Enslaved
Chapter Two: Reluctant Obedience
By: Queen Beryl

“I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted” –Frederick Douglass

After Adella had eaten dinner with the rest of the slaves in the meager kitchen that connected to the slave quarters, the door at the center end of the long hallway, she was escorted by Katie upstairs to Alexander’s room. Katie knocked once to announce, opened the door herself, shoved Adella in, and left, closing the door behind her. Adella stood awkwardly with her back pressed against the door. She had no idea why she was being brought there in the first place.

“Are you afraid of me?” Alex’s voice drifted over to her. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, his back to her.

“No, Sir.”

“Come here.” Alex commanded. Adella did as she was told and stood a good five feet away from him. Alex looked up at her for a moment before standing up and stretching. “I need liquidated Telak, Toh Atsu juice, and Powdered Dragon Claw. Retrieve them.”

Adella paused momentarily before doing as she was bade. She returned with the items in hand and proffered it to Alex. He didn’t make a move to take it, he just looked at her.

“Here, Sir.” Adella nodded at the bottles again.

“Set them on the bed. I also desire crushed Passion Flower and Eroded Chips of Yak. Retrieve them.” Alex commanded. Adella, once again, did as she was told and held the items out.

“Mix them.”

“Sir?”

“I said mix them.”

“What am I making?” Adella asked as she scooped up the other bottles on the bed and set them on the table in the center of the room, across from the end of the bed. A shiny black cauldron was already in place.

“You know.”

“Sir, many things can be made from these ingredients, simply by adding different amounts, as you well know. What am I making?”

“Obedience.”

“For who?” Adella asked after a couple moments of silence. The concept of making obedience was not foreign to her, as she had done it on many occasions. She even knew from the moment Alex had asked for Toh Atsu juice what he wanted, although she had hoped it was something else.

“I don’t think that matters, does it?”

“I don’t want to make it for myself.”

“I could tell you it’s for someone else and use it on you anyway, you know.” Alex said wisely, turning and leaning against the oak headboard of the bed.

“I will starve before I consume an obedience potion, Master.” Adella pulled the “master” card, placing a slight emphasis on the word. Alex bristled instantly.

“Make it or I’ll have you beat.”

“I’d rather be beat, Master.”

“You, stop calling me that!” Alex leapt up from the bed and stomped over to her, his anger blinding his better judgment. How dare she not obey him! “You filthy hybrid! You’ll make it!”

“No!” Adella ran from him, straight toward the door, ignoring the insulting hybrid comment. She went to open the door when it suddenly turned to stone. She whipped her head around to see Alex’s hand extended. He lowered it slowly, and Adella’s eyes went wide.

“You… you’re not just any wizard!” She announced stupidly.

“My, you catch on quick. That’s right. I’m a direct descendant of none other than the famous Merlin himself. Which enables me to use my magic without a wand; which, again, allows me to be quite powerful. Now, make the potion.”

“Do what you like, but I will never make the potion.”

“Very well. I’ll make it and force you to drink it.” Alex set to work instantly, while Adella stood by and just watched like deer in headlights. Alex poured various amounts of the ingredients into the cauldron and smiled as first blue then pink smoke arose from it. A steady stream of green smoke trickled through the top soon enough, and it steadily became whiter and whiter. As soon as the smoke was white, Adella knew that the potion would be done. How could she escape this one? Then Alex sang in a deep, low voice the incantation that would ensue the process.

“Treachery true, lies, deceit

Fortunes spell untold

In irregular heartbeat

Obedience to behold.”

The smoke was as white as snow as Alex spooned some of the thin condemning liquid into a two and a half cup glass. He sat down on the bed and sniffed the liquid, a smile on his face.

“After potion-making, I always feel much better, don’t you? Come, sit next to me.” He patted the spot beside him.

“No.” Adella looked frantically around the room for any form of escape. There was one very large window that led out onto the balcony, but she’d never make it there in time before he made that turn to stone as well.

