Behind , shouts and curses erupted as the gang re-focused their attention on , their initial shock filled with growing anger. I threw a punch at Oliver as he attempted to flank , landing a solid hit to his side. But his return swing barely missed my head.
"Stop her!" Kyler bellowed, grabbing a nearby crate to use as a shield, attempting to close the distance. It was a desperate move, and I could see the frustration brewing in his eyes; they were quickly losing control of the situation.
I sidestepped the wooden crate as it flew toward , my heart hamring in my chest. The griffons shrieked from their cages, I couldn’t let this opportunity slip through my fingers. With another flick, I unlocked a nearby cage, and the griffons took flight, soaring into the dimly lit space.
They collided with the steel bars, their wings flapping furiously as they regained their balance. Their outburst confused the group, montarily distracting them, giving just the opening I needed.
I used the mont to dart between the cages, my hands working deftly to free the beasts trapped inside. I was almost about to free at least ten more cages when a loud sound rang out.
Bang!
Everyone went still when they heard the sharp crack of gunfire echoing through the dimly lit hideout.
"My, my~ How did you get in here, young lady?" A smooth, mocking voice rang in the air, slithering around us like smoke. I turned to look toward the entrance corridor and saw a man stepping into view, casually holding a pistol in one hand, his expression a mix of amusent and disbelief.
That’s when I felt a warm trickle run down my arm. I glanced down and realized that my right shoulder was bleeding, the red seeping through my shirt and staining my skin.
"Looks like soone has been playing hero," the man continued, his voice dripping with disdain. He took a step closer, eyes gleaming with predatory hunger as he surveyed the scene before him—freed creatures rushing in all directions, the desperate guys scrambling to regain control. "But this little mission of yours ends here."
Jaxon Kade. The most wanted man in the area, infamous for his ruthless poaching operations. I glared at him, fury boiling within , refusing to back down.
He stepped closer, invading my personal space, and tilted my chin with a finger, forcing to et his gaze. "I love how fierce your eyes are. It’s almost the sa as those beasts caged in here." he let go of and walked away.
Unable to contain my response, I secretly drew one of my daggers from the small of my back. I aid it at him, breathing quietly in preparation.
"I wouldn’t do that if I were you," Jaxon said, his back still turned to as he aid the pistol casually at the nearest cage. "You probably don’t want to kill all the beasts you freed just now, right?"
I froze as his words sunk in. My fingers trembled on the hilt of the dagger, and reluctantly, I dropped it to the ground.
Clang!
"Good girl," he smirked, turning finally to face as if enjoying the play between us. "Kade! Lock her up and fix this ss."
"Why should we still let her live?" Kade complained, his frustration evident as he glanced at the panicking creatures and the remnants of his disruption. "That bitch almost freed all our investnts!"
"There’s still so use for her," Jaxon replied coolly, eyeing with a mix of amusent and nace. "Listen up: the auction will be tomorrow, and she will be the one to be auctioned instead of the Frostbane."
Kade stepped forward, licking his lips in anticipation of the potential profit. "But she’s just a girl! What’s the point?"
Jaxon chuckled darkly, his deanor shifting. "You underestimate her. She has fire, and that fire will fetch a pretty penny. I want the best for my auctions. What’s the use in offering them sothing that doesn’t challenge or thrill? Her defiance can be sold as a story, a selling point, one that my clients will eat up."
Before I could think through a plan, Kade stepped forward, grabbing my arm roughly. "Let’s go," he growled, tossing into the cell and locking the door with a loud click.
I decided to play along for now, buying ti while my mind raced for a possible escape plan. I leaned against the cold steel bars of the cell, attempting to appear defiant despite the pain radiating from my shoulder.
ticulously, I locked eyes with Jaxon. "Can you at least give a first aid kit to remove the bullet?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"Don’t worry," Jaxon replied with an infuriatingly smug grin. "The bullet that pierced you just now is a magic item. It will dissolve once the paralyzing effect wears off, but I can’t do anything about the blood. It’s much better that way so that you can’t escape. I’ll heal you once we get to the auction."
"Damn you," I muttered. I could feel the effects of the bullet coursing through —my limbs growing heavy, the edges of my vision beginning to blur.
I took a shaky step backward, trying to stay on my feet. Jaxon’s laughter rang in my ears. "See you at the auction, girl," he taunted as he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing further away.
Suddenly, the pain intensified, clawing at my senses like a feral beast. I gritted my teeth, willing myself to remain conscious, but the world around began to twist and fade. My knees buckled, and I fell against the bars that confined , struggling to keep my wits about as blackness encroached on my vision.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
When I woke up, I found myself lying in a lavish room adorned with gold and silk. I noticed I was dressed in an elegant white gown. My hands instinctively searched for my daggers, but I could feel nothing but smooth fabric. Then I realized that my wound was also gone, the pain that I felt vanished, as if the bullet had never pierced my skin.
I tried to stand and escape, only to discover that I was chained to the bed. I called out to the system shop so I could find a way to break free from this chains.
Just then, the door swung open, and Jaxon walked in, a glass of wine casually held in one hand. His posterior silhouette was as confident as ever. "Just in ti, Sleeping beauty’s awake," he said with a smirk that made want to punch his face.
"What did you do to ?" I demanded, my voice sharp, as I tried to approach him but was stopped my the chain binding from the bed.
"Oh, don’t worry," he replied nonchalantly, swirling the wine in his glass. "The maids in this place were the ones who changed you, and besides, I don’t force myself on won who doesn’t like ," His tone was mocking, dripping with arrogance that made my fists clench involuntarily.
"Where are my belongings?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"You don’t need those anymore," Jaxon said, a devilish smirk crossing his face. "Your owner will soon be providing your needs."
Damn, this psycho. Not only is he a poacher, he’s also auctioning human.
His phone beeped, pulling his attention away from for a brief mont. "Oh, it seems that the auction is finally ending," he said, glancing at the screen with a sense of satisfaction. "Which ans it’s your ti to shine."
With a snap of his fingers, the sa guys I had fought earlier entered the room. Before I could even land a punch, they were quickly at my sides as the two of them held and the other quickly covered my head with a sack. They lifted off the ground, carrying effortlessly.
"Careful!" Jaxon’s voice rang out, taunting and playful. "I don’t want the goods to be damaged!"
"You fucking bastard!" I yelled, my voice muffled as I struggled against their grip. I tried to resist but it was useless.
After what felt like an eternity of jostling and uncertainty, the movent stopped. They placed down gently but firmly, the world around still shrouded in darkness. I could feel the muffled sounds of voices nearby, the clinking of tal, and the low hum of technology. Then suddenly, I felt cold tal around my neck.
"What—?" My protest was cut off as the sack was removed. I blinked against the sudden light, disoriented, and quickly found myself t with Kade’s smirk.
"Hey! What’s this?!" I yelled as I felt the collar lock into place.
"It’s a device to prevent you from releasing your aura," Kade answered matter-of-factly, clearly enjoying my outrage. Without giving a chance to retaliate, he draped a cloth over my glass cage, obscuring my view. I kicked at the encasing, but it was solid—clear as crystal.
Breathing heavily, I called out to the system shop in my mind. But no matter how many tis I called, the familiar screen wouldn’t appear. I could feel an unsettling energy emanating from the device around my neck. Shit this device must be interfering with the system.
Reviews
All reviews (0)