"Hello Amir." Joshua snarled into the phone when the other man finally got on the line. "Seems to me you have something of mine." He paused briefly before continuing, "I want it back."

"What is it worth to you?" Amir answered.

"Do not try my patience Amir. I want him back. He belongs to me. You saw the events at the party. There is no one who will dispute my claim on him."

"Ahh but what is it that your people say, "Possession is nine tenths of the law"? I'm sure we can work something out."

"I want him returned to me unharmed. I swear by all that is holy if you touch one hair on his head you will pray for mercy, friend or not."

Amir's laugh rang through the line, "Come now old friend, I am simply suggesting a little sporting event to decide his fate."

"What kind of sporting event?" Joshua prompted.

"Your prize possession, that other boy, the pale one, against my strongest fighter. The winner will be the one who survives the fight. If he wins you get your precious boy back. If he losses I keep him."

"They already belong to me. What makes you think that I would risk losing them both?"

"Because I will wager something else that you want."

"What is that exactly?"

"I have a breeding pair of California Condors that I will turn over to you if you win."

Joshua thought over the proposition and what he stood to gain. He had in fact been looking for the California Condor for sometime now and to collect a breeding pair would be a nice addition to his collection. He was sure that if Lex was in full health he could hold his own in a battle.

"Think of the increase in the popularity of your collection once people see the bald ones true predatory nature. If he is successful this could be the advertising that you need to invoke interest in the rest of your collection. Think of how great it would be to have him fighting to the death for the return of his companion. People will eat that up. Not to mention gaining the Condors to boot." Amir prodded.

"He is not in any condition to fight right now. He will need time to recover and to train." Joshua said thinking out loud.

Amir chuckled at the mention of the boy's need for healing. It was obvious that the two had attempted to escape. He knew that the ruthlessness of his friend would have befallen Lex once he was caught.

"How long will he require to recover?"

"A month, maybe two."

"I can't wait that long Joshua. Have you looked at the boy? There is no way that he can remain here without the temptation to touch him becoming too great."

"I will see what my doctor's can do. Maybe he can fight with his hand in a cast and without the training. In the mean time though I will need the other one back, temporarily. I have a ball in two nights that I require he be present at."

"I can accommodate that. Who knows maybe we can work out some sort of shared agreement. We could look at visitation rights should your boy win him back."

Joshua sighed and chuckled at the jest. "We have been friends far too long for me to enter into any long term agreements with you."


The door to Lex's cell opened abruptly but Lex was far to drained physically and emotionally to acknowledge it. He lay on the floor in his own blood trying to block the pain by focusing on his breathing.

"I want nothing more than to continue your lessons for the day but there has been a change in agenda. Seems your friend has managed to be picked up by Amir's men."

Lex winced in pain as he tried to move to view Joshua better.

"Oh what the hell," Joshua shrugged as he strolled over to Lex and kicked him once more in the side. "Now as I was saying, what are we to do about your friend's fate?"

Lex stared up with contempt, which quickly earned him a slap across the face.

"Wipe that look off your face right now!" Joshua shouted, "I will not tolerate your behavior any longer. If you don't wish to save your friend keep it up and I will call Amir and let him know to go ahead and do what he will with him!"

Lex forced himself to look up with a blank stare as opposed to one of hatred. His insides turned with contempt and he sincerely hoped it wasn't depicted on his visage.

"Amir and I have decided that you will fight for your friend's safe return. My doctor's will be into see you momentarily and get you patched up. This fight will be to the death and will take place as soon as I deem you are fit enough to hold your own in the battle. In the mean time he will return here for the duration of the ball and the private viewing that we discussed. You had better pull yourself together before then because I will not tolerate any more antics."

With that Joshua left the room and locked the door. Lex wanted to cry out in anger but knew it would do no good. Moments later the door opened and the doctor and nurses entered to attend to his injuries.


"You can't do this!" Clark stood eye level with Amir who had just informed him of the upcoming fight.

"You," Amir started as he gripped Clark's chin in his hands but loosened his grip as an afterthought, "had better watch your behavior while you are here. I have told Joshua that I will not touch you until after the fight but I haven't always been known as a man of my word."

He turned and walked away from Clark needing to put some distance between himself and his unwilling captive.

"Let me fight instead of Lex." Clark offered hoping that his abilities would return and he could avoid Lex having to fight. He knew he could never kill someone but he didn't like the thought of Lex being put in that position either.

"And risk losing the chance to have you to myself? No, I don't think so. If your friend wants you back he will do as he swore to do the night of the ball and protect you with his life if necessary."

"I'll never let you hurt him."

Amir laughed, "You won't be able to stop me. Now get some rest, your services are required by Joshua in two nights."

"What services?" Clark paled slightly at the implication.

"Oh he never told you? You are going to a party." He smiled at Clark and left the room leaving him alone with his thoughts. He couldn't remember much from the first party but he knew he hadn't liked the outcome.


