Alpha's Slave | 18

The day was dark despite it being one of the most celebrated instances during the year. Heavy dark clouds billowed in from the West, and with it came the thick heady scent of rain threatening to pour and disrupt the occasion.

Inayah peered up at the sky and sighed lowly, pressing into her friend sitting beside her on the wagon whose wheels bumped on the weathered road it tread.

"It's so cold, " Anita whispered and Inayah agreed, wordlessly securing an arm around her friend and pulling her close to her side. The nuzzled against each other's sides in tensed silence as familiar rooftops slowly came to view.

Thin wisps of billowing smoke rose from thatched roofs, and soon came the drifting banter of children and adults as they moved about - from their homes towards the main hall.

Inayah exhaled a cloud of warmth that wicked into the cold dull evening air. She was exhausted but knew that sleep, especially now, was almost forbidden.

The slave market held annually at the village as girls born and raised within the middle and lower class were to be sold to the highest bidder at the auctions.

Myriads of girls would be attending from the ages of eleven to nineteen being the oldest and possibly the most ready for marriage.

Inayah's gaze listless wandered over the barren crop land, dried out corn husks billowing lazily in the wind.

She knew the time had come for her to be auctioned off a slave, the money given to her poor-ridden family. Despite the fear that leaped in her throat, there was relief and certain warmth in knowing that her value, though small, would ease their burdens.

It had been two days since they last ate a proper meal, with winter fast approaching all crops had been to ice over and her father had gone off to a far market in search of meat. They would need food soon.

Inayah thought of her youngest brother, Zahir -- wide brown eyes that glistened over with tears at the sight of her retreating, small wiry hands that had clutched at the hem of her skirt, cheeks flushed from the strain of weeping as Inayah bade her mother and him a final goodbye.

Her chest clenched and she grit her teeth to prevent further crying.

It would be futile, anyway.

The past was behind and all that lay ahead was this life.

The wagon drew to a jostling, shaky halt and both girls leaped off, hands still clutched tightly together, so tight their knuckles paled ghost white. They automatically began to move towards the wooden building where the auction would take place.

Inayah pursed her lips into a thin, grim line as her gaze cast dubious self-conscious glances at the numerous girls all lined up outside. They wore their best outfits, and most seemed to be within the middle-class family range. Perfectly combed hairs pulled back into neat ponytails or let fall in soft golden ringlets around their faces.

Suddenly, a pair of calloused hands pressed over her eyes and she felt unfamiliar body heat against her back. The figure remained silent. Inayah stiffened, scrunching her nose in order to catch a proper scent of the person.

Something warm flooded her chest as her grim mouth curved upwards in a smile. "Oscar, " she spoke and the hands dropped to her shoulders, squeezing encouragingly.

A mouth pressed against the shell of her ear minutes later; "I will be inside, waiting." And then he was gone.

The interior is warm. Inayah is placed at the back of the line, much to her expectation, not that she was complaining and silently watches as the auction begins.

The prettiest girls go first, bagging just enough money - somewhere between twenty five to thirty silver coins. As the line depletes so does the amount and by the time Inayah is climbing the stage, she expects nothing more than a meagre five silver coins.

Her heart judders and she curses the lack of refinement and beauty in her. It had never bothered her before, tomboyish looks - swamp brown eyes, a cluster of sunburned freckles from toiling beneath the malevolent sun and singed brown hair that burned at the edges when her brother recklessly played with a candle.

Her hands and legs were neither smooth nor pale - bronzed and littered with scars and dried scabs she had nervously plucked at on the way to town.

"Inayah Ziniat, " the auctioneer announced with less enthusiasm, "hails from the ziniat family." He gestures for her to spin and she does so slowly, self consciously.

All the while, Inayah is vaguely aware of someone's stare.

Timidly, she peers up from beneath her long lashes, scanning the crowd of disinterested people, her mouth twitches at the sight of Oscar standing by the door smiling wide at her. It did not matter who she was sold to, he would always have her heart, and as long as they remained in the same village--

"Are there any bidder-" the auctioneer was cut off by a low, sonorous voice.

"Forty silver coins."

Inayah almost fell off the block as there were gasps and loud whispers.

"Uhh... first bid of forty silver coins. Anyone else?"

The room was eerily quiet as the farmers all looked at the newcomer.

"Dowry accepted Mr?"

Inayah's eyes averted from the faces to the figure that had bade for her. It was a slender man dressed in all black, but that was not what attracted Inayah's attention.

The handsome quiet man sat tall and rigid, one knee cast over the other, hands formally clasping over the knee. The stranger was not a local, that much she could tell from the sharp angularity of his face, hair blacker than black looking like the perfect spill of ink on a midnight sky.

