Faith limped towards the small market she could see from a distance. It has been four days since she got separated from her sister. Her feet were bruised and swollen. Finding a place to sit, she exhaled through her chapped lips, exhausted.
She could hear the faint voices of people in the market despite the distance making her wonder if it was actually small.
Wincing, she took a grave look at her feet that had puss all over the cuts in them. Faith bit her lips, tired and thirsty for water. The last time she drank water was from the stream miles away from here.
She managed to stand up on her feet and the pain shot up from her feet, exploding inside her brain and she cried out. Biting her lips, she strolled away, limping.
She hadn't gone far when yells of men filled the air from the carriage riding towards her from behind.
"Aye!" One of the men said and the carriage came to a full stop.
Faith immediately recognized the voice. It belonged to the mercenaries that abducted her and the other females from Crawyth. Mr Gray' suit men.
Mr gray suit who was napping inside the carriage immediately opened his eyes when it came to a halt.
"What's happening you bunch of idiots?" He shouted.
"Sorry sire, we've found one of the missing captives."
Mr Gray immediately dashed out of the carriage to see for himself. Taking in the appearance of the girl who had escaped four days ago, he smirked. "My things never go missing, not even you."
"Bundle her up and put her in the cart. Keep an eye on her, we don't want what happened last time to repeat itself, do we?" He asked his men while staring at the girl who wasn't frightened one bit.
Faith sneered as the men pulled her towards the cart. Besides, she desperately needs to rest her feet after using them continuously for the past few days. The thought of her sister worried her severely.
Mr gray suit made himself comfortable inside the carriage as he opened the letter which was stamped with a green seal.
"Sir Derrick,
It has been a while. I'm waiting for you at the black market.
Your friend,
Donald.
"Piece of shit," he grinned.
Donald was his best customer especially when it comes to buying fierce female slaves just like the one in his cart.
*
The voices of people filled the air vibrantly as the carriage rode through the crowd. Faith thought some people might help her unbeknownst to her that the market wasn't like theirs in Crawyth.
Instead, the people didn't spare a glance at her as if it was normal for some people to be treated in such a manner.
The market was busy, smelled of mud and human waste.
Faith had the urge of throwing up on herself when the carriage came to a halt.
Huge hands pulled her out of the carriage, forcing her to stand on her sore feet without minding her wincing.
She raised her head to see Mr gray suit embracing a man with chestnut hair. It was as though they have known for a long time.
Donald fixed his hat properly after the embrace, grinning widely at Mr gray suit. "Derrick, you look different from the last time we met. So smooth and sharp," he complimented Mr Gray's suit.
"Ah! If you don't mind, I believe there must be a lot of ladies queuing at your door by now," he returned the compliment.
Derrick then turned to his men, "sell that shit and bring me the money. You know where to find me," he ordered and was about to leave when Donald stepped forward.
He had noticed the girl when Derrick's carriage came to a halt. In spite of the fact that the girl looked dirty and skinny, she was well endowed. Adding this one to his collection would earn him a good amount of money.
Upon noticing Donald's interest in the girl, Derrick opened his mouth, "she's a rare and fierce one," he urged his friend.
"I see, blue eyes and raven hair. Rare indeed," he replied with a smug on his face. Standing in front of the girl, he held her chin between his fingers, examining the symmetrical features of her face. His hands suddenly cupped her full breast, weighing them shamelessly.
Faith tried to move away from his touch but the mercenaries were holding her with steel grip.
Amusement flashed in Donald's eyes and he looked back to Derrick. "I'll buy this one. The men will love her" he commented and smirked at Faith.
Cold shiver ran down Faith's spine, giving her goosebumps at the thought of the shameless man's words 'men'. Were they taking her to a whore house? Fear clouded her eyes as she stared at the men bargaining on her head.
After some time, Donald looked at the girl, flashing her a grin which didn't go down well with Faith. To her utmost surprise, four of his teeth were uneven, they were slightly longer than the others and the urge to escape from these hungry selfish men began to boil in her.
