Page 2 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

Leaving the warmth and laughter of my dorm behind, I stepped into the cool evening air, the campus lights flickering softly in the distance. The normalcy of a task as mundane as taking out the trash felt grounding after the whirlwind of emotions I’d just experienced.

The dumpster sat just behind the dorm, reeking of rotting food and overflowing with garbage. As I approached, a prickling sensation crept up the back of myneck. The night was suddenly unnaturally silent and felt charged with a foreboding I couldn’t place. A white van was parked too close for comfort, its windows dark in the dim light.

A shiver ran down my spine, the cozy dorm room suddenly feeling worlds away. I quickened my pace, eager to return to the safety of my room, to Joy’s infectious laughter and the promise of a night out. It was then, as I was looking back toward the dorm, that I heard it—a voice, chillingly close, shattering the night’s calm.

“He was right. You really are a beauty,” the voice sneered.

I spun around. A strong hand covered my mouth with a foul-smelling rag. Adrenaline pumped through me, and I kicked and flailed my arms as hard as I could and thrashed my head back and forth, but I started choking on the fumes and my arms and legs went limp. My eyes fluttered shut, and then everything went black...

As I slowly regained consciousness, my eyes struggled to see in the dimly lit room. My forehead was throbbing, and when I instinctively reached up to touch it, I discovered my hands were bound behind my back. A thick cloth was also stuffed in my mouth, muffling any sound I tried to make. I was on a bed.

I twisted my wrists, trying to break free, but the bindings were so tight that my efforts merely made them dig harder into my flesh. Beads of sweat broke out all over my body as I thrashed around on the bed, trying to throw my bound legsover the edge, but my sweatpants stuck to me like a second skin, making it even harder.

I frantically looked around, trying to figure out where I was—a luxurious purple bedroom with a small window. Maybe I could hop over to the window and crawl out? But first, I had to get these damn bindings off.

The mumble of voices stilled my heart. Shadows flickered underneath the door. The voices got closer, and my blood ran cold. Using all my strength, I rolled off the bed and landed on my back with a thud, sending the air rushing out of my lungs. A fresh, sharp pain stabbed the back of my skull, and stars dotted my vision.

The door whipped open. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a suit walked in and stared down at me. I had never seen him before. “Ah, so you’re awake. Good. I’m Simon.” He stroked his beard, eyeing me in a way that made me feel like I needed a hot shower. “You will bring a good price…especially since you’re so young. My customers like them young.”

Fuckfuckfuckfuck

Dread lodged in my throat—followed by a fear that burst through my chest, crushing my heart. It was like a panic bomb exploding inside me—I could feel my blood rolling through my veins, pumping between my temples.

“Now, here’s what’s going to happen, Serenity.” He circled me, giving me a cruel stare.

God, he knew my name?! I had to get the fuck out of here. I briefly considered swinging my bound ankles and knocking him on his ass, but just then a large shadow filled the doorway, smashing my hope. It was a burly man that could snap me like a twig.

Hope returned when I thought of Joy. She would have reported me as missing to the police by now, either officially or just by calling her father, Louis. God, please, please, please let them be looking for me already. Girls disappeared on the streets of New Orleans all the time, and I didn’t want to be another statistic.

“Michael.” He nodded his chin at the bulky guy who stomped into the room like a giant. I shook my head wildly, scooting back from him, not wanting him to touch me. But my head swam as I inhaled more of the harsh chemicals, and I choked on the rough texture of the gag pressed to my mouth.

The man grabbed me and tossed me onto the bed like I was a suitcase. I landed on my back and the pulsing pain increased on the back of my skull. Then he stood back, folding his arms across his chest and watching me. If I made any sudden moves against Simon, I knew this guy would make me regret it.

Simon sat next to me on the bed. He lifted a blonde strand off my head and sniffed it.

Grossgrossgross

I jerked my head, yanking my hair from his long, slender fingers.

He chuckled softly. “Such a fighter you are, Serenity. And such a pretty name. Your new master will teach you discipline. Like I said, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to send my assistants in here, and they will help you get ready for the auction tonight.”

Simon patted my thigh, making my skin crawl. “You will do exactly as you’re told.” He grabbed my hair and jerked myhead up next to his narrow face. His nose and chin were too sharp, reminding me of a ferret, and his breath was overly sweet, as if he just eaten a whole tray of pralines. “There’s a way we can inflict pain without leaving a mark. My witch has perfected it. Nod if you understand.”

I forced myself to nod. I knew all about pain, and Freddie had hurt me more times than I could remember without ever leaving a mark. But a witch? Seriously?

Simon released my hair, and I fell back again onto the bed.

Then two women barged into the room dressed in suits, looking more like businesswomen than jailers, their faces caked with heavy makeup that failed to hide their lines and wrinkles. One of them, who had a severe gray bun and sharp features, gave me a once-over with cold, assessing eyes that were gray like her hair. “You were right, Simon. She will fetch a high price if we can bring out her real beauty. Wouldn’t you agree, Marsha?”

The bitch! She made me feel like I was a cocker spaniel she was prepping for a dog show.

Trapped, I sized up my captors. Their hands were empty and relaxed, with no weapons in sight. Maybe this was my chance. I’ve never been one to play the victim.

But even as I plotted my escape, the older woman opened a closet, revealing a selection of long gowns. “Since she’s so young, Marsha,” she mused, “we’ll dress her in white. Yes?” She selected a sleeveless gown with lace detailing. “But first, we’ll clean her up. Those wolves would never want someone who reeks.”

Wolves? My heart skipped. Were they talking aboutactual animals, or was that a metaphor for something more sinister?

Marsha’s gaze on me was cold and devoid of pity. “Let’s get her untied,” she ordered, nodding at my bonds. “Quickly. We only have two hours to make her presentable.”

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