THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE THEMES.

Farah.

Farah stood outside the cell and watched the man pace backwards and forwards. She looked up at Omar. "Master. Please. I am afraid."

"I don't believe he will hurt you." He stroked her face and pushed a tress of dark hair behind her ear. "I won't leave you here alone." He used his hand to indicate the three men with him. "I will need you to let him touch you, not today, tomorrow perhaps. I'm trying to win his trust. I think the gentle touch of a woman will do this." He smiled at her. "Today, I just want to let him see you. Nothing more." Omar looked into the cell. Samuel stood, half turned away from them, breathing heavily in and out. Omar took this as a good sign. "Stand here." He moved the girl into position. "He won't be able to reach you."

Farah did as he told her. Her heart skipped. From the sideview that she had of the man, his body was lean and strong. His dark hair was as long as hers, hanging down his back. She could see scars hidden under the tangled tresses. She lifted the back of her hand to abate the horrid smells that mingled in the air. He badly needed to be bathed and shaved. Master Omar said he had been the slave of a very cruel man, and that he was trying to save his soul. He said she would help bring him back to life. She watched the man as he started to pace across the floor of his cell. His movement, that of a caged lion, his eyes on the ground, never once looked at her.

Omar pulled Farah's robe back and off her shoulders. He passed it to one of the guards. "Beautiful," he said giving her a reassuring look, as he swept her long black hair back so her breasts were exposed.

"Samuel," he called. "I want you to meet Farah. She is yours if you would like her to be."

*

A low rumble reverberated from the back of Samuel's throat. He could smell her. He stopped pacing, put his hands on the back wall and tried to control his breathing. There were moments of radiance. Even without Shay, a source of light had shone through cracks in his mind. Omar. The man Omar, was igniting that glow. Samuel felt it as a slow burning heat. He tried to let it flare but something stopped it, each time it smouldered.

"Samuel."

His name. This man now only ever referred to him as Samuel. It calmed him.

"Samuel. Would you like to look at her?"

Her smell was sharp. Not like men, but sweet. The smell triggered something in the back of his mind. Flames. Red. Flames of red. Hair. Red hair. Samuel put his hands to his face and took some deep breaths. It was there again. Soft light trying to shine brighter. He pulled his hands from his face and focused on his palms.

"Samuel. Turn around and look at her."

Another breath. Her smell got stronger. Blood flooded his phallus. Samuel pushed his hands hard up against the wall, lifted his face and closed his eyes again. A woman's backside. Him buried deep between thighs. He gasped. An intensity that seemed foreign, coursed through his body.

*

Omar wasn't sure what was going on. Samuel had stilled. He watched him struggle. His breathing changed to short sharp gasps. A sound like a rumble animated from him. This was good. A breakthrough of sorts. Samuel hung his head. Omar heard the sound of sobs. This was better than good. This was another emotion. No longer anger and hate. Sorrow. "Samuel," Omar whispered. "Look at her. She is beautiful. Her name is Farah. She is a gift. I am giving her to you." Still nothing. "You don't have to touch her," Omar continued. "Just look. Tomorrow, I will bring her to you again, and each day after that, if this is what you would like."

Samuel rushed at the gate hitting it hard and reached through the bars; his arm extended, his hand grabbing air.

Farah screamed and stepped back. Omar stopped her movement. Even his heart leapt at the unexpected movement, but he remained calm. "Shh....," he whispered to Farah and then said, "If you want her, Samuel, you can't scare her."

Sam slammed his palm against the cage, and then reached through the bars again.

"Slowly, Samuel. If you want to touch her, you must be gentle," Omar said in a soothing tone. The black eyes lifted and stared into his. Omar held his breath. This was the first time those eyes had stilled. The first time they had met his without looking away. The first time they weren't completely black. "I will let you touch her, but you must not hurt her."

Omar watched Samuel draw his arm back inside the cell and stand with his forehead pressed between two bars as he stared at the girl. He looked back at Omar, and then extended his hand slowly toward Farah again.

"Good." Omar smiled; it was working. He put his hand on Farah's back and gave her a gentle nudge forward. "Let him touch you."

"Master?" Farah dug her heels in and looked up at Omar. "I am afraid."

"You are safe. I am here, and I'm sure you can see that he has no intention to hurt you." Omar smiled at her and added, "This is good. The calmest he has been, and all because of you. Let him touch you."

