Chapter 2 Band of Thieves

Gray eyes fixated on the thief bronze face, cloudy blue irises delighting in the fear starting to come over the girl. Yes, she knew that name well, everyone in palace did; Bakura was a thorn in the king's side. He was a master thief and earned a dangerous reputation as lethal and cruel. Man or woman, it made no difference to him if anyone stood in his way, he slay them without a second thought. Now she was fully aware the position she was in, the thief held her chin tightly, forcing her gaze on him, a sharp curved blade wield in his free hand. In a single stroke, he could end her at any given chance.

She remained silent in fear anything she say would anger him further. "That's better." He released her and she took shaky step back. "Never seen a hedj* slave before." Bakura noted.

He studied her. "Well, well, what to do now? I saved your life and now you're indebted to me. But I was never one for having pets. "

The girl scoffed. "I am not a pet. And if you're done, thief, I will be off." She walked away but stop short when he laughed.

"Where will you go, hedj? Back to the city, they will kill you on the spot; the Pharaoh isn't one to let a criminal walk freely."

She whirled around and jerked an angry finger at the amused man. "I committed no crime. I can travel through the dessert and find a village, start a new life."

"Assuming you can navigate your way there and that you survive the chilling nights and bristling mornings. Don't forget about the lethal snakes that lurk in the sand or the bandits pass through."

She opened her mouth to protest but even she knew he was right. This was her first time outside the palace, not to mention she had no clue where any other village lay odder. Again, she was trapped. Defeated, her arms wrapped around herself.

"I'm in a generous mood, so I'll make you a barge, hedj, I will give you freedom and a home. In exchange, you will work under me."

Her head perked at his invitation. "What will you require of me?"

Bakura shrugged. "I'll think of something. It is your choice." He finished as he watch the girl look back to the palace. It had been her home for most of her life, it was all she ever knew; but even with Atem's help, she couldn't be sure her life would be waivered. Her options were waning, her eyes went back on the thief, untrusting, he was a killer but yet he saved her and offered her a new chance at life. She was lost, how could a stranger been kinder to her than the people she had born to serve under?

"I will go with you." She answered finally.

"Smart choice, hedj. Come." The thief strode over to his horse, the girl fall in step behind him, and he mounted the black stallion, heaving the slave onto the saddle. Nervously, the girl coiled her delicate arms around his tone abdomen; she became aware of the intense heat residing in him. If he was any warmer, she swear his skin would scold her. He tense slightly as he felt her could limps around him, he hadn't realized that the night had come already and the temperature dropping rapidly. The thief was accustomed to living in the wilderness but the girl- she would not last a night out in the dessert. With a stern jerk, he struck his heel into the horse's hip and it whined and sped off onto the rolling hill.

With one last glance, she watched the palace as it faded further and further from her sight. Never again would she sit in the courtyard, shaded from the oak tree, waiting patiently for the prince to cross her way. The stamping of the horse's hooves was muffled by the soft sands; she bounced up and down slightly as the stallion leaped over a barrier. Involuntarily, she clutched to the thief.

"We're almost there." He told her.

A canyon grew into sight, an opening carved into the rock itself; they entered the darkness of the tunnel. She wondered how he could possibly see through the pitch black but quickly demised it, he worked in the shadows for a living, it was no surprise he could see clearly through it. Pale light illuminated before them and in a short while they were out of the tunnel. They rode towards what appeared to be two story ruined building. Two torches stabbed on either side of the doorway, a group of brown mares tired to a bare tree, a circle of men gathered around a steady fire. Bakura and the girl dismounted the horse, tiying the reins to a thick branch, he made his way over to his pack with her behind him.

"Bakura!" A extremely built man cheered. "We thought the palace guards have caught you."

"Yet, you fools sit around the fire, drinking the ale like infant to mother's milk."

"Aww. We know you are fine on your own. You always manage to escape any cage."

"Exactly why I am the leader of this band." All the men silently nodded in agreement, then all eyes landed on her and by the way they stared at it, she knew this wouldn't end well. The band of thieves sex slave was the last occupation she wanted, she prefer to live with a nest of rattle snake than this.

The same man spoke again, licking his lips. "You brought us a toy, Bakura? I knew you had a heart somewhere in that black hole. And a hedj woman, you have exotic taste in women I'll give you that."

She almost cringed behind Bakura and the thief glance over his shoulder at her then back to his men. "Stop thinking with your cock. This woman is now a part of our band, you'll see to treating her like any other member, am I clear?" He ordered.

The man scoffed. "Bakura! But she just a woman, what use will she be to us other than warming our beds?"

"Are you questioning my judgment, Thabit?" Bakura snarled with a malevolent hint in his eyes.

Thabit swallowed his pride and mumbled. "No, Bakura."

"Then learn to keep that mouth silent or I will." The thief threatened. "Hedj slave." She jumped at the sharpness in his voice. "Tell us all your name."

She stepped forward from behind him, fumbling with her fingers, the group of men all watched with the look of hunger. Thabit glared at her intensely, he looked her up and down as if judging her. He may have been sitting down but she could see his bulging muscles, his head was shaved, eyes small and black, tattooed marking marred his long face. "My birth name is Layla."

A firm hand squeezed her shoulder, with a wide gesture of his hand, he announced. "Welcome, Layla, to the band of thieves, you're new home."


* hedj- white

I looked up online and that the Egyptian word for white, so I'm pretty sure that the correct word. Well I hope you enjoyed, please review.