A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09

He frowned down at me and fed me another bite. "We are strong men, Ciara. Weak men need the Healers' touch, not us. We have not used the Healers since we were young boys."

They were so adamant about it that I finally stopped asking. Over the next two days, I watched their skin heal with awe. For all the violence the General had inflected they didn't even scar. It made me wonder how vicious the marks they still carried must have been initially.

Master Damien and his Brothers behaved for two days after their punishment. It seemed they gave themselves just enough time to completely heal before they started again. It became a recurring pattern.

The result was always the same when they misbehaved, but it didn't change their behavior. They did everything imaginable to disrupt the compound and irritate the General. My owners could be absolute devils if they put their minds to it.

"We have spent a long time containing Evan," Master Bane laughed one night as they healed from their latest punishment. "Who knew what a benefit he would eventually be!"

The men found the entire thing amusing. Master Evan was devious and loved mischief, but it wasn't usually allowed. He wasn't able to control himself and would go much too far. Now they gave him free reign and he was making up for lost time.

I spent a great deal of time with Basin and his Brothers, Rose's owners, when mine were acting out. I was a near permanent fixture in their home, it seemed.

At first Rose's owners seemed angry and then they weren't. I lay in their bed one night worrying about Master Damien. I hated the idea they would be whipped again, but that seemed like what they were aiming for. The man named Karis was suddenly in my face telling me to relax.

"Your owners will come back for you, slave," he told me, "you needn't worry about them. We will care for you while they are off irritating the Administrators."

I froze on the bed and didn't even breath. No one else was supposed to know they were doing this intentionally. I couldn't let it slip. My wide eyes met Karis' and held them.

"We know slave, your owners told us what they are doing. It is an interesting plan. I am curious to see if it will work," he told me.

The General called my men to stand before him when they reappeared a day later. He didn't want to whip them this time. Basin and his Brothers weren't sure what he wanted to do to them.

Master Damien picked me up from Basin's apartment looking crushed. We walked upstairs and the men were all sitting morosely around the fire. I didn't know what to do. I wrapped my arms around Master Christof and held him while I sat on his lap.

"Please, tell me what happened," I begged softly.

"The General knows what we are doing and he knows why. It did not sway the decision. I am to be trained to be a General, my Brothers and I must sell you," Master Damien said from across the room.

I did that deep breathing and tried to keep control. Despite that, tears leaked down my face. My voice cracked when I spoke and I settled for sobbing into Master Christof's chest.

"We have chosen your new owners," Master Bane said watching the fire. "We will not send you back to the auction."

The men passed me around, each holding me for a while. I cried for each of them. By the time I got to Master Damien, I would have thought I was out of tears. I wet his shirt with my emotional outburst, though.

We didn't sleep at all that night. I just moved between them, holding each of them. They didn't have to tell me my new owners were coming in the morning, I knew it.

A knock at the door the next daybreak didn't even phase me. Men came into the apartment and talked to Master Damien. I didn't recognize their voices at all, but they seemed young.

Master Damien and his Brothers stood me up and removed my collar, cuffs, earrings, nipple rings, and ornamentation. The new men had replacements for all those things. Their colors were green and gold. I flinched when the new men touched me, but otherwise allowed them to ornament me.

"Rue and his Brothers are your new owners," Master Damien said authoritatively.

"You may only look at us," one of the new men said, "and you may only speak to us."

I nodded and followed the men in a daze. Accidentally, I tried to look back at Damien and his Brothers, but my new owners forced my head down. Tears blurred the colors as I took in the green and gold that now surrounded me.

The truth sunk in as my breathing grew panicked. I had been sold.