The voices came first—low and sharp, like blades scraping against the walls of her mind.
"You ruined the plan," one growled.
It was Levi.
"You'll see the result," he finished, his tone calm—too calm.
"Levi, please, I can—"
The voice was cut short by a sickening crackle. Alexa forced her eyes open just in time to see dark energy swallow the man whole, reducing him to ash that scattered across the floor.
She tried to sit up—only to feel cold steel tighten against her wrists. Chained. To a bed.
Her breath hitched.
The lullaby...
"Damn it," she whispered. "It was a spell... He messed with my head."
Pain burned through her eyes as she tried to blink again. And then she saw him.
Levi.
He stood a few feet away, wiping a streak of blood off his cheek with his thumb. The calm expression on his face was unnerving. He bent down and pulled something—a book—from the dead man's pocket. It was black and ancient-looking, pulsing with dark energy.
Then he turned, eyes locking on hers.
"I see you woke up early," he said with a faint smirk.
Alexa sat up slightly, struggling against the chains. "Why the hell did you mess with my head?"
Levi's low laugh echoed through the room—dark, amused, completely inhuman.
"Haha… Did you enjoy your sleep? Wasn't it strange? A devil becoming gentle after capturing his prey? You're adorable, little fairy. I admire your imagination."
He walked to a drawer, pulled it open, and took out a dagger.
Alexa's stomach dropped. "What are you doing with that?"
He didn't answer. Just smirked and walked toward her.
"Watch me."
She backed into the headboard as much as the chains allowed. Levi crouched in front of her, lifted her chin, and drew the dagger slowly along the side of her neck—not cutting, just threatening.
"Miss fairy… Miss fairy," he said mockingly, eyes gleaming. She gasped in fear, heart racing.
He grabbed her hand, studying her palm like a fortune-teller. Then, without warning, he slashed his own with the blade. Blood ran down his wrist, thick and red.
"What the hell—"
Before she could pull away, he slashed her palm too.
Alexa screamed, the pain sharp and raw. Blood poured down her arm as Levi laughed, his tongue licking the trail that dripped to her elbow.
"Red. Human. Sweet," he murmured darkly.
"Oh God, what is this man doing?" she whispered, terrified.
Levi pressed her wounded hand into his, their blood mingling. His voice dropped low, and he began to chant.
Symbols lit up faintly in the air, dark energy gathering and swirling around them. Her skin felt like it was burning.
"I'm awakening my spirit," he said sharply. "Be quiet."
But she screamed louder. "Stop! Please! Don't—don't—!"
He ignored her. The darkness wrapped tighter, heavier, filling the room. His smirk widened.
"It's working," he muttered.
But then something shifted.
Whispers filled the air—dozens of them. They weren't hers.
More… more… devour her… feed… break her...
Levi's face twisted in pain. His body jerked as though something inside him was tearing. He spoke inwardly
"Her tears no her cry no her pain...it's ...it's no..it can't be, it's something maybe not that" he growl falling to kneel on the floor
"No… This isn't how it's meant to be," he growled, clutching his head. "She's too weak… Not compatible…"
Alexa, frozen and bleeding, stared in horror.
Then Levi's eyes flashed red—wild, bleeding, furious. He ripped her chains apart with one violent pull, grabbed her by the shoulder, and flung her toward the door like she weighed nothing.
Her body crashed through it. She landed hard outside, the night air biting against her skin.
"Get lost, pathetic human," he roared.
She lay still, staring up at the gates.
His house—the devil's lair—was behind her now. But something inside her had changed.
And she wasn't sure it would ever be the same again.
******
Alexa pushed herself up from the cold, rough ground, wincing as pain shot through her legs. She had no shoes and barely any strength to walk, but she forced herself forward. Where am I even going? she thought, limping down the empty street, lost and alone.
Eventually, she found a spot near a parked truck and collapsed against it, exhaustion overtaking her. The next morning, she woke to the sound of voices nearby.
"Isn't that the woman who sold her virginity to some man she didn't even know?" one person whispered.
"Yeah, didn't even see his face or know his name," another added, their voices low but cruel.
Alexa's heart sank. She pressed her hands against her face, trying to block out their gossip, but the words cut deep. So this is what I've become — a disgrace.
They don't know why I did it, she told herself bitterly. They don't know the pain I went through, the screams, the tears — all for my family.
She clenched her burning fists, fighting the shame and anger bubbling inside. Do I even deserve forgiveness? Or am I just a mistake they want to forget?
Alexa pushed herself up, still limping, and spotted a woman nearby. "Excuse me," Alexa called softly, "do you know the way to West Town?"
