Slavery in modern terms is something very different than what it used to be in the United States and other countries (though it is still practiced that way in many places). Slavery has become a consentual activity, one that the participants find not only rewarding, but arousing. For the rest of this rambling when I talk about a slave, I talk about one who has consented to serve as a slave for a continual time period of at least one month.
Slavery is, in this sense, an outgrowth of submission, however there is a difference in intensity, and choice. While a sub, or slave always has a choice to leave in current terms (though I personally would rather see any contract, or agreement between consenting adults be legal and binding), the idea of a slave is that of one who no longer has a choice to leave. Who has given up all power to stop their owner from doing what they wish (while they still may say no, and often have it respected, they can not refuse an order or command Dependant upon their specific contract, of course).
At the heart of the modern slave is the contract, either written or verbal. This is a symbol of the slaves commitment, as well as thier limits and terms of service. To many, the act of creating a contract marks a transition from just being a sub to becoming an owned slave. It is a commitment at least as serious as marriage (though contracts are often of fixed duration, they too can be written "until death do us part").
In some ways the difference between a sub and a slave is similar between a SO (signifigant other) and a spouse. Not necessarily a difference in intensity, desire, passion, or desire for permanence in the relationship, but a difference more in binding. Personally I hold a sub only with her desire to stay, a slave is bound by a promise, and commitment to stay.
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