“Very well then, by force.” Alex sent her a hard look and raised his unoccupied hand, and with four fingers, beckoned her forward. Adella more or less glided, her feet inches from the floor, toward him. She landed with a thump on the edge of the bed and sank in slightly. Alex grabbed her face and pushed her back on the bed. Her arms and legs were numb. She couldn’t move anything; she couldn’t even make a sound. I should have been prepared for something like this, she thought, angry with herself.

“There, now, if you had been more compliant, I wouldn’t have had to do that.” Alex lifted her head slowly as Adella glared at him, and he pressed the cup to her lips. The hot liquid rushed down her throat, scalding all it came in contact with. Adella could feel the irritatingly painful sensation all the way down. Alex relinquished his hold on her and waited patiently for the obedience tonic to do its job.

“Now I hope you’re ready to cooperate, Adella.” Alex smiled down at her as her eyes rolled back into her head and her body convulsed wildly. “Don’t fight it; you’ll only make it harder on yourself. Just let the obedience flow through you.”

Adella’s convulsions slowly diminished into sporadic twitching and finally subsided altogether. She lay still, staring up at the canopy above her, not exactly registering anything. Her limbs were still mostly numb, but she was able to wiggle her fingers and toes.

“There, isn’t that better? Sit up.” Alex commanded. Adella immediately sat up and looked at him. Alex could tell she wasn’t the same. She wouldn’t be for two days, to be exact. “Say something.”

“I hate you.” The words flew from Adella’s mouth with ease.

“Well, it’s good to know you still have your spirit. Take that back.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Tell me your name.”

“Adella Janan.”

“Do you know how to read?” Alex asked. There was a long pause.

“Yes.”

“Well?” Another long pause.

“Yes.”

“Are you afraid of me?”

“No…”

“But?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

“You have a terrible power that I fear.” Adella admitted with ease. She was now able to move her whole hand now. She was fighting the potion with all of her mind, but she still hadn’t regained all of her functions.

“What are your races?” Alex asked finally, keen on the answer. Adella didn’t want to answer him; it would mean her destruction. Then they’d hunt her again, and she’d have to run. If they caught her….

She remained silent, concentrating all of her energy on not revealing her secret.

“Tell me!” Alex commanded, anger boiling up inside of him. He shoved Adella back down on the bed, his fingers digging into her shoulders. “Tell me now, slave!”

“E-e-e-e-” Adella started, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes and traveling down to her ears, leaving a silvery glistening trail that momentarily entranced Alex.

“Say it!”

“E-e-elf!” Adella screamed in his face, the tears flowing faster. He couldn’t know her other half. Never, never, nev-

“And the other half? Tell me now, hybrid!”

“G-g-g-” Adella stuttered, a sob escaping her lips. She tried working her limbs, but to no avail.

“Say it, Adella!”

“G-g-go get struck by lightning!” Adella screamed. This statement caught Alex off-guard, for he had been expecting a race, not an insult. Adella mustered up all of her remaining strength and pushed Alex off the bed, and she fell off the opposite side due to the great amount of the force. That’s when she lost total control and fell into a deep, dark sleep.

“Un-solidify this door, Mr. Bowden!” Katie’s muffled voice drifted from the other side of the hunk of stone. Alex stood up and waved a hand toward the gray block and it returned to normal. Katie walked through it and surveyed the scene before her with much displeasure evident on her face. Her eyes finally rested on Alex for an explanation.

“What?”

“Don’t be like that, Mr. Bowden. What happened here? Did she drink it?”

“I had to force it down her throat and still she resisted toward the end. She fought the whole time. I didn’t get all the information I wanted.” Alex admitted, picking up Adella’s limp body and setting it down onto his bed. He glared down at her as though that would help.

“What did you find out? Is she the one?”

“She’s half elf,” Alex offered, pushing Adella’s dark hair back to reveal her slightly pointed ears. Whatever her other half was, it mostly cancelled out the normally longer point that was usually prominent in the elfish race.

“Well, if you had been more observant, or perhaps, had checked her out more thoroughly, that part could have been attained without force.”

“I didn’t use force.” Alex defended, bending over and picking up the cup from the floor.

