The Slave and the Dancer

[Beauty]

A young elven man sauntered down the street, looking down his nose at the peasants that filled it. Blue eyes watched coldly as young mothers hauled wailing children out of his way. The man was dressed in close-fitting black pants that hugged well-toned legs. The very edges of an ivory-colored shirt could be seen peeking out from under the silver trimmed black waistcoat and vest. Hair black as night barely brushed the broad shoulders.

About three paces behind him, a young woman followed. Soft, brown eyes framed by thick, black eyelashes were set in a face framed by hair nearly the same shade as the eyes. Unlike the man before her, the woman’s hair came down to her knees and was held back at the nape of her neck with a simple strip of leather. A short dress that more closely resembled a long shirt, was somewhat tattered and ripped in places, barely covering the womanly curves. Dirt covered the feet entirely, almost enough so as to make the skin appear a completely different color.

The young elven man took for granted that she would be following and did not look back at her. Like the peasants around them, his uses for her were quite limited. At the moment, her sole purpose was to carry the bag that contained his extra clothes, wash items, and extra money. Whether or not she would have other duties tonight, would depend upon if he could charm some young woman he met at dinner.

“Come along, Slave. It should be just around the corner.”

The young woman behind him nodded in silence and increased her pace just a bit, but not so much that she would be treading on his heels. She had learned a long time ago that walking too close behind earned punishment. Her stomach growled at her and she hoped that the master would be in a good enough mood to let her eat as much as she wanted tonight. He didn’t always let her eat as much as she could. He usually got her a salad, a bit of meat from his plate, and a drink and called that “good enough” for her.

At last, her master opened the door to a tavern and talked to the person behind the counter. The man picked up a long piece of paper and led them to a table. The young man took a seat, beckoning Slave to do the same, then began to look over his menu. Slave silently did as she was bidden and waited to see what the evening would hold for them.

About 20 feet away from them was a stage with a few poles on it going from the floor to the ceiling. A lot of burly, drunk men sat in chairs around the stage calling out rude suggestions and making catcalls at the two young women dancing on the stage. Slave thought they looked very pretty, but her master paid them no mind for the moment.

Had she thought to look around, Slave would have noticed that the tavern was quite large. The floor was made of pine and showed signed of being washed regularly. Pine and oak tables and chairs were spread out over the whole room, seemingly at random. The walls were plastered and were decorated with numerous paintings from nature. Exotic dancing music filled the air, but it went largely unnoticed by anyone other than the dancers.

A waitress came up to the table and the elf ordered a dinner of steak, baked potatoes and steamed vegetables. For Slave, he ordered a simple salad with creamy dressing. The waitress wrote all the information down then went on to a few other tables before going to the kitchen. Ready to relax at last, Gregory Carth turned his attention to the stage. Unlike the rest of the men in the room, he did not shout indecent things to the dancers nor did he whistle at them, instead he just sat there enjoying the entertainment.

[Nightsangel]

Behind the pinewood stage, a young woman sat on one of the simple leather backed chairs. Her long violet hair was tied back by a silk ribbon, her body was clad in a soft light blue silk halter top and her pants were made from the same soft material. She had not been at the tavern for very long, in fact the owner had just recently hired her because his last dancer had found better work at one of the local inns. He had been reluctant at first to hire her because of the woman's fair complexion, Sivienna had reassured him that despite her pale pallor, she would work honestly and he would not regret hiring her. Now it had been two weeks since she had convinced Ray to hire her, she had proven her worth and now she danced regularly for the customers that came.

However, Sivienna had thought that this place was a honest tavern, the floors had been clean, the dancers all pretty and happy. But she had soon found out that just like any other tavern that offered exotic dancing, it lured its share of those from darker places. As she heard the catcalls and taunts to the other two young woman currently dancing on stage, she let out a deep sigh before she heard the floaty soft music end. A new tune soon came on, this one more exotic, darker, in her time hear she had earned the nickname of "Flower of the night" she hadn't minded it, but still the music they played for her now always seemed to fit with her newly acquired nickname.

