I had been on my way to the Garden District, and yes, my new rented home, when he came upon me, mistaking me for someone else in the hazy afterglow of the lamp lighters torch. He took hold of my hand, turning me about, a cold touch that set me to tremble, before I removed it from his grasp. He apologized for his mistake, but the whispers in my head told me that it was not a mistake at all, that the demon that wore the mask of a man was plotting. It was Ruin.
I have, on occasion, wondered what happened to him, for now we have met thrice, though this time it was not a slave that knelt before him, but rather a free woman that stood in his path. Even if that free woman was yet unsure of her place. I did have the strongest urge to kneel.
He asked my name, whilst looping his arm in mine and dragging me off towards an alley cloaked in darkness. Too he wanted to know how I had become free and what had happened to Edicea.
My responses were quick, rapid fire sentences, I trying to give him as much information in as short a time as possible. My name was still Fate, Edicea had gone to live with cousins and I had been freed by proxy of Silas’ wish. My answers, however, were not fast enough, for before I could finish, he had dragged me down a stairway, motioning for me to enter a room that I could only assume was for storage.
"Fate is not a Free woman's name. But if you feel more comfortable being called that that is fine." I hadn’t objected to his unneeded observations. "I have to tell you Fate that it's not very difficult to tell that you are or have been a slave. Is it your desire for a Master once more?"
Twice in as many days I have been asked that question and I turned a thousand shades of red in response. I didn’t, did I? No, I was quite enjoying my freedom, I was sure of it. Damn Silas for doing this to me! "No, I .. I am.. enjoying my freedom."
"Good. Slaves are boring. I can hear from the jangle of your purse that you are doing well, but I will make you an offer. I would have you come and work for me. I would provide you safety from those who would chose to hurt or enslave you. Until you find a man who wishes to companion you, or a man who would buy you from me." He had offered me a seat at a table, one that I took despairingly, the quiet whispers in my head warning me to run. “I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would someone need to buy you from me if you are free? It is because when you find a man who wishes to enslave you, you will submit to me. I will break you in. I will show you what it is to be a slave and then I will sell you."
Companion? What man in their right mind would companion a woman they could never bed? A woman that could not be touched, a woman with little worth in the eyes of the law.
"What exactly do you .. wish to hire me for?" What would a man like he want with a woman like me? What ever it was it couldn't be.... good. Nor did I think I truly had a choice in my answer, though he was answering my questions readily enough. It seemed that I, Fate, was caught in my own little bubble of destiny.
"What ever I desire you will do, without question." He moved to sit down across from me." I will tell you that you will be in danger, but it will be within reason. You will never be asked to remove your clothes and for the most part you will be required to care for my lady.
She has been attacked and lays ill in and inn. I unfortunately can not get to her without risking her life, so you will be our go between. In exchange I will grant you three wishes.. But only three. You may name when them when you are ready."
It sounded to me something from a children’s story, one my father used to tell my sisters and I when we were children.
"I have no wishes to make, just yet. Will you be paying me in coin as well? Or am I only to have wishes and nothing else?" I surprised even myself by my boldness. Maybe I was learning to be a free woman after all.
"You need coin from me? Is your lie telling not lucrative?" He shifted, tapping his nose and smiled.” I will give you a reasonable allowance and provide you a place to sleep and a guard."
Only then did he move and lower in front of me, eyeing me levelly. "If I ever catch you lying to me, if you ever betray me, if you ever do anything that is not without the full goodness of your heart I will torture you until the day that your body gives out. I do not ever want to have this conversation again. I want us to only speak of pleasant things, but in addition to your duties you will be trained."
I was trading one slavery for another, but neither did I feel I had a choice in.
"I do not lie, I never lie, I... Trained... how?"
"To be a free woman, to pass amongst all classes of people. You’ll be given your choice of caste and tutored in those ways. You’re agreement is for the duration of one turning at the end of which you will be free to make what ever life choices you wish. You will be given a trust fund. I think that this is more than far...what say you?"
I had to admit, it did have an appeal, but even so, I could not voice the words, instead, simply nodding my head.
"Speak your agreement. I do not except head nodding as you are in fact signing your life to me. I would hate for there to be a misunderstanding in regards to that, wouldn't you?"
And so it begins. I am owned, though not, which I find extremely confusing, but also extremely comforting. Indeed, I am an odd woman.
