The Red Diamond Dragon

Madeline I had been downstairs doing laundry and was headed back up the stairs when I heard my stepmother Debbie talking to someone. I sat down at the top of the stairs, not wanting to interrupt or be seen by her. It was always best out of sight out of mind. I didn't mean to listen, but hearing my name caught my attention. She was talking to an older male pack member; the man had given me the creeps ever since I was a young girl. She was debating a price with him, stating he was the highest bidder. As I listened, I learned the price was apparently for me and my virginity. The time was set for after the upcoming ball. She was telling him she could not have me upset before the ball and risk her husband finding out or me not representing the pack like they needed. I was still frozen in shock when I heard him leave. I had overheard a conversation similar to this once several years ago. It was the one-time Mr. Harris had stood up for me, stating she was not allowed to sell me. It was the only time I heard him fight back and it was also when I had started working harder to leave the house but being a non-shifter there was not a lot of work, and it took time. Nothing had come from that argument, so I had hoped it was a done deal, and I could leave before it was brought up again. My mother had me when she was young with her first mate. They had lived in Scotland at the time. My birth father had died suddenly, and we moved to America where mom met Mr. Harris, her second chance, mate. Mom died in an accident when I was 11, leaving me devastated and alone. Mr. Harris was kind enough to keep me fed and a roof over my head until I turned eighteen, for that I was grateful. I did work for him when I was younger as well, just not as in-depth as I do now. Shortly after my mom died, he married his previous girlfriend, Debbie, and I learned they had a child together. She was younger than me, but the age didn’t add up right. He had obviously had an affair while mated to my mother. As I sat lost in thought and still frozen in shock at the head of the stairs, I heard Jessica come in to talk with her mother. They discussed how many bidders there were for me and the amount that they could get. I listened to Jessica complain about how many suitors had come asking to spend time with me over the years. The man in question was not the first to offer money for me. I had never known any man to be interested in me before, always told I was fat and unwanted. I sat there for a while before I realized they had left the kitchen, and I was silently crying. The thought of that man touching me made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to run away, but where would I go? Ending up on the streets could be more dangerous than he was. I had to pull it together and think of something. I had been invited to the Full Moon Ball this year for the first time ever. I was unable to shift, so my pack, The Desert Moon Pack, deemed me worthless. However, The Guardian’s pack where the ball was being held is known to be very inclusive to all types of shifters and is a powerhouse in our world with its strength and top of the line technology. Our Alpha wanted to ally with them and was using some of us to show how inclusive his pack was as well. I hoped The Guardians Pack was smart enough to see through his facade. The man was a cruel Alpha on his best days and used people for gain. Most of the time, he deemed us beneath him and not worth his time, so that was the plus side to all of it. He was a split on allowing people to leave the pack or kicking them out and other times hunting them down and killing them for going rogue. I wonder if I could find a way to request sanctuary within The Guardians pack? If they were as good as rumored to be, maybe someone would be willing to help. I finished my work for the day at the house and left for my job. I worked as a cook and housekeeper for Debbie and Mr. Harris during the day, then in the evenings, I worked at a laundry facility just outside the pack. My boss was a sweet older woman who did her best to hire and help those in need, such as single mothers and non-shifters. She was firm but fair in her dealings. I discussed what happened with my boss Emma, she knew there were three months of work left before I could move but she offered me the money to help move as soon as I returned from the ball and I could work to pay her back. I thanked her while trying not to cry at her generosity. I wasn't saving my virginity for any special reason; I figured the whole time I was just unwanted, but I certainly didn't want it sold to some creep. I went into the work facility to change into my uniform and ran into my friend Kyra, who was also changing. "Are you doing alright?" She asked, looking concerned. “I just overheard Debbie talking, and it creeped me out. I need to get moved out of the house sooner than later.” I told her not wanting to expand in case someone was listening. Most people who worked there were at the bottom of the pack, but there were still some that would sell out information for a pat on the head or a chance to level up within the pack. Kyra looked at me, knowing it was a story for another time. I loved my short friend. I was six feet tall, heavy set or fat as I was often told, I had deep brown hair with a rich auburn tint to it. It was my best feature, I thought. My eyes were a light honey brown, and my skin was naturally tanned even though I did not get a chance to be outside very often. Kyra, in contrast, was a curvy short ball of fire with her white-blonde hair, pale skin, and light blue eyes. She lived with her abusive drunk father and needed to get out as badly as I did. I honestly think she needed out of that house more than I needed out of mine. I wonder if Emma would allow us to share one of the small rooms, we wouldn’t need much and maybe could work opposite shifts to sleep using one bed until we could afford our own, I made a mental note to ask her when I saw her. Kyra chattered on throughout the shift, making me laugh and taking my mind off the impending doom. I took her home after work that night, and we always parked a short distance away so she could sneak in without waking her father. I was lucky enough to have my mom’s old car, and it still ran well, so at least we did not have to walk back and forth to work. She had pulled a double shift today, which she had been doing more and more often. I arrived home and quietly went to my room. I pulled my old brown suitcase from the bottom of my small closet. It was a sturdy one that had also been my mother’s. I loved the vintage feel of it. It also had a false bottom to it, which was where I kept anything of importance hidden. I had managed to keep some letters, photos, a couple of pieces of my mom’s jewelry, and a book of jewelry designs I sketched during the rare moments when I had time. I loved keeping these little mementos hidden, Jessica had made it her mission to destroy anything of value to me. Once, she found one of my designs and took it to a jeweler to have it made. I was in awe of seeing one of my designs come to life but crushed when she had taken the credit for it. I vowed to keep my art hidden after that. I knew she searched my room on occasion since I would find things slightly moved. I looked over the items I would need for the ball. It was 3 days and nights, the first was for meetings with a business dress dinner, the second night was training and meetings with an informal dinner, and the third night was the actual ball. I noted the few things I had that would work, and I had one dress that was nice but not formal. It was a simple long black dress with almost no shape, Debbie said it did well to hide my lumps. These things would have to work. We were leaving tomorrow, and I needed to be organized, I also wanted to have everything in order in case I found a way to escape. I could never form a pack link, so I technically was not a pack member, which could work in my favor. I packed everything neatly and put a small sewing kit in there as well, Jessica sometimes had fun messing with my clothes since I didn’t have much else for her to vandalize. I finally went to bed, tired from the stress of the day. I mindlessly twirled my necklace pendant in my hand. It was a long gold chain with a gold pendant that had an intricately woven design and a red ruby in the center. The back of it had an engraved crest of some sort. It was from my mother, she said to wear it always and I had never taken it off, it felt like a comfort remembering her. The words engraved on the back “Ignis rufus vivit” I found were Latin meaning “The Red Fire Lives”. I always found it strange, but the library had no information that could even be considered a clue. Sleep finally came, and I dreamed that night of a fire raging. The heat and colors dancing were a comfort to me. It never felt like a bad dream but rather one of peace.