“Annabelle, hurry up We don’t want to be late” Father said from the kitchen. I quickly ran around my room dressing in my best clothes and cleaning myself up. Father had told me that they were going out to meet some of his work friends in the town square so i was to dress nicely and present the best Annabelle i could. Little did I know that this was the last time I would ever call West Kingston home?
“Annabelle” Father called again quite angrily
“I’m Coming” I replied hastily walking to the kitchen greeting my father with a wide smile and a twirling making my dress expand around me.
“Pretty as a picture” Father comments before grabbing his long coat and heading out the door. I was following him closely humming a happy song to myself. That happiness soon faded when I saw the upcoming market place where they traded young women like myself for money and stock between older men.
“Next up we have Juliette” The announcer yelled loud enough for the entire market to hear “She’s a young beautiful girl with a pure heart...and pure body” He finished with a chuckle the crowd roared.
“Come here Annabelle” Father said grabbing my wrist and dragging me to the reception desk. I pulled away from his grasp as hard as I could but it wasn’t enough, the woman behind the desk began going through a list of questions I had to answer
“Full name?” The older women barked
“Annabelle Foster” I replied suddenly scared beyond words
“Age!” The woman barked again scaring me even more
“She of legal age” Father replied as a wave of sickness came over me, what kind of place is this.
“And finally. Is she pure?” The women baked one final time with a slight laugh in her voice
“Yes” Father said looking at me one last time before I was dragged off by two larger men who then chained my hand together and made me stand in line with the other girls for sale that day. I felt tears falling down my face looking around for my father to change his mind and save me but i know in my heart this would be my fate.
Minutes maybe hours passed before I was called. They had left me until last many of the business men had left with today’s ‘prizes’.
“And to end out exchanges for today we have the very beautiful, very petite and innocent little Annabelle. Come out her girl” The announcer said as the two men from before pushed me up the stairs and out on the stage. I could feel a million eyes on me as my heart began to race. I looked around the crowd gobsmacked at the amount of older gentleman gawking at me like i was a piece of meat ready to be eaten.
“We’ll start the bidding at $1000. Any takers” Suddenly almost every man in the room raised their hands
“Whoa, this is new” The announcer said to me “I hope you’re worth all of this” I shuddered as the announcer who was an older man in his late 40s dressed in brown overalls and a denim shirt.
“$100,00” A voice said from the darkness
“Did you just say $100,000!” The announcer said as if his jaw was about to drop to the floor
“Okay fine $200,000 then. You drive a hard bargain Stefan” the voice said again before stepping out of the shadows only to my surprise he was dressed in a full length black cloak including the hood which he had on.
“Sold to the man in the black cloak” The announcer who apparently was named Stefan said
“Oh god” I muttered to myself as the two men let me out of the handcuffs only to walk me towards the cloaked man. I was standing right in front of him.
“Head down” One of the men said hitting me hard in the back. I screamed out in pain bringing tears to my eyes
“Now, Now Maxwell that’s no way to treat a lady” The cloaked man said
“She’s no lady” Maxwell stated pointing towards me. I kept my head down trying desperately to keep the tears back. The cloaked man lifted his arm placing a finger under my chin lifting my head up
“Are you all right Anna?” He said. I couldn’t see his face but I could feel warmth coming from him
“I’m okay” I muttered swallowing my tears standing straight
“That’s good then. Follow me we have a long way home” The man said beginning to walk off “Goodbye Maxwell. Play nice. Tell Stefan I will give him his money tomorrow” He finished before taking my hand and dragging me away with him.
“Where are we going” I said trying to get my hand away from him but it was impossible, He had a grip like no other.
“Have you ever heard of Blackstone manor?” He asked curiously. I simply nodded. “Well I live there” He finished walking towards an old black horse and carriage awaiting us.
“Sir” the driver said with a nod
“Good evening Michael” He said with a nod in return before retreating into the carriage keeping me beside him. Once we had entered the carriage he had let his hood down revealing his coiffed black hair and dark brown eyes staring at me. He was utterly gorgeous and yet he seemed very dangerous and somewhat frightening.
“How rude of me” He began with a smirk plastered on his face. “My name is Christian” he finished taking my right hand and placing a soft but heartfelt kiss upon it. I pulled my hand away quickly clearing shocked and scared at his advances
“I didn’t mean to frighten you Anna” He said sincerely
“Why $200,000” I asked looking down at the floor.
“I believe you are worth that my dear” Christian said taking my hand in his slowly intertwining our fingers
The ride took hours; I was watching the countryside fly by not realising that time had gone so quickly. Suddenly the carriage pulled to a hault outside tall stonewalls which had a pair of iron gates keeping us outside.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” Christian said before climbing out of the carriage into the night air. I waited patiently for his return. Moments later he climbed back into the carriage time stood still for a few moments as I looked at his face again. He spoke with a lot more wisdom then his age would suggest. He only looked around 24 years old
“Welcome to Blackstone Manor” Christian said as the carriage halted again at the front doors. “You will be living here from now on” he finished opening the carriage door as the carriage stopped in front of a breathtaking view of a large but dark castle with a clock tower at the centre. I gasped out in surprise and I swear I heard Christian laugh at me.
