CLAIMED BY THE REGENT

_ Eight years in the past… 2018. _ Pants and running steps echoed down the alleyway nonstop. "Help!" the sharp voice of a youngster could be heard. The night was very far gone and the victim's fear only peaked. "HELP ME!" an even more frantic scream erupted from his lungs while looking back every now and then to see his chaser getting closer and closer. "Get back here, boy! If I catch you, it is not going to be funny." The harsh voice of a drunk man chasing after him cut through his screams and when he looked back one more time, he suddenly collided with a hard frame, falling on his butt with a yelp. And his chaser stopped too, eyes wide in shock. Whimpering, the young boy slowly looked up to see six men in front of him and the one he had bumped into came down in a squat. "Hello, lad," he said, his eyes shining with something uncertain. _ …Present Time, 2026. _ A large open space by a dock had stalls and cages erected, with people coming from far and near, both through luxury cars and ships, to come engage in the trade currently taking place. The only thing about this market is that it is illegal, but still quite popular. A slave market. ‘...she is fresh and untouched…’ ‘...he can do all kinds of things…’ ‘...going for just five thousand dollars…’ Many traders announced their goods on display, either in chains or lined up on the floor, or kept in categorical cages with tags showing their specialty. Inside one not-so-large cage were three girls, two looking so fearful and one with her eyes distant, watching the waves. “Do you think we might get a buyer's favor today?” One of the two scared girls asked. “I'm really hoping for that. I don't want to go back to the display house.” The second cried, and the third, who had been silent, scoffed, and they looked at her and at the same time she averted her hazel green eyes to them. “What makes you so confident that your buyer wouldn't just harvest your organs?” She asked flatly, and they shuddered visibly. “Why are you so much of a negative thinker? You should just stay quiet.” The one who had first spoken snapped, and the third sighed, looking her way. Her eyes fell on two people speaking with their owner, and as she scrutinized their appearance, she could tell that they were shady. One of the two men speaking with their owner suddenly looked at the cage and she quickly looked away. She's been here for a week now and hasn't been to the display market that the other two were talking about, yet, which she considers a really lucky thing, but she has worked like a camel. While she plans a way to escape, it is best to not draw attention to herself. Their owner began approaching the cage they were in, leaving the other cages, and her cage mates didn't shift away as usual. She could tell that they so desperately wanted to be bought no matter what. The cage was thrown open and the owner pointed at her directly. “You! Get down.” he instructed, and her eyes opened in shock. “M.. me?” she stuttered, pointing at her chest. “A dumb one?” One of the two men with him sneered. “Chill, you cannot always find a redhead around. The clan will be thrilled to have her.” the second urged. “No! you can't take me. At least take them instead.” she protested. “Yes, please!” the two girls cried, and the first guy groaned. “Drag her out or we will walk away!” he ordered. “Oh no! please!” the redhead begged as her owner roughly pulled her out of the cage with her hands still bound in chains, and they checked her out thoroughly with their eyes. She was wearing a dress that was once white, but now brown with dirt and torn. Even her hair was a huge mess yet it complimented her hazel eyes perfectly. A perfect purchase. “She stinks” the first guy commented even before his partner could and spat as she caught sight of the tattoo on his neck. It was like a cloud of smoke. “You should turn it down, Drex. The boss made us oversee that the girls are properly restocked. Wanna start showing off your attitude so early?” The second questioned while she watched them quietly. “You seem to be in a haste to forget your position boy." Drex glared. “Don't fvck with me." The girls already shedding hot tears back in the cage because they have not been chosen. “Bring her to the van!” Drex ordered and marched off. The second guy didn't look at her and made the necessary payments, then began to walk. The redhead didn't need to be told and she quickly followed him. They walked a really great deal of distance from the market under the scorching sun until they approached a waiting van. By then he had already made sure she was now in front of him, so escaping was close to impossible. Not with the big rifle he was holding. She was shoved into the back by a waiting, and equally scary looking guy, and there she saw nine more girls, all shedding hot tears already. The van got moving, going through obviously bumpy paths before a smooth drive began. All she could do was watch the crying girls. What surprised her the most was the fact that she couldn't even bring herself to cry. She is not as tough as she appears to be and still can't break down. Not when her life is about to be taken away from her completely. Quickly she eyescanned the interior to see it sealed tight with no single chance of escape. The only place where air came in from was from the roof, and it was structured in such a way that cannot even be pulled. Maybe