Masks of Protection: Part 4

By: Stacy L.

Early the following morning Daniel approached Sam smiling. She glanced at him only briefly before directing her gaze away. Daniel felt his heart cinching again and softly asked, “How are you doing?”

She glanced at him briefly again before he saw the spirit zapped and her gaze once again sought the floor. He felt his heart cinch tighter and swallowed hard before continuing, “If you need anything at all then please don’t hesitate to ask one of us. We’ll get you what we can. I’ll get you what I can.”

Silence stretched like a siv before she softly spoke, “I…I can’t do it.”

“What?”

“I…I can’t give you what you want.”

Gentling his voice further he inquired, “And what is it that I want?”

She looked at him briefly before saying, “That…”

“Sam, I don’t want anything from you except for you and Cassie to heal, to find inner peace, to find who you both are.”

“Hmm then why did you buy us?”

“Because I want to help you.”

“Help me? No. No you want what I can’t give, but I can’t stop you from taking it. You are my owner. You purchased us. We belong to you.”

“You belong to no one.”

“Except you.”

“No.”

“Then why am I here?”

“I’ve told you already. You’re here to heal, to regain that which you’ve lost.”

She chuckled maniacally before replying, “Right.”

Daniel frowned before continuing, “Yes right. You’re in my home and you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like. You can leave at any time but are welcome to remain if you so choose.”

“You’re crazy.”

“No. Listen…think of this place as a sanctuary. You’re safe here. No one will hurt you.”

“Except you.”

“Not even me…”

“You are a man. You are my master. You will take what you desire from me and I must yield it willingly.”

“No.”

“I’m a slave. I own nothing, not even my body, for I must yield even it to you. To deny you will result in pain. I can’t stop you so you’ll have to take it. I’m telling you that I can’t give you my body. I’ll work for you. I will serve you, but I won’t willingly go to your bed.”

“And I don’t want that of you.”

“No? You’re a man. You’ve purchased me. I’m your property. It’s your right.”

“No it isn’t. You can’t just take whatever you want from another.”

“You can when you’re a master and I your slave.”

“No, that’s not why you’re here.”

“Isn’t it? You saw me. You bid on me. You outbid the others and you own me. I must submit to you.”

“And I’ve already told you that you submit to no one.”

Continuing as if she hadn’t heard the statement Sam said, “And to deny you comes with a price. You’re stronger than me. All you have need of is a method to secure me and you have me. Whether I want to or not, that’s the life of a slave.”

“Yes but you’re no longer a slave.”

“So you say, but I’m in your home and you did purchase me…”

“And as I’ve already said this place is a sanctuary. You can stay as long as you like and live as you please. I only ask two things of you.”

“There’s always a price to be paid.”

Ignoring her sarcasm Daniel continued, “I ask that you treat the others who live here with kindness. They are good people who will do anything for you but like you many of them are here to heal, to find peace, to move on with their lives. Please don’t be bitter towards them.”

“That I can do. So the second price?”

“The second thing I ask is that you allow yourself to heal as well, and that is ALL I ask of you.”

Silence fell between them as she searched his eyes for falsehoods, for malice, for anger and rage, for that dark quality that made him a monster. When she saw nothing of malice within him it unnerved her prompting her to ask, “Why?”

“What?”

“Why would you do this?”

Daniel lowered his gaze briefly before saying, “Because we all need help at some point in our lives.”

“What?”

Daniel shook his head before urging, “Please allow yourself to relax and recover and allow Cassie to heal. Please.”

Daniel then walked away leaving her feeling confused, scared and still unnerved.

* *

Later that evening…

She smiled when she saw Daniel in the bath. She watched him as he winced upon attempting to shift and knew that he had overdone it again. Why did he always feel the need to push himself so hard? She lectured him several times about his insistence on work, and feared that he could seriously hurt himself if he wasn’t more cautious. Instead of listening he continued to work, ignoring all advice, determined to help as much as he was able. She shook her head as he shifted wincing a second time again releasing a soft hiss of pain to the air.

