Solo Late to the Party as usual

[Maya Lark]

2nd of Fall 517 A.V.

Maya walked out the door to her family house heading to work. Looking up at the sky, she decided to walk since it was still fairly early in the morning. Turning towards the Slaver Market, the woman had plenty of time to arrive for work and get prepared. Most mornings she was running behind like usual trying to get caught up. Though it was her fault for loving to soak when getting ready. The hot water helped calm her nerves and work out stress knots. The dark haired lady decided to take a leisurely walk to work instead of using the ravosala. It was not much faster than walking; all it did was keep her from using the energy to get down there.

“This will be interesting,” the girl stated looking around her while walking.

Different shops were just beginning to open their doors to the public. She smiled at different people and waved greeting them as she went. Though the girl preferred to be alone, she knew how to put on a pretty face for the crowds that surrounded her home. Moving over some a soft smile appeared seeing a dog run past chasing a cat going towards where she had come from. A nice breeze blew causing her hair to float off her shoulders with a sense of grace. Looking up the girl asked what the time was. A man stopped for a moment regarding her before looking into the building asking. He spoke clearly for the girl to hear him over the noise of the awakening city. Thanking him the woman picked up her pace not knowing that the time was slipping by faster than originally thought.

“Better hurry,” Maya said beginning to run at a slower pace.

Growling the woman picked up her speed and jumped over a low bench trying not to fall on her face. The girl flailed her arms some while righting herself back into an upright position. She winced after landing on the ground awkwardly nearly rolling her right ankle. Groaning some, the woman forced her leg to cooperate even though it was very evident of the limp. Panting she spotted the building, slowing down the woman panted and walked inside hearing the faint screams in the back. The girl limped into the back and hung her bag up in place.

The look on her father's face said enough for her to know that he would have something to say about being late. The man was hard on her seeing as how she would be over the market once it was time for him to step down. She was not sure who was more strict her father or her uncle Vernon who ran the family from the head. Bowing her head, the woman moved over to the side while watching keeping leg elevated some. She was still “nursing” the injury form only chimes ago. It did not help that the woman had ignored the pain long enough to get there.

NaNo Count501

[Maya Lark]

The dark haired girl stood towards the back as a slave was put into a contraption called a whirlygig. Shivering, she remembered the feeling of sitting in the monstrosity. She was not surprised when the male screamed and tried to knock out the two slavers that were putting him in place. Looking over the girl watched as her father stepped forward and punched him one good time making the male's head hit one of the legs. Maya winced shivering hearing the crack of the bone against wood. Shaking her head, the woman winced and walked up with the slight limp strapping him into place and turning the valve. She watched as the water began the slow drip on to his hand. It was not long and the group dispersed to go work with different techniques on the dummies that were offered. Maya began to limp away when her father put a hand on her shoulder.

“Why are you limping?” he growled.

“I rolled my ankle on the way over. That's why it took me longer than normal to arrive,” Maya said quietly standing very still.

She knew her father was furious with her; the man did not care for kind of excuses even if it made sense. Snorting he motioned for her to follow him back to where more of the instruments were located. The man was making certain that the team of slavers and grunts which worked there understood exactly how each machine worked and what it felt like to be trapped within them. Of course the workers only got a mild dose of the treatment instead of a full treatment. The woman pulled her hair back into a low ponytail while still following him. She hoped that he did not want to use the iron comb again.

“What are we going over today?” Maya asked looking around.

“You will be working with a newly broken slave. She needs to be taught what is expected of her,” Dimitri stated and looked at his daughter.

“Yes, father. I will make you proud,” the girl replied bowing her head some.

“You will make me proud when this future is your priority,” Dimitri growled and walked past her.

The girl sighed and continued to follow the manager of the new slave area. Her father ran everything, but he had two managers set up to lead the groups. One ran the sale of the slaves while the other ran the new intakes. It seemed she would be working in the back again instead of being up front learning the art of selling. Her mother always seemed to dress her more showy on days that she is supposed to be the “face” of the company. Jiya always said a little skin helps make the sale. And by that the elder Lark meant a good bit of chest along with her midriff showing. The woman walked behind the older male who was actually shorter than her named Rixus. He was a portly man with a thinning hair line that proved his age.

[Maya Lark]

Maya walked behind the man looking around at the new slaves that had come in. There were several she recognized as not being new, but they had not been placed out on the floor yet. Confused, the woman turned to ask the elder why there were still slaves in the back. His sudden stop nearly caused her to run over him as she had continued to walk. It was when the man pointed ahead of them, that the girl got a good look at the new slave. He claimed she was broken, but her glare at the two was clearly telling a different story.

“This is the “broken” slave?” Maya asked looking at him again.

“They said she was, but that doesn’t mean it was true,” Rixus stated.

“Boys, bring her out and to the room,” Maya said looking at the two men.

“Yes, of course miss Lark,” one replied and bowed his head some.

Rixus and Maya walked away from the slave headed farther into the back. It was clear she needed more work. What had started off as an easy day was going to become much more difficult, the Lark was sure of that. Breaking slaves was often a slow agonizing process that could take much longer. Especially since they had already been told the girl was broken. If she was able to fake out their staff members; the pair had to take care to truly know the woman was broken. Screaming could be heard as she tried to fight out of the guard’s grip.

“It seems they were very wrong,” Maya stated and looked at him before moving out of the way.

“Yes, I will have a word with them shortly,” Rixus growled not pleased with his workers.

Someone had apparently grown a conscience and felt bad for the girl. In turn allowing her to be moved to the front where she would be taught proper terminology. Letting something like that happen would throw a dark shadow over their operations. That was the last thing the young Lark would allow to occur. Should the slaver market be viewed negatively, the Lark estate would be viewed just as poorly. Even as children members are taught to protect the house name always. It did not matter if their personal image became one of violence and bloodshed. Maya moved calmly around the room looking at different torture devices.

“Sit her in the chair, I want to see what has already been done to her,” Maya stated looking at Rixus.

“Agreed, someone has not done their job right. After dealing with her I will have the worker brought back to learn their place as well,” Rixus stated with a nod.

“Good. I do not want to punish our workers. But they must remember that their very freedom is at stake at all times when working here. One slip up and they will be the next ones sold on the floor,” Maya commented with a nod.

“Yes, miss Lark,” Rixus stated bowing his head.