Chapter 4 Three

"What's the matter song bird, Did the tiger catch your tongue? " The man chuckles out, his cold eyes continuing to stare into my own. His lips curl into a slight grin, the smile never reaching his eyes. At once I felt like a prey caught in the deathly stare of a predator. The room is silent, no bustling of noise nor please from the slaves as the on lookers wait to see what will happen next like a scene to a play. The man is studying me, as all customers do, but his eyes leave goosebumps on my skin in their wake.

Dressed in black jeans with a black belt keeping the pants around his waist, a navy dress shirt that barely conceals the mass of muscles underneath, a worn out leather jacket with a pair of designer sunglasses hanging out of the chest pocket and a pair of black combat boots to finish odd the ensemble, nothing screams "special" about this male other then the look of a stereotypical rich kid of the capitol. What has me on edge is the way everyone around us has quiet down to stare at the young male as if he is some sort of celebrity or idol.

"Welcome, your Highness! Did you find a slave that interests you?" The Shop Owner exclaims, breaking the tension in the room with a single phrase. Realization settles in with theses words, Alekai Nightwood the heir of Symphrain stands before me. The two men quietly converse about what the prince came for, probably a slave to serve his every desire. If the Crown Prince is here then that meant some unfortunate girl will be taken away to the Palace, a place that I have a feeling could be deadly for a slave. I try and find a way to hide from view, even if knowing that any attempt is futile.

"-and I would like to hear her sing. If I like her voice, I will pay three billion dollars for her." I clue in to the conversation at hand that is happening before my cage, Prince Alekai motioning to my being with a smirk on his face. Shock fills me at the offered price for my body. This Prince is willing to pay three times the amount for me if he likes my voice. Gasps sound around the room and I have a feeling that not many slaves are sold for such a large sum, that this transaction of me becoming Prince Alekai's property will be the largest yet for this pet shop.

"Oh Lyra here will gladly sing for you, and if she refuses there will be a punishment waiting for her." The Shop Owner answers for me, a warning look sent my way. I swallow hard, memories of being beaten by my drunkard of a father growing up. I hated pain, especially if that pain was caused by something I never did. It was all I knew as a child and why I moved out as soon as I could afford culinary school.

"So Little Songbird, care to sing the Anthem?" Prince Alekai asks, but his tone leaves no room to refuse. Refusing the Crown Prince meant punishment, or worse, death. The anthem is a song drilled into every citizen since the day they are born. It is to make us proud of our country that rose up from the great World War Three that devastated the former countries of The United States of America and Canada, leaving half of each country to habitable, the rest a waste land. A silent anticipation of what my next move will be and whether I will defy the prince and not sing becomes the topic of the patrons in hushed tones. Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I close my eyes and picture that I am in my own room.

"Free to Be

Free to Roam

Oh Symphrain

we call our home

From the ashes we will rise

Into the great clear blue sky

Our hearts filled with love

That we cannot hide –"

I felt like a bird stuck in the cage, forced to perform at the whims of a man – a man that holds power over my life and death at this very moment. I was a songbird here only to amuse him and other shop patrons. But I have no other choice other than to continue singing.

"A life of wonder

A life to roam

We forever will call Symphrain our home

From the deep blue sea

To the city's night

Our wings they glide

as we take flight

No longer lost

No longer we roam

For Symphrain is our forever home"