it is actually over. The drive lasted for what seemed to be hours as the sky was already turning gray, and when they passed through what seemed to be a thick fence of nearly five feet, her heart sank. Five feet in width literally!. Her heart sank even lower in her gut. From outside, she could hear joyous cheers from people and dread washed over her. Are they about to be slaughtered. The van came to a halt and soon the door was pulled open, and they came down one by one. She was the third to last and it was like she just stepped into a city with buildings like bungalows, to story, wood and brick. People perched the balconies watching them like a hawk. The setting was in such a way that the buildings surrounded, yet scattered all around, and the people were endless and dressed in dark shades of any dark color you can imagine. A clan. Her eyes swept across the areas it could reach before she and the rest of the newly bought were led inside a particular building with more loud comments being thrown at her as they marveled at the very first addition of a redhead in the clan. --- In a suite,it was arranged in a normal way with a bathroom,two windows,proper ventilation, and a large wardrobe with three doors whose structur could be easily understood due to the three bed spaces in the room with one bed across two others. The door opened and on the bed across from the other two,the female occupant looked up from the magazine she was watching to see her roommate coming in and she took her eyes back to the magazine like she saw nothing. “Hey.. have you heard?" Soline,the one who has just walked in, asked,rubbing her neck. She was dressed in a knee length dress and from the looks of it,she was pregnant. “What?" Nyxara,the one watching the magazine, finally responded looking at her. “They bought new slaves. I heard there are up to ten of them.” Soline told and Nyxara scoffed. “And?" She asked flatly and Soline sighed. She's pretty much used to the cold attitude of her roommate which is why now more than ever,she prays and hopes that at least one of the newly bought would be their roommate. At least,she might have someone to speak with. Only if Nyxara doesn't corrupt her or if they actually are already alike. “Just forget it." Soline sighed, going to grab something from the middle wardrobe which belonged to her. While Nyxara pretended to be watching the magazine,she still had her eyes on Soline who pulled on a knitted sweater before leaving the suite and when she was finally alone, she hissed loudly. -- Gasps left the ladies when extremely cold water splashed at them from pipes at different angles. All of them had already been stripped and taken to a large bathroom where they had to wash up with a small bar of soap that had been cut for each of them. The redhead tried her best to make sure that she was well hidden from the taunting eyes of the women spraying them endlessly. She didn't even get enough time to wash her hair well when the water flow stopped abruptly. “Please,Im not done." One of the girls cried and a woman marched towards her,face grim with a scar across her cheek. “And how is that meant to be our business? You had two minutes." She snapped and the girl quickly clamped her mouth shut. The redhead looked at the soapy hair of the girl and sighed. “She can't possibly walk around with her hair like that." She spoke and all attention turned to her. Now,the Scarface woman looked really annoyed and picked her steps towards her. “Did you say something?" She asked with a deadly glare. The redhead knew she had to keep her mouth shut if she wanted to survive here and escape in one piece so she said nothing more, lowering her gaze. Silence lingered in the room for a while before the Scarface woman stepped back. “Thirty seconds!" She announced and the spray resumed. - After the bath,they were led down a corridor to a bedroom with a hanger full of white dresses and the door slammed shut with them inside, alone. Immediately,they knew exactly what to do. While the redhead quickly found a perfect dress to wear,the girl she had defended came up to her already dressed. “Hello." She said in her timid voice and the redhead faced her. “Hi." She forced a smile. “Thank you so much for what you did back there even though it was risky. I'm Elms." She introduced extending her hand and the redhead took it with a better smile,already dressed. “I'm glad it worked. I'm Catherine." She responded and Elms smiled brightly. “This place seems really dangerous. Were you also bought from the slave market?" She asked and Catherine nodded. Her mind instantly wandered to the two girls she shared a cage with. Only the heavens know their fate if they don't get bought soon. She got so lucky that she didn't have to experience what they've been experiencing for weeks now. “You should brush your hair. It's rough." Elms notified and Catherine nodded. “I will. Thank you." With that,she headed to the dressing table where a few more girls stood,busy with combs or brushes. They were left in that room for what seemed like eternity. It was already nightfall and hunger was gnawing at them like crazy. Slaves like them barely see what to eat unless their owners make really good sales that day and Catherine faced that fate quite a good number of days. The last time she had a good meal was two days ago. The previous day,she had a slice of bread that had clearly gone stale. If only