Watching the two girls scurry passed her, she heard one, who had rich flowing dark brown hair shout "It looks like theres a rich one out there tonight! However, unlike some of are other classier customers, it seems he came with a girl who is his slave." The girl then giggled, before Sivienna winced. She knew why the other girl had said that to her, she was her rival, Sandy as the girl was called hated that Sivienna seemed to be so popular. She had been the one who had always been sought after before, but now it was the "Night Flower" who stole away the attention she so admired.

Sighing again, Sivienna rose from her chair and slowly drew back the silk curtain to walk on stage. Once she was on stage, she begin to dance with slow subtle move of her hips. Twirling around and staring out into the crowd. She ignored the hoots and hollars of the more drunk customers. Her eyes while not appearing to do so, were scanning the crowds for this 'rich' customer. If what Sandy had said was true, then Sivienna was concerned. No woman deserved to be another man's property, and if it was up to the exotic dancer then she would see to it that the young woman was well taken care of. Continuing to dance, she kept her eyes on the crowd still searching for the classy, rich customer that Sandy had spoken of.

[Beauty]

At a nod from Carth, Slave set the bag she carried on the floor underneath the table and sat in the chair beside him. She did not look around, but she knew from the music and the loud jeers and whistles that there was a dancing stage here. Master had taught her that what other people were doing was no business of hers and to keep her eyes averted from everyone else. Not having anywhere else to look, she kept her brown eyes fixed on the table in front of her.

Carth was enjoying the show immensely. The two that had been on stage when he entered were good dancers, but the paled in comparison to the beauty that followed them. Long purple hair swirled about the young woman as she danced marvelously. She was by far one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on. Watching her dance, he tried to attract her attention. This was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his evening with once she was done dancing.

While the gorgeous woman danced, the waitress returned with the food Carth had ordered. The aromatic meal set before him almost made him drool. Tender vegetables steamed invitingly at one side of the plate. At the other, creamy mashed potatoes swam in delicious looking brown gravy. Best of all, though, was the steak. Cooked to perfection, it sat in the middle of the plate, just waiting for him to cut into it. Carth took his eyes off the blue-clad dancer only long enough to cut a few bites out of his meat, then he ate almost automatically as he watched the dancer.

Slave was happy enough with her meal of salad, though she knew it would not be as filling as she would have liked. A bowl of a variety of crisp lettuce and shredded carrot sat before her. A small jar of the creamy dressing sat beside it, waiting for her to pour however much she desired over her salad. With a soft, barely audible sigh, she poured the dressing and began to eat. She still had not looked up once, not even when the waitress brought her food.

[Nightsangel]

Like petals falling from a soft, vibrant red rose, Sivienna continued her dance. However, while the music flowed like gentle water in her soul, her eyes were focused on the river of faces before her. She could see the 'normal' customers, all those who were eager to throw away their gold for one night with one of the luscious dancers. But, they all knew that the "Night Flower' was unattainable, she would just not sleep with anyone. They had to have certain qualities, before she would even think of taking their money.

Shaking her head, as visions of being with one of the many men in the room swam through her mind, Sivienna's lavender hues soon fell on a man eating one of the tavern's fine meals, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the girl with him. Her hair looked clean, but her dress was poorly made, it was too short, too revealing for a girl that age. She looked like she was kept for merely one thing,pleasure..or Sivienna thought as her eyes narrowed but she kept a painted smile on her face Service....a slave...

As the sweet, seductive beat slowly lessened its pace, Sivienna did one more swirl and then ended with her leg around the pole in the center of the stage. Smiling briefly as gold and roses were tossed at her, she smiled graciously. Moving slowly off the shiny pinewood stage, she bent down briefly to pick up two white roses and three red, she also put some of the gold in a light blue pounch she kept tied to the hem of her pants. Once this was done, she ducked behind the silken curtain.

