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Emancipation Proclamation by kharizzmatik

Direct Link: http://kharizzmatik-ep.blogspot.com/

I didnt mark prologue as chapter one, so you have 79 chapters + prologue = 80

chapters, all posted + epilogue.

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Table of contest:

Prologue: 5

Chapter 1: 9

Chapter 2: 20

Chapter 3: 32

Chapter 4: 42

Chapter 5: 52

Chapter 6: 62

Chapter 7: 71

Chapter 8: 85

Chapter 9: 94

Chapter 10: 110

Chapter 11: 123

Chapter 12: 139

Chapter 13: 150

Chapter 14: 164

Chapter 15: 175

Chapter 16: 189

Chapter 17: 200

Chapter 18: 208

Chapter 19: 223

Chapter 20: 239

Chapter 21: 260

Chapter 22: 281

Chapter 23: 296

Chapter 24: 316

Chapter 25: 345

Chapter 26: 371

Chapter 27: 399

Chapter 28: 422

Chapter 29: 449

Chapter 30: 487

Chapter 31: 514

Chapter 32: 546

Chapter 33: 575

Chapter 34: 607

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Chapter 35: 635

Chapter 36: 681

Chapter 37: 714

Chapter 38: 745

Chapter 39: 775

Chapter 40: 812

Chapter 41: 841

Chapter 42: 871

Chapter 43: 904

Chapter 44: 938

Chapter 45: 972

Chapter 46: 1005

Chapter 47: 1056

Chapter 48: 1086

Chapter 49: 1123

Chapter 50: 1154

Chapter 51: 1182

Chapter 52: 1229

Chapter 53: 1261

Chapter 54: 1292

Chapter 55: 1325

Chapter 56: 1352

Chapter 57: 1376

Chapter 58: 1417

Chapter 59: 1443

Chapter 60: 1467

Chapter 61: 1491

Chapter 62: 1521

Chapter 63: 1550

Chapter 64: 1588

Chapter 65: 1628

Chapter 66: 1661

Chapter 67: 1685

Chapter 68: 1709

Chapter 69: 1735

Chapter 70: 1783

Chapter 71: 1825

Chapter 72: 1863

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Chapter 73: 1901

Chapter 74: 1951

Chapter 75: 2003

Chapter 76: 2064

Chapter 77: 2112

Chapter 78: 2164

Chapter 79: 2212

Epilogue: 2279

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Prologue

"This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must

consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it

not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it." -

Abraham Lincoln

Sixteen years ago today a girl lay on the damp ground, in the middle of a dark

small shabby barn that smelled faintly of hay and manure, and gave birth to a

premature baby girl. She was desperately frightened, for herself and her baby.

She endured the best she could, gritting her teeth and remaining silent despite

the severe pain, pushing through it and welcoming the baby into the world all

alone. She cut the umbilical cord with a pair of garden sheers and swaddled the

baby girl with rags she found, doing the best she could to keep her warm. She

knew it was too soon for her to be born, knew there was no way it had been 9

months already. The baby was tinyshe wasnt sure how much she weighed but

it couldnt have been much more than 5 pounds. Her cry was weak, her body

slightly blue, but she refused to give up on her daughter. She held that tiny baby

all through the night, rocking her and shushing her, trying to feed her but having

absolutely no clue how to get her to latch on to the breast.

The afterbirth frightened the girl, sending her into a panic attack. She had no clue

what was going on, horrified at the thought of having twins. She still hadnt

figured out what she was going to do with the one she had as it was, had no idea

how she was going to raise a child.

She was still a child herself, barely sixteen and utterly nave. As she held that

baby through the night, gazing down into her scrunched up face and stroking her

tiny hand wrapped around one of her fingers, she imagined a world beyond the

one she lived in. A world where her baby girl could flourish. Where she could go

to school and have friends, a world where she could fall in love and marry. A

world where her daughter could have her own house, her own career, her own

family. A world where her daughter had choices, freedoms.

Because the girl had none. She was a slave, at the mercy of the people who

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owned her. She was kidnapped as a baby, both of her parents murdered. The

kidnappers knew they could get a pretty penny for her and auctioned her off to

the highest bidder, not caring what they wanted her for or what would come of

her.

Shed gotten lucky though, for the most part. She knew she couldve ended up in

a pedophile ring somewhere but she hadnt. She was purchased as a present, a

child for a woman who desperately wanted a daughter but couldnt bear her own

anymore. Shed already had a son, his birth traumatic and leaving her barren.

They couldnt legally adopt, as the husband had an extensive criminal record and

they wouldve never been approved. So they bought on the black market.

It didnt go over very well, the girls presence backfiring. Instead of filing the void

the lady had, she merely reminded her of her inability to ever have her own

daughter. She had been pushed aside, cast off. She carried their same last name

but she was no more family to them than the next person. As soon as she was

old enough to walk and talk, she was left to fend for herself and forced to help

take care of their needs.

The family was powerful. She wasnt entirely sure what they were involved in, but

she knew it wasnt good. They owned a few slaves, and over the years shed seen

more than one murdered at the familys hand when they tried to flee. There was

no escaping. Youd be found if you even attempted it, and youd be killed in front

of everyone to send a message to the others. They owned you.

She didnt see their son much, as he was off in boarding school throughout the

year and usually spent summers traveling with the family. She was always left

behind while they vacationed, but never was she left alone. There was always

someone watching her.

The fall the girl turned 15, the father fell ill. Their son came home to help his

mother while his father was out of commission, so-to-speak. He was eighteen at

the time and was volatile, but he wasnt too harsh to herhe didnt threaten her

or beat her as he did the others, and he wasnt demanding of her. He ignored her

for the most part, barely even noticing she was alive. But after a few months it all

shifted and he started sneaking into her room at night, laying with her and

touching her, hovering over her and pushing himself into her.

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She wasnt educated but she knew the facts of life. When her period stopped

coming, she knew what that meant. She wasnt sure what to do, who to tell or

what to say. Shed finally grown brave enough to confess to her mistress that a

child was growing inside of her, when the son came home and announced to the

family that he was to be married to a local girl from a well-off family.

She knew then that she couldnt say anything. They were counting on the

merging of the families for their livelihood and the fact that she was pregnant

because of their son, despite the fact that she hadnt instigated their contact,

would be blamed solely on her. Theyd blame her for ruining their future, for

ruining their plans.

After awhile the father recovered and the son moved out, leaving her back to

being overlooked. She kept her pregnancy a secret, hiding it the best she could.

No one paid her much attention anyway--no one noticed.

So as she sat in that barn, rocking that tiny baby, she allowed herself to forget

the way she lived. She allowed herself to dream of a better world for her child.

She allowed herself to dream of her child having a future where she could shine.

She kept the baby hidden away for a few days, the baby surviving and

surprisingly thriving given the conditions. But she couldnt keep her a secret

forever.

The mistress faintly heard the baby crying one evening and walked out to the

barn, where shed been hiding out with her. The mistress was shocked to say the

least. The girl was so frightened, afraid they were going to sell the baby or even

worse, end the babys life. She'd seen slaves get pregnant over the years, seen

their pregnancies terminated and babies disappear. But the mistress surprised

her. Because as the mistress gazed into the babys face, she saw her sons

features shining back at her. She knew the baby was her blood.

She wouldnt accept the baby as family, refused to acknowledge it out loud, but

she allowed her to keep her. And for sixteen years the girl did the best she could,

been the best mother she couldve been. She couldnt escape the life she had

been sold into, but she held hope that someday her daughter would find

something better. And she did all she could to prepare her for a better life,

despite the fact that she knew very little about the outside world herself.

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The baby grew into a beautiful child. The slaves doted on her but the family

ignored her for the most part. Occasionally theyd catch the mistress staring at

her, smiling when she didnt think anyone was watching. It gave the girl hope

that maybe her child would be freed. They didnt treat her like the others either,

didnt beat her or work her too hard. There was some kindness there, under the

surface. Compassion for the bastard child their son created.

The summer before that childs 12th birthday, however, everything changed. The

mistress and master of the house got into a car accident, dying upon impact.

Instead of being freed, as they all hoped, the son stepped in and took over. The

son had turned into a harsh man, his hostility growing as he aged. He had not an

ounce of kindness inside of him, no compassion what so ever.

He still had a soft spot for the girl he had impregnated, despite the fact that over

a decade had gone by since they last had contact. After he took over he started

sneaking into her room again at night and having his way with her. She never

fought back, knowing fighting his advances would mean death. He owned her and

she got off easier than most. All she truly had to endure was a few minutes of his

panting sweaty form hovering over her at nightthe others were beaten bloody.

