A DEVIL'S AUCTION
1024 Words
The room reeked of danger and deceit. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as Sebastian, the man who had turned my world into a living nightmare, stood confidently in the center of the dimly lit space. He seemed larger than life, his gelled-back hair glinting under the golden chandeliers, and his piercing blue eyes cutting through the haze of smoke and shadows. He was an imposing figure—charismatic in a way that made me feel both repulsed and drawn to him. It made me question myself: Was I intimidated? Attracted? Or simply terrified?
“You’ll do exactly as I say,” he hissed under his breath, his tone sharp enough to draw blood. His hand extended toward me, a gesture that seemed civil but held the promise of dominance.
I hesitated. Every instinct screamed at me to refuse, but the weight of his gaze forced my hand into his.
“That’s my girl,” he said mockingly, tightening his grip on my hand.
His strength was unnerving. As he dragged me forward through the sea of faces, I could feel the weight of every pair of eyes on me. Whispers floated around us like ghosts, thick with cruel amusement. My heart sank with each step, but I kept my chin up, refusing to show the humiliation pooling inside me.
Sebastian stopped abruptly in the center of the room, pulling me forward like a prized animal on display.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” His voice boomed, commanding attention. “I present to you the star of tonight’s show... the virgin vixen!”
A roar of applause erupted, the sound stabbing into me like needles. My cheeks burned as I clenched my fists, hating the way he paraded me like some trophy.
“See?” Sebastian turned to me with a poisonous grin. “I told you I’d make you the star of the show.”
“Why are you doing this?” My voice trembled, barely audible over the jeers and laughter.
“Why?” He laughed coldly. “It’s business, sweetheart. Simple as that.”
His words didn’t make sense. My confusion must have been evident because he leaned closer, his breath brushing against my ear.
“I find girls like you, turn them into something extraordinary, and make a fortune in the process. Tonight, you’ll make me a very rich man.”
I flinched, my voice breaking. “I don’t understand…”
“You don’t have to.” He grinned, his fingers digging painfully into my wrist. “But look around. You should be thanking me. All these people are here for you.”
His eyes roved over the crowd, then returned to me, narrowing with a cruel glint. “The bidding starts now.”
The atmosphere shifted as voices began to call out.
“Fifty lacs!” one man shouted.
“Two million!”
“Two and a half!”
I tried to shut out the words, pressing my hands to my ears, but the numbers kept climbing, the bids punctuated by laughter and taunts.
“Not bad, not bad,” Sebastian sneered. “But come on, people, she’s worth so much more!”
I felt like I was suffocating. This was wrong—I was being sold. My legs trembled as panic surged through me. Without thinking, I turned and bolted, shoving through the crowd. Hands reached out, grabbing at me, their touches making my skin crawl.
“Get back here!” Sebastian’s voice roared behind me.
I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. The exit was just ahead. My heart raced as I reached for the door handle, but a shadow loomed in front of me.
“Going somewhere?”
Sebastian stood there, his face twisted into something unrecognizable. His eyes were pure black, the veins in his face bulging unnaturally, and his teeth—were those fangs?
“You’re going to regret this,” he growled, his voice guttural, no longer entirely human. “Now, you’ll see the devil you’ve awakened.”
My legs turned to jelly. I stumbled backward, unable to tear my gaze away as he lunged toward me. His monstrous form closed the distance in seconds.
But then, something strange happened. The air seemed to shift, heavy with an invisible force. The crowd fell silent, and I heard gasps ripple through them.
Sebastian stopped mid-stride, choking on his own breath. He was no longer moving toward me. He was in the air, suspended like a ragdoll, his neck clutched by an impossibly strong hand.
A new figure had appeared. He towered over Sebastian, his presence commanding and otherworldly. I couldn’t see his face clearly, only the golden glow of his eyes and the sharp cut of his silhouette.
“Landon,” Sebastian rasped, his voice trembling.
“Sebastian,” the man—Landon—said calmly, though his tone carried the weight of a thousand storms. “How many times do I have to remind you? I don’t tolerate harm against women.”
“S-Sire, please!” Sebastian pleaded. “She’s a rebel! She was trying to ruin my business!”
Landon’s grip tightened, and his voice dropped dangerously low. “Your business is filth. And you’ll shut it down. I’ll pay you ten million dollars to disappear—but if I ever see you again, I’ll end you.”
Sebastian’s head bobbed furiously in agreement, his fear palpable.
Satisfied, Landon released him, letting him fall to the ground in a heap. He then turned to me, his gaze softening as it met mine.
“You’re safe now,” he said gently.
My body trembled, unable to process what had just happened. He stepped closer, offering his hand.
“Come with me,” he said. “My car is waiting.”
Something about his voice soothed me, even as the chaos of the night swirled around us. His touch was firm but kind as he helped me to my feet. I didn’t know who—or what—he was, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt hope.
And so, with no idea where this stranger would take me, I followed.
- Writer
