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The Slave Hold
Slave Hold Rpg Chapter 2
Elsaria walked through the streets of the slave market examining the new specimens.
Crimson was chained in one of the corners behind a vender who happened to be hawking fighting slaves for the fights. Her hands were chained together and she wore a thick blindfold over her eyes although her was tilted as she listened to the sound of people walking by.
Anna slipped through the crowded streets, hood resting low over her head.
Crimson was hauled to her feet as they began the sales.
Anna spotted the sales
Anna frowned,
This is ridiculous... she thought,
When will it end? She contemplated disrupting the sales, whether she'd be able to do it without being noticed... A natural disaster perhaps? The pebbles at her feet bounced against the hard dirt as a small tremor emitted from beneath her- hardly noticeable.
The blindfold on crimson was torn away.
"The starting bid will be two hundred gold."
Noone seemed to notice Anna's actions yet.
Crimson stayed quiet as she was dragged up but when her blindfold fell off and she glared into the crowds. She wanted one of these people to buy her, the idea of getting a man alone made her mouth water az she thought of biting into a freshly beating heart.
The trembling increased, rattling chains and windows. Anna stood still where she was, focusing on the quake, building the intensity upward.
The auctioneers paused as they tried to comprehend what was happening. Guards hurried and began to attempt to pinpoint the cause.
Anna turned away from the slave market as the quake reached its peak, cracking wood and shattering windows. She headed quickly for a side street, hands buried in her pockets as she focused on keeping the quake steady and local to the market...
Crimson grinned, her canines peeking out from beneath her lips as she surveyed the chaos around her. Somehow, she still had enough pride to not be cowed by the surrounding crowds, her aggression palpable and thick in the air.
Someone struck Crimson as they tried to force her back into the holding cell.
Anna felt as though someone was behind her.
Anna glanced over her shoulder cautiously.
Anna saw a cloaked figure behind her that quickly went to grab her.
She whirled around and fell back hard on her bonds, breaking the chains free of the cracked wood. She didn't waste anytime as she jumped on the nearest guard and buried her teeth into his throat
Several guards hurried forward to restrain Crimson and she heard a scream from the crowd.
Anna lept out of the way and reached for her sword, "Don't touch me." She said.
"You are in danger if they see you."
"I'm capable of taking care of myself, thanks." Anna replied in a mildly sarcastic tone.
"Are you sure?" He said.
"Yes." Anna replied.
"If you are so sure..." He suddenly pushed her into the street. "She is over here!"
Anna stumbled into the street and whirled on the man, "Bastard!" She growled, pulling her sword free in one fluid movement.
The figure was gone as guards rushed toward her.
"You'd best hope you don't run into me again..." Anna frowned and turned to face the oncoming guards.
"You are under arrest!"
"I've done nothing to warrant an arrest." Anna replied, edging towards one of the side streets.
"The use of magic to disrupt sales of slaves! That is your crime."
"But why on earth would I want to disrupt the sale of slaves?" Anna replied innocently.
Crimson lifted her head and wiped the blood from her mouth. It was a simple matter of lifting the dead guard's sword and she fought back. The sword was flickering around slicing into the bodies until Crimson's bare body was slick with blood. She laughed happily the sound out of place on her fearsome appearance. She could see where people were converging on another person but her own fight was taking all her concentration.
Crimson felt a sharp sting of pain in her back as a blade slashed her.
Crimson spun around to face her attacker but even she knew better than to expect to escape. She simply wanted to create as much damage as possible before the number of guards overwhelmed her
Before her attacker could inflict any more damage. Crimson was grabbed from behind and they both vanished.
"That is what we would like to know...now put down your weapons and don't try anything funny."
"Mmm... I don't think I'll be leaving this behind, sorry." Anna replied.
"At least lay done your weapons. If you truly have nothing to hide then you should cooperate."
"I will sheath it." Anna replied, slipping it back in the sheathe, there were too many guards around to fight her way out, she needed to play it smart.
"You will hand it over..."
"I think I'll keep it." Anna said.
One of the guards moved to disarm her
Anna danced backwards out of the guards reach, "I wouldn't do that." She said, "Just let me be on my way."
"Fine...answer our questions at least. "Why were you accused of aiding slaves?"
"Perhaps somebody else wanted to use me as a distraction?" Anna replied.
"Why did we sense your magic is responsible for the quake?"
"Did you now?" Anna asked, she would have to make a break for it after all.
"We did." They replied as they advanced toward her.
Anna shrugged, seeing her escape in a small opening in the crowd. She bolted through, shoving her way into a small alley and rushing towards the other end. She needed to get out of the city, or at the very least get as far from the guards as possible.
Crimson was released a cloaked figure stood there. They both now stood on a grassy knoll. "Are you alright? Should I heal you?"
The speed of their travel was nauseating and she glared angrily at the speaker. "Who are you?" She snarled warily.
"A friend. Someone who is trying to end this endless cycle of slavery..."
She fell silent. She was still cautious but she also wasn't about to attack the person who had saved her. Finally she spoke again, "My back is cut... It needs healing." She said hesitantly.