A slow relieved breathe escaped her soft lips, as she held a hand against her chest. She always seemed to hate having to dance before so many men, this wasn't what she had been raised for...she knew what she was meant to be, a lady, her father had been a vampric lord, but when things in her family had gone to hell, she had fled, unable to stand for her father's tyranny. Tapping her chest gently, she shook her head, now was not the time to remember her troubled past. Much as she hated her father, their was a young girl in the tavern who needed her help. Threading her way to the entrance that led to the dining area, she sighed before she grabbed a soft silken robe.

While this may not be enough for the girl, she hoped that the young woman would take it. It looked like that the man she called Master did not take the best care of her. If Sivienna could do anything for her, she would be glad to. She only hoped that the brown haired lass would accept it. From remembering how her father's slaves had responded to him, she knew that this might not be an easy task...but...Sivienna felt like she had to help save the girl from a life that she rightly did not deserve.

[Beauty]

Carth clapped as loudly and appreciatively as anyone else in the audience, but refrained from making catcalls. Such behavior was unseemly for a lord. Hoping that she would consent to talk to him, he sent one of the waitresses to the back to ask if the fine dancer would join him for a light snack. He waited patiently while he finished his meal, his eyes bright in expectation.

Slave finished her meal of a salad before the beautiful dancer had finished. She sat perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the table in front of her while she kicked her feet idly. She knew what her master likely had in mind for his entertainment tonight. Her master liked women a lot and he was not one to pass up on a chance to have a new bedmate, even if it was only for one night. She only wondered what Master Carth was going to do with her for the evening.

Sighing softly, the young girl glanced out of the corner of her eye. Several of the other men in the tavern were looking at her. She was frightened of the lustful looks they shot at her, thinking that neither she nor the man she sat with noticed. In truth, Carth did not notice, neither did he care. All his attention was focused on preparing himself to woo the dancer to his bed for the night.

[Nightsangel]

With the soft robe folded over her arm, the young dancer moved out in the heavy crowd. She could hear the slow flowery beat of the next dancer, looking up at the sweet looking blonde on stage, she knew whose turn it was. That melody could only belong to Lily, the newest, and youngest dancer to begin working at the tavern. As Sivi watched the girl's young body dazzle the crowd, she sighed. She knew why many of the girl's chose this life, the pay was high, the troubles minimum and the comforts luxurious. But Sivienna was only using this as a step ladder to get to the place she needed to go. But, for tonight she had another goal and that goal was to find that brown haired lass and the man she called Master..

Weaving her way through the many men in the crowd, she ignored the questions of "Hey girlie, I’ll give you five hundred gold if you'll sleep with me!" This was asked by a black haired man with luminous golden eyes, however before she could respond his buddy, a soft golden haired man with eyes that pleaded gentleness chimed in "I’ll pay you double miss and I’ll treat you like a queen!" Sivienna held up a hand as she walked across the smooth wooden floor, softly she answered their questions "No sirs, I’m sorry but tonight I’m not looking for that sort of business." She then turned away from them, her spill of violet hair floating around her as she searched the neatly set up tables.

Her eyes finally landed on the couple she had been looking for, moving once more through the crowded room, she soon stopped in front of the neatly covered table. Ignoring the soft blue cloth that covered the table, her eyes roamed over the neatly finished meal. She could tell that the man had ordered one of the tavern's delectable steak dinners, but the young woman had only been eating a salad. Concern washed across her fair face as she thought to herself Is that enough food for her, it doesn't seem like she gets enough...she looks to pale, too thin...

Trying to cover up her concern with a cheery smile, she softly murmurs "Good evening kind sir and good evening to you too miss. Have you been enjoying your night here?" Her eyes then moved from the ice blue ones of the man to that of the brown one's of the young woman's. In a soft voice she murmurs "Did you get enough to eat miss? If you wish I could tell the cook to make you up one of his fine meal's. I know he could make you a chicken breast in lemon sauce, with a side of steamed broccoli and then he makes wonderful mashed potatoes. The bill would be on me, no trouble for you sir." She said this delicately her eyes drifting to that of the man's. She felt a little twinge in her belly, she knew it wasn't lust, it was more anger, she didn't like the way the man looked so smug, like he knew he could get what he wanted by whatever means necessary.

