A/N: There will be the occasional chapter told from Axel's point of view. Sorry if you don't like this approach, but I really wanted to experiment with it.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter Three

Axel's Point-of-View

She passed out.

Well…that's a first. I've had a number of nervous girls sit in this car, but I can't say one has ever actually passed out. I can't exactly blame her. This has to be a pretty unfortunate situation in her eyes… But damn, passing out? That seems just a bit dramatic. This isn't the end of the world, is it? Surely anyone would prefer being here than back at that tiny, disgusting shop.

I run a hand through my hair, look up at the clear sky, and sigh.

God, what am I getting myself into? Yes, I had gone out to the market today to find a new girl after finally growing lonely since my last one took off. Yes, this girl is very pretty. And will probably be much, much prettier after a bath, I think while wrinkling my nose up. But I can already tell she's going to be a handful. Don't get me wrong; I've dealt with one or two resistant servants before. This one is going to make those past girls look like tame little kittens, though. I just know it.

Renton comes around the car and speaks: "Sir, should I get someone to carry the young lady upstairs?" His voice effectively breaks my train of thought, and I realize I still have a passed out girl on my hands. I wave a hand at him nonchalantly.

"No, don't bother, Renton. I've got this," I reply before walking to the other side of the car. I open her door and gently lift her up into my arms. I'm surprised by how light she is. I could tell from looking at her that she could use a few extra pounds, but I hadn't figured her to be so malnourished. What did you really expect getting her from such a squalid place? You should know better than to go into that side of the market. I shake my head, trying to dislodge the little voice.

I can't even explain why I did it. I never go into that part of the market. I've always preferred to get my new servants from the more upscale, high-end shops. That's where I started today, and there were plenty of pretty girls who seemed more than willing to come home with me. Something just seemed missing, and before I knew what was happening, I had ended up in what's affectionately referred to as "the hole."

It's really surprising to be in a very beautiful, immaculate place one minute and a filthy, dilapidated place the next. I think it was sheer curiosity that kept me walking along that street, quite frankly. The girls and boys there were so different from the ones just a few streets back. They dropped their gazes out of fear, not respect, as I walked by. A few braver ones mumbled pleas to help them. They weren't taken care of, and many of them looked ready to keel over any minute.

I had actually been about to turn around, but then I saw her. She had her eyes cast downward like nearly everyone else, but she was smiling. No, not smiling; she was full out grinning as though enjoying some private joke. She was as dirty as everyone else on the street, but that grin set her apart. The grin brought life and fire to her eyes, making her seem to almost glow. My breath hitched and my heart started pounding and I just knew I had to have her.

When I spoke to her, even her sharp tongue seemed charming. At that point, I knew I was beyond help. Nothing was going to stop me at that point. Even finding out who she is didn't deter me.

Carrying her through my front door, though, I'm not so sure about my decision. I suppose it doesn't matter at this point; a deal is a deal, and I always honor a deal.

I get her upstairs and contemplate dropping her onto the bed that'll soon be hers. I think better of it, not wanting to dirty the sheets. Plus, she'll probably freak out if she wakes up on a strange bed after just being purchased by some guy. Instead, I walk into the connected bathroom and gently set her down on the floor since the first thing I want to do when she wakes up is get her clean. I sit down against the wall a few feet away from her and rest an arm on my propped up knee. Now all I can do is wait for her to regain consciousness…

"…and hope for the best," I whisper, pinching the bridge of my nose.