Lily’s eyes fluttered open, Struggling to remember where she was as she found herself lying on a cold, damp floor. The memories of running through the cave system returned to her in a flash. The desperate escape from the blood wolf brought her quickly to her senses as she listened for any sounds of the wretched beast.
The distant echoes of voices reached her ears, awakening her senses. Panic surged through her as she realized the voices might find her. She was weak from hunger and thirst. The familiar surroundings of the dungeon corridor where she had fallen asleep suddenly felt like the prison it had become.
Drawing a deep breath, Lily was determined to understand her changing circumstances. She cautiously pushed herself up from the floor, using the wall to brace herself. A wave of fatigue washed over her.
The air felt different, more oppressive, and the scent of damp earth lingered. She could hear the muffled voices growing louder, prompting her to move forward cautiously.
Silently, she crept along the earthen corridor, her senses on high alert. Lily slowly continued forward as she came across where the hall abruptly led to chaos. A passage section had collapsed, revealing a crude, man-made tunnel beyond. The flickering light of torches beckoned her forward, casting dancing shadows on the uneven walls. With a sense of apprehension, Lily stepped into the newly discovered corridor.
The torchlight revealed a chilling sight before her. Cages lined the walls, and Lily slowly approached them, casting glances up the corridor before her as she approached the closest ones. She noticed the first few were eerily empty. However, the unsettling truth unfolded as she continued further. Remnants of skeletons lay discarded. Some were chained to the walls, a grim testament to the horrors that had transpired in this dark place.
The stench of old blood, bodily waste and decay permeated the air, assaulting Lily’s senses.
Dread settled in as she heard the voices drawing near. In a Panic, Lily looked around, fear urging her to find an escape route, her chest tightening as she struggled to breathe. The torchlight flickered ominously as she stumbled back over the uneven stone ground, desperately searching for a way out.
Just as Lily was about to turn back, she froze. Holding her breath. A guttural sound emanated behind her, and she whirled in fright. A menacing figure stood there, its face concealed in shadows. The robe it wore was torn, a patchwork of different repairs, giving it a dark, twisted look. A crooked smile revealed rotting teeth as the figure lunged forward, seizing Lily.
The figure slammed her head against the cold wall, sending a shock wave of pain through her head as she felt warm blood trickling down her forehead. The figure slammed her into the wall again before dragging her into a large room.
Stunned and disoriented, she glimpsed the presence of others – dark, indistinct figures that seemed to blend with the shadows. The grip on her wrists tightened as one of the other figures reached out, and a set of cuffs clicked into place, confining her. Lily’s stomach churned with dread as the reality of her captivity sank in.
The group bickering amongst themselves dragged her further into the underground complex. Not caring about her well-being, Lily’s head bounced on every part of the low ceiling. Eventually, they reached a room with cold iron bars—a cell. The door creaked open, and Lily was thrust inside. The metallic clang echoed as the door slammed shut, leaving her in darkness.
The cold, hard floor pressed against her body, sending chills up her spine as Lily took in her surroundings. The cell offered little comfort, its walls seemingly closing in on her.
Fear and desperation rose within her, but she fought to maintain composure. She could hear the distant moans and shuffles of the other captives, creating an eerie symphony of despair.
Lily’s hands instinctively reached up to touch her throbbing forehead, feeling the sticky warmth of her blood. The realization of the dire situation she found herself in struck her like a blow. As she looked around the dimly lit cell, her eyes widened with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
The torchlight barely reached the confines of her cell, casting long, distorted shadows that danced around her. As Lily sank to the floor, the torchlight cast long, distorted shadows that danced around her, mimicking the torment in her mind. Her mind raced with questions as her heart pounded in her chest.
The distant moans of other captives seemed to fade into the background as Lily’s attention fixated on the figure huddled in the corner – her mother.
The woman who Lily thought she would never see again was now sobbing and struggling to speak. Lily’s throat tightened as she tried to form words, the weight of the truth settling heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to reach out, to comfort, but the cold bars separated them, leaving Lily with a profound sense of helplessness.
“Mom?” Said Lily, her heart beating as she waited for a reply she hoped would not come.
“Lily? Is that you?” A reply came. The voice was soft, and struggling to speak.