*
"I'll see you soon Derrick, remember to bring the slave to my mansion and collect the coins," Donald yelled while walking away towards an alley.
Mr Gray suit then looked at Faith, "tie her up."
"Yes sire," the man chorused and started moving about.
"Derrick," a deep manly voice called.
Derrick immediately stood still upon noticing the person standing behind Faith. Suddenly regretting his decision to come to the slave market, he forced a smile… "your majesty," he bowed.
Faith saw the petrified expression on Mr Gray's suit face and wondered who was standing behind her. She could feel the dark aura emitting from the person and goosebumps filled her skin. While she was an apprentice to the witch in Crawyth, in one of her training about reading people's body language, anybody who could make goosebumps appear on your skin are greatly dangerous.
The man behind her kept quiet, probably staring at Mr Derrick who kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other in anxiety.
The man then moved his eyes towards the other man who was pretending not to notice him. What cunny subjects he has in this Kingdom. "Mr James," he called on the man.
Mr Donald gritted his teeth inwardly and turned to face the King who was glaring at him, displeased. "Your Majesty, I have no idea you were standing there. Apologies for my rudeness," he then gave a ninety degree bow.
The King nodded with a smirk on his face and waved his hands for the men to carry on their daily activities. "Enjoy your day," he replied and stalked off.
Mr Derrick released the air he didn't figure out he has been holding since he saw the King. It was certainly a bad week for him after seeing the King twice in a few days.
"Take her to the James mansion, there will be an auction there tonight. Do bring the payment." Mr Derrick whispered to the leader of his men.
"Aye boss!"
Meanwhile, the King who just left the two smugglers to do their illegal jobs in his Kingdom for the meantime, actually went to stand a few shops away so the men won't see him.
The King wore black slacks and a white sleeve which was matched with a knee length leather jacket. His height was awestricking, compared to most men in the kingdom. His hair which was dark as night was neatly combed backwards with a single strand falling to his forehead as he stood with power and elegance, watching every living being in the black market.
His right hand man immediately came to stand beside him with a small bag in his hands.
"I'm back," he said.
"I can see that," the King replied with his eyes fixed on the girl who was being pulled towards Mr Derrick's carriage. He had smelt blood mixed with pox when he went near her. "When we get to the Palace, make sure the carriage is prepared."
The right hand man, a man with brown hair and quite short in height, furrowed his eyebrows at the King. "Why?" He asked. He was against the idea of the King stepping out of the Palace at night.
"Do I need to tell you the reason why I left my own palace, Azreal?" The King questioned, his eyes boring into the man's who immediately shook his head while making the zip sign on his lips.
"Good," he retorted lazily and fixed his eyes on the moving carriage.
"Azrael, it now seems my kingdom has become so cheap to the extent they now sell prisoners of war from other places here, isn't it?"
Azrael was staring at a servant girl who was walking past him with a smile on his face, having no idea that the King had asked a question.
"AZRAEL!"
"Yes Sire? What did you say?" Azreal asked, his face flushed from embarrassment as the King stared knowingly at him.
"Ahem! I heard some gossip from this market. Crawyth is no more. Every one of them were slaughtered by the neighboring village. Also, the witch you're looking for is here in Eprotha."
Sebastian gave Azrael a death glare as if reminding him not to joke around with him. "Are you sure about that?" He asked.
"Of course I am! Will you stop doubting me for once," Azreal replied, pretending to be hurt.
King Sebastian straightened up and immediately put his heightened vampire senses into use. If the Sapphire witch was in Eprotha, she was definitely in this black market.
After the Scarlet witch went missing, the other six witches went into hiding. As for the Sapphire witch, King Sebastian knew she had no idea what was happening.
Picking up a faint smell in the air, Sebastian started walking towards the direction the scent was present. Opening his eyes, he found out that the exact spot was the same place the girl Mr Derrick sold was standing a few minutes ago.
"I found her, Azrael."