Page 10 of Taken to the Deadlands

Dread hit me hard as I was pulled to my feet only to come face-to-face with the demon who had whisked me here in the first place.

I opened my mouth to scream at her, but with a single wave of her hand, my throat felt like it was on fire. A cough racked my body, and my lungs burned. I couldn’t breathe.

She didn’t stop whatever magic she was doing until black clouded my vision and another demon held me up. I tried to fight him, but his hand was wrapped around me and gripped my face, forcing me to watch the crowd. The longer I stared, the more I could make out the horrific faces that looked back at me.

Some of them could pass for humans, but many looked like something straight out of my nightmares.

“Since the spirit seer offered herself up so prettily, we shall start with her,” my kidnapper said from the side. “Spirit seers are rumored to have a sharp taste, with hints of winter and mulberry. We will start the bidding at three thousand royal gold, though remember you can always offer something from your realm tosweetenthe deal.”

The volume of the room raised in response. I couldn’t make out the bids, but the white-haired demon seemed to have no such problem.

“Five thousand gold and… a mermaid scale! Okay, anyone… Six thousand and a dragon egg? No, no, that would raise it to at least ten thousand gold. Can anyone match?”

The noise around me quieted as my heart slowed.

Is this it? Is this really how it’s going to end? Am I really being auctioned off to fucking demons in another dimension?

I didn’t know how long the bidding went on, only that the entire time I was faced with the cold, hard fact that there was absolutely nothing I could do to save myself.

“Eighty thousand and a soul sphere going once… twice… Sold to Demis from the Fire Fields!”

My breath caught in my throat. There were a few grumbles here and there, but overall, the commotion quieted.

A large demon who was at least seven feet tall walked up to the stage. His entire body looked rock-hard with wound like slashes all along his limbs and face, showing a burning red color underneath. He stood tall, though his back seemed to be hunched permanently. His mouth opened to show me a set of decaying but sharp teeth.

“Touch me and I’ll kill you,” I forced out, but it only made the demon laugh.

“Come, human, it’s been years since I feasted?—“

His eyes widened and his entire body froze. A smaller figure stepped out from behind him, her eyes narrowed in on me.

She was unlike any other demon I had seen before. Her skin was gray with an iridescent shine to it in the light. Her long black hair fell to her waist with two long strands braided back, keeping most of it out of her face. Two deep blue horns jutted from her head and curled back.

She wore a loose blue silk robe that was open in the front, showing off her bare chest, and loose black pants that were tied at the waist. Her claws were tipped in black, and only then did I realize that one of them was also dripping bright red blood.

She let out a sigh and pushed the giant demon away, causing him to tumble to the stage. No one attempted to catch him as he rolled off it.

“Seventy thousand.” Her voice was low and husky and caused a thrill to go through me.

I looked at the white-haired demon to my right. There was a small smile on her face.

“Killing the bidders is against the rules,” she tutted, though she didn’t seem all that angry.

The demon girl shrugged.

“We know you won’t punish me, so why don’t you just give her to me?”

The auctioneer demon cocked her head.

“It’s been a while since you’ve had a human, Aris of the Deadlands. Pray tell, what amuses you so much about this one?”

Aris.That was her name.

Aris shrugged.

“Take it or leave it,” she grumbled. “No one can match me.”

“Eros and Oros can.”

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