Free



---This chapter is somewhat like an introduction. Nick and AJ will not be brought in until Chapter 2, however, reading this chapter is integral to the plot of the story. Thanks!---


The year was 1798. And the place was New Orleans, Louisiana. There was a small plantation. The smallest one in the area. A young slave by the name of Gray sat under a tree on a hill watching the harvest celebration below her. It was one of the few days the slaves got a break from working the fields. And even though there was plenty of food to eat and music to dance to, she preferred to sit under the willow tree, in the cool breeze, and watch as the others had fun.

She paid special attention to the young master, Jean. He was tall and handsome. His hair was sun streaked blonde, and his eyes were the most beautiful shade of ocean blue. He always smiled at her, even though his father didn’t like him doing so. Gray knew her mother didn’t approve of her feelings for Jean. He was their master, and he was white. And Gray knew she would never be with him the way she wanted to, but there was no harm in dreaming. She also knew of the cruel ways that many slave owners throughout the south treated slaves. But Jean was different. He made sure that she always worked in the house or in the kitchen--- never in the fields. And he never looked down at her.

He was born just 3 months before Gray. And since Gray’s mother served as Jean’s nurse, they practically grew up together. They shared secrets and played when the adults weren’t looking.

Gray looked at him and thought back to when he first kissed her, just 3 years before. She remembered him saying that no white woman would ever mean as much as Gray meant to him. And she believed it.

The night sky grew darker and the celebrations came to an end. The slaves were advised to go back to their cabins and prepare for a full day of work the next day. Gray got up from her spot under the tree and started toward her cabin. Jean stopped her and she spun around.

“Where were you earlier? I was hoping to see you dance.” He whispered. Gray’s fair brown skin turned a little red and she lowered her head.

“I was just tired, that’s all. Didn’t feel like dancin’.” Jean looked around, and then smiled at her again. He motioned for them to go into the cabin, but Gray resisted.

“I can’t... Mama’s in there.” Jean shook his head.

“No my love, she is with my mother. You know that she has been sick, and your mother will be in the house for quite a while at her side.” Gray smiled and allowed Jean to come in.

Once they were inside the dark room, Jean closed the door and lit a lantern. He immediately leaned in to kiss Gray. He led her to her bed, which was a very thin mattress, which stuffed with soft hay, on a wooden platform. He laid her back on the pillow and then rested beside her.

“Relax, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, Gray.” With that, he kissed her again and moved on top of her body. Repeating into her ear that he would never hurt her.

~*~*~*~*~*~


The morning came and Gray woke up next to Jean, who was still sleeping. She nudged him and his eyes fluttered open. Not knowing what time it was, he scrambled to his feet and dressed himself. Gray giggled at him and poured water for him to wash his face and hands.

“Jesus! I should not have slept here! Your mother has undoubtedly seen me! And I’m sure my mother and father will hear of this. God, what have we done?” Jean continued to put his clothes on. Then he took the wet cloth Gray gave him and washed his face.

“You should be goin’, Jean. Or else every slave on this plantation will know your business.” Jean thanked Gray with a nod and started out of the door. Then he remembered the night before, and kissed her gently on the cheek.

As he made his way up to his own house, he spotted Gray’s mother, Anna, sweeping the front porch. She cut her eyes at him and he knew she wanted to speak with him.

“You know you have rule over me. And I know it too. But I wiped your backside when you were a baby, I cared for you when you were sick, and I just about raised you into what you are now. So take heed to what I say. My Gray, she’s young. And she ain’t got eyes for nobody but you. All these games ya’ll playing ain’t gonna come to nothin’. I think it’d be wise if you just leave her alone before somebody gets hurt.” Anna wanted to go on, but Jean’s mother came out on the porch with her cane in her hand.

“What are you two talking about Anna? And Jean, where were you all last night?” She turned slightly to her right and saw Gray was walking toward the back of the house. Jean grinned and proceeded to go into the house. Avoiding his mother’s question.

