The Ties that Bind Me Book 1

The Presentation

"Imirial, you must never look into anyone's eyes. As a slave you are submissive to everyone in the room so it is better for you to keep your head down unless told otherwise. Make sure you start with the Master and then work from his right. We will be able to help you a bit this night, but I can't guarantee that he won't want to beat you to show that you are his. You are so slight and lovely that all eyes will be on you even if yours aren't on them. I don't know when but since he knew you were untouched when he brought you in, he could commission your womanhood to someone either in the household or outside of it. Be prepared for anything tonight and yes, they will touch you but you are not allowed to respond to any touch but the Master's. If you don't respond to his touch then he will have you publicly beaten."

I nodded my head to each set of instructions but inside my head I was screaming, I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to be raped, beaten or used. Thanks to my father though I was in for that and so much more. I looked up and saw that someone was holding a pitcher out to me. I took it and followed Inara to the dining area, where you could hear chattering in many different languages.

I walked in with the other girls and started to pour the drinks along with them hoping to go unnoticed, but apparently I stood out more than I thought I did. I felt one of the guests run his hand along my thigh and it was all I could do to not hit him, but it was the fear. Fear held me in my place as I poured the drink then moved along like nothing had happened.

The night progressed slowly and every moment was too long to be in that room with the people grabbing, groping and smacking me. It was not long after the main course that Ghassan laughed loudly and said the one word I didn't want to hear. "Imirial."

My name, just my name, but that word had an unspoken command that I knew would be the death of me if I wasn't careful. I moved over towards him and closed my eyes praying that he would just want a refill then allow me to go, but with the way the things in my life were going, even I knew better than that. I moved over towards the world's most hostile and scary person and got down on my knees by his chair, my head down as I responded.

"May I be of assistance Master?" Oh the words brought bile into my throat and I felt like I wanted to vomit.

"Come Imirial, sit on my lap child, I would like to show off my latest conquest." He grasped my hand lightly at first and then a bit harder to help me stand.

I stood up and he placed me on his lap, I instantly froze like a trapped rabbit and started to shake. I could feel the fear through my body as he rested his hand on my thigh. He laughed in my ear quietly.

"Dear you will learn to enjoy my touch, it is what keeps you alive. You know tonight I think I am going to sell your womanhood, I find it better to break a slave early then let them think they actually have a choice in the matter."

I wanted to cry, he wanted to watch me break, wanted me to hurt and he didn't care. It wasn't just that I didn't have a choice in the matter, but that I knew the more I struggled the happier he would be. The words were still rattling in my head when he spoke to those assembled.

"Honored guests, tonight I have a special treat for you. This luscious morsel on my lap is a new slave and needs her first lesson in being broken, so tonight I am going to sell her womanhood. Not to the highest bidder, but to the person that will not just let me watch but will make sure to break her."

I heard mummers of appreciation all through the room and then people started to talk louder, I just couldn't understand what they were saying. It was then that a man came out of nowhere and if my eyes didn't deceive me I would have said Ghassan was scared of him. He walked right up to Ghassan and then spoke quickly before taking my hand and leading me away. Ghassan spoke then to the rest that were assembled.

"It seems my Lolek would like the woman, so I concede to him and I know he will break her as he has all the rest. I thank you for your want of my slave."

The voices faded as I left the dining hall but not before I got a good look at the horror on Inara's face. It seemed I was in more trouble than I could have ever bargained for. The other girls looked just as worried but then the man named Lolek jerked me forward and around a corner out of view of those women who worked hard to make me feel safe. Bad thing was I don't think I would ever feel safe again.

Lolek didn't speak to me the whole time we were moving, but when we came to the end of a narrow hallway he looked over at me, unlocked the door and led me in. "Sit down." Oh his voice had a beautiful richness to it that I could melt into like chocolate. While his back was turned I got a good look at him, long red hair, muscular figure, lithe and graceful. He must have been strong and ruthless to have made it here so long and part of me commended him on that, but I was still scared of this strange man. There was a knock on the door and that made me turn my head away as he walked over to answer it. His voice was hushed but he spoke quickly with what sounded like a woman on the other side of the door. They weren't speaking in what I had found out to be Arabic, but another language a bit more complex.

Inara* Co zamierzasz zrobi z jej Lolek? (What are you going to do with her Lolek?)

Lolek* To jest mój wybór Inara, teraz idź, zanim cię pobiję za twoją intruzję. (This is my choice Inara, go now before I beat you for this intrusion.)

Inara* Ona jest tylko dzieckiem Lolek, proszę nie rób tego. (She is but a child Lolek, please don't do this.)

Lolek* Im więcej będziesz walczył ze mną na tej Inarze, tym bardziej będę ją cieszył. (The more you fight me on this Inara, the more I will enjoy breaking her)

Inara* Proszę nie rób tego, proszę. Zamiast tego pozwól jej odejść. (Please don't do this, please. Let her go and take me instead.)

I heard a slap and then the door slam shut and his face was outrage and pain. I could see that Inara was trying to protect me, but I think she might have just made it worse for me than it would have gone. 

I could feel the tears leak from my eyes. I heard a gasp and I looked up to see his eyes, green as my own looking back at me. "Please, please don't hurt me. I- I just want to go home, go to school. What harm could a college student do? Please just let me go."