3. A slave

Next time I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my bed in cottage. I was in train, sitting on cold floor that was constantly shaking. Do I have to open my eyes? Yes, I do.

First thing I saw was a woman with her legs and arms tied up. She was sitting right across me barely wearing any clothes. Even my little dress was better than what she wore. I looked around just to find more women tied up. They were all older than me. 

My first instinct was to help them, but I noticed my arms and legs being tied up too. 

"Calm down, child. you can't escape.", woman across me said when she saw me fighting restrains on me. But I can escape them. I just have to burn them. "Fairies are too weak to get simple fucking ropes off."

I saw one other woman start to cry at her words. So I was passing as a fairy now. Does that mean I could die if I burn ropes off?

"Where are we going?" I asked the woman. She laughed at my question.

"Where else, child? To auction! We will be sold as slaves because they couldn't find our families. Not that they even tried…"

So I'll become a slave? But I'm only six. That can't be legal! Since I rarely left cottage, I didn't know a lot about world in cities. I knew little magic and little culture, but that's it.

I think the best option I could have is to be sold well and live as a fairy until I become powerful enough. Then I'll find the king and blow his head off form his shoulders for killing my entire race. After that I'll get married well and have bunch of children that I'll train to grow as powerful witches. Until then I'll lay low and do my best to live as a slave.

Then I remembered mother. Is she still alive? She has to be. I will always hope she is because I have no time to cry after her now. I'll just hope to see her again.

Two days have passed since I woke up in the train. I was hungry and thirsty, but nobody came to feed us or give us something to drink. 

I could sense train slowing down. That's it.

One man came to us and started to pull one woman by one out. Almost every single one begged for mercy, but I didn't. the man that pulled us was probably a vampire. He looked like one. So begging him for mercy was useless. He was a man with almost no emotions. Tears of some fairy woman can't make him help them.

Then it was my turn. He came to grab me, but was surprised to see I was a child. I could clearly see his eyes shift from red to black. I have never been so grateful mother forced me to study species and kinds of beinugs in this world. From predatory red, he went to normal black. Which means he was scared for me. 

I just smiled to him and he, instead of grabbing me forcefully like other women, gently raised me to my feet and let me inside one little room where the rest of women were.

The room was very stiff and there was almost no air inside. We all stayed inside for few hours. The worst few hours of my life. I was surrounded by crying, praying, shaking women. And all I could do was stay positive that for once in my life, something will go right.

Then the door opened and one woman was pulled out by her hand. She tried to fight, but the man was clearly way stronger than her.

They went like that.

One by one.

And I was the smallest one so I could hide in corner and wait to be the last. 

Then, for the last time, door opened and man stepped inside. It wasn't the same man who pulled other women out, but that vampire guy from before. Ge offered me his hand and I took it. He matched his walking peace with mine as we walked outside, to light. I was greeted by huge audience. They were screaming. Was I on some sort of a stage?

"Ohhhh.. here we have one pretty fairy child. She doesn't look older than nine.", another man in the middle of stage said and pulled me closer to him. Vampire had to let go of me and that didn't sit well with him.

Then the man in the middle of stage forcefully pulled sleeve of my little dress down, ripping it. It revealed little star sign on my shoulder that I had since I was a baby. Mother said that many witches had it and that I shouldn't be worried about it.

"Ha! She even has a soulmate! I wonder who will be the lucky person wo will go home with this one?"

I looked at vampire. His eyes were back to red. I guess ripping my dress didn't go well with him.

"Place your bets!" man yelled.

"300" I heard one voice.

"350" another.

"450!"

"600"

"one million"

It was barely noticeable, but someone said one million.

"Sold to man in gold suit. You got a good one, sir."

Vampire took my hand and slowly walked off the stage with me. He looked beyond angry.

"Sir I'll be okay. I promise! So please don't be angry.", I said to vampire and he nodded, his eyes shifting back to black.

So I was a slave now.