Unknown to all

The night was cold, dry, and what seemed to be, threatening. Winds moving faster with each second, blowing and not caring who was being bothered by it. On nights like these I wish I could leave early and go on back home, without trouble nor questions asked. This, however was not possible. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Flashback...

I was a slave now, and no doubt one forever. My mere slave duties came about when I was a small child. Mother and Father needed money to pay taxes with. Sadly enough they had nothing to offer the Sarafan...except me. With only five pieces of gold, I was taken away from my home to a place...a place where no human would want to spend eternity in. Nothing but filth, cold food, and harsh treatment. I would rather burn at the stake then be forced to be alive here. Forced to stay in a small, cramped up shack with others like myself, until we were sold off to someone else. Our poor souls would give anything to be somewhere other than here. Every week we would have a slave count. Our masters would call our names out on the list to make sure we were here, we responded with a simple 'present'. The ones who did not answer, well unfortunately, were never going to, with one of two reasons. One they were sold or two they died. When you died, someone else took your place doing hard labor. Then, someone took their place and so on.

"Anaya!", shouted my boss.

"Present," I said raising my hand. He then went on down the list to someone else. I stood quiet in line and waited patiently for him to finish the role call. I looked at all the other girls I was lined up with,we all looked alike, even the guys. This was because every new slave that arrived was stripped of their cloths and personal belongings. Next, they were shaved, no hair remained on their bodies whatsoever. They were lastly paired up with two other people, with those others, you had to perform all your chores together. If one made a mistake, all in the group were held responsible as well. Needless to say my groups job was fairly simple; make sure the livestock got fed for people to buy them. Easy enough, no? Sometimes I wished that every time someone came to buy a slave, it would be me, my day of freedom. Well...at least from this place. In this place we were sold only to vampires and wealthy humans. The vampires paid more of course, due to their rule over the humans anyway.

I always feared getting sold to the vampires, but anywhere was better than this.

"Anaya are you done milking the cow yet?" My partner and friend, Matthew, interrupted.

"Uh...oh yeah here's the bucket." I gave him the bucket and pat the cow on the back. "There you go miss all milked. I thank you kindly," I said sarcastically.

"Come on Anaya help me collect the eggs please." It was my other partner, Thomas, who called me over. Funny how I got stuck with guys. What are the odds, eh?

"Alright, I'm coming Thomas keep your shirt on." I scratched my shaved head and put the stool I used to milk the cow, away.

"Hey. Did you guys here about Julia?"Said Matthew.

"Yeah didn't she get sold to the vampires or something?" He looked at me and frowned.

"Well yeah but...she was killed."

"What? Killed?" Thomas closed the hens cage and came closer to hear.

"Yes. Apparently she wasn't slave material. One of her masters ordered her to go to bed with him and she refused. He ended her there."

"That's awful! She was such a nice girl too," I said shaking my head, realizing that this was reality and not a dream. "Well at least she doesn't have to suffer anymore." They both nodded in agreement. "Is that all men want in this world? Sex? Is that all we are used for? To create pleasure for another?" Thomas put an arm around my shoulder.

"Cheer up, Ani. Let's just put this news behind us shall we?" I nodded.

"Do not worry Anaya, we'll be here to protect you from any asshole that might try to do that to you." I smiled, 'What good friends I have. And so understanding for guys. But they were both very attractive males. Even in the slave quarters, all the girls are around them. Matthew had beautiful green eyes, they almost looked yellow. A tanned, muscular body, and a mature face. Thomas was sort of similar except he had lighter skin and blue eyes. Mine weren't special, just a typical hazel color was all.

"Hey you bloody dogs!" Our attention turned back to one our Masters, who was yelling at us.

"Get back to work or you'll get no supper!" We all smiled at each other, thinking how this guy tried to act like he was the shit. We decided to get back to work, continuing where we left off. I stopped moments later when I seen some of our slave mates gathering into a crowd. Matthew, Thomas, and I eyed each other and decided to see what the fuss was about.

"Everyone! There is someone here! He's looking for a slave!" Everyone was excited, just as I was. This could be it, I could actually be getting out of here after all.