She entered the room softly speaking his name answering the call to ease his suffering. As he turned her way he smiled impishly knowing he had been caught. She wanted to scold him for overworking himself but resisted the urge choosing instead to ask, “Would you like me to relieve the tension in your shoulder, Daniel?”

Daniel hesitated always feeling nervous when she entered the room and caught him wincing in pain because he had again neglected to follow her orders or listen to her lectures. Feeling guilty for not listening again he nodded his head before muttering a soft, “Thank you.”

Layla smiled as she approached before lowering into the water behind him. Daniel immediately snapped, “Layla your clothes. You’ll get all soaked and…”

“Oh hush Daniel. We’ve done this a million times. You should be used to it. Now relax and let me help you.”

“But…”

“They’re only clothes, little one.”

Daniel blushed slightly smiling at the pet name she used to call him by when he was younger. He always felt safe and comforted by her and was extremely grateful to have found her.

She in turn smiled before carefully drawing his hair back and pushing the damp tendrils to the side gazing fixedly at his injured shoulder before starting to massage it. As she began the massage she noticed the shoulder muscle was extremely tight and questioned, “How did you agitate it this time?”

“Digging in the fields…”

“Daniel, you need to be careful.”

“Yeah well…”

“Try to relax…”

He hissed as she hit a knot tensing as pain flared up in his shoulder. She softened her voice as she crooned, “Relax, little one. I’m here for you. I’m here. Relax.”

Daniel closed his eyes feeling instantly calm. Layla’s soothing voice could work miracles. He recalled the many times she would speak to him late in the night soothing him after he had been disciplined by the master for an infraction. If not for her he would never have survived the hell his life had become for so many years of his young life. Feeling safe in her presence he allowed himself to relax further surrendering to her loving touch and soothing words.

Jack decided to use the hot tub that Daniel owned. He had been hesitant to use it in the past but decided he needed to relax.

He quickly made his way there drawing to a halt at the door when he saw Daniel in the water and one of his servants massaging his shoulders. He started to leave when Daniel winced. He paused turning back as Layla gently urged, “Relax Daniel. Relax my precious one.”

Precious one? What the hell? She spoke to him as if he was a child, and he allowed it? Why?

He gazed fixedly at the two hearing the master’s complaint, “Layla you don’t have to…”

“I want to do this.”

“But it’s not required. You don’t ahh…”

“Daniel, are you all right?”

“Fine.”

She pursed her lips, displeased with his usual response she continued, “Your shoulder is acting up again. You shouldn’t have been in the fields with Jacob.”

Instead of agreeing with her or arguing he said, “I’m not going to have him working alone.”

“But he wasn’t alone. Several of the others were helping too.”

Daniel shook his head smiling broader at her attempts to chastise him saying, “Yes but I wanted to help. Those are our crops. Mine, yours, Jacob’s, all of ours and I’m not going to sit around when I can be out there helping.”

“But your shoulder… You know what you were told.”

“It’s fine.”

“Daniel I know you too well. You underrate every injury to yourself.”

“I do not.”

Shaking her head in displeasure Layla continued, “When you say you’re fine you actually mean you’re in extreme pain and in danger of passing out.”

“What? I don’t…”

“Yes you do. You need to learn to relax and to take time out to heal if necessary.”

“Layla the injury to my shoulder is old. It will never go away…”

“Yes but I can help ease the pain when it flairs up on you.”

“It doesn’t happen often.”

She pursed her lips again as she softly chided, “Last week you aggravated it…”

“How? When?”

“You carried those two buckets of water in from the pump for Kayla.”

“They were too heavy for her, that’s men’s work.”

“Two weeks ago you hurt your shoulder when you helped Lana scrub floors.”

“It’s a huge floor. I’m not making her scrub that herself.”

Shaking her head she softly urged, “Then ask others to help. We serve you Daniel. You don’t serve us. Sheik’s don’t scrub floors on their hands and knees…”

“And you don’t serve me.”

