the devil's betrothed

I had heard stories of girls being sold to men from the underworld. About how they became nothing more than property, owned by dangerous men because of their parents' mistakes, or because of a debt that could never be paid. But my case? My case was different. My name is Liora, but right now, forget introductions. It doesn’t matter who I am, not when I'm standing on the precipice of my own destruction. I’m in my room, staring at the reflection in front of me, putting on a perfect dress, my shoes clicking softly against the floor as I pace. My skin glows, the makeup perfect, the dress a masterpiece. I look flawless, but inside? My soul feels like a cracked mirror, shattered and useless. If only I could be as perfect as I looked. Today was the day I had prayed would never come. The day I would meet him—the devil himself, the man who would own me. I had been waiting for this moment, dreading it, wishing for it to vanish into the abyss. But it was here, undeniable, unavoidable. The door to my room knocked, its sound slicing through my thoughts like a razor. “Miss, Sir is waiting. You don’t want to be late.” I rolled my eyes. I had no desire to answer, no desire to acknowledge the servant standing on the other side of the door. I didn’t owe them anything. With a deep breath, I stood up and walked out. Liora slid into the back of the sleek, black car, the leather seats cool against her skin, but the coldness was nothing compared to the chill in her chest. Her mother sat beside her, her face a mask of calmness, though Liora could see the unease in her eyes. In the front, the driver remained silent, his eyes focused ahead. The hum of the engine was the only sound in the car, but it did nothing to erase the heavy silence that clung to the air. There were three cars in total, each one part of the caravan that would lead them to their destination—the meeting that would change everything. Her father was in one of the other cars, though Liora couldn’t bear to look at him. She had always known they had made mistakes, but today felt like the culmination of all those errors, of debts that could no longer be ignored. The journey felt endless, the streets outside blurring by in a silent rush, but inside the car, the tension was thick. Her mother, as always, remained silent, staring out of the window, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Liora had no words for her—not today. There was nothing anyone could say that would change the fact that her fate had already been sealed. The weight of her family's mistakes pressed down on her shoulders like a heavy cloak. As the cars continued down the winding road, the view outside shifted. The city gave way to the countryside, and before long, they arrived at the gates of the estate. They were large, black wrought iron gates, tall and imposing, standing guard over the mansion like sentinels. A guard appeared from the shadows, and without a word, the gates creaked open, allowing the convoy to pass. The estate that awaited them was nothing short of magnificent—but it was also suffocating, oppressive in its beauty. The mansion stood in the distance, a sprawling structure made of dark stone, its gothic architecture towering above the trees. The design was elegant, but there was an undeniable darkness that surrounded it—like a beast hiding behind its mask of beauty. As they drove closer, Liora could feel the eyes of the mansion on them, as if the house itself were watching, waiting for their arrival. The windows were dark, reflecting the deepening evening sky. But there was an undeniable sense of wealth here—golden chandeliers glinted faintly through the windows, and the manicured gardens surrounding the property seemed untouched by time. It was a home of power and influence, but it felt like a place where secrets were kept behind locked doors, where no one was truly free. The car finally came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, and Liora was struck by the stillness of it all. The silence in the air seemed to stretch, and for a moment, she couldn’t bring herself to leave the safety of the car. This was the place she was to call home soon. This was the place where her fate would be sealed.