as my master I suppose.

"How old are you?" his young voice snapped me out of the daze.

I shrug my shoulders because honestly, I was not sure of my age.

"Eh.... Don't talk much, do you? I asked you how old are you?" he said each word slowly like I did not understand it the first time.

"I...I don't know. I.... think .....seven...."

"Seven ....huh..... By the way, my name is Edmund Wiltshire and this is my father Charles Wiltshire." Edmund gestured towards his father next to him. "Do you know what will you be after arriving at my home?"

I shrugged.

"Answer me. I won't bite."

"No, " I said quietly.

He leaned towards me, his face so close to mine I could see a pale purplish pattern in his eyes.

"You will be my pet, Thea." After those words, his lips twisted in a mischievous smirk slowly growing into a smile revealing his pearly white teeth behind his lips.

What? A pet? Like a dog or some kind of animal? Is he joking? I have had all kinds of jobs as a slave, but never as ridiculous as the words I heard from him.

"Don't look so frightened, Thea." Edmund smiled again leaning back into his seat.

All the while his father did not seem to be concerned, either about his own son nor me.

The ride went on longer than I expected. We left the buzzing of the city and continued our way through the countryside. I though Edmund is one of the city boys, but now it seems my assumption was wrong. I gazed out the window trying to find something interesting, but nothing was there, only barren fields of green grass. No other houses and no other activity. Just over the fields, white dots were scattered over the greenery, which I assume were herds of sheep.

"For what purpose did you buy her? I think you know we have plenty of people in our summer house, who can take care of you." Edmund's father finally spoke.

"It is not your concern, dad. I bought her because I wished to. As I said, she will be my pet."

They both conversed like I wasn't even there.

"Aghh... Whatever. But remember the whole responsibility will lie on you in regards to her. In my opinion, I wouldn't care less about what happens to her."

"You talk like you have ever cared about such things." Edmund made a remark, which did not affect his father in any way.

I was expecting his father to get mad about such insolent words coming out of his son's mouth, but there was no indication that it affected him in any way. How could he talk like that with his own dad? Does Edmund have no respect for him? I could not understand a thing about their relationship in a short moment I have witnessed it. It seemed like Edmund was a father figure and his old man was a son. So bizarre.

I felt the road under the wheels of carriage change to smoother, less bumpy one. We went through the large metal gate deeper into the garden I suppose. I did not see the front, all my view was set on the scenery behind. There was a light grey wall spreading on each side decorated with carvings of strange plants, animals and demons.

A carriage came to a halt and Edmund's father was first to leave. We were left alone. He eyed me for a moment, not making an attempt to exit and head inside his home.

"Welcome to your new home, Thea, " he said seriously.

Right then he opened the door and jumped out, I could hear his feet connect with fine gravel on a path. I followed him when he gestured for me to get out too. Small bits of gravel were pinching my naked feet and I wondered how I will be able to walk all the way to the house without whimpering in discomfort.

To my view came a sight I did not expect to see. It was not a house, well not a house for my standards. It looked more like a castle. The polished stone it was made of was much lighter, that the one used on the walls. A wide stairwell was leading to the entrance with an enormous double door and guards by each side. It had some very detailed carvings, but I could not make out the details from afar. There also were colored glass windows, archways and pillars so large I had never seen before.

I remember them saying this was a summer house. I did not want to think about how their main house looked like. They were rich, very rich. I had never worked for anyone so wealthy before, which somehow made me scared a little bit. In my experience I have learned, the more money they had, then more cruel they were as people. This family was too rich for me to comprehend. I just hoped they do not meet my expectations in regards to the way they treated people like me - slaves.

I followed this boy further inside the castle. I was faced with the same luxurious sight, it was beautiful. Paintings, furniture, deco.......

"Stop gawking and hurry up. I don't have time to wait for you the whole day." Edmund snapped at me.

There it came.

I was expecting something of those lines coming out his rich mouth. How could such a young boy act like this? These were just my first steps in this new environment, but already I saw the first signs of the attitude I will be receiving in the future.

I followed him in a hurry, my small feet slightly hurting on each step I took. For such a small boy, his pace was fast.

"FIONA! Fiona!" Edmund shouted through the halls making me jump in surprise.

An older woman came out of one of the rooms upon hearing Edmund.

"Tell Fiona to come up to my room right now in a hurry."

"Alright, young master, " she said immediately.

She quickly scurried to the other end of the hall.

In minutes we were in a room, which I assume was his. It was dark, in tones different than the rest of the house. The huge bed was in a middle against the wall with silky duvets and colorful pillows. The floor under our feet was almost black, made of some kind of stone and polished so smooth I could almost see my reflection. Beside his bed was a rug of an unknown animal, few cabinets and paintings of nature. There also was a door leading to..... who knows where. Overall it looked so much like a boy's room.

Edmund pushed me a little bit in the direction of the door I was thinking about a moment ago. The golden knob on it shone brightly in front of me and for a second I was afraid to even touch it, of how precious this insignificant thing looked. Edmund managed to push it open for me before I had a chance to do it myself.

A bathroom.

It was so dark, black tones accented everything, golden rims of furniture and decors were shining brightly. Tall, thin windows let in just enough light, to not be able to be engulfed in total darkness. It looked pretty, as I could imagine golden rays of sun shining inside on a sunny day. In a middle, a bath in color of gold stood all alone, like a precious relic, forbidden to be touched or even bathed in.

Edmund now stood in front of me looking me up and down.

"You look disgusting. I can't have you around in such a look."

I have heard such remarks before, over time, I have got to used to them, but hearing them from this boy, made my heart ache. The tone of his words was harsh and judgmental.

I could feel a tear well up in my eye.