Rae scanned the area. The slave market was far from anything nice. All the dealers and slaves were lines up as wealthier people looked over whom they would like to buy. Rae was in that crowd of buyer's to, but she had a hood to cover her face so no one would know who she is. Her eyes raked over the line of slaves until they were drawn to a handsome young man in somewhat good health. He was perfect. But someone else thought so to.

"I want him" an overly fat man with a big beard shouted at the dealer's whom nodded their head and pushed the boy over to the man.

"I'll give you 15 pieces of silver" the fat man said as he grabbed at the bag of silver by his hip.

"WAIT!" Rae shouted as she rushed over to the group, the fat man glaring at her. The dealer's looked surprised.

"I'll pay 20 pieces of silver for him" she bargained.

"I'll pay 30" the fat man shouted. Rae glared up at him and crossed her arms.

"I'll pay 100 pieces of silver for him" Rae growled and the fat man coughed, now glaring at her.

"Ya right like you have that type of money" he sneered. Rae hated being insulted. She took out her bag of silver and placed it in the dealer's hands then took the rope that was attached to the man's wrists.

"I shall be going now good day gentlemen, selfish fat ass-hole" Rae commented making the dealer's laugh as she walked away, a shocked look plastered on the fat man's face.

"Nobody out bids me" she mumbled then looked back at the man who was now her own personal slave.

"I'm Rae whats your name?"

Arik suppressed a sigh as he was pulled to his feet.The rope dug into his wrists, the knot tied uncomfortably tight. The market was busy today and the trader was expecting a good day. People wandered slowly down the line, appraising Arik and his fellow slaves as though they were mere slabs of meat.

A grotesquely overweight man waddled towards Arik, "I want him," he called to the dealer, summoning him over. The dealer looked between Arik and the man and nodded, "I'll give you fifteen pieces of silver," The overweight man reached for a small bag at his hip. Arik rolled his eyes. True, he was young, but fifteen pieces was a insult to any slave.

"WAIT!" A feminine voice yelled through the crowd. Arik looked to the source of the voice and saw a pretty girl force her way through the crowd. Perhaps the gods were smiling on him today. "I'll pay twenty pieces of silver for him."

And improvement, but still an insult to his ego.

"I'll pay thirty," Came the reply.

"I'll pay one hundred pieces of silver for him," The girl growled, causing the man to cough. Arik looked at the girl in surprise. Did she even have that kind of money? And if she did, what was she doing here? There were better slave markets in town, surely.

"Ya right, like you have that type of money," The man who had tried to purchase Arik sneered. The girl took out her bag and placed it in the dealer's hand, taking the rope Arik was attached to.

"I shall be going now, good day gentleman, selfish fat ass-hole," Rae said in parting. Arik was sure he heard the dealer laugh. "Nobody outbids me," She mumbled before turning back to Arik, "I'm Rae, whats your name?"

Arik took a moment to gather his wits, "I am Arik, my lady," He said, keeping his head bowed.

"Arik huh cute name" Rae giggled as they made their way through town. People looked at them funny, probably wondering why a person dressed in peasant clothes had a slave. Rae simply just ignored them. That is until she some the palace guards. They were running around frantically looking for her. And here she thought she would be fast enough for them not to notice. Rae quickly reached into her waist band and pulled out a dagger, cutting the rope from Arik's hands.

"Come on follow me" she said to him as she took hold of his hand and turned the corner and started running. Rae made sure to take all the back alley's, avoiding all people. You see she hadn't actually told anyone she was going to the market today, actually he father had kinda banned her from ever leaving the palace without some form of protection. It was to dangerous for a princess to be forming the streets, blah, blah, blah. Rae then took a sharp turn leading them right into a wall. She glanced around to see if anyone was there, when she saw no one she found the brick brick with the small anubis face carving and pushed it, revealing a secret door.

"Come on get in" Rae whispered shouted as she pushed Arik through the door then closed it behind them. A long hallway stretched out in front of them as Rae once again took Arik's hand and they started running down the hall way until they came to another stone door. Rae repeated what she did with the other door and it open relieving a large beautiful pond and a white sanded beach.

"Home at last and I didn't get caught" Rae whooped. The beach stretched out and ended at stairs that lend right into Rae's room. Silk drapes and luxurious furnishings were seen from their point of view. Of course that was only one part of Rae's room, her room still had 3 other parts to it. Ya its big.

"Make yourself at home" Rae said simply as she left Arik there and dashed into her room. If she was found in these clothes her father would know what she did. She quickly changed into a silk white long skirt with slits up both sides revealing her tanned hips then she put on a simple silk wrap bikini top and she finished it off with a large gold necklace and some gold bracelets that run a chain up to her fingers, gold hoop earrings and some large gold bracelets with jewels. She then turned to see Arik hadn't moved.