The man raised an eyebrow, drawing her attention from his hair and the rest of his masculine face. His nose held just enough authority without being too big. His chin was square enough to expose every clench of his teeth, and his throat powerful enough to reveal every swallow, rippling with sinew and muscle.

Her eyes followed his neck, following the contours of flawless skin until it disappeared beneath a dark grey shirt with the collar unbuttoned. He wore a casual black coat as if he'd shrugged into it at the last minute, and his long legs put him two heads taller than her short frame.

Inayah's heart began to hammer vigorously.

"Salem."

Her whole body felt cold yet hot, perspiration surfacing along her upper lip and her palms began to grow clammy. She fidgeted on the step and lowered her eyes upon realizing that the man was still watching her.

Inayah licked her suddenly dry lips and shyly peered at Salem. His eyes were still locked on hers, though his head had tilted to the side, giving the auctioneer his mild attention.

The stranger began to rise then, and Inayah could do nothing but cower despite the great distance between. He was large and moved as nimble as a cat.

"Amount accepted, " the auctioneer banged his gavel as the bag of coin was tossed onto his podium.

Everything else happened in a blur of confusion. One moment Inayah was perched on the stool and the next a hand was reaching for her wrist, gently tugging her behind the curtain as the auction continued.

"Oh, Inayah." A soft voice pried her attention back to reality and she felt soft hands wiping at her cheeks.

Had she been crying?

"That man, " Inayah began then caught herself somehow unable to find the right words. Anita embraced her then, pressed her into warm chest. Inayah clutched at her only friend.

"Do not cry, " Anita whispered, pulling away just enough to scrub at her glowing cheeks with the sleeve of her tattered sweater. "Do not show him your weakness so early on."

The door cracked open, a man peering through.

"He awaits you."

Anita turned to Inayah, they clutched each other, wide-eyed. Words remained unspoken but it was evident what they meant. Survive.

Inayah hugs Anita one last time, unable to fully pry herself away from the girl. The ache in her chest only increases with each step in the stranger's direction and she gazes at his extended hand warily.

His hand is warm and rough as it closes over her small one, then with surprising gentleness he guides her out of the wooden building out back.

The sky is velvet black, lit by torches placed on walls. Two large horses stand by the village's exit. Inayah squints through the darkness, searching for the stranger and she hesitates as he steps out of the woods.

Her eyes drop to the earth as the servant guides her towards him.

"Hands out, " He said then binds her wrists with thick rope and ties that to his saddle before mounting the large horse, the cloak he wears sways in its stead.

She will be walking.

Inayah glances over her shoulder one last time, her stomach clenching as the horse begins its slow journey.

That was the last she saw of her home.

Inayah had no inkling as to how long she had been walking. Her whole body felt sore and fatigued yet she held her tongue as remained silent.

She had silently cried throughout the first hours of traveling, slight sniffles disrupted with hiccups as she raised her bound wrists to her eyes and wiped at the tears.

She knew better than to cry. Crying was a sign of weakness and weakness allowed them an upper-hand over her.

She had to steel herself and yet she could not. She tried but failed thoroughly until finally succumbing to the tears. Inayah cried silently while staring at her bare feet as they walked over the path. She knew the two men could hear her but both chose to ignore and she was glad they did.

Although now that she thought about their ignorance, Inayah felt vague annoyance then anger through the tears. Her brown eyes rose to the broad back that sat astride a large horse, and she glared at him pensively.

He disrupts their annual ritual and claims her as his own. The confidence was revolting and her anger spiked at the audacious behavior. He took her from normalcy.

Oscar.

Inayah's eyes begins to burn all over again at the thought of her long time lover who was meant to be her husband. Had it not been for the stranger she would be in his arms by now, in their new home, planning for their new future. A future together.

Oscar. The boy who charmed his way into her heart and stole her of precious breath. Now gone. Eighteen years of saving her chastity for him now worthless.

She was meant to be a wife and now she would be nothing more but a slave to the stranger. Inayah wiped at her tears angrily then huffed out a breath, blowing a stray strand of curl that fell over her forehead.

Her feet ached from walking. In order to avoid stones and sharp twigs, she moved towards the path's edge and walked on the grass which was softer and more conducive.

Peering up from beneath wet lashes, Inayah gazed at the man.

He sat tall and rigid. His shoulder length midnight hair had been tied up and away into a ponytail. He was handsome, unnervingly so.

Hardly had she ever seen such a man for most that lived within their village was of normal looking. Nothing outstanding, nothing to have a woman chance a second glance. However, this man was different. He was beautiful with bronze flawless skin, an exotic breed far from European.

Inayah blinked then, not realizing that she had been blatantly gawking at him, and in turn his sapphire eyes slanted in her direction. She ducked her head and stared at the ground hard.

