Bound By Desire

Chapter 14: Saved?

“H-Hello?” She sounds so small that I forget my training and where I’m standing for a moment and pull her into a hug so tight that I’m worried I’ll hurt her before she returns it with equal strength. I murmur soothing sounds to her and rub her back slowly until her tears stop and she calms down. “Thank you, miss,” She replies and I laugh softly.

“My name isn’t Miss, little one. It’s Rosalia. What’s yours?”

“Becky.” She replies, still sniffling slightly. “How old are you?” She asks me and I stop, thinking over the answer. Running the math in my head, I came up with an answer.

“21. How about you?” I look over at Becky’s young face and estimate she can’t be much older than six.

“I’m eight.” She replies before falling silent for a moment. When she next speaks to me her voice is barely above a whisper. “Rosalia, what do they want with me? You and all the other girls and boys here.”

I have a silent debate with myself and decide that I won’t tell her the harsh truth. She deserves to keep some of her innocence for as long as possible. “They are looking for strong and capable helpers and we were the lucky ones.” I reply but my voice sounds unsteady and I know Becky catches onto me when she frowns.

“That's not true, is it?” In her straightforward eight-year-old way she looks at me with disapproval and I give a humourless laugh. How right you are, little Becky. I think to myself as I try to keep my secret from the inquisitive eight-year-old in front of me. Eventually, I can’t take her piercing looks anymore and sigh, relinquishing my secret.

“No, but the truth is harder to bear.” I glance at her face. “Can you bear it, little Becky?” She gives a determined nod and I sigh again, this time in resignation. Becky looks up hopefully but I know when I tell her my secret her hopes will die. “They have captured us to be sold as human slaves to vampires,” I mutter, hoping that no one else will be listening to us. Becky’s face loses some of its colour and I shoot her a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry Becks, I tried to warn you.” She gives me a strained, lopsided smile and hugs me again. I hold onto her, breathing in her warmth for a moment before I have an idea. Letting go of her, I sit on the floor so I was at her level and look at her seriously. “Do you want some help?”

She nods so fast her head is a blur of dark hair. “Please,” she whispers, afraid of getting caught having help from an older, more experienced slave. I think over all my training that I can remember and choose to settle on the comment that got me through it all.

“Don’t let them see your fear or any emotion. It feeds them and makes them crueler. Keep it locked away and don’t let them see when they hurt you. You are strong Becky, don’t let them take that away from you.” She nods and we embrace once more before Hesperia comes back down the corridor and drags Becky back with her. Left alone, I can hear the shouting of the stage and then the double bang when Becky’s sold. Poor girl. I silently sent a hopeful prayer that she gets a kind master, but I know better than to believe that such a one exists. Lost in my mind for a moment, I smile, the memory of Becky’s small face fills my mind before cold hands grip my wrists and pull me upright.

Snapped out of my daze, I feel Hesperia drag me down the corridor towards the bright light through the open doorway. However, the closer we got to the door the more an old feeling of trepidation grips me. To an outsider, my demeanor doesn’t change, I remain submissive and impassive, letting Hesperia guide me towards the source of my unabating terror. Internally, however, I am once again screaming and pulling away from Hesperia’s iron grip. When we arrive at the door, I stand still for a moment, hearing the clicks of my heels disappear into the silence. Stopping by the door, Hesperia assesses me once more before looking at someone hidden behind the light. A nod and Hesperia turns back to me with a frown on her face.

“Stay quiet. You hear me. Silent.” She glares at me and I stay silent when she turns away and drags me into the light. Blinking against the bright light, my eyes adjust to take in the cavernous Auction room. At the back, the high stage rises and blocks out some of the light.

Woodenly following Hesperia, I walk up the stairs silently, hearing the clicking sound of my heels, causing the room to fall silent. Once upon the stage, I noticed several pairs of brightly glowing eyes shining out from the darkness facing me like the last time I was sold. Hardly daring to breathe, I stand in silence for a moment before kneeling the way I remember from my first auction. I end up on my knees, eyes facing the floor. The sounds of the room around me quieten when a strange buzzing fills my ears and I draw on my inner tranquility and separate myself from my situation. Taking a few deep breaths, I keep my eyes on the ground as my surroundings gain clarity, refusing to let go of my impassive mask as a voice rings out.

“This is Rosalia Mallory. She is young and impressionable as she has had only one Master before this. She is tall, curvy and has beautiful features designed to capture the attention of any man, even with the scars that show she has been disciplined in this world. Having been sold once, she has come to be known as ‘The Fire’ as she knows her place but still has hints of rebelliousness that can be tamed. She is a beautiful and rare commodity for any of you eager to show off a pretty prize, but also for those with a sweet taste.” She continues, but my mind latches onto the two words: sweet taste? Oh right, my blood, Master Asher complimented me many times on my sweet-tasting blood, so I know what the figure means. “Rosalia is one of the most unusual girls we have seen in a long time. Can I hear a starting bid of 100,00?”

Those who are left began shouting over one another to be heard in the raucous noise that fills the large room. The numbers change but I tune out after it surpasses 1 million, to focus on thinking about Becky and what will happen to her, such as who bought her as she was there for a while before I was called. The longer I’m kneeling, the more I start to pay attention to what’s happening around me. The more my auction drags, eventually several people lose interest and the room thins out drastically. Staring at the stage floor, tears once again blur my vision as I hear these strange people bartering with my life like I’m a rare jewel to be coveted and prized.

