Part of the Collection

Part of The Collection - Chapter One

A/N I'm going to warn now that I can't edit this. I'm lucky I'm even able to post this. My dog was just spayed and I have to watch her, I'm on my laptop that doesn't have Word. I hope you enjoy this chapter, tell me what you think. (c) Abby Raines All Rights Reserved 2011. Oh and Irve is pronounced Ir-vay. :) it's a place.

I woke at dawn on my seventeenth birthday and ran outside to greet my brothers. This was the day I had been dreaming about for weeks. I was a year older. One step closer to my freedom. 

My brother Isa saw me running to the stables and hoisted me into the air. For a swift second I was not of this world, but then as always I would descend from the dream. "How is our little princess this morning?"

"Princess? Ha, more like royal pain!" Zachariah jeered swooping in a mock bow. His snicker made me shudder, I deeply loved my brother but he was terribly cruel.

Nazim came into the tent smiling. He gave me a sound hung and handed me a package wrapped in a piece of my mothers cloth.

"We all talked about it, Tzia made it." He smiled as I unwrapped cloth in a deep salmon color. Tear instantly came to m y eyes as I hugged every brother of mine. When I came to Zachariah he just stood cold eying me.

I walked away quickly after that, ready to try on my new pink dress. Cleaning myself in the bathing stream and washing with soap the scent of lilacs I dressed in the frock.

Seeing my mother's reaction when I walked into the room was odd. She looked me over coldly and took my hand. "I am not ready for you to grow up. Come with me."

"Mamman, I had to grow eventually."

"I know," she walked me to the tent where we ate during festivities. "Your brother's have given you their gift, now I must give you mine. It is important that you listen."

"Of course mamman." I hugged my mother and looked down to her hands. The pale skin was starting to wrinkle, her once youthful face had also gained lines. Bearing eight boys and a girl, this was expected, but seeing my mamman in this shape shocked me into my age.

Picking up a shawl she placed it over my shoulders, "This is my gift to you. If you ever need assistance it will be of great service. Now my love look around you."

I looked around the large open tent. It was decorated in cloths and flowers. "Someday soon we will interview young men for your hand in marriage. I can remember the first time I saw your father sitting in front of me... strong and quiet was he."

She dismissed me. I walked out to my tree and silently pondered what her words had meant. My marriage would be to someone I loved, like Mamman and Papa loved each other. That was my o ne luxury. If you have no money then you choose who you wed.

I picked a flower from where I sat. The hundreds of delicate petals fell off as I spoke the alphabet. I laughed as it landed on "A". My laughter soon ended. I saw off in the distance Isa and Nazim riding faster than the wind trying to reach the tents.

Jumping off their horses they ran to father then rushed over to me grabbing my wrists. I struggled against them. "Stop, stop! What's going on?"

"Come on Diana!. We've gotta go!"

"What do you mean?" I tugged against them. I wasn't an object, I wouldn't be pushed around! I finally struggled free from their grips and stepped back. My brothers were not know to make irrational decisions.

"Diana, there's no time to explain! Just please, do as we wish; do as father wishes and obey us." I nodded to Isa, As elder he deserved respect, and respect is what I gave him.

I could tell they were frightened, and this made me frightened. My brothers feared not, they didn't know the meaning of fear. Now for them to act scared... it projected my fear farther.

Pulling me down into the cellar under the clay house and hiding me behind sacks of flower they uttered these words to me, "Make no sound, you need no sound here."

I sat in the dark and wondered what was happening. Should I do the smart thing and stay hidden, or should I face the situation with the courage my brothers did?

Thankfully I did not have to make this decision, my mother made it for me. Taking my hand and easing me from the corner she brought me into the sunlight. She hugged me and whispered into my ear, "I pray that you do not impress him." With a tear she placed the shawl around my shoulders and walked me into the tent of festivals.

Inside sat a man surrounded by troops. The lights were lit in the tent and when I came into the light I looked to the shock on his face. He then turned away from me and facing my father and mother he bowed. Then facing my brothers he nodded. Finally his gaze drifted over to me and as he lifted my hand to his lips.

His touch was fire. Leading me to sit by my parents, but in front of him, he spoke to them. I looked down to my hand where only seconds ago his lips had touched, I then lifted my gaze to his face and found that he was also looking at me.

He held up his hand to my father speaking and again turned to me. "No one has yet to tell me your name. What is it?"

"Diana, Daughter of Ameris. I don't recall your name."

"Sorry, I am Aleksandros IV, Heir to Labicia, Sovereign of the Isle of Mena, King of the Land called Irve. My uncle has sent me here to inspect you."

"To inspect my family, why?"

"Not your family, you." Aleksandros turned to my father. "How much do you want for her. I'll tell you now she'll bring a pretty penny, she is very beautiful. Name your price."

My father stood and looked him coldly into this strangers eyes. He said what I would have wanted him to say, what I was silently begging him to say. "You dare come into my home and try to buy one of my children? You, could not have offended me more. You will leave now."

The stranger faced my father at full height. "This has angered me. My uncle has trusted me with the task of bringing you his daughter, no matter the cost!"

My mother gasped. "Labicia! You are related to the woman collector." She shook her head and ran from the room. I sat stunned. This stranger had just offered to buy me for his uncle. His uncle had heard of me? This made no sense.

Before I could ask my father or Aleksandros, Aleksandros shouted to the men around him. "You'll not insult my country by refusing this woman. I will now not pay you for her, I will take her."

My father jumped in front of me and before I could think I heard the sound of his body falling to the ground. I opened my eyes for a split second and screamed loud enough for the heavens to hear my angry plead.

I held my hand up against my brothers who were ready to protect me with their lives as my father had. "You will touch no one else of my blood." I face the guard with the knife in his hand. "You have killed one of my family, when I leave with you he shall stay. What happens to him is no concern of yours."

I turned to the person I had momentarily cared about and spit at his feet before reaching for the shackles that another was stretching twords her. Thick Iron clasps bound her hands and her anger made them feel white hot. She wanted the man who killed her father here, she wanted her brothers to do with him what they imagined her father would have done.

She knew she had made the right desicion when she saw all of her brothers standing on the horizon. She saw their fear and their anger, she hoped they knew she would find her way back to them somehow. Clutching the small box her mother had slipped into her hands she read the words her father had last written to her, "My dearest daughter, now you are nearly grown and thinking of all our years together I smile. I know you will live life to the fullest, and I plan on being there every step of the way. Love, your Papa."

My eyes welled reading the words. I hoped he knew I loved him, I hope he knew I cared. 

With every step I took I knew I was one step closer to slavery.