“I’ve always believed that a use of a potion is force, Mr. Bowden, as you well know. Potions usually bring about death. Death makes me sad.”

“That’s because you’re a banshee; death always makes you sad.” Alex gave her a significant look and unbuttoned his vest and tossed it onto the floor. He pulled off his shirt as he entered into his walk-in closet to change into his bedclothes. He emerged and ran a hand through his dark brown hair in irritation. This new slave was getting to be more of a problem.

“What do we do about her now?” Katie asked, picking up his discarded vest and draping it over her forearm.

“We’ll have to administer a forgetfulness draught, of course. Otherwise she’ll hate me when she wakes up.”

“I’d hate you too,” Katie admitted, shaking her head as she retrieved the rest of his ensemble from the closet floor.

“Thanks, really. Just leave her here. I’ll send for another slave to take her down when I’ve completed the process.” Alex waved Katie off in a distracted manner, already bustling about getting the right vials and herbs for the next concoction.

“Are you sure? What if she wakes up before you’ve even finished making it?”

“What’s she going to do- attack me? I’ve bested her once, I can do it again.” Alex boasted smugly.

“Well, I just thought that the scratch on your cheek was the evidence it was not so.” Katie nodded wisely as she stepped out of the room. “And don’t forget to fix the balcony windows. Stone gets chilly in the dead of night.”

Alex waved a hand and the stone melted into windows once more; he hadn‘t even remembered turning them into stone. He sighed, shot a look at the limp girl on his bed, and started to work. It would take at least an hour and a half to get the potion just right for someone so strong-willed.

He worked hard, constantly adding various seasonings, herbs, and liquids to get the desired result. It was crucial to make it just right, otherwise, the Illumination Enhancer was created, making the drinker glow a nice bright gold for two weeks; the worst part was: there was no antidote so far.

“Why can’t I move?” Came the aggravated voice from behind him after only an hour. Alexander jumped, almost spilling pure acid everywhere.

“You’re awake so soon? That’s highly unusual. Tell me your races.” Alex tried again, hoping it would work.

“El- why won’t my arms move?” Adella demanded again. Alex smiled slightly, his back still turned to her. The obedience potion was still affecting her, as it would for two days, but she had almost mastered it. He’d have to add more Powdered Dragon Claw next time to make it work completely. Too bad he couldn’t use it right away; that would have been better. Now he’d have to wait for a month, otherwise the potion could become toxic in her body and she’d die, making the whole process absolutely pointless.

“I’ve immobilized you so you wouldn’t do anything stupid while I’m not paying full attention to you. You cost me a scratch on my face, and I think you’ve bruised my ribs with your feet.” Alex rubbed his left side absentmindedly.

“You tried to force things out of me. I had to do what I thought was right.” Adella replied, attempting in vain to lift her arms.

“Hitting is considered right by you? Where were you raised?”

“Hill Valley.” Adella replied before angrily snapping her mouth shut. She’d meant to keep quiet, but the potion was quite powerful.

“Well, there aren’t too many hybrid elves from Hill Valley, are there? That should be easy to discover your parentage. You know you could save me the trouble by telling me.” Alex turned around and sat next to her on the bed.

“No.”

“Fine. I’ll find out either by discovery or force. In another month I’ll make this again and then you’ll tell me.”

“I’ll resist.” Adella countered firmly.

“Yes, but it will be futile. I shall triumph.” Alex peered down at the angered slave and scoffed. For someone seemingly so weak, she sure put up a good fight.

“Mr. Bowden,” a timid female voice ventured from the doorway, “Mr. Bowden, may I enter?”

“Ilaria, what is it?” Alex looked up at the thin-figured blonde peering around his door. She stepped into the room, revealing the cause of her distress. Close behind her was Mr. Jameson, gripping the poor slave by the end of her fine, green-tinted translucent wings. She looked to be in great pain, but Clarence Jameson paid no heed.

“I’m s-s-sorry, Mr. Bowden, he caught me before I could escape.” Ilaria cast her bright sliver eyes to the ground in shame. Adella knew right away she was fairy, not only by her appearance, but by the fact that only fairies could be caught by just a small grip on their wings.

