A Slave For Your Love

Chapter 1

I grimaced as she pulled the rope around my wrist tighter, frowning to herself. She tied another piece of the rough rope around my wrist, pulling it tight. Satisfied that I couldn't break free, she moved down the line of boys, making sure their bindings would hold against any struggle they might make. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on removing my current headache with no avail. Jacob, the only friend I had in the world, nudged his arm against mine.

"Bella, are you okay? You look really pale. It's alright, you don't have to be afraid; you've done this more than any of us."

I grimaced again and nodded, trying to ignore the crash of cymbols inside my head.

"I'm alright. I stayed up late comforting one of the new boys, he was scared about today."

"Why would he be scared?"

"Stories travel Jacob... Aren't you scared too?"

A low shudder rippled through his body, yet his voice stayed steady. I knew him too well to buy into it; I could tell it was forced.

"Whatever they do to me, I won't feel."

She moved away from the line, clearing her throat as her gaze swept over us, the gaze I'd seen many times before. To us, she didn't really have a name, we called her "Caretaker," since that's what she did, or was supposed to do anyway. A little boy next to Jacob was trembling uncontrollably as Caretaker brushed aside the curtain that hid us from the full impact of the sun's rays. I glanced at Jacob and he immediately moved aside so I could talk to the child.

"Shh, don't let her hear you, you know the rules."

We all did; we were not to show emotion in her presence and we were certainly not allowed to cry.

"I--I-- Do they reallly... t-touch you? Before I was taken, I heard stories-"

i shushed him, yet I couldn't respond; I couldn't force the lie out of my mouth. Instead, I pressed my forehead against his, our sign of affection in the slave houses. I heard Caretaker's cough and I returned to my spot, eyes downcast. She spoke sharply, hawk-like eyes watching all that we did.

"You will only address the buyer as "sir" or "miss". Do not disobey any of their orders and under no circumstance do you run away. Do I need to remind everyone what happened to Bella when she tried?"

Please no, I thought to myself, don't tell them that. A new boy piped up with his curiousity, wanting to know what all the new boys did; their fate if they ran.

"What happened to Bella?"

She laughed and crooked her finger at me, a malicious grin plastered to her face. I numbly obeyed, dragging my feet to where she stood. She lifted my dress to just above the middle of my thigh and revealed that which I hated most about myself. I heard an audible gasp from the boys who'd never seen it before, a long pink scar that ran from my hip to my ankle. What they didn't know was that I had more... just none they could see.

"This is not even all of it. If any of you run away, I will see that your punishment pales in comparrison to what hers was."

Jacob was glaring at the boy but I caught his eyes and shook my head softly. He hadn't known how much it bothered me, I wouldn't have him be punished for it. At least now they wouldn't try to run knowing what would happpen. Just as I started to walk away, Caretaker gripped my shoulder and a small chuckle escaped her.

"While you're here let's make an example of you," she said with an evil glitter in her eyes.

"Please no," I whispered, hating the tremor of terror in my voice.

She grinned again, teeth bared and twisted my face to them, chuckling softly.

"Bella is sixeen, now all of you know that's much too old be still be on the market. Bella however, won't be on it for long. This is the last time I'm letting her be sold, if no one buys her this time, or if she's sent back, I'll send her to the Valley and anyone else who reaches the age limit will follow!"

"No!!!"

My sream echoed through our barracks and I was in hysterics at the thought, she pushed me away but I kept my hands against her, pleading.

"Caretaker you can't!!! I can't go there! Please!!"

"Get off me or I'll send you now!"

I removed my hands slowly, my entire body shaking with fear. I walked to my spot, biting my lip while trying to ignore the flashes of painful memories flickering behind my eyes. Jacob opened his mouth to speak when Caretaker pulled my ropes and led me to the doorway, the sun blinding me.

"Don't speak unless spoken to, and don't flinch when they inspect you."

I heard a small chorus of questioning mumurs but it was too late now. She pushed my back and I took the steps to the stage, my heart pounding in my chest. I looked into the sea of faces and inhaled deeply, waiting for my future to become my prision once again.

-----------------------------Edward's Point of View----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I watched in disgust as the men and women around me flung themselves to the stage, acting like the animals I knew so well in the forest. They blocked them prospects for my new servant from view but something that hit me with suprising force turned my attention and disgust away. A sweet smell, floral, and very intriguing wafted into my nose, causing a very low growl to rise from my throat. I stepped forward in a trance, the smell growing stronger with every inch I moved. I heard the shouts of bids, as well as the thumping hearts of excited buyers and the fluttering of scared children, all who didn't know what I was, what I could do. As the smell grew stronger to the point of my painful awareness of hunger, I began to plot the death of whomever smelled so enticing. I pulled the hood of my cloak tighter around my head and darted between the mass of shouting humans to find my prey.