• Prologue

    “We don’t need another female. Maybe some brothel house will buy her, but I deal with laborers, and she’s got the look of a weakling about her, snap her in two with no trouble at all you could.” The man speaking had a rough, dirty look about him, but then again, most slave traders had that look. His muddy brown hair and dull hazel eyes were clear signs of his humanity, his mark of authority, of power.
    Humans ruled everything, they caged demons, elves, fairies, and dwarves like animals, selling them and treating them like dogs… no pun intended towards werewolves. It wasn’t illegal, the selling and trading of demonic slaves; it was the way of life in Kahla. If a person wasn’t in politics, they were involved in slave trade.
    A slim man in a power suit and tie was selling his stock, everyone had to go, for he was changing his profession… he was becoming a politician.
    His most hard-selling piece of flesh was his newest investment. Well, his term for investment meant that he’d found her at her own folly wandering around alone. He’d thought hat being barely into her sixteenth year, she’d be an easy sell, but he was far from accurate. She had the right look, with her light purple hair, vibrant blue eyes, and her full red lips, but dressed in a dark blue gown with frilly ivory lace, it gave her a childish quality, a quality that none of the slave traders were interested in.
    “Look, she’s old enough to please, and she’s still an innocent. If you don’t care to have her or yourself, think of what a great investment she’d be, of what she could bring in. This is an excellent opportunity my good sir.” The man in the suit insisted, but he hadn’t swayed the trader. Angry, he pulled at his investment’s manacles, hoping the iron cuffs would bite into her skin. “Why act like such a child, so complacent, that’s not what the other men want, they want a young woman with a wicked spirit, feisty. Not some sixteen-year-old woman that looks like a child, and acts the part. Obedience isn’t high on the market these days.” He hissed at her pulling her towards the cage with the rest of his stock. There were four men left, none bore chains.
    “Pity.” She muttered softly.
    The man in the power suit snarled, pulling on her chains, “Now, you choose to develop a bit of spunk?” he snapped. “Worst piece of flesh I’ve ever picked up off the street, and most definitely the last.
    The girl didn’t respond, he removed her cuffs and pushed her into the small cage with his other investments.
    The four men eyed her warily. The guys in the cage all had their fair share of bruises and cuts, and the girl felt quite out of place, she felt very petite next to the large men. She backed to one empty corner of the cage, sensing something was at odds with the men. One particularly frightening male stepped forward, as if he sensed her unease, and wished to help calm her. The girls’ heartbeat doubled, realizing what made her so ill at ease they were all demons. The girl managed to say, “Don’t you come any closer.” To her dismay, her voice cracked on the word ‘you’.
    The few other men were now looking at the male that had stepped fairly close to the girl; it appeared that within the small group of slaves he was the leader. He shocked the girl, and possible the rest of the diminutive assembly too by not being angry at her demand, and he actually made no further step forward. “I’m Rafael.” He stated, and waited, clearly wanting her to introduce herself.
    The girls’ gaze shifted back and forth between the five pairs of curious eyes, her gaze finally getting caught in Rafael’s commanding one. “I… I am Liadan Marshal.”
    One of the men let out a low whistle commenting “Peculiar pedigree.”
    The man, Rafael seemed to not like her name in the least, “You’re human?” he spat, startling Liadan into pressing herself back against the cage, with small squeak of fright. “And a child.” He muttered, staring at her with a queer expression. “Who sold you?” Rafael demanded with narrowed eyes.
    Liadan disregarded his question, instead of answering him; she played with a lock of her purple hair, twisting it around her slender, manicured fingers.
    Rafael’s scowl deepened as he studied her movements, her hands made him angry, though it took him a few moments to realize why. He stepped forward, closing the few feet between himself and Liadan. Ignoring her small intake of breath, he grasped her wrist and jerked her hand up so he could better examine them.
    “L-let me go.” Liadan stammered, she’d had quite enough of strangers manhandling her that day. She was tired, cold, and she wanted to go home.
    “Your family had your nails done before they sold you?” Rafael questioned, his eyes honey hued bore into Liadan’s.
    Liadan’s vibrant blue eyes blazed with detestation, “M-My family’s dead. Though not even in their life would they have ever done such a thing.”