“Daniel…”

“The floors needed to be done so I helped…”

“And the sweeping?”

“Needed done.”

“And the laundry?”

“Needed washed.”

“And the meal…?”

“Layla I like helping out, and I’m not going to stop so don’t lecture me.”

“Ah but my precious one someone has to. Someone needs to remind you that you’re a sheik and not a hired hand.”

“I’m used to the work, and you are not a hired hand either.”

She smiled warmly before quieting her voice as she lightly traced a finger down across a scar that trailed from Daniel’s left shoulder to right hip saying, “You’re used to a lot of things you shouldn’t be used to…”

Hearing the sudden change in Layla’s voice made Jack shift uncomfortably. Her tone had just shifted becoming softer, more motherly, quiet. In the inflections of her voice Jack sensed that the conversation was now drifting towards something more private. He was curious about the discussion having accidentily stumbled into the middle of it and listening without conscious thought, until the tone of the conversation shifted into a more intense private discussion. He couldn’t listen any longer. It was rude and he was being intrusive so he glanced once more at the two before slipping quietly away and heading outside. He needed space and time alone. He needed time, time to think and time to calm.

Daniel tensed and closed his eyes as Layla continued, “You should never have had to suffer Daniel.”

“Suffering is a part of life. We just need to learn to handle it with grace.”

“Grace? How old were you when you first experienced such cruelty Daniel?”

“I don’t…remember,” he lied.

“Eleven Daniel. You were eleven.”

“Eight, that’s when everything changed…”

“And everything shouldn’t have changed. You were just a boy and how long were you made to suffer by his hand?”

“He protected me.”

“Oh like you protect us? No Daniel, he didn’t protect you. He controlled you.”

“No. I could leave at anytime.”

“Is that why you were made to walk the auction block Daniel? Because you could leave at anytime?”

“Layla I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Daniel this should never have happened to you.”

He tensed as she brushed a faded scar on the back of his neck. He swallowed hard as he recalled what caused the scar. He kept it well hidden so he wouldn’t be questioned. Daniel said, “You should have no knowledge of its presence, Layla.”

She softened her voice replying, “But I do Daniel and it should never have happened.”

“But it did and I learned from it. If not for that scar, for what happened to me I might’ve ended up…like him.”

“No Daniel. You could never be as cruel as he. He was evil. He was a monster Daniel. Hard, cruel, vindictive… He allowed them to hurt you. He allowed them to use you as they saw fit.”

She lowered her voice to a whisper, “And that should have never happened Daniel. It should have never happened…”

“But it did and I can’t change that.”

“It wasn’t right. He made a promise that he didn’t keep. He swore to protect you, to raise you as his child but turned and sold you to the highest bidder.”

“I was treated well.”

”Daniel, how can you say that?”

“Because I never went hungry. I had a roof over my head. I had water to drink, and people who cared about me.”

“The life of a slave is very harsh Daniel. There is no kindness only cruelty.”

“But if you look at the positives Layla, it’s not as bad as you think.”

She could think of no response to that statement and chose, “Daniel your parents would have been so proud of you…”

He smiled as he said, “I miss them.”

“I know you do.”

They remained silent for several moments before Layla helped him to rise and dry off thinking of the life Daniel had led. He said that he had never gone hungry, but that wasn’t true. There had been restrictions placed on the food allotted to them all the time and Daniel being as young as he had been was lucky if he had managed to get a single piece of bread to eat. He was treated no differently than the others. He had lived in a house with ten others including her and the living conditions were extremely poor. Their home had been a simple wooden shack with dirt floors. The beds had been made up of old rags and mattresses tossed in the corners of their house. They had very few blankets, which is why they slept huddled together using body heat to keep them alive and warm. When Daniel did finally get a blanket of his own he gave it to the other children he lived with, for they were smaller and frailer than he. He had feared that they would catch a chill and get ill. Sometimes he’d spend hours watching them as they slept and prayed that they would someday find a better existence, a better life than that of a slave.

