Hero?

26

The men come in and take the seats that they are shown too, Phoenix's men take a perimeter stance. Hawks' men sit, but they are quietly fidgeting. They are unsure if they will be walking out of here alive. The little girl that took over for Hawk terrifies them.

When some of the slaves are taken to the front their interest peaks. Some of them know that these are the girls that have been trained to dance. They settle down for the show.

Ana watches from the back until she can't take it any more. "Stop the music." She stomps her way up the tent to the front. Before Damon can take any action she has the girl that was performing, the one Damon was so taken with, off the performance area.

She takes a stance and cues the music. As the music fills the tent Ana dances and no one can take their eyes off of her. It didn't matter who it was her dance makes them all react to her moves. Ana doesn't even need to strip during the dance for this reaction.

She faces the girls who are all staring at her, "That is how you dance. If you wish I will teach you properly, if not then don't ever say that you are trained to dance." 

Ana finds and dismisses Damon when her eyes meet his.

"Calum, bring them to me, one by one. But first since the men are here I'll hear their oaths." The men willingly give their oath to the terrifying ten year old before them.

"I will hold you to your oaths. If any dare to betray me, what you've seen me do is nothing to what awaits you. But I will take care of my own. I am not wasteful like the late Hawk. Calum remove their restraints."

Calum and others move to do just that. One of the men that had just sworn his oath bolts for Ana and tries to kill her. Jackson goes behind him and knocks him out. "Ana?"

"Take him to the cells, I'll deal with him after I finish up here."

Jackson nods and takes the unconscious man with him. "The late Hawk had a wife. Trudy, would you come here please?" Ana calls to the woman.

Trudy makes her way to Ana. "I made you an offer yesterday, or rather last night. Either to be sold as a slave, given a clean quick death or marriage to Jonah, my third. What is your decision?"

"I choose marriage to Jonah," Trudy smiles at the man she's come to love with all her heart.

"Very well, I have been informed that it will be possible for the marriage to take place late next week. Trina, please come up here." Again Ana calls and the young girl comes forward.

"I have given you the same choice only marriage to Calum, my new second, instead. What is your decision?" Ana demands. She just wants this over so that she can get on with the punishment of the traitor.

"I choose marriage with Calum. I ask only that I be allowed to finish my schooling this year and graduate with my friends."

"That is a reasonable request. Calum?" Ana doesn't want to cause trouble with the two at the outset.

"I see no reason why not, if we take proper precautions. Just no flirting with the boys." Calum has a jealous streak a mile wide and doesn't deal well with others talking to the girl he's with.

"Again a reasonable request. Trina are you amenable to this?"

"Yes, most of the boys won't go near me anyways." This just makes Calum smile but think that the boys are idiots.

"I think a double wedding will be easiest. Trina get with your mother and start planning. Calum make sure that they are both marked." Calum nods and moves off and gently takes his soon to be wife and mother-in-law over to a man sitting in a lighted corner.

Trina looks at Calum with wide eyed fear. "There is no need to fear. You will be receiving a Hawk tattoo to show who you belong to. It will keep you safe. You however don't have to wear it on your neck like the girls will have to place it. You can choose where, just remember if you can't show it, you might be taken and sold as a slave."

Trina chooses over her left breast and Trudy over her left shoulder.

Ana rubs her temples trying to make the headache go away, but it doesn't work. She finally interviewed the last of the slaves. She has told Calum what to do with them and just needs a short amount of time to relax before she gets to go have fun with the traitor. She is glad that Damon has allowed her the opportunity to learn from his torturer. She knows that she still has a lot to learn but she is eager to learn it.

She relaxes as she feels Damon's fingers start to massage the tight muscles on her upper shoulders and back. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Ana, " Damon replies.

Ana opens one eye and looks at Damon, "You're angry with me aren't you?"

"Why would you think that, Ana?" Ana winces as he tightens his grip.

"Stop it, Damon, you're hurting me." Damon stops immediately and Ana turns to face him.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"You went in front of the men and danced. The Hawk's men weren't yours yet. It was dangerous and foolish." Damon hisses out, still very angry at her decisions from earlier.

The only sound in the tent is that of the tattoo artist and an occasional cry of pain from the girl getting the tattoo.

"Damon, do you want the girl you were staring at earlier? She told me she wouldn't mind staying for you."

"I have a girlfriend, Ana." Ana shrugs at Damon's claim. 

"It wouldn't be the first time you've cheated on her and other girlfriends Damon. Do you want her to stay? If not I need to make travel arrangements for her to leave tomorrow."

Damon looks at Ana with narrowed eyes, "And if I asked you to keep her for a while, what would you say?"

Ana shrugs, "I have never told you what to do with your sex life, Damon. It's just inconvenient when it comes between you and getting a job done. What the hell happened earlier?"

"Oh, no, you aren't going to turn this on me. I got the job done didn't I?" Damon demands getting angry.

"I don't know, you tell me? Give me an honest evaluation of the job you performed for me today, on my behalf." Ana demands standing up and crossing her arms over her chest.

Damon takes a deep breath, being angry with her won't do anyone any good. It is only then that he is able to take a look at how he behaved earlier and realizes that Ana has good reason to be upset with him. He wasn't professional by the end of the evaluation. He had been excited to watch the girls strip, but there was no comparison to Ana.

"I apologize, you're right. I wasn't professional especially with that last one.  No, send her home or wherever she wants to go. I have no desire to take her to my bed."

"You shouldn't tease people like that Damon. Fortunately, I think the girl would rather return home. She is after all only fourteen."

Her age is one of the things that he was supposed to ask for to evaluate her on. He feels himself turning white and no little sick to realize just how unprofessional he had been. Ana has good reason to be angry about his behavior.

"That's why you danced?" Damon asks as understanding hits.

"No." Ana scoffs, "I just couldn't stomach anymore of the imitation shit they were giving."