Chloe was escorted into the mansion by two armed guards who held her firmly by the elbows. She didn't have to work too hard at pretending to be afraid. If she were honest with herself she would have to admit she was terrified. She berated herself yet again for her inability to think through the implications of a plan before implementing it.

They proceeded down a long hallway and into an office that was lined with books and contained a desk piled high with papers. The man at the desk turned to face them and she had to stifle her expression when she recognized Joshua from his pictures.

"And who is this?" He waved his hand at her.

"Ahmed picked her up at the market. He thought you would like her." One of the guards informed him as he rose and walked around the desk.

Joshua reached at a hand to finger her blonde hair and Chloe made a motion to turn her head away.

"You have beautiful eyes you know." Joshua whispered as he moved his fingers from her hair to her cheek.

Suddenly his drew his attention from her and looked back at the guards. "Bring her to her knew quarters and get her settled in. I am sure that the other women will help her with all she needs to learn."

With that he turned and walked back to the desk resuming his interest in the computer.

They were almost at the door when he called out again, "Let Karema know she has a new ward."

Chloe wondered who Karema was as they strolled down the hallways again. They stopped momentarily at a door as the guards unlocked it. The door opened and revealed a beautiful garden and water fountain. Chloe looked around the room in awe at the various bright colors throughout.

There were women around the room enjoying the water and laying in the sun that was shining in from the sunlight above. They all seemed content laying on the lawn chairs, stacks of pillows or swimming in the pool just off the side of the fountain.

The walls of the room were lined with balconies that led into numerous apartments. Each one had plants and flowers; some had clothing spread along the railings of the balcony to dry. The presence of guards standing armed beside the various exits was the only indicator that this was not a resort.

The women in the room slowly one by one turned their attention on her. Whispers could be heard as faint murmurs as she was escorted past the women. She was taken up a set of stairs and through a door, which lead to a hallway that was lined with still more doors. Obviously the doors were for the apartments that she had seen the balconies for, she thought to herself as they approached one of the doors.

The guard knocked loudly on the door and called out for Karema to answer.

Moments later a women appeared at the door. She was beautiful Chloe noticed. Her hair was silver with age and her face held the wrinkles of a long life filled with laughter and tears, but she was beautiful still.

"Bring her in to me." She told the guards as she turned in a whirl of long colorful robes and walked across the cool tiled floors back into her apartment's living room.

"Please take a seat." She looked at Chloe, "Would you like something to drink?"

Chloe nodded realizing her thirst for the first time since arriving at this place.

"Leave us." She waved her hand at the guards in dismissal and Chloe was surprised to see them leave promptly. She did as she was asked and took a seat on the burgundy chair by the balcony.

From her spot she could look out through the railing and across to the garden below. She waited somewhat impatiently for Karema to return.

"I am guessing that you are not here of your own will. Probably bought up at the market hmm? Were you in the country traveling when you were picked up?"

Chloe had rehearsed her situation well as answered convincingly, "I was taken from my university back home and brought here. Where ever here is?"

Karema smiled and Chloe couldn't help but continue taking a liking to her. "You are at the home of Joshua Bruha. You have no doubt been brought here to work, dance, and do whatever is asked of you."

"Dance?"

"Yes my dear." She started as she handed Chloe a cup of tea. "Every girl here brings some skill set to the parties thrown in this house."

"And if I don't have a skill?" Chloe asked with one eyebrow raised.

"You will learn one or you will be used in the kitchen or serving. One as pretty as you should not be used strictly for serving purposes though. I imagine that he will call for you."

"He?"

"Joshua," She paused to sip her own tea. "He frequently calls upon the new girls to spent the night with them."

Chloe stood up suddenly and her teacup fell to the ground. "You can't seriously mean."

Karema stood and approached her placing her hands on Chloe's shoulders. "Relax sweetie, all the women fight at the start but as you can see they all come to enjoy life here." He nodded over the balcony.

"You mean all these girls were taken from their homes? From their lives?"

"Yes and no. You see some girls were brought here under similar situations to yours. Others were sold by their parents when they became of age."

The look of disgust on Chloe's face caused Karema's eyes to soften more. "I know you do not understand the ways of our world but I assure you this is not such a bad place to be. For the most part we are left alone and provided with anything we request. The odd times some are called on for parties or an evening with Joshua. He never shares us nor does he tolerate mistreatment among his women."

"How long," Chloe stopped to swallow the bile that threatened to rise in her throat when she thought of all the families of all the girls she has seen downstairs. "How long have you been here?"

Karema's laugh transcended to her eyes as she answered, "A very long time my dear, a very long time indeed. Come we must start your lessons."

"Lessons?"

"Of course. You must learn to some of the simpler dance moves before the party in two nights. It's either that our you will have to serve drinks."

Chloe disliked the sound of either option as she followed Karema into the middle of the living room for her first lesson.