Kiandria
Having purple hair and being an omega already lost any argument for me. Nothing I say or do would ever exonerate me. So I let them push me out of the stable house without protest.
I was led out back before a bag was pulled over my head.
Afterward, they forced me to walk for gods know how long.
"Take off the bag." Someone murmured gruffly and I was suddenly pulled back by the hair, made to stand at a spot.
"This is our special for the night. Either you admit us without looking and you earn a fat bonus from Enzo later or you get beaten half to death for making him miss such a fat payday."
Erlion's voice came behind me, full of arrogance.
"Something special? Do you mean a… witch?" The gruffy voice turned excited.
The men didn't reply, but I guess they got their go-ahead because I was shoved forward again.
I dragged my feet over the floor, bumping into places as I moved until a cold hand suddenly gripped me.
An exchange?
Then I heard a door open.
I felt myself pass through it, the sound echoing behind me like a final seal.
The night air, once hot and dry against my skin, changed instantly. It became hot and wet—heavy with moisture and breath, clinging to me, crawling down my spine.
The sudden humidity wrapped around me like a warning, and I knew I had crossed into something closed and crowded.
"Gentlemen, I've just been told that we have a special one in our midst."
The man's voice was loud and closer than usual.
Then there was absolute silence.
So silent that I began to turn, wondering if I had imagined the voice in my head.
As if hearing my thoughts, the bag over my head was suddenly yanked off.
I expected blinding light, but the room was so dark I couldn't even make out the face of the host, though I could feel his body heat beside me.
"A purple-haired omega!"
At the scream, I squeezed my eyes shut, lowering my head as harsh stage lights suddenly shone on me.
"The starting price for this one is one hundred gold coins."
I widen my eyes in disbelief, looking toward his silhouette.
One hundred gold coins? For me?
I couldn't even afford a single silver coin to buy a meal on a good day, yet somehow this man thought people would be willing to buy me for…
"110."
I blinked in disbelief, trying to make out where the voice came from.
"120."
"150."
It kept… climbing.
Until it reached five hundred, and then no one seemed willing to go further.
Instead, they began to complain, hissing.
"Witch or not, she's still an omega."
"Five hundred gold coins is too much. I can buy ten slaves with that."
"Five hundred going once, five hundred going twice, sol…" the host hurriedly announcing, probably worried the last bidder would change his mind and withdraw.
"Five thousand." He was interrupted by a low baritone voice, almost a growl.
My pupils trembled.
Five hundred was already a stretch, but five thousand?
If someone was willing to pay that much for me, just what did they plan to do with me?
"Five thousand? Is that person crazy?"
"Who pays five thousand gold coins for a woman? She can't even do physical labor."
"You could buy a hundred slaves with that!"
The room was dark and all effort to see who it was who made the offer proved abortive.
"F-five thousand?" the host stammered, clearly shocked.
"Five thousand," the voice repeated.
"The purple-haired witch has been sold for five thousand gold coins!" Announced the host.
The hood wasn't returned to my head. Instead, a collar was brought out and clamped around my neck, a leash attached to it.
Then the handler tugged it, leading me off the stage to the back. There, a hood was finally shoved back over my head.
Sigh. What a terrible guide. It was barely a few seconds into walking and I already banged my head more times than I can count.
This time, he abruptly stopped walking and I missed a step and collapsed to the floor.
He didn't seem to care as he tugged the chain until I was up on my feet again.
But why did he stop?
"Your slave, sir." Hearing him, I realized why, but then I heard retreating footsteps.
Whoever bought me didn't say a word. He simply led me away.
The cool night breeze grazed my skin, making me realize we were outside again.
Then the neighing of a horse and I realize he was making me climb a chariot.
The ride to wherever he was taking me was long and silent.
Maybe it was because he paid five thousand gold coins for me, but I was too afraid to speak.
No matter the man's age, he couldn't have paid that amount just because he liked owning a slave on a leash.
Didn't wealthy masters like to experiment?
Didn't they keep…sex slaves?
I clenched my jaw.
No. It had to be worse. Five thousand gold coins could buy over a hundred female slaves.
His breathing suddenly grew ragged, and I sucked in my teeth.
W-what? Was he going to eat me?
That had to be it!
Maybe he was interested in eating me because they said I was a witch. Perhaps he thought I tasted different.
Damn it.
What did I even expect from a pack whose alphas were flesh-eating demons?
The chariot came to an abrupt halt. The door opened, and I was yanked out by the arm.
He didn't stop walking until he shoved me away hastily, like I was burning him.
I hit the floor in pain, the hood slipping off my head.
That's when I saw it.
The house.
It was… glittering with gold ornaments, with towering walls and high ceilings.
"You're right, Malcolm. She smells so good I could eat her right now."
I gasped, looking up to see three identical men standing before me, their beady eyes fixed on me—hungry.