The man wasnt stupid, he knew the child was his daughter and he didnt like it

one bit. For four years the girl was abused and tortured, and her mother

protected her the best she could while still protecting herself. She knew shed be

no help to her dead and had no choice but to sometimes sit back and allow her

daughter to endure it.

The wife eventually figured it out, realized that the child slave was her husbands

illegitimate daughter. The woman had been unable to carry a baby to term, all of

her pregnancies ending in miscarriage. She was infuriated and wanted the child

gone. She demanded her husband dispose of her.

That girl, who birthed that tiny baby alone in the barn, was my mother. And that

baby, who survived despite the odds stacked against her, was me. My name is

Isabella Swan, and today is my sixteenth birthday.

It would surprise people if they knew the world I was born into existed. Abraham

Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, outlawing ownership of

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other human beings, but it didnt end there. People were still bought and sold,

bound to servitude, stripped of all rights and privileges. I was born in 1989, well

over a century after Lincoln abolished slavery. Slavery exists in every in corner of

America, the slave trade in and out of the cities and suburbia kept secret. With

enough money, you can buy anyone.

Its the year 2005 and today Im being sold.

Chapter 1 - Survival of the fittest

Sleep is good, death is better; but of course, the best thing would to

have never been born at all - Heinrich Heine

IPOV

Youve gotta get up soon sweetheart, my mothers voice said softly beside me.

I grumbled incoherently, keeping my eyes closed and turning over away from

her. She sighed, reaching out and stroking my brown hair softly. She was quiet

for a few moments and I could feel her hand trembling, her breathing shaky. She

was taking this hard.

Charles will be back soon, she whispered, barely audible but I flinched as his

name escaped her lips. You know what will happen if youre still in bed when he

returns.

Maybe its for the best. Maybe hell kill me and get it over with, I mumbled. My

mom sobbed loudly upon my words, losing the composure she was fighting hard

to keep. I sighed loudly and mumbled a quick apology, not wanting to upset her.

I pulled myself up into a sitting position and glanced over at her. She was sitting

on the floor beside the mattress we slept on. Our room was a sectioned off loft on

the top of a barnthe same barn Id been born inand was a few feet from the

house. The room itself was about 6.5 feet high and about 10 feet by 10 feet. It

was small, for sure, but there was a large window that took up nearly the entire

wall that made it appear to be more open.

My moms face was swollen, her cheeks streaked with tears and eyes bloodshot. I

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had to look away quickly, unable to bear it.

Charles Swan, the man whose blood pumped in my veins and whose DNA I

shared, left two nights ago for a business trip to speak to a 'potential buyer'. He

went away often for that reason, as he not only sold real estate as a front but he

ran a significant identity theft and forgery ring, but I wasnt fooled. I knew what

he was off selling right nowMe. Id overheard him and his wife discussing me a

week ago. She told him she wanted me gone and I suspect she was insinuating

he murder me, but he instead decided Id be sold. He told her he could get a

good bit of money for me and said he had someone in mind that was looking. He

was due to return this morning.

I was frightened, there was no doubt about it. I had no idea what the future held,

where Id be sent to and what situation Id be put into. Id also never been away

from my mother and that was what scared me the most.

I dont have a lot of life experience. I can count the number of times Id been off

of the Swan family property in my entire life on my fingers. Ive never had a

chance to socialize and can probably name every person Ive ever met off the top

of my head. Ive only ever met one person my age and that was a slave Charles

bought last year. She had been here for a little over a week when she tried to

escape. He caught her a mile down the road and dragged her back, pulling her

into the house by her hair. He beat her to death right in front of me and left her

lying on the floor for hours. I was forced to clean up the blood and bits of flesh

embedded into the wooden floor after he finally removed her body. It was

gruesome and made me vomitId gotten a pretty bad beating for that.

And besides Charles and his father, Id never actually spoken to another man

before. I didnt remember much of Charless father, he was rarely around, and

Charles had always been cold toward me. All of the slaves here were female, and

when visitors came we were kept locked away. Men frightened me--they were

foreign, unknown. I'd gotten plenty of glimpses of other men, the ones paid to

stand guard around the perimeter of the property, but I'd never had any

interaction with them. The only ones who interacted with the guards were the

one's who were stupid enough to try to flee. They weren't always out there and

you couldn't always see them when they were, but you always knew there was a

chance that you were being watched by someone in the shadows. It was like they

were taunting us, letting us know that technically slipping away undetected was

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possible, you just never knew when. It was gambling with your life and very few

were willing to take that risk. The ones who did always failed.

Im up, I muttered eventually. I climbed up from the mattress and walked over

to the dresser, grabbing whatever was on top. All of my clothes were old and

tattered, hand-me-downs that were my mothers when she grew up.

I put on a white shirt that was covered in stains and slipped on a pair of jeans.

They were worn and faded, holes worn into both knees and the bottoms frayed. I

didnt have any shoes, hadnt had any in years. My feet were rough, the skin

thickened and tough from going barefoot. It didnt bother me anymore, I could

step on a nail and it probably wouldnt even register.

My mom walked up behind me with a comb and started running it through my

hair, trying to get the knots out. It was fruitless It desperately needed a good

washing. She gave up after a minute, grabbing a rubber band and pulling it back.

I heard the sound of a car coming up the driveway and my heart started racing. I

was frozen in spot, frightened. My mom dashed to the widow, glancing out. Her

eyes were wide, her expression panicked. She knew just as well as I did that my

time was running shortshe knew where Charles had gone.

The car came to a stop in front of the house, the engine cutting off. I heard a car

door slam shut and listened intently, waiting to hear any sign of someone being

with him.

Hes alone, my mom said, sounding pleased. I exhaled loudly, realizing I had

been holding my breath. She turned and smiled lightly at me, her expression

relieved. She walked to me quickly, pulling me into a hug and squeezing tightly.

Maybe he changed his mind.

I laughed bitterly. Yeah, right.

She sighed, pulling out of the hug and grabbing my hand. Dont give up hope

Isabella, she said sternly.

I nodded, more to appease her than anything. She didnt need to know that Id

given up hope a long time ago when I realized that an entire world existed

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beyond oursa world I knew very little of.

We started for the door, wanting to get over to the house to greet Charles before

he decided to come looking for us, when the sound of gravel crunching and the

light purr of an engine registered with our ears, indicating a car was coming up

the driveway. My head snapped toward my mom quickly, fear and panic written

all over my face. Her expression matched mine.

Isabella!!! Charles yelled from the house. Get your ass in here now!

I was shaking lightly, more scared now than ever before. My mom tried to smile,

obviously wanting to comfort me, but it came off looking like a grimace.

Come on, she said softly, leading me out of the room and down the stairs. We

headed into the back of the house and Charles was standing in the foyer, gazing

out the front door. He heard us coming and glanced in our direction.

Did I call for you Renee? he asked, his tone sharp. My mom froze in spot,

glancing between Charles and I quickly.

I just thought she started.

You arent here to think. Get your ass upstairs to my room, well deal with you

later.

My mom nodded and tried to let go of my hand, but I clutched onto it tightly. She

sighed, using her other hand to pry my fingers away. Itll be okay sunshine,

dont worry. Just listen to Charles and be on your best behavior.

I nodded and she leaned over to kiss my cheek lightly before retreating up the

stairs. Charles shot me a pointed look and I walked the last few steps into the

foyer. I stared down at the ground, shaking with fear and chewing on my bottom

lip trying to keep my composure.

The front door opened and I heard a man speaking instantly. His voice was

smooth and slightly soft, the exact opposite of Charless. I glanced up in their

direction and nearly gasped at the sight of him. He was fairly tall, with bright

blonde hair that was slicked back and sparkling blue eyes. He was wearing an

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expensive looking suit and was talking into a cell phone. He was staring right at

me and raised his eyebrows questioningly when he saw me looking at him. I felt

fear shoot through me, afraid of what his reaction meant, unsure if hed be upset

that I had looked at him. Charles tended to punish us if he caught us staring at

him. I blushed, embarrassed, and stared back down at the floor.

The man continued to talk on his phonehe was talking about some shipment

coming in somewhere. He hadnt spoken to either Charles or I, not even really

acknowledging us. After a few minutes I peeked back up and saw Charles

standing across the room, looking almost as nervous as me. My brow furrowed in

confusion, as Id never seen him like that before. Charles was always in control,

never off his game. But now now he looked rattled. He kept glancing over at the

blonde haired man nervously, his eyes darting down toward the floor.

Even more fear rocked me as I realized that Charles was afraid of the man. It

was written all over his face.

The blonde haired man finally told whomever he was speaking to that he had to

go and snapped his phone shut.

