Kiera’s POV
The room was suddenly flooded with light, causing my eyes to struggle to adjust to the brightness.
As I looked around, I noticed several young girls, some younger than me, and others around my age. The walls of the room were old and I could see some cracks on them. There was a fireplace, bed, and a bucket filled with things I couldn’t clearly see. Then my eyes settled on him–The man who has absolute power over my fate, surrounded by six able-bodied men and 4 middle-aged women.
“Strip!” He shouted, his voice echoing in the room.
Suddenly, some of the girls began taking off their clothes, revealing their bare bodies.
“What are the rest of you buffoons waiting for?” He shouted.
Trembling, my hands began peeling my clothes off my body. My clothes were no longer moist, as they dried on me over the passing hours.
I watched as my clothes fell to the floor and my hands quivered as I pulled off my pants. No man had ever seen my bare body, not even Miguel.
“Now, turn around,” he instructed, and we obeyed.
The room was deathly silent, save for the sound of his footsteps as he approached us.
“One, two, three, four….” He counted until he reached the final number 15.
“Many call me the devil in a human’s flesh, others call me Voldemort. However, I'm just a simple man, and if you follow my instructions, you will be in my good books. Otherwise, you wouldn’t wanna live to see what comes next. From today, you answer to me, you belong to me, you report to me, and take instructions from me, until you get new masters.”
I got lost there, because what did he mean by new masters? My mind was still processing what he said when he continued,
“I El Diablo, am your god from now. Is that clear?” He demanded.
“YES!” We responded in unison, tears running down my cheeks as the word came out of my mouth.
From getting the most unexpected heartbreak of my life to becoming someone’s property, that’s how my life switched within a twinkle of an eye. My world which was already crumbling has now fallen to ruins. I have nothing left, no hope for redemption. I am now a property of the devil himself.
“You’re in the hands of the Madams now. Don’t make their job difficult,” he said exiting the room.
“Turn around,” one of the Madams instructed.
“I’m Naomi, and these are my sisters, Lucy, Leah, and Carolina,” she introduced.
They placed a bucket of water in front of each of us and instructed us to wash our bodies.
The Madams stood around the bed, and Madam Naomi picked up a pair of gloves from the bucket. Next, she took out a rod, which looked to me like it had a mark on it.
“Come forward, one by one, and lay on the bed. This process would be excruciatingly painful, yet swift. So brace yourselves.”
The first girl climbed onto the bed, and Madam Leah and Carolina strapped her legs and hands to the bedrail, while Madam Lucy gagged her with a cloth.
Immediately, Madam Naomi heated the rod in the fireplace and pressed it on the girl’s thigh. My body instantly turned cold and my eyes gaped in terror.
The girl struggled, but there were only muffled moans coming from her. Her eyes were dripping with tears, as the pain lashed through her body. After about a minute, she became calm and the Madams released her. Immediately one of the able-bodied men picked her up and took her out of the room.
The next girl was hesitant, she cried and pleaded and even attempted to run but two of the men picked her up and strapped her to the bed.
Time and again, the girls passed out from so much pain after the procedure and finally, it was my turn.
I swallowed hard as I climbed the bed. I felt my feet and my wrists secured to the safety rails and the next thing I felt was a stinging pain from the depths of hell, instantly sending shock to my brain and I blanked out, my mind unable to withstand the torment.
***
“Wake up,” I felt someone tapping my shoulder.
I groaned, stretching out my hands.
“Where am I?” I asked, looking around.
I found myself wearing a loose pajamas, with no recollection of how I had ended up in them.
The room was small and dimly lit. It held a congregation of lost souls of about 30 girls like me, their faces smeared with fear and sadness, and I recognized some from earlier. Some chattered nervously, while others lay sprawled on bunk beds or the cold floor.
My legs swung over the edge of the bed, and a sharp pain flared from my thigh.
“Ouch!”
I glanced down, tracing the branding wound—a cruel eagle mark with an “El” inscription etched into my skin.
“Sorry… The pain will last for a few days, so just try to be strong,” the girl said. “Anyways my name is Emerald. What’s yours?” She asked, sitting beside me.