"Who is it?" Someone asked.

"Don't know. But I heard he's got a lot of money!" All three of us looked at each other. Maybe we would have a chance at freedom here.

"Is he a vampire?" I asked with pure curiosity. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

"Oh look everyone, It's the lass who wants it to be a vampire!" I clenched my fists. I did not necessarily like vampires, but I rather be with the superiors than the humans. I always wanted one particular vampire to come and take me away. Lord Raziel, Lord Kain's eldest son. I've seen him around here only on rare occasions, but never buying slaves. He was gorgeous, from what I could see. Even the girls here talked about him all the time, though they will deny having thoughts about a vampire. Especially a vampire lord. And since the girls have seen me checking him out each time I see him, they decided to tell everyone in the slave quarters about it. 'Till this day they still won't let me live it off. Everyone laughed at me. I grew angry.

"You just watch he'll come and take me away. I'll get sold before you all. I'll be in a better home , you just watch!" I turned around and went back collecting eggs.

"That'll be the day!" They shouted. I ignored them and continued with my work along with my partners.

"Anaya don't worry about them. Their talking out off their asses," Matthew said patting my back, giving me comfort and support. All I could do was nod, nod and hold on to my dream that will probably never become a reality.

Supper...

Cold, mystery soup...how appetizing. I played with my food, taking the spoon and swirling it around, not having much of an appetite.

"Anaya? Are you still mad about what happened today?" Thomas took a sip of his soup. I pushed my bowl away from me and rubbed my eyes, hiding my face in my hands.

"Anaya are you okay?" Matthew said leaning in. I sighed.

"Yeah...I'm fine. And no I'm not mad about what happened."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Well it's just...all my life I've been waiting for...someone to take me away from here. All of us. But it seems it hasn't nor ever will happen. So I guess I'm just kind of bummed out. I'm sorry." They both eyed each other. "I'm not hungry...I'll...I'll see you guys later." I didn't want to stay with my friends any more. I felt like they were laughing at me inside. At that moment I felt like the odd one out of the group, feeling like the freak of the show. I decided to lay down for a while in my little pile of hay that was in the corner. I faced the wall so I would not have to look at any of the unfriendly or unwanted faces that walked by. Shivering cold, I put some hay on myself and wrapped my arms around me, trying to keep warm. I closed my eyes, silently sobbing, thinking to myself, 'How in the Hell did I end up here? And why? I was never bad, nor did I do anything that would harm others. Was it really worth it for Mother and Father to give me a way for a couple of damn coins? No! They had no right. The least they could have done was wait until I was old enough to marry. I am old enough now, but I was not then.

"Hey. Hey." I was being poked in the back by a figure unknown. I turned my head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of who it was. Ah yes, Gertrude. The smart sort of nerdy girl that existed in every bunch of kids. She had red hair, poor looking teeth, and a bony figure. And the child also possessed freckles. Perhaps this is why she was always made fun of, that and she had no backbone. The others would walk all over her. It was her smile, however, that made her look so innocent.

"Um...hi. How can I help you?" She sat cross legged away from me now, wearing a questionable expression.

"Why are you crying?" I said nothing, turning around to face the wall again, shutting her out. "Well don't okay? I believe in you, that you will get out of here someday by him," she whispered. I rolled over to face her.

"Do not show sympathy to me. I know your just saying that. So go on laugh, do what you must to humiliate me and leave."

"No I mean what I say, Anaya. I'm not exactly the most likable girl here. I mean...I would have stuck up for you, if my voice could be heard. All I'm saying is...don't give up your hope. Someone, If not him, will come one day for you and take you away. I know you don't like it here, but you got to face the facts that none of us do either." Realizing what she said, the words sank into my head, making me realize that she indeed...was right. I gave her a half smile.

"I guess you're right. Thanks." She nodded, slowly getting up.

"Don't worry about it. I'll see you later Anaya." She waved goodbye. At that moment, I realized that there is hope in this world after all. The hope, however didn't come from me, but from an unwanted girl who had faith in us all.