Even at his young age Daniel always gave to those less fortunate, often unselfishly giving his food to the others he lived with knowing that they needed the nourishment more than he.

His life was a hard and difficult one. He served as a slave for many years working in the fields from sunrise to sunset. He never gave up though there were days he was weary and she’d hold him in the night soothing him, comforting him and offering him the love and care he so deserved…

As he turned now she smiled gazing fondly at him as she pushed a wayward strand of hair off of his face. He returned the smile asking, “Layla what is it?”

Blinking back the bit of moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes she answered, “I’m so proud of you.”

Daniel blushed lowering his head in embarrassment before saying in a soft teasing tone, “Oh no you’re in mother hen mode again.”

Ignoring the teasing jab she continued, “Have I ever told you how much I love you? You’re the child of my heart Daniel.”

“I…I know.”

She wrapped her arms around him pulling him close as she softened her voice saying words she uttered often, “I’m so sorry for the life you were made to lead…”

He released a soft breath of air as he reached up to wrap his own arms around her answering quietly, “I know that too.”

“I worry about you so much.”

Pulling back to gaze at her face he reached up to brush her hair back from her cheek cupping it as he softly whispered, “Don’t. There’s no need.”

“It is a dangerous path you have chosen to follow. The risks for you are great, little one.”

“I know but I want to do it. The risk is worth it. There are so many people who need my help, Layla.”

“And so few lucky enough to have it, to have you.”

“If I could I’d save them all.”

She tightened her hold on him as she quietly agreed, “I know you would, Daniel, I know you would.”

* *

He sat huddled in the corner afraid to move, afraid to breathe. He had been ordered to stay put or suffer further. He wanted to rebel, but he didn’t have the strength, the energy. He hurt too much, and he was bleeding too much. Not wanting him to see, not wanting ANYONE to see his torment Daniel kept his face hidden, concealed from sight.

He lost track of just how long he had remained where he had been left, tensing as he became aware that he was no longer alone. He refused to look up, already knowing who it was and fearing the man with every fiber of his being. He listened as the man approached and lowered beside him before placing a gentle comforting hand on his shoulder, so very different from the vicious harsh hands of earlier, and uttering words he had heard spoken so many times before: “I’m so sorry, Danny. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I love you. I’m so sorry. I…I was upset and I…I’ll get help. I promise just…Please Danny look at me. Please? Come on. I’ll make it up to you. Please? I got you something…”

He always “got him something” when he was trying to make up for hurting him. He always spouted false promises: I’ll change. I’m sorry. I’ll get help. I didn’t mean it. I was angry. I’m under a lot of pressure… On and on the empty promises and endless excuses went. He would promise to be nicer, more understanding and more patient. He’d promise to take him places. He’d promise that he’d never raise a hand against him again, but Daniel knew the truth, much as he hated admitting it: he would improve and be polite, cheerful, fatherly and for a few weeks he’d be just that way until he had a bad day at work or Daniel said the wrong thing to him or something bad happened. Then, then the beatings would come again more vicious than the last one filled with more rage, more anger and more vehemence. And again he would find himself clinging tightly to the banister as he attempted to make his way upstairs to his room bruised, bleeding…his face damp with the few tears that managed to escape. He’d cling to that banister relying on it to keep him upright as he made the slow agonizing trek back to his room, the one that took him long minutes to ascend as he felt every bruise on his body…

That’s how he felt now. He couldn’t get up even if he tried. His uncle had been very violent beating him near unconscious and why? Why had he been beaten so badly this time? Because he had been late to supper by one measly pathetic minute…He had been late by ONE MINUTE. As soon as he had arrived his uncle glared at him beginning to lecture him on the importance of always being punctual, telling him that he’d get no where in life if he was always late to everything.