they could be fed even if it's just once. Just as she finished that thought,the door was unlocked and pushed open and they all stood up fast, getting ready for what's next. “Headcount! Take your number!" The Scarface was the one leading the two women who stepped into the room and everyone took their number with Catherine at 9. “Now listen up! Many of you may or may not have heard of what I am about to tell you but believe it or not,you belong here and leaving this place equals death." She started and they listened in dreadful silence. “This is the Obsidian Cartel!" She announced and stunned gasps and whispers began. At that point,even Catherine was stunned to the core. The Obsidian Cartel?? How?? It is the most popular crime syndicate in the entire country and somehow, she just found herself in it. “Here, there are power ranks. Hierarchy. Whatever you want to name it but it is important that you understand them and avoid being destroyed before you even know it. I will say this once with no repetition.” " The founder of this Cartel is Valdrik Vayne a he is called the Sovereign. Only people really familiar or close to him can call him V.V. No dares challenge his words..” as she said that, her eyes met with Catherine’s in a glare and she shifted in discomfort. “.. going against him is instant death. No trial whatsoever. The next is the Regent and here,we call him Kade when on familiar terms and Void, formally. No one dares call him by his birth name. Finding out is tasking and even if you do, calling it will lead to you losing your head. When you see him or feel his presence,you will understand exactly why it is so.” " The next is the War Marshal who is second in command after Void. I believe you have met him when you were bought. He is Drex and trust me,you do not want to cross that guy. He will kill you without thinking. Infact, crossing anyone here makes you enter their redlist automatically and when people disappear here? Questions are never raised!” "..then there are,the disciples of pain.” As she said that,her stance strengthened with a kind of pride. " We are who you call trainers who have mastered every single combat both with hands,guns, blades. Whichever! And some of you,if lucky would be attending my class soon.” A sinister smirk appeared across her lips and Catherine had to hug herself. So weird. So cold. " The next in the hierarchy are the Night Blades. Every trained person is recruited into this after a successful initiation which brings me to the. Unblooded. They are the newly recruits selected for combat. They are usually the ones men at the Sun House ignore and I doubt if any one of you would even make it to the Unblooded.” " Lower ranks and roles are the keepers who cook and clean,the bearers who are fvcked and carry babies for the clan and the velvet circle…” once more,she appeared proud, " ..are the Mistresses of the high ranked or the Sovereign or Regent or War Marshal if lucky.” Catherine scoffed within herself. What a way to call themselves what is actually known as a sêx slave. Mistresses my foot. “Now! In a straight line! And follow me!" She ordered and turned, marching out of the room and the girls instantly did as told, following with the other two women right behind them. The walk to what appeared to be the Sin House wasn't long. It only took a few corridors and it was made that way to ensure that the new packages wouldn't be seen outside the sin house for the first time. As they all entered the reeking of alcohol hall lighted with red bulbs,men clearly filled with beer cheered and a matching vibes music began as all of the ladies were placed on display and the three women who escorted them left just like that leaving them alone with men who had eyes on them like starved animals. Catherine shifted on her foot, looking at them all. Disgusting Motherfvckers! Many stared at her with hungry eyes and even the dress she was wearing wasn't helping and neither was her body which suddenly decided that now of all times was the best to have her nïpples hardened and they poked through the fabric seriously. “Alright! Let's get the night started!" A man appearing to be the host came up announcing. The girls were already shivering and hugging themselves in shame and Catherine decided to cover her chest too. “Awww! Don't do that redhead!" “She's got fine nips!" “I'm getting her tonight no matter what!" At that point,out of all the numbers of men there, about forty percent was interested in her already. Suddenly,a few women trooped in. “Wow! Even the ladies do not want to miss this! Don't lose to the ladies tonight you men!" The host jeered and Catherine was even more disgusted. Women do this too!? As they occupied tables,their hungry eyes never left the girls even the Scarface woman was there too. “Shït." Catherine cussed feeling her blood run cold. -- Soline managed to get entry into the hall loud with excitement already. The bidding had already began. Friday nights are moments that nearly every clan member who seek s****l pleasure look forward to and she wasn't among them. But still,she couldn't stay away. For some reason,she is attached to this hall and could only show up praying that none of these girls face the same fate she did. The first time she came in here was five months ago and inside this hall,she was the first to be raised on bid and bought. On one of these tables,she was mercilessly fvcked while other