Chapter 2

Lienna.

A pounding headache assaulted me when I regained consciousness, my entire body sore and aching. I groaned, blinking my eyes open and trying to figure out where I was. One by one, the memories came and I shuddered, the throbbing in my head intensifying. Right, my father had rejected me and now I was on my way to getting sold off. Pathetic.

I crawled my way to the door, seeing if I could open it once more. When I realized it had been bolted shut, I peeked through the little opening, trying to find out where I was. With the amount of people walking down the streets, I guessed we must have arrived at the center of town. My heart began to pound and my fingertips felt cold. This was really happening.

Tears filled my eyes but I resolved not to let them fall. Crying wouldn't help anything but there was little I could do as well. Out of ideas, I sat huddled in a corner, waiting for my fate to befall me. We rode for what seemed like forever until the carriage slowed to a stop. When I peeked out the opening, I realized we had left the bustling part of town and was now in the dirty, rundown region. A perfect place to trade slaves.

Dread began to grow in the pit of my belly but I did my best to stamp it out, putting on a brave face.

I heard as the soldiers riding the carriage stepped down and before long, they were opening the doors of the carriage, swinging it wide open. I scrambled to a corner, wincing as they glared at me. "Come here, you fool!" One of them growled, grabbing me by my hair. I let out a yelp, feeling immense pain ftom the act. They pulled me along, taking me past rolls of cells filled with differents kinds of people. The fear I'm my heart multiplied, and my lips trembled. Why did you do this to me, father!?

"We're here to sell someone! State your price!" The man handling me bellowed, his voice stern. I looked around, blinking past my tears. We were standing in front of a slightly ajar door that was reeked of human waste and alcohol. I didn't even get the chance to feel disgust as man ambled out of it, wearing dirty clothes but am even dirtier expression on his face.

"Sell someone, aye? Let me see who it is." He said, his voice raspy. I was pushed forward and I stumbled on my feet but I caught myself just in time. I could feel the man's predatory gaze on me and my skin crawled. A low whistle escaped his lips.

"Oh, she is a beauty! She would definitely make me a fortune!" He announced. He began circling me and I had to resist the urge to run away. "She looks pure too. Oi, today is definitely my lucky day! Two bags of gold." He immediate said.

"I'll give her to you for three." The soldier said and I whipped my head to look up at him. I can't believe this, he still has the nerve to bargain?!

"Okay... Three it is! She'd better earn it back." He sneered, moving closer towards me. I instinctively took a step back, disgusted by the foul smell coming off him.

"Don't worry, she will." The soldier said. The slave master went it and brought in the bag of coins. He passed it to the soldier who verified the contents before taking his leave. I watched him go, still in disbelief. To think that none of them batted an eyelid when selling me off. It just shows how supergirl their respect had been for me.

The slave master began leering at me, groping all of the wrong places. I slapped his hands off, stepping away from him. "Fiesty..." He murmured with a sardonic grin on his face. Then it turned deadly. "It won't serve you here. You're a slave and you better do as I say." He stated, his voice stern. I just glared at him, feeling disgust at all the places he's touched.

"You're such a pretty lass, it would be better to have you for myself though. But, you are expensive and I need to make my money back. Luckily, I'm expecting a few aristocrats tonight. I should probably present you to them." He said as he grabbed my hand, pulling me along.

"Hey! Let me go!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, but he didn't budge. If anything, his grip on me grew tighter. He led me to one of the empty cages around, and after opening the door, shoved me in. I stumbled on my dress, falling to the ground. Pain shot through my entire body and I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from crying out. He cackled at my misfortune, locked the cage and began to walk away.

I immediately scrambled my way to the bars, gripping it fiercely as I began to shake it. "Let me out of here! Please!" I screamed, shaking it harshly. No one cared, they didn't even look in my direction. I kept shaking the bar until I had no strength and slumped to my knees. Unable to keep it in any longer, I broke down and began to weep. Tears kept pouring out and I had no idea how to stop it. Why is this happening to me!?

"Who's that making all that noise? Quiet down! A guest has arrived!!" A voice bellowed and I hitched my breath, raising my head. Indeed, a guest had arrived and from the looks of it, he seemed like an aristocrat, a supernatural one though. Well, they were the only wealthy ones around. The slave master who had locked me up immediately went to meet him, his expression one filled with excitement. "You're just in time! I have some slaves already lined up for you." He said to the new man who just plainly ignored, looking around at the slaves huddled up in cages. The slave master led him around the numerous cages that had people huddled up in a corner before bringing him to mine.

"This is our newest purchase." He announced boisterously. "Also, our most expensive too. Nothing, you can't afford though." The slave Master said, the huge smile on his face making my skin crawl. The aristocrat paused, his brows furrowed in thought as he stared at me. I swallowed, feeling my heart race.

"Hmm..." He murmured, lost in thought. "I want this one." He announced. "What's her status?" He asked, his gaze still on me.

"Well, she's a virgin." He announced and I flinched. How did he know that and what gave it away?

"She's a virgin? We've never had one of those."  The man before me said and I hunched my shoulders, keeping my gaze to the ground.

"Yes, sire. She's never been touched before. Her owner said so himself before he sold her to us."  The slave master replied, stroking his dirty beard as he glared at me.

"How old is she?"

"She just turned twenty, sire. Very ripe and ready to be plucked."

I cringed internally, tears stinging my eyes even as I refused to let them fall. To think it was me, they were talking about like this. I used to be looked upon with honor, but that has gone down the drain. In the cage where I sat, huddled in a corner, I tried to avoid the predatory gazes coming my way.

"You, rise up to your feet!" A deep voice spoke, tinged with a bit of arrogance. He was probably the man who wanted to buy me from here. "I don't like to repeat myself!" He bellowed when he saw my hesitation. I bit my lips, slowly rising to my feet as I raised my head to see him. He was wealthy man no doubt, the attire he wore gave that away. Deep set eyes and long hair that was neatly combed to the back, he looked like most nobles I was familiar with. Once upon a time, these men wouldn't look me in the eyes but oh, how times I've changed.

"Come closer..." He ordered and I forced myself to move, walking towards the edge of the cage, my body trembling as I did so. "She'll do." He murmured quietly and my heart skipped multiple beats.

"How much?"

"20 bags of gold." The slave master immediately replied. The man immediately frowned.

"I'll take her for fifteen." He said and the Slave Master replied.

"Which is a fair price." He said, laughing softly.

"Arrange her and bring her to the carriage. Do not keep us waiting." He warned sternly and as quickly as he came, he departed. I stood there in a daze, unable to comprehend what just happened. The Slave Master promptly opened up the cage, pulling me out and placing a collar on my neck.

"I don't care where you came from, but it's important to know that you're a slave and that's your new master. He's free to do whatever he wants and you better take it." He stated. Then his eyes narrowed in a sinister smile. "Unless you wish to die like a street rat."

He turned to another soldier who was already standing by. Giving him a whip, he passed my leash to him. "She's all yours!" He announced. The latter barely acknowledged the slave master as he pulled on the leash, giving me no choice to but to follow. I swallowed, my mouth dry.

I'm doomed.