AN: This is officially the longest chapter I've written. So editing was such a pain. YA'LL BETTER LOVE ME FOR THIS. There's a lot in this chapter. Comment & ENJOY~
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The sensation of solid concrete against their bodies jarred Serena and James from their dazed state, though they remained unable to move or protest due to the spell. The cold, hard ground beneath them and the sound of chains and metal clinking ominously in the background hinted at a grim environment—likely a cell of some sort. Their unseen captors spoke with a casual cruelty that sent shivers down their spines, despite their inability to shiver.
"Careful with them, they're valuable merchandise," one voice chided, a tone of greed underlying the feigned concern.
Another voice scoffed, callous and uncaring. "They'll be cleaned up before the show anyway. A few bruises won't make a difference."
The third voice grumbled about finances, "I've already paid Ben for the tip-off about these two. I'm nearly out of galleons. You lot better pay up your share."
Their conversation continued, with the two revealing more than they realized. The name 'Ben' struck a chord with Serena; the shopkeeper from Borgin and Burkes, she only knew his name because he was someone she had interacted with, someone she had multiple counters with as Severus.
"He said that the boy's an Alpha," the uncaring voice boasted, dripping with avarice. "I felt his aura earlier. Gave me one heck of a headache. He'll fetch a high price. Alphas always do."
"Vampires love their blood. They say all Alpha's have an alcohol effect on their kind. What creeps."
"Don't remind me."
"And the girl?" Asked the third voice in curiosity.
"A Beta with a pretty face. Perfect for the perverts out there," snided the second voice.
Laughter, cruel and delighted, filled the air as the three captors reveled in their anticipated profits. Then, their footsteps receded, leaving Serena and James alone in the echoing silence of their prison.
Inside her mind, Serena's thoughts raced. How dare they? Anger burned within her, but also a calculating coolness that had been honed in her past life. She was glad her Omegan status was hidden, or else who knows what danger might come her way. She was one hundred percent sure that it was going to be way worse than their current situation.
She needed to stay calm, to think. Whoever these people were, they were dealing in the most reprehensible of trades—human lives.
James, though equally immobile, was a tempest of emotion. His sense of duty, his protective instincts, all of it was useless against the relentless magic that kept him prisoner. But beneath the frustration, a determined resolve began to take root. They would not be victims. They would find a way out.
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As the numbing effects of the Petrificus Totalus spell finally waned, Serena and James quickly removed the coarse sacks from their heads, their eyes rapidly adjusting to the dim light of their surroundings. They found themselves in a dark, dank cell, the air heavy with the must of mildew and the oppressive weight of the earth above them.
James' first instinct was to ensure Serena's well-being, moving as close as the chains would allow. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern, ignoring their messy appearance. Their clothes stained with dirt and wet substances from the cold ground.
"I'm fine," Serena assured him, though her attention was already on their predicament. "We need to stay alert and look for an opportunity to escape."
James nodded, running a hand through his hair, making it messier. "Agreed. We can't let them sell us off like—like objects."
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IN ANOTHER LIFE (James Potter x Severus Snape)
Fanfiction(OMEGAVERSE) Severus finds himself rising from his near deathbed into the past, as a female 10 year old version of himself in another parallel world, where secondary genders exist. (Also uploaded in Fanfiction & Ao3)
