SOLD TO THE DEVIL 👿

Chapter 1

Adelaide woke up before dawn, the darkness still clinging to the sky. She began her daily chores, her movements practiced and efficient. Her father, stepmother, and siblings had left for Mexico, and wouldn't return for three days. The silence in the house was a welcome respite, but Adelaide knew it wouldn't last long.

After finishing her work, she decided to visit her friend Nadia. As soon as Nadia saw her, she rushed to hug her tightly. "Adelaide! I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed.

"I know, I've missed you too," Adelaide replied, smiling. "I've been so busy lately, my father wouldn't let me out."

Nadia's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Well, I'm glad you're here now. Tonight, we can watch the moon together."

Adelaide's face lit up with excitement. "That sounds wonderful."

The two friends spent the day catching up, laughing and chatting as they walked into Nadia's house.

DEVIL EMPIRE

Lucifer's voice was cold and menacing as he spoke.

"Were you able to kill him?" Daven, his subordinate, swallowed hard before answering. "No, boss. We're related, so I set him free."

Lucifer's smirk was like a slap to Daven's face. Blood began to trickle from his nose and mouth, and he crumpled to the ground, dead. Lucifer didn't even flinch.

Back at Adelaide's House

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Adelaide made her way home, her heart heavy with dread. She had barely stepped inside the gate when her stepmother, Malia, confronted her.

"You cursed child, where have you been?" Malia's voice was venomous, and Adelaide trembled with fear.

Malia's eyes blazed with anger as she slapped Adelaide's face, her fingers stinging. Adelaide's head jerked back, and she stumbled. Malia grabbed her hair, pulling her closer. "How dare you leave this house without permission?" she snarled, her breath hot against Adelaide's face.

Adelaide pleaded, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." But Malia was beyond reason. She picked up a large piece of wood from the ground and swung it at Adelaide's head. Adelaide's world went dark as she fell to the ground, her head throbbing with pain.

Narmada rushed back to her house, concern etched on her face. But as she entered the compound, her worst fears were confirmed. Adelaide lay unconscious on the ground, a pool of blood forming beside her head.

Narmada's eyes widened in horror as she rushed to her sister's side. She scooped Adelaide up in her arms and sprinted to the village physician's house.

The physician's face turned grave as she examined Adelaide's wound. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her," she reassured Narmada, her hands moving swiftly as she began treatment.

Narmada's eyes were fixed anxiously on Adelaide's pale face. "How is she?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The physician's expression was sympathetic. "She'll be fine, but she's lost a lot of blood. When she wakes up, she'll need to rest and regain her strength. Make sure she eats nutritious food, like vegetables and fruits. No stress, okay?"

Narmada nodded, determination etched on her face. "I'll take care of her. I'll go get some vegetable soup."

As Narmada left, Blaire stormed into the house, her face twisted in anger. "Mother, where's that motherless brat?" she spat.

Malia shrugged, a cold smile spreading across her face. "I left her unconscious outside."

Blaire's smirk sent a chill down Narmada's spine, if she had seen it. "Good. She deserves more than that. I don't even want her to exist," Blaire sneered.

Malia's voice was laced with venom. "I swear, I'll kill her one day."

As Adelaide regained consciousness, the physician's words echoed in Narmada's mind: "Make sure she gets plenty of rest." Narmada helped Adelaide home, where their father was eating outside.

"Good evening, Father," they greeted in unison.

But their father's response was far from warm.

"And where is this slave coming from?" he sneered, his eyes raking over Adelaide's battered form. Adelaide's voice was barely audible.

"I... I'm coming from the physician's place."

"Go inside and wash those clothes," he barked, his tone unforgiving. Adelaide swayed, her eyes fluttering closed. "But Father, I'm feeling dizzy... and I don't think I can—"

"Adelaide, your explanations mean nothing to me!" he roared, cutting her off. Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled towards the clothes, Narmada's glare burning a hole in their father's back.

"Father, please... let her be for today. She's not feeling well, and you can see her wounded head," Narmada pleaded, her voice trembling.

Their father's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Narmada, go inside and find better things to do than beg for that parasite." Narmada's anger boiled over. "Why are you all always maltreating Adelaide?"

Their father's face turned red with rage. "Narmada, did you just raise your voice at me?" he thundered.

Malia intervened, her voice sweet as honey. "Narmada, my daughter, why are you crying?" she cooed.

Narmada's eyes flashed with anger. "Mother, can you give me three reasons why you hate Adelaide?" she spat.

Malia's smile was venomous. "That witch? I hated her from the moment she was conceived. She stole what rightfully belonged to me – your father's love and attention."

Narmada's eyes widened in outrage. "Don't tell me you hate her for Mother's sins?" she demanded.

Malia's laughter was like a slap. "Narmada, I don't see anything that would make me concerned about that witch. I'm concerned about you, because you're my daughter."

Narmada's voice cracked with emotion. "I'm concerned about her because she's my sister!" she yelled, storming off.

Their father's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Narmada, you're just killing yourself over nothing."

LATER THAT NIGHT

"Adelaide, be prepared," their father said, his voice dripping with malice.

Adelaide's eyes were wide with fear."Prepared for what?"

Their father's smile was cruel. "A new career... as a slave."

Adelaide's scream echoed through the night, tears streaming down her face.

As two men entered Adelaide's house, her father welcomed them with a smile.

"Ah, right on time," he said, calling out to Adelaide. She appeared in the sitting room, her eyes wide with unease.

"Father, you called?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, this is she," her father said, gesturing to Adelaide.

"She's very hardworking, and I'm sure she'll be... satisfactory." The men exchanged a look, and one of them handed her father a large sum of money. As soon as he took it, his face lit up with a smile.

"Now, let's get going," one of the masked men growled, his voice low and menacing.

Just then, Narmada burst into the room. "Where are you taking my sister?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with anger and fear.

Adelaide's eyes welled up with tears as she realized what was happening. Her own father was selling her.

"Let her go! We have no time for this," the other masked man snarled, grabbing Adelaide's arm.

"Can I at least change my clothes and grab my things?" Adelaide asked, trying to wriggle free.

The men exchanged a look, and one of them yelled, "We don't have time for that!" They dragged her out of the house, Adelaide's eyes locked on her father's smirking face.

As they disappeared into the distance, Narmada's voice echoed through the forest. "Adelaide!" she screamed, her voice trembling with fear. Adelaide's heart ached as she heard her sister's cries, and tears streamed down her face.

LUCIFER'S EMPIRE

Adelaide and the men teleported to the empire, the sudden shift disorienting. The men greeted someone with a bow. "Good morning, boss."

Adelaide remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ground. One of the men pushed her to her knees. "This is the girl we told you about," he said.

A figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes piercing. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing.

Adelaide's voice trembled as she replied, "A-Adelaide."

The man's eyes narrowed. "How dare you cry in my presence," he yelled, his voice sending shivers down her spine. Adelaide's throat constricted, and she couldn't breathe. She clutched her neck, desperate for air.

The man's eyes flashed red, and then returned to normal. He turned away, leaving Adelaide gasping for breath. Blood began to trickle from her nose, and she started coughing, her body convulsing in agony.