The Emerald Virgin (Gem Apocalypse Book 1) (6 page)

Upon their arrival, they were stripped and forced into an examination room. There were no windows and no way out, the lighting minimal. A guard stood on the other side of the door with a gun.

"Lie down, put your feet into the stirrups, and push your rear to the edge of the table," the doctor said.

"Why?"

"We need to see whether you're a virgin. Pure women fetch us more during the auction."

Aria glanced past the man for the door, doubting he was a doctor. How far could she get?

A part of Aria wished that she'd slept with James, just so another man wouldn't buy her for one sole purpose: sex. She'd rather be forced to handle a family's laundry or fetch them water and cook for them, if that were a possibility.

No syringe or scalpel has been left unattended. Nothing lay nearby for her to use as a weapon. The room was bare, except for the stirrups and a light that he has now repositioned at the end of the table to examine Aria. Could this be any more humiliating? She'd already abandoned her clothes and now he wanted an even more intimate glimpse?

"Lie back and put your feet in the stirrups, or I'll be forced to call in for additional help. They'll hold you down and it won't be pleasant."

Aria did as instructed. She felt violated. The doctor though quick hadn't been quick enough, shoving two fingers inside of her pussy. She slammed her eyes shut, wanting the invasion to be over with.

When the doctor finished, he tossed the rubber gloves and stepped out of the room. A woman came in, throwing Aria the green dress she arrived in. "Put this on, we're moving you."

The move wasn't very far, just across the hall. Aria stepped inside and heard the lock click behind her. A half-dozen girls sat on sleeping bags nestled on the floor. They looked as frightened as she felt. There was no other furniture, no dresser or beds.

Aria didn't know when the auction was scheduled for, the men running this place weren't chatty or forthcoming with information. They delivered their food, but there were no answers. The sun would rise and set, day after day.

Four days of awkward silences and waking to the sounds of the other girl's nightmares. Fear ripped at her heart. Aria may not have been happy at the palace, but she had been comfortable. There were no friendly courtesans or maids to keep her company here.

Small portions of food were brought but she couldn't eat. Another girl stole her food the moment she left the tray unattended. Not that it mattered to her. She sipped some murky water from a glass, choking on the taste of dirt. Having grown up in the winter months when food grew scarce, she knew the importance of always keeping hydrated. She did not wish to die, not like this.

The doors were always locked, offering no chance of escape. Even as they were brought into the facility, a half-dozen men brandished guns making it impossible to run. Aria would be dead before she made it to the old torn up street outside.

The house had barred windows, making it a useless getaway. That's probably why they chose this place. The neighborhood was quiet, deserted. The only sign of life had been the guards, with rotating shifts wandering the perimeter, they never put down their guns. They were ready at a moment's notice, but Aria wondered if it was because they were protecting their merchandise, them, from something much more sinister.

With her ear pressed against the door, she overheard the guards. The first auction of several would be lined up starting tonight and following into the weekend. Each girl would be presented and bid on. Aria was scheduled for tonight. The rest of the conversation was too muffled to make out. Whoever the buyer was, they would get to bring her home by the end of the night. Aria could only hope they weren't brandishing weapons and barred windows. Would she be so lucky to find herself a way out of this dungeon?

Aria heard the lock of the door click and she backed up, not wanting anyone to know what she'd been doing.

A red-haired woman with scraggly short hair opened the door and stood at the entrance to their room. She didn't take a single step inside. Was she worried they'd hold her hostage? With what, a zipper from a sleeping bag?

"Emerald. Come with me."

So much for knowing Aria's name around here.

She didn't move quick enough to the woman's liking. The woman grabbed Aria's arm dragging the emerald from one room to the next, situated across the hall. "Sit." She commanded. She was twice Aria's size and had a few inches on her.

The moment Aria didn't listen, a man covered in tattoos stepped into the room, a giant gun slung across his arms. "Need help?" he asked.

Aria swallowed her nerves and took a seat in the chair. In front of her sat a vanity with an antique mirror. Just about all furniture that existed today was an antique. A few merchants carved tables and chairs from wood, but they tended to sell exclusively to the palace or other wealthy families. Aria didn't get the feeling that this place was worth much, except for the merchandise they hold: the girls.

Through the mirror, Aria could see that the window shades were open. They too were barred, but more light peeked into the room. The tattooed man covered in ink from his arms, up his neck and even over his bald head paced glanced in the room every so often.

"We're going to make you beautiful for the auction. A real prized treasure, Emerald."

"It's Aria," I said, correcting her.

The man with the tattoo's grunted under his breath and stalked into another room, bored.

"Of course it is," she said and pulled out a curling iron. "You're going to behave, right?"

Aria had seen the guns and knew she couldn't outrun a weapon. She'd witnessed the violence of Ethan's murder and would not risk the same fate. She would behave because maybe this would be her ticket out of here. "Yes," Aria said.

"Good." She plugged the curling iron into the electrical outlet. "We're going to do your hair and makeup after we get you dressed. I've also got a gown for an emerald that will look lovely on you."

"Please not green." Aria didn't want a single reminder of James. She would never wear the color again.

"Sorry, doll. It's not up to me. The boys are in charge. I just dress you up for the part they want." She walked over to a long closet and fumbled through the gowns on hangers. She pulled one off the rack and then put it back on, shaking her head.

Aria waited patiently. It was not as though she ever got a choice in her life. Would that ever change?

"Got it!" In her hands she held an olive gown with white lace trim around the center. Though short, it cut just above the knee and the waist angled outward. "You'll need a pettiskirt," she said, digging through the dresser.