Farah stepped just close enough so only the tips of his fingers could reach her.

*

A raging need swept through Samuel. The feel of her warm soft skin ignited heat in the pit of his stomach. "Ah..." His chest surged as he gulped in air. Samuel tried to stretch his arm further. Only his fingertips grazed her. He pulled it back and gripped the bars as heat burnt hot in every nerve that ran through his body. He took a breath and eased his arm through the bars again. He touched her nipple and watched it react. Samuel lifted his eyes from it, focused on Omar, and then forced out the word, "Yurid..."

"Ah... Yes... You want..." Omar nodded and sighed with relief. He looked down at Samuel's aroused state and smiled. "I can see that." He gave Farah another gentle nudge forward. "Let him touch you with his hand."

Farah whimpered, and then took a step closer.

"Good," Omar said as he watched Samuel's hand cup Farah's breast. He stepped in behind her and whispered, "Stay calm, he is fighting demons. You are doing well."

In a louder voice Omar said, "Today you can touch her, Samuel, and the next day. Soon I will let you have her in your cell. First, we need to bring you back to life." Omar kept his eyes on Samuel. The man's body was wired so tight. Omar hoped Samuel had enough resolve to remain still. "Do you understand, Samuel?" Omar expected Samuel to meet his eyes again but his remained-on Farah, so he said, "Farah. Take hold of him."

She looked up confused.

"His length." Omar indicated with his head. "I want you to ease the pressure in his body."

Farah sucked in her breath. His large hand cupped her breast, his fingers, callused and rough. He hadn't hurt her, though his caress was getting harder. She put her hand through the bars and took hold of him. His heat scorched her fingers. The instant she touched him, he grabbed her by the hips with both hands and yanked her into the bars. Farah screamed and tried to step back. He held her tight with one hand and pushed his other between her thighs. "He's hurting me," she screamed and tried to break free.

"Samuel! No!" Omar grabbed Samuel's wrist and tried to prise his fingers opened. "Guards!" They took hold of Samuel's hands and wrenched Farah free. She stumbled backwards breathing hard.

"Yurid!" Samuel's mind could only focus on the smell of the woman. He put his fingers to his nose so he could sniff her scent. "Yurid!" He yelled again as he took hold of his stiff phallus and pointed. "Farah...!"

"Not if you hurt her. You're a man, Samuel! Not an animal!" Omar commanded. "If you want her, you will act like a man!"

The light that had flared slowly faded to black. Samuel slammed his palm against the bars, and then turned his back on them. He closed his eyes and focused on the heat of the flame that now seethed as he steadied his breathing. Who was he? There had been a life before this hell. Samuel dug deep. He ran his hands over his head pushing his hair away from his face, pressing the heels of his palms against his eye sockets. Shay. Shay had been part of that life, but who was she? Samuel brought her to him like he had many times. A child. Found. A tortured child. How? Was he, her tormentor? No. Was he, her saviour? No. Found by another. Samuel couldn't find a face for her redeemer. Shay. She was not his. Not an angel. A lost soul as he was. She had found her light as he must find his.

Samuel turned slowly around and crouched before the people looking in at him. He closed his eyes again, and gripped his head in his hands. He needed to be found. Samuel looked up to see Omar watching him closely. "I... will not... hurt her."

"Good." Omar nodded his head. This was amazing. Bringing the girl had worked better than he expected. "I believe you. But you have frightened her." He glanced at Farah now wrapped in her cloak. "She will not be given to you at this moment. Do you understand this?"

"Naeam." Yes. Samuel's eye contact did not waver.

"Tonight, you sleep," Omar said. "Tomorrow, you breathe. Thereafter, you will resume living."

Finally there is real hope for Samuel. ♥

Top photo taken from Pinterest is a girl with an Amazigh Tattoo. Traditionally placed on women, Amazigh tattoo designs are extremely symbolic and are believed to induce fertility, to cure illnesses, and to protect against spirits or jnoun. Much of the time, Amazigh tattoos are placed near the eyes, mouth, and nose.

Thank you @LEGlazebrook for enlightening me. ♥♥

If you have any feedback, about the way I've written Samuel's mania, over the last lot of chapters, good or bad, I'd really appreciate hearing it, as it helps me to write better stories. Have I gone too far? Not enough? Many thanks. xoxox

Centre photo taken from DC Comics.