All was completely silent then, the only sound I could hear was the blood

pumping through my body furiously. I stood frozen in spot, afraid to move.

She looks horrible, the man said after a moment, his voice oozing disgust. My

eyes widened, his words hurting. Id had pretty much every insult imaginable

thrown at me from Charles and his wife and I usually shrugged it off, but

something about this virtual stranger cracked my tough exterior.

I know shes not the greatest looking girl Charles started, but the blonde

haired man cut him off.

I didnt say she was ugly, he said sharply. Charles stopped speaking abruptly.

But she does look horrible. Youve got money, you cant afford to dish out a few

bucks on a decent outfit or a pair of shoes for the child? Christ, look how tore up

her feet are!

I, uh well Charles mumbled. I peeked up at saw the blonde haired man

staring at me. My eyes met his and a slight smile crept onto his lips.

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I looked back down after a second, eye contact with him being slightly

uncomfortable. I wasnt used to it, the scrutiny of his gaze causing me to fidget.

How much? he asked after a moment.

Well I was hoping to get one for her, Charles said. The blonde haired man

laughed.

One, eh? Whens the last time the girl had a good scrubbing?

750? Charles asked, his voice hopeful. I mean, shes still a virgin.

The blonde haired man was quiet. I didnt dare look up but I could feel his gaze,

could sense him staring at me. My heart was racing wildly at the mention of my

virginity, fear rocking me. The only knowledge of sex I had is what the women

around here mentioned. Id seen Charles have sex with my mother before, have

heard them more times than I could count, and I remember clearly her crying

afterwards, completely disgusted. Sex in my eyes was nothing but a repulsive

form of punishment.

I glanced up again eventually, the silence wearing me down. My eyes met his

again and he raised his eyebrows questioningly, so I looked away quickly,

chewing on my lip nervously.

She cant even keep eye contact with me. Theres no way thatll fly at my

house, he said, finally breaking the silence.

Girl, Charles said sharply. My head shot up and I looked at the blonde haired

man, making sure to make eye contact. The last thing I wanted to do was

infuriate Charles, as a beating would make this day worse than it already was.

Sorry Master Charles, I said softly. The blonde-haired man smiled after a

moment, cocking his head to the side and eyeing me up. He finally nodded.

Shes got potential. Ill give you 500.

Charles frowned. With her age and virginity, I could get a lot more for her from

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the auction. My eyes widened at the mention of the auction. I knew from the

others that girls who were bought and sold at the action were typically turned

into sex slaves and prostitutes, whereas people occasionally got lucky in private

sales.

The blonde haired man smiled. Possibly, but she isnt worth that much for what I

want her for. Its evident shes not used to being around people, you said she

cant even read or write.

I finally broke eye contact at his mention of reading and writing, glancing back

down at the ground. Charles didnt know, but I had learned the basics of both

over the years. The other slaves taught me what they knew, which wasnt much,

and the rest I picked up on my own over time. Charless wife had a habit of

watching TV with the closed captioning on, which helped a lot. Id been blessed

with an amazing memory and it had all come pretty naturally to me. It was kept

a secret though, because an educated slave was typically viewed as a more

dangerous slave.

Shes a damn good worker, can cook and clean with the best of them. Charles

mumbled. Obedient. Worth every penny of 750.

I can tell. Did you chip her?

No, never had a reason to. Shes been here since the day she was born, never

showed any indication of thinking about leaving.

My brow furrowed in confusion. Chipped?

650, and thats my final offer. Ill have to have her chipped and its evident you

have nothing for the child, so Im going to have to shell out the money to get her

set up properly.

Charles was quiet for a moment. Youve got a deal, he finally said.

I glanced up again and the blonde haired man smiled. Ill be back tomorrow with

the cash. Clean her up a bit for me, Im not taking her anywhere with me looking

like that.

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Charles nodded, reaching his hand out to shake the blonde haired guys. He

snapped open his cell phone and dialed a number, heading for the door. He

paused in the doorway, turning back to look at me briefly.

Whats your name, child?

Isabella, I said softly, barely audible.

Excuse me? he said, raising his eyebrows expectantly. He hadnt been able to

hear me.

My names Isabella, sir.

He smiled and nodded. Well, happy birthday Isabella.

Thank you, sir, I said, slight taken back. Hed been the first one to wish me a

happy birthday, my own mother not mentioning the fact that I turned sixteen

today. But birthdays werent typically acknowledged for the most part, as there

was nothing to celebrate. The older the slaves got, the less useful they were. At a

certain point, they were deemed so useless that they were eradicated. My mother

had always tried to shield me from that, not wanting me to know that slaves

faced their own form of genocide.

He nodded and headed out to his car. I stood frozen in spot, not daring to move

until Charles excused me. Charles stood at the door and watched as the car

started up and the blonde haired man pulled out of the driveway. He sighed

loudly and turned toward me. I glanced up at him and saw his expression was

ruthless, his glare menacing.

He walked toward me quickly, closing the distance between us. I braced myself,

unsure of what he was going to do, when his hand shot out and slapped me hard

right across the face. My head jerked sideways and I brought my hand up to my

cheek, stinging pain shooting through me. I tasted the bitter saltiness

immediately, realizing Id be chewing on my lip and pierced the skin with my

teeth from the force of his hit. My eyes welled up with tears and I tried to look

away and fight them back, not wanting him to see me cry. I sucked on my lip,

nearly gagging on the disgusting blood taste but not wanting him to see it. The

sight of blood tended to urge him on, like it taunted him to draw even more. He

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grasped me by my chin roughly and pulled my face toward him, forcing me to

look at him.

That man is powerful, important. Dont you embarrass me girl, you hear me? he

yelled, his face a mere few inches from mine. I could smell the stench of alcohol

on his breath, feel the slight spray of saliva from his words.

Yes, Master Charles, I whispered, losing the fight and tears running down my

cheek. He sighed, exasperatedly, and pushed me backwards. I stumbled but

thankfully was able to stay upright.

Go to the kitchen and help with lunch while I go deal with your mother, he said.

I nodded.

Yes, sir. I headed for the kitchen, where a slave named Clara already had lunch

started. She glanced up at me when I entered and smiled sadly.

You okay? she asked softly. I nodded but didnt say anything. The side of my

face was throbbing, tears still running down my face.

I grabbed a spoon and went to the stove, stirring pasta that Clara already had

boiling. I closed my eyes and sighed when I heard the familiar sound of thumping

start from upstairs. Charless room was directly above the kitchen and we could

hear the headboard of the bed hitting against the wall when he had his way with

her. That was his way of punishing my mom; he usually never raised a hand to

her, he degraded her in different ways.

They came down eventually, Charles heading to his office and my mom joining us

in the kitchen. I could see the streaks on her face from where she had been

crying, but she smiled at me trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

After we finished making lunch, my mom and I headed outside to the garden. We

were only allowed to eat when invited to and that normally only happened once a

day, usually at night. I got down on my hands and knees and started pulling

weeds. We lived in Phoenix, Arizona, which happened to be one of the hottest

and driest places in the country, so it didnt take long before I was sweating

profusely and my skin was turning pink from sun exposure.

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Charless wife returned home and she headed into the house. Shed been staying

gone a lot lately, which was quite a catch-22. It helped me, as she tended to

single me out to torture purely for amusement, but my mom suffered more when

Charless wife was gone. My mom said they used to appear to love each other,

but their marriage had turned into one of convenience for the most part. I surely

wasnt an expert on relationships, but I do know that whatever type of bond they

shared now wasnt something Id ever want to be a part of myself. It was

unstable--they were always fighting and screaming and angry at each other. I

imagined that couldnt be love.

I wasnt exactly knowledgeable about love though, either, so what did I know. I

guess what I felt for my mom was a form of love and I liked to believe she loved

me, but our situation didnt exactly condone really deep connections. You had to

detach yourself somewhat from everyone else to survive in this life. You never

knew when someone close to you was going to be hurt right in front of you, or

when their time would be up and theyd be killed. There was nothing you could do

to stop it, as intervening would only land you the same fate as them. You had to

look out for yourself first and foremost, no matter how much you wanted to care

for others. I wasnt sure Id ever actually felt what love was really like and knew

romantic love was completely out of the question. I had no desire to experience it

anyway, no desire to allow myself to be vulnerable. Vulnerability was the quickest

way to land yourself six feet under.

My mom tried to stand up for me, shield me from the bad as much as possible. I

felt like a burden to her, often wondered if it wouldve been better had I never

been born. I never said those things out loud, knowing shed disagree and tell me

how precious I was and how much I meant to her. A part of me wondered if

maybe me being sent away was for the best. I had no idea what I was getting

myself into, and maybe I was being sent off to certain death, but at least my

mother wouldnt have to carry the weight of my existence on her shoulders

anymore.

