This is my first try. Do hammer me too hard. But please review. I have about 12 more chapters to post after this but I won't if this sucks!
I do not own any of the characters. These are the awesome creations of Stephanie Meyer!
I love my family more than I love myself. They are the pillars of my world. They have been for the past 729 years of my life-existence. Ilias, my brother and funny bone; Amina, my sister and confidant have accompanied me through so much. At times we have lived apart but never longer than a year. In a different life we endured hardships not possible to bring to modern human consciousness. There are things I could tell you to give even the dreamless nightmares. Memories are more powerful than dreams: They can be seen even when awake.
"Mom, when can we go home?" I tugged the side of her ratty dress, my voice straining to whisper.
"My child, there is no home anymore", she sank to her knees and stroked my hair. There was so much dirt under her nails it fell out in the strands. "Things are going to be very different now. But don't cry", her brown eyes stared fiercely into mine, "don't ever cry or others will see us as weak. We are not weak, we do not break."
That was the last full sentence my mother ever spoke to me. A man in white and brown clothes tied rope around her neck and dragged her off toward some stables. I stood motionless barely noticing my siblings still asleep in the dirt next to me. Their minds would never be tainted with the memory of our mother's eyes widening in surprise and pain, in helplessness. I was 8 years old.
In the years to come the three of us served of the occupying government. Our owners kept us bound together like a mini-chain gang. Sleeping, eating, and working as one entity. Depending on who owned us we could be lucky enough to sleep in the gutters of the high lord's house or lay with pigs of a the visiting militia. Torture as a means of discipline were used often. Though never plagued by sexual indecencies I often wondered if it could be worse than losing pieces of flesh and being branded. I won't detail everything. While I have vivid clear memories of everything, there is no need to share the burden.
For ten years tug-o-war was played with my family. The government, which I soon learned to be nothing more than a cluster of wealthy families, splintered often. The result: Property disputes. Ilias, the only boy, and the second eldest was becoming a man and very strong to boot. He was seventeen and was big enough to become a soldier, or more accurately soldier for life, including Hades. My baby sister, Amina, was blossoming into a beautiful, very attractive young woman. Despite the dirt and grim of our lives we were radiant in appearance. The three of us stood out amongst the other slaves and servants; were hated by the others through no fault of our own. I used to tell myself it was my mother's love that gave us our inner glow. Love or not it was becoming more of a curse. I found I was able to soften the harshness of our treatment as I grew older. Our masters would look into my eyes as I'd plead not to be beaten that day or to receive a little more food and it was done. Only the exceptionally harsh did not falter at my pleas of mercy.
One night in the middle of the summer months my brother was unchained and taken by two men. I smelled the dirt and sweat on them before they touched the door."You, boy, come here. We have business with you." A man stepped into our shelter and grabbed him.
Jake started to wake our youngest sibling which was normal. We were a unit, never separated. "No. Only you!", the man's voice was harsh and suspicious. I stood up and touched the man's hand looking into his eyes. "Where are you taking him? We've done nothing wrong, please don't take him". He faltered for a second, but shook it off when his partner drew a whip in his direction.
The next morning Ilias was thrown back into the shelter in shackles and heavily bruised. He smelled of dried blood and alcohol. I moved as close as I could to him with out disturbing my sister's chains. I could feel my brow tightening."Where did they take you?" I asked."Nowhere", he spat at me.
"Why are you bruised? Look me in the eyes and tell me what happened." He drew his head up to see my face. I don't know what he saw there put immediately tears sprang to his eyes."Soraya, I…they are taking me tomorrow. The two men from last night didn't like the idea of having a slave fight for their land and decided to see if I was 'good enough'." He stopped looking me in the eyes then."They plan to take you away? I won't allow it." I remembered my mother's face then. I hadn't seen it in years. I blocked it out in order to take care of my family. But here it was again on my brother's face, the pain of helplessness and separation. "We leave tonight after the night fire is lit. I will not live without my family, any part of them." I could feel rage seep into my expression, I was scaring myself. But I felt confidence running parallel to the anger.
"Ilias, today is holiday for these people and we will be left alone until the evening chores are necessary. Sleep and do not worry when I will wake you. But be ready and alert when the time comes." He nodded and climbed onto the hay mound which had three grooves for us to sleep in.