“No, Mom, why are you here? What happened?”
“Oh, Lily, I’m so glad you are okay.” Said the voice, sobbing loudly. “They told me you and your brother were dead. I gave up when they told me. They said that the Lord required compensation for the death of his son. They said your brother had failed, and I would have to pay.”
“What. Why? It was not your fault, mother. The blame was all on Kairos. He killed himself with his own stupidity.” Said Lily.
“Where is your brother, Lily? He wouldn’t have let you be captured. Surely. Where is he?”
“Um, Mom. Evan. Evan didn’t make it.” Said Lily, the memory of her brother’s death still too raw to think about. “He died trying to save all of us, Mom.”
“No. No, No, No, No. Please, No.” came the reply, Screaming as choked sobs racked her body. “No, Evan, my baby. No.”
“I‘m Sorry, Mom. I couldn’t help him.” Sobbed Lily. Tears running down her face.
“Hey, shut up in there.” Said a voice as the owner walked closer. A strong smell of alcohol washed over the area as he pulled a flask from one of his coat pockets, taking a long swig. He smiled. “You, Stand up. We have a need for you again. hehe.”
“Hey, leave her alone.” Screamed Lily. Banging on the Cell bars. “Don’t you touch her.”
“Oh, oh. Aren’t you a feisty one? Do you want to take this whores place? I don’t think you will be quite as feisty once the boys have their fun. Haha.”
“No. Leave her alone. I’ll go with you. She doesn’t need any of your attention,” Lily’s mother pleaded. “Block your ears, dear. For me? Please?”
Shrouded in darkness, Lily could only nod, a silent agreement forged in the dim light. She doubted that her mother could see her.
“Don’t worry, Deary, we will be back for you shortly. The boss wants to meet you. Haha.”
She watched as they led her mother away. She didn’t hear anything for a long while until the grunting started.
She covered her ears but couldn’t block out the Screaming—the pleas begging them to stop. The sound of flesh slapping flesh was loud, like a drum pounding into Lily’s ears. Lily slowly slid down the wall, pleading for it to stop for the noises of what they were doing to stop.
“Enough. I can’t take this anymore,” Lily whispered, her voice low but each word heavy with determination. “I swear on Evan’s memory, I’ll make them suffer. Every last one of them.”
Lily tried not to listen as time seemed to pass too slowly for her liking. The screams had long since died down. Giving Lily only a stronger sense of fear and anger for what they had done. Sitting against the back wall, She watched a well-dressed man stop before her cell.
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“You, Stand up and come with me.” He said in a commanding voice.
“You open that door and come make me.” Replied Lily.
“You are not in any state to be making demands. Now, either you come with me, or I will let the boys here have their fun with you. I know you heard what they just did to that whore before. I will personally make sure that what they do to you. It will be pale in comparison. Now, Let us try again. Follow me.”
Swearing under her breath, Lily followed the man from the cell. They walked past intersections that split off into more rows of cells. “The size of this place must be massive.” thought Lily, trying to keep an idea of where she had come from, hoping to get back to save her mother.
“Through here, come on, move it!” Said the man, pushing Lily up to a Wooden door.
Lily stepped through and stopped immediately. Her mother was lying in the corner Naked. Bruises covered every inch of her body. A pool of blood was slowly forming around her. Lily ran over to her and collapsed to her knees as she tried to pick her up.
Her mother had her eyes closed. Shallow breathes, barely making her chest rise.
“What have they done to you, Mom?” Cried Lily. Tears ran down her face as she brushed a few hairs from her mother’s face.
Lily felt the hands grab her roughly as they dragged her away. She kicked out, catching one of the men in the stomach. The well-dressed man raised his hand, pointing at Lily.
“Tenere constrictum”
Lily felt her body go stiff. She struggled but couldn’t move.
“There now. Thats better. Don’t do that again. Next time, I will be forced to use harsher methods.” He said. “Now come along. We have the master to see.”
Lily’s heart raced as she was dragged through the underground complex. The torchlight flickered, casting ominous shadows that danced around her. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, anger, and desperation. The man leading her stopped before a heavy, ornate door.