“What is the meaning of this?” Alexander demanded furiously, stalking over to the door. He forcefully wrenched Mr. Jameson’s hands off the slave and stared down the man.

“I got a summons from Lord Wilshire just this evening. He says he’s found a creature similar to the one we’re searching for. He’s willing to hand him over, but at a fine price. He wants a thousand.”

“A thousand?!” Alex spat in disbelief. He ran his fingers through his hair and ushered Clarence Jameson inside. Ilaria was already sitting on the bed next to Adella, peering over her in exploration. Clarence followed inside and took a double-take at the scene.

“She’s been in your house one day and already…?” Clarence shook his head.

“I gave her an obedience potion to tell me her race.”

“Mm-hmm.” Clarence nodded, a slight grin on his face.

“Unfortunately, she countered it. I’m now making a F.D. so she’ll breathe easy. I’ll have to give some to Ilaria too, so this conversation will be forgotten.” Alex went on as though Clarence hadn’t even made a noise.

“Well, that’s foresight for you I suppose, Alex.” Clarence nodded his agreement.

“What did Wilshire have?” Alex asked pointedly.

“Oh, right, right. He’s got a shape-shifter. A turnskin! A lycanthrope!” Clarence exclaimed with eager enthusiasm that looked quite misplaced on his chiseled, serious face. Alex didn’t seem to be getting it.

“A-what?”

“Werewolf, you fool! He’s caught one!” Clarence clapped Alex on the shoulder and smiled. “Can you believe it? Although I personally feel that a thousand is quite high for-”

“No! You-you can’t! Leave the werewolf alone!” Ilaria cried, forgetting her inspection of Adella.

“What do you know of the turnskin?” Clarence demanded, stalking over to the fairy and grabbing her by her right wing. She cried out in pain and shook her head.

“Nothing, Sir. Please, just don’t hurt him!” She begged with tears in her eyes.

“Why not?”

“We won’t hurt it.” Alex interjected. “We just want to study him.”

“Like you study the rest of us?” Ilaria’s fine eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Of course. You were never hurt, were you, my dear?” Alex asked in a soothing voice. Adella glared at him; he was giving the fairy a false sense of security, and Adella couldn’t stop it.

“How much do we give him, Alex?” Clarence queried, relinquishing his iron-grip on Ilaria.

“No more than five.”

“He’s asking for twice.” Clarence pointed out.

“I heard you the first two times. I can haggle. If you ask for five, he’ll know you talked to me, so he’ll agree. Go do it and bring the creature to me tomorrow morning. Let me get some sleep tonight, okay?” Alex all but shoved Clarence out the door.

“Small chance of that happening.” Clarence muttered just loud enough for the whole room to hear. Alex called brusquely for Katie to “show this unwanted ruffian to the door.”

“He didn’t really hurt you, did he?” Ilaria asked, stroking the sides of Adella’s head. Her touch was calming, making Adella’s head swim with fatigue and reassurance.

“No pain. He invoked the… obedience, though.”

“I had that done, too. I was honest, so he hasn’t done it again.” Ilaria smiled. Her fine face looked odd upside down from Adella. “I think he’s done it with all of us slaves, except for Katie, but she’s a great exception.”

“Why?”

“Because Katie isn’t a slave.” Alex announced as he stalked back into the room, letting the door slam behind him. “Katie has been with our family for generations. She is sort of what you’d call the Bowden Family Banshee.”

“Death-caller.” Ilaria muttered, making some sign in front of her; it was most likely part of her religion to ward off the presence of evil, but Adella couldn’t be certain.

“She’s earned respect, Ilaria.” Alex’s voice was cool, but the strong current of a warning was quite obvious. Ilaria bowed low as a sign of submission.

“Please let me up.” Adella whispered as Ilaria’s head was inches above her own.

“Why can the hybrid not move?” Ilaria questioned after a moment, as though the thought were her own.

“She can damage me.” Alex replied. The normal pride that emanated itself in his voice seemed quite wounded. Adella took a small pleasure in knowing that was her doing of knocking Alex off his high-horse.