After a few minutes, Charless wife came back outside and waltzed out to the

garden, glaring down at me. I heard you were sold to the Cullen family today,

she said, her voice sounding smug. I glanced up at her and saw a sinister smile

playing on her lips. Theres no way youre good enough for them.

She laughed to herself, amused, and turned to walk back away. My heart was

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pounding frantically and I glanced over at my mom, who was absent-mindedly

pulling weeds and appeared to be shocked.

Do you know who they are? I asked after a few minutes. My mom sighed,

stopping what she was doing and sitting up on her knees.

I heard the name often growing up. Powerful family. Organized crime. They

arent the type you cross, if you know what I mean.

I nodded, realizing now why Charles had been so nervous in the blonde haired

mans presence. He had seemed nice enough but there had been a confidence

about him that was intimidating.

Youll be okay, my mom said finally, going back to work. Youre strong, always

were. Youll survive it. Honestly, anything has to be better than this place.

We worked in silence after that, both of us lost in thought. The back door to the

house opened eventually, Charles and his wife walking out. Renee, bring Isabella

into the house and get her cleaned up real good.

My mom stood up and held her hand out to me. I took it and she hauled me up

off the ground. We started toward the house slowly. I kept my head down, trying

to avoid eye contact as we walked past Charles and his wife. Before we cleared

them, however, Charless wife kicked her leg out, tripping me. I went flying,

closing my eyes and throwing my hands out to brace myself for impact with the

ground. I landed on my hands and knees, pain shooting through my limbs. I

hauled myself up and saw that my hands were scuffed and littered with gravel. I

glanced down and saw that my knees also had been scraped, a streak of blood

running down my right leg and staining my pants.

You got dirt on my shoes, slave, Charless wife sneered, narrowing her eyes at

me.

Sorry, Mistress, I said softly.

Charless wife snickered but Charles groaned. Clean her cuts out good while

youre at it, he said to my mom.

20

We headed up stairs to the bathroom reserved for the servants. My mom started

filling the tub up with water while I stripped my clothes off. I slipped inside the

tub, hissing as the steaming hot water made contact with my sensitive skin. The

water caused my palms and knees to sting.

I dipped my head back and she grabbed the shampoo, pouring some into her

hand and lathering it up in my head. I closed my eyes and sighed contently,

feeling her fingers massaging my scalp. I knew this was one of the last few

moments Id get with my mom and I was savoring every second of it. I had no

idea where I was going or what Id be doing, but I did know what I was leaving

behind and that fact hurt.

Chapter 2 - Change is inevitable "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes

on. -- Robert Frost

IPOV

I hauled the large window open and sat on the windowsill, gazing out. I had on a

pair of plain black Capris that my mom had managed to scrounge up and a pink

tank top that Charles had gotten from his wifes closet, much to her dismay. He

also purchased a pair of black flip-flops last night, not wanting me to be barefoot

today. His wife hadnt been very happy about that, despite the fact that hed only

apparently paid a dollar for them. I could hear them arguing over in the house

half the night over it.

Everyone else was outside working but I was forbidden from leaving the room in

the barn, Charles not wanting me to get dirty. I was sweating, the humidity

intolerable, and my mom said I had a slight bruise on my face from Charles

hitting me yesterday. I hadnt seen it myself, as I didnt exactly have access to a

mirror, so I wasnt sure how bad it actually was. My mom tended to downplay

those sorts of things. I also could feel the sunburn on my cheeks from working

outside so much yesterday, and my palms and knees were scuffed up but besides

that I was fairly well put together. My hair was clean, the knots all out, and it

hung loosely down my back.

I was gazing down at my mom, who was working in the garden. She looked

21

exhausted, had been up all night with me sobbing and holding me tightly. It was

our last night together and she didnt want to waste a single moment of it.

I heard the car approaching and Renees head shot up as she froze. She glanced

between up at me, looking panicked. I turned my head to look at the car, it was

black with dark tinted windows, expensive looking. I watched as the blonde

haired man stepped out of the drivers seat, closing the door behind him. He was

on his cell phone again and paused, looking up at me in the window. Charles

walked outside and greeted him but he ignored Charles, focusing his attention on

me. He turned away after a moment, smiling.

They went inside the house and I sighed, running my fingers through my hair,

nervously trying to make sure I was decent. They were in Charless office, their

laughter ringing through the house and filtering out the open windows. My heart

was pounding frantically and I felt slightly sick, light-headed and queasy. I hadnt

eaten in awhile, Charles refusing to feed any of us last night because hed caught

Clara sneaking a bite of food while cooking dinner. Shed only swiped a bit of

sauce off of a spoon, claiming to ensure it was done properly and tasted good,

but Charles didnt care. Tasting anything without permission, regardless of how

insignificant, was stealing in his eyes. He called us all out into the yard at

dinnertime and tied her to the railing of the porch, forcing us to watched as he

whipped her with a piece of cord. It was brutal, hearing her screams and

watching her cry, being unable to do anything to help her.

Charles hollered for me from the house eventually and I stood up, taking a deep

breath. I glanced around the room Id shared with my mother my entire life,

taking it all in one last time before heading out. I walked across the yard slowly,

making sure not to fall as I was clumsy by nature and the last thing I needed was

to embarrass myself already. When I reached the house I stepped inside and

glanced up, making sure to make eye contact with the blonde-haired man. His

smile fell immediately upon seeing me, and he groaned loudly.

What the hell happened to her face? he asked, his voice sharp and angry. My

eyes widened, as did Charless.

Shes clumsy, she fell, Charles muttered quickly. The blonde-haired man

sighed, shaking his head.

22

Do you have any makeup? Your wife has to have foundation or something to

cover up the bruise.

Uh, Im not sure how my wife will feel about that, I mean her makeup cost a

fortune, was special ordered and mixed, Charles said.

Well I cant take her in public with a fucking handprint on her face, Charles, the

man spat. Charles recoiled from his hostility and nodded.

Yeah, okay, hold on. Charles retreated from the room quickly, heading past me

up the stairs toward his room. I heard his wifes voice after a moment, yelling

she definitely wasnt happy about it. Charles yelled back at her and they started

fighting loudly. I was used to their fighting by now and it surely wasnt anything

new that I was the source of conflict.

The man walked forward to me. He reached his hand out toward my face and I

flinched instinctively. Im not going hit you, child, he said softly. He ran his

fingers lightly along the bruise, surveying my face. His touch was soft and

surprised meno one besides my mother had ever touched me so gently. Youll

be alright, it should cover up nicely.

A loud crashing sound came from upstairs, following by more screaming, and I

jumped. The blonde-haired man groaned loudly. Such ingrates, he muttered,

more to himself than anything. But what do you expect from a man who would

sell his own flesh-and-blood.

I glanced at him with surprise and he smiled lightly. Yeah, Im not stupid. I know

youre his.

A door slammed upstairs, echoing through the house and vibrating the walls. We

both flinched from the sound and he dropped his hand. Charles came downstairs

scowling, holding a small bottle of liquid foundation in his hand. He paused in

front of me, glancing between the bottle and me, unsure of what to do. I knew

nothing of makeup and neither did he. The blonde-haired man cursed under his

breath, snatching the bottle harshly from Charless hand and opening it. He

tipped it and pored a bit out onto his finger, bringing it up and rubbing it into my

cheek.

23

When he was satisfied with how I looked, he closed up the bottle and slipped it in

his pants pocket. Charles looked at him incredulously and the man smirked.

Thank your wife for the makeup for me, will you? And be thankful I dont take

more than that. Everyone knows theres consequences to delivering damaged

goods, what were you thinking laying a hand on her after you had just sold her?

Did you get a kick out of getting a last few licks in? Did you at least leave the

childs virginity intact?

I glanced up and involuntarily smiled at Charless stunned expression. The man

caught me and I stopped instantly, afraid of coming off as smug or defiant, but

he didnt react. Charles wouldve beaten me to a pulp if he ever caught me

reacting that way.

Yes, shes still pure, Im absolutely positive shes never whored around. Id never

touch her in that way and Im the only male shes been around.

The man froze, eyeing Charles skeptically. Ever? he asked, slightly hesitant with

disbelief. Charles nodded.

Besides my father when she was a small child and now you, shes never spoken

to or even been in the same room with another man.

The man pinched the bride of his nose, groaning. No wonder shes so

apprehensive. He chuckled after a moment before laughing loudly. Oh, this is

going to be fun. Real fun.