Keeping my calm, I take a few deep breaths and keep my gaze fixed on the polished wooden floor, my buried instincts telling me to do so when a clear voice rings out over all the noise.

“10 Billion” The voice is clear and authoritative, silencing the other noise in the room around me. Holding my breath, the silence stretches until the woman next to me speaks up.

“10 Billion going once.” She pauses. “Going twice.” Another, longer pause. “Sold for 10 Billion.” Her voice rings through the room and over my head. I stand and follow the woman down from the stage and along another dark corridor to a cave-like room where all the girls from before waited in groups. Glancing around, I noticed Becky stood alone in a corner, her large eyes glassed over with tears. My compassion flares when she turns and fixes her eyes on me. Walking as fast as I dare, I move across the room and take her into my arms for a hug.

“Are you okay?” I ask in a soothing tone. Becky moves her face away from my shoulder and nods once in a jerky motion. I sigh once, seeing straight through her lies. “Becks, what's wrong?” I look her directly in the eye and she takes a deep breath.

“I’m scared. I don’t know who brought me and Rosalia, I-I’ve seen your scars.” Her small fingers tracing one of my scars on my forearm. It prickles at her touch and it still feels rough to the touch. Still healing. She carries on, her voice is small. “I don’t want that to happen to me.”

I fall silent for a moment, warring with myself. Do I tell her the truth or a lie? I consider the lie for a moment until I remember how quickly she caught me out last time. Laughing to myself, I catch Becky looking at me funnily and I smile at her sadly. “Are you sure you want the truth, Becks?” I ask, knowing that my wisdom from serving Master Asher shows in my eyes. Becky gives me a small lopsided smile and nods.

“I can handle it, Rosalia.” Her small voice is determined and I smile at the spark I can see inside her. A spark so like mine that it’s impossible not to recognise a kinship in this bold little girl who seems so defiant of the rules.

“Rosa. Call me Rosa, all my friends do.” Becky smiles again and I find myself instantly attached to her, but I can’t help it. She’s just so strong and beautiful. Becky’s gaze never leaves my face and eventually, I stop stalling and tell her. “I don’t know who brought you either, nor do I know if you will get scars like mine, but I do know this. You are strong Becks. Don’t let anyone break you or tell you otherwise. Okay?” I look her in the eye and I could see the glint of determination in her eyes.

“Okay, Rosa.” She fixes her brown eyes on mine and I hug her again as I hear approaching footsteps. I pull away slightly and pull us both up to standing. Glancing up once, I see Hesperia standing. Once she surveys the room, her icy gaze lands on me and Becky and she beckons us over. Becky gives me a look and I nod to her slightly. She follows me over to Hesperia, who chains us both together, so I’m standing behind Becky. Becky shakes slightly and I place a hand on her back as we’re dragged along the corridors of the palace. Becky nearly falls several times but I catch her every time and she shoots me a small smile. Eventually, we come to a stop and I keep my eyes on the floor, nudging Becky to do the same. She complies and we hear Hesperia’s voice.

“The girls, your highness.” Hesperia’s voice sends an invisible chill down my spine as her words register with me. Which Ladouceur sibling has me now? I only hope it’s not Master Asher trying to buy me back. Please. Please don’t be him trying to possess me again. I plead mentally when the stranger’s voice speaks.

“Thank you, Hesperia. I’ll take it from here.” The stranger’s voice is kind and I feel like I know them from somewhere. He moves and then I hear him talking to Becky. “Hello little one, are you new?” His voice is kind and I listen carefully. Becky’s reply is instant.

“Yes, Master.” Clever girl Becks. She’s clearly learnt the rules and fast. I smile at the floor. She’s a smart kid, smarter than I was, so maybe, just maybe she’ll survive. I’m still smiling when I hear our Master’s reply to Becky.

“It’s okay, little one, I don’t bite. You can look up, I won’t hurt you” Becky giggles softly and, strangely, I can almost see his smile. “And don’t worry about the Master rule, little one, you may call me Hunter.” Becky nods and I feel her nudge me. What? I mouth at her and she c***s her head to the side.

“And who might you be, my pretty little flower?” The voice calls over to me and I glance at the floor near their feet.

“Rosalia Mallory. Master,” I say flatly. He laughs softly and I feel a hand under my chin. Powerless, I feel the person tip my chin up so I’m forced to look them in the eye. Mesmerising violet-emerald eyes stare back at me with an intensity that allows me to see that the main colour is dark emerald green and the violet is mainly concentrated at the edges of his irises, but on closer inspection, I could see a delicate weaving of the colour behind the green in his eyes. Small, delicate gold flecks are scattered across his iris and I find myself instantly captivated. Unable to look away.

“You can look at me, Rosalia. I don’t bite, I promise.” His voice is soft and melodic and I find myself instantly enveloped in a unique scent that is a mix of mint and burnt cinnamon. It strangely seems to stick with me and I pause. I know that scent. I’ve.. I keep trying to figure out why his scent seems so familiar. Where had I.. what? I eventually give up trying to figure out why he seems so familiar and, instead, settle to try and work out why I seem to know him from somewhere. Grasping my backpack firmly in two hands, I feel the hard edges of my sketchbook dig into my side. I remain silent and eventually, my Master gives up talking to me and instead leads Becky and me back to the room I shared with Mara and Chalice.

“Sleep, you need your rest.” My Master gives both Becky and me a kind smile and leaves.