My name is Yasmine, and I am approaching my eighteenth year. I’m barely five feet tall, but my rebellious attitude makes up for it, I was always getting into trouble with the elders for not obeying the rules and keeping to my place as a girl growing into a woman should. I have emerald green eyes, golden brown skin, and long raven black hair that I wear in a bun at the base of my neck. My village community was small, with only around two thousand people, and we were what outsiders considered old-fashioned and self-sufficient, which meant that everyone worked, regardless of age but like all old-style villages the men had their place and so did the women, we all travelled by horse, horse, and cart, or on foot.  We have the fundamental stores that any country town has or requires in the village’s main centre, including a seamstress for our clothes, a butcher, a bakery, and a market for all the fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and any food for the village’s animals. In additi

"I woke up in one of the other Elders' huts and our lives have been like that since that day. The other Elders agreed to allow me to teach the basics of what I remember from their teaching back then, but because of the possibility of losing everyone, including the village, no one is allowed to use what I teach them on the night of the celebrations especially against them during the five-year raid. Now, Yasmine, only the Elders know this information and I am trusting you with not passing it onto your friends..." "I would never betray the trust you put in me, Sir! You were the only one to believe in me and allow me the chance to prove myself, even though I am a girl." "And you have done that way too many times. Yasmine, you are way too good for this village. I am sure you are meant to do much more, but I am afraid that it is not here that you will do it. Just remember, no matter where you end up, be yourself, never allow anyone to make you less than what you

As he walks out of the town centre and back into the woods, I raise my head and gaze over to where my house is; the last time I see my grandmother, she is quietly sobbing in the shattered doorway of our hut, as the leader of the beasts carries me off into the woods and an uncertain future. I continue to fight despite the fact that it appears to be accomplishing nothing except exhausting me; I groan and, for the first time, attempt to communicate with the beast that is holding me captive.“Do you believe you could help me walk by putting me down?”“NO!”So, since that didn’t work, I’m going to try something new. “When you claimed I was yours, what did you mean?”“You're Mine!”“You already said that... Where are we going?”“Quiet!”“NO!”This appears to surprise him, as he stops for a second, leading me to believe that he

I am still a little shocked at what’s going on, so I don’t realize what the one he pushed me into is doing until I feel something tighten around my wrists again. I then start to struggle, but the guy grabs my arms, pulls me into him, and whispers.“You would be better off keeping still my dear, you are already in enough trouble..”I freeze as he runs his nose up my neck; they seem to enjoy doing that a lot but it just creeps me out except for when Zachariah does it. I continue to struggle a little against the ties around my wrists and his hands touching my upper arms, but I have no choice but to watch as Zachariah moves and approaches the one that was holding me.He doesn’t say anything and I gasp in surprise as he punches him in the jaw sending him to the ground. He then moves up to him and pulls him back to his feet just to punch him in the abdomen, chest, and nose. I stop struggling and do what I do best. I study him as he moves.

Whoever it is, knocks again, but this time a soft girl’s voice comes through the door.“Hello? Um... I was wondering if you were hungry?”As if right on cue, my stomach growls loudly and I hear a giggle from the other side of the door. The girl then says,“If you step away from the door, I will bring in something for you to eat!”I haven’t eaten anything since the meal I had with Charles at the celebration, so probably against my better judgment, I move away from the door and go and sit on the bed. I don’t know how she knew I was no longer standing by the door, but I then hear the door unlock and open; I watch as a very tall, gorgeous girl walks in with a tray in her hands.I glance behind her and see a guy standing just outside once she is all the way in. He reaches in and then closes and locks the door behind her. I then return my attention back to the girl who is now standing in front of me, but with no