Days passed as my body slowly began to recover. With the ravaged skin on my back, I could find no comfortable position in which to rest. When I could find sleep, my dreams remained focused on Mary and the further punishments to come, leaving me not only emotionally drained but physically exhausted. Force fed on the same disgusting rations Hattie had given me, I began to consume less and less.
   
But Hattie didn't return. Neither did Dreda. Instead, I was tended too in a perfunctory manner by a string of humans I barely knew. None seemed interested in interacting with me any more than I was with them. After all, I was one truly tainted and lost to our Master. Showings of sympathy were unwise.

    I took advantage of their indifference and lack of engagement, motivating myself to sit up more every day when they left me. I stretched my arms and legs and even force myself to stand, working to bring back my strength while I was still allowed a period of rest, keeping my recovery hidden in hopes I might be granted more time.

Roughly five days after my punishment I was awoken roughly to the sight of sibla overseers in place of my human brethren.

    "You have been here long enough," one of them said, eyeing me critically as I wiped the sleep from my eyes, trying to process their grey forms looming. Sibla women from the nursery if memory served. Their faces vaugley familiar from my time working under Dreda when Mary was an infant.

    "The human care you have received has been far too lenient."

    I didn't protest as the women roughly forced me to sit up, legs dangling from the side of the bed.

    "Drink this," one said, thrusting a glass into my hand. "We have report that you have not been eating properly and have begun to waste. That is not acceptable. Your Master has mercifully chosen to keep you in life and you must repay his benevolence."

    I didn't answer. There was no "mercy" in Dulane's actions but arguing would do no good. What Cedrick wanted, he would have. That was clear enough.

    The brownish concoction they'd offered was disgusting, far worse than the stew the humans had brought. I recognized it as the same mix sibla pressed upon those being fattened for slaughter, laced with calories and protein to put weight on animals as quickly as possible.

    The consistency and flavor in my mouth were so repulsive to my weakened stomach that I barely managed to force it down my throat. When I vomited half of the mixture in spite of my best efforts, I was forced to drink more. Eagar to escape this regiment of forced feeding I vowed to eat whatever true food I might next be offered.

    As two young humans they'd brought cleaned up my mess, the sibla ordered me to stand and strip so they could examine me. Neither showed any sympathy to the grimaces of pain plastered across my face with every movement. I was only glad that I had been working at my own recovery. I wasn't certain how else my legs might have supported me. As it was they felt like jelly beneath the weight of my full body, weakened by lack of use.

    "You've healed well enough," of the women commented judgmentally as they removed my bandages none too gently and assessed the wounds, "Mr. Dulane has ordered you return to work."

    My body had a strange weightless feeling as I walked to the shower at their insistence, obeying commands to wash myself thoroughly. The water stung horribly as it rained down but when I hesitated to submerge the worst of my injuries, I was pushed forward, the water pressure increased enough to draw tears of agony from my eyes. It was the last of my attempts at resistance. I scrubbed at my body thoroughly lest they feel the need to provide further "aide."

    The overseers helped me to dress, covering the worst of my wounds in sterile bandages before roughly forcing a dress over my shoulders. The fabric was too tight against my bruised and broken skin but I knew they would not hear my complaints.

    "You will go straight to your Master's office," I was told. "He will meet you there. Any deviation will result in further consequences."

    They needn't have added the threat. As I shuffled forward, a ball of misery and pain, my mind was entirely blank. No longer mourning nor truly experiencing the horrors inflicted upon me, I was all too eager to have instructions to follow so I might direct my husk of a body. Further punishment was not frightening. Mary dead, my body and spirit broken, there was no further to fall. And yet a vain hope reminded. Do as you are told and things will not get any worse. Become the automaton they wish and perhaps he will release you to death.

    I ignored the stares I encountered as soon as I left the infirmary barracks. Surely everyone now knew of my story, even if they themselves had not been present at the flogging. A human with more status than any other on the estate. A human that had birthed the favorite creature among Dulane's stock. A human who had lost everything in lashing out against her caring Master and deserved all that she had received and more.

    As I climbed the steps to his office, I wondered what I might face next. Incredibly, my heartbeat quickened as I knocked on his door, somehow awakening enough to warn me of impending danger. It didn't matter. I was destined to suffer and knew that now. It had always been my true fate. From the moment I thought to wish for anything more than my portion, I was doomed.

    "Come in." The deep voice still had the power to send shivers along every inch of me. The voice that had condemned my daughter with little thought and announced her death to me just as callously.

