The Slave and Her Owner

Piano Keys

I had woken up from my nap on Grace's thighs but instead replaced with a pillow. I sat up and made my way to the hallway with a bunch of Grace's weird photos. I heard the faint sound of running water and assumed she was in the shower. When I stopped outside her bedroom door, there was another door that I noticed she hadn't shown me. I walked over to it and slowly turned the knob. I observed the room and noticed that it was slightly different than the others.

The walls were light brown instead of silver and there weren't any beds; just a grand piano and it's bench with artwork all along the walls. The piano was a Steger & Sons brand with the top open. I moved closer and put my finger tips on the keys as if it were to break by too much pressure from me.

No way I could play this. I'm too rusty to even waste my time on this beautiful instrument. When was the last time I played anyway?

~

Flashback

"Van! Van, where are you?" I yelled looking around the large estate. I had searched all the bedrooms, the kitchen, our hiding spot, our other hiding spot and the bathrooms. As I was walking down another hallway I heard the sound of little piano keys that didn't seem to fit any song. I followed the noise until it lead me to a door that I hadn't thought to look into. Mainly, because it was one of the rooms that were off limits to the slaves. I, courageously, turned the door handle to discover the one girl I've been looking for for almost an hour. She was sitting at the bench with her nose scrunched up looking at the piano keys.

"Van, what are you doing? We're not supposed to be in here." I warned her with a whisper. She turned to me with a smile and patted the space next to her, motioning for me to sit.

"Yes, Hannah. I know that, but I wanted to learn how to play it. She looks too beautiful for me to not touch. So I snuck in here to teach myself." She said and grabbed my hand and placed it on the keys along with her's. Van maneuvered our fingers to push down on the instrument to create some sound, but mine recoiled from the instrument in fright.

"What if we get caught?" I asked her.

"Then we'll die together. That's how it should be." She teased making me even more worried then before.

"This isn't a game. You know what happens to slaves when they go into places they shouldn't."

"I do know, Hannah." She mumbled.

"Then let's go, Van." I said while tugging on her dress.

"Just a little bit longer, Hannah. I promise. You know you also want to play it as well." I stopped tugging and put both my hands on her face and looked her in the eyes.

"I do want to play it, Van, but what my heart desires is not worth both of us getting a whipping. Please, I don't want them to hurt you." I begged and held her in my arms with my her head fitted in my neck. Van sighed and lifted her arms to wrap around my neck.

"I've seen you in here before, Hannah." She mumbled into my neck that made my eyes shoot open. "I hear you play and I think about it when I can't go to sleep at night because you do it so perfectly." Van removed her head from my neck to look me in the eyes again. "I know you hate it just as much as I do when I can't sleep at night so give me something to remember to make me dream." She finished with tears forming in her eyes. I let out a sigh and turned away from her and getting my back straight.

I put my hands on the beautiful yet deadly instrument and started to play. Although I don't know how to read music or had any training, it comes to me so naturally that I could play for hours and smile when I bleed from a whip that I have to be punished from if I were to get caught. This strange yet peaceful melody that my fingers are creating sound so much like a person with years of practice has been doing. No wonder it's the only thing that'll put Van to sleep at night. After, a few more minutes to end whatever I was playing, I looked down to see Van who had fallen asleep on my lap and the rest of her torso lying on the bench.

"So it really does put you to sleep?" I asked her knowing she was unconscious. I put the fall back down to cover the keys and lifted Van's head off me to grab her whole body. My other arm found it's way to her lower back and I hoisted her with ease. I walked to the door and carefully opened it to carry her back to the room where she could dream in peace.

~

After realizing that I was still standing on the middle of the room while remembering that, I pulled away from my weird state and instead pulled out the bench. I took a seat and raised the fall up. My fingers landed on a few keys to warm up but knew they could do more. I started hitting the notes on all eighty-eight and it made me smile a little to remember what it was like to do this: to not have to talk because the music is doing it for me.

If only Van was here...

"I see you've found my baby." I heard a voice behind me say that caused me to jump and hit a horrible, low note. I turned my head around to see Grace in her pajamas and her toweling her still wet hair.

"I-"

"You play very good. How long have you been playing?" She said while walking towards me and sitting on the spot next to me.

"Umm, not long. This is only like my fourth time playing it." I told her.

"Your fourth? You're lying to me." She said in disbelief with a smile.

"Nope, I'm not." I said truthfully.

"Oh well, can you teach me?" Grace said sitting a little straighter.

"I don't think I'd be such a great teacher. What I play just comes to me, you know?" I asked her and she nodded her head in understanding.

"Yeah, I think I can relate. So just play for me then." Grace suggested and it made me let out a big sigh.

"Okay then." I put my fingers back on the board and stiffened my back to let the music start to fill up the room. As my digits were working, I paid attention to the corner of my eye where Grace sat for any kind of reaction from her. I could only see her eyes fixed on my face and I had to refrain from looking at her to keep the music going. Suddenly, Grace's hand halted me by setting her hand on mine. I turned to see her with tears about to fall, which caused me to let out a giggle.

"I didn't think I played that bad to make you cry." I said and it made her mimic me from just a few seconds ago.

"No, not at all. It's just-. You play beautifully and I'm a wimp when it comes to such things." She said while wiping her tears.

"Then why did you stop me?" I asked in confusion.

"Because I wanted to ask you something."

"Oh, well ask me. What is it?"

"Have you ever played for any one else? And can you answer me honestly?" I nodded my head but focused on her hand that still hasn't left mine. Grace slowly pulled it off me and awaited my answer.

"Yes." I said simply trying to be vague about it.

"Do you remember who?" Grace said staring into me.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Grace questioned me.

"Yes, I don't know. What I also don't know is why I feel interrogated." I told her getting a little angry. When I said that, her entire facial expression changed and she put her hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I honestly didn't mean to make you feel that way. I'm still just a little curious what your life was like back then. Again, I'm sorry." Grace apologized and stood up leaving the bench. "Good night, Hannah."

"Night." I replied while she was past the door. I sighed and felt a little bad but was also pondering over all the questions I was given.

"I wouldn't mind if you weren't always so curious."

A/N

Sorry I haven't updated( I've been at band camp)and if you haven't noticed, I follow anyone that leaves a vote or a comment so thank you.

-M