Things grew quiet, Charles looking slightly scared and the man seemingly slightly

frustrated but borderline amused about something. I was a bit shocked and

frightened by the mans reaction; he wasnt making much sense to me. What was

so funny about me not having experience with males? And the fact that his words

were dripping with sarcasm concerned me. Pleasure doing business with you,

Swan, he said after a moment.

You too Mr. Cullen, sir, Charles mumbled back. The man turned and glanced at

me, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

Is there anything youd like to take with you? I shook my head no as I didnt

have any personal possessions. Okay, I guess well go then.

24

He held his hand out to me and I furrowed my brow, confused, unsure of what he

wanted. He sighed loudly, snatching a hold of my hand and pulling me toward the

door. The man paused and pulled my hand up, looking at the fresh scrape on my

palm. He turned and glared at Charles briefly, shaking his head. His expression

was hostile, his eyes narrowed, and I felt my heart start racing. It was clear this

man could be terrifying when he wanted to be. I turned and gave one last glance

at Charles before being pulled outside.

He led me toward the car and without thinking I froze, stopping abruptly as my

gaze fell upon my mother standing in the garden. She was staring right at me,

her expression horrified. We both knew it was coming, we both knew I was

leaving and had come to grips with it in our own ways, but watching it happen

was something entirely different. Harder than I imagined it would ever be.

The man felt my resistance, refusal to take another step, and glanced around

with confusion trying to figure out why Id stopped. His eyes fell upon my mom

and he sighed. Is that your mother? he asked. I nodded and felt the tears

welling up in my eyes. He exhaled loudly, something between a huff and a sigh,

seeming frustrated but not entirely angry. You can have a moment to say

goodbye.

My head snapped in his direction, shocked. You mean it? I asked cautiously,

trying to keep my hope at bay. I didnt know this man, didnt know if it were

some type of trick to test me.

His expression mirrored his frustration. I wouldnt say it if I didnt mean it, he

said pointedly. He nodded in her direction. We have things to do, I dont have all

day. Go.

He dropped my hand and I glanced over at my mom. I started sprinting in her

direction, kicking off the flip-flops along the way. I leapt at her and she caught

me, both of us stumbling backwards. She hugged me tightly. My baby girl, she

sobbed.

The tears fell from my eyes and I squeezed her tightly. Ill miss you mom.

Ill miss you too. And dont you give up hope, Isabella. Promise me. Youre

25

destined for more. I nodded, unable to speak through my now heavy sobbing.

She pulled away after a moment, reaching out and brushing my tears away from

my cheeks.

I didnt ruin my makeup, did I? I asked her cautiously; afraid the hard work to

cover my bruise had been wiped away. She smiled and shook her head.

I glanced behind me, noticing the man glancing at his watch with an annoyed

expression on his face. My mom sighed. You need to get going, she said. I

nodded, leaning over and kissing her cheek quickly. I turned and started back

toward the car, picking up my shoes along the way and slipping them back on

while staring down at the ground. Walking away from her was the hardest thing

Id ever done. My mom was the only true constant in my life and I knew, walking

away from her, Id likely never see her again.

I reached the car and he opened the passenger door for me. I slipped inside and

grabbed the seat belt, putting it on. Id only ridden in a car a handful of times and

felt slightly out of place. He climbed into the drivers seat and buckled up, starting

the car up and pulling away. I stared out the side window crying quietly, trying to

fight back the tears but they continued to spill over. There was soft classical

music playing on the car stereo, thankfully loud enough to drown out my shaky

breathing.

Im not sure if youre aware, but my name is Dr. Carlisle Cullen, he said after a

moment, breaking the silence. I glanced at him quickly with confusion, slightly

caught off guard by the title. He smiled lightly. Yes, I assure you I am indeed a

real doctor.

I nodded once, acknowledging Id heard him. Sorry, sir, I didnt mean to seem

like I didnt believe you. I just thought I trailed off, stopping myself before I

said too much.

He smiled, seemingly slightly amused but there was a subtle seriousness in his

eyes. I thought Id learned how to read people pretty good over the years, a trick

you have to pick up to keep yourself out of the line of fire when you live the life I

do, but I was having a hard time grasping his moods. He wasnt reacting the way

I was used to people reacting, his expressions conflicting. I imagine thats not

the part of my life people would inform you of. No, nothing scandalous or exciting

26

about practicing medicine, right? he asked.

Right, I said softly, chewing on my bottom lip nervously, unsure if he was being

playful or if he were annoyed at the insinuation of his other lifestyle. I winced as

my teeth dug into the sore spot that had been busted open the day before.

So what do you know about my family?

I shrugged. Not much. Just that your family may have ties to organized crime,

I said hesitantly, unsure of how much I was allowed to know. Charles always

shielded us from his work, anytime someone questioned or hinted about his

illegal involvements hed punish them severely.

He nodded and thankfully didnt lash out or appear upset--he seemed to be

thinking about something. Do you know what it means to be tied to organized

crime? he asked after a moment.

Not exactly, I said. Is it like in the movie The Untouchables?

He looked at me with a look of disbelief before breaking out into hysterical

laughter, catching me off guard. He composed himself after a moment, wiping his

eyes, which had started watering.

I suppose you could say that. I wasnt aware you were a fan of such movies, he

said, glancing over at me.

My eyes widened, and I felt dread creeping up into me. We hadnt actually been

allowed to watch TV and I wasnt sure if he was aware of that. I just practically

confessed to having seen at least some of the movie The Untouchables, which

would indicate Id been disobedient.

Master Charles was a big fan of it sir, watched it often. It was just a movie so I

wasnt sure how off-base it was.

He smiled. Its fairly accurate, I suppose. It is a story based on my organization,

after all.

I nodded, outwardly remaining calm but that fact frightening me a bit. I hadnt

27

seen the entire thing, of course, but it was chocked full of dangerous men and

violence. He was quiet for a moment before sighing. Look, were going to get

this out into the open now. Im going to tell you what I feel you should know, and

if you have any questions youre free to ask them. Theres one thing youll learn

quickly in my house, and thats that were open people. We dont hide or keep

secrets inside the walls of the Cullen property, never have and were not going to

start now. Youll hear and see things that you probably shouldnt, but the fact

remains that you will. By the time we reach my house I want you to be well

aware of what is and is not expected of you. I anticipate a certain adjustment

period but I want things to go as smoothly as possible from the start.

I nodded in understanding. He paused for a moment and seemed to be thinking,

judging by his expression. First and foremost, I expect allegiance. Anything less

than complete loyalty and youll be deemed a traitor and face the consequences,

and in case youre unaware the punishment for treason in my world is death.

Youll see that I run my household differently from others and your life is going to

be nothing like it was with your father. You will have a certain amount of freedom

within my house and your life with us will grant you some sense of normalcy, but

dont let it fool you Isabella. I own you. If you defy me, or act out beyond what I

think is normal behavior, you will be punished. But I will not routinely beat you

just for the sake of doing it, as I think thats despicable. I am not a child abuser,

my own children can attest to that.

I was looking at him with a bit of surprise, his words sinking in. It was hard to

reconcile it all or understand exactly what it was he was telling me. Id only ever

lived one way, and had no idea what he meant by having certain freedoms or

normalcy. I had no idea what normal was.

He was looking at me expectantly, obviously wanting me to say something in

response. I was unsure of what to say or how to react so I blurted out the first

thing that came to my mind. You have children?

He nodded. I do. Three teenage boys. Two eighteen year olds and a seventeen

year old.

Twins? I asked curiously. He shook his head.

The eldest was adopted when he was almost a year old. The other two were

28

born back-to-back. We basically went from childless to having three boys within

one year. I felt a dread creep through me at the prospect of being in close

proximity with three boys close to my age. I was barely comfortable enough

around Dr. Cullen to even speakhow was I going to deal with three males my

own age? I had no idea what to expect with them, how to act around them.

He noticed my worried expression and smiled lightly. Yes, I know. Youve never

been around men, much less teenage boys. Youre in for quite a shock. He

laughed to himself, shaking his head. Dont worry though, my sons know what is

expected of them and will act appropriate enough. They can be rambunctious at

times but I like to think theyre decent boys for the most part. Theyll never raise

a hand to you, as theyve been raised to respect women. Theyll also never force

themselves upon you for the same reason. You may find them to be a bit

flirtatious but I assure you, theyre relatively harmless. You may actually grow to

enjoy their company.

I nodded, unsure as to whether or not that could ever be a possibility but not

disagreeing with him. I didnt know him well enough to know if he was lying but I

was quite relieved to hear that there apparently werent any plans of abusing me.

So what is expected of me? I asked cautiously.

