"Why not take the one beside her", somebody said and I gasped in shock. I turned to see the one who spoke and it turned out to be Jo's. I looked at the psychopath as if I was just seeing her for the first time.
"You said what?", the slave master said and Jo's grinned.
"That one before you.", she nodded towards me.
"She is known as the Slave princess, cherished by almost every man in The Oak.", her eyes met mine briefly and she continued. "Her hair is a burnt blonde but you will think she is brunette. All shre can do, you will be surprised ".
And then she whispered the last part.
"Even beneath The Oak. Freya".
Being the only one that would never call me by my real name, she emphasized on the "ya" and like always, I corrected her.
"Freye"
It was then that I knew what she meant. I closed my eyes in apprehension while my lids burned with tears.
"Freye", the slave master pronounced my name like a caress, all the while staring at my face. He took my cheek in his hand and I was shocked to find it so soft. For the first time that morning, I met his gaze.
"If I had to buy Freye, it will be to keep her personally for myself.", he said to everyone's dismay, including mine. It was so rare to find any master keep a slave to themselves. In fact, it was so rare, but not lesser the honour.
"But then it seems Freye is reluctant to leave The Oak. And I will not force her.". He turned to Jo's.
"You will go with me instead"
"No!", Jo's disagreed and the young master's smile became cruel in an instant.
"That was not a proposal.", he told her and his servant came to take Jo's. She lost it then.
"No! Noooo! I will not go. I will destroy you Freye!", I was shocked that she could say my real name. She began to yell.
"I know it all. The affair beneath The Oak. I will tell everyone. I will destroy you Freye.", she promised with a vengeful look in her eyes. The Jihadists started to leave while the servants dragged the bought slaves away, including Jo's.
"I hate you.", she muttered and she meant it.
Back to The Oak, the girls wouldn't stop staring at me and I was made uncomfortable with all the whispers and fingers pointed at me. A few confident ones among them has come to ask me what is happening beneath The Oak.
I waited endlessly for the night to come so that I can see Angus. I wanted to see him and plead with him to let us stop it for a while. At least until the slaves stopped being suspicious of me.
I know some of them could be desperate to see my downfall and might start following me or plotting against me.
Finally it was time. I waited longer than usual before I we my out of the chamber. It even took longer than usual due to the tight security and the bright weather.l was rather disappointed when I came into the chamber to find it empty.
Due to my anxiety, I could not stay in the room without Angus. Anyone might come in any moment, what will I say I was doing in a master's room?
When I was going back to my room, I collided with Lyla towards the slaves chamber.
"Oh my! Could this be what Josephine was talking about? Where are you coming from?", she made a fake widening of her eyes and I rolled my eyes.
"Everyone else called her Jo's, no one refers to her by that blunt name. You only sound like her friend. Are you best friends?", I asked and she scoffed with anger.
"You this disgusting bitch!", she tried to hit me but I held her hand.
"Try that and I will make you hate yourself.", I told her. I was already walking away when she spoke again.
"Get ready explain what you're doing out here to my mistress. You might be lucky to visit the dungeon again."
"Yes, please. You can explain why you're also here too. I'd like you to keep my company in the dungeon.", I said and walked away.
The following night, I went to Angus' chamber again. The moment I entered and I perceived his smell, my face spread into a smile. I didn't realise until then but I have missed him.
He had his back to me and so I crept towards him, walking on my toes. I stood behind him and I placed my hand on his shoulder. I had only meant it as a playful gesture but when he turned to me, I stepped back immediately.