NOT A SLAVE

CHAPTER FIVE : FIRST DAY

Sara pov

The woman was badly beaten and bleeding on the floor when we reached her. Madam took out a set of keys and freed the woman from the chains. She fell to the ground hissing in pain as her body came in contact with the floor. I was shocked to see things in this room as tools and different chains hanging here and there. But it's not time to study the room when we have this lady bleeding out.

Madam hugged the woman in her arms before asking her if she's okay.

"What madness possessed you to steal from your master specially knowing he hates it the most." Madam all but shouted at the woman. The lady's only reply was sobbing into madams shoulders. She tore my heart with sadness.

"My husband missed his meal because  the master asked him to do something all day. He had already been sick this week how can i sit and watch him starve." With that madam pushed the girl gently and stood up only to look at me.

"This is the new one. You were so fast to learn english i want you to teach her but first let's get you cleaned up."

The woman pushed the ground to lift herself up but ended up falling back. We rushed to help her on her feet again. She gave me a strained smile before introducing herself.

"My name is maria and i have been working here for 15 years. You can ask me anything and i will help you."

She is not aware that i speak english yet so she's speaking in my language too. I think this household brings slaves only from my country. I don't know why I'm hiding the fact i speak english well but now that i know what it brings upon me i lost all courage of coming clean to this people.

We walked her out and all the way down stairs before going to the slaves chamber. Her room is similar to that of mine but there's only one bed and i assume it's because they share it with her husband.

I was told to bring the medicine kit from the closet while madam was busy removing Maria's torn cloth.

"He must have been mad to lash out like this. And now we have to deal with his mood all day." Madam seemes worried all along.

"He never goes to this extent if it was a simple case but i deserve what came upon me today. I did a crime."

Poor lady thinks it's her fault and she deserves such treatment when all she did was take food. I hate master luke already. How could he treat someone like this. My thoughts was broken when maria cried loud due to the medicine being applied on her battered body.

"Please be strong lady."i all but plead with her.

"You k-now i d-di-nt catch   your name." She groaned.

"Sara my name is sara."

"W -h- at a beautiful name."

When madam finished applying medicine she brought a clean wrapper and wrapped it on the wounds. Then she layed maria down telling her to rest for the day before making her way to the door. I bid my goodbye to maria following madam out of the room.

"You've seen what happened to maria. When you live here you should abide by the rules. Start with always looking down in master Luke's presence." Madam spoke as we entered the main house and desended the stairs to the kitchen.

"Ladies i hope dinner is ready as it is time to serve. It's getting dark so wrap it up." She barked orders here amd there while i followed her like a lost puppy. I wonder how ruth is doing at this time.

"Don't worry the children are to be cared for as masters request. We have someone assigned to look after them they are well fed and rested." It's as if she read my mind but i am relieved to know that.

When it was dark everyone was ready in lines with food in trays to serve. Madam checked everyone before taking the lead up the stairs. I had yet to do anything and when i asked to help madam said that the master should decide my job in this house so i kept my head down and followed everyone upstairs.

We reached the dinning table where there was chatter and laughter. Madam greeted them with a bow before everyone put their trays down accordingly on the table.

It was not long before they started eating their food while we just stood there waiting for them to finish.

"Son have you assigned everyone to their jobs." The man sitting at the head of the table asked. Whom i learned is the father. I was avoiding their eyes at all cost.

"I just finished with the men. I assigned 3 of them to guard the house and the others are to help with the farm." Master luke answered with his deep voice.

"And what about the girl." Now all attention has turned to me. Including the two other sons who are yet to speak.

"She will be my personal help. Since I'm of age i need someone at my side at all times." He answered and i can feel his eyes on me but i kept my eyes on the floor.

"Can we finish so they can eat." Groaned the elder one to his brothers.

"I have already finished and about to retire goodnight everyone." The second one excused himself from the table followed by his brother. We were left with master luke and his father.

Not long after that master vincenzo left with his help to retire. It was starting to hurt standing for this long but we had no choice.

"Madam what's her name." Asked master luke.

"Her name is sara master luke."madam replied.

"Tell her she's my new help and she's to assist me with everything starting from my meals to baths and cloths. She's my personal slave."

"But master she's only new to this and she can't even speak english yet I'm afraid she will disappoint you."

"You will tell her what to do and there's no need to speak to her. She can do her job with your instructions until she learns to communicate."

"But -"

"That's my final decision and i will not tolerate disobedience madam now tell her to bring me tea. I will be in my study. And don't forget to tell her she will bath me."

What he doesn't know is i already heard and i can't stop the fear that course through me. I can't even fathom what he will do to me if i mess up something i don't wish to be punished like maria. Let's only hope i can survive.

Master luke got up to leave as madam dragged me to the kitchen to make tea. Well let's see how it turns out.