He sighed. Quite a few years back I relocated my family to Washington from

Chicago, for safety purposes. Im still very much involved in the business in

Chicago; Im a Consigliere, or advisor of sorts within the organization. My familys

been held in high regard within the order for a very long time and its ingrained in

me, but I maintain another life in Washington where I indeed do practice

medicine. Im able to handle a lot of my other affairs from afar, but it takes a lot

of time out of my life and I often have no choice but to travel to Chicago and take

care of things in person.

He glanced at me, I assume to gauge whether or not I was keeping up and how I

was taking the information. I had no idea what it all had to do with me but I

nodded in acknowledgment so he knew I was listening.

Because of my work, I have very little time for other things. My household still

needs ran and maintained, and thats where you come in. Id usually go for

someone older, but my boys are grown now and can take care of themselves for

29

the most part so they dont need anyone to look after them. I figured it might

work out better now if I brought someone closer to their own age into the

household.

So basically cooking and cleaning? I asked. He nodded.

For the most part, yes. I dont expect you to wait on us hand-and-foot, though.

The boys are free to keep their rooms as they want. The most youll have to do

for them is likely laundry, as Im quite sure none of them know or even care to

know how to operate a washer or dryer. If they do request you to do something

in their bedroom, than you are expected to do so, but its not often thatll

happen. The older two are good at pulling their own weight and the youngest is a

bit finicky with his stuff, so Im not sure hell ever invite you inside his bedroom

much less ask you to touch his belongings. And unless they invite you in their

rooms, you arent to enter them under any circumstances, do you understand?

Yes, sir, I said softly.

Basically, as long as the main parts of the house are kept up with and we have

clean clothes to wear there wont be any problems. As far as cooking goes, youre

responsible for dinner being ready around 7pm every night. Breakfast and lunch

were typically either not home or we fend for ourselves, but if one of us asks that

you make us something of course you should do so.

I nodded. It seemed relatively easy so far, I didnt quite grasp why hed need to

stoop so low as to purchase a slave.

And your wife, sir? Where is she? I asked, noticing he hadnt mentioned his

boys mother. His expression shifted, as he visibly grew upset. He didnt respond

or even turn to me and acknowledge what Id said, instead glaring straight ahead

at the road. I could tell I hit a nerve by bringing up a sensitive subject.

I gazed out the side window, thinking. I was trying to come to grips with

everything, trying to understand what my purpose was.

Do you have another question, Isabella? Dr. Cullen asked after awhile, seeing

the slightly confused look on my face. I looked over at him and saw he was

watching me expectantly.

30

I guess Im just curious why you bought me, sir.

He smiled lightly. Why you in particular, or why did I buy someone period?

Both, I guess. I mean I do wonder why me but I just dont see why you had to

buy a slave. Couldnt you just hire a cook and maid? At least you wouldnt be

breaking the law that way.

He laughed loudly, startling me. Dear, nothing about my life is legal, which is

exactly why legal help is impossible. Have you already forgotten the part where I

said there were no secrets inside our property? I cant simply hire someone and

hope they dont see anything, or if they do they keep their mouth shut. No, I

need to know my secrets are safe.

That makes sense, I guess, I said.

He smiled and drove in silence for a while. As for why you, he said eventually.

Well maybe Ill explain that to you another day.

After being in the car for about 20 minutes he pulled into a parking lot of a large

building and shut the car off. I glanced over and saw a green, blue, and white

sign. I couldnt read the entire thing but I made out the part that declared it was

a Medical Center.

Dr. Cullen turned to me, his expression serious. I expect you to be on your best

behavior inside of here. Ill try to make this as comfortable as possible for you, as

I know youve likely never been to a hospital or had an exam before, but until

you get chipped I cant let you out of my sight. Do you understand?

Chipped? I asked hesitantly, not at all understanding what he was talking

about.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and appeared frustrated. Its a small

microchip, do you know what one of those is? I shook my head no cautiously.

GPS? he asked, raising his eyebrows. I shook my head no again. Its hard to

explain, youll just have to see for yourself, he said with a shrug.

31

He stepped out of the car quickly and I unbuckled my seatbelt. He walked around

and opened the passenger door, holding his hand out to me again. I took it this

time, timidly. He helped me out of the car and closed the door, turning and

leading me toward the building. He let go of my hand as we walked inside and he

walked slowly down the wide brightly lit hallway, making sure I was beside him

the entire time. He stopped at a door at the end of the hallway and knocked.

A dark skinned man opened the door quickly, smiling widely as his eyes fell upon

Dr. Cullen, showing off a large gap between his front teeth. He moved to the

side, waving his hand to motion us inside. Dr. Cullen stepped past him and I

followed. The other man closed the door behind us, locking it. My heart started

racing at the sound of the lock clicking.

Just in time, he said in a thick Middle Eastern accent. So, this is her, he said,

turning to me. His eyes roamed up and down my body slowly, making me

uncomfortable. I wrapped my arms around my chest, feeling slightly exposed.

Yes, Dr. Cullen said simply.

The man walked across the room and opened up a drawer, rifling through it. He

pulled out a small box and a white packet containing a syringe. He opened the

box and pulled something out so small that I couldnt really see it, but it sat on

the tip of his finger. He glanced up at me and smiled. Come and sit, he said,

motioning toward a chair beside him. I looked at Dr. Cullen and he nodded, so I

took the few steps forward and sat down nervously.

The man opened the syringe and smiled down at me. Lean your head forward

toward your knees, he said. I did as he said and felt his hand grab the hemline

of my shirt and pull it up to expose my back. My heart started racing fast and I

panicked, jumping up quickly. The man grabbed a hold of my shoulder, gripping

me tightly and threw me back down into the chair. He grabbed the back of my

head and forced it down roughly. I cried out and Dr. Cullen groaned.

Be careful with her, Ishmel, he said. The man let go of my head immediately.

Dr Cullen stood in front of me and brought his hand out, laying it gently on the

back of my headnot enough to force me down, but enough pressure to keep me

in my position. My shirt was pulled back up again, exposing my back. I felt

something cold being rubbed between my shoulders and then a sharp sticking

32

pain. I cried out again and Dr. Cullen sighed. He moved his hand, stroking my

hair lightly.

After a second the pain subsided and my shirt was pulled back down. Dr. Cullen

let go of me and took a few steps back. I sat upright in the chair but didnt dare

get up. I gazed down at the floor and could feel a tear stream down my cheek.

Dr. Cullen thanked the man and he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Dr. Cullen was quiet and stood in place. After a moment I couldnt take it

anymore and glanced up. He was staring at me intently.

Are you okay? he asked. I nodded hesitantly. I was going to have a full exam

done today but I can already tell that wouldnt go over very well. So I guess it

can wait a few days, Ill just have to do it myself when we get home.

Chapter 3 - Home Sweet Home

You come into the world with nothing, and the purpose of your life is to

make something out of nothing -- Henry Louis Mencken

IPOV

Dr. Cullen drove in silence. He hadnt said much of anything at all since leaving

the medical center. I wasnt sure if this was his usual demeanor or if Id upset

him when I panicked. He hadnt explained exactly what theyd done to me but I

had a pretty good idea that Id been chipped, whatever that meant. That made

me nervous, the talk of microchips and GPS. It couldn't be good, that I was sure

of.

His phone rang and he picked it up, glancing at the screen. He sighed

exaggeratedly, seeming frustrated, and flipped it open. Dr. Snow, what do I owe

the honor? he said in an oddly chipper voice that didn't match his expression. I

could hear a male voice respond on the line but couldnt make out what was

being said.

What?! Where is he?!

33

Dr. Cullen huffed after a moment, thanking the doctor and hanging up. He

pushed a few buttons on his phone and put it back up to his ear, listening to it

ring.

A voice picked up followed by a beep and Dr. Cullen groaned. Edward Anthony

you have exactly 20 minutes to call me back or the car is gone, he said sharply.

He snapped his phone closed and sighed.

Dr. Cullen was quiet again, an uncomfortable silence lingering in the car. After a

moment my stomach growled loudly and I blushed, embarrassed.

Dr. Cullen glanced at the time. Did you miss breakfast this morning? he asked.

Charles doesnt allow breakfast, sir.

I glanced over and caught him rolling his eyes. Its no wonder you all were so

skinny. Whens the last time you ate?

The night before last, I said. Dr. Cullens head snapped in my direction and he

looked at me incredulously.

Christ, you need a cheeseburger, he muttered. I smiled lightly.

