Ivy remembered the first night away from the kingdom. A dainty shack like house was the first rest stop her and her party reached on their trip to the east coast.
What She had thought would be a whole summer exiled by her own stupidity and rudeness instead gained her a two year sentence living amongst mainly slaves and slave traders.
Shops and small towns surrounded the small city, were people would meet to trade groups of slaves or expensive items. The she spent well over the budget that was intended for her.
Spending large amounts at every stall or small stand that caught her attention. Soon her closet was full of thin lace dress for the summer heat. Dresser became full of every Jewel and jewelry piece she had set her eyes on.
Feeling lost and lonely in a forgine land, joining the busy streets bustling with business and brutality bought her some closure. She become apart of the city and became familiar with many merchants of all kinds.
Her watchful eyes watched people be used as collateral on the streets. Haggling over a price for new slave for what ever purpose the new master wants. The slave trade interested her and disgusted her.
Maybe even changed her even more then suddenly being thrown in the sea of full adulthood. Her small lie costed her time that made her mind repeat a small rewinding clip of her short life. when she watched the street people lie for their own gain almost expertly....she became envious of their level of skills.
Determination was once again egging her on to hone her own skills. Eventually Picking up on more lieing skills and some thievery made her harder to deal with.
A bad attitude grew on her and she felt more lost then ever before. Waking up this morning marks a year and half exactly.
It brought the old bitter feelings back that hit her after reading the letter. Father sent with her handmaid, the whole time the wench knew as they packed. Her brother and whore of course have had to know as well.
All of them knew whistle the king showed his disapproval for his daughter in strange angled web of his own lies. For no real reason They sat back and allowed him to trick her into going with false comfortability.
The king planed to torture her in all reality. Sending her away with the budget of a low maid. Where did he exactly expect her to take up residency? After one night she would be begging on the street or hoping for a corner to rent a room in a whore house.
Calling her handmaid right back to her room immediately after reading that letter she looked at her and told her that father had allowed for extra spending. So they will be lodging at the best place they can find in the city.
Ivy whipped around after giving out the order hoping the old women would just bite her lie. To her surprise she did and with easy. She even asked her if she needed anything else before leaving
Lieing was something she seen done in the court and daily life from living in the shadows of people. Once upon a time she would have never thought to use it as a tool to get what she wanted.
Now she uses it in what has become her normal life. A life shaped by diamonds soaked in slave blood. Evenings filled with silk and on church days she would help feed the homeless....while they are still only homeless.
A normal life that she never expected to have. In a way she did find a new becoming, she had craved so badly.
Sitting patiently in her chair ivy let her maids brush her hair into feeling like fine silk. Pulling all the knots out from tossing and turning all nighttime felt refreshing . Brushing in a touch of rose oil to her long chestnut color hair when finished. One of her oldest handmaids Rosa moved to allow on by to look at her self in her vanity mirror.
Ivy gazed up in her reflection, seeing her dull green eyes look back at her. Her full mouth still held it's shape but dulled in color to a pale pink. Her dark hair hung around her pale skin making her look more like a ghost in the wind then anything slightly appealing.
"I hate this weather either I stay indoors and pale to death or go out side for a near minute and burn!" Ivy lashed out grabbing Rosa by the back of her neck before shoving her into the ground.
Ivy frantic green eyes catch a glimmer of her hand mirror sitting on her vanity stand.
She reach's out to it and throws the expensive hand mirror across the room. Never really being the beauty of the ball never meaned anything yo her before coming here. Now people talk to her and some people regularly like having conversation with her.
The kingdom was never a safe place to hold a simple conversation. Every word of hers was weighed against her their.
The sound of glass cracking against the wall echoed in her room.
The sound of the glass brought ivy back down into reality. "Go clean this up and bring me a light dress to were....I feel like going In to the shopping circle today"
Ivy expected the maids to do what they have been told but a year and a half in on this sentence seemed they have become more hesitant to listen to her commands.
Violence was also a new emotion that was shown to her in a whole new light. Yes the kingdom head public executions but nothing like day in and out blood that constantly soaked the grounds sand red.
She watched them under a heavy gaze as the 3 maids slowly moved into action. The closer the time came to go home the less her servants and tutors listen to her demands. Blowing her off as if they don't need to listen to her anymore.
All Most fearing they some found out her lie in the beginning to get the expensive rooms to take lodge in while stuck in this horrid town. Violence became the next tool she learned to use when panicked.
She never really beat them but their has most definitely been bloody accidents. The freedom she carved in for her self here feed her need to be living her destiny. What if being free is her destiny?
