Master Ander took his newest slave to Dr. Harmon, having enjoyed the slave the previous day and night.
Ever since sex slavery was legalized in New California, Master had relied on his doctor to be discreet and professional. Even though Dr. Harmon hated the slavery laws, he agreed to Ander's appointments. Ander was the Governor's son and a powerful man who Dr. Harmon didn't want to anger. He also felt bad for the slaves and knew any other doctor Ander found to examine them would be humiliating at best, dangerous at worst.
Master knew to bring her into the exam room directly at the appointment time, ignoring the looks from the receptionist and nurses-looks of pity, contempt . . . longing? Their eyes, of course, also lingered on Master. His presence almost always took command in a room.
"Up, slave." Master tugged on Caline's leather leash, tugging against her neck until she begrudgingly sat on the exam table. He unclipped the leash and clipped it to his belt, leaving her only with her metal collar on.
Dr. Harmon didn't risk keeping Ander and his slaves waiting long. He knocked, then opened the door and walked into the exam room. As always, he looked Ander in the eyes, nodded, then turned his attention to the slave.
Dr. Harmon was taken aback. The slaves were, of course, always conventionally attractive-fit, clear skinned, usually long-haired, legally at least 18 but always youthful and fresh-faced, often with big eyes and full lips. This slave was no exception, but, Dr. Harmon quickly noticed, beautiful enough for him to take a quick intake of breath. Ander had outdone himself.
He blinked, annoyed that Ander had gotten a reaction-however subtle he'd tried to keep it-out of him. He was here for the patient. He smiled, but the slave was looking down at her lap, silky black hair falling in front of her face, and didn't probably didn't see him. He knew that she must be scared out of her mind and dreading every moment to come.
Feeling Ander's eyes on him, Dr. Harmon cautiously stepped forward and lifted the slave's chin with his finger. She looked up at him with frightened cornflower-blue eyes.
"What's her name?" Part of Dr. Harmon's rules were that there would be no documentation that he examined slaves. The new slave laws were still tied up with the Supreme Court, and he didn't want to end up on the wrong side of history on paper, financially and professionally ruined. With no medical record to access, he had to rely on Ander.
"Caline," Master answered.
"How old is she?"
"Eighteen, of course." The way Ander smirked as he answered made Dr. Harmon want to spit in his face.
"Let's put a gown on you." Master hated when Dr. Harmon addressed the slaves directly, but Dr. Harmon knew he could get away with it for now. He took a pale pink hospital gown from the cupboard and helped Caline into it. The paper gown was like a robe with no tie, and he positioned the opening in the front and stood between her and Ander, so that Ander couldn't see Dr. Harmon pull the gown tight and to her left over Caline's thin body, allowing her to pin it closed by holding her left arm tightly at her side. She seemed relieved to finally not be naked.
"Let's take your height and weight."
Master hovered at Dr. Harmon's elbow, always eager to see if the training facility's slave records were accurate, or exaggerated. If exaggerated, they would have hell to pay.
Dr. Harmon turned Caline to face him and backed her slightly until she was against the wall by the door. He noted her height as she finally raised her eyes to directly meet his. Ashamed, he quickly looked away. She looked so young, so scared.
Caline held her breath. The doctor was a little taller than Master, with thick dark hair and kind brown eyes. He had dark stubble and full lips. He touched her so gently. She hadn't been touched gently . . . forever? For as long as her memory now reached?
Dr. Harmon elbowed Master away, toward the chair he clearly wanted him to sit and stay in. "167 centimeters," Dr. Harmon said out loud, "Just shy of 5-foot-6."
Dr. Harmon gently nudged Caline's shoulder and urged her to step on a scale.
He clucked his tongue in disapproval and looked at Master when the number appeared. "She's underweight, Ander."
Master raised his eyebrows in mock innocence. "I just got her."
"You need to fix it," Dr. Harmon said, "before she gets sick."
Master said nothing, just moved his eyes to his slave and looked her up and down. Caline hated Master's eyes on her like that. He was beautiful too, she knew that. Someone she may have found attractive in a previous life. But he was the one who'd put this collar on her. The one who had made her bleed last night. In her head she thought of him as Dorian Gray, young and handsome on the outside, rotting and decaying behind closed doors.
Dr. Harmon gave Caline a light, reassuring squeeze at the top of her arm. "Sit back on the exam table," he told her. Ander's jaw tightened, and Dr. Harmon knew he was getting annoyed with him for talking directly to Caline. She was also not talking and avoiding both their eyes, which concerned him. She seemed suspiciously cowed for one of Ander's new slaves.
Dr. Harmon turned to Caline and sighed.
"I'm going to do a complete exam, head to toe," he said to no one in particular. "I'll try to make it quick and painless."
"Oh, take your time," Master drawled, his voice hard as steel. Caline flinched.
Dr. Harmon approached to stand directly in front of Caline, trying to position himself so that he blocked Ander, hopefully allowing her to relax a bit. He brushed back her hair and briefly examined her scalp.
"I don't take girls with fleas, for fuck's sake," Master muttered behind him.
Dr. Harmon nodded. "No lice, no fleas." He rubbed a lock of hair between his fingers. "Seems healthy and nourished, for now."
Caline closed her eyes and tried to find a space of peace. She liked Dr. Harmon's nearness. He reminded her of . . . who? Who was that man before? Before she hated all the men? He checked her eyes, her nasal passage, and checked her mouth and throat, much, she could tell, to Master's amusement. Dr. Harmon ran his gloved hands along the sides of her neck, and she felt the hairs at the back prickle.
"Did you feel any lumps in her breasts?" Dr. Harmon asked.
"Why don't you check?" Master asked, trying to hide a smile.
"Given her age," Dr. Harmon punctuated the words sharply, "the likelihood of a breast abnormality are low. Did you feel anything concerning?"