Author's note: There is hope on the horizon for Belle. Some more darkness, so beware. Not explicit, but it is essential to the tale.

Chapter 3

Cerberus found out the location of the next gathering. He would mention to the police about the “festivities”. These people were guilty, but the law could handle them. They wouldn’t be delivered to the Ferryman tonight. This time.

Author's note: The first few chapters involve a kidnapping and forced transformation. There is some bondage, and a nasty dominant, but it is NOT the focus of the story. There will also be some use of French in the story. English that is italicized is just the characters speaking translated French. You'll get the hang of it! :)

Chapter 1

The boy woke from his sleep. The room was dark, and a little bit cold. He felt around the bed. He knew he was naked, and the sheet that covered him was not nearly enough to keep him warm.

I walked into the kitchen, looking for something for breakfast. Eggs? No, too much work. Cereal? Maybe, if only... I checked the cabinet, hoping that Dad hadn’t found my Raisin Bran. Yes! I still had half a box!

I always had to hide my Raisin Bran when Dad was home. I’ve seen him eat three big bowls of it at a sitting, which didn’t leave much for me. I got the box down and put it on the table, then went to grab a bowl and some milk. I heard someone coming down the hall. If it was Dad, I knew my cereal would be gone quickly, so I had to do something, quickly.

The Princess of the Desert

By Melodie Thomas

Edited by Holly Hart

Chapter 6

Sunday, February 1, 2009
The weekly conference calls on the trafficking cases have continued regardless of the lack of new information coming to light. Occasionally a new something will be added from Washington from a source that is described as ‘victim memory’ but those memories have not added much value so far.

Kristi

By: Cindilee

Kristi woke with the alarm. She hated school days, especially after the nights she endured. She dragged herself out of her cot, in the basement of her “Auntie’s” house.

She was sixteen, and had been out of her parent’s house for two years. She had problems that they didn’t want to deal with, and she didn’t want to abide by their wishes, so she left. No looking back. It was too painful. She wondered where it had all gone wrong.

Thanks to Marvel Comics for their wonderful characters.

Chapter 8

Someone fired a grenade into the main door of the warehouse. A tremendous explosion rocked the area, but the door held with minor damage.

“Get outta the way!” bellowed Cain. He charged the door and effortlessly blasted through it. I could see bullets hitting his body, but other than a small indentation where they struck, they did nothing other than piss the big man off.

Sweet Dreams-25...Holy F#*K, Did I just get A Life?

Chapter 25

I run to go get Alex and almost bounce into his arms because…well I think there might be something of this sort of weird truce, respect, like dislike thing with me and Adam.
And while that’s really cool.

He might just actually let Alex go to art school. I’m more happy about that than anything.

I mean if he really meant it.

But me, a lawyer?

Actually, makes sense. I’m pretty mouthy.

Alex smiles that Alex half smile. “Hey…S’up beautiful?”

CHAPTER 10
The meal was, of course, superb, for that is where my mother keeps her strength, or at least part of it. There was also the strength she showed every day, in her love and support of her new daughter, but it was in the kitchen where she shone.