Alicia was an attractive 38 year old, recently widowed mother of a 20 year old daughter and an 18 year old stepson living in the imperial capital. Her culture was a heavily male dominated one with female slavery still a thriving institution throughout the empire (male slavery had died out centuries earlier due to the risk of periodic revolts among a captive population of men and boys), but her husband had left her quite wealthy and a member of the upper echelon of society. Though she grieved the loss of her beloved husband, Thoric, greatly, she need not fear anything as he had left her quite wealthy and secure -- or so she thought!
Her relationship with her daughter, Salena, was warm and close but not so with her stepson, Dameon. He had always been resentful of her supplanting his mother a couple of years after her death when he had been but 10 years of age. Now his displeasure had only been increased upon learning that his father's estate had been left to Alicia to be divided between him and his stepsister (whom Alicia had brought to the marriage as a 12 year old) only should Alicia die. He had felt that, as the son and now man of the house, the inheritance should be entirely his and that he should not have to share it with two females (whom his society viewed as his inferiors despite their elevated status).
Alicia was surprised, then, when one of the household slave girls told her that her son was summoning his "dear mother and sister" to present themselves before him in the great hall. Despite their puzzlement and their dislike of the young man, both females understood the obedience required of them in minor household matters such as this as the sole living male in the family.
"Ah, dear mother and sister," Dameon purred from his position seated in what had been his father's favorite armchair, one in which he had always sat when receiving important imperial officials. "You answer your summons."
"Of course," Alicia replied with some irritation. "You are the head of the family now. It is our duty. What is it?"
"Oh, but can't a loving son and brother merely desire the company of his dear sibling and parent?"
"STEP sibling," Salena reminded him less tactfully. "And STEP parent! Now what is it, you annoying little troll! I have a place I must be soon."
"You may have to cancel that," her brother told her mysteriously. Then to Alicia he said, "I require something from you, mother. Unless I am mistaken, father originally acquired you as a slave. Is that not correct?"
"Yes," she replied becoming anxious. "It has never been a secret. He purchased me originally to look after you after his first wife died. Because he was a kind man, he also purchased my young daughter rather than split us up. Later, when he realized that he had fallen in love with me, he freed us both and married me. That has never been a secret."
"Of course," he went on. "And both you and Salena are named on your Certificate of Emancipation?"
"Y-yes," she answered becoming really afraid and praying to all the gods that he not now demand what she feared he might.
"Produce that document for me," he told her. "As a former slave you are required to do that whenever any male demands it of you."
"It is in storage," she lied in a desperate delaying ploy.
"Get it, mother," Dameon insisted. "The law permits no excuses."
"Oh for the sake of the gods!" Salena exclaimed in exasperation. "Just show him the thing so we can go about our business."
Alicia said nothing and instead hung her head, a tear beginning to roll down her cheek.
"You can't, can you?" her stepson persevered.
"Of course she can," Salena insisted. "We are as free as you."
"Are you, mother?" Dameon asked. "Are you free? Can you produce that certificate?"
Slowly, she shook her head in shame.
"Mother!" Salena said. "What are you saying?"
"What she is saying, dear sister," the boy gloated. "Is that there is no certificate. Isn't that correct, mother?"
"He treated us both as free females," she explained. "And always intended to get around to making it official but - but he just never got around to it. Since he treated us as free it just never seemed very urgent."
"And now he is dead," her evil stepson now positively crooning. "And the two of you are still slaves and since a slave, a piece of property herself, cannot herself own property, everything father owned is now mine. That includes the two of you. You are both MY slaves!"
"Never!" Salena declared defiantly. "I will never submit to your commands, slave though I may be!"
"Oh but you shall," he replied arrogantly. "You will submit to my commands and much more."
"NEVER!" She repeated. "Have me whipped, sell me. Do whatever you wish, you will never break me!"
