The days passed slowly, with each proceeding as the first. After a few attempts at communication, I soon gave up trying to learn anything from the other slaves. Even if Kaitlyn wasn't there, most would hush me the instant I opened my mouth, casting fearful glances at the door. The ones who wouldn't… made me regret saying anything in the first place. They were clearly insane, always promising me a horrible end or explaining in excruciating detail how exactly they wanted to kill me. Kaitlyn herself seemed rather attentive and appeared frequently to reprimand and beat those who were too loud. After watching a few slaves end up at death's door, I decided it would be safer to remain quiet.
As the weeks dragged into months, more wagons brought additional slaves, filling the warehouse up completely. After that, Kaitlyn went around and inspected everyone, taking notes in a leather-bound journal. All I got was a dirty look and a few choice curses - none of which I understood.
Eventually, the daily pain and loneliness blurred together, and I often let my mind wander, dreaming of the adventures the other heroes must be going on. The council of the gods felt like a distant dream, but I knew that if I had come to a new world they must have as well. Perhaps they were even looking for me, trying to assemble the full team of heroes the gods sent to save the world.
The next day, the warehouse doors opened and Kaitlyn walked in accompanied by a blonde-haired woman. Several humble servants trailed them, carrying the blonde's baggage. She was dressed in fine clothing, with a long skirt and embroidered blouse. She wore a silver rose pinned onto her lapel and carried herself like the high-class women of my previous world. Finally, a buyer.
Kaitlyn acted as the guide, showing her around the cramped aisles and recommending slaves out of her notebook. Judging from their tones and expressions, they looked like they were inspecting cattle at a market. I took a deep breath and pressed up against the bars as she peered into my cage. My voice was hoarse from disuse, aching as I talked, but I forced the words out. It was now or never.
"E-excuse me" I stammered, "but I'm not a slave. I'm actually a hero-"
"Filthblood!" Kaitlyn screamed, kicking my cage viciously.
The impact had surprising power and sent me reeling backward. As I gathered my wits, she snatched a key from her belt and jammed it into the lock. The noblewoman stepped back in surprise as Kaitlyn ripped the door open, covering her mouth with a delicate, gloved hand.
"W-wait! I really am a hero!" I cried, fighting as Kaitlyn reached in and grabbed me by the collar.
With a grunt, she threw me from the cage, sending me rolling across the floor. Before I could scream, much less recover, she stalked over and planted a kick in my stomach. The wind abandoned me, leaving me gasping breathlessly as the woman unleashed a flurry of kicks. I curled into a ball and sheltered my face, screams ripping from my throat as my breath returned. Bruises sprouted across my body like flowers, turning my skin a blotchy purple. A particularly sharp kick slammed into my ribs, and sharp pain blossomed in my side as a shattered rib tore through my flesh. I watched in disbelief as a spurt of scarlet blood arced through the air, splattering across the ground. Was this truly the end?
The blonde woman placed a hand on Kaitlyn's arm, halting the assault. My spirit rose at her intervention, but one look at her face crushed my hope. Instead of pity or indignation, a distasteful expression twisted her pretty face.
"This is a new blouse," she said, frowning as she fingered the costly silks, "and it's worth more than this slave's life."
Kaitlyn froze, her heel still on my chest. "My apologies," she said, bowing low. "Please excuse my rashness."
The noblewoman sniffed, lowering her hand in satisfaction. 'Fortunately, I managed to step back in time, so no compensation will be required."
Kaitlyn sighed, placing a hand on her breast in relief. "Thank the gods. Why don't we continue? For your convenience, I'll wait to finish disciplining this slave."
Stepping over me, the blonde moved on to the next cage, stepping over me with disgust. My heart hit rock bottom as she began inspecting the cage as though I weren't there. I yelped as rough hands grabbed my arms and dragged me up, displacing my rib even further. Darkness speckled my vision, waves of excruciating pain nearly stealing my consciousness.
"Filth blood," Kaitlyn cursed. She was surprisingly strong and handled my emaciated body with ease, stuffing me back into my cage and locking it. She glanced at her bloody hands and let out an irritated huff. "I need to wash up. Keep looking without me," she said, heading toward the stairwell.
"Aren't I already?" the blonde woman replied.
I touched my side, nearly blacking out again as I rubbed the inch-long fragment of bone breaking through the skin. Blinding with tears, I tried to press on the wound and stop the bleeding, but the crimson blood soaked through my fingers and puddled on the cage floor.
"Your dress," a quiet voice whispered.
The words passed through my panic, but blood loss made focusing impossible. I stared down blankly at my dress, unable to understand what the voice referred to.
Tear your dress," the voice hissed. "Use it like a bandage."
They sounded masculine, and their deep voice had a calming effect. Without hesitating further, I grabbed the frayed cloth of my skirt and tore it along a seam. Wrapping it around my ribs, I tried to tie the knot, but the constriction tore another scream from my lips. I tried again, but my trembling fingers couldn't muster the required strength
"Let me do it," the voice said gently.
I pushed myself up against the wall nearest the voice and presented the ends of the makeshift bandage. Strong hands took them from me, and I winced as he adjusted the bandage.
"Quiet," he hissed, "or they'll come back sooner."
The slave pulled tight, synching the bandage down. I bit my lip to keep my voice down, gagging as blood filled my mouth. As he adjusted the knot, I collapsed against the wall, finding my vision going dim. My mind felt hazy, and I was filled with a strange sensation I'd experienced several months ago. It seemed this really was the end.
Something inside me broke, and a subtle warmth blossomed in my heart, gradually radiating outward until it kissed the tip of my horns and tail. Strength flowed into my limbs and my find cleared, bringing me back from the brink. I desperately clung to the feeling, wrapped up in its soothing embrace until the worst of the pain faded.
After a moment, the male slave gently pushed me away. "Don't move. The bone isn't set yet, but that should stop the bleeding."
"Thank you," I whispered, still trying to contain my sobs.
"You got lucky the bone fractured outward. If it went in, your organs would have been ripped to shreds. The gods only know what went through your head there."
My lower lip trembled, and I averted my eyes. "I-I just thought-"
"There's your problem," the slave hissed. "We're slaves. We don't think. We only do. The sooner you learn that, the more likely you are to survive. Of course, little chance of that happening now.."
Although continued to lecture, I slipped out of the conversation and rested my head against the bars. The next few minutes were full of labored breathing. Every breath hurt, especially the deep ones, but I forced myself anyway. I had finally calmed down by the time the noble finished up, leaving the warehouse with Kaitlyn. I had regained enough strength to raise my head and peer outside.
They stood talking outside of a luxurious coach, driven by a well-dressed servant and pulled by a few horses. The animals' were brushed to a sheen and had their harnesses covered in ribbons. The entire ride screamed of wealth, but my eyes moved past the gaudy coach to the large dust cloud rising behind them. Had someone else come to witness my misery?