Chapter 3
"What’s the matter, songbird? Did the tiger catch your tongue? " The man chuckles, his cold eyes continuing to stare into my own. His lips curl into a slight grin, the smile never reaching his eyes. At once, I felt like prey caught in the deathly stare of a predator. The room is silent, with no bustling of noise nor pleasure from the slaves as the onlookers wait to see what will happen next, like a scene in a play. The man is studying me, as all customers do, but his eyes leave goosebumps on my skin in their wake. He is dressed in black jeans with a black belt, a navy dress shirt that barely conceals the massive muscles underneath, a worn-out leather jacket with a pair of designer sunglasses hanging out of the chest pocket, and a pair of black combat boots to finish the ensemble. Nothing screams “special” about this male other than the look of a stereotypical rich kid of the capitol. What has me on edge is how everyone around us has quieted down to stare at the young male as if he is some sort of celebrity or idol.
“Welcome, your Highness! Did you find a slave that interests you?” The Shop owner exclaims, breaking the tension in the room with a single phrase. Realization settles in with these words; Alekai Nightwood, the heir of Symphrain, stands before me. The two men quietly converse about what the prince came for, probably a slave to serve his every desire. If the Crown Prince is here, then that means some unfortunate girl will be taken away to the Palace, a place I feel could be deadly for a slave. I try to find a way to hide from view, even knowing that any attempt is futile.
"-and I would like to hear her sing. If I like her voice, I will pay three billion dollars for her." I clue into the conversation at hand just outside my cage, Prince Alekai motioning in my direction with a smirk on his face. Shock fills me at the price offered for my body. This Prince is willing to pay three times the amount for me if he likes my voice. Gasps sound around the room, and I have a feeling that not many slaves are sold for such a large sum. This transaction of me becoming Prince Alekai’s property will be the largest yet for this pet shop.
“Oh, Lyra here will gladly sing for you, and if she refuses, there will be a punishment waiting for her.” The Shop owner answers for me, with a warning look sent my way. I swallow hard as I think of the memories of being beaten by my drunkard of a father growing up. I hated pain, especially if that pain was caused by something I never did. It was all I knew as a child and was why I moved out as soon as I could afford culinary school.
“So, Little Songbird, care to sing the Anthem?” Prince Alekai asks, but his tone leaves no room to refuse. Refusing the Crown Prince meant punishment, or worse, death. The anthem is a song drilled into every citizen since the day they are born. It is to make us proud of our country that rose from the great World War Three that devastated the former countries of The United States of America and Canada, leaving half of each country habitable, the rest a wasteland. Anticipation of what my next move will be and whether I will defy the prince becomes the topic of the patrons in hushed tones. Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I close my eyes and picture that I am in my own room.
“Free to Be
Free to Roam
Oh Symphrain
we call our home
From the ashes, we will rise
Into the great, clear blue sky
Our hearts filled with love
That we cannot hide –“
I felt like a bird stuck in a cage, forced to perform at the whims of a man who holds power over my life and death at this very moment. I was a songbird here only to amuse him and other shop patrons. But I have no other choice other than to continue singing.
“A life of wonder
A life to roam
We forever will call Symphrain our home
From the deep blue sea
To the city's night
Our wings they glide
as we take flight
No longer lost
No longer we roam
For Symphrain is our forever home”
I hold the last note as the song comes to an end. All throughout my song, the room remained quiet, the audience captivated by the little songbird in the gilded cage, captivated by me. Roars of applause and an encore cause me to open my eyes just in time to see Prince Alekai hand the Shop owner a suitcase, one I already know is filled with money that was promised before my performance. I was sold to a man rumoured to be cold-hearted and cruel, a man whose being can send shivers of fear to anyone who crosses his path.