“Kiera,” I responded, my voice a little above a whisper.
“What’s this place?”
Clearing her throat, she glanced around, “Some of us call it the slaughterhouse. Don’t let the name scare you. Girls are brought here to be groomed and cleaned up to be playthings for men. Every night, some of us are auctioned off to different men, and the ones that fail to get auctioned, are kept here. So this is basically our home for now.”
My stomach churned as my face contorted into a pool of disgust, “You mean El Diablo sells us to men?”
She nodded in response, “That’s how he gets his money back. I’m here because my mom needed money for surgery and I turned to El Diablo for help. I never knew I was selling my soul to the devil. I've been here for 2 weeks, and I heard that one month is the maximum time you can spend here if not…” She paused, and I instantly understood what she meant.
“So why do we get branded if we’re eventually gonna be sold?” I demanded.
“So that wherever we go, we will be reminded that we were once his property. He loves to mark his territory.”
“Has anyone tried to escape?” I questioned curiously, my eyes darting around.
“Two girls tried to escape. Once they were caught, they were never seen again,” she confessed.
Right on cue, the door swung open and two men stormed in.
“It’s time,” one of them uttered and one after the other, the girls made their way through the door.
Suddenly, Emerald’s hand brushed mine, “Obey and survive. Hopefully, I’ll see you later,” she said, walking behind me.
Kiera’s POVWe were assembled behind a stage, and shortly after, the four Madams came in with a box. Each of us was handed a set of lingerie and a pair of heels, as we stood in a straight line.“Put them on quickly,” Madam Naomi instructed.My hands quaked as I nervously removed the pajamas, and donned the lingerie. It was a bra and pant set. The lace-like material made it very transparent and anyone could clearly see our intimate areas.The Madams nodded in satisfaction as they observed us.“Tonight, some of you will get new masters, but that’s not the end. You have a 2-month probation period. Your masters can do whatever they choose to do with you. If after 2 months, they're pleased with you, then you become their permanent property. If not, you will be returned here, and your lives will be 10 times worse.”Madam Naomi's words sent a chill down my spine.“For the sake of the new girls, I’m gonna say this again. You have a maximum of one month to get a new master, if not, El Diablo’s
Kiera’s POVMy eyes grew wide like saucers,“You’re the homeless guy from the grocery store!”My mind instantly swallowed itself, struggling to understand how that could be possible. I rapidly blinked my eyes and shook my head, wondering if I was hallucinating due to the immense stress that I'd been through today.He took a few steps closer but I retreated.“I know it all seems impossible to you right now, I know you have lots of questions but I need you to calm down. I’ll explain everything to you once you’re settled and in a good frame of mind,” he said.“No, I need an explanation now,” I insisted.The ringing tone from his phone interrupted, and he excused himself to answer it.A couple of minutes went by and there was no sign of him. I tried opening the door only to realize that it was locked.“F*ck!”I cussed, kicking the bedside drawer, causing the lamp to fall and shatter. However, something caught my attention. There was a small booth picture lying on the drawer, it was beneat
KIERA’S POVThere’s no way I’m gonna just stay put and watch anyone take advantage of me again.Lifting myself from the bed, I walked to the door and opened it gently, glancing around and making sure there were no guards around.I tiptoed to the opposite side of the first floor, only to find a door moderately opened. My curiosity shamelessly dropped its pants, and I intentionally peeped into the room.What I saw, triggered a surge of goosebumps all over my skin, causing my heart to go offbeat.My eyes got stuck on a strange man’s shirtless body as he stood in front of the mirror, examining his features.Goodness me!My lips unconsciously folded in, as my fingers trailed around my chest.Who is he? I wondered.Like a runaway train, my heart hurtled forward, unstoppable and untamed as his hands tugged into his pants, in an attempt to take them off, and my eyes didn’t even twitch.At that moment, my body made contact with the door, causing it to emit a squeaking sound that sent a jolt of