A whole year and a half has pasted and Ivys hair now sways bellow her waist. Rosa was the only maid she knew by name. Never bothering to learn the othere two only calling them by the work title maid.
She watched one of the maids pull out a nice thin strapless lavender dress out of her wardrobe. It had pretty flower emblishments going done the side.
Quickly moving she snatched it up out the maids hands and dressed her self. To her they have become so useless, she didn't even want their help changing anymore.
"This morning you have tutoring with mr.oslad and th-
Interrupting one of the old maids IVY flung her hair back and swung the door open to her chambers.
slipping on white scandals and grabbing her purse. She called out "I'll be down town in the circle at one of the shops" while descending down the stairs and out of the house she had taken residency at.
Ivy didn't care what the old cow had to say. If they can act how they want to then so can she. Making quick time in a hired carriage she gets to a nice tea and coffee cafe. Sitting off to the side the cafe was made out of dusty black brick and the sign in fancy cursive saying 'Open' hung over the door way.
A couple small small black tables sat on either side of the front of the cafe. Two chairs accompanied the small tables.
The sound of ivys white heels made a soft clicking noise against the cobble stone path way towards the cafe. Her hips swayed in tune with it and she let out a little hum as she noticed the slave block was being set up.
In the middle of the city's circle was a huge stage that held auctions. It was a nice view from her seat out side of the little cafe.
The town became busy as normal, slowly more people came needing their daily caffeine fix. The few tables left outside to sit were filled and chatter was in the air. she allways enjoyed being a fly a the wall to the public's discussions.
Listening to the latest gossip while sipping fresh tea from a dainty teacup.
Watching a new batch of slaves go up for sale on the auction block was the perfect way to spend her evening. After seeing the same nasty acts played out and many different ways, day in and out had a huge impact on her sense of humanity.
Losing ones humanity here looked like a easy thing to do. In this pitiful region bearly holding its own democracy the native people obviously sold their humanity to keep it.
Mothers and children were no different to the slave block as man. The beheadings the king would hold in the middle of the town back home did not compare to the daily beatings these slaves were brought publicly on a daily basics.
A crowd circles the auction block and people waved fists full of cash in the air. Every one trying to get the best bid in as fast as they can.
The sharp quick sound of metal scrapping against stone made its head snap around. She seen her green eyes reflect in her father's and for once was very proud of herself.
In this moment she knows her father is looking for a shocked look or to at least throw her off. He wasn't expecting to meet the same dulled green eyes that awoke this morning.
He looked at her amused leaning over the small cafe table casually lifting up Ivys own teacup to his lips.
Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of catching her off guard she adverts her eyes from him back to the slave block. Watching humans become personal goods to trade became alot more interesting to her then giving anymore attention to the king.
"Imagine my surprise when I come to get my daughter expecting her to be in study with her tutors.....safe...is not where she's is spouse to be. "
The sound of the auctioneer banging his gavel, shouting out odd numbers. Trying to sell off groups as fast as possible rang out.
"To my surprise I find a women....no longer a girl. Tell me daughter did you learn anything?" The king moved his body over to the othere small chair, slowly hovering before sitting down next her.
A sour taste devloped in the girls mouth and she felt even more less inclined to give her father a response.
"I may seen things...that I have taken lessons from" she says politely as possible.
With a wave of his hand the king breaths out "What lessons ? Surly not the one in the books? I found you here watching the slave block, sipping tea daughter of mine...what have you observed here that you couldn't get from the books?"
This is exactly what she hates about her father.
Insain he maybe, dull in the mind he is not. All ways spinning a spiders web in his conversation.
No one has ever talked to my father and had one conversation. No it is many spinning on all at once with out notice.
she admired him from the first time laying eyes on him holding a bloody infant over her mother's corpse. Then became obsessed for his approval believing it would lead her to her own great path.
Living here basically alone and as a Adult with no supervision made her change her way of thinking.
If she learned anything then it was freedom is the key. Freedom is the start to having everything you want.
"Did you check my test scores?" Her eyes never wavered from the block as a mother screamed for her child.
The king was not expecting a question as a response so bought her another second to rattle his thinking.
"If I didn't do my studies then why are all my answers correct? Did you ever think they lied to cover their own ass father?"
The king felt truly stunned and tounge tied. Who was this pasty well built women? In all othere cases talking to him like that would be a death sentence.
Pride was in his eyes and she made no move to acknowledge it.
"As I see man has no affect on you now daughter......that should come in handy for your new husband"
Shock tore through her but she kept her gaze steady. The thought of being under some old pig made her stomach swish with deep hatred.
