As she opened her eyes she found herself in her room. The one where just a few hours ago she got to spent her last moments with Philip. The purple sheets still smelled like him and for a second they offered her such warmth comfort. She just wanted to dive her face into the pillow and remember his kindness and his charming smile. That would be enough to calm her down. But as she moved she realized that her head was in extreme pain. Raising her arm and bringing it to her scalp at the back she felt a huge bump that ached with the slightest contact. Slowly but painfully everything came back to her. The harsh words she told him, Angelica's violent behavior, the appearance of her powers and the mention of her being…sold.
Becoming a slave was a fate even worse than a prostitute's. usually slaves became the people that were in debt, immigrants from other kingdoms that were caught by slave traders on their journey and obviously war prisoners. Nowadays they didn't really call them slaves but it was one and the same. Most owners treated them horribly, as if they were objects and obviously they could never escape if they wanted to. That's what made them truly slaves, they had their freedom taken away from them. As if it wasn't some kind of basic human right. As if they weren't humans at all.
She sat up in a hurry ignoring the pain on her head and tried to stand up, run away somehow as she noticed from her window that it was still day. Most of the girls and guards would be asleep since their life began when the sun went down. Unfortunately, when she stepped on the cold floor and took a few hurried steps away from the bed she felt something pulling her back. Astonished she looked at her feet and noticed that her right ankle had been shackled by a heavy, iron chain to the bed.
"Shit. Shit" She mumbled as she looked around hoping to find something to break off her chains. She wasn't able to take more than three or four steps away from the bed area. She stared at her restraints and even tried to channel her newfound power even though she was aware that it was pointless. Even if her powers did surface the fact that she didn't know how to control them would mean she would certainly hurt herself rather than get free.
Magic was complicated and people like her, who grew up in the bottom knew almost nothing about it. Alice had a vague idea better than most people because of her mother. She was one of the few magicians that lived in the bottom area. A prostitute with healing powers seemed to be useful so Angelica never allowed her to leave and attend the academy. She took her chance of a new life.
In their Kingdom, Nyx magicians where officially upgraded in a way as humans the moment their powers appeared. Some found them in their teenage years other in their thirties. Magic was unpredictable but at the same time incredibly strong. That was why bloodlines did not matter. Because they were so few and needed the palace would shelter and offer fortune even to the lowliest of scums if they had powers. There was an Academy that trained them. Called Starfell Academy but Alice did not know much about it. No one really did. One other thing she was aware of it was that every magician exceled at different things. They were Attackers, Defenders and Supporters but beyond knowing these clashes she had no idea what each one of them did or how they assisted the kingdom.
She pulled at her chains again and again, her palms becoming bloody as she struggled to set herself free. It was fruitless. The powerful iron would never succumb to her power no matter how hard she tried. Soon she heard footsteps. She was expecting someone to arrive since she made quite a ruckus with running around. Even the slightest of steps could be heard if it was quiet.
Angelica entered the room dressed in more extravagant clothing than usual. Alice also noticed a huge gold pendant on her neck. It didn't take much for her to understand. Her appearance had changed so much because she had already sold her off. A female magician would be an asset to many rich men and she the way she was, would make sure to get as much gold as she could.
"What did you do?" Alice asked her but all she did was smile. She wished to erase that smile off her face. For selling her, for taking her mother's chance of a new life, for making her speak harshly to the only person she ever loved.
"I think I am too kind sometimes dear Alice. I found the best buyer having your prosperity in mind. You will thank me one day"
"Thank you? You turned me into a slave and you want me to thank you?" Alice asked her in shock. She had the audacity to talk like that. Like she cared about her and that was irritating. "Just say you are doing everything for the money. That tacky necklace on your neck says so."
"I think that necklace is quite good" A new voice was heard behind the half opened door and slowly a man entered the room. He was dressed in all black. From his pants to his boots and his shirt he looked as if he had been embraced by a dark shadow. He looked at her from head to toe, a smile on his face. Unexpectedly he was quite handsome. His hair was red like a burning fire and his eyes a pale blue. He had them tied in a low pony tail. Its end almost reaching his waist. His hands and his neck were filled with scars and he also had one at the right side of his jawline that extended further on his face till it almost reached his eye. "I chose it myself. It was really hard to find it you know."
"Alice, this is Nacht. He will be taking you away. I am sure he will take really good care of you." She said as she caressed the cold gold that rested on her skin.
"Does it look like I believe you?" Alice asked and looked at the man named Nacht filled with hate. He just smirked at her, obviously not caring about her despising him.
"I wouldn't hurt a child. You are not eighteen yet. In two months? If I remember well from Angelica."
"Why does it matter? What will you do with me?" She asked him, trying to be wary of his every move. Maybe if he took her away on a carriage she could tumble it and kill him in the process. Then she would run in the Starfell Academy and expose of Angelica's secret of dealing girls in the black market.
"I don't know yet really. I just wanted to buy something." He said and shrugged his shoulders. "Shall we go then?" he asked her and she, almost like a child climbed up on the bed and hugged the bed head. It was not like he would just let her stay if she did this. She knew that already but at the same time following him so submissively seemed wrong even if there was no other way. As Nacht realized what she was doing he began laughing, his chest raising up and down. "You sure are entertaining." He told her and extended his hand.
"You little bitch if you don't move right now I will have my men kill you and throw you in the gutter." Angelica threatened her as she seemed worried about her precious transaction. Nacht looked at her surprised. He was not pleased by her way of talking and from the way he was dressed. The materials of his clothes and his stance Alice could easily understand that he was not just a simple man. He wouldn't be able to offer such a necklace if he was.
"You don't have to talk to her like that. She is mine now" Nacht said and approached the bed only for her to take hasty steps further away. "Believe me, where I will take you it will be much better than here. Little witch" He joked. "Don't you want to leave this place?" he asked her with a devilish smile.
Yes. She wanted to escape his place. Far away from here. But she wanted to be free. She didn't want to head from one slavery to another. She looked at him and then at Angelica. From one devil to the other. She knew the sorrow of this place. In front of her was another man, another place.
Alice took his hand. Hoping that she would not end up from one nightmare to the other.