With a creak, the door opened, revealing a dimly lit chamber. The scent of incense assaulted the air within and Lily’s senses. The smell made Lily feel dizzy as the room started to spin slowly. Lily noticed a figure sitting on a throne draped in dark, luxurious robes at the room’s far end.
“Ah, the feisty one,” the figure spoke, a sinister smile on their lips. “Welcome to my domain little bird.”
Lily glared at the person in charge, her hands clenched into fists. “What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
The figure chuckled. “Curiosity and defiance, interesting traits. You, my dear, will be part of a lucrative transaction. You see, there’s a market for untouched souls, and you fit the criteria quite well. Well, that is assuming you are untouched, yes?”
Lily’s eyes widened with horror as the realization hit her. “No, you can’t…”
“Oh, but I can. You’re going to be sold at auction. A virgin, untouched, pure. Some value such things, and they pay handsomely. You should feel honoured,” the figure said mockingly.
Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes, a mix of fear and disbelief. The figure rose from the throne and approached her, their gaze assessing her with a predatory gleam.
“Now, tell me, my dear. You are pure, yes? Or will I have to have one of the boys here check?”
Lily shuddered. The very thought of one of them coming anywhere near her made her feel physically sick.
“Keep them away from me. Yes, I am pure, okay. Hey, why are you smiling? Hey, I am talking to you.” Lily said, her cheeks flushing as she glared at the man before her.
“Excellent. Take her to the holding cells. We’ll prepare her for the auction and be sure to put the slave collar on her; we don’t want her making any stupid decisions. We can’t have the lovely girl hurting herself now, can we? Haha.” the figure commanded the guards, laughing as he sat back on his throne.
Lily tried to say something else as she was dragged away, but she couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
The walls seemed to close in on her as she was thrust into a different cold, damp cell. The realization of her impending fate weighed heavily on her shoulders. The promised slave collar snapped around her neck as the guard slammed into the wall. He pushed her face along the wet wall, laughing as he walked back to the door, slamming it closed. Lily could hear him still laughing as he walked away.
Days passed in the cell’s darkness as Lily’s hope dwindled. She overheard conversations among the guards as they passed by on their patrol. The auction was approaching, and her dread deepened.
Finally, the day arrived after weeks of waiting. Lily was pulled from the cell, her wrists bound. The cuffs she still had from the initial capture were cold, icy reminders of the fate awaiting her as she was led to a stage. The grotesque display of wealth and depravity before her made her sick. The auction house was filled with ominous faces, each a potential bidder for her fate.
As Lily stood on the auction block, she felt exposed and vulnerable. They had stripped her naked. The only items she still had on were the cuffs and the slave collar, a dark contrast compared to her now milky white skin.
The auction began, and the air was thick with the lustful desires of those seeking to possess her. Lily’s gaze scanned the crowd, searching for a glimmer of humanity, a hope for salvation. The girl in front of her was quickly sold. They dragged her off the stage as she screamed for help. Lily watched as the group that had brought her backhanded her across the face. Her cries died down as they led her out of the room.
Lily looked into the merciless eyes of her captors and possible buyers. She saw only greed and cruelty.
“Next up is a fine human female specimen. She has a firey will that will be fun to break, to mould her into whatever you desire. It is worth noting that she is a Pure virgin, for all you fine people who value that sort of thing. Let us start the bidding at one gold coin.”
Lily looked on, not staring at anyone before her. She focused on the back of the room where a set of doors were. Freedom was so close, but she couldn’t move. The collar and cuff on each wrist ensured she obeyed any commands she was given.
A tear rolled down her cheek as the bidding ended in a fierce bidding war. Just as the auctioneer was about to close the sale, a new voice spoke up.
“One hundred gold coins.”
The room went silent. That was double the amount of the previous bid. A man stepped forward, his arm raised as he placed his bid. He wore a tailored dark brown leather jacket adorned with subtle gold embroidery that hinted at his status.
Underneath, he wore a finely woven linen shirt, adding a refinement touch to his ensemble. His trousers were made of a sturdy, deep blue fabric tailored for comfort and durability. A pair of well-worn yet meticulously cared-for polished leather boots completed his attire.
