Sold To The Reaper

“What took you so long?”, Michel Elvan's voice cut through the dining hall the moment Lilian stepped through the doorway, causing her shoulders to stiffen as every pair of eyes in the room shifted toward her. “I’m sorry,” she replied quietly while lowering her gaze. “I wasn't asking for an apology,” he said sharply while setting his fork down against the porcelain plate. “I asked what took you so long.” Lilian swallowed hard. “I came as soon as I heard,” she said. Michel stared at her before waving a dismissive hand toward the empty chair. “Sit” She took the seat carefully while trying to ignore Laura's amusement and Clara's indifference, yet none of it mattered because she was sitting at the family table for the first time in her life. Growing up inside the Elvan estate had taught her many things, but belonging was never one of them. Her room sat beyond the servant quarters, in a place that seemed deliberately chosen to remind her she was neither family nor staff. Earlier that evening she had been sitting on her bed when a maid burst inside. “Your father wants you at dinner” Lilian had stared at her in disbelief because those words simply didn't belong together, ‘her father’ and ‘dinner’ In all her years under Michel Elvan's roof, she had never once been invited to join the family for a meal. Now, sitting here while expensive wine flowed freely and laughter drifted between everyone except her, she wondered if perhaps that hope hadn't been foolish after all. “We have a situation”, Michel's voice dragged her back to the present. Lilian straightened in her chair, “What kind of situation?” “A debt,” Michel replied before lifting his wine glass. The answer confused her. “Okay” “You'll help us, won't you, Lilian?” Her heart skipped because he had said her name. “Yes,” she answered immediately, “Of course, Father” Michel's expression darkened instantly, “Don't call me that” The familiar sting returned, “Sorry” For a moment silence settled over the table before Michel leaned back in his chair. “If you do this for me,” he began slowly, “I'll acknowledge you fully” Lilian blinked, “What?” “I'll acknowledge you as my daughter” The words struck her harder than any slap ever could. “You mean that?” she asked. Michel nodded saying, “if you do this for me” Hope surged through her. “I'll do anything” A slow smile appeared on Michel's face. “Good” He placed his glass down. “There is a powerful man,” he said calmly. “He's dangerous, influential, and I happen to owe him a considerable debt” Lilian frowned asking, “What does that have to do with me?” Michel glanced toward Laura. “He requested my daughter as payment” The room suddenly felt colder. A terrible realization began forming in Lilian's mind, “No” Michel nodded, “You'll take her place” The words crashed into her like a physical blow, “What?” “It's an auction,” Michel replied casually while cutting into his steak, “Nothing dramatic” Lilian stared at him in disbelief, “You said he asked for your daughter” “He did” “Then send Laura” Laura laughed cruelly. “You ungrateful child,” Michel snapped while slamming his hand against the table. And just like that, the illusion disappeared. “I won't go.” The silence that followed was immediate. Michel rose slowly from his chair, “You forget your place” Suddenly, Lilian laughed. “No,” she said while meeting his gaze directly and laughing, “I remember my place perfectly” Michel's eyes narrowed dangerously, “You think this is funny?” “No,” Lilian replied while slowly rising from her chair, “I think it's pathetic” A sharp gasp escaped Clara's lips while Laura sat back comfortably. Michel's jaw tightened, “Everything you have belongs to me” Lilian stared at him, “And what exactly do I have?” The question lingered in the room. “You lived under my roof,” Michel said coldly “The room beside the servant quarters?”, she asked immediately “You ate my food” “The leftovers your family refused to finish?” Michel's expression darkened further, “You should be grateful” Lilian shook her head slowly. “Grateful for what?” she asked quietly…”For being treated like dirt every day of my life?” “You're alive because of me” “No,” she replied “I'm alive despite you” Even the servants standing near the walls shifted uncomfortably. Michel took a threatening step forward, “You're crossing a line” Lilian laughed again. “A line?” she repeated. “You invited me here because you want to sell me to a stranger, and you're talking about lines?” “Watch your mouth” “Or what?” Michel's nostrils flared, “Or you'll regret it.” The threat should have scared her but instead it exhausted her. “I won't go,” she said firmly “Find another way to pay your debt” Michel let out a bitter laugh, “you think you have a choice?” “Yes” “No!” The single word landed like a hammer. Lilian folded her arms, “Then why ask?” For a second, Michel said nothing then he smiled. The sight sent a chill down her spine. “You still don't understand your position,” he said “No, Michel,” Lilian replied. “I understand it perfectly” The use of his name instead of Father made the atmosphere instantly colder. Across the table, Laura smirked while Clara reached for her wine. Michel's face hardened into stone, “You are nothing.” Lilian simply nodded,“Then stop pretending I'm your daughter whenever it's convenient” A muscle twitched in Michel's jaw, “You've always been a burden” “Then why keep me?” For the first time all evening, uncertainty flickered across Michel's face. “Your mother begged” The room went silent. The mention of her mother felt like a knife sliding between her ribs, “Don't.” Michel ignored her. “She knew exactly what she was” “Don't.” “A maid who thought she could climb above her station” “Don't talk about her” “She was a w***e!”, the word echoed through the room and something inside Lilian snapped. “No” Her voice trembled with rage,“She was not” Michel rolled his eyes, “Everyone knew what she was” “No,” Lilian hissed while stepping toward him, “Everyone knew what you said she was” Michel's expression darkened. “Careful” “You drugged her” The room froze. Michel stared at her. “You forced her,” Lilian continued while tears burned her eyes “And when she couldn't fight back, you blamed her for everything” “Enough.” “You destroyed her reputation” “Enough…” “You made the entire city believe she seduced you” “Enough!” “You killed her!” The shout shattered the silence. Then Michel crossed the distance between them. SLAP The force of the blow sent Lilian crashing onto the floor as pain exploded across her cheek. She tasted blood. “Take her” Two guards immediately stepped forward as panic surged through her chest. “No” Strong hands grabbed her arms. “Let me go!” She struggled violently, but it was useless. “You owe me this,” Michel said while straightening his suit jacket. “Please!”, tears streamed down her face. “You promised,” she whispered desperately “You said when Kyle comes back for me, I'd be safe “ Michel didn't even look at her, “Promises mean nothing when you have no value” The guard standing behind her immediately raised his hand, and before she could react a sharp pain exploded at the back of her neck, causing her vision to blur as darkness rushed toward her from every direction. Everything went black.