Lilith
I was dreaming of lying in a field of lilies by a river's edge. The sun was shining down on my skin as I soaked up the warmth. Butterflies flew around, one landing on my hand as I held it up to study it. It flew off as a shadow loomed over me. Smiling, I looked up to see a handsome man who took a knee next to me. He placed his hand on my cheek as I nuzzled into it, his presence felt familiar, the smell of sandal wood and patchouli wrapping its way around my nostrils. He firmly but gently tilted my chin up, as he leaned in his lips just above mine.
I was snapped awake by a loud bang. I gasped as I flung myself forward. The noise came from the left of me, the hydra was being moved by several horses. I looked around as a horse was hitched to our cage. Annalise was sobbing as the shifter girl was completely gone.
"What happened to the shifter girl?" I asked, knowing deep down I knew the answer. Annalise shook her head. I sighed as I tucked my knees under my chin. Lilly was mumbling, calculating what needed to be done for our heat to get unlocked.
"Lilith, I need you to cut your hand and start drawing these runes I put up in your head on your wrists." She told me urgently. I nodded, lifting my palm up to my mouth. Annalise opened her eyes wide towards me as I sank my canines into the soft fleshy part of my palm. Blood dripped down as I dipped my finger into it, tracing the runes Lilly placed in my head on my left wrist, then my right one. The hydra who was being pulled in front of us started to stir, it snapped its head back towards me, locking its snake eyes with mine. It started to snarl and push against its cage.
"Settle down back there!" The coach driver reached back with a pole, smacking the cage. The hydra hissed as it wiggled around. Someone walked up next to us, they glanced in, checking us up and down. I hid my hand quickly as Annalise averted her gaze from me. They tossed a piece of cloth over our cage as they started to chant. I saw the other cages through the small gap the cloth left disappear. A cloaking spell, huh?
"I just hope this works, the runes on the collar are blocking my healing abilities, so it makes me question what else it's blocking," Lilly whispered to me. I sat there as the blood dried. We exited the underground area, rain started hitting the cloth that was surrounding us. Lilly started chanting in my head. I closed my eyes as we swayed on the road, hitting rocks and holes, jostling us.
The carriages slowly turned onto a path; we heard whispers from our captors as I heard the sound of snapping twigs and branches. We must be in the forest. I tried sniffing, to see if I could smell my surroundings, but no luck.
The cloth was removed from us, revealing a stone circle that was set up outside. There were torches scattered across the area, providing enough light to show us a full house of people dressed in robes and masks. I looked upwards, the spell they were using was making it, so the rain didn't penetrate and soak them. It appeared to be covering a vast area; I couldn't calculate the size from where I was at.
"Lilly, are you sure this will work? If this is up, and it's not letting rain in, I don't think Sebastian or Azazel can smell us." I nervously whispered to her. She hesitated on responding. "I'm sure it'll work, the thing is.... it'll work on every mythical being here..." I flicked my gaze over to the hydra staring at me.
"How long before I can't move?" I questioned as I kept my gaze locked on the deadly creature. "You'll have a good six minutes before your body collapses." She solemnly said. Great. Six minutes to see if Sebastian comes. Six minutes to get me and Annalise out of here before I'm open game for anything and anyone to have their way with me.
I started shaking as I turned my gaze back to the floor. The good thing is, I can't get pregnant unless they write the conception runes on me. I stuffed my face into my arms as I started to slightly sob. I had better get my nerves out now; I can't risk having them jeopardize my only chance of getting out here.
"Welcome friends! May the old ways become the new!" I heard a strange booming voice welcoming the guests. "We have quite the selection for you buyers today. Feel free to walk around and check out the merchandise. Don't forget to place a tag we hand you on the cage you wish to bid on!"
I started taking in deep breaths as I heard people making their way up to the cages.
"Ew, is that an orc girl?" A snooty voice rang out. "Yea, she'd be good for manual labor, but that's about it. She let that minotaur take her just like that." Another chuckled.
"But that girl there, she's from Lahnust. We haven't had one of those in a while. I heard she took out the minotaur with no problem." I stared at the man who spoke. "Ooh and she's full of spunk. Can't wait to bed her and see what she's like." I snarled at him as he laughed, placing a tag on the cage and then walking off.
Lilly kept chanting in my head, the blood marks started sizzling as I felt my chest start to heat up. I leaned my head against the bars as I gazed up at the night sky, the moon barely visible as the rain poured down. I started feeling like I drank a whole keg of beer. My vision was becoming dizzy as I started to sweat.
"Damn it..." Lilly hissed. " What? I questioned as my chest started to heave up and down. "I can't get past the last lock... the runes are blocking it..." She snarled.
"What does that mean, Lilly?" I leaned forward; my body started feeling like it was on fire.
"It means we only have three minutes to get out of here... You're still going to emit a scent like you're in heat, but you won't be in a full-blown one until.." She was cut off as the cage door swung open. A man strode in, unlocking my chains and grabbing me.
"Jesus, are you sick? You're burning up." He placed the back of his hand on my forehead, the touch sent a tingling through my body. Not good. I pulled away as he pulled me to him.
"You... smell so intoxicating..." He inhaled deeply. He then shook his head and pulled me out of the cage. "Never mind, you're up on the bidding." He dragged me to the center of the stage. I stood there, panting as my legs started to tremble.
"Lilith... your three minutes is starting! Hurry!" Lilly snapped my focus back. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could hear everything. The heart beats of everyone, the breathing, the words slowly coming out of the bidders' mouths.
I swayed as I felt a slight break in the clouds, the moon hitting me slightly. I felt a surge of power as I flung my eyes open. My armor quickly ripped its way through me, causing me to fall to my knees in pain. Gasps echoed throughout the area as I ripped off my shackles.