No one has bugged my family, we have been left alone as rogues anyway. My mother always feared we would be hunted down by a pack especially the pack my father belongs in. She never really told me what a pack is or why we are rogues but, I trust her. 

He left us when I was born because he fell in love with another girl which I don't understand my mother is a beautiful woman. Well she is rude to me and can't wait to get rid of me because I remind her of my father but, she loves my younger brother David which matters to me.

No one knows we are living on a tread only my best friend Chester did. I didn't let him help us since I would feel indebted to him.

I was reading my favorite book on my hard bed when my life turned upside down which I didn't especially expect.

A door bell boomed throughout the house, I half expected Chester to be standing on the other side of the door with his big fat grin but, it wasn't him.

"Phoenix! Get the door!" My mother yelled from the kitchen.

I threw my bookmark in City Of Bones, may I add my favorite book of all time.

As I came into the living room I saw my brother passed out on the couch which really looked like a heap of cloth instead of a couch.

Behind the glass on our front door I didn't see Chester but, another man I have never seen before. My hand hesitated to grab the knob and answer the door as I came closer to the door.

The man was in a black tuxedo with black dress pants.

Maybe he is from the bank here to inform us we haven't been paying our bills, we already lost the main running water.

I opened the door to see him smile at me with his prefect straight white teeth.

"Hello." I greeted.

"Are you Marietta Willings?" He asked. 

Why would this man know my mother, he seemed just a little older than me. 

"No, that is my mother."

"Is she here?"

"Mother!" I hollered.

"Come here!" I added.

He studied my face with his dark brown eyes. 

"By the way I'm Ben." 

I watched him smile brighter and reach for my hand.

"Who might you be?" He said with interest.

"Phoenix." I took his hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you Phoenix."

My mother appeared at my side before I could say the same.

"Ben, its you." 

I turned my head towards my mother in awe. She does know this man....for sure.

"Come on in." 

I backed out of the way so he could come in, I was still stunned because of how my mother even knows this man that I just stared up at him.

"Thank you Ms. Willings."

As he walked by me I could see a folder of papers in his left hand.

Those are bills I bet but, he is still only a few years older than me.

"Do you want some coffee?" My mother offered.

"Sure." 

When I turned my head towards the living room I saw David walking into the kitchen where mother was. Ben took the place of David and sat on the couch, he threw the folder on the coffee table. 

Speaking of coffee, my mother came into the living room with a nice hot cup of it.

He set the coffee down and looked hard into my mother's eyes.

"I want to help you with your money shortage."

He opened the folder and what looked like a formal paper sat within the folder.

I stayed by the front door scared of what that paper would make us give up. My Mother pulled up a chair in front of Ben as he turned the paper towards her.

"I can fix your problem but, you will have to give me something else in pay." He explained.

"Well for my friend." He corrected. 

A man opened our door almost slamming the door in my face in the process. 

"Xidan right on time." Ben smiled.

Xidan turned his head towards me and his bitter look turned soft but, only for an instant. 

He had the same tuxedo as Ben does which surprised me.

"Marietta this is my dear friend, Xidan and he is the one who wants to do the deal."

Xidan paced over to Ben and my mother slowly.

"I believe you have something I want." Xidan leered at my mother.

"What might that be?" My mother asked confused.

I walked over to the living room and scowled Ben.

"Can you tell us why you are here?" I questioned with an edge before Xidan could tell my mother what it is.

"We have a deal for you."

"I know that."

Obviously.

Before Ben could fight me again my mother spoke up, "Well tell us more about this deal of yours."

David peered at us from the kitchen and I mouthed to him. Go. He did what I ordered and went back into the kitchen where no one could see him. 

"We will give you money but, you have to give us....." He paused.

"Phoenix." Ben continued.

"That's the only deal we will do." Xidan said sternly.

Don't do it mom! I thought at the edge of tears. 

My mother looked down at the paper and nodded.

"You have yourself a deal."

I fell speechless.

I knew she wanted to get rid of me but, not like this!

"Just sign here." Ben pointed to a blank line.

"Mom don't." I said holding back tears.

"I have to do this for David." she looked hard at me. 

David has a condition which could kill him one day but, we don't quite know what it is because doctors are too expensive. 

I shook my head.

"There is another way.... there has to be." 

Her three first letters of her name was on the paper as she look up at me.

Xidan huffed being inpatient.

"This is the best we got, Phoenix!" my mother yelled.

I dropped to the ground but, Xidan grabbed my forearm so I was half off the ground.

After my mom finished her name Ben turned the paper towards me.

I shook my head rapidly.

There was not way I was signing that paper. 

"Do it!" My mother seethed.

"For your brother!" She added.

Tears blurred my vision as she handed me the pen. Xidan shoved me against the coffee table showing I wasn't getting out of this.

"Sign it." he growled.

I held the pen in my right hand as I cleared my eyes with my left hand.

Phoenix there is no escape your going to have to sign it. It is for David.

Xidan grabbed a chuck of my hair and shoved my head to the table. 

"Sign the damn paper!" He snarled.

My hand shook as I touched the tip of my pen to the paper.

He forced me to sign the papers as my mother stood by letting it happen. After my name was clear as day on the paper Xidan grinned.

"I signed it." I said astonished.

Xidan jerked me up and into him like I was light as a feather.

"You're mine now." he whispered into my ear.

My brother came into the living room with a red blotchy face.

"Your life is me."

"No!" I fought thrashing around in his strong arms.

"Stop fighting Phoenix." My mother yelled.

I paused but, then continued fighting him.

"Let her go pack her things." Ben told Xidan.

He released me and I glanced at everyone's face. My brother was crying in the background as my mother seemed sort of happy, Ben and Xidan on the other hand were just a little too joyful.

Well, take a good look Phoenix because you are obviously never coming back. Bye my old life, hello...... new life?