    Dulane was seated at his desk but with his sibla hieght, he still struck an imposing figure. As his gaze rained down upon me I lowered my own. I knew I could not stand to look on the face of the murder who had taken everything from me without breaking down.

    "I am glad to see you risen so soon, Alice," he said.

    Meaningless words. I'd had no choice.

    "Truly Mariana produced the most hearty stock. I only wish her line had proven as obedient as she herself once was."

    Even this was not enough to draw anger from my exhaustion. My mother was long dead, Mary was gone, Dreda had little life left within her and no ability to help me now. I was entirely alone. Entirely at the mercy of one who had none to offer. His gloating was superfluous. He'd already won completely.

    "You are to be my new personal handmaiden, Alice" Dulane continued, his eyes focused intently on my form as he stood and came to stand in front of me, taking in my state in judgment. "I was foolish to believe Mr. Everret might have reformed you so many years ago. From now on you will answer directly to me."

    As I dared raise my eyes to look up at him, I felt myself filling with pure hatred. Why could he not simply let me die! Almost immediately I felt the sting of his hand across my face.

    "I will tolerate none of this sullenness, slave," he admonished. You will smile and serve me faithfully and if you do so I will consider releasing you to death. Cross me again and I will ensure you will be forced to work until your body gives out."

    I wasn't certain I cared, but he must have known personal threats would not be enough.

    "It is not only you who will suffer for your insolence, Alice," he continued. "That girl you saved might look forward to a life as a caged breeder. The tired old hag, Dreda? I'm certain a grey skin like that is far from beloved, but she has taken good care of you nonetheless. She would make a lovely leather coat for my wife. Would you like to watch her flayed alive in reward for her services? It could be arraigned."

    I blanched in horror. I knew the threats were not idle and that he would have seen the reaction I couldn't hide, knowing that he had struck directly at my greatest fears.

    "Hear me now, Alice, I will break you entirely before you leave this world. No human will ever again raise a hand to me again, do you understand? You will serve as example for what will happen to any who attempt to do so. All those around you will suffer should I suspect you are attempting to step out of line."

    There was no other response to give. I lowered my head.
    "Yes, Master" I answered, hiding my anger in despair. Perhaps if I obeyed he truly would make good on his promise of death.

    I saw a smile of satisfaction appear on his lips at my response.

    "You failed to cook for me my desired dish before your punishment," he said. "Tonight you will prepare me a meal of fresh veal. There is an animal carcass awaiting butchering in the kitchen. I hope you now fully understand the consequences of disobedience?"

    I nodded again though it was all I could do to keep the bile in my throat. I swallowed hard. The worst had already come to pass. Mary was dead. Nothing could hurt me more than he had already. I would carry on only to protect the only family I had left. Dreda and Lina would not suffer on my account.

    "When you are finished you will return here and serve me personally. I have a guest coming tonight. An important man and I expect you will not embarrass me."

    "Yes, Master." I determined these would be the only words to leave my lips ever again in his presence. Let him believe me broken. Let him trust I had fallen to his will. Whatever it would take to escape this horror.

    "You are doing better already," he said with a smug grin. "Perhaps I will not allow Everett to take you to his bed again."

    I felt my body freeze, a cold chill taking me. He knew. He'd always known. For so many years I'd allowed myself to believe he never understood the level of horror his overseers inflicted upon us. That he simply looked the other way. I'd been a fool.

    "It is a shame your child did not live to reach maturity," he continued. "I suspect she would have been just as beautiful as her namesake and I very much would have enjoyed that."

    Rage filled me like never before. I could not believe I had missed it. Everett was only a symptom of my Master's own depravity and cruelty. Dreda had told me of her suspicious of my mother's abuse at Dulane's hand but I'd never wanted to accept it. Had he used Mariana as Everett had used me?

    "It saddened me when Mariana's beauty faded so after she birthed you. I'd hoped to keep her longer, but staring at the whithered husk she became was far from pleasing. Mary would have been the perfect replacement. My son admired her as well I know." He sighed. "But what's done is done. She was already tainted by your rebellious spirit and I should have seen that from the start. When you give me your next child I will ensure you never lay hands upon her and that she is hand reared to be the perfect human companion."

    I clenched my fists so tightly I felt my fingernails embedding themselves in my palms but I would not give him the satisfaction of response. I could only hope he that he would grow weary of torturing me long before I might be forced to bear more offspring. Still, Dreda's words of caution rang in my head " those who are out of favor might still prove useful. They might still reproduce."

    Eagar to be free of his presence I pushed the thought away. There was work to be done.