After an hour, she broke the silence. "My feet, " Inayah began timidly, "may we break?"

She didn't know what to expect. A part of her knew he would refuse and yet another hoped he would agree. When he did not stop, he heart began to slow only to stutter as his horse halted.

His dark voice startled her out of the brief reverie as he unmounted from the horse. His boots landed with a heavy thud and he straightened, heading in her direction.

Reflexively, Inayah flinched back as the man towered over her. She did not know what he would do, perhaps strike her for requesting a break? Inayah braced herself for the blow but none came.

His hand, large and warm, curled around her wrist as he worked the knots open. They fell from her wrists and she rubbed them timidly, still staring at his boots and not face.

"Five minutes." The deep voice startled her. Inayah nodded quickly then dashed towards the tree line, the need to empty her bladder almost painful.

She moves behind a tree then begins to undo her pants only to still.

What was she doing?

Quietly, she turns and peers from around the tree at the stranger. He had moved towards the opposite treeline and was staring out into nowhere. His servant had long Wynter rode ahead, leaving them behind.

Inayah inhaled a shuddering breath and glanced back at the forest before her. If she ran now she could create a great enough distance to safety, plus she was a fast runner that much was true.

It was a risk, she knew, to escape. But what other choice did she have?

Silently maneuvering around the bushes and trees, Inayah ducked beneath the trees and shot into the forest like a bullet. Her body moved in a blur of short silent breaths and light feet that barely grazed the earth.

Cold air whistled in her ears and hair, whipping them all over her face. She ran without pause nor dared risking a glance over her shoulder out of fear. Her heart was going crazy, leaping all around and rattling her lungs along with.

After twenty or so minutes, she dared a glance over her shoulder, feet faltering at the sight of no one. He had not come after her, and if he dared then he may have lost her.

Her stomach was awash with relief and nerves. Slowing to a jog, Inayah quietly continued up until the sound of water trickling echoed in the near distance.

At the sight of a river, her mouth went dry. The rush of adrenaline subsided, leaving her in need of hydration and her feet felt horribly sore, sharp rocks and twigs having tore through flesh underfoot leaving traces of blood and dirt.

She needed to wash off the blood to prevent him from tracking her.

Collapsing by the river bank, Inayah dipped her feet into the cold water and shuddered in turn. It felt soothing, calming her ache. Gently washing away the dirt and blood she ripped the hem of her dress and wrapped it around her soles then crawled onto her knees and cupped a handful of water before drinking.

Once quenched, she splashed her face and rose to her feet.

Suddenly, a hand braced on her lower back and shoved her into the river. Inayah fell with a yelp, plummeting into the water as it rolled over her.

She resurfaced, sputtering lungful of water consumed only to freeze at the sight of Sapphire eyes. Wordlessly, he pointed at the shallow part of the river.

Inayah ducked her face shamefully and slowly tread through the water until the shallow part.

Just as he began approaching her, she pivoted and shot away only for a large hand to curl around the back of her neck.

"No!" Inayah screamed as the man lifted her with ease. She bucked and thrashed about, "Let me go!"

"Quiet, " he commanded but she remained adamant, kicking at his body when suddenly he knelt on one foot and placed her, stomach down, on the other.

Inayah gasped as her skirt was lifted and seconds later, his large palm came down on her exposed behind.

Inayah had never been hit, let alone spanked.

And so when the stranger had swiftly thrown her across his lap, she barely had enough time to register just exactly what was happening until his large hand grasped the hem of her dress and bunched it up on her waist, exposing her backside.

A gust of cold air brushed her ass and hardly did she react when his open calloused palm landed on her left ass cheek.

"Ow!" Inayah yelped as jarring pain spread over her tender flesh.

He did not go easy.

Another smack on her right cheek forced a cry of terror as she bucked on his thigh. His free hand grabbed a fistful of her ponytail and forcefully shoved her face down such that she hung by the belly on his thigh.

"No! Stop!" Inayah gasped as another spank landed on her left cheek.

He spread each open hit evenly; from one cheek to another, down the back of her thighs. Each strike was hard, heavy and absolutely painful.

"Is this what you wished for?" The man demanded as she cried and frantically struggled to pry herself away.

His grip was that of steel, her behind heated up as fire licked and wrapped its hot fingers around her sensitive skin.

"Do you wish to disobey me?" smack, "so much so that I must discipline you?" smack smack

"Noo- please!" She squealed as his palm landed and bounced with blinding intensity. "Please! Please!"

"Will you repeat it again?" The man growled, using her ponytail to viciously jerk her head upright as he gazed at her red tear-stained face.

Inayah tried at shaking her head vehemently but the grip on her hair halted any such actions.

Another sudden spank on her rear forced her to wail, "I won't! I won't!"

