Sold. Story of a Teenage Bride.

Esmeralda knew her parents had something important to tell her. They never ask to see her separately from her other siblings. Well once, but that was because she took more than her share for breakfast.

She stood straighter having decided that her parents were going to tell her that she will go to town. Yes, that would have to be the reason. Did they know her about special powers? Did they think she could make more money for them?

Esmeralda looked at her father and immediately looked to her feet. He hates me, she thought. Sitting next to her mother, she squeezed her hands tightly together.

Her father got to his feet and cleared his throat. His barrel chest pushed against the remaining buttons on his once ivory shirt. He ran thick fingers through the strands of his black hair and rested his searing blue eyes on the pair.

"You," he said, pointing to Esmeralda, "will marry Fonso, son of Luca, tomorrow at sundown. You will make him a good wife. Cook for him. Clean for him and at night, do his bidding."

Esmeralda was vaguely aware of other words washing over her, but she could only focus on stopping herself from dying. Fonso? He's a horrible boy! she thought. Just the other day, Esmeralda rescued a mother duck. Fonso threw stones at the ducklings. He managed to kill two before Esmeralda sent a curse in his direction. With more practice, she would've been able to hit him directly.

Madame Kalle hugged her daughter tighter than Esmeralda ever remembers being held or even touched. The flood of tears made her insides tremble as she felt something horrible stalking her, pacing in a circle--giving no space to escape.

"Father owes Luca for services from last winter. With your marriage to Fonso, your father no longer needs to bear that burden with shame. Lucky for you," and with this Madame Kalle stood and took a step toward the shivering Esmeralda, "very lucky for you, Fonso has agreed to take you as his bride."