The following is part one of a long, epic series of slavery and choices. It contains viewpoints of characters that are morally wrong and do not reflect my personal beliefs. I hope you can recognize the difference between a fictional story and real life and I do hope you enjoy.
-OOO-
**Chapter 1: Whatever Happened to Lady Jade?**
The Sultan leaned back in his ornate armchair, stroking his freshly shaven chin. The only light, save for a dim orange glow emanating from the ornate wall sconces, came from a large mounted television screen on the opposite side of his desk. He rested comfortably against the plush fabric, watching the images tick by. Every ten seconds a new image flashed by, presenting the wares of the merchants he had long ago allied himself with.
On the whole he felt that the offerings this time were poor. The woman on the screen was pretty enough, he conceded. She was, in fact, quite beautiful. The camera had captured the terror in her blue eyes quite well, so that he could make out the extra moisture behind them that gave away either the stopping or starting of tears. But as he read her profile, the Sultan was thoroughly unimpressed. *A preschool teacher? She ought to have been satisfied by the children her husband gave her. If she even bothered with a husband…*