SOLD
1078 Words
SOLD.
KAREN
I watched Martha and Ethan scramble across the sitting room, dusting chairs that didn't need dusting just so the royal guards could take a seat.
"Put a smile on your face; you don't want to make them think you're forced," she whispered beside him, pushing me down into a seat with more force than necessary.
"Royal guards, Karen's ready," she said with a flattering smile.
The royal guards turned their attention toward me. I gulped, hands clasped over my thighs as their dark eyes searched mine, as if making sure I was the one.
Then they nodded in unison, dipped their hands into their pockets, and tossed two bags of coins each onto the table. I saw Ethan scramble to stop a coin from falling out, losing his balance in the process.
I closed my eyes; the sound of the coins jiggling sent a fresh pang ripping through me.
All this time, I thought I'd grown immune. For two years, I'd looked at myself in the mirror each morning, reminding the girl that she was going to be sold one day. I thought that saying it daily meant I wouldn't feel anything when the day came, but there I was, eyes tightly shut, trying to hold back tears that seemed to have a mind of their own.
My mind had already accepted my fate; my body still yearned for what I knew I could never have.
When I opened my eyes, the guards were on their feet. Martha and Ethan were on their knees, thanking the guards continuously.
For a moment, Martha stopped, her head turning toward me. I held my breath, lips pressed into a thin line.
Maybe this was the moment when she finally said goodbye? A moment when all hate melted away, replaced by the reality that she might never see me again? A moment for a proper hug, a...
"Why are you still standing there? The royal guards are ready to leave!"
Her voice sent a jolt through my body; my legs moved involuntarily, and I stumbled when my legs caught under my dress. The floor stretched before me, and I fell flat on my face.
"You good-for-nothing girl! Get up quickly!"
I scurried to my feet, dusting off invisible dirt from my dress.
Martha turned to the guards with an apologetic expression.
"Don't be offended; she's just a little clumsy."
The guard's eyes flashed with a glint I couldn't quite comprehend. Then he turned to me. "Come on."
I followed behind like a shadow until we got into the waiting carriage.
The cool breeze brushed against my bare face. I kept my eyes on the cottage, even when the carriage started to move—the place I called home.
Ethan's head peeked out from the window, watching as the carriage rode away. His lips moved, and I squinted, trying to make out what he was saying.
*GOOD LUCK.*
I sucked in a breath, shifting my attention to the scenery. Growing up, I wasn't allowed outside too often. I was forced to go looking for scraps when I turned sixteen.
The carriage rolled further down the street, and I held onto my seat as it descended the bumpy roads.
I'd heard of the brutality of demons toward werewolves, but I never experienced it until that day. They rode over people who slept on the road. I watched them scream, scrambling to gather their children and whatever was of value while the guards just kept moving.
The night stretched, and slumps and cottages faded into the distance. Then a building emerged, tall and beautifully adorned with windows and lights.
This was where the demons resided, in big cities and clean streets where the werewolves didn't dare glance.
We rode further toward the castle seated at the end of the beautiful city like a strong fortress, overseeing the whole expanse.
A lady approached me when we arrived at the palace; her smile was stiff, her eyes trailing down my dress.
"Come with me," she said, already leaving before I could process it.
We walked down a long hallway with guards and maids stationed at every corner.
"My name is Alice. I'll be teaching you what to do and what not to do in the royal palace."
Alice led me into a dimly lit room, with one candlelight being the only source of illumination. She gestured for me to sit while she stood before me, her figure towering; her presence made me feel extremely small.
"I suppose you know the reason you're here," she started.
I nodded.
"The prince is in bad health, and you are the remedy. I will have you know that your job doesn't just involve curing his sickness. Until the prince is cured, you remain his servant and a servant to the royal household. Render whatever services they ask of you, including warming their beds if they so commands. Disobedience will not be tolerated. Have I made myself clear?"
I nodded, my head bowed.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Now follow me to the prince's chamber. It is expected that you've been fed well and your blood replenished for the prince's use?" She glanced at me, and I nodded again.
"Good. His Majesty will not tolerate any hindrance in Lucifer's treatment."
My steps slowed beneath me, my mind pounding as I tried to keep it down. But my mouth had a way of pushing past its limits.
"What happens after Lucifer gets cured?" The name slipped out before I could stop it, and Alice's steps came to a slight pause. Her head snapped towards me, her eyes glowing red.
"That is left for His Majesty to decide."
She pushed open the door to the prince's chambers, gesturing for me to enter. The door slammed shut, and silence took over.
Minutes passed as I sat on the bare floor, not daring to move from my place.
Heavy footsteps thudded in from the hallway, and I could feel my heart rate spike, thudding painfully against my ribcage.
The door creaked open, and his steps drew nearer.
I held my legs close to my chest, my eyes fluttering shut as I waited. That night at the royal banquet replayed in my mind. I could still feel the sting on my neck.
He stopped in front of me, and I felt him crouch down. My eyes shut tighter.
I waited for pain, fangs grazing against my skin, but nothing prepared me for what came next.
"You're trembling."
- Writer
