"Who is Emir?" asked Riel. The slaves fell silent in deep fear.Riel repeated the question again. Balferis walked to Riel. Meanwhile, Emir trembled behind his friends."What is it, Sir?" asked Balferis."Ms. Dumitrese asked me to bring Emir. If none of you tell me, I will take you all there," said Riel, stressing everyone.Balferis turned his head, looking at all the slaves staring in fear."What does Ms. Dumitrese want Emir for?" asked Balferis."Too bad I can't tell you," Riel replied.Balferis took a deep breath. "If it has to do with punishment, let me take his place."Riel smirked. "You have no right to know. You'd better know your place."Balferis looked at Riel intently. "I know my position very well, Sir. I must know why Emir was brought. I am responsible for all slaves while they are in the slave house."Riel shook his head. "No, you're not. Tell me where the boy is, or I'll have to take you all. Choose one," he threatened.The atmosphere became very tense. The children whine
"I still can't believe I got to see you again, Amos," Emir said with teary eyes. He hugged the man tightly.Amos couldn't believe he was still alive today after what had happened. Not to mention the many times he almost fell into death.Sera left the two of them in the back garden, and they were completely alone with no bodyguards.Emir looked at Amos closely. "What's wrong with your head? Did you get a haircut?" he asked.Amos shook his head. But he said nothing about being almost eaten. Emir also looked at Amos' bandaged hands. He felt strange about the man's current appearance. What was really going on?"You don't want to talk to me about anything?" asked Emir, still curious, as Amos kept changing the subject if he asked about him and what was going on.Amos still couldn't believe Sera trusted him again and left him alone with Emir. Whatever Sera's intentions were, he was very happy at the moment. But, because of her kindness, he became even more anxious. He didn't dare say anything
"Where are you going, Sera?" Sera stopped walking as soon as she heard her father's voice. She then turned around."To the back garden. Do you have something to say?""Russel has just come home. You were busy playing with that slave. Now you're leaving him alone in the back garden?"Sera smiled. "Papa saw us? He will be an obedient slave. Don't worry. I won't make any mistakes."Sera then approached her father and hugged him tightly. She felt reckless lately. She could not let her father look away. She had to remain the dearest daughter in this family. Only Tudor gave her strength.Tudor could only sigh. Again he was weak in front of his daughter. The thought of losing Sera if he was too harsh made him silent. He really wanted to talk about the slave."If you want to take him, bring him to the slave house after lunch," Tudor said.Sera nodded. "Of course, Papa." This time she smiled sweetly, a smile Tudor always liked.Sure enough, Tudor left after. Sera walked back to the back garden
"Why do you look worried? What do you know you are hiding from us, Balferis?" asked Emir. He was sure the old man knew something and had been playing dumb all along.However, Balferis avoided the question whenever he was asked."I'm just too worried. You guys are about to get punished because of Amos. I should be happy he's alive or be sorried that he made you suffer," Balferis said.Emir smiled. "I don't know what they'll do. But I'd rather be punished to know Amos is okay. That's enough for me."Balferis shook his head. "There will be suffering not only for you adult slaves. But children will also suffer the consequences. I'm more worried about them."The Emir was pensive. Every month they lose slaves. Eventually, they died or were taken into the mansion as punishment. In return they would get toddlers who would be the next slave.Although slaves change every time, separation still brings sorrow. Especially for those who are close to each other like family.Emir was silent. It was t
Amos was undressed completely. He looked at Sera who was standing near him watching his every move. He stood innocently as he moved while looking away. He didn't know what to do if Sera stared at him silently. That was scary.He was lucky to get a view at that moment. A small bird entered the balcony and flew past a vase of flowers. His eyes widened at the beauty of it. The cute bird was so beautiful. Its feathers were red with a green tail. He had never seen such a beautiful bird before.While Amos enjoyed the beauty, the bird suddenly disappeared in the blink of an eye. He was shocked. But then he heard a voice from Sera's direction. When he turned his head, his eyes widened to see that the bird had died in her hands, split into several pieces.Fresh blood filled the woman's hand."OH!" screamed Amos, shocked. Shocked that he hadn't seen Sera's movements, then shocked at how the woman killed the small bird without blinking. He was frozen in place.Sera grinned, throwing the dead bir
The slaves stared at Amos in disbelief. The children cried at how harshly they treated all the slaves, especially Amos.Amos groaned as his feet were trampled forcing him to prostrate himself. They roughly removed his clothes. Other guards soon came and dragged him heartlessly to the pillar and tied him tightly there. In an instant, Amos was bound with his hands stretched upwards and his feet tied to the chains on the ground.Amos didn't think about the state of his body at all. He only thought about how he could endure the many lashes he would receive. He closed his eyes, listening to the slave calls that sounded very weak in his ears."Amos, please don't do this!" cried Emir. But, before he could say anything else, a whip flew across his back, making him scream out loud.Amos clenched his fists to stare at his tormentors who were already in place. His hatred built up. Those faces showed no mercy at all. They would lash out with all their might even if they heard blood cries from the
