Sold To The Demon King

CHAPTER ONE AUST'S POV. “Keep quiet and keep walking, or I'll break your legs.” A hard shove sent me stumbling. My boots slipped on the wet stone floor. I couldn't see anything. A dirty blindfold covered my eyes, making the world dark and stuffy. Thick iron chains dug into my wrists, holding my hands tight behind my back. “He’s moving too slow,” grumbled another guard, grabbing my arm. “Push him. The boss wants him ready in ten minutes.” “He would only move when I tell him to,” the first guard snapped back. I didn't say a word. I didn’t even groan. Instead, I counted in my head. *Ten steps straight. A sharp left turn. A heavy wooden door. Twenty steps down.* They thought the blindfold made me helpless, but I knew how to survive. I was memorizing the way out. I felt the air grow colder. I smelled damp dirt. Far away, I could hear fancy music and loud laughter echoing through the thick stone walls. Rich people were having a party, completely ignoring the fact that I was walking into a trap. A squeaky door opened ahead of us. The guards shoved me inside, and I fell hard on my knees. Before I could even sit up, someone yanked the blindfold off my head. Bright lights blinded my eyes. I blinked fast and kept my head down. I let my shoulders slump so I looked weak and beaten. If they knew I knew how to fight, they would just add more chains. “He’s a mess,” a woman sighed. Her fancy silk dress rustled as she walked around me. “He’s covered in mud. Why do you always bring them in looking like dirty stray dogs?” “He’s just a backup,” the guard said, walking toward the door. “The real prisoner escaped today. We grabbed this one coming back from a farm, his father sold him off even before he came back. “Nobody cares what he looks like before the bidding starts.” “He still needs to look decent to make us money,” she snapped back. The door slammed. I was left in a bright dressing room with the woman and two helpers. It smelled like strong perfume and cruelty. “Get the white shirt,” the woman ordered. “The one with the cheap lace. It makes the pale ones look sad and desperate.” “What about the dark pants?” a boy helper asked, holding up some clothes. “The rich buyers like the contrast.” “Silk is better,” the woman, Madame Claudia, said. She threw a pair of shoes at my knees. “And if he cries on stage, that's fine. The buyers love a little drama before they spend their gold.” I stared at the shoes, biting my lip to stay quiet. *Don't speak. Don't tell them who you really are.* If I told them my real name, Aust , the secret prince of Valovrik, I wouldn't just be sold. I would be killed instantly. My uncle was gone, my throne was empty, and the bad people running this underground market would love to get rid of me. Silence was my best weapon. Through the thin walls of the dressing room, I could hear the rich buyers talking. “Did you see the new prisoners?” a wealthy woman laughed. “These poor families are getting so desperate.” “Good,” a man answered, clinking his glass. “It makes the auction more fun. I hope they fight over them tonight.” “Aren't you worried the king's guards will catch us?” the woman asked. The man laughed loudly. “The king doesn't care. Half of his friends are sitting in the front row right now. As long as he gets paid, we are safe.” Hearing them treat my kingdom like a playground for bad guys made me furious. But I kept my eyes on the floor. “Stand up,” Madame Claudia ordered. She grabbed my shoulder. I let her pull me up, pretending to be heavy and weak. The boy helper stepped up and unbuttoned my dirty, oversized coat, When the heavy fabric fell open, the whole room went completely quiet. The helpers stopped moving. No one said a word. “Oh, wow,” the younger girl whispered, her eyes wide. The boy's helper stepped back in shock. “He’s... look at his muscles.” Madame Claudia stepped closer. Her bored look vanished. Now, she looked greedy. She stared at my broad shoulders and strong arms. “Look at those blue eyes,” the boy stuttered. “He isn't a normal prisoner. The guards said his father said he was just a nobody.” “The guards are idiots,” Madame Claudia whispered with a wicked smile. “A strong boy like this? The buyers will go crazy. They will fight each other to buy him.” The young girl laughed nervously. “We can't put him in the cheap white shirt. He’ll look silly.” “Forget the white shirt!” Madame Claudia yelled, suddenly moving fast. “Get the nice white one. Leave the top open. We need everyone to see exactly how strong he is.” She pushed the boy toward the door. “Go! Tell the boss we have a top-tier prisoner for the main event. Hurry!” The boy ran out. The two women rushed around me. They brushed my hair, rubbed nice-smelling oils on my skin, and dressed me in fine clothes. They weren't treating me like trash anymore; they were treating me like a treasure. But I knew it wouldn't save me. Being special only meant my price would be higher. I wasn't just a backup anymore. I was the star of the show. “Keep your chin up,” Madame Claudia said, spraying something sweet on my neck. “You’re going to make us very rich.” The door flew open. Two giant guards in shiny armor marched in. They carried heavy silver chains. Without a word, they grabbed me and pushed me toward a cart in the back of the room. On the cart was a large cage made of thick, clear crystal. “Get in,” a guard growled. They pushed me into the freezing box and locked my silver chains to the floor. I had to stay on my knees. “It’s time!” someone yelled. The heavy velvet curtains in front of me started to open. The quiet music was suddenly drowned out by the roaring sound of shouting people and clinking coins. The cart rolled forward. Bright lights hit my face, and the giant room went wild as my crystal cage was pushed right onto the center stage.