A week has passed since the group was assigned their roles. They had begun developing a daily routine, Kaleb enduring his labor, and the girls navigating the treacherous world of servitude.
"I can't believe I'm being forced to mop someone's floors! Me! A noble!"
"You could always swap jobs and do the dusting, or you could always help Eliora out in the kitchen,"
"How is that better than mopping floors?"
"If that's what you think then shut up and do your work, or was the beating from last week not enough?"
"Ugh! Don't remind me; my back has barely
healed,"
She responded, wincing as she reached at her back.
"When I get out of here I'll be sure to give her what she deserves"
The doors to the room they were in suddenly swung open.
"It seems you two are done with your tasks for the day.
The two girls immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads.
"Good day, Madam Laura, what brings you here?
"The proper question here is what are "you" doing here? You were told to clean not chat away your time."
"I apologise Madam we were just about to finish here"
"Is that why you two had the time to sit around chatting?"
"No madam, we were just taking a short break"
"Did I allow such a thing?"
"No, madam, it's just that we have been working nonstop for the past week without a single break and just took a moment to rest?"
"Are you a slave of the Count and lord of this manor or are you not"
"Yes madam, we are" they replied, their eyes filling with anger at the mention of the word slave
"Then shut up and get back to work. The lord will be stepping out tonight, so while he is gone, you two will be tasked with the cleaning of his room, understood?"
"Yes Madam"
"And the next time I catch either of you slacking, you will be punished severely," she said, leaving the room.
"That cocky bitch! The next time she speaks to me that way, I'll.... "
"Shut up!"
"Come on Rayna, you know she just has it out for us at this point"
"If she does or doesn't, what difference would it make? We're slaves now, so treatment like this is expected."
"Well...I..."
"Whatever just get back to work. Besides, no matter how much work we're doing I'm sure that guy Kaleb has it harder than us. I don't think he's slept more than a few hours a night since we started work. I just hope nothing bad happens to him,"
Atara expressed, with a solemn expression
"Since when did you care about him?"
"Oh please, I don't; I've just noticed that he sleeps late,"
She replied, her cheeks flushed.
"Uh-huh, you just 'noticed'."
Atara teased.
"Last i checked, you only notice those kinds of things if you are watching him closely"
"Look, it's not like that! He's just... you know what? Let's get back to work,,"
Rayna grabbed a brush and turned away from Atara to continue her work.
Meanwhile, behind the estate, Kaleb was hard at work in the stables, his body aching from hours of labor as he lifted stacks of hay.
"Damn it!"
He grumbled, dropping a stack of hay and falling to the ground exhausted.
He ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair.
'I know I'm a slave now, but do these people actually plan on working me to death?'
He thought to himself. as his frustration bubbled up to the surface.
As he lay on the floor, he heard voices from a nearby group of male workers and approached in curiosity.
At first, it was just idle chatter, but soon the tone shifted.
"Have any of you seen the slave girls the lord purchased?"
One of the men began, his voice catching Kaleb's attention.
He edged closer ever so carefully, making sure not to make a sound as he stepped over, as his ears tuned in to every word.
"No, but I heard they're striking for a group of slaves,"
Another replied with a low chuckle.
"Same here,"
A third added.
Kaleb's fingers curled into a fist, his knuckles turning white as he fought to keep his composure.
'Calm down Kaleb, if you do something stupid you're the one who's gonna get punished.'
His heart pounded in his chest, but he maintained his calm, staying silent, forcing himself to listen on.
"Well, I caught sight of them the other day,"
One bragged.
"And let me tell you, those girls... they're something else. I'll bet that by now the lord's already had his way with at least one of them,"
The first said, a lustful grin spreading across his face, as the others snickered in response.
"Wouldn't surprise me. A guy like that, with all the power and money he has, even if he's a noble, he probably won't be able to resist for long,"
The group erupted in laughter, the sound cruel and mocking, and Kaleb felt his blood boil. His anger surged, each word that escaped their lips, like a blow to his chest.
They spoke of the girls as nothing more than, objects for their amusement.
"I'm telling you, if I ever get a chance, even if it's just a single night, I'd make sure it was one they never forget.."