I hold the last note as the song comes to an end. All throughout my song, the room remained quiet, the audience captivated by the little songbird in the gilded cage, captivated by me. Roars of applause and an encore causes me to open my eyes just in time to see Prince Alekai hand the Shop Owner a suitcase, one I already know is filled with money that was promised before my performance. I was sold to a man rumored to be cold hearted and cruel. A man who's being can send shivers of fear to anyone who crosses his path. I am sold to the Crown Prince as his pleasure pet for him to do whatever he wishes to my being. Time passes in a blur with the Prince and the Shop Owner disappearing, whispers among the patrons soon build to a conversation of how lucky Prince Alekai is to purchase me. Sympathetic glances from those in the cages around me are sent my way, some probably already sending a prayer to me with their thoughts on my impending demise. Most slaves sold to royalty or nobility never make it out alive. The sound of the cage doors swinging open, bars crashing against each other with a loud bang alerts me to the presence of another person inside the prison I woke up in. Loud foot steps upon the metal floor make quick work where I sit, frozen with an unknown fear. Turning to face the intruder in my cage, I come face to face with a tall male in a black suit, my face reflected in his mirrored sun glasses. His build screams body guard, one not to mess with and one to fear if his charge is attacked in any way. Muscles bunch with each determined stride under his fitted suit as each steps leads him closer to where I sit. My eyes search for a way to avoid this unknown man, not wanting his hands on me in any way. Seeing a clear view to the open door and a chance at freedom hope ignites a flame of determination inside me, all I have to do is run around this unknown man and fight my way out. Taking a deep breath to steady the nerves from the fear that fights against my determination to escape, I fling myself from the chair and rush to the cage door making sure to keep as much distance from the unknown man as possible. Freedom is in reach as my mad rush confuses the man for a moment, the wide open door to this gilded cage growing closer and fueling the flame of determination into a raging inferno inside me. But then I feel it, the floor to the cage shaking as the man – now behind me – chases after me. If I can just make it outside the cage, I can lock the man inside and work on getting out of this shop. Pushing my body to its limits, I focus solely on exiting the cage and getting past the patrons of this shop. If I could make it to the street outside, I could blend into the crowd and get home. Then I feel them, strong hands grasping my upper bicep in a vise like grip, pulling me back with fingers digging into my skin where I know a bruise will be by tomorrow morning. The man begins to drag me none to gently out of the cage, my attempt at escape in hind sight was futile.

"Alex, have your men handle her with care or your store will be arrested for damaging Royal Property!" A shout is heard followed by another pair of hands pulling me away from the man, Prince Alekai's glare reflected in the other man's sunglasses.

"I'm so sorry your Highness, I will punish him later." The Shop Owner, who I learn is Alex, says in a high pitched sniveling voice, probably looking to get into Prince Alekai's good graces in hopes of the Prince visiting the shop in the future. Silence and a dismissive hand is all the Shop Owner receives as his que to leave the Prince and I alone, fear over taking me once more with this looming monarch standing before me.

"If I have to drag you out of the store and into the limousine, you will regret it." The threat is low, but the nods of approval from near by patrons catch my attention. It seems like my life and death is held in this man's hands. With a nod of his head, Prince Alekai begins to lead me away from the golden bird cage and towards the exit, his hand clutching my wrist in a grip that was not painful, but string enough to keep me restrained and thwart any attempt at running away. My eyes continue to scan the room for any way to escape, any way to gain sympathy and help. But everyone turned away to look at the many cages we pass by, one even holding children that made my heart break at the sight of them. This is the cruel world we live in. With a sigh, I am pulled past another door, my eyes adjusting to the brighter room as the sounds of puppies barking and cats mewing for attention fill my ears. We were in the normal pet shop part of this store. One where the concerns of human slaves and pets were unnoticed by the those going through the mundane in hopes of having a furry little companion for their normal lives. After walking past many displays and supplies, the two of us reach the exit quickly, his grip on my wrist ever present as we exit the store and onto the streets.

Standing on the side walk in the trendy part of Lotross. The wind leaves a chill on my barely covered skin, causing goosebumps to form as I shiver in the fall air. A gleaming silver limousine with the Royal crest painted onto the doors waits for us on the curb, a man I assume to be the driver for Prince Alekai bows to us as he opens the door silently, his face holding a blank expression as if the world around us has no meaning to him. I can already tell he would be no help in my escape.

Taking the final steps towards the vehicle, Prince Alekai pushes me into the limousine without warning, leaving me sprawled on the plush leather seats. Before I could move away from the man who now owns me, the Prince slides in gracefully, taking hold of my wrist and pulling me onto his lap and against his solid body. One arm holds me in place, snaking around my waist and thwarting any attempt to move away. His free hand roams my body, the drugs that are coursing through my system making my skin shiver with pleasure. A soft moan escapes my lips when a gentle kiss from the Prince is place on my neck, a kiss that turns into a smirk.

"You are mine, little Song Bird. Its only a matter of time until I claim every inch of you."