Both Anna and Elizabeth looked at each other and shook their heads. Elizabeth put her handkerchief to her mouth and coughed. Then she leaned back into her big chair and sighed.

“I’m dying Anna. All I want is for my son to marry and move on with his life. But he’s so taken by your Gray that I doubt he’ll ever settle down with a decent Creole woman. And God forbid my husband finds out. They’ve got to stop all this foolishness!” Anna just nodded and continued sweeping. Elizabeth coughed again, and then closed her eyes to rest.

~*~*~*~*~*~


Spring was just arriving. And Gray was changing the linen of Jean’s bed when he came into his room and shut the door. She pretended not to see him and kept putting fresh white sheets on the mattress, which was overly stuffed with cotton and down feathers.

“Gray, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Gray turned around to listen. “My mother is dying Gray. And she just spoke with me. And she asked me to do something that might upset you. I’m just going to come out and say it. She wants me to marry Catherine Armand.” Gray choked at the sound of her name. His new fiancé. She held back her tears and smiled, even though her eyes burned with anger.

“I guess I— I should be happy for you.” Gray could hold back no longer and a single tear fell down her cheek. Then she felt her stomach.

“I’ve been wantin’ to talk to you too.” Gray moved closer to him and moved her apron aside. He saw how Gray was slightly showing signs of a baby, and he placed his hand on her stomach.

“Gray, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” She shrugged her shoulders. Jean kissed her lips softly and began to unbutton her dress. Just as his hands reached her back, Marie, another house slave, opened his door.

She gasped at the sight of the two and stepped back. Gray quickly buttoned her dress and Jean got up to see to Marie.

“I am so very sorry, sir. But I was told to tell you that your Mama just passed.” Jean shut the door and banged his fist into the wall. Gray left the room almost silently, giving Jean time to himself.

~*~*~*~*~*~


All that could be heard from Anna’s cabin was screams. Jean was told by one of the other slaves that Gray was having trouble with the baby. He rushed to her and Anna advised him to stay back.

Hours passed, and Jean waited, pacing back and forth near the door of Anna’s cabin. Finally the screams stopped and Anna approached Jean. She sighed and shook her head. Jean listened for a baby’s cry, but heard silence.

“It was too early. That babe jus' wasn’t ready to be born. I’m sorry.” A young girl walked out to where they were holding the lifeless child in a blanket. His face was covered. Jean stopped the girl before she walked out and placed his hand on the child’s head.

Gray was still sobbing. Jean sat by her side and held her hand. Gray closed her eyes and pulled her hand away.

“You need to go, you’ve got a wedding tomorrow morning.” Jean lowered his head and got up from the bed. He was angered by her words. And he wanted to tell her so, but he kept it to himself. He didn't love Catherine! But he was obligated to marry her, it was his dying mother's last wish! He couldn't figure out why Gray didn't understand that.

As Jean left, Gray turned to her side and silently cried.

~*~*~*~*~*~


Gray sat under her tree and watched as the one man she loved placed a ring on Catherine Armand’s finger. Catherine was beautiful. Her skin was white as milk, and her lips as pink as coral. Her eyes were blue, just like Jean’s eyes. Her hair just as blonde as his too.

Gray looked down at herself, her hands rough and dry from washing clothes and bed lined day after day. Her brown skin, her dark lips, and her gray eyes were nothing compared to Catherine. She looked back down at the ceremony. And little slave girls were throwing flowers at Catherine and Jean’s feet. Everything was so beautiful. And Gray knew from that moment that Jean was forever out of her embrace.

Anna called for her daughter to help serve food. She tied her apron around her waist and put on her headdress to look presentable for the guests at the wedding. Jean stared at Gray for a long time, hoping to catch her eye, but she ignored him. However, one other man caught her eye. He was tall and thin. By the look of his clothing, he was very wealthy. His hair was longer than most Creoles and his eyes were gray, just like hers. Some of the women of the town crowded around him, asking his name and where he was from. But he was short with them, hardly speaking.

