THE SLAVE AUCTION

The thick buzz in the modernized market square, loud clangs of bells and gush of sunlight on Serena's outstretched body made her stir. She stirred again and a frown grazed her face. Why does she feel restricted by something?

 She slowly opened her eyes and the frown morphed into a look of fear. Darkness greeted her sight, and only then did she realize that her face had been masked with something. Has she been kidnapped? Where was she? And why could she not feel her limbs? A waft of cold hit her skin indicating that she had little or nothing on, and she shivered. Is this how she was fated to die? Jumping the bridge would have been ideal.

She tried to recall what happened the previous night, but it seemed like her memory had vanished on realizing the situation she was in, leaving her to figure out everything herself.

Like a puzzle, the happenings of the previous night started unfolding in her head. She blinked as memories of her almost jumping off a bridge and getting caught by a stranger barraged her thoughts. Yes, someone had saved her. That strange warm looking woman. Her name was Amelia, wasn't it?

 "Wh- where am I?" She muttered to herself, fear of the unknown enveloping her.

  "Attention, Ladies and Gentlemen!" A voice boomed from behind her, making her jerk forward in surprise.

 "We have two more items, terribly gorgeous ladies." The speaker waltzed on nonchalantly "One is American, and the other, Italian. Rare gems to keep your beds warm. Take a good look at them before the biddings starts."

 Quiet ensued and Serena wondered if the spectators were trying to figure out if they were fitting to keep their beds 'warm'. She did not have to wonder for long, as firm hands slipped around her wrists, loosening whatever was used to tie her. Her hands, now free, were brought down to her sides and she winced beneath the mask. Could they be a little more considerate and not yank her hand around like that?

Next, the cover was tugged off her head. It took a few seconds for her to familiarize with her surroundings, and when she did, a low gasp escaped from her lips. She had been deceived by Amelia.

 This was certainly the bazaar, one of the most notorious places to be at. It was known to be a perfect spot for mafia deals to be made and sealed. Auctions shows were conducted brazenly, slaves were hauled by their owners to different states and an underground club flourished there.

Serena knew it meant only one thing. She would be getting sold off to some vile mafia representative or business man today.

 Her eyes roamed the mass of people seated majestically below the podium where she stood, and they finally settled on the auctioneer, a round bald man who had a jolly expression on his face.

 "Introducing Serena, 23, Italian. Pure, untouched and ready to be molded. Who will start the bidding with $100,000?"

 Silence. Her heart thumped furiously as time slowly moved. If no one offers to buy her, would they let her off the hook? It was a question for nobody to answer.

 "$200,000. Let me have her." A man dressed in a tux and seated right in front raised a finger, and Serena's heart broke for the umpteenth time as she stared in the direction of the bidder.

 "$200,000. Anyone with something higher?" The auctioneer called out, raising one hand and placing the other on Serena's waist.

 "Anyone? Anyone?" He looked around.

 Just before he could announce that she had been sold, a deep low voice was heard from behind.

 "$500,000."

A low buzz started as everyone turned to stare in the direction of the obscure bidder. Serena raised her head and just as her eyes locked with his, she felt her heart skip a beat.

 From where she stood, she could not make out the full details of the man that had called the shots, but from the expression she garnered from people around, he was a very important personality.

 "Woah! Don Dimitrio De Luca has offered $500,000. Anyone want to beat that?"

 "$800,000. Hand her to me, Marco." The tuxedo clad man churned out, leaning forward and glaring daggers at the auctioneer.

 "$800,000. Just one more..."

 "I'm offering a million dollars." The quiet voice from the back interjected, shushing the murmurs.

 Serena stared back and forth at the first and second bidder, wondering if they had waged war against themselves in the past.

 "$1.2 million dollars then!"

 Marco turned to Don Dimitrio and before he could say anything, the latter had spoken.

 "$2 million dollars."

 Serena could see surprise enveloping the faces of some spectators.

 "$2 million dollars. Anyone want to offer higher? Anyone? Anyone...?" Silence "And she is off the market. Heading on to the next..."

 Two men came forward and led Serena down to her buyer to her consternation. She could not believe what was happening. She had been betrayed, cheated on, deceived and sold to a stranger in less than a day. Could life get any worse?

In no time, she was seated behind a moving 1967 Maserati Ghibli and it took everything in Serena for her to stay calm and composed. She had everything plotted in her head already. Once the car stops, she would run away. That was feasible, right?

 She watched her buyer, Dimitrio De Luca, tentatively. She could never forget the name, it was registered in her head, it was the name of the malevolent Greek god that bought her. She used the term because he looked exactly like one. She had thought him to be as old and grumpy as a miserable bookkeeper, until she was brought to him, and her heart skipped a beat. Again.

 She stared a minute too long, watching his mysterious features. His dark hair fell just right, framing his nose and sharp jawline. He was the most chiselled man she had ever placed her eyes on, had broad shoulders, sculpted form and towering height that made her look like a child standing before the Eiffel tower.

 How could one look so divine yet be so vile? What was his line of business and why did he even buy her? She eyed him warily. If only... If only she could shove him and run away. If only she could stab...

 "Quit staring." He told her, his gaze still fixated on nothing in particular.

 Serena froze. She has been caught.

 "I... Yes sir." She replied and turned away instantly, quite petrified.

  There was nothing in view except for luxury, leather and tinted glass. She blew at a strand of hair that played on her face and sighed. Hell, she was done for.

                           **********

They arrived at a mansion in a short while, and all vehicles before and behind Dimitrio's stopped accordingly.

 Serena was roughly jerked out of the car by a hand, and she winced at the pain that shot through her shoulder. She halted when her eyes met the majestic view. It was a luxurious mansion with stone facade, columns and balcony that stretched from distances. A large fountain oozed immaculate water and a larger than life statue of a dark angel stood behind it.

Serena took in the high stoned walls laced with surveillance cameras, well manicured lawns and gardens, and finally, the grand ornate iron gates that were thrown wide open for the Don to come in. Her thoughts were still spiralling on possibilities of her buyer being the leader of a notorious mafia group when his deep voice jolted her to reality.

 "Put a leash on her and throw her in the dungeon."