AN: first off thanks to everyone who either reviewed or added me to their story alerts! It's really nice to open up your email and find all the messages. Um this chapter has a flash back in it, and I hope it wont be to confusing, at first I was going to do two separate chapters and then decided last minute to combine these two. So hope you enjoy them.
Disclaimer: Look in the first chapter.
PS. the flashback is in italics.
She could feel her heart pounding in her ears as she crested the wave and took the plunge down the line. Doubling back carving of the top then deciding that this was going to be her last wave she doubled back to hop the crest and fall into the deep blue ocean.
Paddling over to her Savitar said, "That was a good wave, why did you stop?"
"I just realized the time Sav, I was suppose to be at the ranch by two for a staff meeting for the next camp season. Carrie and I needed to go over some issues that have come up. Its almost 2:00, she's not going to like that fact that I'm always late for these things." Aura said as the sat up on her board just ridding the motion of the waves around her and Savitar.
"Oh Carrie Shmarrie, she can deal with the problems just fine without you." Sav said as he floated a few yards away from her, his lavender eyes hold a twinkle knowing that she hated being late and he was fully aware of the time.
Looking over at him she met his eye "You new! You rascal, you let me be late! You knew how I hated being late for anything, why did you not tell me?" She blurted out paddling over to him, fully intent on flipping his board and sending him into the water.
Laughing Sav just flashed over to a wave that was starting to form and road it all the way to the beach of his island home.
Aura couldn't help but smile, her friends had a way of making her feel wanted and loved. Even Savitar who claimed he didn't have any friends' just enemies. Flashing herself to the beach she reached for her towel intending to dry of before flashing to the ranch where she could change and talk business with Carrie, Savitar had other ideas.
All of a sudden her world was turned upside down. Squeaking she grabbed on to the only solid thing at the time, which happened to be Savitar's arms.
"Put me down, put me down!" She laughed as he spun her in a circle. Then started towards the waters edge. "Don't you darn!" Her eyes widening when she realized what his intentions were.
Savitar simple ignored her pleas of being put down. "What's wrong with the water, you were just in it." He said before wadding knee deep in the waves. Waiting for her to think of a reasonable answer he paused for a minute.
She couldn't come up with anything good and before she could even make another sound of protest, he dumped her in the cold water.
Coming up from the water sputtering she couldn't help but laugh, it had been a long time since she had let herself go and enjoy something. Normally she would never have been so relaxed with any body, it had taken Savitar and Ash many years to get her to loosen up and to start relaxing around them. Dragging herself out of the water to face a still laughing Savitar, she decided that it wasn't worth trying to get back at him because he would see it coming from a mile away. Reaching for her towel once again she started to dry herself off before walking farther up the beach to sit down on one of the many big rocks that lined the beach.
"Aura, I know that today is the anniversary." Savitar said as he settled down next to her. Glancing over to look at her he continued. "If you need to talk about it with anyone you know that both Ash and I are here for you and we will always be there, no matter what."
At first she didn't reply, simple letting her thoughts take her back to that day when she and Ash had first tasted freedom.
She was so tired, but she still had clients to see, and most likely wouldn't get to sleep until late that night. That's if she didn't get called in to serve with Acheron on any of his clients as well. Pulling herself out of her thoughts she continued to clean herself getting ready for the next client that would be there in a half hour.
Hearing the door open behind her she turned to see who it was. The boy who walked in stopped when he noticed another presence in the washroom.
''Aura.''
''Acheron.''
The greeting between the two was always simple, neither one of them wanting or even having the strength to talk to each other.
Aura turned to finish the wash leaving Acheron to do what he needed to do.
''How may more do you have today?'' Acheron surprised her by asking a question. It wasn't very often when they spoke of such things, normally only when he though she was looking tired. Even though he entertained far more often then she.
''Two, one is coming in a half hour and then the last one is coming around sundown.'' She answered
Acheron didn't say anything else just started to clean and prepare for his next client.
Busying with their tasks they didn't hear the door to the washroom open quietly, until they heard the sound of a throat clearing gently. Both of them looked up at Enil who stood at the edge of the bath.
''Aura, he's here, you had better get yourself back into your room and finish preparing.'' Aura looked sad at this, she thought that she would have a moment's peace before being subjugated to the life that she was trained for. ''Thank you Enil, I'll be just a moment.''
Wading to the pools edge she reached up and pulled herself out grabbing the piece of linen that would dry her off. Tossing the used linen into a basket sitting by her door she whispered a goodbye to Acheron before opening the curtain and entering her room.
Bowing to the middle aged man before her she asked in a gently voice, ''how may I please you today Akri?"
Wincing as the cool water crest the tinder skin of her shoulder it was all she could do to not cry out from the pain and discomfort. It was the end of the day and her last client had been extremely ruff with her, insisting on hitting and beating her during their intimacy. Not noticing Acheron enter the room, she didn't even know he was there till he took the cloth from her hands and started to gently wash away the dried blood that had crusted lightly on her from the earlier beating.
"Estes isn't going to be happy Aura. He will punish you for this." Acheron said as he placed the cloth in the water and wrung it out causing the water around it to turn a faint pink color.
"I know, but it's my job to please the client and if the client want's it ruff and pleasing, then that's what I must do, you should know that already Acheron." Aura said quietly, letting his gentle hands clean her like she had done so many times for him.
It had been two years since Estes had bought her, two long years of being used in every possible way imaginable. But those two years were nothing compared to the years the Acheron had been used and sold to the highest bidder.
"Thank you Acheron, this feels wonderful. " she knew that she was the only person to say those words to him and not expect anything in return. For some reason she was immune to whatever curse the gods had bestowed upon him at birth, it was why she never desired him.
"Acheron there is something I must tell you." Aura whispered to him when he turned her around to face him so he could wipe the blood of her face.
She was scared, this type of thing had never happened before, she thought that everything had been taken care of, that she would never be able to experience this, but her she was.
"What is it Aura, you know you can tell me anything." Acheron said, his voice gently and yet she drew strength from it. He could tell that she was scared about something, the way she was trembling, at first he thought it was from the harsh client but now he wasn't so sure.
Looking up at him she took a deep breath and said so quiet he almost didn't hear her "Acheron, I'm.."
AN: Well I hope you all don't hate me, I'm still working on trying to figure out what direction I want this story to go in, so if you guys have any feed back on where you as a reader would like to see it go, please don't hesitate to let me know. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!