"I will be anything and everything my king needs me to be" Ivy had practiced then sentence on many occasions.
Laying in bed at night these words drowned out any pleasant dreams. She could have had. She knew the next time or possible chance she got to talk with the king she needed to change his mind.
He took the first chance to throw her away to some backwards city because she was of no use to him or the kingdom. Now im older and he wishes to cash in his ticket on me.
She had planned a whole speech on how she has grown since being exposed to the harsh realities of the world. The long the girl stayed in the slave city the more she realized that begging would get her no where.
Only the usefull slaves are bought, only the people that prove they have worth can stay afloat. Even if your boat is made out of lies. Its better then drowning with the sharks. I seen what they do and how they consume a humans identity.
The sharks don't just eat you alive but they capture your soul and own it.
Ill pretend not to play in a game im really playing.
"It is expected of you daughter....while I was wondering the streets looking for you I noticed these flyers hanging around the busy shops."
My father makes a show of patting himself down and pretending that some one of his royal class would touch a filthy flyer some poor person might have hung up.
" It seems I must have lost it but no worrys you picked the perfect day to come watch the slaves be sold"
Her fathers smile is so beautiful she can fully understand how some people can ignore his insain demands when he flash's that kind of smile.
That smile has shown her no mercy and now its threatening her once again. For some reason she feels like her own stupidity is to be blamed for her own predicament.
If she had just asked to be instructed to fence instead sneaking away to learn he wouldn't be taking such extreme punishment out on her. Ignorance is not a blessing when you live in the kingdom. Playing a invisible game of chess against multiple unseen obstacles.
Not really ever building a true connection with anyone.
Her brother still writes her (granted it was only after Oris gave birth to a baby boy) it helps keep me in the loop. Its nice to not feel forgotten about.
The first round of the auction is over and now people are setting up for the second round.
The second round consists of expensive slaves. Mostly women that are bound to be in some ones whore house or worse. I pity them women because god blessed them with a beauty that could not save them.
Only rich men were able to buy the women they begin to line up on stage. If your rich in a city like this then that means your famous for somthing.
My father is wrong I picked the worst time to come watch the slave trade.
Suddenly I cant breath and my thoughts become confusing. Suddenly everything inside of me is screaming
'Beware'
Not noticing a man walking up to us tell its to late. This man moves to grab a seat and places it right in between us.
This table is small for two people, three people is very crowded.
He has dark long brown hair, braided into a long braid going to his waist. Hes wearing a dark purple silk shirt and black pants. His feet are bare but clean and when his hazel eyes catch's the girl checking him out she turn beat red.
She knows shes blushing a embarrassing amount but his attractiveness caught her off guard.
"Well it seems are transaction will go with out a hitch...judging from my soon to be brides redding cheeks."
He leans over breathing hotly on her ear "y'all make a perfect bride"
While Sliding something smooth and heavy in her lap, the strange attractive man keeps his hand placed on her lap.
Ivy felt like she was experiencing a outter body experience. Never has a man been so close to her before. Or bold enough to touch her so intimately.
"Go pick out new maids for your new home. You can have any of them"
The attractive man settles back and turns his attention fully back to my father. Instincts made my legs push my body up and move my feet mechanically towards the slaves.
The silk pouch he placed in her lap feels like a ton of bricks now in her hand. Years of being obedient has trained the girl to know when shes being dismissed.
As she approaches the seats where people sit to view the slave stage she gains the attention of the auctioneer.
" please! Madam have the pleasure of picking first from the fresh stock. It would be my honour to serve Mr.rylos lovely wife"
The girl nods and let her eyes scan the stage. Not caring for the tidbit of information on her soon to be husband.
Mr.rylos is just another man buying a women in her eyes.
All of these woman are beautiful and helpless, just like me.
The girl felt blood rushing through out her body and she couldn't help but think again.
' Im just like them'
Shaking her head and flinging her hand. In the direction of the slaves she says
" I'll take the first five ones...How much do I owe you"
Taking a deep breath she unlaces the medium sized coin sack and reach's in for what she was expecting to be gold coins.
Her hand was meet with somthing hard and cold. Pulling slowly out one of the oddly shaped objects, Ivy couldn't believe her eyes.
A priceless blue diamond rested in-between her fingers.
At that moment the girl wanted to crawl back into bed or let her brain shut off her emotions. Being numb is better then being dumb.
Suddenly two years didnt feel like enough time away from home. Two years didnt feel like enough time to adjust to being married off to the man that owns the grounds where her small silly lie began.