    Now Rafael honestly looked bewildered, “But you’re a human. There are rules, laws, a human has to be sold into the trade by a member of their immediate family.”
    Uncharacteristically, Liadan snorted a laugh, “Laws? Within slave trade? Well, then it seems that your master broke them when he grabbed me off the roadside.”
    Shaking his head, Rafael disagreed, “He wouldn’t have, had he known. The penalty is death.”
    Liadan shivered, she’d no reason to be there surrounded by men who sure as day could snap her like a twig, and the thought of death, no matter to whom it was dealt, was the straw that laid the camel flat for Liadan. Tears started falling, one by one.
    Rafael’s voice when he spoke, was a sweet as the honey hue of his eyes, “Liadan, everything’ll be fine, there was a misunderstanding that will be corrected as soon as possible. Don’t cry sweetheart, just trust me.”
    Liadan shook her head, “Just let me go.”
    The man in the blue suit came up to the side of the cage to reprimand Rafael, “Hey, don’t damage my new investment, an unscathed splendor hauls in more gold.”
    Rafael’s voice boomed in anger, “The girl is human, she deserves… Agh… merely by birth defect.” Rafael rose up his hand as if to strike Liadan, causing her to shield her face with her arms.
    The man in the suit’s pallor turned a ghastly white, “Wait! Are you for certain she’s human… I mean, her hair is purple after-all.”
    “I’m sure,” Rafael, hissed, “I can smell it on her, it makes me weak, just being near her. The inferiority, it makes me angry, it makes me want to…”
    “Then I shall remove her from your presence immediately. No need for you to act rashly,” the man in the suit interrupted. Quickly, he’d rescued the trembling mess of a young woman from Rafael’s grasp.
    Just before Liadan was pulled out of the cage, she heard Rafael whisper, just loud enough for her to hear, “You’re welcome Miss Liadan.”
    The man in the suit pulled her by a grip on her arm to the streets right outside the slave trade. He growled in low gruff tones, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll speak of this to no one. You understand? I own a man that would break you in two at the snap of my fingers. He would too, gladly, Rafael didn’t take to kindly to you.”
    Liadan quickly obliged with the slave traders push, and she hurried back home, quite intrigued by the world of slave trading, too much so for her own good. She’d found what she wanted to do to keep her family’s estates running smoothly.

    Chapter One
    Not much had changed in two years, except that Liadan Marshal was the youngest, most successful underground slave trader in the industry, and she prided herself in the title. She’d learned the laws of the trade, and the many consequences. She dealt personally with the head of trade numerous times, which surprisingly enough was a female also. In the two years she’d been involved in the trade, she’d become the trader to know, the trader to fear.
    Liadan, only ever went to the night trades, never would she set foot near a trade during the day. Everyone assumed that her reasons were the perks of slave auctions at night, and Liadan let them believe that, and indeed, she did participate a great deal in the auctions. The real reason to her absence to the day trades, was her parents. They both were quite a bit addled in the mind from an incident that happened several years previous. Liadan had to care for Mr and Mrs. Marshall as one would care for two infants. She knew that they wouldn’t recover, and that the rest of their days, they would be there, but they wouldn’t be there.
    At the trades, Liadan always cloaked herself in midnight blue, showing only the blue intensity of her eyes, she’d no need for everyone to dwell on how young, how childlike she looked.
    Sitting in the back, she relied on her guardian, Ben, to keep an eye out for danger, and to call out her bids. There was quite a group of traders that night, all with the look of blood thirst in their eyes, they wanted laborers that night, and so did Liadan. She’d kept her eye out for years hoping to help the demon that had helped her out two years previous, but she hadn’t seen him since. She couldn’t set him free, no that would cost both their lives, she knew the rules she had to play by, but she could give him an easier life, with no more bruises and no more scars. She wanted that for him, like he wanted it for her that day in the cage when she’d been more than a little terse with him.
    At first, the night seemed like all the others, bid after bid, the night drew on, that night Liadan didn’t even bother bidding, she was unusually disappointed that day. Just as she was about ready to call it a night, she saw him. Rafael. Two of the security officers led him to the front of the platform. He was strapped tightly in chains, a sign that he’d fought someone. The bidding started, and Liadan paid very close attention.