were being bought and faced the same fate with her right after. The crazy part? A group of four men paid for her jointly and had their way with her taking turns till she bled and passed out, waking up at the clinic the next day. The event of that night produced the child growing inside of her and every day she wakes to be reminded of that night over and over again,she could only try to keep herself from hating the innocent baby. They both had to choice than to be dragged into this and the painful part of it was something she didn't want to ever think of. At least not yet. “Bring the redhead already! These ones are boring!" A drunk man yelled. They've been raising bids and only two girls were worthy enough to be priced out of six that had already been introduced. The two girls were already with their new owners for the night. One was with a group of two men and the other was with a group of four people. Two men and two women who were already having a go at her brëasts while they screamed asking they should be let go. Catherine couldn't even bear to look at the sight and now that attention was already shifting to her,her face went cold. “We follow their numbers. Relax." The host said. “Fvck that! Bring her out! I'd pay anything!" The one with the loudest voice yelled marching to where the girls were standing and Catherine’s arms dropped, confusion clouding her as the man reached her, grabbing her brëast and hip at the same time, reeking badly of alcohol and on instinct, Catherine screamed pushing him off with a loud slap following across his cheek and the entire hall went silent. Even the music stopped likewise the assault on the two girls. Soline even had to blink to confirm if what was happening was truly happening. She hit him!? Catherine glared at him with her heart beating with undiluted hatred. “Get your disgusting hands off me!" She drawled and even Scarface stood in shock. The man held his face then looked at the hand before raising his eyes to Catherine, equal fire burning in his eyes. “Oh you are gonna regret this bïtch." He hissed hitting Catherine hard across the face. It was so hard that the impact made her twirl and fall. He has such strength that cannot even be comprehended. He bent and grabbed her by the hair pulling her up to her feet, ready to inflict an hefty blow at her gut when the atmosphere changed. “You wouldn't dare." That calm yet neverending cold voice vibrated through the entire hall and everything still even the man's hand. He turned to see who just spoke standing at the entrance and he quickly let go of Catherine's hair. Catherine scoffed holding her hair , watching how everyone seemed shaken by the words of just one man. She looked at the entrance too and her eyes fell on him and her jaws dropped literally. Fvcking hell? Right there stood a man. Say 6 ft 3? With shoulders broad and muscles clearly trying to fight through the black long sleeve shirt he wore. His ear piercing shone in the red light as he approached the stage with his arms locked behind him. His hair covered a part of his face giving him an even more edgy mysterious look and his steps wasn't even rushed. The world practically halted for him. ...Void.” The man who was about to beat Catherine to pulp stuttered bowing quickly. Everyone was trying to avoid catching gaze with him but Catherine was clearly oblivious. He literally ignored the bowing man and averted his eyes to Catherine who stood looking like a mad woman. His eyes on her didn't even last up to a second before he turned his back at her, facing the rest. “Someone please remind me what the Cartel’s code 211 states?” He said with his velvety hot voice and Catherine instantly caught the heat. Smoking hell!? Who is this dude? Even his back frame was awfully perfect. His hair? Gosh! “Never hit a lady who isn't yours.” (...some text between screenshots is missing...) “Void! Please! Oh God! I will never go against the rules! I'm sorry!” “Ahhh,” he screamed as he was pinned against a table which cleared out quickly and his hands were stretched out. Catherine watched the gory scene about to unfold as they took out a really sharp blade and she quickly looked at Void whose eyes seemed to sparkle. “On second thoughts.” He said and the man sighed in relief. “Don't make it quick. Slice it out. Take your time.” He ordered and the man's screams started again as the cutting began. Catherine palmed her mouth as both fingers were disconnected from the man's limbs at the same time and everyone watched like it was a normal thing. Her stomach churned and a girl on display like her was already throwing up. Some were crying already. The fingers were severed completely and brought to Void in a golden platter that came out of nowhere. He only looked at it then rolled his eyes. (...more text cut off...) He faced Catherine and her heart jumped out of her chest to her throat. His eyes this time stayed a little longer on her as he scanned her from the crown of her head to the sole of her feet, his head tilting slowly to the side like something straight out of a horror movie. “I'll take her.” he said and chaos unfolded with him walking out, leaving the imprint of his actions heavy in the air. “Void chose her!?” “That's insane. Void never chooses a woman.” “I knew she was special.” Catherine couldn't even hear their comments as her eyes lingered on the door he just went through. That psycho just chose her!?