Aria stared at the clothes. They looked two sizes too small. The woman waited for her to take the garments. Aria snatched the outfit and headed for the bathroom. The woman didn't argue, perhaps because she wasn't putting up much of a fight. Tired, she slipped into the dress surprised by the fact it fit. The bodice was cinched and hugged her breasts, making them seem larger than they were. She had lost weight since foregoing food.

"Come sit," she said.

Aria wandered over to the chair and glanced at the curling iron. "Promise not to burn me?" She had issues with trust, and was not looking forward to intense heat being just inches from her neck and forehead.

"Emerald, I do this all the time. Now, come sit." She patted the back of the chair.

Aria sat and stared at the mirrored reflection of herself as the woman curled her hair. There was no hint of a smile on Aria's face. There had been no joy left, no happiness to feel. Each moment grew bleak and every second the darkness came closer.

Aria shut her eyes. Her dark brown tendrils framed her face as the woman curled her long hair, trying to style it so that Aria would be beautiful. Aria appreciated her attempt, but no one would be looking at her hair.

"Are you excited about tonight?"

"No. Why would I be?" Had this woman been doing her job so long she believed she was helping young women? She'd lost her mind if that was the case. Perhaps she was a slave for the tattooed man, and she has no more choice than Aria.

"It's no secret here that you're a virgin. It's most definitely going to be
the
night. Are you nervous?"

"I want to go home."

"And you will, as soon as you meet your suitor."

Aria glanced away. She couldn't talk her way out of this situation.

After the woman finished with Aria's hair she did her makeup and then led Aria through the small corridor out of the house and across the lot. An enclosed walkway of glass with iron bars gave Aria no opportunity to run. With just a glimpse of the outside facility, Aria could tell how much larger this place was. The auction would be held here, no doubt.

She opened the metal doors and pushed Aria forward to enter inside the dark building. The walls towered several stories. Aria's feet were chilled on the cement. "Where are we going?" There was hardly any light. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

Across the room there were four chairs nestled by the wall. The further Aria walked into the room, the more her eyes adapted to the darkness. Chains were mounted to the wall beside the chairs.

"I swear I'll be good." Aria shook her head backing away.

"Emerald, don't fight me. I'll call in Bernard. We both know you don't want that."

Whether Bernard was tattoo guy or someone else, Aria didn't want to stare down a gun. She grew quiet and sat down. The woman reached for the shackles, pulling the longest one and chaining it to Aria's leg. "Bernard will come and get you when it's time. I suggest you not try and fight the restraints. No one likes to see the merchandise bruised, especially high quality virgins."

Aria felt tempted to strain against the metal and leave a mark just to piss off hairdresser lady and tattoo man. Maybe even Bernard too. However, she didn't have any desire to suffer. Aria stayed seated, quietly keeping to herself.

The only light in the room came through windows that were in no way reachable, about twenty feet above Aria. They offered a hint of color to the dark room. Aria had no idea the time or the day. Everything began to blur together. Sitting alone for hours, she felt relieved when another girl came through the doors. Her heart ached to watch the girl get shackled, same as Aria had been to the wall. She recognized the girl from the van.

"Hi." Aria smiled at the young woman, though not happy to be here, she was trying to form a bond and gather what information she could.

She said nothing. Her eyes bent down on the ground.

"Silence!" a voice boomed and heavy footsteps clomped into the room.

Aria shut her mouth. If she learned anything, it was to be careful. She may not have been happy at the palace, but she was beginning to know what to expect. Here, every day a new mystery. She could handle the dressing up and getting pretty for the slave auction. She may not like it, but she could cope with it. What worried her now was what happened when she left, after she was sold. She knew there would be no choice for her in the matter. As a virgin, they'll want her for only one purpose: sex. Would they toss her aside after they stole her virginity or would her buyer expect her to please him every night? Aria knew she wouldn't last as a sex slave.

A dark-haired gentleman trampled into the room. His footsteps echoed in the large expanse of the room. His strides were wide and it took a few for him to approach. Aria held her breath.

"This is the
good
merchandise," he said, leaning down examining Aria's eyes. He smiled at her, through his two missing teeth on the top row. "An emerald virgin. We can't pick them any better if we tried. Maybe we should take her off the market. She's too valuable. Save the best goods for ourselves."

Aria swallowed the bile rising in her throat. How could she convince them to sell her? Would she even want to? Whatever this man had planned for her instead seemed much more vile.

"Bernard, that's not the agreement with King Gideon," the tattooed gentleman said. He stepped out from around the corner. How long had he been watching the room?

"Fuck, Gideon!" Bernard said. "If he didn't want to pop this cherry, I'm happy to do it."

"You won't!" the tattooed man said, and he walked toward Bernard, grabbed his elbow and pulled him farther away. "She's to be put on the open market for the highest bidder. It will benefit everyone."

Bernard grumbled under his breath. He reached into his pocket for his flask and twisted the lid, opening it and having a swig. "Greedy, bastard. Someone should teach him how to share."

* * * * *

By the time the auction began it grew dark outside. Bernard carried a torch, using it to guide the way. He tossed Aria the keys. "Unchain yourself." He didn't come within a few feet of her. From the faint glow of amber she noticed a fresh bruise on Bernard's face. She thought he was in charge? If not, then who was profiting from the sale?

"Walk," he said. The path provided enough room for them to walk alongside of each other. Aria stood on his left, the torch in his right hand. "Don't do anything stupid, Emerald. We've got a dozen guns trained on you inside the pit."