[Muda.]
"WAIT!!"
The sound was so foreign to me, so scratchy and underused that it hurt to make it.
"I will not fight, please do not hurt Master." It came out softer this time, just above a whisper. I watched Master JM's fist stop short of my Master's head. My Master looked stunned, as did everyone else. There was a silence that fell over the room.
"So, she can speak, and even then it's in service. Nice. Perhaps I really should have kept you for myself." Master J said, yanking my head back, lifting my to my toes as he whispered into my ear. "I bet that voice would sound better in more intimate settings as well." I shuddered, but didn't flinch away. I wish I wasn't so used to this from him...
"Jefferson, you son of a bitch, get away from her!" My Master yelled again, but Master J being me ignored him.
"Moving on. As I was saying before, I believe that women are inherently inferior, and do not require all rights that men do. They certainly are the weaker sex. From stature to looks, to authority and power. Everything about them makes them seem unable to stand up to the challenges of this world. For example, the desire for long hair such as this." The grip kept seeming to tighten, I could feel the ache rising in my head. I kept stumbling on my toes as he decided to parade me around. "In a fight, a woman is already at a disadvantage as she's given a good handle to subdue her, all for the purpose of keeping a pretty front. A woman's job is to be pretty and functional, that is all. So," He paused, and I saw the glint of the knife pass the corner of my eye, "for this beast to even begin to be good enough for equal rights, strip it of what keeps it worthless."
A second later, I fell to the ground, the grip on my hair released... or...
No...
Reaching back, I felt the tattered ends of my hair, short and stubbled near the base of my neck. He cut it. He cut my hair... I looked up, and he dangled my braid above me with a grin that oozed malicious intent. I heard the chuckle of the crowd, they found my misfortune amusing... Only my Master's friends and himself frowned upon these actions.
"But, even then, the way they dress is less functional. Dressed, skirts, corsets and bodices are so difficult to maneuver, they wouldn't be able to run. Anything less leaves them vulnerable." He dropped the hair, leaning down to take my arm, hauling me back to my feet. "And a sweet, innocent dove as this... is the weakest of them all. Maybe we should toughen her up a bit?"
A few murmured agreements from the crowd and spat words from my Master were the reply, but they fell on deaf ears.
Don't break. Don't give them reason to hurt your owner. Don't give them reason to shame him. Be strong. They will see how strong your owner's girl is and they will praise in the end.
I was led back to the stage to kneel, Master L's voice calling forward this time, defaming Master J's actions, but that didn't stop him. French curses were added to the noise of the room as the back of my slip was cut down to my waist, exposing my the skin of my back.
I will do this for my Master. I will suffer for him. If it means he remained unharmed.
S
The knife point stuck my skin at my shoulder.
L
It stung as it danced, just like the cuts he's done on me before.
A
My Master was screaming, begging. I could hear him fighting.
V
Master's wife cried. Master L and Master W spoke loud, trying to reason, but Master J didn't care.
E
I made no sound. I didn't flinch. I didn't cry. I wouldn't give him that pleasure. I didn't do anything.
"So. Even when you are free, remember what you will always be under every layer you put on from now on." Master J spat at me, I could feel the slow drip of blood down my back. "Tell me. What else would you do for the birdie over there?" He asked me, his hot breath washing past my ear as he leaned over me again. His hand wove into my short hair, turning my head to face my Master. I watched my Master, his gaze intent on mine.
"Anything. My life is his." I said. "Everything for the kindness he has shown me."
"Would you give up your precious virginity for him?"
"Yes, I would."
"Would you give your life?"
"Without hesitation." And every word I spoke, I watched another tear run down my Master's face.
"I bet you've even fallen for him, haven't you?" I didn't want to tell him like this... any other way but this.
"Yes." I confessed, earning a deep laughter from Master J. A laughter that echoed through the crowd. The humiliation set in at that moment. The mute slave girl had fallen for her Master, a love that could never be returned. Her place was at his feet, always. Nothing more.
"Pathetic." He scowled, throwing me off the low stage to the pristine floor. The ache returned to my head as I hit the ground hard, and I closed my eyes, holding my temples in my hands to try to get the pounding to stop. "You both are so desperate for affection, no wonder you clung to each other. So, take your disgusting self and your bastard owner, and get out of my sight. Worthless garbage."
As Master J stepped away, someone else gather me in their arms. They didn't speak, just wrapped a cloak around me and carried me. Out into the cold winter day, into the rumbling carriage.
I didn't open my eyes. I didn't cry. Not a single tear. I didn't make a sound as every movement prodded painfully at the word inscribed on my back. The cloak was soft, a familiar scent of paper and ink radiated from it.
"Ami, drop me off in town, I will call for the doctor and meet you at your home."
"I can get the fire started when we get inside, heat some water to clean her."
"Thank you both. I'm sure Washington is giving him hell... but did you hear her? She spoke. She spoke to protect me." A hand stroked my cheek, brushing uneven strands of hair from my face.
"She is truly a noble one, mon fleur. But first, we shall make sure she gets cleaned up properly. I will meet you at the house." The carriage stopped long enough for Master L to step out, before resuming its course.
"Do you think she'll speak again? Once we get her cleaned and rested?" Master's wife... such a sweet voice, soothing and light.
"I don't know. She's captured my heart without a spoken word before, she shall keep it until the end of time regardless." Master... my Master...
I wanted to say something. I really did. I wanted to thank him, to tell him what I felt for him. But the thoughts grew hazy in my mind. I felt tired, I wanted to sleep. Maybe this was a dream and I'd wake up in Master's bed. I'd roll over and kiss him good morning if that were the case. But the pain in my head was very real, and the wave of unconsciousness was too thick to fight.
"Stay with me, Muda. I feel you drifting. Stay awake, just a little longer." The hand pressed my cheek, guiding my head to lay against his shoulder. "We're almost home. Stay with me, precious."
I'm trying... I'm so tired, Master.
"I'm so proud of you. Just stay with me a little longer. I'm right here."
I can't... It hurts too much... I can't stay...
"Stay with me, my love. I promise to take care of you."
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10/10/17
They say we are asleep until we fall in love. We are children of dust and ashes. But when we fall in love, we wake up, and we are a god and angels weep. But if I die here tonight, I die in my sleep.
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Muda
Fanfic"Jefferson, what's this?" I frowned, glancing over the chained woman standing beside him. "A peace offering, maybe a little incentive to stir on the compromises in the debate we had the other day." Thomas replied, as if it were obvious. "This is a...