Once inside the room, Sera placed Amos on the floor.Amos immediately grabbed her leg. "Miss, I can't just leave. What if they continue to punish the children?" Amos asked worriedly.Sera wouldn't care, but Amos felt responsible for them all. He felt very guilty."They won't punish the children," Sera said, standing up to look at Amos who was still concerned about others when he himself was hurt.Amos looked down and remained silent, his hands not letting go of Sera's legs. He wanted to cry out of despair over guilt and regret. What had he done exactly? All the slaves were hurt because of him.The pain and anger, as well as the sadness of his helplessness, made Amos cry in front of Sera. He repeatedly blamed himself."What have I done?" He muttered continuously and sobbed. He leaned on his hands and released his emotions.Sera let Amos cry all he wanted. She was satisfied that her goal of deterring him had succeeded. By seeing that punishment, he should have thought a dozen times befo
"I need to make coffee for Ms. Dumitrese. Can you tell me where the coffee is?" asked Amos once he reached the kitchen. His gaze wandered around the kitchen which looked so big, he was sure he wouldn't have found the coffee if he hadn't asked, given the amount of stuff in there.Some of the female servants looked at each other. It was usually Sera's bodyguards who prepared the food and drinks, why now the slave? Sera never had breakfast and drank coffee. How strange.But, instead of asking too many questions, they pointed to a glass cabinet. "There is powdered chocolate and coffee."Amos nodded, feeling uncomfortable as they stared at him. He picked up a cup and filled it with a few spoons of coffee. He often did this in the slave house, as it had a small kitchen with simple necessities like milk and coffee. He also made coffee for his fellow slaves. They said his coffee was delicious.Amos was making hot water, but he saw a different kind of stove than he was used to seeing in the sla
Amos grasped Sera's hand tightly and smiled, trying to calm the woman down."I won't cause trouble, Miss. Don't worry," Amos said. He then looked at Gerard, trying to be brave."Sir, you don't have to worry, I won't do anything there," Amos said. He knew Gerard had never liked him especially after Sera said he was her mate. Gerard only thought of him as food, nothing more.Amos looked at Merinda instead. The woman who made his heart uneasy. Her words still rang in his ears. But he ignored them.Gerard smiled mockingly. "We'll see what you do when you see your friend dying."Amos gulped. He knew he would have trouble dealing with his own feelings, but he couldn't give up. He had to gain Dumitrese's trust and stand by Sera.Sera said nothing, pulling Amos away from there as quickly as possible. The tail of her eyes caught Merinda's odd gaze. Her gaze was intensely fixed on Amos."Don't talk to her. Especially that woman," Sera warned.Amos nodded obediently. "Yes, Miss."Amos believed S
He didn't know when, but Amos felt that his fear of Sera had eased a bit. Moreover, lately she often engaged him in conversation and answered his questions seriously. Although she still played tricks on him, Sera looked like a woman in Amos' eyes now.Amos was determined to survive this time. He had to be able to get a place in Dumitrese and dig up as much information as possible. That meant he had to refrain from getting carried away by his own feelings.Just like this moment.The banquet was about to begin, and in the room, Amos had already prepared the clothes Sera had given him. A blue shirt with black pants and nice shoes.Amos felt strange. Just days ago, he was the one on the table to be served as food. Now he was present to watch his friend become food. He didn't know whether to be grateful or unhappy."If you're ready, come here." Sera's voice came out of the dressing room.Amos buttoned up his shirt and walked quickly towards Sera.She then took him into the dressing room. I
Amos must know something. Maybe he can save those special slaves."Why do you want to know?" asked Sera.Amos shook his head. "I don't know if I'm a special slave. I also didn't know why I was different. What makes us different?"Sera pulled her slave's chin to look up at her. The handsome face of Amos was visible, though his lips were dry and pale."You don't need to know, Amos. I will protect you, no matter what happens," Sera said."No, Miss. You said I should get used to being part of Dumitrese. If that's the case, please tell me the smallest thing I want to know," Amos replied. He had to know something.Sera pulled Amos' arm and asked him to sit beside her.Amos obediently complied with the request."You know who we are? Dumitrese are not humans. We need food to stay alive. And the best food for us is human flesh. That's why we created a human farm," said Sera.Hearing that information made Amos' heart beat uncomfortably. He remembered his childhood in the slave house without kno
