Dean was resting in the carriage after that whole busy day. His mouth was dry because he didn't have any single drop of water since he started with that. He felt like his boy was weighing one ton because he couldn't move properly without having the urge to sit somewhere or fall to the ground.
He felt too weak at that moment, and it made him get angry. He didn't want to feel like that ever again. Dean swore to himself that he would get stronger no matter what, so he wouldn't need to face a situation like in the raid on Refuge Sarah.
He still could remember well of that day, when his leg was stuck under something really heavy. The impotence that he felt at that moment made him have the urge to puke until that day, let alone the sight of dozens of people being dead in front of him.
As those feelings invaded Dean, the boy began to feel sleepy. The time when the streets were busier was now gone and he didn't have any more "Willpower" to get drained, anyway. The clients began to leave the surroundings.
Rick was negotiating with the last client that seemed to be questioning his prices, which made him feel furious on the inside, but he needed to show friendly behavior to that man. A client was still a client, after all. Stubborn or not, he would give them money.
Dean was nearly falling asleep, but something got him out of his dizziness.
He saw a man that was selling slaves since they started their business with "Willpower" at noon. That guy seemed to be acquainted with that place and a lot of people who lived there. He probably lived in Refuge Crystal as well.
It was a good place to settle down when you had a solid business within the black market.
Dean paid attention to him closely once he began to sell slaves like they were nothing but puppets.
He didn't know why those people were buying slaves exactly, but most of them just wanted their house chores done, or then a loyal person who would protect their family. After all, it wasn't uncommon for personal guards to be slaves.
Dean didn't know how they could make a slave so loyal to other people without a skill like Rick's "Emperor's touch". A spell so convenient seemed to be a must when someone was dealing with slaves.
After all, they could easily try to run, or then rebel when they were in a huge group. If they were Ascendants, they could just release a lot of "Willpower" and attract strong Dreads to subdue their masters, even though it could kill them at the same time.
For Dean, if he could, he would do it and survive somehow. However, kill Rick and his group was enough for him in the first moments.
Anyway, what drew Dean's attention so badly was the last slave that the man was selling there.
During all day, he was just selling males, but the last one to be sold was a female.
Dean rarely saw a female slave.
He never thought about the reason why they did as such, but he had in mind that they should just respect women more or something. He really didn't have any idea.
Nonetheless, right now, a female slave was right in front of him.
She had a cute face, despite being dirty and bruised all over. Her eyes seemed to be blue like the ones of Dean's mother. Her skin had the same milk color as her, also as her doll-like eyelashes.
That girl didn't have more than fourteen years old, probably. Her slender figure made it seem that she was made of porcelain and as fragile as this.
While looking at her eyes, Dean couldn't see any trace of emotions or will. She had the same expression as Paul's.
It, somehow, hurt Dean's heart.
See someone so similar to his mom like that girl had affected him somehow, as well as making him remember his family and friends.
He wanted to avert his eyes from her face. The more he looked at her, the sadder he got about his past and the slaughter that he was obliged to see. His insecurity about his family's safety arose again in his chest, also as nostalgia and angry.
Dean could still see clearly in his mind the eyes of each one of those Dreads while they ate his folk in front of him, after all.
Of course, that sight would make him mad.
However, that emotional struggle wouldn't end like that. Unfortunately, Dean was able to hear the conversation between the slave dealer and a client that suddenly appeared.
"Hey, Derek. How is it going 'till now?" The client asked, giving a meaningful look towards that girl.
She was covered with her hood, so she hid herself even more once she noticed the expression of that man.
Derek, the slave dealer, looked at his client with joy and gave a relaxed smile.
"As you can see, I sold almost everything. I had with me more than ten slaves and sold them all for an excellent price. I couldn't be more glad. How about you?"
The client nodded, returning the smile.
"I am doing pretty well, too. I mean, my two boys are sixteen years old by now, you know? They are good children, so I wanted to gift them with something. I am happy that they are finally turning into real men. They don't stop to give me more reasons to be proud of them."
The slave-dealer snapped his fingers.
"Oh, yeah. You showed them to me when you came here last time. But it has been quite a while. I am curious to know how much they developed. Anyway, I am sorry to say, but, if you wanted to give a slave to each of them, you will need to come here next week. As you can see, I am out of males here."
He stretched his arm, showing to him all the chains in idleness on the ground.
The man, however, just looked again at the little girl behind the dealer, chuckling.