Daniel had remained silent, afraid, staring blankly at his plate of food knowing that another punishment was close at hand. He only started eating when his uncle snapped at him thinking of ways to dampen the beating and survive through yet another one knowing that the time was very near, the time of his escape. He would run away. He had to run. If he didn’t then he might not survive. The beatings were already escalating and growing worse each time they occurred. Soon, soon his uncle would kill him with his anger, of that Daniel had no doubt. He had to escape and he had to do it soon…

He jerked upright in his bed confused, scared and unfocused. He gazed around the room maniacally uncertain as to where he was or what had happened only becoming aware of what had occurred as he focused on the image, the picture of Layla on his nightstand. He gasped swallowing hard, relieved to realize that he had drifted asleep with his light on. He had been reading and had drifted asleep. It had been a dream, a memory that had captured and held him. It had been a flashback, one that he hadn’t been able to shake free of until he had bolted awake.

He swallowed harder running his hand across his face and through his hair aware that he was sweating, his heart racing frantically in his chest and extremely glad that it had been a flashback and not reality. He slowly stood up aware that his legs were shaky but determined to get up nonetheless. Once on his feet he approached the mirror gazing at the anxious man staring back at him. He was flushed, pale and nervous but he was awake and in his room, in his house NOT that of his uncle’s.

He lowered his head shaking it as he closed his eyes trying to ward off the last remnants of the memory. It had all been a flashback.

Flashbacks, oh how he hated those. They felt so real and so… They felt TOO real. He had been warned that flashbacks could strike at any time and unfortunately there wasn’t much he could do other than learn to recognize the triggers. In this case there had been none and if there was he sure as hell had no idea what it had been, for he had been fast asleep when the memory, when the nightmare came back to haunt him.

As relief continued to settle in he grew calmer knowing that sleep would be a long time in coming but that the memory was all but forgotten, pushed once again back into the deep dark recesses of his subconscious. He knew, of course, that the memory was still there but knowing that it was in fact a memory he had experienced eased his mind considerably. Most of his time with his uncle he had suppressed finding those years almost too difficult to deal with but knowing that someday he’d have to slew the monsters that his uncle had bred when he was but a child. He hated remembering them but knew that in order to conquer those demons he’d have to face them, accept them and file them away again. He was a survivor. He had survived through hell and came out still with his sanity intact and his life forever altered but it was HIS life.

As he calmed further he decided to take a walk hoping that by doing so sleep would find him again. As he turned to leave he froze in place shocked to see Cassie standing at the entranceway to his room. She didn’t speak, couldn’t speak but the look on her face, in her eyes told him of where her thoughts now lay. She had probably been sent to retrieve him and had been unprepared to find him standing before his mirror gazing fixedly at the haggard image of himself reflecting there.

He could see that her gaze was focused on his back and knew beyond a doubt that she had seen one of his greatest secrets. The scars that he painstakingly struggled to keep concealed from his newest servants. The scars he tried to keep hidden from the villagers knowing that once seen his new identity would be compromised, for most “normal” people didn’t have evidence on their backs of having been exposed to a tool orchestrated to keep another in line, to punish another, to degrade and damage another. Most “normal” people hadn’t been through what he had and thus wouldn’t understand the reason the marks permanently marred his otherwise flawless skin.

He drew in a calming breath before turning to completely face her. He opened his mouth to speak, to offer an explanation for her discovery but she bolted from the room before he had the chance. He called to her before grabbing a shirt, tossing it on and pursuing her knowing that he had to find her and speak with her.

He found her in the gardens and halted as he noted she was gazing at the moon. She remained still not giving any indication that she had heard his approach. He drew in another calming breath before approaching her and softly saying, “Cassie honey…”

She turned to focus on him holding a finger to her lips, silencing him before approaching him. Remembering she has never spoken Daniel endeavored to assuage her discomfort opening his mouth only to snap it shut and flinch as she reached towards him. He watched her expressive face seeing several emotions flash across it before one of concern dominated. He tensed unsure of what she was doing and mentally cursed his automatic response as her small hand cupped his left cheek.

