Charmed

Chapter Two

"Wake up, girls!" Bruce screamed excitedly. "It's market day!"

I arose from my groggy sleep slowly, wishing this cave would just collapse so we'd be free one way or the other. Lisa was already awake when I sat up, and her grin was huge. "We're about to be sold like food, Lis. The least you could do is not look so happy about it."

"I heard the High Warlock needs some new servants. And two of those servants are needed for him and the other for his sister," she grinned. I knew she'd stayed awake later than I had last night, so I presumed she'd heard Bruce say it. Alexander opened the roof of the cage and lifted me out, and then Lisa. "We might be able to live in the castle."

"There's hundreds of slaves," I reminded her. "I doubt we'll be chosen."

"No need for you to shit on my party," she pouted. I giggled at her language, despite myself.

Bruce hopped in front of us, slapping Lisa's arm. "That's enough language, young lady. Remember, you need to be sold. One way or the other." He moved my brown hair away from my face and placed the shackles over my wrists, then on Lisa's. "The High Warlock wants servants. If you can get yourselves in, get in. I don't care how you do it. He'll pay good money."

Lisa glanced at me, wriggling her eyebrows. "What's the warlock's name? What does he look like?"

I turned to Bruce, curious. I knew what the Prince's name was, but I knew better than to answer a question when Bruce clearly knew the answer. I was curious to see if the Prince was just as handsome as people say.

"Darius," Bruce told us. "He and his sister, Princess Claude, will be looking for slaves today. Impress them and they pay me a good price." He whirled an accusing finger at Lisa, who looked as calm as ever. "Don't you come back into my possession, or I'll toss you out on the street." He clapped his hands together. "Let's go!"

Johnny nudged me forwards, and I stumbled before finding my footing. My eyes took a minute to readjust to the bright morning light that shone through the cloudless sky. Despite the sun scorching the lands, it was the middle of February, and the chill sank through to my bones. I shivered, my thin dress covering barely anything but my legs.

We were led into a pit where a crowd was gathering. They had what looked like auction cards, and I wanted to be sick. This was like auctioning off a piece of land, not a human being. A woman was stood on the stage, currently being sold. Her lips were blue and she was shaking, curling her body inwards. She was much thinner than me, and that was saying something. Bruce had been kind enough to deprive us of meals, giving us only one a day. But that woman looked like she hadn't eaten for a week.

"Fifty pounds to the gentleman in the back," the auctioneer shouted. A man in a top hat and coat stood up triumphantly, waving his auction card about. The woman was led from the stage as the auctioneer introduced the next slave: a young child, no older than eight.

"This is disgusting," I told Lisa as we were taken around the back of the auction stands.

"I know," she agreed. "People think that they're better than us because they have more money. What they don't know is that without us, they wouldn't have all the money that makes them rich."

Bruce stopped us in front of cages that looked identical to the ones in the cage. He opened the side door. Lisa clambered in first, and I followed quickly after. The door was slammed, bolted and secured. We were locked up again, although this cage had much more room.

"Aren't we being auctioned?" Lisa asked, confused.

Johnny shook his head. "The Prince is on his way. He gets to see people first."