Every year, Alice and I got two slaves to take care of at the Volturi slave auction. This year, though, it seemed special for some reason. When we walked in, we saw two adorable blondes, tied back to back, one crying the other looking around frantically. Both had matted hair, and both were unbelievably skinny. When we walked over, the one that wasn't crying looked up. "Hi."
"Awww. Hi."
Aro came over then. "Ahh, these two." he frowned then, and kicked the one that was crying. "Shut up!" The little blonde squeeked in pain and whimpered, curling up into a little ball. "Anyway, these two....one has psycological issues, the other medical issues, so, i'll give them to you for 1500."
I payed him and picked the crying one up. "Thank you-"
"would you like me to clean them up for you?"
I'd tried that once, thinking it would make my job easier. It made it that much harder.
"No, that's alright, Aro. Thank you." I carried the crying one carefully, while Alice carried the other. Alice sat in the back seat with the other blonde, but when I tried
to put mine in the back seat, he clung to me, sobbing still. "Shhhhhh...You're
alright." He still sobbed and shook. "Baby, baby. It's okay." He started to calm a bit,
and I sat him in the car seat. I got into the drivers seat and started to the airport.
I was slightly disturbed....Never before had I had a slave so thin i could feel every
bone in his body. I wished I could end their suffering at this very moment, but I knew
it would be a long haul for both of them. when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw
the other gently touching certain points.
a gentle touch on his hand, a gentle stroke on his shoulder, a stroke down his arm, a gentle sweep across his belly... I'd have to remember that, because he stopped sobbing and shaking, and was just sniffing and shivering. The younger one covered him up with a light blanket, and he hunkered down in it, closing his eyes and burying his face. "What're your names?" I asked. "I'm Jasper" the younger one pointed out. I heard him whispering to the older one. "Can you tell them your name?" He didn't answer, just buried his face further. Jasper gently pat the older one's head. "He's Carlisle."
Alice turned around, smiling, and took Jasper's hand. "I'm Alice."
I looked at him in the rearview mirror, smiling hugely as Alice smiled at him. "I'm Esme."
We drove to the airport, and Jasper tried so hard to walk beside Alice, but he was too weak....in too much pain. "Jasper, why don't you let me carry you?" Alice offered, holding her arms out. Jasper nodded and was scooped up by Alice. I was still carrying Carlisle, but, in reality, I knew that both of them would tower over us. But, in fear and pain, they were reduced to...this.
we got on the plane, and sat them in the seat beside us so that we were on the ends and they were in the middle. People passing by stared, gawked, made faces...But neither of them seemed to mind...they were used to it. A stewardess came by, asking us if there
was anything we wanted. Jasper touched Carlisle's hand, and he turned to him. I touched Carlisle's hair, and he turned to me. "Is there anything you want, sweetie?" In response, he swallowed thirstily. "Jasper?"
"C....can I have water too?..."
"Of course you can, sweetheart." I touched his hand, then turned back to the
stewardess.
"Two waters, please." I wrapped my arm gently around Carlisle. He looked up at me, a bit unsure. "It's okay. I won't ever hurt you. You'll never be abused again. You're safe now." The stewardess came back with the waters, handed one to Jasper, and one to Carlisle. I opened Carlisle's and held it out to him. He took it, and drank almost the entire bottle. I screwed the cap on, and put the bottle in the cup holder on the back of the seat in front of us. I wrapped my arm around him again, and he warily lay his head on my shoulder.