"Hey Arik come on over here we need to fix you up before my father sees you, can't be a slave to the princess and look like that" Rae giggled.

Arik followed Rae through the streets, somewhat puzzled by the fact they had stopped in front of a wall. Rae seemed to be searching for something on the wall. She pressed a brick and a secret door appeared in the wall. Rae grabbed Arik's hand and pulled him through the door behind her.

Yeah, sure, secret door, no big deal, he thought, trying not to look too over-enamored by the estate. Rae opened the second door out on to a luxurious beach.

"Home at last and I didn't get caught," Rae whooped, "Make yourself at home," she said while she disappeared. Arik assumed she had gone to get changed. No doubt a woman of her wealth would have a lot of explaining to do if she was caught dressed as she had been. Arik stood there awkwardly, what was expected of him? He looked about him, taking in the beach. While he was observing the beach, Rae returned, dressed in a white, high slit skirt and a bikini top. He quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to seem improper. True, Rae seemed kind enough, but Arik was still unsure of his boundaries.

"Hey Arik, come on over here. We need to fix you up before my father sees you, can't be a slave to the princess and look like that," She giggled. So she was the princess. That certainly explained a lot. He suppressed the urge to look over his body. What was wrong with the way he looked? Still, it would not serve to displease Rae.

"Yes, my lady," He replied, walking towards Rae, submitting himself to her whim.

"I didn't mean to offend I just simply meant if my father saw you walking around in those kinda clothes he would behead you, slaves have a dress code kinda here just so you know you look the part of being a royals slave. Personally I think your hot it's either way" Rae giggled as she walked through her bed room and towards a door way leading into what now will be Arik's room.

"this is your room cause you are my personal slave no one else may tell you what to do besides me unless it's my mother or father, here" Rae said as she dung through the chest in his room taking out a white waist robe, a gold belt and sandals. She passed them to him then left the room.

"oh and one more thing you can call me Rae, Arik. The only time you really need to address me so formally is when we are around my parents" she said kindly then left him to get changed.

Arik smiled, "I was not offended believe me you'd have to do much worse to offend me." He ignored her comment about him being 'hot'. He was a slave, she was a princess, it would make no difference if the attraction went beyond the physical anyway.

Arik followed Rae to another room, "This is your room 'cause you are my personal slave, no one else may tell you what to do besides me, unless it's my mother or father," Arik nodded his understanding, "Here," She said, handing him a white robe, a gold belt and a pair of sandals.

"Oh and one more thing, you can call me Rae, Arik. The only time you really need to address me so formally is when we are around my parents."

Arik smiled again, "Of course Rae," It felt odd to Arik to be calling his owner by their given name, so often they preferred honorifics such as 'my lady' or 'sir'. He was glad that Rae was more laid back and informal. That usually boded well. Arik began changing into his new clothes. He ran a hand through his hair, making it messier than it already was. Satisfied he was dressed properly, he stepped out of the room.

"Do I meet with your expectations Rae?" He asked, standing with his arms slightly out to the side so she could see him properly.

"You look fine Arik" Rae giggled but was interrupted.

"RAMLA!" the Pharaoh's harsh yell echoed through Rae's room as her eyes grew large. Her father, mother and 3 guards stormed into her room, her father's stormy grey eyes meeting Rae's emerald green. Enraged would be putting his mood lightly.

"Hi papa" Rae smiled sheepishly as she looked over to her mother, mentally begging her to help but her mother just shook her head and mouth 'You are in big trouble'.

"Where have you been, I have been sick with worry!" Pharaoh shouted, his face started to turn red.

"I uh...i....." Rae began but shut her lips tight as her father glared at her. He was a bit over-protective of his only child.

"I know that face, your going to lie to me, don't you dare lie to me young lady" he father growled.

"Lie to you never, I was just umm....reading" Rae mentally face-palmed at her lame excuse.

"Oh and where were you reading?" he father asked but Rae knew he didn't buy it. He raised an eye brow and Rae sighed. She was about to answer when her father's eyes strayed from her to Arik and his face turned red once again in anger.

"WHO ARE YOU!" he boomed he the guards raised their spears pointing them at Arik. Rae instantly stepped in front of Arik protectively.

"He's mine, I bought him at the slave market today. I'm sorry I didn't tell you papa but I hate being constantly baby-sat by your minions" Rae shouted back taking Pharaoh by surprise. The guards instantly lowered their weapons, afraid they might harm Rae. She heard her mother sigh before she grabbed her husbands arm and started towing him out of Rae's room, a look of shock plastered on her father's face until he was almost out the door. He seemed to shake out of it then.

"Alright you can keep him but you are grounded until the next full moon young lady" her father shouted before they all left, but Rae knew two guards were stationed outside her door. Great she was grounded for 2 weeks. Rae sighed and turned back to Arik.