    15 gold… 50 gold… 100 gold… 200 gold… 400 gold.
    Liadan nudged Ben, tired of everyone’s useless bidding, “fifteen thousand.” She stated, and Ben stared at her skeptically.
    “Miss. Marshal, you could buy thirty slaves at least with fifteen thousand.”
    A light chuckle escaped Liadan’s lips, “I know Ben, I know, but… I don’t want anyone outbidding me… I want him.”
    Ben nodded, but still not understanding the intensity of his mistresses’ words, he called out the price, and every set of eyes in the room turned to their corner in the back. All of the eyes mirrored each other, disbelief. The auctioneer called out that the slave was sold to the highest bidder, and Liadan stood to leave, “Ben, go pay the man in full, and bring Rafael with you back to the house.”
    “Rafael?” Ben questioned.
    Liadan froze, realizing what she’d let slip, “Yes.” She muttered, “That’s his name.” And she stalked off, back home to check on her parents.
    ***
    Her parents were fine, well, as fine as they could be in their situation. Removing her cloak, setting it down on a bedside chair, she stepped closer to her mother, her eyes brimming with tears. Mrs. Marshal looked like a beaten rag doll, so small, so sad. Liadan stroked her mothers’ white hair gently, humming a soft lullaby.
    Deeming that the two were all right, Liadan hurried off to her room to ready herself for sleep. With a glance in the mirror, she noticed once again how childlike she looked in her dark blue dress with ivory lace and a full skirt. She sighed; maybe she should attempt to go to a boutique to purchase clothes that adults would wear, but then, she never had enough free time during the day, and nothing was open at night. She didn’t ponder much on it as she slipped a closefitting nightdress over her head; it was a light pink that brought out the soft pink undertones of her skin. Were it not for the fact that it was so form-fitting that it showed well the mature curves of her adolescent body, the nightdress would have made her look quiet childish, sweetly innocent. She sighed again; she really needed to purchase a new wardrobe now that she older.
    An anxious sound came from the room down the hall, and Liadan hurried down the corridors to her fathers’ side, “It’s alright papa.” She whispered, trying to calm him with soft, soothing tones.
    “Darren!” cried her father, sobbing in his tormented sleep, “No, no, no.” he kept sobbing.
    “Shh, papa, everything’s just fine.” Liadan tried to keep her voice soothing, sweet like honey, but the mention of her deceased brother made that difficult. Her parents were forced to bear witness to her brothers’ murder, and that was what had driven them to this state. Sometimes at night, they still spoke of that day, their screams of horror and shock echoing through the house.
    A loud thumping came from the corridors; someone was running in her hallways, someone large and with a terrifyingly powerful stride. The door swung open with so much force it shook the floor as it hit the wall, and knelt in a defensive crouch, was Rafael. Unable to do much of anything, Liadan froze, as did Rafael, as he took in the room realizing that there was no danger.
    A moan and the low muttering of a string of curses drew Liadan’s attention back to her father, though she could not forget the demons’ presence, she felt his eyes on her. Stroking her fathers’ cheek with the back of her hand she whispered, “It’s alright papa, I’m here, I’m here, just rest… everything’s…” Liadan had to pause and regain her composure “Everything’s fine.” She managed, and she hummed a soft lullaby until he was calm and his breathing was once again regular.
    Ben arrived at the door just as Liadan had finished up with her father he was out of breath and a fiercely angered look stretched across his features, he looked almost murderous. The look softened when he found Liadan was safe, and once again, Rafael seemed docile as a sleeping kitten. With a look of deeper inspection of Liadan, Ben’s breath lodged in his throat. He’d never before seen her dressed in such a way that even hinted that there was a well-matured body beneath the fabric, but now with a much too small gown on, it more than hinted at the luscious curves of her body.
    Liadan noticed his appraisal and blushing scarlet, she grabbed her cloak from the chair at her mothers’ bedside, and quickly wrapped herself in its warm folds. “B-Ben” she stammered. “If you wish to remain a part of this estate, I’d advise you to not ogle its’ mistress.” She snapped, stepping from the room. “Come, there are things to be discussed” she commanded, but as to which man she spoke to, she didn’t clarify, so they both followed her into the sitting room downstairs.
