written by lori
Madison Elyse Stratton had lived a life of vitality and accomplishment.
Forgoing an easier path which would be hers by virture of inheritance the
young woman lived robustly, approaching both her work and recreation with
an equally consistent zest.
To the casual observer, Madison was the stereotypical spoiled rich girl. And those of her peers who could not get past the prominent family name of Stratton, were quick to attribute her success to her familys purse strings. To compound the jealously, she had grown to be a hauntingly beautiful and sensuous woman. A woman of elegance and grace, complimented with drive, ambition, charm and wit.
After graduating from Tulane University she entered the family's import business. Where, for a time, she was completely underestimated by the "good old boys", briefly patronized as Daddy'sgirl.
Until she handed some of them their heads, figuratively. Documenting waste and inefficiencies while implemneting sound plans to move her fathers company forward in the future.
In the course of these events an unusual offer
had crossed the womans desk,
one which would normaly be dismissed were it not for the persistance of
the
seller. Madison scheduled a late meeting, after the small party on the lake
front then back to the French Quarter. It would accomodate the sellers deadline,
but it was near her apartment so it should all come together nicely she
thought.
The ambience of the Court of Two Sisters had grown from the bustling pace, created by the tourists, to a quiet lazy morning.
The woman across courtyard looked familiar. It is a peculiar feeling thinking you are being watched. Madison turned again to the brownish green eyes on her. She dismissed the notion, Then she laughed to herself and turned away quickly. She remembered the tete te tete in a parking lot not two days past.
It was a minor bump in traffic. the woman apologised, Madison, more out of frustration with preceding events of the day, unleashed her temper. It was out of character. Madison blushed as she sat. Recalling her words. Chiefly, "bitch", in some form. Madison drove away feeling terrible. Especially since The woman remained calm.
" You are young girl and will have time to grow, to flourish ..." Madison was embarassed by the womans calm steadiness. Even in the face of the epitahs.
Madison, embarassed, looked down at her watch and decided that she had waited long enough.
" Sometimes this is such a lazy town ... " she thought to herself as she sipped th last drop of a red wine. She gathered her purse and wondered how any one got anything accomplished when she saw his hand place the card on the table.
She looked up at him impatiently.
" ..and you are late... Paul. We do not
normally deal with agricultural products and produce, but you convinced
me that the hybrid may be marketable.. " she gazed briefly at the yellow
and blue card,
trying to remember if it was Mars that had three moons, then flipped it
about in her hands.
" Something about Bourbon Street reminds me of home dear sa-fora.." he smiled.
He watched her face, her blue eyes were luxiously deep, he did not avert his gaze at all, and in a few brief seconds, she became aware of his grey eyes. He noted the long brunette hair unfortunately was up, off her shoulders.
She tilted her head, annoyed as the stare approached
a leer. Then attributed his social faux pas, as a manifestation of his culture.
She could not
place the accent. He appeared to be slavic, east European. Madison knew
she was too analytical but he was different.
" .. Interesting .. "
Her remark too polite she thought. Why would Bourbon Street remind him of home ? But she was anxious to bring the transaction to a close.
" show me your product Paul ... What do you call it again ?"
The man with greying hair was stoic as he slowly unwrapped the small round package. Too slowly for her. He watched. amused, as her fingers impatiently twirled the card, her heel tapping the stone courtayrd floor.
" Where I come from it is called ... larma .. as sweet as the lovely sa-fora before me...take it .. and note.."
Madison hands were already on it, its "shell" somewhat hard ..brittle. He enjoyed a womans neck, the red dress only revealed a hint of her cleavage. Madison, felt his eyes and laughed to herself as the fruit broke open.
She tore a section and started to sample when his hand came to her wrist.
" and note..that it is a custom... that a woman would first feed a man with this delicacy.."
" It comes with a custom as well.." she laughed. His hand strong upon hers. Wondering how a "new" hybrid would have time to develop a custom ...
Madison felt he was coming terribly close to
the point where she would dismiss the lure of business to uphold her ethics.
But the lure was attractive, the "larma" could be a lucrative
import, her company would have exclusive rights in North America, so she
complied, watching the succulent
juices drip to the table as she smiled and lifted the fruit to his lips.
He watched her lick her fingers, twirl her tounge in her mouth, savory the unusual taste. She took another slice on a fork, he reached for the cellphone.
" Bring the limosine to the door. I will be accompanied by Ms. Stratton. We will close the deal. "
Madison laughed. " You are a most unusual man Paul .."
" Perhaps you have not met a man until now sa-fora ..." he interjected while still talking to his driver, he looked to the waitress and snapped his fingers.
" No ...we will take her to her home. "
Paul sat next to her as the Mercedes wove through the narrow streets. He asked for a handkerchief as the champange spilled from a bump.
" In the door pocket, give me the bottle
as well. " he folded the handkerchief slowly. Madison set the contract
aside and handed him the bottle. The terms were hers exactly. It was coup.
She looked at
her watch and thought it would be hard to get up in the morning. She would
allow her self to sleep in, then go the gym, she could get to the office
by ten in the morning.
" ..pour some of this on the handkerchief .." he handed her the bottle.
" It's chlorform no doubt .. " she joked as the smell drifted from the brown bottle.
Paul said "yes it is".
Madison awoke, her head in a fog. In that realm of thought that lies somewhere bewteen dreams and consousness. A memory .. a reality ?
It was a week later, maybe more, she sat, huddled
in the cage. As she looked over the lush garden she accepted a reality she
had denied. In the warm glow
of the three moons she could no loner deny.
Her thigh still ached, she had been branded,
like an animal. Her uncommon beauty was common here. She had seen the women,
"girls", chained in coffles. The man that took her, that branded
her was a stranger. The debutante now huddled, her stomach growling. Madison
... was that her name ?
Memories of a tavern, of her clothes being thrown in a fire. A Master told
her she had no name.
A hand bore some yellow bread, and moved through the bars of the cage, Madison reached for it, the hand was withdrawn. The girl held her eyes down now. The hand went inside the cage, she leaned and ate from her hand.
The woman, Mistress Leorah, stroked her hair softly, " Your name is thalia now .. it means to flourish and to grow"
The voice was familiar, ths slave looked up briefly, as the familiar words haunted her. thalia turned pale and shivered as she now recognized the brown green eyes.
" yes Mistress" she whispered submissively as she lowered her blue eyes in the fashion of those who are enslaved.