Zoey could no longer follow the bids. The figures being shouted were uncommonly high if the scattered gasps coming from the crowd were any indication. She managed to keep staring at one point, holding her head high and trying to block out the sounds and the smells coming from the square. Outwardly, the young former noble seemed calm. The only sign of her distress was the way her chest rose and fell ever more rapidly as she fought her rising panic. As more and more voices fell away until only two were bidding back and forth, what little color the young woman's skin held drained away. Up until now this had all been a horrible nightmare but when the gavel slammed down, causing her to jump, it became very very real.<br/><br/>Her eyes flicked around the milling crowd in a vain attempt to find the man that had won the bidding war. As the man that had helped her up the steps came to collect her, she could not stop her lip from quivering nor the tears that welled up, stinging her dazzling green eyes. Still, even as her body screamed for her to run, to bite and kick and scratch and claw her way to freedom all she did was dig in her heels, putting up resistance without disgracing herself. She managed to maintain her composure as they started down the stairs. With every step down her haughty demeanour cracked slightly. Even her willpower had its limits and knowing that she had only a moment before she was collected any moment her noble facade crumbled completely.<br/><br/>She threw all of her minute weight back at the man who's hand rested on her shoulder and, feeling him let go and stumble away, she started to run. Astonished and dumbfounded faces whizzed past her as she ran. She proved more agile than she looked, managing to dodge the hands that reached for her. She looked back and saw her pursuers close behind and then her forward momentum was arrested completely. She smelled the faint musky scent of cologne as she bounced off of a hard masculine chest and fell back into the strong, cruel hands of the men chasing her. Her arms were pulled behind her and wrenched firmly up behind her back.<br/><br/>She did not thrash, the hold on her arm kept her on her tip toes and wincing in pain. She watched as the man picked up his bowler off the ground and she saw the annoyed look on his face.<span style="color: darkgreen">"Sorry sorry, m'Lord."</span>The man holding her hurriedly apologized.<span style="color: darkgreen"> "Seems this one still has some fight in 'er. Wants us to bind her, lest she get away on you again? She is quite feisty." </span>He mumbled, his rancid breath slithering against Zoey's cheek.<br/><br/>For her part the terrified, cringing girl was not really listening to the blathering man or to the booming laughter and shouted comments of the audience around them. Her eyes were focused on the man standing before her who was apparently her new owner. Without the context of her situation she would have found him handsome. His face was hard but handsome or at least would have been if not for the withering look he gave her. Zoey felt like she might be ill. Clearly this was not a first impression that would ingratiate her to him. Her face flushed in embarrassment but she met his gaze, refusing to cower before this man.<br/><br/>She realized that she knew him, or at least of him. He was known for his many indiscretions and there had been a very strong rivalry between his family and hers over certain developing technologies and several joint ventures that had gone sour. With this realization her heart sank even more. To be sold into slavery was one thing but the worst possible outcome was to be sold to a rival of your former house. She offered up a silent prayer that he did not recognize her. She knew that her lot would be a lot worse if he realized he knew her as well.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>