Puabi My beloved mate was slumbering, whimpers coming out of her mouth and muttering, “Amy please take care of whiskers and Pearl!” ‘Who are whiskers and Pearl? Has to be a pet, human borns have a habit of adopting animals to keep in their dwellings like dogs.’ I felt my jealousy built when I thought of Camile still dreaming of Amy. I wanted to shake Camile awake and demand she forget about Amy. Realization sunk in, Camile has no idea what she means to me. Coming to this conclusion, it was best for the both of us if Camile never knew. It will make the parting a lot easier for both of us. Instead, I wiggled myself beside her, stroking her head softly and whispering in her ear, “I will love you for the time we have together. I will be grateful for the time that fate has allowed us to be like this!” Kissing the side of her head, I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes. Camile was still unresponsive verbally at least she could be guided from one location to the next. If anyone had noticed how much time I had been spending with Camile, no one had spoken a word to me. How I was responding to Camile was out of character for everyone to see. I promised myself that after this event, I would keep my demeanour in check and start to treat Camile no differently than any of the other girls who had been placed in my care. If it gets around that I have shown Camile favour, this could cause trouble and I do not want Camile to be taken away from me. I opened my eyes one last time, studying Camile. She seemed to be smiling. “What are you dreaming about that makes you smile?” I whispered into her ear. She did not respond, I was not surprised at there being no reply, but she let out a sound of comfort as she nudged her body into mine. ‘Is it possible that Camile feels the connection without realizing what is going on? Is she feeling the energy that I feel when our bodies are together?’ *Camile* I have no clue how long it has been, minutes, hours, even days could have passed. All I did was glare ahead, not eating or drinking. I would only blink when the urge was there. Blocking out everything that is going around me, in my mind, I role-played my life. Briefly, I would hear voices making comments that I had it bad. That if I did not snap out of it soon Ashur would have to deal with me.Who was Ashur and what did they mean by I had it bad? Life, joy and peace were stripped from my body, mind and soul. “Why?” I heard myself speak softly. I thought that no one was near me, that everyone was gone. There was shuffling then I felt coolness touching my arm. Someone was touching my arm. It did not hurt but it was firm. “Listen to me!” The voice was female, just above a whisper. “The sooner you resign yourself to this life, the easier it will be for you. The Master is only patient for so long. If you do not get a grip soon and do as you are told, you will be punished.” The female started to stroke my head, “we all have been through what you are going through now. We understand! We will help you get by this, but you have to wrap this up. Look! If you are good to them, they will treat you well. You have nothing to worry about!” There was silence for a bit as I did not change my position. I could not would not break the spell that I was under. The last time I felt like this, I had moved out of my parent's place. I might have seemed fine to the world but I was dying inside. I thought I was bound for death, then I met Amy. A smile crept up on my face as I thought of her. I could never forget the day I spotted her at the bar. She was wearing a navy blue long-sleeve top with skin-tight jeans. Around her neck was a gold heart-shaped pendant with one tiny diamond in the middle. When our eyes connected it was love at first sight. We were inseparable from that point on. Amy told me her life story as I did. For six months she worked on my self-esteem. We made plans to leave, I was going to be fully free of the life my father forced me into. The trip to the woods was going to be the last thing I was going to do for my father. Then Amy and I were going to leave and move to Florida, where Amy had relatives waiting for us. I saved everything to leave … “why?” I heard a door open and close followed by soft footsteps. “Has she eaten?” Puabi’s voice echoed in the room. “Mistress four hundred and seventeen has not moved, only spoking a few words since you left.” the female spoke softly. “Leave six hundred and twelve!” Puabi ordered. I felt movement as the female got up from beside me. “As you wish, Mistress!” Soft footsteps paddled the floor, exiting this dorm. With the click of the door opening and closing it was just Paubi with me. “I have good news! The Master said he will not sell you until he needs gold. That means we have more time together.” Her arms went around my shoulders, her lips close to my ear, “I will protect you as long as I can, but you must get out of this stance that you are in. If you do not do what I tell you …” I could feel energy entering my body, soothing. Every time Puabi is near me, things seem to feel better. “The Master will send in my son Ashur. He thrives off of others' pain. That is how he eats! It will be a pain like you have never felt before.” She stroked my head. “There is not one girl here that has not sat where you are, but you seem to have it worse than the rest of us.” Puabi inhaled, for a second I thought she was smelling me. I stroked my head where my hair used to be, “Let's get you a bath, you will feel better then. You will eat, then sleep! After that, you and I will train together.” I found the strength to utter one sentence, “I was broken a long time ago!” “I know!” Puabi held out her hand to me, “and I am here to piece you back together.” “There is no point!” I choked as I tried to stop myself from crying, “let me die! I should have killed myself when I had the chance! Long before here, long before Amy! When I was a child … alone and unwanted!” Puabi pulled me up not relenting from the plan she had placed for me, “I am glad that you never did and that I have found you.” I stood up glaring her in the eyes, “How can you say that when your Master is going to sell me like cattle, nothing but a bag of manure? I have never had a voice, my opinion is void, is all I am worth to you gold, do I not have any other value?” A spark of rage swirled around my body as I remembered how my parents treated me. Puabi took my arm and guided me towards the door, “A females value is only based on what is between her legs and how she moves her body. Even a female that is of high birth can be silenced if the head male of the house choses so. Those that dare to challenge the system are swiftly taken to behavioural modification.” Puabi’s voice started to crack, giving way to her true thoughts. Puabi stopped as she readied herself to open the door, “I am glad that I have had the chance and privilege to find my diamond in the rough. The only comfort a female will ever get is the love of her children and if she is lucky the love of her mate! We as the powerless gender are privy to nothing more … unless our Master allows us to do that!” I studied Puabi for a moment, “so here is no different! We are nothing?” Puabi stood in front of me, “only if the master of the household allows it!”