“Please, can’t we let her use at least her arms?” Ilaria stroked Adella’s head. Her long blonde locks that cascaded over her shoulder were tickling Adella’s nose and she was dying to scratch.

“Very well.” Alex waved his hand again, and Adella immediately relieved her nasal discomfort. Alex kept a wary eye on her for a moment before he seemed to realize that his worries were ill-bred; what could a hybrid do without the use of its legs?

“Thank you kindly, master.” Adella said, sitting up.

“No, please, you must lay-” Ilaria started before Adella felt incredibly dizzy and fell back onto the bed.

“What the-?” Both Adella and Alex demanded.

“You’re part elf, are you not?” Ilaria smiled down, still stroking Adella’s hair.

“Yes.”

“Well, you’re genetics automatically create a repellant to obedience potions. You’ll feel dizzy for a while, possible nausea, fatigue, cramping, and/or bloating.” Ilaria explained, sounding much too formal.

“I wasn’t aware of that.” Alex muttered, moving to stand over Adella.

“Thanks, so now I-” Adella managed before she leaned over the side of the bed and retched, narrowly missing Alex. “Look at what you made me do!” She exclaimed when she was finished.

“Oh, you had carrots?” Ilaria smiled and stroked the side of Adella’s now even more pale cheeks.

“Please, Ilaria, don’t.” Alex held up a hand at her with his eyes closed. “Go get Awdin to clean this up.”

“Yes, Sir!” Ilaria cried happily and pranced out of the room.

“Nothing bothers her, does it?” Adella pointed out, swallowing with great difficulty.

“Not really. You might have warned me.” Alex marched around and sat down on the other side of the bed.

“I didn’t even know I would have had those symptoms. This never would have happened if you hadn’t given me that crap.” Adella stated shamelessly.

“If you’d just tell me your races-”

“Get lost!” Adella became quite irritable suddenly and realized the cause. “Forgive me, Mr. Bowden. It’s just… I need sleep. I get disrespectful and irritated when I’m… tired.”

“Here,” he pulled her up farther onto his bed so her head was resting comfortably on a pillow. He pulled the blanket down and back up to cover her. “Rest here until I administer the drought. Then I’ll have someone take you back. You know you’re really the most difficult slave I’ve ever owned.”

His words fell upon deaf ears, however, for Adella was already asleep. Alex shook his head and half-smiled. What had he gotten himself into now?

“Well, Mr. Bowden, you sure have dug your grave pretty deep thus far.” Katie nodded, reentering the room. She was running a silver comb through her long blonde hair, one of her nightly rituals.

“You’re one to talk about grave-digging.” Alex sneered, not at all in the mood for Katie’s rebukes. Katie sniffed, faltering only for a moment in combing her locks.

“One day, you’ll discover me crying, and then you’ll be upset.” Katie narrowed her eyes before exiting the room.

“That news could be taken either way.” Alex yelled out as the door shut. He sighed, and for the first time in three years, thought about his father.

A/N:

Thanks to Alyssa Pires, Cherise, Sophieslogic, Lady Ashes, CareBearErin, and girlx-unpredictable for their reviews! You’ve made me so happy! You each get candy!

To answer questions:

All magical creatures are supposed to be enslaved: Not exactly. There are different levels of “sophistication” for magical creatures. Regular, every-day humans are still considered “top of the chain” although they are weaker. Some races are considered lower than others. Many magical creatures are, in fact, enslaved, but they have their own orders. Example: there can be royal families and kingdoms. They can be taken over in battle, and, as custom, enslaved. It’s all a matter of poverty and power.

Wizards are something different altogether. It’s more of a secret art. Mr. Bowden wouldn’t exactly flaunt that he does more than mere “dabbling” in wizardry. This is because he’s human, and it’s thought that magic isn’t needed for humans.

I hope those answers help you understand the story better. I’ll put it into my story later on, probably when a certain person comes around that nobody likes. You’ll see what I mean.

Please continue reading and reviewing! Thanks!