Christine started to tremble as she stepped off of the train. Her nerves were acting up again. She was ready to run back to the torture of the train to avoid it. Perhaps she would have, had Raoul not been there to hold her hand and offer her security.

Quite a few slaves rushed to them and helped them with their bags, leading the way to where they were staying. The rooms were beautiful, gold decor lining everything.

"You like it?" Raoul whispered in her ear, an arm wrapped securely around her waist.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Christine said with more enthusiasm than she thought she had. Her stomach was still churning from unease.

"Good. For I have been informed that I must leave you come morning." The regret was clear on Raoul's face, as Christine looked up at him in shock.

"You're leaving already?"

"Don't worry. There is a slave that will be your guide. You wont be alone."

She bit the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from frowning. "Alright. But hurry back, will you?"

"You have my word." He said, placing his palm on his chest above his heart before leaning down to kiss her softly. "Come, we'll walk the market before the sun goes down. We came at a good time - the heat isn't so bad at this time of day. You must be careful while I am away and don't forget that you are not used to such heat. Stay inside when advised."

He offered his arm and she took it hesitantly, feeling so unsure about her current situation.

XXXX

Walking in the sandy streets was exciting and scary at the same time. There was so many beautiful people with so many different customs and looks different to the French and all she was used to.

They were led by a boy in his early teens that was to act as her guide when Raoul was gone. In bare feet, unhemmed tan pants and a matching vest, he cleared their winding path until they were back in their chambers.

Christine laid on the large bed by herself, staring out of the window at the sliver of the moon. Her emotions were conflicting. there was no opera house here, filled with ballet rats that liked to chatter the night away. There were no horses clomping down the street in a hurry, dragging their carriage wheels over cobble stone. It was almost too quiet here. Too much silence. It let a mind wander to things it had been forbad to tread in for so long.

XXXX

By the time Christine awoke, she discovered that Raoul was long gone. He left her a simple note by her bed saying that he would miss her and that he'd hurry back.

She dressed quickly and ate the breakfast that had been laid at her door. From the looks of it, it seemed that she might have been missing a few pieces from the entry, and her guide that awaited her right outside her room looked quite suspicious.

That day, she didn't seem to want out of that room. She was adjusting to this new place little by little.

But the next day she was eager to get out, the room turning in to a cage.

"Market?" Her guide asked her.

Every time she saw him, he'd say it. She soon wondered if it was the only word he knew outside of his native language.

So she nodded and let him lead her away.

XXXX