Another laugh bubbled up from my chest. Maybe coming out to these was worth it.
“If you want a companion so badly, just fetch one of those demons your estate employs. I’m sure they’d jump at the chance to get a mouth full of?—”
“Once you run out of money, let me know,” Aris said, cutting me off. I scowled at her.
“Thank you,” Yien whispered and took a step back into the shadows, but we could still see her face and clawed hands.
The crowd roared to life when lights flooded the stage, pulling my attention to it. The winged demon with white hair and red horns took center stage. No one knew her name. We all just called her Madam. She was in charge of this auction house, and she always brought in the most unique humans.
“Who’s ready to purchase some humans?” she asked with a wicked smile.
There was no other option for us. If we didn’t leave here with this human, we might never know what happened to Mother.
5
EVE
Iwas woken by hands grabbing at me. I'd been dreaming. For the first time since I'd been taken, I'd been deep enough asleep to dream. It was stupid, about an old client of mine, but somewhat comfortable. For a minute I felt like I was really back home.
Until I was rudely awakened.
I had seen the other girls get taken time and time again, so I knew what to do. It didn't matter that they were trying to get me when I was at my weakest; I was ready for them.
There would be no escaping whatever awaited us, that much I knew, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t fight for my life.
I grabbed the hands that tried to take me, kicking in their direction and nailing one of them in the chest. The other scrambled to try and hold on to my legs, but I was flailing too hard for them. I used my hands to pull their hair, and one of them let out a curse.
They had obviously thought I was just a weak and puny human and there would be no need for them to be on guard, so I was satisfied when my strength took them by surprise. I wasno match for a demon, but I could make it difficult for them to catch me.
I squirmed. I bit. I kicked. I screamed. I did everything in my power to make it as difficult as possible for them. Mia did the same, joining me, trying to fight back. Her grunts echoed in the room.
The only one who didn’t was Iris. It was shocking, maybe even a little disappointing. She had been so adamant about escaping, yet when the time actually came, she was the one giving up. Even the demon that held her was laughing.
They forced us into the hallway and dragged us down to a dark room. Fighting back against inhumans that were way stronger than us was useless, but my ego wouldn't let me give it anything but my all.
Mia tried to make a run for it, but one of the demons shot her with some lights that wrapped around her body and sent her to the floor like she was a rag doll. The demons overpowered us.
“Be gentle,” one of them warned the others. “Humans are fragile, and the buyers will be really upset if their goods are damaged.”
We are being sold.
I knew it. I didn’t know I still had hope until it shriveled up and died at those words.
Rough hands gripped my arms and forced me and the others upright.
“It’s not like they would care anyway,” one muttered just as Iris looked at Mia, reality finally hitting home.
“Right?” The one that held me gave the others a wicked grin. “They’ll be too busy in a feeding frenzy to notice a bruise or two.”
Fear crawled up my spine.
No.
“Remember that not every demon is here to get a human tofeast on,” a different one reminded them, giving the one in front a meaningful stare. “Some come to find a companion or someone to bear their children. Either way, they pay good money to make sure humans are in good condition. If I find out even one of them got discounted because of your actions, I’ll cut off your access to human leftovers for two months.”
Human leftovers. Jesus fuck.
I’m going to be eaten alive.