He looked at her quizzically before she lowered her hand to his neck brushing her dainty fingers ever so lightly across the faded scar there. He swallowed hard aware that the young girl, though she could not speak, saw way more than she ever let on.

As she looked at him he answered the unspoken question burning in her eyes, “It’s a scar, an older one. I have many. When I was your age…”

He fell silent as she suddenly hugged him and gazed down upon her small head before hugging her back. He wasn’t sure what prompted it though he sensed the reasoning behind it and spoke softly, “Thank you Cassie.”

She released him and gazed up at him smiling shyly before nodding. She mouthed two words that nearly melted his heart as he understood them and questioned, “You trust me?”

She nodded prompting him to smile as he answered, “Thank you.”

She nodded again before reaching up, cupping his face and forming silent words, “No. Thank you,” before turning and leaving.

Daniel watched her leave not sure how to react to what had just occurred. With no words being spoken Cassie was able to tell him that she trusted him. Trust was a gift that was hard to give to another, especially when one has suffered in life and he knew that Cassie had suffered, so what made her trust him so readily? He sensed she saw so much more than anyone would ever expect.

He shook his head in awe before casting his eyes heavenward gazing upon the brilliance of space quickly falling prey to its allure.

He smiled as several moments later he heard the familiar approach of Layla knowing innately whom it was. She silently slipped beside him and together they shared a comfortable silence before Daniel softly said, “You don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”

She said nothing merely nodding as they again fell into a companionable silence. After several moments Daniel again interrupted it, “I’m remembering again…the beatings, the punishments, the violence… I fell asleep. Dreams, the dreams woke me.”

She continued to remain silent only nodding as she sensed that he didn’t want or need to be pushed on the issue. The silence descended again before Daniel quietly informed, “Cassie saw my back tonight.”

Ah, now they were getting somewhere, “And?”

“I… She was surprised I think. She ran out here. I followed her. She…she understands I think. I know that sounds strange, maybe even a bit silly, but Layla I think that girl sees a lot.”

She nodded supporting his affirmation, “Perhaps you are correct.”

“Layla she…she said that she trusted me.”

“She spoke?”

“No, no not with words, gestures… She mouthed it and…and hugged me. I…I didn’t expect it. I… Why does she, why would she trust me?”

Layla smiled warmly as she replied, “Daniel it is very easy to trust you. You give so much of yourself to help others. You’re a generous soul and perhaps, perhaps innately she knows that.”

“But after what she experienced wouldn’t trust be…?”

“Very difficult. Yes Daniel you know it would be, but she’s lucky like you are. She has Sam…and she has you.”

Unable to reply he settled for nodding his head before once again directing his gaze heavenward allowing the silence to speak for him.

He soon found himself breaking it to ask, “Layla do you know why Cassie doesn’t talk?”

“Hmm no. I asked Sam about it.”

“And?”

“She would only say that Cassie had been badly hurt, traumatized and since then hasn’t spoken.”

“Traumatized? How?”

“She wouldn’t say.”

“Did she say anything?”

“No. She reveals little about herself and about Cassie. She did mention Cassie’s parents were…killed.”

Daniel jerked his head up staring at Layla and seeing her concern for him shining in her eyes. He knew she was only thinking of how her words had unintentionally reminded him of the fate that had befallen his own parents and left one small boy an orphan. She grasped his hand and squeezed it before continuing “Sam took her under her wing. She’s raised the girl ever since…”

Without permitting her the chance to finish Daniel interrupted, “Like you…”

“Yes like I raised you after your uncle’s betrayal.”

He shook his head saying, “Layla, she’s so much like me that it’s…”

“Unnerving?”

“Scary.”

“Perhaps that’s why she feels secure around you. She…”

“Senses my life wasn’t always easy.”

“Yes.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re right about that. She sees so much for one so very young. She sees too much.”

“Like you.”

Daniel didn’t respond instead he stated, “I want to help her, to help them both…”

“And you are Daniel. You are.”