My name is Katrina. I was washing dishes; my hands were soaked to the bone. I'd been on my feet for five hours at this point. I was wearing a simple apron over a long, simple, grey dress. The apron was cloth, and so I was soaked to the bone with dirty dishwater. This was my twelfth straight day working, because I was a slave.
I was ecstatically happy. The grime over my body and the wrinkles in my hands filled me with joy. I was pleased by my aching feet. Exhaustion washed over me like the sun coming out. I love being a slave.
I wasn't the only slave in the kitchen. There was a woman peeling the potatoes, another cutting vegetables, and a third to take out the food. The chef was not a slave. He ordered us about, though usually I wasn't spoken to or noticed. This was fair. This was part of the deal.
A short brunette woman walked in -- the Master's daughter, Amelia. She wore her morning wrapper -- a light purple gown with big brown buttons, a light brown sash that combined at the front, and a purple belt tied around everything. The gown ended in feather-like brown cloth. Amelia herself had a very round face and very round, slightly upturned nose. I thought she was beautiful -- a soft face. Though she always seemed to have a hard expression. She had one right then.
"Hello, slaves," she said with a sneer. It was very unusual to see her back here. I had never even heard her talk.
"Mistress Amelia," said the chef, smiling. "It's an honour to--"
"Shut it," snapped Amelia. "Why don't the slaves talk?"
"They are commanded not to speak, my lady."
"Well, I command them to speak."
"What would you have them speak, my lady?"
"I command you not to speak." She huffed and walked over to me. "You. Redhead. Stop washing dishes." I obeyed. I was delighted. I love taking orders. "Turn around." I turned around, staring forward. She looked at me suspiciously. "Do you like being a slave?"