Just Another Slave Story

Prologue

This is a short prologue just to see if anyone is interested 

Prologue

I was born Lady Arianna Wellington. I lived in a large manor as the sole heir of Lord Arthur and Lady Meredith Wellington, sister to the King of Delor. I was raised to be proper and elegant, to be the perfect wife. I loved my status. I loved the dresses, the subservience of our slaves, and the way men turned every time I walked into a room. I was perfectly suited for this life, and everyone knew it. 

Then the world changed. 

Well, actually it didn't change at all. We humans just opened our eyes to the reality of it. All of the monsters we were told about as children were real. We were not at the top of the pecking order. No, we were little more than animals to these creatures. The vampires, shifters, fae and all manner of dark creatures flooded into existence. They were tired of hiding. 

Isolated as my family was on a peninsula overlooking the sea, it took quite a while for the news to reach us. By that time there were not enough free humans to mount a resistance. They had all been enslaved or killed, and we were next. I was 15 when alarm sounded. I fled with my mother and a few trusted guards and ladies through a secret passage under the manor as my father and the other men prepared for battle. I knew I would not see him again. 

We traveled for days through the woods before they caught up with us, they being vampires. In the night they stalked us and picked off our numbers one by one. They seemed to enjoy the chase. We had no idea where we were running we just knew we had to keep moving if we were to live. Soon it was only myself my mother and 3 guards left. Our once beautiful dresses were tattered and our bodies thin from hunger. We could not go on much longer. Then the unthinkable happened. 

Of course it was night. We were huddling on the ground praying that this night wouldn't be our last when we were attacked. 6 vampires sprung out of the forest and a vicious battle began. There was no hope our guards could handle them. All of a sudden I was being picked up and a hand covered my mouth to stop me from screaming. I struggled in the grasp but it was no use, I was quickly spirited away. 

At some point I must have fallen asleep because I woke up in a tree. A makeshift hammock had been created and I was suspended at least 15 feet from the ground. That's when I remembered my fear of heights. I began screaming in terror before a hand was once again clapped over my mouth. 

"Do you want someone to find us!" a masculine voice whispered fiercely in my ear. 

My eyes widened in shock as I turned to see Captain Theodore my father's best friend and man-at-arms. He had saved me. Tears sprung to my eyes as I realized my good fortune. However, I couldn't help but wonder how he had got here. He had stayed to battle with my father. 

"How.." I began before I saw his body covered with scars and fresh cuts. There looked to be a bite mark on his shoulder as well, as if from a dog. 

"Shhh. You are going to be fine. I'm so sorry but your father has fallen. His last wish was for me to find and protect you, to teach you how to survive in this new world." 

I started to cry. I knew that my father was most likely going to die, but apparently I had still had hope. "My mother?" 

He shook his head sadly, "I could not save you both." 

At this I began sobbing. My family was gone. My home was most likely taken over. My life would never be the same. I didn't know what to do. I buried myself in Captain Theodore's broad shoulders and cried my eyes out. 

He started talking to me though I could only catch bits and pieces of the words, "....to train you.....survive...." 

My life would change forever.