[Beauty]

Slave did not look up when the dancer sat down. She knew it was the pretty dancer that her Master had taken a liking to and also knew that he would not tolerate any action from her that could possibly ruin his plans. She had finished eating her small salad while the other woman had been backstage and now sat silently, her eyes focused on the table. She heard the soft, gentle voice but did not say anything. She knew better than to answer anyone without Master’s permission.

For himself, Carth was quite pleased to find that he did not need to send anyone to ask after the dancer. Tonight was apparently his lucky night, for she came to him without being asked. He smiled graciously and beckoned to her to sit.

“I have indeed had a good evening, but now it has become ever so much more gratifying now that you are here. Do not be too concerned with my slave. She has eaten enough for the night and will be just fine. I am Lord Gregory Carth and I am greatly pleased to make your acquaintance, my beautiful dancer.”

While he waited for an response from Sivi, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at Slave, then nodded in approval. Slave had not moved from where he’d told her to sit and was behaving quite well. Slave kept her eyes downcast, hiding the slight fear in them.

Slave hopes Master does not make her stay with one of those other men. They are scary. Please don’t make Slave go with one of them, please, please don’t!

Her tiny, heartfelt prayer was repeated over and over again silently while she waited for what had become practically inevitable with her Master. That he was wooing another woman was no surprise. He did it at every town they stopped at and for however long they stayed at that town. Sometimes though, he would allow other men to use her and she never liked that. Sometimes they hurt her, but her Master would not believe her and told her she was lying. Tonight, some of the looks the other men were directing at her scared her more than any other time before.

Please, please, please don’t let Master send Slave with one of those other men...

[Nightsangel]

Sivienna's stomach twisted into a tight knot as she heard the man's smoothly measured suave voice. She could already read his thoughts through his eyes Woo the dancer.....make her mine, then bed her, and send my little pet off to please someone else... The young beauty had to fight hard not to vent out her anger and frustration over this man's mistreatment of the poor young woman. Trying to keep her smile pleasant Sivienna responded in a calm, clear voice "I see...but I'm sorry to say this...she doesn't look happy to me. I think she wants to stay with you sir. I may be a dancer here, my job may be to please the customers...but..." Smiling as warmly as she could despite the anger knawing through her insides she finished with controlled politeness "I can't please anyone in the way that you want on this night. If you wish to woo another dancer however I can take care of the young miss here for you. That way she won't be in your way if you wish to be with one of the other dancers?"

Sivienna then turned to move away, her polite facade faded as the anger burned like bright crisp fire in her eyes. Just saying those candy cane words had made her stomach boil. She had wanted to yell at the man, to tell him that it wasn't right for him to keep that poor beautiful girl imprisoned like that. Sighing deeply, the girl's situation was too much like her own half sister's, like the thralls that her father had kept like polished trophies at his disposal. Chewing on her tongue, the purple haired vixen begin to walk away. This girl's plight was to weighing, it was reminding Sivienna too much about her own family situation.

She did not need to think about that, she didn't want to remember all that her father had done. In her view, he had never been a father to her. Just a man, more a monster then any husband or father that he should be. He had only wanted power, he had been smooth, slick much like this man here. As she heard the floaty music notes of the next dancer, Sivi begin to slip through the crowd, her bright shine of violet hair disappearing into the crowd.

Sivienna knew as she moved over the smooth wooden floor, the harsh lights illuminating her hair that if she stayed near the slave and her master, she might do something distract. such as trying to spirit away the poor girl. Moving behind the pretty silken curtain, she hoped that the man wouldn't come after her. She knew the rules if a man had a dancer in mind he was allowed to follow her backstage and continue his pursuit. She hoped that the arrogant b*stard would take her suggestion and find another dancer to woo and let her care for slave. Otherwise Sivienna figured that she had a very long night ahead of her.