Sera was furious at Gerard and Merinda's behavior. But right now she couldn't do anything about it. She vowed not to let Merinda get whatever she wanted.When she got to the room, Sera immediately looked for Amos. The only person who could make her feel better was that slave. However, when she entered the room, all she saw was Amos looking very pale.The man sat silently on the sofa watching the balcony. His gaze was dreamy. Sera was sure Amos knew her presence. The door opening sound was not soft.From the side, Amos' pale lips could be seen."Amos," Sera called out. Even though she had only been gone for a few moments, the man already looked haggard. Did something happen?Sera quickly forgot about Merinda and her worry grew when Amos looked at her with a sad and gloomy gaze.Amos slowly got off the sofa and knelt on the floor to greet Sera.Sera came closer and rubbed Amos' cheek gently."What happened?" she asked softly.Amos looked at Sera, as if he expected to be forced to exerci
"Change," Gerard pleaded when they got downstairs. He looked at the maid's outfit Merinda was wearing.Merinda looked down at her clothes. But she didn't have any proper clothes to dress out in."I don't have any clothes.""Wear anything but that," Gerard said.Finally, Merinda nodded and walked to her room. Meanwhile, Gerard took care of things.Along the way, the servants stared at Merinda as she passed them. At that moment, Maria arrived."Where are you going, Merinda?" Maria asked. She looked at Merinda from head to toe, not a single injury. Instead, the woman's face was radiant. What had Gerard done to Merinda? There was no way the rumors were true. Merinda was a stranger who just arrived!"Mr. Dumitrese asked me to accompany him. I have to hurry," Merinda replied, with a triumphant smile. She seemed pleased with the way her fortunes progressed in the mansion. Who would have thought that within a few days she would win the heart of the host's son?Hearing Merinda's reply, Maria s
The servants talked about Merinda. How could they not be jealous that a servant who had only worked there for a few days had managed to capture Gerard's heart? Meanwhile, those who had been there since birth, serving Dumitrese, didn't have the slightest chance.The jealousy intensified when they entered the banquet hall without finding the two of them."That's lucky Merinda. I don't know what Mr. Gerard saw in her," said one of the servants.Maria, who was busy delegating tasks, had to keep them all quiet and working. She herself didn't believe Gerard had taken Merinda away. She believed Gerard might punish her, because she knew how careless Merinda was.When the servants came out of the banquet hall, they talked about Merinda and Gerard. Just as Sera passed by them. That made Sera stop."Both of you, stop for a second," Sera called out.The two servants who were talking instantly froze in fear when they heard Sera's voice. They didn't expect her there. They looked at each other and l
"You can't force me, Sir!" Merinda pushed away Gerard's body who held her tightly."Why? You don't like me?" Gerard paid no heed to Merinda's whimpering, picking her up and placing her on the bed.Merinda gulped. Gerard's current appearance was different from his human appearance just a few moments ago. His handsome face now seemed more dominant. In any case, what did she dislike about Gerard? He was handsome, powerful, though she still didn't know him well.Merinda had only one problem. That she shouldn't fall into Gerard's arms. Because she couldn't trust her own feelings."You're quiet, that means you actually like me," Gerard whispered, shackling Merinda's body to the bed."No, don't do this," Merinda pleaded, inching backwards, but Gerard deftly pressed her chest to keep her still."You are mine. You won't be able to take that mark off you, unless I kill you," Gerard said.Merinda's skin crawled. She knew their bond wasn't that strong. She could reject him or walk away and leave
Gerard looked at Merinda, who was working with the other servants. They were all in the process of preparing the banquet hall, he knew.Merinda looked tired. She didn't care that a man watched her. A few minutes after she was lifting the tableware, Maria suddenly called and asked her to clean the banquet hall."I already cleaned it!" protested Merinda. She swept the entire dirt floor and covered it with carpet. She didn't know why they left the room bare and roofless. If they really wanted an outdoor atmosphere, they could go to the back garden. But then she realized there was something they were hiding. Something that made her curious."I still see many dry leaves! Do it again!" she ordered again.Merinda rolled her eyes. Of all the servants, Maria seemed to have a grudge against her. That woman didn't let her rest! But she didn't want to make a scene, so with an annoyed face, she quickly walked back to the banquet hall.Merinda passed through a door that was so large, it surpassed t
Moments later, Winston entered the preparation room. He was in charge of the banquet this time. There must be no obstacles or it would all go to waste. He had already invited all the Dumitrese family to attend tonight. Although it was sudden, he was sure no one would waste this opportunity.Winston examined Huan's body and looked satisfied. Huan looked healthy especially when the preparation team gave the results of Huan's medical examination.Winston pressed on the young man's tight stomach. He felt a rebellion.Huan groaned and looked angry. But whatever he said could not be heard clearly. His eyes narrowed, asking anyone to let him go.Winston didn't care, he continued to examine the young man's body. All of Huan had been cleared of hair from head to toe. His hands and feet were bound tightly to the iron table.The room was very quiet now that Winston arrived. There was only Huan's roar and the sound of the handcuffs clashing with the iron bed.Winston looked at Huan's face at last