Page 7 of The Demon's Tongue

"She’s got a fire in her, that one," one of them comments, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

"Indeed," another chimes in. "I can see the appeal."

I clench my fists, trying to maintain my composure. If they knew who I was, they’d be groveling. But right now, I’m justanother shadow on the wall, made invisible by my own power. I materialize at whim, and right now isn't the best time to do so.

"Isn’t she a bit scrawny?" a dark elf in the back calls out, causing a ripple of laughter.

"Scrawny?" Miss Pickett scoffs. "She’s athletic, nimble. Just imagine the things she can do for you!"

Geneva's eyes dart around the room. There's fear, but also that familiar resolve. She’s stronger than they think. Stronger than any of these fools.

"And what about her obedience?" another elf inquires, raising an eyebrow.

"Never had a more compliant girl," Miss Pickett says in a shrill voice that makes me grimace slightly. Most humans make my skin crawl, like this one. "She knows her place."

Miss Pickett continues her pitch, but my focus is solely on Geneva. The way she stands, trying to hold herself together despite the humiliation. It makes my blood simmer. I should be the only one allowed to look at her like this.

"Enough talk," a particularly impatient dark elf says. "Let’s start the bidding."

Miss Pickett smirks, enjoying the power she holds over these pathetic creatures. "Very well. We’ll start at ten thousand!"

The bidding commences, voices overlapping, each offer higher than the last. My jaw tightens. This is absurd, but the dark elves have been buying and selling humans for the longest time. It's part of their tradition now.

And some of them even take humans on as mates, funnily enough. Though, that's a more recent development.

The room's atmosphere thickens as the bidding escalates. The dark elves grow more animated, their voices louder, their comments cruder. I lean against a shadowed corner, completely invisible to their eyes, but my attention never strays from Geneva.

"Twenty thousand!" one dark elf shouts, his voice laced with impatience.

"Twenty-five," another counters, eyeing Geneva with a lewd grin that makes me want to unsheathe my claws and rip out his throat.

"Imagine having her clean your chambers," a third one says, his tone dripping with innuendo. "Among other things."

"I'll make her clean my manor with no clothes on, mark my words," another chimes in, his grating laughter echoing through the room.

My breath becomes more shallow as my piercing red eyes never stray from Geneva. The dark elves' vulgarity irritates my nerves, but I remain silent, biding my time. Miss Pickett settles the crowd with her sweet words, demanding their attention.

I grit my teeth. Where's their dignity? It's pathetic how they drool over a human slave. No wonder their kind is losing respect in the darker realms.

"Thirty thousand," the first one barks, clearly agitated. "I'm not leaving without her."

"Oh, we’ll see about that," the second one sneers, stepping forward. "I can outbid you all night."

Miss Pickett's smile widens. She's reveling in the spectacle, enjoying the power she wields over these wretched creatures. Geneva, on the other hand, stands rigid, her eyes darting to the door, calculating an escape that won't come.

"Maybe I'll just buy her and keep her for myself," the third dark elf continues, his voice a sickening whisper. "I've got a few tricks she might enjoy. Has she ever had some cock from a dark elf before?"

My vision blurs with rage. I take a step forward, wanting to materialize and take charge of this ridiculous bidding, but I force myself to stop. This isn't the time. And I'd be damned if I let my emotions get the best of me here.

"Forty thousand!" a voice rings out, cutting through the noise. Silence falls, every head turning to the new bidder.

"Forty-five," another one quickly interjects, unwilling to be outdone.

"Fifty," the first one growls, his eyes burning with greed.

The second bidder, undeterred, raises the stakes again. "Sixty thousand."

I can’t take it anymore. Their voices are a constant reminder of how vile they are, how much they don't deserve her.

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