"No, I don't know much about auctions." I said dully feeling that brightness of hope draining out of me again. It had been a feeling beyond compare when I thought she was there to rescue me now I was filled with dread again.

"One must look one's best when being auctioned. Not just for the company’s coffers but also for yourself. The more that is paid for you. The better one can expect one will be treated. After all the higher the price tag, the greater a work of art is cherished. Though admittedly there are some mad people who would destroy great works if given the chance." She sighed. Her gaze had still not left me. It was unnerving me now. I squirmed under it.

"Now how would you like to thank me? How would you like to please me?" She said sitting back in her chair as regal as a queen.

"I, I don't know." I said my mind had drawn a blank. I was so confused.

She frowned. She made a little tisking sound.

"Listen," I said quickly, "I think there has been some mistake. I am not supposed to be here."

"Yes." She said authoritatively cutting off my words. "You have made a big mistake. Since you don't know how to properly thank your betters for kind treatment, I will have to tell you what to do. I'm very disappointed." She said with a sigh.

I started to move then purely by instinct. A huge hand clasped my right should and firmly pushed me back into my chair.

"You may clean my feet." She said decisively.

"Wh, what?" I said watching the table servants’ leave and the door shut. It felt like that door was shutting on my last hope.

"Clean...my...feet." She repeated slowly as if she were talking to someone with an IQ in only two digits.

I simply stared at her uncomprehending. I was lifted from my chair and forced to the floor.

"My shoes too. Clean them with your mouth. If you do a good job I will feel thanked then perhaps I help you some more, if not I will do everything in my power to make your life here as miserable as possible." She said dispassionately. Somehow the very lack of emotion in her voice frightened me more than someone screaming at me would have.

I stuck out my tongue uncertainly. Licking the middle toe of her left foot. My eyes went up to her's. She looked away as if she didn't consider me human. I burned then with shame. I wanted her favor. I wanted whatever she could do for me. She seemed to be in charge. I needed someone on my side but I've never been into women.

Women are dangerous creatures to my way of thinking. This one certainly was but it wasn't just her it was most women. They seemed to hate me on sight mostly. Like they felt I would take something away from them. When you did make friends they would turn on you with no warning. They thought in patterns too complicated for me to figure out. That's why most of my friends tended to be men.

Men were easier. They were attracted to me as I was to them. I knew from the get go what they wanted and though I never gave it to them I was straight about it right up front. I always told them I was saving myself for marriage. Few pushed it past this point.

Even if I were into women, I wouldn't be into licking their feet or anything else on them. This was sick! I hated this but I felt it best to play along. I stuck my tongue between her toes and felt her leg jump a tiny bit.

I got to her I thought with a little thrill of satisfaction. I slowly worked my tongue and lips all around her toes. I even sucked the ends of them where her shoes would allow. Every time I got the slightest reaction I felt another surge of something like power. This went on for a while. My mouth was getting tired and my jaw ached but I kept at it drawn to the subtle signs she gave. She stopped me finally by placing a hand on the top of my head.

"Not bad so far." She said. "Is this your first time?"

"Yes." I said.

"Have you ever wanted to do this before with anyone?"

"No." I said just a little to loud.

"The shoes. Clean them now." She said taking her hand from my head.

Why in God's name she wanted me to do her shoes was beyond me. I remember the smell of that horrible room where I had been tied and wondered just what all might be on her shoes. I hesitated.

My head was shoved back down. The man with us, who I had nearly forgotten was even there, spoke as he pushed me down.

"Lick the underside first. Then you can do the top straps." He instructed.

I licked. Grit went on my tongue. I hated it. My mind was feeding me images of all the things I might be licking. I really hated my own brain then. I felt a thick rough finger between my legs. It was then that I figured out something. I was wet again. I hated myself then all of me. I was boggled at the thought that I could be wet from this. I wasn't into women. I wasn't into feet, shoes or grit, what was happening to me?

All the time I was trying to figure this out, I licked. I hated the textures and tastes on my tongue. I had to be careful, so careful because I started to feel like throwing up again. Somehow I thought that might be a big mistake. I finished one shoe as quickly as I can and the woman put it down on the floor lifting her other foot with grace.

I thought my jaw would be sore for days. I thought I'd surely be sick right then or at least contract some horrible disease within a day or two but I said nothing. I just kept licking and cleaning. To think I liked her shoes before I thought it ironic. Now it was as if I was worshiping them but I hated it. Only if that were completely true how was it I could be so wet.

I am a good girl I thought to myself as I licked. This isn't me. I'm a good girl. I said it over and over in my mind. Nothing worked though.

She reached down finally and her hand small and so soft lifted my chin.

"It's okay," was all she said when she looked into my eyes.

I shook my head and felt tears again fall.

She brushed them away with her thumbs.

"Shh," she said, "You've had a long day, you're confused but know this now, part of you was made for this. You'll learn. You'll get better. When you get better you will find many rewards. For now, I will help you get ready for the auction. I will help you look beautiful but in a way others will find appealing and not cold. You will fetch a higher price. Perhaps because of it your first time will be easier. So smile dear, you did well enough to have thanked me. You pleased me a little." She said and she hugged my face to her waist.

My tears flowed harder then. They weren't angry tears or tears of derogation though. They were happy tears because she said I had done well enough. I immediately wanted to do better for her. I think she knew it too but she took me back to the bathroom and fixed my hair.

She let me wash my face. She gave me a toothbrush. I was relieved beyond all measure for being given that and some mouthwash. My mouth felt so dirty. I felt so dirty. My heart again felt warm and full.

She seemed to enjoy it, doing my make up and fixing me up. When she let me look in the mirror I blushed hard. She had made me look like I imagine an angel might just before she was pushed out of heaven for sinning.

"Thank you." I said and I meant it. "Would you..."

"What?" She asked a small smile playing around her lips.

"Be bidding on me?"

"You would like to stay with me if you could." She stated it matter of factly.

I nodded yes and felt my heart kick into overdrive.

"You'll see me again but you can't stay with me." She said with finality.

My heart turned over. I couldn't understand why I wanted to stay with her exactly except it seemed nicer with her than with any man here, safer too.

Again she pulled out her little plastic control box and pushed the button.

The same man came in quickly. At least I think it was the same one.

"Take her to The Auction Room." She said.

He took me with him and away from her. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay. I realized I had more strength now. I could walk without being supported. I felt happy at that. Maybe I'd get a chance to escape, I thought wildly in spite of all evidence around me.

I wondered when I'd see her again. I was surprised to think that I didn't even know her name. She had never used mine either. I wondered why.

What would this auction be like? Who would buy me? I understood now it would be me they were buying but the inference was that it wouldn't be a long term purchase because there would be, as one of those horrible men had said plenty of time to teach me my lesson another night.

Maybe if the one would buy me was nice, I could get him to like me. Maybe I could get him to want to keep me. How someone who bid on people could be nice I didn't exactly know but clearly some were nicer like that woman than others. I'd rather be with someone nice than have to go back to those six men ever.

I vowed then to do my very best to make the one who got me, like me. I had read about how to deal with rapists and other violent types. You had to try and make them see you as a person and not just as an object. I was thinking hard about that when we came to the door and went through