Welcome to the new story! Those that read A Rose Among Thorns will find this an even better fiction. I would like to dedicate this to those that had said offensive things to me. Consider this fic to be an apology for rudely getting defensive in a non-Christian manner towards your reviews. This is NOT focusing as much on Christianity as I wished it will, but the Christian stuff doesn't come until LATER, and I mean later.
To also be a little hypocritical, this fic may contain HINTS of slash. It was NEVER meant to be, but that's what my friend said this fic was, so… yeah.
Let's Begin!
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Slowly opening my eyes, I looked up and groaned, waking from my fevered sleep, trying to clear my vision.
'Where… where am I?"
Looking around me, I got some quick glimpses, but I still didn't exactly know what was going on.
But when I heard a groan and felt someone touch my hand I felt this feeling of unfamiliarity fade, and I automatically remembered what I was doing. I felt myself being turned over onto my back and when I felt the man's lips touch mines, my heart sank deeply.
Here I am, 16 years old, with no real dream, no real hope, no real life. I had been having dreams of getting away from this job that someone would come and rescue me from this horrible nightmare that I was forcibly dragged into.
I shook it away from my head. That would never happen.
When I felt my client growl impatiently, I turned to him and started to satisfy his raving desire.
15 min later
"…450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700." Larry counted his money as he handed my Casanova Saifa the money. Money owed for his 'entertainment'. Saifa politely took the money and leaned back in the chair, resting his feet on the table. He counted it, then smirked and nodded. Larry grinned and adjusted his jacket.
"So, Mr. Johnson… can I come tomorrow?"
Saifa grabbed his notebook and flipped through the little black book, uncapping his pen. When he found the dates, he glanced at it, and then looked up with bright green eyes.
"What time?"
Larry cleared his throat. "9."
Saifa looked at him strangely. "Could you repeat that?"
Larry looked at him. "9."
Saifa shook his head, tossing his hand in the air. "No, no, no. I mean do you want him at night or day?"
"Day."
Saifa looked down at the book and started to write, but then looked closely and looked up.
"Sorry." He shook his head.
Larry grew angry and clenched his fists. "Why not?"
"Because Pablo asked for him," he replied, "And I just looked and I realized that you can't have him for the morning."
"Why not?"
Saifa rolled his eyes and ignored his question. "Are you sure you don't want Maria?"
"No."
"Jasmine?"
"No!"
"Torri?"
He didn't reply. Saifa looked up and saw Larry crossing his arms, leaning back in his seat, with the 'what-do-you-think?' look on his face. A thought hit Saifa and he smacked his forehead. After all, he was forgetful in some situations, but all clients have to feel sorry for him… he deals with at least 50 different types a day.
"Oh, yes… you go for the males." He snickered and continued to list my friends.
"Dimitri?"
Larry closed his eyes, deep in thought, and shook his head.
"Dimitri is too old school. He's yesterday's Jade 1."
"What about Andre?"
"Too saucy."
Saifa gave his last attempt. "Would you consider Satine?"
Larry looked at Saifa. "Isn't he a little young?"
Saifa crossed his arms. "Well, you can't have Mario!"
This angered the huge beefy man. He stamped his foot and started to shout in a large voice.
"I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE BUT HIM!"
Saifa chewed on it for a minute, but then smirked. There was a simple win-win situation for just him and Larry.
"Mr. Luigi, the reason you cannot Mario is because most of the time he will be school."
Larry cocked a thick black and gray eyebrow. "Why does he have to school?"
Saifa rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You're Middleton's best lawyer and state representative, and you don't even KNOW the law?" He sarcastically spat.
Larry was still in the dark. "What law?"
"All children have to school until they're 18. It is MANDATORY."
Larry shrugged, still not getting it. "Dominique's 18."
"No, Dominique's 16. So from 8:30 to 2, he's taken and until he is able to drop out when he's 18, WHICH he shall do, you cannot have him."
Before Larry could speak in an outrage, Saifa swung his feet down from the chair and leaned forward. Larry looked at him curiously. Whenever Saifa did this, it meant he was willing to bargain with him. Saifa flashed a smile, and folded his hands.
"HOWEVER, I do like to please my number one paying customer. If you give me $5,000, then you can have him the whole night."
Larry smiled hopefully. "Tonight?"
"Tomorrow night."
Larry pouted. "Fine."
