CaseyJewels

Razi paced the stone floor one way and then the other. She kept her eyes peeled on the ground, though her attention stayed on the double doors, painted a dark brown. She could hear murmurs of voices, but the words would not reach her—only the ticking of the clock, the echoes of her worn green tennis shoes striking the ground, and the occasional shift of the woman sent to babysit her. Razi clenched and unclenched her hands, but they remained behind her back as if her arms were glued to her sides. She reached the end of the hall and turned back. The voices were growing louder, as if they were shouting at one another. Razi’s fingers curled into fists, and she trembled. Razor had offered to stay with her, but Razi knew better than to accept; the reptilian furry was needed in the courtroom. Everyone she knew was needed in the courtroom. Even her. But she couldn’t. The young teen glanced towards her babysitter, but the woman had stopped paying attention to her long ago. She was absorbed

“Siv, come.” The Captain’s command was all that needed for the slave to follow her master, leaving behind the uncertain murmurings of the ship’s crew and a tentative but silent Connor. Her steps felt hollow and the world around her swayed in opposition to the ocean’s waves, but still she moved forward, even as she bunched her sweaty palms into her simple dark dress. Connor had been punished and would be punished further. Now, it was her turn. After all, she had been the one kidnapped. No, not kidnapped. The metal collar around her neck felt heavier than usual. Stolen. She had been the one stolen. Then they were before the captain’s cabin, and there was no more time to try and calm herself—if that was what she had been doing before. Luther strode inside and she stumbled after, her usual grace gone. Luther turned back, his eyes cold, and she flinched as he reached past her, but he only closed the door. Then he turned away from her and walked forward a few steps. Siv simply stood