He drove for another minute or so before slamming on the brakes and swinging a

quick right into a parking lot. I glanced up and saw the golden arch and my eyes

widened. I wasnt completely ignorant to the outside world. Just because I didnt

personally experience things didnt mean I didnt know about their existence. I

occasionally got my hands on newspapers and magazines and skimmed through

them when no one was around, since they didnt know I could read. I watched

my fair share of television over the years also. I never got to sit down and

indulge, but I could sneak peeks when no one was paying me any attention and

Id listen to it from another room when Charles or his wife were watching. So just

because I was technically a slave from the day I was born, hidden from the

outside word, didnt mean I wasnt aware of what McDonalds was.

Have you ever had fast food? he asked as he pulled up to the drive-thru. I

shook my head no and he sighed. What do you want?

34

Uh, whatever you want to get, I said, slightly stunned that he was not only

buying me something to eat but that he was asking me what I wanted. That was

definitely a first.

Just pick out what you want, he said, shrugging. I glanced over at the menu,

slightly overwhelmed.

Chicken Nuggets, I guess? He nodded, ordering a McNugget combo with a coke.

He paid for it with a silver credit card and handed me the bag of food.

You can eat in the car, he said. I smiled and thanked him but he waved me off

like it was no big deal. I was taken back by it all. To him it seemed like nothing

special but it meant a lot to me. Such a simple gesture but Id never had

someone be so nice to me.

I ate slowly in silence, savoring every bite despite the fact that I was famished. I

enjoyed the bubbliness of the soda also, having never had it before. Charles

always forbid us from anything but water and the occasional glass of milk or fruit

juice if he deemed it necessary.

Dr. Cullens phone rang eventually and he picked it up. He shook his head and

flipped it open. That was 27 minutes, Edward.

There was silence as Dr. Cullen listened to the person on the phone. He stopped

at a red light and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.

Its only been two weeks, son. Two weeks back in Forks and you cant stay out

of trouble. Maybe public high school isnt for you, maybe you should go back to

Grand River Academy.

I nearly laughed out loud as I heard the person on the phone scream NO but I

kept my composure, not wanting to seem like I was eavesdropping. I gathered

that Edward was one of Dr. Cullens sons.

The light changed and Dr. Cullen still had his eyes closed. Sir, the lights green,

I said hesitantly, unsure how he was going to take me interrupting. His eyes

popped open and he glanced at me, smilingly lightly while hitting the gas.

Yes, thats her, he said, glancing over to me briefly. But quit changing the

35

subject. Ill be home in a few hours and well discuss it then.

Dr. Cullen shut his phone and shook his head. Have I mentioned that my

youngest son has a knack for getting into trouble? He looks exactly like his

mother but I swear hes a clone of me at his age. Hes already following directly

in my footsteps.

And hes the finicky one? I asked.

Dr. Cullen smiled. Isabella, do you even know what finicky means?

I smiled sheepishly, blushing from embarrassment. No, sir.

He laughed. Picky. Particular. Fussy. Big ol pain in my ass.

I laughed loudly, stopping myself abruptly and covering my mouth with my hand.

I looked at him with wide eyes. Sorry, I mumbled.

He smiled. No need to apologize. Laughings good, you should do it more often.

I nodded, smiling. We finished the drive in silence, neither of us saying another

word until he pulled into the airport. I was slightly afraid of flying, having never

even considered the option of me ever getting on an airplane, but I kept quiet.

Dr. Cullen reached into the backseat and grabbed a bag. He pulled an orange pill

bottle out and opened it, pulling out a tiny white pill and handing it to me. I

looked at him questioningly.

Its Ativan, for anxiety. Itll ward off a panic attack.

I nodded and took the pill from him cautiously. There was a voice inside of me

screaming not to trust him, as anyone who purchased another human being as if

they were a possession shouldnt ever be trusted. But there was a part of me that

was slightly comforted by Dr. Cullen, as irrational as that may have been. Even

though he was hard to read and often seemed annoyed and frustrated by me, he

had been surprisingly kind overall. He was staring at me expectantly so I popped

it in my mouth, swallowing it.

36

I followed Dr. Cullen inside the airport, staying close by his side at all times as he

returned the rental car and started checking us in for a flight to Seattle. I

followed him through security, following his cues as I was completely out of my

element. My fear was surging and I was shaking lightly, having never been

around so many people before. It was nerve racking.

Dr. Cullen pulled out an ID card, handing it to me. I glanced down at it and saw it

had my picture on it. All of it was right except for my birthday, which was off by

two years.

We took a seat, having another few minutes until the plane boarded. I was gazing

down at the ID card, a little confused, and Dr. Cullen glanced over at me.

Happy 18th birthday, he said. I looked at him and cocked an eyebrow. He

smiled. I cant have a minor working in my home, child labor laws and all that.

Merely for precaution. I nodded, a little surprised hed go so far. I was used to

being hidden, no one ever knowing I existed.

I felt the drug kicking in after a moment, a light relaxing feeling overcoming me.

I was immensely grateful, my fear dissipating.

A lady came over the intercom, announcing our plane was boarding. Dr. Cullen

purchased first class seats, refusing to fly coach himself and refusing to let me

out of his sight. I panicked a bit at take off and when we hit a bit of turbulence at

the beginning, but it wasnt as bad as I expected. I drifted off to sleep halfway

through the flight, utterly exhausted from not having slept the night before.

The flight itself was only about 3 hours long. We landed close to 5pm and Dr.

Cullen nudged me awake. I followed him off the plane and out of the airport, into

a parking lot. He led me to a Black Mercedes with dark tinted windows, unlocking

the passenger door and ushering me inside.

He drove to the waterfront and we boarded a ferry around 5:30. I was excited

but tried to contain itId never been on the water before and it was utterly

beautiful. The trip on the ferry took about an hour, and we slipped back in the car

to head back on the road.

It seemed like wed been driving forever when Dr. Cullen finally slowed and pulled

37

off the main road, onto an overgrown path. It appeared to be in the middle of

nowhere, no other houses nearby. It was dark now and I glanced at the clock on

the dash. 9:20 pm.

The weather here was shocking. I was used to the hot dry air in Phoenix but the

air here was cool and damp. Everything in Phoenix was open and brown;

everything here was green and shrouded with overgrowth.

He drove down the narrow path for a few minutes, nothing around us but trees,

before coming to a clearing. My eyes widened and I gasped as the house came

into sight.

It was massive. I always thought Charles had a big house but this one was over

twice the size of his. The house itself appeared to have been here for a long time

but was in amazing condition. It was white, three stories high with a large porch

wrapping around the first floor. The clearing the house stood on had a few large

trees scattered around, I imagine shading the house during the daylight.

Dr. Cullen led me to the front door and opened it, motioning for me to step

inside. I did so timidly, feeling completely out of place. The house was graceful,

classicI felt like me just being here degraded it.

I stepped into a large room, large enough that it couldve originally been several

rooms, and glanced around. Everything was different shades of white, making it

seem open and airy. The entire back wall was glass and I could see out into the

backyard, faintly making out the trees in the dark.

I glanced beside me, to the left, and saw a platform with a piano sitting on it.

Behind the piano was a door that led to the kitchen, from what I could tell. There

was a living area ahead to the left, I could see the couch. To the right was a

massive staircase with some rooms behind it, but I couldnt tell what they were.

Dr. Cullen closed and locked the front door and pressed a few buttons on a

massive keypad on the wall. He walked past me and entered what I believed to

be the kitchen and I heard some cabinets banging around. I wasnt sure what I

was supposed to do, if I was supposed to follow him. He hadnt said anything,

though, so I stayed in place, staring down at the ground.

38

I heard movement after a moment, someone coming down the stairs. I peeked

up and my eyes widened as I saw the massive form. He had short dark hair,

slightly curly. He had bigger muscles than Id ever seen on a person before and

was at least 6 foot tall. He looked young, his facial features still slightly soft, but

his body was intimidating. My eyes shot back down at the floor, my heart racing.

He paused at the bottom step and I could sense him watching me.

Hey, son, Dr. Cullens voice rang out. I looked over and saw him standing in the

doorway from the kitchen, looking at the boy who had just walked down the

stairs. He was holding a sandwich and I got nervous, unsure if I shouldve done

that for him.

I couldve made you something to eat, sir, I said softly, my voice cracking from

anxiety.

Nonsense, child, Im perfectly capable of throwing together a sandwich, he said

with a smile. I nodded and turned my head to look back down at the ground. He

sighed and walked over to me, stopping in front of me. He reached his hand out

and gripped my chin, pulling my head up to look at him. Relax, he said softly,

giving me a small smile. I returned the smile but it did nothing to calm my

nerves.

I heard someone else coming down the stairs and Dr. Cullen let go of me, moving

away from in front of me. I glanced over and saw a tall boy with slightly tanned

skin and curly blonde hair.

Isabella, this is my middle son, Jasper, Dr. Cullen said, motioning toward the

blonde.