Her savior nodded and moved over. He carefully cleaned away the wound and started to cleanse it before healing. Though it stung it was obvious he was trying to be as gentle as he could. "My name is Thorn."
"I am Crimson." She answered, the feel of gentle touch was strange to her and she relished the pain, mostly because it was familiar, where everything else was new.
After a moment he was done. "There...good as new. "Are you hungry or thirsty?
She shook her head no. For right now fresh blood had sated her body's need for sustenance. "I want to see you." She said as she tilted her head and studied him. It made her nervous that he hid under his cloak and she stirred restlessly.
He hesitated and slowly removed his hood. He was handsome and younger then expected. (see profile pic for Thorn.)) "I am wanted by them for helping others escape.
Crimson blinked in surprise. She certainly hadn't been expecting this but at the same time she was cautious. She wasn't used to be around men unless they wanted one thing.
"So...how long have they had you? Forgive me, but you have the feel about you that says you have been enslaved for quite sometime." Thorn said as he sat back and studied her. He seemed to realize she was distrustful of him and he kept a respectable distance from her.
Crimson noticed how he sat back and she felt vaguely grateful for the gesture, though she was sure that she didn't show a sign of it. "Lets just go with a while." She answered him. Sure, it had been basically since birth but she wasn't proud of the fact and she wouldn't say it out loud if she could help it. It felt to much like admitting a shameful secret. To turn attention away from herself, she spoke up, "Aren't you a bit young to be running around messing with the guards?" She asked critically as she studied him intently.
He grinned a little. "I have been doing so since I was thirteen. I think the conditions are deplorable. This needs to stop. People need to realize everyone has their own value and deserves to be free. This idea of placing a value on another living being and selling them into slavery is sick. I have experienced the loss of many people I called friends because the aristocracy sold them in the name of profit." He looked sad and angry as he said this, the look of pain sweeping over his handsome features. Though he looked young, his eyes showed that he had experienced untold hardships. They were the eyes of someone beyond this young man's years.
Crimson was seemingly unaffected by his pain; she'd gone through to much of it on her own to really care about someone else's; especially when it seemed theirs was over. "So you're like 17 or something?" She asked a bit rudely, "13 is a bit young to be on your own."
"Actually...I am older. But we can settle on that since that is when time stopped for me. What about you? You appear to be in your early twenties." Thorn said as he took out a flask and sipped from it. He then held it out for her.
Crimson cautiously accepted the flask and sniffed it critically, "What is this?" She asked carefully. She did take note of what he said, considering the only thing that stopped aging would be a vampire. "I don't know how old I am. I think maybe round 21 or 22." She answered quietly.
He nodded. "It's a special brew. I can smell your blood. You have vampire in you. It helps suppress the urge for blood but still gives you the strength and energy blood would give us. It may not taste the most pleasant at first but the taste grows on you. So...do you have a place you want to
go?"
"Hmmm ok." Crimson said suspiciously before taking a sip. God, that tasted horrible. however, she managed to force down a little more. "I don't have anywhere to go. I wasn't exactly allowed to wander the city." She pointed out.
"So...do you want to join me? Do you want to make these monsters pay and bring them to their knees? I intend to keep freeing slaves, and fighting this so called "government'" I could use the help." He said as he took the flask back and corked it.
"I will join you for now." Crimson replied and tilted her head to one side, "Afterwords, we will see." She finished as she stood up and stretched, cautiously testing her limits with her wounds.
She realized the flask and his treatment had done wonders on her wounds. Aside from some minor discomfort and muscle aches her wounds were completely healed.
Thorn nodded in understanding and got up himself. He stretched and pulled out a scroll unrolling it. "One of the havens isn't far from here. We could head there for the night. A warm bed and a hot meal can do wonders."
Crimson nodded, a bit stunned to see how fast she'd recovered. Her earlier gruffness and aggression towards him now felt completely undeserved as she followed him.
After nearly a half hour of walking they reached what appeared to be an empty field. Thorn strode over to a patch of grass and knelt down. He felt around with his hands and a moment later a hidden hatchway opened up. "Do you want me to go first or you?"
"I will." Crimson said stubbornly as she swept past him and into the tunnel. Sure, it was an incredibly stupid move but she didn't look back or refuse to admit her mistake.
The tunnel eventually opened into a comfortable setting area. Cooking implements sat next to a hearth. A few rooms were connected to this one and emergency supplies were stowed away in one corner of the room.
Thorn entered after her and frowned. "Odd...normall
y there are a few people here. Unless they are out hunting. The room to the left is open. No one is using it at the moment so it is yours."
"Thank you." Crimson said even though it was out of character. She approached the room and looked around, "How many other people are here?" She asked curiously.
"Normally two way-station hosts. Sometimes we get more if we rescue or intercept slaves and traitors. Right now it's just us and the way station hosts." He replied as he pulled a cooking pot out and began to make stew on the hearth.
"Ahh ok." Crimson nodded in understanding. She had yet to pass judgement on the whole thing. She was far from being used to this treatment and it felt strange to sit and down nothing especially when she was free of chains. She moved over against the wall and sat down where she could watch him without getting in the way.
Slave Hold Rpg Chapter 2
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