Saifa grinned, knowing he earned himself an extra 5 grand. Looking over Larry shoulder, he called me into the room.
"Dominique, come here."
In a few moments, I was there, slowly approaching cautiously. I felt really rough, like I went through the mill. Looking up through my tangled hair, my eyes dropped from being exhausted and feeling ashamed.
"Yes, Lord Saifa?"
Saifa grinned at me calling him his lord. He really appreciated it when people thought highly of him. As I looked up at him, I saw him run his eyes all over my body, like a starved dog looked at a bone. I hung my head in shame; I didn't even bother trying to cover myself up. My baggy black jeans hung low on my thin hips and my shirt was torn from the rough five hours I spent with Larry. Still, I was a delicious sight to him, no matter how ruined I looked. Larry turned to me, grinning in satisfaction.
"Tomorrow, you will be going to Middleton High School, for your first day."
That shocked me. I was 16, I should've dropped out now… and wasn't it the last month of the semester?
I brought these up to him, and he slammed his fist on the table. Larry and me jumped, and I shook, looking at the furious face of my boss.
"DON"T correct me!" He growled with piercing eyes.
I looked down. "I'm sorry," I whispered, remembering my place. Note to self, don't EVER forget your place. He's the master, and you never correct the one you serve. EVER.
Saifa rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he snorted, flicking it away with his hand, "You'll be getting an education like last year, but since we are getting good business done in Middleton, you will be staying here permanently."
I nodded, allowing him to continue.
"Also, change of plans. After school, you will be going home with Larry for the ENTIRE night."
I looked from Saifa to Larry. He licked his lips and purred. Ignoring him, I looked back at Saifa.
"I thought I was going with Pablo-"
Too late. Saifa had caught it before I could, and stormed over to me.
"What did I say," he growled, as he stormed over. He raised his hand to strike me.
I winced waiting for him to hit me. No strike. I opened my eyes and felt him take my chin in his hands. He grinned at me, as my eyes welled with tears.
"You will be helping the cheerleading squad. I got your past credits as a dancer and sent them to the school so you'd have a 'decent' background. Tomorrow, at 5:00, you will be picked up by a black limo. Got it, Angel?"
He smirked at the last word. My street name. He knew I hated it. Because of my gold hair and aqua clear blue eyes and my pale complexion. It may seem like I'm bragging, but it's just the opposite. I hate how I look. Because of my features, every pedophile and sick twisted man out there wants a piece of me.
Saifa leaned closer, and brushed his lips oh so closely near mine. I felt them brush mine, and I whimpered, wanting him to let go. He smiled at my weakness and let me go, but not before giving me a bruising kiss. Then he threw me back. I stumbled against the wall and looked back up at him.
"Got it?"
I nodded. Saifa's eyes darkened. NOT a good sign.
"WHAT?"
"I got it!" I quickly said.
Saifa snickered. "Good." He then continued to talk to Larry about his business, letting me stand there silently.
What am I gonna do?
The Next Day
I sat in the back of Saifa's red T-Bird. Dimitri was driving me to school, and he felt very nervous about me going to a new school, but not as much as my night with Larry.
"Mario?" He asked.
I looked at him. "What is it?"
He shook his head. "You know what."
I hung my head in shame. He knew that before I came to Saifa's clinic I was a stronger person. But now Saifa could see that I was really wearing down, and that my world was slowly falling apart.
"We gotta talk."
"About what?" I asked that stupid question. I knew exactly what.
All of a sudden, Dimitri pulled the car over. I looked curiously at him. He slowly turned to me and smiled.
"C'mere."
I did what he asked and sat in the passenger seat, not taking my eyes off his. "What's wrong?"
Dimitri frowned at me and sighed deeply. "Dominique, of course there is! You have to be with Larry the entire night!"
I looked away. Oh yes, another 'you can make it' conversation.
"It's not a big deal."
"Listen to yourself! Look, you're only 16."
"And?"
He took my chin and lightly turned it to him. My eyes widened as I saw Dimitri, the strongest of the Seven Jade, start to break down. Compassion took over me, and I sighed.
"Dimitri-"
"You're young, Mar. you shouldn't have to go through this. Listen to me, you have potential. You have a chance to make it! You don't deserve to be in this type of business… you don't even deserve this type of treatment! You're a smart kid, you have the skills that we don't!"
I scoffed. "What skill, Fiske? In academics or in bed?"