    The room was furnished lavishly in dark cherry wood and burgundy velvet. Upon entering the room, Liadan set the log in her brick fireplace alight, and then seated herself in one of the high-backed chairs, the legs carved to look like eagle talons, blending right into the dark wood floors. There was a well-placed cherry wood table next to Liadan’s seat, overflowing with novels. It was Liadan’s favorite table. Despite the look of the furniture, it was surprisingly soft, and very comfortable. The two men took a seat, Ben on the velvet sofa, and Rafael, quite awkwardly, in a chair. Liadan almost laughed at how much Rafael looked at odds with her delicate and quite feminine chair, when she’d last seen him, she hadn’t noticed exactly how big he was, not the kind of big from overeating, but the kind of big from the muscle behind unrestricted power, it was quite intimidating to be in his presence. Liadan realized then that she was staring, and she got down to business, turning her authoritive eyes on Ben, “I was under the understanding that you knew that the upstairs was off-limits, as is entering the main house after nightfall. Such a breach is unacceptable…” Liadan paused for a moment, Ben knew better than to say something before she was finished. “Were it not for how excellent you are at your work, I would have dismissed you today. Do not let it happen another time, for I shall not be so lenient were it to happen again.” Liadan finished.
    Ben sighed, “Yes, Miss Marshal, thank you for allowing me a second chance.” He glanced sharply at Rafael, “I wonder…” he paused momentarily, “I wonder, might I have a private conversation with you, Miss Marshal.”
    Liadan’s eyes narrowed, the last thing she wanted at that moment was to be alone with Ben, not when the look in his eyes as he watched her was etched in her mind. “You are dismissed for the day.” She replied, and watched him leave, eyeing Rafael warily, disbelief coloring his movements. With Ben finally gone, Liadan felt as though she could breathe at last, and she let the itchy, hot cloak slide off her shoulders, sighing at the more comfortable temperature change. The sound of Rafael’s low voice startled her.
    “I thought your family was dead.”
    Liadan smiled to herself, he hadn’t forgotten her. She responded to his inquiry, “No one besides me is allowed upstairs, that is very important.”
    Rafael ignored the rebuke, “I heard screams, and thought you were attacked.” Rafael smirked a bit, “Your Ben, he wasn’t very happy with me leaving him. Didn’t want me in the house, so he jumped at me… he’ll be mighty sore tomorrow I’ll wager.” Suddenly his face was a blank canvas again, “Your parents are ill?” he asked, though his voice was dull, like he didn’t really care one way or another.
    “Very.” Was Liadan’s only response as she looked at him through narrowed eyes.
    “Listen, Liadan…” he started, but Liadan interrupted him.
    “You’ve no right to call me by my given name, sir.”
    The blank canvas of Rafael’s features was replaced momentarily by amusement, “Pardon, Lady Liadan, I’m a bit rusty on my etiquette.”
    A bright flush stole across Liadan’s cheek, as he once again used her first name, she was silent for a moment trying to think of a subject change, then she remembered something, “Sir, I was just curious… do you remember the day we met, a few years ago?”
    “Yes, Miss. Liadan, I remember that day.” He responded.
    The formality of his words shocked Liadan momentarily, were all demons so literate, or was it just something Rafael learned to confuse people? “I… I was wondering, that day, if our… if your master hadn’t stopped you, would you have really attacked me in that tiny space, with all those other…” she couldn’t say demon. “…people,” she continued carefully, “there?”
    Rafael laughed. “I am quite the actor, aren’t I? Did you believe I was furious?”
    Liadan was confused, she nodded, of course, he had been furious, she’d seen it in the way his eyes burned, like tiny flames.
    “Why did you think I was angry?”
    Liadan responded immediately, “Your eyes were far too intense for anything else.”
    Rafael laughed again, and Liadan had the feeling he was enjoying the conversation far too much, “That, Lady Liadan, had nothing to do with anger.”
    Confused, Liadan tried a different answer, “Your words, they were cruel.”
