They came last night. The gambling house, that is.

They came to tell us that we owed them 700 silver coins, and wanted the money within 3 days, as we were already 4 days past due.

Well, I guess now I know why my father hasn't come home in 6 days.

He told us he was going to the forest of the mindless beasts, Floreshian [1] Jungle, to hunt and sell for money.

I assume he lied.

Mother tells the handful of big, burly men, "My husband just went to the Jungle, to collect animal carcasses and sell them for money. I promise, we will get you your silver."

"Hunting? How long do you think we will wait for? It will take at least 5 months of constant hunting to get 700 silver worth, and that's only if you're lucky. He will most likely die out there, you know? Then we won't get any coin. Besides, who knows if he's run away?" One answered in a deep voice.

'He's already run away' I think to myself, but I don't dare to speak aloud.

"So, how bout' this? You give me your daughter, and let my boys have a little... fun with ya, and you won't need to give us a single copper. What do ya say?" Says the man, a look I had only ever seen on father's face when he looked at mother, and when he looked at me, occasionally. I have only ever seen that look on mothers face when she would beat me or Alex, my twin brother.

Her look was even more twisted the day she killed him.

I hate that look, nothing good ever comes out of the mouths of the people who wear it.

Mother gives a small smirk. "I won't argue about you taking my daughter away, but you aren't touching me. My body is more precious than all of you fellows combined."

The look on the man's face becomes odd.

"What did you say?"

"I said" she dragged out each word, as if talking to a child, "you may have my daughter as you please, but your worthless, grubby hands will be touching a single hair of mine."

"Who said you were allowed to make negotiations with me?" He replied.

"Well, obviously, I want to give you something else as an exchange." She said, a creepy smile crawled onto her face, looking like a bloody rose that had freshly bloomed, its thorn-filled vines making up her abnormally long and sharp teeth. Her mouth a disturbingly dark red in color.

The man freezes for a moment when he sees her smile, frozen in shock or marveling at her beauty, I was never able to tell. Anybody who looked at her smile would behave the same way.

I know that her smile scares me.

How beautifully terrifying it is.

After coming out of his momentary stupor, he smiles and says, "well then, show us what you've got."

"Of course, my lord." She says, giving a polite curtsy, he appeared satisfied with the way he was being treated as he rubbed his chin with a gross look on his face.

I can practically read his thoughts: 'After I have a taste of her, I can just take the thing she's showing me as well. Boss will surely be pleased.'

I look at my lap, not wanting to see the thing mother had locked in the freezer for a year now. It is the only thing of value we have in the house, it is the only thing that she might be able to exchange for letting her go, and only taking me.

I sigh slightly, then tears start to flow down my cheeks silently.

One of the men, standing in the back, seems to notice this.

I can tell from the way he leans against the door frame, the way that none of the others speak to him, and the way that he keeps receiving nervous looks, that he might be of higher status than all of them.

I wonder if it's some kind of gang-test. Like, their superiors would watch them go on a 'mission', grade them, and see if they pass. Then it gets put down in the teachers grade books and off they go back to the 'how to be a scary thug' school.

"Why are you crying, girl, scared that we're gonna hurt you or your mommy?" He asks with a teasing voice.

I look at him for a moment, before opening my dry lips and saying in a horse voice, "no, I am just sad that mother will not suffer with me."

I think it is only now that they notice that my hands are tied behind my back with rope, leaving red marks on my wrists that have long turned into a permanent scar. The scratches up and down my legs, the blood on the floor next to me.

I think they all understand what happened, now that they heard my words and actually noticed my presence.

But, before they can even say anything, I speak again: "I used to have a brother, you know?"

I lower my head, not answering the questions that they all so obviously have. Doesn't matter anyways, they would know the answer soon.

The click-clack of a woman's heels echo slightly in our barren house.

She holds up a clear container that has long been fogged up by the ice that you cannot see into it, and says, "here it is, this is what I will exchange with you."

They looked at the box as big as two palms with curiosity and said, "What is it? Quickly, open it up. I will determine if it is a worthy exchange or not."

She gives a small smile, replying "no need to fret, I assure you that you will not make a loss."

They watch as she slowly opens the lid of the container.

I wonder what they expect to see.

Sharalu meat?[2] Precious herbs? A pill, perhaps.

"A half-blood dragon heart," She says with a smile as all the faces in the room pale.

They should understand what I said, about having a brother, by now.

[1] Floreshian is pronounced as (Floor-e-she-an).

[2] Sharalu is a type of magical beast from Ashley's world. It is the size of a common house dog but has poisonous claws, blue blood, red fur and can shoot fire breath.