He sported simple yet elegant rings on his fingers. His clothing spoke of practicality, designed for a man who valued comfort and functionality, but the subtle embellishments hinted at a wealth beyond mere necessity.
“One hundred Gold. Going. Going. Gone. Sold to Mr Drakon. Next up is….”
Walking up to the stage. Mr Drakon grabbed Lily by the arm, pulling her after him as he walked towards the doors Lily had just been staring at. His stride forced Lily to jog after him. The eyes of the room followed her figure, causing Lily to shudder. One of them could have just as quickly brought her instead.
Mr Drakon waved his hand, and the double doors opened. He pulled Lily after him as he went down a side corridor. Stopping before a finely crafted door, he knocked twice. The door opened a crack as a face appeared, looking to see who had knocked. Lily heard a squeak from the other side as the door was quickly opened.
“My apologies, master. Please come in.” Said a smallish man as he held the door open. He bent deep in a bow, not looking up at all.
“I need you to take 100 gold from the bag and be ready to pay the auction house. They will be by shortly to collect payment for this human.”
“Yes, master, sir. If I may, sir, did you pay 100 gold? For a human? I mean, she looks nice but surely isn’t worth that amount.” Said the small man.
“Rax, do not question his lordship. He had his reasons for buying the human. It is not our place to question. Ah… You did have reasons, right? Sir?” Came a different voice. This one, Lily noted, belonged to a tall, muscular person with deep, rich red skin.
“Rax, Korvax. I believe this human girl has an immense magic aura. I brought her because she will serve me well once she is trained. Training which Narissa will carry out for me.” Said Mr Drakon as he pulled out a chair to sit at the table.
“.. If she survives Narissa’s training…” Said Korvax softly.
Lily looked at the three people in the room. Out of all the things she had been expecting, this was not one of them. She had been expecting things to go far, far different. Shaking her head, Lily looked at the person who had brought her.
“Ah, Mr Dra… Drakon sir. I know I don’t have any right to ask this of you, but. Ah… They ah…” Said Lily, stumbling over her words as tears ran down her face. “If you could, help me save my mother. Please. I will do anything you ask. I will serve you. I’ll… I’ll let you have me. I won’t fight. I promise. But please save my mother. She’s here. She’s below in the cells. Please.”
Mr Drakon held up his hand. Stopping Rax from speaking. “Why would I help you?” He said coldly. “I own you now. I paid quite a large amount for you. So tell me why. Why should I help you?”
“Please. Please help her. I will never ask for anything. Please. Just help her.” Sobbed Lily. Not trying to hide her tear-streaked face. She tried to wipe the tears away with her arm but failed. The cuff stopped her from lifting her arms.
“Rax, take the cuff of her. And the Slave collar as well. Let us see if she is worth all this trouble.” Said Mr Drakon. He grabbed a bottle from the table and poured a glass of amber liquid.
Lily watched as the small man called Rax grabbed her arms. He muttered a few words, and the cuff fell from Lily’s wrists. They rattled as they hit the stone floor. Lily breathed in as she felt the magic around her again—for the first time in weeks. The slave collar was removed in much the same way. Freeing more of Lily’s abilities.
Mr Drakon nodded, and Korvax brought a clear glass ball over to Lily. “Place your hands on the ball.” Said Korvax.
Lily raised her hands and gripped the glass ball. She felt a sudden burning in her palms as the ball lit the room in various colours.
“Hmm.” Said Mr Drakon as he studied the ball. A total of four Colors were now showing up clearly. “This is very promising. She might even have the ability to cross-cast. Yes. Yes. I know I made the right choice in you, human.”
“So, does this mean you will help me?” Said Lily, tearing her eyes away from the ball.
“Korvax, go with her. Give her a weapon, and let us see what she can do against people who have wronged her.” Said Mr Drakon, smiling as he studied the glass ball. “Let her kill whoever she needs to. But be quick about it. I’ve had enough of this foul place.”
Korvax motioned for Lily to follow him. Pointing at a rack of different weapons against a wall. “You won’t be needing clothes for this. The blood of your enemies will be your armour. Come, let us do this quickly. Use any weapon you like.”
Lily smiled. “I’ll make them suffer. Every last one of them.” She said quietly, following Korvax out the door.