Chapter : 4 [ Devil In Disguise ]

[ Arielle ]

I groaned as I gained my consciousness. My head felt heavy like I was hit by a hammer. I tried to flutter my eyes and the first thing that came into my view was a sparkling crystal chandelier and soft music. My memories before I passed out began to come back in bits and pieces. My father came to me in the night when I was sleeping. He was furious, burning in rage. He kicked me out of my bed and then asked me to be ready early in the morning. He said nothing. I only remember Alexander arguing with him when father aimed his gun at my elder brother and then I came in between to save him. All I could remember leaving home in his private jet.

My eyes widened and I tried to get up but realised I couldn’t move because I was tied on a chair. The room looked like an expensive suite. Fear gripped me. I was locked for sure but when my eyes fell on my appearance in the gigantic mirror, it only worsened mixed with confusion when I saw my dressed changed into a skimpy dress, showing most of my body and heavy make-up.

I looked like a whore and it made me cringe. I shouldn’t waste time and escape from here. Every single cell in my brain screamed not to trust Adrian and my father but I heard the calling of my heart and ended up being in an unknown place, perhaps ready to be raped and killed or God knows more worse.

I rushed towards the door and tried to open it but it was locked. Tears brimmed into my eyes.

“Somebody, please help! I am locked here.” I banged my fists on the door and hoped someone hear and help me.

I banged again and cried for help but it was of no use. Nobody came to help me.

I searched for my bag and phone but they left nothing for me to communicate my friends or Mom.

I was trapped, alone and terrified.

A few minutes later, the doorknob twisted and the door opened. I was panicked when a pair of shiny shoes stepped inside the room, behind him were other men.

“Beautiful, you’re looking ravishing, Malishka.” I heard the voice of same man, his broken English accent gave me a hint that he had more vengeance towards me than before. My body felt paralyzed.

“Look at me, malishka.” He placed his thin, slender finger under my chin and forced me to lift my head. My whole body was shaking like dried leaves in storm. Anton Ivanov was smirking down at me with a glint of maliciousness in his eyes.

“Please, don’t…kill me.” I begged him in a low whisper.

I heard laughter in response. It was evil.

“No, I won’t kill you, kitten, otherwise my brother would lose a rare beauty like you. He couldn’t stop thinking about you since he laid his eyes on you. Your father said you’re an easy one to handle like a fawn.” He whispered in my ear and traced my face with his fingers. I felt disgusted as I could see lust in his eyes.

I felt a sting in my heart. My father traded me off to save his son.

My own father could do this to me. He sold me to one of the merciless and cruel people in the world without a blink.

“Don’t cry, malishka. You haven’t seen the hell yet. Nikolai isn’t a very kind person like me. He is going to sell you at our biggest auction tonight for the triple price that your brother has stolen from us.” He wiped my tears and I flinched away. I was crying uncontrollably. The only thought of being sold to another rich and dangerous man who would keep me as whore terrified me. I prayed for a miracle to happen. But I saw no hope of being saved.

“Take her to the auction, she is our last jewel.” Anton signalled his men and stepped aside. The same men who were in the car came forward and grabbed my arms, their grip was so tight that it began to hurt me.

I heard deep footsteps and I knew to whom they belong, Anton and his men left me and stood aside when my father and Adrian appeared in front of me. Adrian tried hiding himself behind father whose stoic face made me gulp in fear. He tricked me to come here with him so he could save his son in the exchange of me.

“Arielle, do as they say. Do not dare to defy them. Your brother is alive because they want what is useless for me. You’re already tainted. Nicolai can give me than your value. So, be an obedient girl and respect them or I’ll skin you alive and feed your bones to the dogs.” My father growled at me in a low voice and left with Adrian behind his tail. I was dragged into a huge banquet hall, filled with men and a dozen other girls in almost nude condition, displaying with their name tags and price and their winner’s name. The blinding lights and flashes of cameras terrified me even more. I gave up on fighting because death will eventually come to me.

I didn’t dare to look around. There were men of all ages but mostly old. They were looking at me like hungry hawks. I spotted my father sitting on the first row with a stony expression. My eyes blurred with fresh tears. He was watching all this and when his eyes met mine, I could see clear warning that if I try to resist, he’d kill me by himself.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s the last gem of this auction, the rarest and purest. I am sure you have seen a beauty like her very rare. So, her price is triple of our highest bid. She is our master’s favourite.” The man who was hosting said and a ‘yes’ echoed in chorus. They were all hungry and ready to devour me if they were given a chance.

“So, our bidding price starts for this pretty woman with 20 million dollars, yes, dollars. We’ll bid her for American dollars.” The host laughed.

They were selling me for twenty millions.

“Thirty million!” One of the men from crowed shouted.

“Okay, thirty million, someone wants to pay a higher price or-”

“Forty million!” Another shouted and I felt like dying.

“Fifty million!” An old man around my grandfather’s age licked his lips as he bid for the highest price.

“Fifty million one. Fifty million two and fifty million….”

The host’s excited voice was cut off abruptly.

And then…a gunshot tore the naked dance of my fate. The cruel laughter of my buyers transformed into screams and painful cries.

I didn’t scream or react. It happened so fast.

Suddenly, arm men swarmed inside the hall, firing blindly at everyone. In a split of second, the hall broke into chaos. The scene before me was a vivid nightmare, a reality twisted in the wake of violence.

“Fuck! We’re under attack! Take our family out. Save the boss first.” I heard Anton and the gunshots became more intense. Panic surged through me.

Men, who attacked my tormentors, parted like  wave of sea and the man with steel grey eyes walked inside like Lucifer in an Armani suit.