The woman opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, an old woman suddenly appeared, grabbing the woman's hand firmly. "Stay away from her," the old woman hissed, glaring at Alexa like she was poison.
Confused and hurt, Alexa turned away and found a shaky path leading home.
When she finally reached her house, she saw her father, stepmother, and step-siblings all sitting quietly in the living room. They seemed unusually calm, like they were holding something heavy inside.
Why is everyone so calm? Alexa wondered. Did something bad happen? A death, maybe? But no one said a word.
She swallowed hard and whispered to herself, "No… everyone is completely silent."
Alexa stood at the doorway, her body aching, her feet raw from walking. She stared insidehy's everyone so calm? Did something bad happened
She stepped in.
"Father?" she croaked. "What's going on?"
Mr. Young slowly looked up. His face was stiff, his eyes dull with anger.
"She ruined it," Luna snapped before he could speak. "He lost the contract. Because of you."
Alexa blinked. "What? No... how?"
Mel scoffed. "Rumors, Alexa. People saying you sold your virginity to a man you didn't even know. Didn't even see his face. And guess what? Clients don't like disgrace."
Her heart sank. She whispered, "I did it for the family…"
A slap struck her face before she could finish.
Tears filled her eyes as her father growled, "I didn't ask you to ruin my name!"
"You told me to do anything," she gasped. "You begged me to save your company!"
"I didn't mean sell yourself!" he barked, turning away.
She stepped forward. "So what now? Are you disowning me?"
"Something like that," he muttered.
Luna stood, circling her. "You've always been a disgrace. Now everyone knows."
Mrs. Rosa rose quietly and shut the curtains. "We should sell her. Quietly. Get something back from this mess."
Alexa stared at them, stunned.
They're serious…
"You want to sell me?" she whispered.
"For the good of the family," Rosa replied.
"You don't even have what it takes to carry the Young legacy," Luna added. "Better someone else does."
Alexa's chest tightened. The only thing her mother left her—the company, her name, her life—they were stripping it away like she meant nothing.
She looked around.
At the people she gave everything for.
And they had already chosen to throw her away.
Alexa didn't say another word. She turned and walked straight to her room, closing the door behind her. Her hands trembled from the pain of Levi slash as she packed everything — every little thing that belonged to her.
When she found the necklace her mother had given her, she held it tight against her chest
"I know only you believe in me, Mother," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger. But I'll make you proud. I promise."
She wiped her tears away, took a deep breath, and stepped out with her luggage. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the cold faces of her family one last time.
Look carefully at everything, Alexa, 'cause this is the last time you'll be seeing them," Luna said, her voice dripping with cruel amusement.
Alexa's eyes flicked over her family—the cold stares, the faces twisted with disdain. They looked like strangers now, not the people she once called family.
Her stepmother stepped forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "The men from the East have been waiting. It's time to settle the price for your... damage."
Alexa's chest tightened. Sell her off like a worthless object—after everything she'd done for them.
Luna laughed softly. "Don't worry, they'll take good care of you."
Alexa's bag lay at her feet, forgotten, as she dropped to her knees in front of them.
"Please," her voice cracked, raw from crying. "I'm your daughter. Your blood. I— I did what I did to save us. You told me to do anything. Anything, Father."
But he didn't look at her. No one did.
Only Luna smiled. "And now you've done it. You've ruined everything."
"I gave up my body," Alexa cried. "To a man I didn't even know! I didn't see his face, I didn't ask for his name. I did it for you!"
Mr. Young finally looked at her. His eyes were tired. Cold. "Then you're already used to strangers," he said quietly. "Tonight… one more won't matter."
The words hit her like a slap.
"What…?" she breathed, frozen.
"You'll be sold," Rosa said, folding her arms. "To one of the gamblers from the East. They sure will pay well for girls with your kind of… experience."
"No." Alexa shook her head, trembling. "No, you can't. You won't—"
"It's done," Luna said, almost cheerfully. "we will look for them ....maybe tonight."
Alexa's heart stopped.
"You're selling me to a man I've never met?" Her voice rose in panic. "What if he's cruel? What if he—"
"What difference does it make?" Rosa cut in. "You made your choice that night. This is just the consequence."
Tears streamed down Alexa's face as she collapsed fully to the ground, sobbing. "Please," she whispered, "don't do this. Not again. Not to me."
But no one moved. No one spoke. No one cared.
Outside, the sun dipped lower into the horizon.
And inside, Alexa sat on the floor like a discarded thing, knowing that tonight, she would be sold to a stranger—a gambler.
And this time, there would be no escape.