The Sire's House

The novel opens in the Carolinas, where the sire's house is located. Annis and Sasha are enslaved to the sire, their oppressor. They primarily work in the house. Although working inside does keep them from the toils of fieldwork, Annis and Sasha are more susceptible to the sire's advances, moods, and violence. Because Annis knows that the sire raped Sasha and that he is in fact her biological father, she does everything in her power to avoid him. When the sire starts cornering Annis, Annis remembers her mother's advice and flees.

While cleaning and working in the sire's house, Annis often spies on her half sisters' lessons with their tutor. She knows that she could get caught. However, she savors the literary lessons the girls learn. She takes this knowledge and cherishes it as her own.

After the sire sells Annis, the atmosphere at the house...