Mistaken

“Remove your burqa and your tunic I want to see what I have purchased.” The man’s deep voice demanded. “I'm sorry I cannot,” the woman responded lowering her head in fear, she was peering out from under the fabric covering her head attempting to gauge the man in front of her. He snarled. “I am your new master I want to see what I have purchased.” She jumped at the intensity of his voice and quivered as she beseeched, “I must not, I cannot...” she took in a sharp breath stopping her plea. She raised her head in defiance, in attempts to quash the fear surging through her body her attempts were with no avail, her body shook uncontrollably despite her determination. “I SAID NOW!” His voice bellowed through the tent causing her and the men around him to jump from its assertiveness. The woman flinched with fear; nonetheless, she lifted her head higher in courage. “I cannot do as you request, I was told that if I ever removed these items I would bring a curse down upon my daughter and myself.” She stated firmly, not showing the anxiety attacking her system with fire. The man chuckled at her boldness; surging forward he rocked his body upwards and growled. “Such audacity for a slave! As you well know, I AM your new master! You will do as I say or pay the consequences. The choice is yours?” His face was hard, not showing his inner turmoil. He grunted in frustration at the lack of her response then roared. “WELL what is your choice Slave?” The room broke out into a soft buzz. “How dare she question her new master!” One man whispered angrily, while the others agreed in murmurs. The woman’s hands trembled uncontrollably as she slowly raised them to the fabric which covered her identity. Her voice shuttered as she whispered, “I...I am sorry my master. I have not removed these items in public for over nine years. I am afraid of what might happen to me when I do.” Her body trembled with fear. She sighed attempting to calm her trepidation. She could never tell anyone the truth, to do so would endanger her life and the life of her daughter. She would take no chances with her daughter’s life. Her daughter was all she had left… since that day... the day her beloved husband was killed… Frowning inwardly as the pain of Cody’s lost reverberated through her searing her nerve endings. She squeezed her eyes shut to stop her thoughts. She only hoped that Kendrick’s words would ring true, that this man would be disgusted by her looks and turn away, never asking to see her body again. If only! She groaned. Angrily the man stalked towards her. “What do you want? Do you not trust ME! YOUR new master? Am I to be ignored!” his voice thundering with fury. The woman jumped at his advancement, she tightened her lips together then whispered out a response in a shaky voice. “No…no it’s not that.” She paused, gathering her thoughts trying to minimize her exposure to the men in the tent . The man was a tall man, towering over her by almost six inches. She had to lean her head back onto her shoulders to view his face. Staring at him for a moment, she hardened her resolve but her voice shuttered in fear. “When…When I was sold into slavery nine years ago I was told never to remove these items when I am in public, if I did my daughter would pay for it with her life.” He guffawed, swishing his hand palms up around the room, looking at every man there. “That is Rubbish, I have paid handsomely for you woman. I want to see what belongs to me. Disrobe! Do it this instant or would you like my men to do so.” Several men chuckled, the woman flinched, pulling her hands up and gripping her shoulders in horror.... “NOW,” he boomed. The woman jumped shriveling back in fear from his outburst. She cleared the anxiety from her throat and looked around the room at the men, there were too many of them not to figure out who she was, she needed to clear the room. Stuttering out her response. “I…I will, if you have everyone leave the room. I am ashamed of how I look, please make them leave.” She raised her head to meet his gaze and whispered “Please?” then lowered her head despairingly. Knowing what he knew about this woman and how determined she was to hide her identity, he knew this would happen, had hoped it would. He smiled inwardly and sighed. Thank God, she asked for privacy he did not want anyone to see what he was going to see in a moment, he was very sure she did not either. Sighing heavily in defeat, the woman turned her back to him and slowly raised the tunic upwards. As she raised the fabric up her back, an image of a bright blue dragon appeared across her ivory white skin. The dragon had a tail that looped around her waist to the right, hugging her hips, and heading to her belly. She raised the tunic up over her head, removing it completely before slowly allowing it to fall to the ground as she let out a heavy sigh of defeat. The woman’s tattoo took up most of her back. The colors on the dragon tattoo were exquisite. Each scale had been painstakingly outlined in a deep black onyx ink that shimmered as she shifted positions. The dragon’s image had a bright red eye with a piercing fiery orange pupil, looking back at the man with forewarning. The intensity in the dragon’s stare gave the man chills. The look in the dragon’s eyes was one of aggression and warning, as if voicing the danger that lurked to those who touched this woman’s body. Zenith winced as a cold feeling settled in his stomach.