"Sorry about that my father can be a little bit over-protective" Rae said sheepishly as she gave him a weary smile.

Arik stiffened when Rae's father entered the room, his fury palpable, his face red. Rae's voice faltered as she tried to think of an excuse for her absence. Before Rae had a chance to defend her lie, her father's rage turned to him.

"WHO ARE YOU!" The guards had their spears pointed at him.

Arik held his hands up, trying to protest his innocence, "I.. uh, I..."

Rae stepped in, standing in front of him, "He's mine, I bought him at the slave market today. I'm sorry I didn't tell you papa, but I hate being constantly babysat by your minions," The guards lowered their weapons. Rae's mother led her shell-shocked father out of the room.

"Alright," He father said, " you can keep him. But you are grounded until the next full moon young lady." He left the room, leaving Arik and Rae alone again. Rae turned around to face him. Arik took a step back creating a decent space between them.

"Sorry about that," Rae said sheepishly, "My father can be a little over-protective."

Arik looked to the door. Sure, over-protective was one way of describing it. "I don't blame him, Egypt is full of people who aren't as decent as you might hope. And you are the princess," And beautiful to boot, he thought. Arik sighed, "Two weeks consigned here," Arik looked around the room, "Where shall we start?"

"I don't know about you but I'm going to go for a swim its freaking hot out" Rae loved the water, why o you think she had her own personal beach. Now that she didn't have to worry about her father Rae took off all the jewelry, which she actually hated cause it was so heavy, then took off the white skirt revealing a white wrap bikini bottoms that matched her top. She then tied her hair into a braid. Just then a maid came in with a tray with a gold jug of water, two goblets and a large bowl of grapes.

"My Lady I have brought you some food, you had quite a morning so i thought you might be hungry" the young maid, Nile, said polity while placing the tray on Rae's bed.

"Thank you Nile and remember you can call me Rae when my father's not around" Rae said kindly as she took a hand full of purple grapes. Nile looked over to Arik and blushed, smiling at him.

"Hello I'm Nile the princess's maid and you are...." Nile said kindly, blushing at Arik. Rae saw this and slightly glared at the maid. A small amount of jealousy pinched at Rae as she watched Nile practically looked love struck. Yes Arik was very handsome Rae would admit but that didn't mean Nile had to go and fall all over him. But again who was she to have a say in whom the man would like. This that thought Rae swiftly turned her back to them pair and walked over to the beach, diving into the crystal blue waters. Rae stayed near the shore, her neck and body under water but her head wasn't as she ate her grapes and glared at the pair.

Arik wasn't sure where to look when Rae began to strip down to her bikini, and was somewhat grateful when the door opened and a pretty girl came into the room. True, she wasn't in Rae's league but she was pretty enough. She was carrying a tray with a large jug, two goblets and a large bowl of grapes. So she was another member of the staff.

"My Lady, I have brought you some food, you had quite a morning so I thought you might be hungry," She explained, placing the tray down on Rae's bed.

"Thank you Nile and remember you can call me Rae when my father's not around," Rae said, taking a handful of grapes. Nile looked over to Arik, smiling at him.

"Hello, I'm Nile, the princess's maid, and you are?" Arik heard Rae dive into the water and Arik took a quick glance at the princess from the corner of his eyes. The phrase 'if looks could kill' popped into Arik's head.

"I am Arik, the princess's slave," He smiled politely, "a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Nile," He said bowing his head, trying not to laugh at Rae's reaction to Nile.

Nile's face seemed to glow red. "Its nice to meet you Arik, please just call me Nile ummm.....the rest of the slaves and staff are being given a night off and we are holding a little get together in the slaves quarter's, you probably haven't met anyone else so would you like to go with me?" Nile asked shyly. Rae's eyes widened slightly, she had forgotten about the slaves night off. Unknown anger flared in Rae making her green eyes glow a blazing gold. Being an Anubis princess her and her family were linked to the Egyptian god giving them magical powers. Rae's powers were more linked to her emotions then her father's, and she was more linked to element magic then basic.

Trying to ignore them Rae went deeper into the water and went under, sinking to the bottom and sitting on the sandy sea floor. She didn't understand why she was acting like this, yes she had taken an instant liking to Arik but that didn't explain why she was feeling angry at some woman flirting with him.

Nile gulped as she saw Rae's eyes turn gold before she went under water. She didn't know why Rae was angry but when the princess is angry it isn't safe for anyone. Last year she had burnt a guard to a crisp because he had made some very forward moves on the princess.

"Ummm I should really get going the princess seems to be mad for some reason and I really don't want to turn into a crispy Nile, be careful, not many people outside the palace know that the Royal family is descendants of the god Anubis giving them powers" Nile whispered to Arik then she bowed her head and scurried out of the room.

