I walk down the hall, each step creaking as I approach her room. The house shakes with each movement and then crumbles some more. We don't live a luxurious life, and as much as my mother dreams about it won't change that fact. "(y/n)!" She calls impatiently. I'm an only child. You'd think she's worried, but you don't know my mother. I open the door to see her (e/c) eyes staring at me with concern. She smiles, patting the seat in front of the mirror. But to her, I'm just a valuable asset.
Running her fingers through my hair as she combs it, she whispers, "You're beautiful, (y/n). You're going to marry a rich man, I'm sure of it." I want to roll my eyes. To her my looks are a blessing. Something that will save us from the debt my father had left us in. I can't help but stare into the mirror and wonder, is that all? Is that my worth? Even in her eyes? "The lord of this town is very interested in you, you know."
"No thanks," I spit out without another thought.
"YOU," she digs her fingers into my shoulder as she lectures me, "should be grateful. Now, let's clean you up for tomorrow."
Our town has a bit of a ritual. Every year, women who are eligible may enter into a fair for which people bid for them. Usually, it's men looking for a wife, or two in some cases. The money goes to the parents who will use it as they please. To us poor folks, it's an easy way to score some cash. Many don't agree with this tradition, but what can I say? It's better than being sold into slavery. In fact, my mother would get more from this than she could ever hope for selling me to one of those slave merchants. The fair is tomorrow. It is optional, but most girls are forced into it by greedy parents. So instead I have to walk around listening to people chatter about the festival they've dubbed 'the wife market'.
There comes a knock at the door, it's the lord my mother mentioned before. His cold gray eyes meet mine as I glance away. "Miss (y/n), what a pleasure to see you!" He says, sending me his usual cocky grin.
"Would be more a pleasure for you to leave." Normally I have a good comeback for him, but today I'm just not feeling like it. Mother would complain that I didn't need to be so rude anyway. She assumed, as much as he did, that I turned down the proposal to get more money out of him. I'm infuriated by the fact they believe I'd stoop so low.
"No matter, I expect to buy you at tomorrow's festival. Dress pretty for me, okay?" He winks as I scoff down the vomit rising in my throat. My mother won't shut up about how he's wealthy and good looking. But he's a snob. I hate rich people.
While he's talking to my mother about how excited he is for tomorrow's fair, I rush out the door. I make it down the street without her noticing. It seems she won't be able to chase after me today. I head to the nearby bar where (f/n) works. (He/She)'s the only person in this damn town who doesn't mind listening to my rants. And boy was am I feeling like one.
When I enter, nothing but noise filled up my eardrums. 'It sure is crowded today.' Some woman's cigarette smoke crowds my eyes as I slump down into an empty seat. I search the crowds for (f/n): nothing. It's too dark to see, but I don't spot any of my mother's friends either. 'No one to tattle on me today.' She wouldn't be happy to find me here tonight of all nights. They must also be preparing for tomorrow. And all these men must be celebrating a supposed last night single.
My eyes meet a pair of gold orbs as a stranger approaches me. He's, well, attractive, if I must say so. Propping his arm against the counter, he sends me a grin I'm all too familiar with. "What's a beauty like you doing here all alone?" His long, dark hair shadows his face in this light. It makes him look intimidating, but he feels far from it.
Normally I would ignore most creeps here, but something feels different about him. So I stay. "Just looking for something to take my mind off of things."
"Mind some company then?"
"Depends on who's asking?" With that he chuckles, but there's a long pause as he mouths something to me. I can't understand his faint whisper with all the noise.
I think I see a familiar face in the crowd and panic. I glance over my shoulder to assure myself it isn't anyone I knew only to find him here: the lord from earlier. 'Has he followed me here?' Soon, I'm reminded of my anger and distaste.
"Want to go somewhere more private?" The purple haired stranger asks me.
"Yes!" I exclaim, nodding furiously, tugging him out the door. "Damn.." I mutter under my breath when I hug onto his arm. He has some really nicely developed muscles.
"Someone's impatient," he jokes, wrapping an arm around my waist. We exit the bar, heading into an area of town I'm not too familiar with and checking into a hotel that's way out of my price range. I can't help but smirk when I think of my mother, how she would lecture me in the morning, and of that stupid lord too. My thoughts interrupt me, that annoying little conscious, 'This is how you choose to react? Isn't this a bit.. contradictory?' I shake it off, either way it's a distraction.
I look up at the man I cling to. Now that we're in some better lighting I can see his face. He's handsome with long purple hair. His face is defined and clear, decorated with a slight smile. I notice his gaze on me, meeting those golden orbs which have dilated noticeably. He pulls me into the room and is quick to close the door behind him as I sit down on probably the softest bed I've ever seen.
I'm having second thoughts as he approaches the bedside. 'Do I want this?' He crawls on top of me, his eyes full of lust. Pressing his lips against mine, they're soft and passionate. I almost lose myself in them.'You're beautiful, (y/n). You're going to marry a rich man, I'm sure of it.' I clench my fist. 'What's it matter? Whether it's a stranger or that stupid lord, this is all my worth.' I wrap my arms around his neck as I kiss him back. His warm muscle licks my lip as I obediently open up. Fighting his tongue with mine, I feel myself clinging tighter onto him. 'How pathetic..' I run my hand along the fabric of his shirt as I feel something warm along my cheek. His hand caresses my cheek until he pulls away, gasping for breath as he furrows his brows. "Are you okay?"
I haven't noticed the tears on my face. I feel my heart stop for a moment, how embarrassing for some stranger to see me like this. At least this will be the only time we see each other. I stare at a genuine expression, one that I fail to recognize. At least not tonight. "No, I'm fine." 'Get yourself together, (y/n).' I tug on his shirt, placing kisses all along his neck. His body tenses. Flopping over next to me, he lets out a sigh.
I'm unhappy to be forced off him, so I get on top of him and go to pull my top off. He pulls my top down. "Don't tempt me, I'd rather not have sex with a girl who's crying."
"Please.." I whine, rubbing his bulge as I place another kiss along his jaw.
He pulls me off of him, "Stop, this is already frustrating. I'm horny as f*ck with the sexiest girl I've seen and don't want to screw her when I know she'll regret it later." Wrapping his arms around my waist, he keeps me in place. He nuzzles his face into the back of my neck. "What's wrong? You can tell me, it's not like I'll tell anyone."
"It's just the.. the festival tomorrow." I hope that will explain it. I'm a bit embarrassed by my irrational feelings.
"I don't get it, what's so sad about a festival..?" He frowns at me, sending me the sweetest puppy dog eyes.
"Huh? You don't know? Everyon-"
"I'm from out of town." He interrupts. I pause, 'Ahhhh'.
"Well, basically.." I make random hand motions, "it's a tradition where parents sell their daughters into marriage by people bidding on them."
"Marriage, huh..? I would despise being pressured into crap like that too. I can't even imagine, but I get it. I'd hate to be tied down to one person." He sighs. 'He's not getting it. That's not the issue.'
It's silent between us. If it weren't for his tight grip around me, I might be convinced he had disappeared. I rub my eyes as I let out a quiet yawn, feeling drowsy and ready to fall asleep.
"You tired?" He asks, entangling his fingers through my hair.
"Mmm.." I nod. I hear him chuckle, slightly and under his breath.
"What name could they give a pretty girl like you?" He whispers in my ear. I turn to face him, his eyes are lit up and his smile so.. relaxing.
"(y/n)." I stare into those golden eyes and mumble out, "A.. and you?"
"Me? Well, I'm Sinbad." I struggle to keep my eyes open as everything fades to black.