    A smile stretched across Rafael’s features, “You, my dear, Miss Liadan, are a fairly easy person to fool. Though, the words I spoke were true, I meant no insult.” Rafael leaned in, “I don’t lie, my dear, It’s against my code of honor.”
    Liadan frowned, he wasn’t helping her confusion, “You said I was inferior, and that I made you weak just by being near you.”
    Rafael smiled weakly, “That is true, but I meant no insult. Perhaps one day I shall tell you exactly how that can be complimentary.”
    Liadan shook her head, “I don’t want to know. I’ll warn you now, I don’t like being hurt, and my guard won’t stand for it either.”
    Rafael was momentarily stunned, “I wouldn’t hurt you, there’d be no sense in it, you’re a young, defenseless female.”
    “I’m not defenseless!” Liadan shouted, jumping to her feet, her cloak falling to the floor.
    Rafael laughed, “Spirited, but quite defenseless.” He replied, standing.
    Eyes narrowed, Liadan stepped close to Rafael, far too close for any comfort. She could hear his breathing change. Rafael was angry, again. “Prove it. Prove I’m defenseless.”
    Rafael didn’t move, he didn’t speak, he was stone.
    Anger swelled up in Liadan’s chest, balling her hand into a tiny fist, she drew her arm back to hit him. Liadan missed. She hadn’t seen Rafael budge, he’d moved so quickly, catching her fist, and twisting her arm around, spinning her to where her arched back was against him, her arm crushed between their bodies. Liadan gasped, “H-How did you do that.” Liadan felt more than heard Rafael’s amusement.
    “Admit it.” Rafael murmured, his breath hot against her ear.
    “No, it’s not true, a female is never defenseless.” She feigned a feminine faint, half closing her eyes, limply falling back against him. He took it the wrong way, thinking she was using her sexual prowess to gain an end.
    A low growl escaped from between Rafael’s teeth. Rafael spun Liadan back around, crushing her body to his, “Miss Liadan, that will just make matters worse, your best bet is to plea weakness, and not taunt, tease, and torment. Making a mans blood burn won’t help you unless you’re selling your… ahem, wares.” Rafael’s lips twitched up into a teasing smile, “You aren’t are you?” he asked, his voice low, “I’d pay top dollar.”
    Liadan’s eyes widened as she struggled against his steel-like grip, “I… I thought that you don’t lie.”
    Rafael chuckled, “I don’t.”
    Liadan flushed, struggling against his grip again, “You… you demon… beast… monster… unhand me.”
    Rafael did, his arms dropping to his sides as though they weighed several tons. Anger blazed in his eyes, his voice fairly vibrating with fury, “Demon, yes. Beast, yeah probably. Monster, not even close.” Liadan froze, not able to reply to his anger; Rafael’s eyes bore into her until she trembled, and Rafael’s stern features softened. Relinquishing his hold on her eyes, Rafael’s gaze traveled down Liadan’s slight form, noting the thin fabric of the nightdress that didn’t even reach her knees, leaving her slender legs bare. He caught her gaze again, “Lady Liadan, I do believe you should dress a bit warmer, small as you are, it’d take little more than a slight draft for you to come down with a foul cold.”
    Confused at his sudden change of subject, Liadan had to take a few moments to formulate a response, “I’ve no concern for my health, nor the state of my wardrobe… Now, Rafael, it is late, and if you’d excuse me, I would like to turn in for some much needed sleep.”
    Rafael nodded, “My apologies Lady Liadan, I should have gotten to such matters quicker, I forget sometimes the delicate nature of female humans. I wish though to know, where I shall bed, and what work is required of me.”
    Eyes wide from the shock of having forgotten to settle such matters, Liadan replied, “Seeing as Ben has a quarrel with you, I doubt the wisdom of you taking keep with his people. Perhaps it would be best for you to stay in the main house, but…” Liadan trailed off slightly perplexed.
    “But?” Rafael cooed.
    “You must understand that no one, and I can’t stress enough how important this is, but no one can come upstairs. There are several rooms here on this floor, and you could take your pick, but you mustn’t come upstairs.”
    “Sounds reasonable. What are my responsibilities?”
    A laugh escaped from between Liadan’s lips, “Ben will assign something in the morning, we were a bit short-handed here, and with the killings lately, you can’t be too cautious. He’ll find something for you to occupy your time with.”
