We were led to the most expensive looking carriages I had ever seen drawn by the most magnificent breed of horses. Yes, I loved horses from the little time I had spent around them but I had never been opportuned to ride one. I didn't even know how to ride. The horses neighed lowly and the one closest to me, a beautiful sturdy black mare snorted and watched me with wise eyes as if it understood what I was going through. I stuck my head up and assumed a more confident stride that previously. At least I had done this so often that I shouldn't be the meek little slave anymore.

Before we had left the building, while our papers were being signed, the master of the slave establishment had come and told me that this was my last turn and I could be free after this if and only my new mistress didn't want me anymore. My fingernails still dig painfully into my palms in anger now that I thought about it. I was supposed to be done two years ago but I made him too much money. I was supposed to be free damn it! What was to say that I wasn't going to die in the home of my new mistress? He knew that, the sick bastard. She had showed me decaying yellowed teeth in a disgusting smile when I told him and his only retort was, I should better stay alive. If I had my way, I would burn him to a crisp. If only I knew how to harness my witch abilities enough to burn him. The ugly idiot.

He had signed on a tiny handkerchief that I was free if I survived this and even though it was coming too late, I held it to me like a million diamonds and a quarry of old. This was my own gold. My freedom. There were a couple of things standing in the way but at least the greatest one had been lifted. Left to me I would never see that ugly bastard's face anymore. To think he didn't even have the decency to give me a little money to survive with.

Anyway, I had a plan now, train the little doll that was shivering beside me into being a good little slave and if I survive during that time, my new mistress may release me and that would be it. I would be free. Finally.

Freedom. It had such a beautiful and hopeful taste to it that I refused to dwell on it. I had learnt the hard way all these years not to hope. Hope was what opened the gateway for disappointment. And the disappointment was the worst. I refused to allow myself feel hurt. I had survived this far and I was going to keep surviving. I was strong, and no one was going to take that away from me. Yes, I lacked a lot of things, I didn't have parents, but the good part was all these years of being a slave, not once had my will ever been broken and I intended to keep it that way. I refused to dwell on what I did not have but to focus on surviving. Dreams in my world got you killed. We couldn't afford to dream.

"You are quite bold slave. What is your name?" The woman, my new mistress asked, her red painted lips quirked up slightly while her beautiful eyes watched me as if trying to figure me out. I dragged my head down so fast. This was not good. My new mistress was too observant unlike the others. I had to pretend to be the perfect shaking slave now before she punished me. Most masters and mistresses did not like bold slaves.

"Gabrielle my Lady, mistress. Sorry I don't know what to call you." I said meekly. The lady laughed as if amused but still there was something about it that I didn't like. There was something about her.... that felt sweet on the outside but extremely dangerous when she wanted to be. Something told me that I had to be extremely careful around her. I dared a glance at her only to see she was watching me again.

"To others, you may address me as Lady Karayan. In my presence, mistress. That goes to both of you." She nodded at the other slave girl beside me and then with an elegant swirl, she got into the carriage with such class and presence of someone who had almost everything they ever wanted. My heart beat in my chest faster. Could she hear my heartbeat from in there? I didn't get to know if she did or not because a guard pushed the girl by me so harshly, indicating for us to enter the same carriage as Lady Karayan.

"Move slaves!" The man growled harshly, pushing the edge of a baton into my side. I winced sharply and got into the, carriage after the other slave. I still didn't know her name. I planned to find out later. I was surprised that we were going to be entering the same carriage as the woman, Lady Karayan. Most masters and mistresses didn't want to travel in the same carriages as their slaves. Especially when they just got them. It made me really intrigued about her character.

The inside of the carriage was plush and red, like that of royalty. There were a few colored throw pillows on her side of the carriage and the other slave and I scrambled together to the other side of the carriage, huddling beside each other. I looked around the place in awe, my eyes bugging out at the sheer expensiveness of the whole place. I was slowly coming to the conclusion that this woman was very important in the southern regions. If only I had not been too involved in being a slave to worry about politics of the Southern Regions. What was the point anyways? At the end of the day I was still a slave. The lowest of the low.

The horses snorted again and I heard a whip snap through, cracking through the air with forces on the horse's behinds and soon enough, the carriage jerked to a start. The wheels rolled upon ravel and stone leading away from the most familiar place I had known my whole life. If I survived this time, I would never get to see that horrid place again. A part of me was tempted to look back one last time at the slave establishment but I refrained. I was only going to look forward and not backward.

Lady Karayan settled easily like she belonged there while the new slave beside me was quiet but wide eyed and looking about her with awe. Her eyes were still red rimmed but she had stopped crying. I imagined how it must be for her, her first time being sold. I suppose it was a whole other experience for her. I rolled my eyes and let my mind wander far away. It was something I had learnt to do while being transported. Remove myself from the situation and escape for hours in my mind. It was how I survived taunts, lashings and all other sorts of thing too.

And with that, as the carriage took me to my new mistress' home, I removed myself from the situation and my mind wandered to a grey area, one in which I had refused to indulge myself in once I had passed my early teenage years. In those moments, my mind wandered into the forbidden territory of love.