I am now sold to the Crown Prince as his pleasure pet for him to do whatever he wishes to my being. Time passes in a blur with the Prince and the Shop owner disappearing; whispers among the patrons soon build to a conversation about how lucky Prince Alekai is to purchase me. Sympathetic glances from those in cages around me are sent my way, some probably already sending a prayer to me with their thoughts on my impending demise. Most slaves sold to royalty or nobility never make it out alive. The sound of the cage doors swinging open, the bars crashing against each other with a loud bang, alerts me to the presence of another person inside the prison I woke up in. Loud footsteps upon the metal floor make quick work where I sit frozen with an unknown fear. Turning to face the intruder in my cage, I come face to face with a tall male in a black suit, my face reflected in his mirrored sunglasses. His build screams bodyguard, one not to mess with and one to fear if his charge is attacked in any way. Muscles bunch with each determined stride under his fitted suit as each step leads him closer to where I sit. My eyes search for a way to avoid this unknown man, not wanting his hands on me in any way. Seeing a clear view of the open door and a chance at freedom, hope ignites a flame of determination inside me. All I have to do is run around this unknown man and fight my way out. Taking a deep breath to steady the nerves from the fear that fights against my determination to escape, I fling myself from the chair and rush to the cage door, making sure to keep as much distance from the unknown man as possible. Freedom is in reach as my mad rush confuses the man for a moment, the wide-open door to this gilded cage growing closer and fueling the flame of determination into a raging inferno inside me. But then I feel the floor of the cage shaking as the man—now behind me—chases after me. If I can just make it outside the cage, I can lock the man inside and work on getting out of this shop. Pushing my body to its limits, I focus solely on exiting the cage and getting past the patrons of this shop. If I could make it to the street outside, I could blend into the crowd and get home. Then I feel them, strong hands grasping my upper bicep in a vice grip, pulling me back with fingers digging into my skin where I know I will bruise by tomorrow morning. The man begins to drag me none too gently out of the cage; my attempt at escape, in hindsight, was futile.
“Alex, have your men handle her with care, or your store will be arrested for damaging Royal Property!” A shout is heard, followed by another pair of hands pulling me away from the man, Prince Alekai’s glare reflected in the other man’s sunglasses.
“I’m so sorry, your Highness. I will punish him later.” The Shop owner, who I learn is named Alex, says in a high-pitched, snivelling voice, probably looking to get into Prince Alekai’s good graces in hopes of the Prince visiting the shop in the future. Silence and a dismissive hand are all the Shop owner receives as his cue to leave the Prince and me alone, fear overtaking me once more with this looming monarch standing before me.
“If I have to drag you out of the store and into the limousine, you will regret it.” The threat is low, but the nods of approval from nearby patrons catch my attention. It seems like my life and death are held in this man’s hands. With a nod of his head, Prince Alekai leads me away from the golden bird cage and towards the exit, his hand clutching my wrist in a grip that was not painful but strong enough to keep me restrained and thwart any attempt at running away. My eyes continue to scan the room for any way to escape, or any way to gain sympathy and help. But everyone turns away to look at the many cages we pass by, one even holding children, which makes my heart break at the sight of them. This is the cruel world we live in.
With a sigh, I am pulled past another door, my eyes adjusting to the brighter room as the sounds of puppies barking and cats meowing for attention fill my ears. We were in the normal pet shop part of this store, where the concerns of human slaves and pets were unnoticed by those going through the mundane in hopes of having a furry little companion for their normal lives. After walking past many displays and supplies, the two of us reach the exit quickly, his grip on my wrist ever-present as we exit the store and onto the streets.
Standing on the sidewalk in the trendy part of Lotross, the wind leaves a chill on my barely covered skin, causing goosebumps to form as I shiver in the fall air. A gleaming silver limousine with the Royal crest on the doors waits for us on the curb. A man I assume to be the driver for Prince Alekai bows to us as he opens the door silently, his face holding a blank expression as if the world around us has no meaning to him. I can already tell he would be no help in my escape.
Taking the final steps towards the vehicle, Prince Alekai pushes me into the limousine without warning, leaving me sprawled on the plush leather seats. Before I could move away from the man who now owns me, the Prince slides in gracefully, taking hold of my wrist and pulling me onto his lap and against his solid body. One arm holds me in place, snaking around my waist and thwarting any attempt to move away. His free hand roams my body, causing the drugs coursing through my system to make my skin shiver with pleasure. A soft moan escapes my lips when a gentle kiss from the Prince is placed on my neck, a kiss that turns into a smirk.
“You are mine, Little Songbird. It's only a matter of time until I claim every inch of you.”