He looked at Gray and tipped his hat. She wanted to smile, but feared that she would get in trouble for being friendly with a white guest.

People left as the sky darkened. But the tall stranger lingered on. As Gray was clearing the tables, he managed to sneak away from the others and talk to her alone.

“You’re unhappy about something.” Gray didn’t have to say yes before he began talking again.

“It’s the young man that has you upset. His marriage perhaps?” Gray gasped. Even though she heard his voice, his lips did not move.

“I can take the pain away, Gray. I can make you forget how much he hurt you. I can make you happy. I can make your skin softer than Catherine’s. I can make your lips more luscious than hers. I can make your eyes more piercing than they are now. I can make you irresistible to all men. I can make you beautiful. I can free the angel within you.” His voice rang in her head, yet his lips did not move still. She closed her eyes and felt his arms around her. His lips on her neck. His cold breath on her skin. When she opened them, he was nowhere near her.

“How did you...” Gray started to ask, but in one sudden moment, he was standing behind her.

“Shhh, no questions. Just trust me. Trust me. Trust me...” There was a sharp pain in Gray’s neck. Then she felt faint. She wanted to scream, but she had no energy. Just before her eyes closed again, she looked at the portrait of Jean on the wall. Then there was darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~


Gray opened her eyes and found herself in the city area of New Orleans. Somewhere she had only been once before when she was 10 years of age. She got up from the sofa she was lying on and examined the room. She was drawn to the balcony and looked over at the people below. Her hair blew with the wind, and it was only then that she noticed that her hair was not bound within the headdress she wore for Jean’s wedding. Instead it was out, hanging down her back, though still in the tiny braids her mother bid her keep it in.

“It’s quite evident that you were the child of an aristocrat.” A voice said from behind. Gray turned and saw the man who had spoken to her before. The man who obviously brought her there.

“What do you mean?” Gray asked him.

“Look at you. You’re not as dark as the others. Your hair is long and soft as silk. You have the blood of a Creole.” He explained. He was right. Gray had once overheard her mother talking to another house slave and found out the truth. Anne first belonged to another master who slept with her quite often, and when she became pregnant, he quickly sold her to keep the scandal away from his wife's knowledge. Anna was sold to Jean’s father shortly after she conceived Gray. She was needed to assist Elizabeth during her pregnancy... and thus the story goes on.

“Where am I?” She then asked. The man turned her head back toward the city.

“Where you are does not matter. What you are is what you need to know. You’re not the same, Gray. Don’t you feel different?” She did feel different. She felt good. Too good. Better than she’d ever felt. But she also felt hungry.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be feeding soon enough.” He whispered into her ear. She turned quickly when he said that, Shocked by his choice of words. But she said nothing. A young man, about here age (which was 17) entered the room. He carried with him hot food on a platter and wine. Oddly enough, as good as the food smelled, Gray did not want it. She wanted him. She needed him. She walked over to him and smiled. The man backed into a corner and sat down, watching Gray closely.

“Go on, my darling.” He said to her, though only she could hear it. He was speaking directly to her mind again. She went with her instincts and wrapped her arms around the boy. Bringing him close to her body. The boy, clueless as to why she was so attracted to him, went with the flow and kissed her uncontrollably. His kisses led to her neck, which meant he had to tilt his, which gave her more than enough access to his neck.

She could almost hear his heart beating. Pumping the warm blood through his veins. She felt a slight pain in her gums, and then felt a stretch. Upon feeling around in her own mouth with her tongue, she figured out what she had to do.

“AHH!” The boy screamed as she consumed the life from his body. As he fell to the floor, she turned to the man in the corner and looked at him. Wiping her mouth and stepping away from the corpse at her feet. She was too satisfied to question her recent actions. She just went over to the man, Arius (his name she would learn later), and knelt by his feet. He stroked her long braided hair and spoke these words… words she would never forget:

“You are free…”



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