Chapter 18- SOLD!

Rina's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy and her body aching. She was met with the cold, harsh glare of the slave base's dimly lit chamber. A plump woman, with a mixture of curiosity and disdain, gazed down at her.

"Time to get up," the woman said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You've got a big day ahead."

Rina struggled to sit up, her head spinning. The woman handed her a bowl of thin porridge, which Rina devoured hungrily. As she ate, the woman washed and dressed her in a simple tunic, her touch rough but efficient.

"Stay still. That's the second time you would sigh like you're carrying the kingdom's burdens on your shoulders." the woman complained as she ran a wooden comb through locks of golden hair.

The woman had been ordered to take care of Rina since the moment she was brought in unconscious.

Heavy footsteps sounded as the head warder and the chief guard entered the dimly lit chamber.

"You can wait outside." The head warder told the woman who in turn left the room.

"How... what am I doing here?" Rina started, the perplexion on her face showing her state of confusion.

"How am I back here?" She asked again looking around. Her spinning head was starting to calm down.

"What do you mean, 'how are you back here', when you never left dear." The warder replied.

"I never left? But I thought..arrgh!" Rina screamed as she clutched her head in pain.

The warder's eyes dangerously narrowed into slits as he looked at the guard beside him.

"You thought?" He asked, looking back towards Rina who was bent over, clutching her head. His countenance was dark as he waited for her answer.

"I thought I did. Did I really not leave?"

""Hmm. Of a truth, you did attempt to escape once. But did you think just you would be able to escape unnoticed? You fell hard while running from the wolves and lost consciousness." The warder explained. The guard had a questioning look but the warder paid no attention to him as he continued.

"You've always been an obedient and gentle slave," he said as he raised Rina's head. He patted her golden silky hair. "And you will continue to be that way in the hands of your new owners. A warning though; the more you foolishly try to figure out if you had left or not, the more you'll have that splitting headache which might kill you." He finished and then proceeded to call for the woman waiting outside. "Lead her to the rest."

The woman led her out of the chamber, along many corridors and turns until they got to a large holding area where dozens of slaves huddled together, their eyes filled with fear and desperation. Rina's heart raced as she realized she was among them, bound for the black market.

As they were herded towards the exit, one of the slaves' whimpers and sobs grew louder but it was immediately silenced by the loud sound of a guards whip landing on the slave. The head warder's voice boomed across the area, "I thought every slave in this batch have been properly trained. Take that one back and give him some punishment and more training! He isn't ready yet!"

Rina's own fear threatened to overwhelm her, but she bit her lip, determined to stay strong. A piece of black clothing was tied tightly over their eyes and then they were led to the slave caravan – a procession of cages on wheels, each containing several slaves. A guard pushed Rina towards an empty cage, making her almost stumble over the chains binding her hands and feets. She huddled with a few others, most of them trembling in fear of the fate that awaits them.

Watching the proceeding of the caravan, the head warder started, "If that witch's memory wipe later proves not to be effective, let her know that she'll be hunted down. Never have I ever had to spend a dime on a slave."

"Except when purchasing them initially." The chief guard beside him added. "She's one of the best in town that I can vouch for. Besides, the girl is so beautiful she would make a lot of money, paying that money spent on her, in folds."

"That I'm sure of. Did you increase the starting bid price that will be given to the auctioneer?" The head warder asked to which the guard replied in affirmative.

The journey to the black market was a blur of dust, temporary blindness, heat, and fear. Rina's mind raced with thoughts of her past, but her memories of the prison remained hazy, as if shrouded in a thick fog and truly, she had a painful headache once she gets to that part. Eventually, she stopped thinking about it.

Finally, they arrived at the market, a sprawling complex of tents and cages. They cages were opened and the slaves were gradually brought on stage in turns.

The auctioneer's booming voice echoed through the air, showcasing the slaves on offer, and Rina's heart sank as she realized her turn was approaching when the number of slaves with her kept reducing till she was the only one left. Soon, they came for her, only removing her blindfold on stage.

The bright light blinded her eyes for a moment.

The auctioneer grasped her arm, pulling her onto the block. He didn't get to open his mouth to make his familiar value lists as some men in the crowd immediately shouted , "Two hundred silver coins!"

"Three hundred silver coins!"

The auctioneer went mouth agape, but quickly recomposed himself as he had to take a second look at Rina. Indeed! She was the most beautiful and innocent young lady with spectacular features he had ever come across!

Taking a quick glance at the price list he had with him, he saw that the starting bid price was a hundred and fifty silver coins. This was the first time he had a profitable situation such as this!

During the few seconds that passed, the bidders kept increasing their prices and Rina's eyes only went wider as she saw some of these rich men had lecherous gazes while scanning her. It was like they could peel the fabric on her body with just their eyes. She couldn't take it anymore and just looked down while clenching her fists, thinking of how to escape while leaving with whomever gets to win the bid.

She wasn't even listening to the prices anymore, tuning the sound out.

"....SOLD!" The auctioneer shouted and Rina was led backstage where the transaction of her ownership would take place. Her spirit was broken.

After being led into a luxurious looking carriage, Rina found herself face to face with her new owners – Lady Aurelia, the young werewolf noble, and her brother, Lord Cassius. Lady Aurelia's triumphant smile made Rina's blood run cold. This was the young lady she got into a fight with at the prince's ball!

"Look down, slave!" Lady Aurelia spat, slapping Rina's cheek real hard. "You're mine now. And sit on the damn floor! Slaves like you don't get to sit like their owners."

Rina simply obeyed and sat on the floor of the carriage. She had no strength in her as she had felt extremely weak ever since she regained consciousness at the slave's prison base.

Another hot slap made Rina realize her mind had wandered and she hadn't responded to what her old enemy was saying. "Looks like they didn't train you properly. But don't worry, I didn't spend a hundred gold coins in vain did I? I will train you perfectly." Lady Aurelia said, while her brother only kept reading some papers in his hands, minding his business.

As the carriage moved out of the market's bustling atmosphere, Rina knew her doom had just begun.