Sold

Chapter 6: Avalyn's POV

The next morning, I was up before any of my parents did. I wanted to make up for the trouble I caused them the previous day. It was my father's birthday and I really didn't want to make them angry on a day like that.

But it happened and there was nothing I could do except take the beating and clean myself up afterward.

This morning, I planned to right the wrongs I made yesterday. I walked to the kitchen and started the coffee pot.

Father always loved his coffee black first thing in the morning. My stepmother preferred her caramel.

As the water started boiling, I scrubbed and cleaned all the pots and pans, I used the previous day. I couldn't remember when they ate but I found enough dishes on the sink to show that they did have some sort of feast without me.

When I finished, I took a tray and placed two coffee mugs on it. I poured out the beverage into the mugs and stirred it to their specification. Satisfied with the way it looked, I took it up the stairs to my parents.

I was about to know at the door when I heard my stepmother's voice.

"She is of no use to us dead or alive, George. Let's take her to the chief. I am sure the werewolves would have a purpose for her," she said and I froze.

She wanted my father to take me to the werewolves. No, that couldn't be possible.

I thought shaking my head. She had made that threat too many times before, I was sure this was also just one of those moments when she got tired of me.

I took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door.

"Who is there!?" Her sharp voice rang out causing me to shake.

"Urm... I brought breakfast—" my voice got swallowed by the sound of the doorbell downstairs.

The door to my parents' bedroom suddenly opened and my father hurried out.

"Who could be that this early in the morning?" He whispered harshly as he made his way down.

My stepmother followed after him. "I hope your daughter didn't do something stupid again!" She hissed.

I stood there with the tray in my hands like a fool. I didn't know if I should drop it in their room, or just go down after them. After a moment of contemplating, I moved to the railing and watched from there.

My father pulled the door open right after the bell went off again.

There was a tall man with eyes so grey I didn't think humans could possess such an eye color. They almost looked white.

He was standing with two females, dressed like warriors. They couldn't have been his guard because he looked like he could protect himself just fine.

Only a fool would find them on the road and decide to attack. They were so menacing a single slap from any one of them had to be a fatal blow.

"I presume you are George?" The towering figure of a man said.

My father went pale ad he stared on like he was looking at a ghost. My stepmother quickly nudged him on the side to snap him out of his trance.

"Y—yes, I am," He stuttered, trying to comport himself better.

"He is George Howard, sir," My stepmother chirped in from behind my father with a smile so large even a cat could tell it was fake.

The towering man turned his attention to her and I watched as she cowered into my father.

"I didn't ask for your opinion woman. Hold your tongue or lose it!" He growled.

It wasn't a deep growl but I felt it deep within my stomach. At this point, I realized I made the right decision staying up here.

"Now, George, I have a proposal for your daughter. The king wants her. How much do you need?"

At first, my brain let it pass like I wasn't just the one the man had mentioned. Then it struck me.

He did mention me.

My eyes expanded and I felt my lungs freeze. My hands began to tremble and I knew that if I didn't drop the tray of coffee, it was going to break.

Slowly, I lowered it to the ground and sat there watching them.

Their king wanted me? Why? Did I do something wrong?

My father could reject this right? I know we didn't have the best relationship but he wouldn't accept this would he?

I helped them around the house with every chore. My stepmother did nothing. I was useful to them. If they sell me out to this king, who would do all of the things I did?

My father whispered something to my stepmother and she shook her head bringing relief to my heart. There were going to reject this.

To my horror, I heard my father, the one who supposedly birthed me, give the man his prize.

"Twenty bags of silver coins and ten bags of gold..." He said. All the fear he had a minute ago for the towering man was gone and all that was left was greed and arrogance.

No! This couldn't be happening.

I felt the blood drain completely out of my body and started gasping for air. This wasn't happening.

"Okay, I'll give you thirty bags of silver and twenty bags of gold coins, deal?" His deep voice bellowed again.

My stepmother's face was euphoric with excitement. She was almost squeaking behind my father until the towering man glared at her.

They didn't even ask for his name. All he mentioned was the king what if he was lying? What would they do to me? Shouldn't my parents find out any of these?

The towering man gave silent orders to the guard on his right and she nodded gruffly before disappearing from my door.

My parents hadn't even offered them seats! How did they expect them to treat me when I got to their place?

My heart was racing and I was slowly starting to lose my mind. Everything happening couldn't be real, it had to be a joke.

"Where is the girl?" I heard and my heart froze. The man was asking about me!

No! I wouldn't let them take me.

I looked back down at them and noticed that the guard had returned with three more guards who carried the bags of coins.

"I'll go get her!" My stepmother chirped as she started for the stairs.

Panic settled within me as I watched her begin the ascend. I couldn't sit there on the ground and watch them sell me to a stranger. No.

I crawled away from the spot I had occupied and found my way to my room as fast as I could. Once I got there, I locked the door and started pacing. I had to run.

I couldn't wait here for them to take me.

I looked out the window and noticed the five SUVs that lined the street. There was a muscled guard in front of each vehicle. Even if I made it out, those men were going to get me no matter how far I ran.

"Avalyn!" My stepmother called pounding on my door. "I know you are in there, you silly child! Open up!" She yelled authoritatively.

Tears filled my eyes and I became handicapped. I couldn't move. Up till this moment, I had never hated my stepmother, despite all of the things she did. I still respected and placed her like a true mother.

But my heart shattered. She was no mother of mine.

My true mother would never sell me out like this. My heart was tearing apart as I searched the room with my eyes. There was no escape, the longer I stayed here the more problems, I was bringing to myself.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears, and pulled the door open.

Her eyes had turned into slits as she lay them on me. 

"What stupid game did you think you were playing?" She hissed grabbing a hold of my hand.

"For the first time, your very existence has brought something good to us so early in the morning and you want to mess it up? I would rather grill you alive myself!"

I couldn't do it anymore. I thought I would be able to just stay numb until everything was over but I couldn't. I stopped walking and a stream of tears flooded my face again.

"Mother, please... Don't do this... I will do anything you want. But please don't give me to those people..." My voice broke and my tears choked up my throat.

I couldn't breathe properly as even my nose became blocked.

"Oh shut up!" She hissed pulling me to the stairs. "I will throw you down if I have to! Come on move!"

There was truly no turning back for me. This was it. I was doomed forever.

I swallowed my tears and followed after her like an obedient little dog. She pushed me to my father who wiped off invisible dust from the rag of a dress I wore and held my jaw so I could face him.

"Do not try anything stupid, because the moment you live here we are taking all of this money and we are going somewhere much better. Do you understand?"

Another trail of tears trickled down my face as I stared at him. There was no point pleading with him because he wouldn't say no to all of that money after just seeing them.

"Confirm your payment and pass me the girl!" The towering man growled again.