"Don't be like that."
I glared at him. How could he say that?
"Do you really think I can make it now? I have nothing to live for! Everyone and everything I had and trusted and loved has abandoned me."
Dimitri softened and put his arm on my shoulder. "I'm still here-"
I shook my head, knowing the real truth.
"It's not you… it's just the fact that I do deserve this."
Dimitri growled, eyes hardening. "Don't say that-"
"Don't say what? The truth?" I shrugged off his arm and looked defiantly at him, with tears in my eyes. It hurt, it really, really hurt.
Dimitri sighed. "Oh, Dominique…"
I looked at my hands, feeling my hot tears make their way down my face and onto my clothes.
"I should've given up my dreams to be a pro singer and choreographer. Don't you get it, Dimitri? I wanted to have things that were impossible to reach. I should've kept Jafari and Jairus with me. Now they're with two lucky people I don't even know, and it's been years since I've seen them. Because I didn't know my destiny then. Well, let me tell you something. I know what I'm destined to be for the rest of my life… a whore. To satisfy someone's hunger in bed."
There was a long pause, and then I felt it. Dimitri snatched me by the shoulders, and shook me very hard. As I felt my body snap back and forth, I saw Dimitri's eyes were furious and murderous, overwhelmed with tears.
"Don't say that, Dominique! I don't want to hear it anymore. Listen to me, now. I am NOT gonna let you stay here. I swear it, AND I mean swear that one day, I'll get enough money to fly to England and convince my father that I'm his son. And he'll believe me, darn it, he'll BELIEVE me, and all ten of are gonna be free. And if Saifa won't let you go, the first thing I'm doing is buying you.
He pulled me towards him, and I gasped, astonished at his words. What he was saying. To tell another prostitute that you were going against the master's plans was pure suicide. But then again, Dimitri trusted me. He continued, holding me against his chest, looking at me through curly raven locks with his raven colored eyes. That's what Monkey Fist should've named his son, before he was kidnapped and brought into the business. Raven. Perfect name. But his real name was-
"You'll be with me, and I'll put you in college. I'll pay for your tuition fees, and maybe someday you'll meet a very lucky lady whose going to adore you for who you are, and want to love you and please you. But I know one thing," he added, pressing his forehead against mines, staring deep into my eyes, "after I buy you, no one, and I MEAN no one is ever gonna touch you again. Ever."
I smiled at him. That was Dimitri, always putting himself before other people. We were close. Closer than friends. We were like brothers.
"Thank you."
Dimitri smiled, and then ruffled my hair, pushing me back in my seat. Of course, I, being very self-conscious about myself, growled playfully and told him to watch it. He simply rolled his eyes and put the engine in gear.
"We better get going, if you want to be on time. It's 7:45, already."
I took a moment to look in the mirror to make sure my hair was okay. I wasn't gay, but I seriously didn't want to look a mess. Dimitri started laughing and I just ignored him.
Besides, there were more important things to talk about.
"I gotta ask you something Dimitri."
Dimitri nodded, letting me know that I had his attention, even though he was focusing on the road.
"Ask away."
I looked at him. "Who's substituting for Pablo and Dorian tonight?"
His expression turned dead serious. I knew that he didn't like speaking about business in the morning, but I had to ask.
"As you know, Saifa asked to have you the entire night. Pablo and Dorian weren't very happy about it, and asked for a cheaper price. So they got the next best thing. I'm taking your place tonight for Dorian, and Satine's taking your place for Pablo."
I sighed. "I can't thank you enough, Atari," I said, putting emphasis on his real name.
Dimitri shrugged, giving me a tiny smile. What are friends for?"
He turned onto the road to Middleton High and entered the parking lot. He parked near the entrance, and turned to me.
"Okay, pretty boy. Get a good education, and I'll see you at midnight."
I smirked. "Yeah. See you."
I jumped out of the car and shut it, swinging my bag over my shoulder.
He waved as he drove to his school, Upperton University.
I rolled my eyes to myself. Oh please, like he had to lecture me about education. The only reason he was still in school was because he was a practical genius. He got a lot of scholarships, and since Saifa couldn't take the money and use it for drugs or his wants but didn't like seeing good money go to waste, he sent him to Upperton. Dimitri said I was most educated. Oh, puh-lease, someone spare me.
I entered the school, making my way to the principal's office.
