Chapter 8: The Slave House
THERE was a small port town at the border of the Northern Empire and Eastern Territory. Unlike other days, it was bustling at the moment with commotion! They found a collapsed vampire on the coast. In this icy weather. In gaudy cloth.
How could a vampire reach the port? This is not the Southern Republic!
Vampires are notorious as blood-sucking monsters. They are utterly white and have perfectly pale skin and bright ruby lips with sharp fangs. They are sensitive to the sun and show up only during the night. The vampires also have natural strawberry blonde hair that almost looks like red. And a pair of tempting dark eyes.
The folks at the port town believed that the vampire was half-dead. There were only two logical reasons for the vampire's surviving condition; the clouds now covered the sun, and it was snowing hard.
Others were afraid to watch or be closed to the vampire. Who knows if the vampire would wake up and suck out their blood until the very last drops. Thus, they just left the vampire in that same spot while crowding up the coastline.
"The vampire is still alive!"
Eventually, some men from the nearest slave house took the vampire away.
___
YUKI woke up. After hours of unconsciousness. In another unfamiliar place. Again.
"Where is this place?" She raised. She had a hoarse voice. Maybe because her vocal cords swell.
Her throat was sore because of the coldness she felt. And her head was still buzzing.
Yuki recalled what happened to her from the incident back at the Maruyama Manor. She fell into the lake. Then, she woke up at the coast of bloody-red seawater. And now she was in an underground room. Locked in a cage that seemed like a Slaves-cabin! Her legs were both shackled with heavy chains and her moves were limited.
But this time Yuki was not on her own. There were dozens of small children locked in the cage together with her.
"What on earth?"
Yuki gasped! The panorama that lay before the eyes caught her by surprise. Some children were staring at her, open-mouthed, snotty-nosed, tears coursing down their faces, leaving tracks on their dirty cheeks. While others were pretending to sleep.
The air in that very small space was filled with all kinds of foul scents. Vomits, blood, and more. Yuki covered her nose with the end of her cardigan sleeve, as the smell was really intolerable.
Living in this place, days would pass by almost unnoticed. There were no such things as holes-in-the-wall. No source of light could enter that underground cage. And the scene only got worse, surrounded by inky darkness.
The cage was unbelievably cramped, and it smelt stale and stuffy. The poor children slept on this rough and cold surface of the floor without a piece of blanket. Instead, they were hugging each other to keep warm.
Most of the children confined in the cage had red or strawberry blonde hair. But only one child had black hair. It was so black, like a raven.
The black-haired child was lying on the floor, helpless and alone. She was completely avoided by others.
With limited moves and her left energy, Yuki approached the young child.
It was a girl.
Yuki stared at that little girl in disbelief. She was bemused, completely astonished by what she had witnessed. What she saw triggered her breath to be caught in her throat and her chest to tighten as she gasped in despair.
That girl was terribly injured! Her fragile back was full of beaten marks and covered with blood.
"Oh my God! HELP! This kid is hurt!" Yuki screamed for help. She was so worried!
Oh, poor little girl. These marks would leave deep scars!
"HELP!" Yuki screamed. Again and again.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, a horrid man with a long scar across his face appeared. "Who makes a fuss?!" angered him.
"Mister! This child is badly hurt! Do something!" urged Yuki while crying. Yuki hugged the child in her arms.
This little child must have been in tremendous pain. When Yuki faintly touched her injured back, the child's body was shaking so much like that of a frightened puppy.
"Listen here, lassie. This is your first day here. Let me tell you a rule. SHUT UP! Or no food for you!" said the man before leaving. He did not even care about the injured child!
Oh, God! How vivid were the sounds of children's screams and cries as the man shouted in anger? Things only got worse.
Yuki was speechless. How could he do this to these young children?
Yuki wanted to use her gifted power to heal that child. But in this dark room, the light of her power might draw unwanted attraction. And that could lead to another danger!
Yet, Yuki knew she could not let this poor child suffering in pain. Absolutely NO!
When the night falls, everybody fell to sleep. How could Yuki know it was night? Because the guard went there for a moment, forcing the children to sleep and not making any noises. Or else he threatened to beat them as he did to this injured girl in Yuki's arms.
Beforehand, Yuki also already made sure that there were no guards near the cage. Yuki thought the guards must have slept upstairs.
Then, Yuki let the wounded child slept on her lap. The little girl looked cold and tried her very best to endure the agonizing pain. Thus, Yuki caressed the injured child's head lovingly. Like a mother.
Yuki softened her voice, although it was still hurting. "You did a wonderful job enduring the pain, sweet girl."
While praying earnestly and silently, she put her right hand on the child's back and uttered some words in her heart.
'GOD. Please bless this unfortunate child. Let the pain disappear. And heal her completely.'
Suddenly, glimmering light appeared from her right hand. It was splendidly warm. The words worked like a charm. It was truly a miracle power. Yuki was truly GIFTED.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Mikazuki_Sora
Mikazuki_Sora Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. ;)
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone