Chapter 2 Chapter Two

The creaking of my cell door being opened made my skin crawl as the creature behind it appeared. He was a man in his early, no, late twenties. Tall, fair in complexion, black eyes, and a sickening charming grin plastered on his face that revealed perfectly lined pearly whites.

And if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought he was an angel come to take me away from this place, but no, because behind that handsome face, I see this creature for what he really is.

“Aww, don’t look at me like that, Crystal.”

When the man took a step forward into my cell his handsome features began to shift, revealing that hideous mug of a bull beneath it. Sharp horns poked from the top of his forehead. Blacker eyes, and the grin on his lips split further, as though the teeth in his mouth were too big to fit.

I crawled back on my bottom and didn’t stop until my back hit the walls behind me, but it was barely enough to actually put some distance between us.

“I see you’ve been making friends.” he crooned. Hooved footsteps echoed louder like death's bell and I continued to press my back against the wall, never tearing my gaze away from him.

“Have you come to let me go?” I asked, foolishly hoping that his next word would be ‘yes’, but instead, my ridiculous question was met with a mocking laugh that dashed whatever hope I had left.

“Close, but not quite.” he drawled as he hunkered down on one knee so he could be on the same level on the ground as me.

“ …It’s auction day, crystal.” the beast added as he snapped his finger, and another creature with the head of a hog bounded into my cell with a bucket of water. “Aren’t you excited?”

“I shouldn’t be in here, and you know it.” I hissed.

“Yet here you are. I wonder who you pissed off to end up in here.” he chuckled darkly as he rose to his feet and took one step back.

Whom did I pissed off? I could write a ten-page essay on that. There were too many to count. Nobody liked lawyers who weren’t on their side.

“Time to get you cleaned for the buyer. He’s eager to meet his new toy.” My eyes darted down to the bucket of water he had brought in.

“Don’t you dare…” I snapped, pushing myself off the floor and standing on my shaky feet, clutching the torn, dirty shawl closer to my body as though it could save me now. “I swear, if you touch me, I’ll-”

“You'll do nothing,” he cut me off sharply. “..so don’t you dare resist me.” He gave me a pointed glare as he began rolling the sleeves of his shirt up his elbow, his face shifting to look human again.

“And just so you know, I’ve been looking forward to this,” he paused, his pink tongue peeking through his lips as his dark gaze dragged across my body with intent. “But I’ll be gentle.”

“No. Stay back!”

“Hiding behind that rag is useless,” he added with a knowing smirk. My stomach twisted in disgust, cheeks burned bright against my pale dirty cheeks with anger and shame. But despite his words, I refused to let go of the shawl, and even with it, I still felt utterly exposed.

‘The world is split in two, Crystal, the predator and the prey.’

My mother’s words suddenly echoed in my head.

Before I could even say a word of protest, the shawl I clutched so dearly to my body was ripped away from my grasp and a large bucket of freezing water was dumped all over my head. I cried out in shock as I scampered about like a scared cat, my eyes wide and lips chattering.

“Are you insane?!” I bellowed.

“It’s almost a shame to let such a pretty face go.” He drawled as he reached out to touch the dark hair that stuck to my face like a wet curtain, and I instinctively raised my own hand to strike him, but he caught my wrist easily and in one swift motion, I found myself spun around and pinned against the hard wall faster than I could blink.

“We’ve had a lot of humans come and get sold off. But you, I can tell there's something special about you.” His long fingernail dragged across the ridge of my spine and I drew in a sharp, cold breath.

"Do you say that to all the prisoners in your care?" I bit back. Despite everything, I wanted to believe that I could somehow be in control of the situation. Even when I wasn't.

“No, it's just you." He laughed. A deep rumble that vibrated against my bare skin. "I can tell you’ve never been with a male before. I can smell it.” his hot breath tickled my spin and I shut my eyes when his lips brushed my neck. “Maybe I should just buy you for myself…” his hand went round my waist and he flipped me around, slamming my back against the wall.

His long finger hooked under my chin, and he forced me to meet his sharp gaze.

“Still, it must be those eyes. I must admit, I've never seen a human with such gorgeous violet eyes before.” he leaned into me, his breath fanning against my lips, just mere inches away…

"Don't do this."

“You really are a rare beauty,” he whispered as his hand began its slow torturous descent down my body. I didn’t want to see him, I wanted to close my eyes and pretend this wasn’t happening. But even through closed eyes, I could feel the satisfaction and disappointment in his words.

“Look at me, crystal...”

“No.” I gritted my teeth, trying one last time to tug my hands free, but it was useless against his strength.

Did they treat all their prisoners like this? I thought about the other woman who had gone quiet. Three years. Had she also been abused like this? Or worse?

“Stop this, please.” I pleaded. A final attempt to appeal to his better nature, assuming he had one that is.

“Stop? I didn’t quite get that.” he crooned, but didn’t stop. He did the exact opposite. Pinning my hand tighter above my head. I tried to struggle, to tug my hand free, but it was no use.

“I heard the one who bought you is a real piece of work.” he chuckled. “They call him the collector and he’s put a high price on your head.”

“What?” The words escaped me before I could catch them.

I was already bought?!

“Yeah! The greedy bastard.” the man before me huffed, like the fact I'd just been bought was an inconvenience to his 'fun.' “It’s a shame the establishment sold you off to him. If I had the means, I would have taken you for myself.”

“You can’t do this.”

“It’s already been done. And once payment has been made, there’s no refunding it.” He grunted. “It’s a pity it has to be him though. Rumour has it that he breaks his toys like a child. You’re the third one his come to buy this month.”

Before I could process the words myself, I felt how his hands neared my most delicate region and I jerked my hip back.

“Stop it!” I screamed.

“Gavin! Don't break the merch. Get her ready! The customer's waiting to pick her up!” another voice yelled from outside. Interrupting whatever it was that was about to happen, and I heaved a tem

temporary sigh of relief when he let me go.

“I guess time’s up, Princess.”