CHAPTER 9 The New "Master"

　　Damon's POV

　　I look at her and she lifts her head up allowing our eyes to meet. And they instantly lock...I can’t help but be amazed by the power of her gaze.

　　Sarah: You are the one who... bought me?

　　Her voice comes out as a cracked scared whisper.

　　Damon: I was the one who bid for you and won, yes.

　　Dark brown eyes stare at me and her lips quiver softly as if she's freezing.

　　Damon: What is your name?

　　Sarah: Sarah.

　　Her answer is simple, short, and even a little bit reluctant. She is answering me because she has to, not because she wants to. For a moment I feel like trash for even taking a part in a situation like this, but then again I know for a fact I was the only one who meant no harm!

　　Damon: Sarah it is.

　　I say her name out loud and it seems like it is meant to be heard from my lips, and it does sound just right!

　　I take a step forward and she takes a step backward.

　　Damon: Hey, I know you are scared but I am not going to hurt you.

　　Sarah: Are you not?

　　Her voice is steady. I raise an eyebrow and look her up and down. She has every right to consider me the bad guy but I wonder why she is looking at me with such apathy almost as if she’s mocking me with the question.

　　I notice that her wrists are red, someone must have dragged her from there and she has a bruise on her lower belly.. shit!

　　Damon: I promise to my honour I won't.

　　Sarah: I can't be sure of that.

　　I lift my hands in the air as if in surrender, showing my intentions.

　　Damon: Who did these to you?

　　I had to ask, I had to find the man who dared to touch someone like her in a way like that and finish the! But she only looks down at her body and shrugs.

　　Sarah: It doesn't matter.

　　Damon: It matters to me.

　　Sarah: ...

　　She doesn’t respond but I am saying the truth. I’ll find who did that and they will pay! But for now, I simply take one more step toward her and this time thankfully she doesn't back away.

　　Damon: I am Damon Tenner.

　　***

　　Sarah's POV

　　The man that seemed to have paid for me... the man who was now in charge of my life was standing before me.

　　His dark eyes held my gaze, strong and captivating. I never thought eyes of such colour could be so bright...like two pristine stones of onyx. I was so scared I was getting cold but as if his own heat could affect me when I looked into his eyes I felt a weird warmth building up inside me.

　　He took one more step toward me slowly yet steadily, he didn’t want to scare me away. He said he meant no harm and I believed him.

　　He wouldn't hurt me! No. He of all people would be true to his words.

　　Damon: I am Damon Tenner.

　　He said his name as if it should ring a bell but it did not. I didn't know if I was supposed to know him or pretend that I do. So I just nodded.

　　He nods back in acknowledgment and extends his hand toward me as if this is an official meeting and I am not simply a captive. A person who was meant to be sold...

　　I don't take his hand but he doesn't pull it back.

　　Damon: Sarah, I need you to come with me.

　　Sarah: Because you are my new "master"?

　　I utter the words automatically almost the way a broken record would. He frowns his brows in disgust at my words and he shakes his head.

　　Damon: No! Of course not! Who gave you this idea?!

　　He seemed angry, his voice holding a rage that could turn dangerous any moment now!

　　Sarah: I'm sorry...

　　I hurry to apologize but that seems to throw him off even more. The anger disappears and is replaced by regret.

　　Damon: No, don't apologize, you did nothing wrong.

　　He is now really close to me. He touches one of my hands... I watch his every move. He looks at me too, meeting my gaze pleading, asking for permission to even be near me. That man is not treating me as if I belong to him but as if he needs me to cooperate.

　　Damon: May I?

　　He asks leaning to touch my wrist.

　　I nod extending my hand for him to take it. He touches it softly, examining it with his thumb light like a feather on my skin. I look at his face and there is nothing but concern reflected in his expression. His hands are big and steady. They must be strong enough to cause pain but he touches me as if I am the most fragile piece of art.

　　Damon: We have to treat these, okay? Do you trust me to do so?

　　Sarah: You said you won't hurt me...

　　Damon: And I am going to keep my word.

　　I nod. I believe him. His eyes as dark as they are are clear. Clear of cruelty, clear of the need to scare. He is here for me so far treating me like a human being.

　　It’s okay…

　　I hear my own voice inside my head as if it’s my gut feeling confirming that somehow, I can trust that man to be telling me the truth. That he was nothing but to help me.

　　You can let go now!

　　The voice again…this time louder as if demanding. And I do. I do let go. I feel all the exhaustion, the tension leaving my body, all I see is black before comforting dizziness consumes me.

　　The last thing I remember is strong arms wrapping around me, covering my body, and holding me protectively.

　　And then silence…