4

An hour later, a guard came to her cell with the old man, Lord Darius. He didn't look like he was doing well at all. He never said a word to her, or spoke really at all. There were more shadows in his face this morning than the day before, and he seemed anxious about something. The Guard cuffed her hands and ankles and led her out of the rotten cell.

Ares stayed muted as she was led up to the auction block, to stand before the mass of disgusting males and their haughty Queens. However, she was one of many to do so. There were about 15 or so more slaves ahead of her, standing at ready to climb to the stage and receive bidsonly tobe sold to the highest bidder. It made her feel disgusted. So, there she stood, waiting in a rather lengthy line, to be sold like cattle. She hoped, may the Darkness be merciful, that the rest of her family would not have to endure this humiliation.

Ares bowed her head in silent prayer for her family, and to ask the Darkness for the strength to carry on.

However, as she did this, she heard a familiar growling voice rumble over the other voices of the crowd. She furrowed her brow, in confusion as she lifted her head up to look to her left.

It was him. Her Savior. The man who saved her last night. How could she forget such a man? She heard what his growling voice was saying. A colorful string of explicatives to the guards who flanked him.

Ares watch in interest as the man walked. It didn't even occur to her that she was staring, or that he was heading in her direction; coming closer.

Her eyes went wide as she realized he was to stand next to her in the line for sale and she immediately dropped her head.

Once the guards had settled him in place beside her and muttered something to him, he let out a vicious-sounding snarl as they walked away. Ares flinched at the noise.

She looked at him, to see what she couldn't last night. He indeed, was huge. He loomed over her by about two feet or so. His shoulders were very broad and his arms were large and muscular. He had massive hands to compensate for his arms. His hair was a dulled blond, almost white on the outside, and got darker the closer it got to his head and neck, so that it almost looked dark brown. It was very long and wavy, even though he had some of it pulled back by a ribbon, but most had fallen out. She gazed into his eyes. The wonderful sky-blue she remembered that had calmed her the night before now seemed very tired and pained ... and angry? However, as she looked into his face, he looked younger than she originally thought. Maybe a few years older than she.

But that wasn't the only intimidating thing about him. He had a darkness to him she hadn't felt very often. He must have had a dark jewel, because she couldn't feel him before her's. Also, he had a certain ferocity about him. She had never felt this quality in a man before. It was like he was a dangerous entity, but a fierce protector all at once.

Ares looked back down before he could question her staring at him.

The man stood there in line, vaguely aware of his surroundings. He could feel that sapphire presence. It was very close, but it felt muted. He descended a few jewel ranks to get a better location, so he could track it. Where was she?

"What's your name?" the girl next to him asked sheepishly.

Ares frowned when he didn't respond immediately. Then he swayed a little and blinked, as if coming out of a void.

Like he was rising from within himself.

Then he looked down to his right, and let his gaze fall on the small, bruised figure next to him and rose an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" he asked politely. Ares noted that his voice didn't hold any of the edge that he had in it when he spoke to the guards. It was a very deep baritone, that contained the growl, but it was almost a soothing combination.

Ares summoned the courage to look up at him as she asked again, "What is your name?" she smiled a little.

He studied her a moment, as if trying to place where he had seen her. She seemed familiar in more than one way. He frowned as he tried to recall this girl. He knew he had met her before. It had been a very painful visit here. He wasn't sure of much at the moment.

He looked into her eyes, and his brow softened as he remembered. "You're the girl I helped last night." he said softly.

Ares looked down, as if ashamed for what happened, but then she thought better of it. "Yes." she answered firmly, looking back up to him. "And I wish to thank my Savior in person before we are separated." she added with a slight gesture to the Auction block.

The man contemplated the girl for a moment, eyeing her. She wasn't a threat. All she wanted was to thank him. He closed his eyes for a moment.

Suddenly, there was a roar of laughter from the crowd bidding on a slave. Before he knew what was happening, he felt a snap of angry energy flare next to him. Sapphire energy.

His eyes shot open and he looked down at the girl. He looked right into her eyes, as her head turned back to himand saw the answer that had eluded him all morning.

She was the witch. It had the same scent the wave of power had. But she was only a girl. How could she have such strength?

Pushing that question aside, as he realized she was looking at him strangely, he made up his mind.

"Valcan." he said quietly. But he almost stumbled over it, as if he wasn't used to saying it. Ares dismissed it, and collected his giant mitts with her small slender hands, and squeezed them. "Valcan." she said wistfully. "Thank you for your help. I owe you my life." then she shyly smiled, turning her head away.

Yes. I needed a good Metallica song for the name of this chapter and I couldn't settle. So there you go.

Yes. we meet Valcan, the hero of the innocent! The ass-kicker. He is awesome with his crazy hair and giant-likestature. And his voice is the best quality. I like writing about it.

Oh, and ps to the reviewer that asked for Ares' age. She's about 17 and thus, Valcan, being a few years older is about 19- almost 20. Thanks for reading!

I hope you enjoyed!