Kaleb's blood boiled, his every instinct telling him to march over and put an end to their filthy discussion. But he knew all too well, that any rash action now would only end in punishment, and not for him alone.
"Hey, I have an idea,"
The first said, leaning in closer, his voice now barely a whisper.
"Since they are slaves anyway, why don't we have some fun with them later tonight?"
"But there are beastmen, what would you do if they just snapped your neck?"
"Don't worry, I heard that they are weak for beastmen, so with this many of us we can easily subdue them."
The others exchanged conflicted glances before nodding in agreement.
Immediately overcome with rage, Kaleb snapped and charged at the group, catching the first square in the jaw.
The man stumbled back, clutching his face in shock as Kaleb swung toward the second one.
Before he could land another, the third reacted swiftly and tackled him to the ground, slamming him into the dirt.
The first man quickly recovered, and rose to his feet, his face twisted in anger.
"You think you can just attack us, slave?"
He yelled, drawing his leg back before unleashing a bone-jarring strike to the ribs using his foot.
The others joined in, stomping and kicking him, each blow sending a jolt of pain through his body.
"Know your place, filth!"
"You're nothing!"
Another added.
"In fact, you're worse than nothing. You're just a worthless slave"
They continued, mocking him endlessly, laughing at his helplessness. The pain blurred his vision, but his spirit still burned with anger, filled with a simmering rage.
After what seemed like an eternity, they stopped, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
"That'll teach you,"
One spat, giving Kaleb one last kick before they all turned and walked away, leaving him broken and bruised in the dirt.
He lay there for a moment, his body aching all over. His muscles screamed in pain, but he managed to force himself up and onto his side, groaning as he pulled himself to his feet.
His movements were slower now, each step a reminder of the beating he had just endured.
The hours dragged on, the weight of the rest of the day's labor adding to his pain. By the time he finished, the sun had long set, and the estate was quiet.
He wiped his brow, feeling the exhaustion deep in his bones.
With a heavy sigh, he made his way to the shed he now calls home where he and the others were kept.
The cool night air stung but Kaleb welcomed it. A small relief from the ache that pulsed through his body.
As he made his way there the Count returned reeking of alcohol.
"Welcome home, my lord,"
Laura greeted, bowing her head as the count staggered in, the smell of wine thick on his breath.
He ignored her before muttering.
"Take me to my room."
Laura but before they could reach his room, the count stopped. A thought seemed to cross his mind. He turned back to her with a slurred voice and asked.
" Where are those slaves?"
"They should be in their assigned quarters by now, my lord,"
Laura replied nervously.
Count Rief grinned wickedly, his drunken stupor fueling his twisted desires.
"Take me there,"
He demanded urgently.
She led him outside, flanked by a pair of guards, they headed toward the small, decrepit shed where Kaleb and the girls were housed.
Upon arrival, he kicked the door open, barging in without warning.
The girls inside jolted up, panic flashing across their faces. They scrambled to their feet as the count entered.
"W...what brings you here so late my lord?"
Rayna asked, stammering slightly as Eliora and Atara, hid behind her.
With a wicked smile plastered on his face. he raised his hand pointing to the girls.
"Hold them down,"
He ordered his guards.
The guards stepped forward, grabbing the girls and forcing them to the ground.
"But my lord, have we done nothing to displease you? Why would you be doing such a thing?"
Her voice trembled with fear as the words escaped her lips.
The count smirked, his eyes glazed with lust as he approached.
"Displease me?"
He repeated.
"Do you think this is about you displeasing me?"
"If not my lord, what could this be about?"
He stumbled slightly, his drunken state making his movements erratic.
"You're slaves. You exist to serve... to entertain and you all belong to me,"
He declared, slurring his words.
He turned his attention to Atara, his hand reached for her, and before anyone could react, he tore off clothes, ripping them off with disgusting ease.
She screamed in protest.
"Get away!"
At that moment, Kaleb arrived at the scene, bewildered by what was unfolding. Something snapped inside him as he saw Atara's terrified face.
A mix of rage and desperation surged through him, and without a second thought, he charged at Count Rief.
Fueled by raw anger and the need to protect, his body moved on instinct. He crashed into the count, sending him sprawling onto the floor.