"Will you repeat it?" Salem's voice dropped to a deadly calm whisper, and his hand seized the striking, simply pressing on her sensitive heated flesh.

"I won't!" Inayah sobbed and his thumb stroked her left cheek tentatively.

"Are you sorry?"

"I am! I'm sorry, Salem!"

"Master." He corrected, smacking her right cheek sharply. The flesh jiggled and she tensed, rocking forward and away reflexively.

"I'm sorry, Master!" Inayah sobbed.

His sapphire eyes remained transfixed on her face for a drawn moment, eventually the grip on her hair loosened as that hand rose to her rosy cheeks, collecting a few tears on his index finger.

Salem rubbed his thumb and forefinger, seemingly amused by the tears, then casually dropped her onto the floor. He rose then and adjusted his coat, pivoting and heading back to the forest from where she came from.

"Hurry up." He snapped when she remained on the forest floor, still sobbing.

Inayah had never loathed a man as much as she did Sin.

He had punished her with enough ferocity to make her unable to properly sit for days on end. She walked with a grimace back to the horses and allowed him to tie her hand, all while ducking her face, glaring at the ground to avoid those void Sapphire eyes.

She hated him. Truly, madly and thoroughly.

Along with the punishment of spanking, he refused to stop for another break as they trekked for hours on end. By the time night fell, Inayah's whole body trembled from exhaustion and she was close to passing out without caring.

As though sensing her quiet distress, Salem's head rose to the velvet dark sky, seemingly searching for something. He unmounted from the horse and ran a gloved hand over its mane.

Inayah watched him briefly then averted her gaze, glaring at the forest floor. She flinched when boots suddenly appeared before her.

"Hands, " was all he said and she held them out for him. Salem untied her. "We will rest here for the night."

"Okay, " she whispered, rubbing her sore wrists.

He left her then and disappeared into the forest. Inayah circled one spot of grass and gingerly lowered herself onto it before whimpering. She could not sit. Opting to rest on her side on the uneven ground, Inayah sighed, biting her inner cheek.

It was futile.

Salem returned with an armful of dried twigs and began to make a fire. She watched him move about with fluid grace and skill, glaring at his back. He tossed her a loaf of hardened bread and cheese which she ate sparingly, having lost appetite along the way.

The night went by silently. Inayah was unable to keep her pained whimpers at bay as she moved about, searching for a proper form to sleep.

"Quiet yourself." Salem's icy voice called from across the dying fire and she stilled.

Ten minutes later, Inayah whimpered again as she accidentally lay on her bruised side.

Salem leaped up and strode across to her. Fear rose sharp and heavy as she tried backtracking, "I'm sorry--" Inayah began, "It just hurt--"

"Quiet." His hand curled around her small wrist, easily hauling her off the floor.

Inayah fought in terror, afraid that he might throw her over his lap and whip her again. He dragged her towards the fire and released her, "Stand tall."

"What are you--"

"Quiet yourself, child, or I will whip you with a switch." Salem snapped and her mouth clamped shut.

Obediently, she stood, nervously fiddling with her thumbs and anxiously watching as he reached into one of the bags, removing a small aluminia tin. Inayah trembled slightly.

"Lift your skirt." Salem demanded, crouching by her feet.

Her heart thundered and she dared question but the venomous glare of his blue eyes muffled her words. Obediently she gathered the hem of her skirt and lifted it. Perhaps it was the fire that warmed her cheeks.

Salem's hands were surprisingly gentle as they curled onto the sides of her underwear and softly lowered them to her ankles. Now exposed with her crotch near his face, Inayah's face blazed in humiliation.

He did not seem to mind, if anything there was indifference to the man's expression. Salem's strong, slender fingers dipped into the salve and he rose them to her sore, inflamed behind. It was cooling to touch, the effects instantly soothing as Inayah sighed in relief.

Her eyes pinched shut with a whimper when he brushed a swollen part. In response, Sin's hand stilled, then continued, perhaps even lighter than before. He spread the salve from one cheek to another, gently working it in, then down the back of her thighs and back up.

Inayah sighed again, small pouted lips gaping as his hand slid between her inner thighs, caressing up and down. Hardly did she notice the sudden rise, when she felt his cuff link come into contact with her throbbing pussy.

The cuff link was cold and her engorged lips felt like they could melt it to scraps in a few seconds. Inayah let out a tiny moan of pleasure then caught herself, eyes slamming open as she sought Sin's calm face.

No

He looked up at her doe-like fearful eyes. Then he looked down at his hand, the cuff now dark and moist from her juices.

He paused in a silence that seemed to stretch out forever, and then his eyes began to dark, seemingly swallowed whole in black.

Very quietly, he spoke "Lie down, little one."