Nile seemed to be shy around Arik, which was completely new for Arik to deal with. He had never really had women fawning over him and was unsure how to react. The maid visibly gulped when she looked to Rae. Arik followed her line of sight but saw nothing other than a few surface bubbles where Rae had sunk down.

"Umm, I should really get going, the princess seems to be mad for some reason and I really don't want to turn into a crispy Nile. Be careful, not many people outside the palace know that the Royal family are descendants of the God Anubis, giving them powers," She whispered to Arik. Powers? Great, he was slave to a beautiful woman who happened to have magical powers. Before Arik had a chance to accept Nile's invitation, she had left. Arik sighed. The Gods will give and take as they pleased it would seem.

Seeing that Rae hadn't resurfaced, Arik waded into the water, "Now Rae, was there really any need for that, you scared the poor girl half to death. Are you going to be like this every time a girl speaks to me?" He asked, his hands on his hips.

Rae surfaced once Arik enetered the water but she only went up enough for her shoulder's to be over the water.

"I could have done alot worse then scare her" Rae grumbled, her green eyes still a blazing gold.

"And maybe, it all depends on what topic of conversation you have with her" she mumbled. Was she being scolded by him? How strange. Rae huffed and looked away from Arik only for her eyes to fall upon a huge spider striding over the water a few feet from her. Her eyes grew wide in fear and she unconscious let out a small, soft noise between a whimper and a scream. She blotted out of the water and right into Arik. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hid her face in his shoulder. Ever since she had gotten bitten and fallen ill when she was younger Rae had a major fear of spiders.

"Stupid spider" she mumbled into Arik's shoulder, she refused to let go until it was gone.

Arik caught Rae as she ran into him. She had his arms wrapped around his neck and her face was buried into his shoulder. Now Arik did not claim to be an expert in human behaviour, but it was quite clear Rae was in some distress. He stroked her hair trying to calm her down.

"Stupid spider," she mumbled.

Arik looked over Rae and saw a spider crawling along the sand. Unlike Rae, Arik had no issue with spiders. He gently unwrapped her arms from around him, crouching down to the spider. He cupped his hand around the spider, letting it crawl into his hands. He watched the spider as it crawled over his hands and wrists, catching the spider before it went too far up his arm. He took the spider to his room, freeing the spider out the window. He went back to Rae, "It's gone now, Rae, you don't need to worry."

"Thank you" Rae huffed quietly. The sky was now turning a dark pink as the sun started to go down and the moon started to appear.
"Could you please go make a fire in the fireplace" Rae asked Arik as she went into the closet part of her room and changed into a white night gown. She took her hair out of a braid and grabbed her brush, combing through the thick blonde curly tresses. The day seemed to go by so fast Rae hadn't even realized what time of day it was. Once finished with her hair Rae washed her face with a bowl of warm water that a maid had brought in then walked out and grabbed one of the many books she was reading.

Arik smiled while Rae sulked. It was...cute. Arik didn't dwell on where that thought had come from, instead pushing it back down. This would not do at all.

"Could you go make a fire in the fireplace?" Rae asked as she went into her room.

"Of course Rae," Arik began spreading the kindling over the grate, gently fanning the flames until they caught. When they had, Arik began to slowly build up the fire, prodding the logs to stop the flames being smothered. Before long, Arik had a good fire going. Happy with the job, Arik stood back from the fire. Only, he stood up a little too soon, and ended up smacking his head off the underside of the fireplace. Arik crouched back down, backing slowly away from the fireplace. He rubbed his head. He turned around, seeing Rae standing there in a white gown with a book in her hand. He smiled sheepishly at her, "Would you like me to go anything else Rae?"

"No nothing else....are you ok?" Rae asked concerned for she had witnessed him hitting his head. Rae put her book down on her bed and walked over to Arik and gently took his head and pulled it down to her height. She saw there was now a growing bump and a small amount of blood.

"Your bleeding a little bit go sit down and I will get a wet cloth to wipe it away" Rae said kindly as she let go of Arik's head and walked into her bathroom area, grabbing a cloth and wetting it Rae quickly came back out. She took Arik's hand and guided him to her bed and lightly pushed him down to sit. Once Arik was sat down Rae gently put the cloth to his head.

"No nothing else... are you ok?" Rae asked him. She put her book down and walked over to him, gently pulling him down to her height. After a brief inspection of his head, "You're bleeding a little bit. Go sit down and I will get a wet cloth to wipe it away," She said in a kind voice before leaving the room.

Arik was a little dazed and wasn't entirely sure where to sit. His dilemma was solved when Rae came back. She took him by the hand and guided him to her bed, pushing him down so he was sat on the edge, "You really don't have to do-" Arik was interrupted when Rae gently pressed the cloth to his head. The sensation of the cold water on his head was wonderful. He could feel the swelling being eased already, "Thank you Rae," He took the cloth from her hand, holding it to his own head, "I can do this, but thank you."