Page 11 of Slave

Stephan? My new Master sent her to take me shopping? I was confused.

She didn’t allow me time to ponder, though, before reaching down and pulling me to my feet. “Come on,” she said. “We have lots to do today, and we simply must get you out of those clothes.”

Lily led me into the room that my new Master had referred to as mine. She tossed the large bag she’d been carrying onto the bed and with hands on her hips said, “Now, let’s get you out of those—things.” She paused to lift the front of my shirt with the tips of two fingers before quickly releasing it as if it had bitten her. “They don’t deserve the title of clothing, really.”

Everything else happened in a rush of movement. Before I knew it, she had me out of the T-shirt and shorts Master had given me this morning and into a long sleeved pink shirt and jeans. The jeans were a little big so she added a belt. The shoes didn’t fit right, either.

Her hands went back to her hips as she appraised me. “That color is all wrong for you, but it will have to do, I suppose.” She grabbed the discarded clothing and threw it into the now empty bag. “Now to shop!” she said with excitement as she pulled me back out into the main room and toward the door.

She released her hold on my arm to retrieve a coat from a closet I hadn’t known existed. That’s when I realized we were leaving. I resisted, digging my heels in. Who was this Lily and did my Master really send her? What if he didn’t and came home to find me gone? No. I couldn’t leave.

Lily saw that I was not moving and shook her head. “I’ll have you back before he returns,” she said. The next thing I knew she pulled me into a hug and said, “It’s okay.”

Then she stepped back, still holding on to both of my shoulders. I was still shaking my head, knowing I needed to speak, to explain to her why I couldn’t go. Finding words was harder than I thought, but eventually I managed to blurt, “He . . . he didn’t say I could leave.”

She studied me for a moment, and then, putting a few feet between us, she pulled out a cell phone from her bright yellow purse, punched in a number, and put it to her ear. After a brief pause, I heard her say, “She doesn’t want to go with me.”

Oh no. No. No. No. No. No. I’d tried so hard to be good and something stupid like me refusing to go shopping with one of his friends was going to make him mad.

I hadn’t realized I was shaking until I felt Lily’s hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, she was holding her phone out to me. “He wants to talk to you,” she said, encouraging me.

Taking the phone, I put it to my ear. And then I heard my new Master’s voice. “Brianna, Lily is there to take you shopping for some new clothes. She’ll have you back before I get home.” I breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t sound upset. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master,” I said dutifully.

Then Lily ripped the phone out of my hands and was guiding me once again toward the door. “Stephan?”

I kept my head down as we walked out the door, trying to not make it obvious I was listening to her conversation. Ian always said slaves should be invisible unless called upon to serve.

What I heard next brought my head up. “I’m sorry I raised my voice to you earlier. You did the right thing.” What was she talking about? “You can, and you will. I have faith,” I heard her say before she smiled and then ended the call, placing the phone once again in her purse.

“Come,” she said, hauling me into the elevator. “We,”—she paused for effect—“are going to shop.”

And shop we did. We visited seven shops full of women who crowded us with offers to help. I clung to Lily, trying to hide. Thankfully she didn’t force me to do anything other than try on some clothes in the first store. After that, she pretty much let me be. I wasn’t used to being around people like this anymore.

Two hours later we walked into a small café after Lily declared she needed to refuel.

I liked her. She was fun. Before everything happened, before my life changed, we could have maybe been friends.

It still wasn’t clear to me who she was exactly. Did she work for my new Master? Was she aware of what I was?

I didn’t think so. She was too nice to me and even asked me what I wanted for lunch. Trying to remember what I liked, it took me a minute to choose. In the end, I asked for a simple turkey sandwich. Lily ordered, and we took our seats.

Before taking her first bite, she looked at me. “So, Brianna, tell me about yourself.”

I took my time, remembering what Master had said about eating slowly. “Um. There’s . . . there’s nothing to tell.”

“Sure there is,” she said, taking a bite of her own sandwich. “Where did you grow up?”

“Texas.”

“I’ve never been there. I’ve lived in Minnesota all my life.” She paused, seeming to think about something for a minute. “Do your parents still live there?”

“No.” I almost choked.

“Are you all right?” She appeared genuinely concerned.

“Yes,” I said, ducking my head. “I’m fine.”

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