    “Were you frightened?” Rafael questioned softly, angered at the thought of her being in such a large estate alone, huddled in the dark, trembling with the fear of a mass murderer on the loose.
    “I…” her voice cracked. “Of course I wasn’t… I’m a big girl Rafael, I don’t scare easily.”
    With mischief ablaze in his eyes, Rafael smiled, “My dear Lady Liadan, I know well you are a… big girl. Make no mistake, I’ve noticed.”
    A bright flush colored Liadan’s cheeks, “I… you’re… Rafael, you’re treading fairly treacherous grounds… You should consider a path carefully bearing in mind the consequences, before jumping onto a trail you are not prepared to finish.”
    Rafael nodded, “I’ve not made that jump yet, Lady Liadan. Now, off this topic, I will discuss no more. We may stand here all night talking, so comfortable it is conversing with you, but much longer, and you will have collapsed from either exhaustion or a deathly cold from the chilling air and your scanty attire. I know that I am in your power, but I can’t simply stand by an allow my mistress to fall ill, I am putting my foot down, big girl or no, it is bedtime for you Lady Liadan.”
    If Ben had spoke to her that way, she’d have dismissed him immediately, but this wasn’t Ben, Rafael wasn’t a paid man, yet in a way, neither was he a bought man. It seemed every rule varied with Rafael involved. She was angry, yet also in admiration of his firm hand, and his concern of her health. In indecision, she hazarded a shy smile, it’d been far too long since she’d been told what to do, and she was at odds as to what to do.
    Rafael sighed, grasping her wrist and leading her to the foot of the stairway. “Now Lady Liadan, I don’t want you running around this drafty estate without a robe on. Never again. Some one ought to be telling you such things, and now I’ve put that task upon myself.” Authority was clear in his voice, as though he’d had every right to make demands. Liadan was shocked; Rafael could tell as much, in a much gentler tone, he added, “I won’t displease you Lady Liadan, I only wish for your safety… I mean after all if something were to happen to you I’d have no purpose. I belong to you…”
    Liadan flushed at the undercurrent meaning of his words. Her cheeks darkened further at the thought of not minding in the least Rafael’s attraction to her. Liadan couldn’t fight the soft sigh that escaped her lips. Oh, were he to be her’s in every sense of the words. Then a far more enjoyable thought followed, were she to belong to him in every sense of the words. Though, of course she was being absurd, letting her mind run away with her, for Rafael surely meant only in the literal sense of her having bought him. She shuddered, a pox on him and her own deceitful mind.
    Angry at her own thoughts, and at Rafael for having coerced such thoughts in her mind, Liadan jerked her arm from his grasp. “What a catty thing to do. I am mistress of this estate, and I will not be treated like a child. I give the orders here, I do not take them.” Liadan snapped, stalking back into the sitting room. Grabbing hold of a novel from her favorite table, and seating herself down in one of the deep burgundy chairs, she opened to the front page.
    Liadan read the first paragraph.
    Then she heard his footsteps. Liadan’s heart beat in tune with the thud of Rafael’s boots hitting her floor, slowly coming closer. Rafael wasn’t usually so loud when walking he was doing it deliberately. Rafael could hear her heart, feel the tremors in her petite form, and smell the minuscule drop of fear that kept growing in her.
    Liadan re-read the first paragraph.
    He wasn’t playing fair, his senses were too heightened, and she was just a human. Rafael’s boots stopped just behind Liadan’s chair. The book shook in Liadan’s hands. She shouldn’t have yelled, Rafael was much bigger than she was, much stronger. Closing her eyes, Liadan braced herself for what ever Rafael would do.
    Liadan flinched, her book falling to the floor.
    A soft blanket came around her enclosing her in its warmth. “It’s cold, Lady Liadan.” Rafael muttered.
    Liadan’s eyes snapped open, and she whirled around to face him, but Rafael wasn’t there. She was alone in the sitting room, wrapped in a warm blanket with the fire ablaze across the room. Snuggling into the blanket that smelled like Rafael, Liadan drifted to sleep, fearing, she’d made the treacherous leap herself.