KIERA’S POVThe rays of sunlight pierced through my eyelids, and I instinctively shielded my eyes with my hand. I let out a big yawn and rolled to the other side of the bed.“Do you always sleep so deeply?” A voice sounded behind me, instantly throwing me out of dreamland.“Jesus Christ!” I screamed, instantly grabbing the covers and wrapping them around me. I was fully clothed, so why was I being dramatic?Gabriel stood at the window, his body blocking the harsh rays from hitting me, and I propped myself up, squinting as I stared at his shadowy figure.“I’ll have one of the house staff get you a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Get dressed and meet me outside in 15 minutes,” he said, taking his leave before I could even open my mouth.I was ready and out in 15 minutes.“Get into the car,” he commanded.“Where are we going?” I asked, but he remained silent, striding over to open the front door for me.“Please get in,” he said politely.As I sat in the car, my eyes traveled to Damien’s wi
KIERA’S POVLike a flurry of arrows, his words pierced my heart, hitting every nerve connected to it. If there’s anything I dreaded more than my life back home, it was the haunting memories of the horrors I endured in that hellhole. It was a nightmare.He released a heavy sigh before entering the car and waited as I walked cautiously to the car, my legs trembling.As I settled into the car, beads of tears formed in my eyes, however, the deep measured breath he took was enough to relay the magnitude of his simmering anger.After a few seconds of regaining his composure, he started the engine and drove off. The oppressive silence and tension in the car were almost unbearable, and I silently prayed we’d arrive at our destination quickly.At last, we pulled up at an estate, and he swiftly hopped out of the car and opened the door for me. He stretched out his hand and I placed mine in his, my gaze pinned on the floor.“Hey,” he said gently, lifting my chin with his finger.“I’m sorry I la
MIGUEL’S POVI sat in the dimly lit room, smoke curling around me as I took a long drag from my cigarette. I gulped down a glass of whiskey relishing the fiery sensation as it coursed down my throat. Just as I flicked the ash from my cigarette, the door swung open, and Joe walked in. The look on his face was evident enough for me to know that he had something to say.“Speak up, before I lose my patience,” I said.Clearing his throat, his voice came forth, “Kiera showed up at the wedding venue.”Her name pulled a string in my heart, and I simply nodded and poured myself another round of whiskey.If I’ve ever felt any form of affection towards any woman, it would be Kiera. Cold as my heart may be, she fascinated me. Her beauty, innocence, her perception of the world, and everything about her made her special. But the affection I had for her was no match compared to the hatred I have for Gabriel. Despite the fact that our families have been sworn rivals for ages, the bastard was also res
GABRIEL’S POV“What?”She withdrew from my grasp, her eyes blazing with disbelief.I had certainly taken her by surprise. I realized that she would never feel comfortable unless I opened up to her. I needed her for so many reasons, and I didn’t want her escaping again—she had a knack for that. So, what better way to keep her than to ask her to marry me?“Are you out of your mind? I just told you I don’t want any part in this, and you’re asking me to marry you?” Her gaze narrowed, disbelief etched on her face.I let out a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. “I need you to be calm.”“How can I be calm? You just dropped a bomb on me!” She protested, her feet tapping anxiously against the floor.“Do you find me so unattractive? Don’t I possess the qualities you seek in a man?”She shot me a glare, her voice sharp.“It has nothing to do with that. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t trust you, let alone love you.”“No one’s talking about love here,” I replied, frustration bu
GABRIEL’S POVMy gun was still pointed at him as he took a step forward.“One more step, and I’ll put a bullet between your f*cking eyes.”Staring narrowly, I read every twitch his body made.“Who the hell are you?” I roared, my voice echoing in the building.He hesitated. Next, I saw his hand creeping towards his pocket and I clicked the gun as a warning, my gaze unwavering on him.All at once, he pulled out a small pouch and flung it towards me, and it landed at my feet.“That’s just a fraction of Miguel’s diamonds,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.What? How did he get his hands on Miguel’s diamonds? Unless he…I exchanged glances with my informant, skepticism etched across his face as his brows knitted together.I lowered myself to pick up the pouch, the gun still trained on the stranger. With a flick of my wrist, I opened it, and I couldn’t suppress my shock as I caught a glimmer of the diamonds.I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, “How did you find me?” I questioned eagerly