Hello Isabella, Jasper said politely, smiling.

Hello, Jasper, sir, I said.

And this is my oldest son Emmett, Dr. Cullen said, motioning toward the large

dark haired boy. I glanced over at him and he smiled, nodding.

Hi, he said. I smiled.

39

Hello, sir.

He laughed loudly, startling me. Oh, no that wont do. I cant be much older than

you. Sir is completely unnecessary.

Sorry, I said softly, smiling lightly.

Dr. Cullen laughed, amused at something. I looked over and saw him shaking his

head. He cleared his throat after a moment. Wheres Edward? he asked.

Emmett rolled his eyes. In his room.

Is he alone? Dr. Cullen asked, his voice hesitant as if he really didnt want to

know the answer to the question. Emmett shrugged.

Dr. Cullen shook his head. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a

number. Get your ass into my office within the next five minutes, he said

quickly before hanging up. He smiled at me. You must be hungry, Isabella. Why

dont you go into the kitchen and make yourself a sandwich. After you eat Jasper

can show you to your room. Ill have some clothes purchased for you tomorrow,

but Ill try to scrounge something up for you to sleep in tonight.

I nodded and hesitated, but turned to walk away. I paused as I stepped inside

the massive kitchen, taking it all in. The countertops were marble, most

everything dark and metalthe exact opposite of the rest of the house.

Someone brushed past me and I flinched away from the unexpected contact. I

glanced up to see Emmett looking at me questioningly, obviously skeptical of my

reaction. Jasper walked in behind him and smiled lightly at me.

Hungry? he asked, raising his eyebrows. I nodded and he opened the fridge

door, glancing around. Emmett grabbed a loaf of bread from the counter top and

undid the twisty tie while Jasper pulled out some ham and slices of cheese.

Uh, I can do that, I said, breaking my stance and heading toward them.

Jaspers hand shot out toward me and I froze abruptly, instinctively recoiling

backwards, bracing for him to hit me. He furrowed his brow and my eyes widened

when I realized hed only raised his hand to wave me off.

40

I wasnt going to hit you, he said incredulously.

Sorry, Im just used to it. I said, my voice soft. He sighed.

I can imagine, he muttered. He grabbed some bread Emmett held out to him

and made a sandwich quickly. He pulled off a paper towel and handed it to me

along with the sandwich.

I took it hesitantly. Thank you, sir.

Youre welcome. I stood there and ate my sandwich quietly. Emmett made

himself one and left, heading back upstairs. Jasper put everything away and

cleaned up, turning to face me when he was done.

He was silent, his expression curious. His gaze was making me nervous and my

hands started to shake. He sighed after a moment and turned around, facing

away from me.

Jasper, sir? I said when I finished my sandwich. Wheres the trash can?

He smiled and opened up a cabinet beside him, where the trash can sat. I walked

forward and threw my paper towel away.

Come on, Ill give you the tour, he said. He pointed out the dining room

adjacent to the kitchen. We walked back out into the big room and I followed him

toward the living area, where he pointed out the TV and stereo system and

gaming systems and computers. I smiled politely, not really understanding why

he was bothering but it was nice of him anyway. He pointed out the bathroom

and laundry room under the staircase, and another room, which he indicated was

locked constantly and only Dr. Cullen entered.

We started walking for the stairs and Jasper hesitated. Piano, which you might

want to stay away from. If Edward catches you touching it hed probably break

your fingers.

His voice was serious and I felt a small surge of fear at his words. I had yet to

meet Edward, but I gathered he was the most troublesome of the Cullen kids and

41

from what others said hed likely be the least friendly.

We headed up the wide staircase to the second floor and into a paneled hallway.

He pointed out him and Emmetts rooms at the front and then toward the back he

pointed out Dr. Cullens room and his office.

We turned to head for the stairs again when a voice suddenly shouted a string of

profanities from the vicinity of Dr. Cullens office. I froze, my eyes wide with

surprise. Jasper laughed, shaking his head.

That would be Edward. He takes some getting used to.

Jasper led me to the third floor, coming out into another long paneled hallway.

The front was an immense room that Jasper stated was the library. We walked to

the back and Jasper paused.

This is Edwards room, he said, pointing to the one on the right. And this will be

yours, he said, pointing to the one on the left. Each room has its own

bathroom.

I nodded, thanking him softly. He smiled and opened up the bedroom door,

waving me inside. I stepped in cautiously and Jasper flicked on the light. My eyes

widened in surprise at the enormity of the room. It was fully furnished, a massive

bed with a mahogany headboard and tan comforter on it was sitting in the back

of the room with a matching mahogany dresser and vanity with a large mirror.

The room had plush white carpeting, the walls a soft tan color. There was a tan

leather couch near the front of the room with a small mahogany table in front of

it. I glanced around and my eyes fell upon the flat screen TV that hung on the

wall. I gaped at it for a moment, blinking rapidly and shaking my head.

Are you sure Im supposed to sleep in here? I mean, there has to be a mistake.

He laughed lightly. No, no mistake. Definitely your room. Make yourself

comfortable, Ill see about your clothes to sleep in.

Jasper turned and walked out, shutting the door behind him. I stayed frozen in

spot, glancing around, taking everything in. To say I was stunned would be an

understatement. I was completely taken back, out of my element.

42

After a few minutes of complete silence, a door slammed across the hall, startling

me. I jumped and yelped, grabbing my chest as my heart started racing. Soft

knocks came on my door and it was pushed open slowly. I turned around to see

Dr. Cullen in the doorway. He smiled and held out some clothes.

Theyll be big on you but its the best we can come up with right now.

Thank you, I said, taking the clothes from him. He nodded and turned to walk

away but hesitated.

This is your home now too, Isabella. I hope that youll grow to be comfortable

here. Just remember everything Ive told you and you shouldnt have any

problems. But if any should arise, dont hesitate to come to me with them.

Okay?

Okay, I said softly.

Chapter 4 - A whole new World

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until

they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." --

Anais Nin

IPOV

I started hyperventilating the moment Dr. Cullen closed the door to my bedroom,

leaving me on my own for the rest of the evening. My knees were wobbly and I

walked slowly over to the tan couch, collapsing on it. I felt so foolish, falling apart

as I was, but I couldnt help it. I wasnt frightened per say, wasnt panicking from

fear. I was just utterly overwhelmed and confused, unsure of the turn my life was

taking. Everything was happening so fast, nothing making sense. I wasnt used to

change, everything was so new to me I didnt know how to take it all.

After I calmed down enough to function, I stood up and stripped my clothes off

quickly. I picked up the clothes Dr. Cullen had brought me and unfolded them. I

pulled on the pair of red and black flannel pants, rolling them up at the waist a

43

few times to make them fit slightly better. They still swallowed my small frame,

dragging the ground. I grabbed the shirt and eyed it hesitantly. It said Forks High

School on the front with a picture of a football. On the back were the letters C-U-

L-L-E-N, which looked to me to likely be their last name, along with the number

21. I slipped it on, it falling nearly to my knees.

I walked over to the door leading to my bathroom and pushed it open. I turned

on the light and gasped. The bathroom was massive, white tile and a huge

garden tub in the corner. There was also a shower with frosted glass doors and a

large sink with a big mirror above it. It was stunning, to say the least.

I found towels and washcloths in a cabinet near the toilet and grabbed one of

each. The towel was fluffy and soft, smelling faintly like flowers from the

detergent used on it. I walked over to the sink and washed my face, getting all of

the makeup off that Dr. Cullen had put on me that had yet to wear off. I dried it

off and glanced up in the mirror, frowning. Dr. Cullen was right--you could clearly

make out the faint handprint shape in the bruise. It wasnt as bad as I originally

suspected though, Id had a lot worse. Ever since Charless wife figured out my

paternity she took a liking to marking up my face. Id been beaten so hard before

that my entire face was swollen and I was barely able to see out of either of my

eyes. My nose had been broken once during a beating but I was never given

medical attention for it. Charles never got us medical attention for anything; he

always said if something happened to one of us that wouldnt heal on its own

hed do us a favor and put us out of our misery. My nose had a bump to it and

was slightly crooked now, but it wasnt too horrible. Id been relatively lucky

when it came to permanent damage; besides the slight disfigured nose all I had

were scars. Id watched other women lose teeth and break serious bones that

never reformed properly, slightly disabling them. One girl was blinded in one eye

from a kick to the face. This bruise--this was nothing. It would fade and with it,

the memory. Bruises were easily forgotten.

I turned off the light and walked back into the bedroom. I walked over to the

door to turn off the light and paused. I could faintly hear music coming from

across the hall. I c