Heart of a slave

Why not?

Dimitri woke up that morning with a pounding headache. He didn't have a full night's rest. The issue was finding a way to break the news to his grandmother; news of his intended duration of stay on the island. He had no wish to stay for more than five months. In that period, he should be able to teach his brother everything about running an estate.

He heard a small rap on the door and, in bewilderment, sat up on the bed. A slave girl walked in, with her eyes to the floor, and greeted him in English. She opened the curtains and he immediately shielded his eyes with his forearms from the light that gleamed through the windows. He looked up and his breath caught at the back of his throat. This was the girl who had visited his room last night; he definitely remembered the shape of her thighs and lovely round buttocks. When she looked up at him and curtsied, he noticed that she was very beautiful, but she seemed embarrassed.

Siwhetta looked at him sitting there naked, exposing his broad bronze chest. She ran her eyes over the fine line of black hair that trailed down his toned stomach and turned away bashfully when she noticed his bulging manhood beneath the sheet that covered his strong naked thighs.

Dimitri looked down and a smirk crawled over his lips that this girl could make him feel this way. She was radiant, oval face flawless, brown skin beautiful, almond eyes dark brown and wide: it was a mesmerizing vision. Yes, she was gorgeous but he ignored that fact, thinking that he was only attracted to her incredibly small waist and rounded buttocks. He could see her small perfect ankles while she walked gracefully across the room. Brown and beautiful... he shook his ridiculous train of thoughts and broke the silence by saying, roguishly."Would you care to join me?"

Dimitri noticed that she was unsettled once again. He ignored her and decided to walk across the room to get his breeches. The sheet fell to his feet on the floor as he walked around like a proud god.

Siwhetta cleared her throat and quickly placed the vase of water on the table. She curtsied and bolted from the room like a pack of hyenas was chasing her. She didn't stop until she ran into another broad chest. Siwhetta looked up and noticed that he looked exactly like the other man she left in the room. He curled his lips in disdain and slapped her across her cheek. "Watch where you are going, slave girl, or I will have you whipped!"

Siwhetta inwardly fumed, touched her face, looked down sheepishly and ran away. Yes, the two men looked alike but they were definitely as apart as day and night.

***

Dimitri was dressed in his finest breeches and cotton chemise, as he was in the very hot Caribbean, and no longer in wet, dreary London. That morning, he decided to go riding to relax his mind. He went to the stables to find his stallion, Fire. He stroked his mane, took its reins and within minutes arrived at the plantation.

The slaves were labouring in the field. The dreadful image of men and women wearily placing sugar cane over their shoulders boggled his mind. He decided to do a site inspection. He noticed that there were a number of slaves cultivating the land. Fatigue was clearly written on their solemn faces. Dimitri watched a slave patroller swing his whip viciously at an elderly slave. Angrily, he jumped off Fire's back and approached the scene. He called the officer privately and reprimanded him about the whip. "Refrain from using force this instant!"

Slave patroller, Drummond, smiled. Dimitri frowned. Upon noticing, his lordship's humorless expression, Drummond nodded in agreement, "Yes sir," and walked away.

At the end of Dimitri's inspection of the area, he walked to the lake nearby. The memories he had as a little boy, instantly resurfaced in his mind. He inhaled deeply of the fresh air and took Fire to the lake. He continued strolling along, gazing at the serene private lake. Away, in the distance, was a waterfall shaded by a canopy of huge trees. He remembered coming here as a child and where he learnt to swim. Interestingly, this was the only good memory he had of this place. He sat there quietly for hours.

When Dimitri left the lake, it was noon. He rode to the other side of the plantation and met Alton on the vegetation field. He formally introduced himself and, as second nature, he quietly observed Alton's demeanor. He couldn't help but noticing the queer look about him despite his grandmother's favourable account of him. He was doubtful about his sincerity. Alton continued his supervision, with Dimitri walking along beside him. Alton eagerly discussed the profits collected from the sugarcane but seemed a little distracted as his eyes drifted to the right side of the plantation. Dimitri looked, as well, and realized that Alton's attention was now on a slave girl. Coincidentally, it was the same one he had met that morning in his bedchamber. Dimitri inhaled sharply. He watched nonchalantly as the slave patroller in command approached and greeted her pleasantly and, with familiarity, squeezed her shoulder gently and smiled.

Siwhetta curtsied and nodded toward Alton in acknowledgment. Respectfully, Alton introduced Dimitri.

Siwhetta's smile did not reach her eyes. She raised a hand to her right cheek, covering a wound that was not there that morning. Alton ignored it, but Dimitri couldn't. He demanded, "What is your name?"

She curtsied again and replied submissively, "My name is Siwhetta, sir." Dimitri nodded, somewhat annoyed, "What happened to your cheek?" but trying to mask the anger in his voice.

Mortified, Siwhetta replied hastily, "It was nothing, sir. Forgive my strange behaviour."

Surprised, and even more irritated, Dimitri inquired, "Forgive you for what? Who did this to you? I saw you this morning and you didn't have this wound."

Feeling awkward, Siwhetta gave him an account of what transpired after she left his room. More embarrassed now, she turned to pick the vegetables and place them in the basket nearby. She ignored the two men and waited for them to leave her side. The moment they turned, Siwhetta disappeared into the thick bushes nearby. She knew Dimitri was watching; she could feel his weighty stare.

Alton pretended not to notice Dimitri's strange behaviour. He continued the conversation, saying that when he bought her at the auction, the girl was on display naked and that the men were all behaving like hounds in heat. "I saved her by purchasing her immediately; she is the most prized slave here."

Dimitri remained silent but recalled Alton's unmistakable familiarity when he had placed his hand on her shoulder. It seemed evident that he was sleeping with her. He would not condone slave masters showing preference to slaves that they were intimate with. Instead, a few minutes later, he asked, "Where can I find some beautiful women around here?"

Alton only smiled.

***