Sabrina's POV "Uncle, Please!"  "You thieving wench! What did you do this time? Where are my coins?" He barked, his bloodshot eyes narrowed with rage and disgust.  Before I could respond, his kick crashed against my chest, making me stagger as a strangled gasp escaped from my lips at the excruciating pain. "I didn't! I swear, I didn't take anything!" I cried, voice quivering in fear and pain.  My uncle scoffed, his kick landing on me incessantly without stop, and I curled into myself, trying to reduce the impact of his kicks. Tears spilled from my eyes and a ghostly pallor spread across my face. "You cursed brat! Do you think I'm a fool? " He berated loudly, his breath reeking of alcohol.  Suddenly, a figure quickly rushed over. "Father, that's enough. You are going to kill her!" Lucas shouted, stepping between us and shielding my frail body from my uncle's ruthless assault.  Breathing heavily, uncle lowered his raised leg, then scowled, "Why are you always defending her? She is a plague, a walking curse!" Lucas said nothing. Uncle sneered, then said, "Ever since she came into our lives, nothing good has ever happened, everything's gone wrong. I lost my bet today, and it's all because of her! Why doesn't she just die and take her bad luck with her?" I sobbed silently at his words and my body trembled.  When he received no reply, my uncle clicked his tongue, muttered something to himself before stumbling away. Lucas turned to me, and squatted to my height with concern etched on his face, "Sabrina, are you okay?" I forced myself to nod, and he heaved in relief before helping me to sit up, "I am sorry for coming late, I will ..." Lucas was interrupted by my aunt's loud voice, "Lucas, the fields!" "I will go now." He shouted back in response, then patted my shoulder gently. "I will be back soon, I will bring you your favorite wild berries on my way back." Then, he left.  I watched him leave, the only person who treated me with kindness, just like the older brother I had envisioned in my dreams. With effort, I stood up with a wince, gathered the dirty laundry, and with a basin left the house to go to the river. Along the way, several hateful gazes fell on me, following me like venom. "There she is again." "The cursed child." "Why hasn't the village head exiled her yet?" "I saw her this morning, what a terrible way to start my day!" My hold on the basin tightened subconsciously, but I pressed forward with my head lowered. I said nothing, I never did. Not because I didn't want to, but because they were right. It had always been like this, I was used to it.  At the riverbank, I set the basin down. Just as I bent to dip the clothes, a harsh shove sent me sprawling on the rocky ground. My knees grazed the jagged rocks, and I grimaced. "Out of the way, you are in my spot." The culprit, a woman, snapped. I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill, "This is where I always wash my..."  "So what?" She hissed. "What can a murderer like you do? You should be happy that we've not chased you out of the Village." Another woman chimed in from behind her, "Veronica, you had better refrain from touching or looking at her too much. They say she curses people with her eyes." Just then, a stone flew towards me, and before I could dodge, it struck my head with a sickening thud and I almost screamed at the searing pain. I glanced around in alarm to spot some kids gathered a few distances away, each of them holding stones in their hands. "Throw it!" One of them shouted. "Mother says murderers should be stoned." "Throw them!" "Stone her!" Young children, who haven't even grown hair behind their ears had their mind filled with hatred towards my mere existence.  Yes, this was my reality. I was born under an inauspicious moon, meaning that I would bring doom to whoever beheld me. I also had an unnatural eye color- violet, a sign that signifies bad luck according to folklore.  On the day I was born, my parents perished in a fire. Not long after my uncle took me in, misfortune followed and three of their children also died in the same calamity.  Since then, bad things had become a normal occurrence in the village, every death, every famine and every misfortune was blamed on me. "She's coming over, the harbinger of death." "Run! Mom said not to allow her to touch you." The stones stopped, signifying that the children had lost interest. I limped towards a fairly secluded corner and washed in silence. Afterward, I returned home, body moving like a puppet. The moment I stepped inside, my aunt's shrill voice rang out, "What are you still doing here?" "I ... I finished washing the clothes." I replied quietly and she snorted. "Then, get out!" Uncle's voice sounded behind her and I nodded quickly, turning to leave. Just as I reached the doorway, the door swung open. Several burly men barged in and before anyone could react, one of them dragged my uncle out by the collar of his patched clothes. My aunt's face went pale in fright as she rushed forward, "W ... who are you people? Let go of my husband!" I also rushed over, only for us to be shoved aside by a scar-faced man, who sneered. "We are taking this debtor away. Together with his son, he borrowed a total of fifty gold coins and refused to pay up. Now, we take his hands." My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. My uncle was addicted to gambling, and he would borrow money for his bets.  He had borrowed more than he could repay, again. "I'll pay." Uncle pleaded, face pale with fear. "I'll pay, I will ..."  The scarred-faced man cut him short, "Time is up. We are taking you to set an example for the others." At that moment, some villagers had already gathered, hoping for a spectacle. Even the Village head had arrived, wearing a stiff smile on his withered face. "Gentlemen. Please, let us discuss this calmly."  However, they ignored him. My aunt had already knelt on the ground, wailing loudly, and I also knelt beside her. If my uncle were maimed, I would be blamed, once again. Then, Lucas finally arrived just as they dragged uncle away. He took in the scene and instantly knelt before the creditors. "Wait! Please, We have a way to repay the debt." The scarred-faced man raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" Then, Lucas hurried towards me, and in one swift move, grabbed my hair and pulled hard, dragging me forward. "Cousin, what are you doing?" I cried, unwinded by the sudden change in attitude.  His eyes were cold, very unfamiliar.  "Sirs, she's almost eighteen. We were waiting for her to come of age before selling her off." Everything fell silent, even the pain from my scalp seemed to disappear.  Waiting for her to clock eighteen ... Was that all his kindness was about? My aunt sprang up, "Yes, yes. You can take her. She is obedient and clean. She will serve you well." My face turned ashen in fear, and I looked around, hoping for just one person to speak up for me. But, the villagers only joined the chorus. "Yes, take her." "It will be better if she's gone from here." I struggled frantically, "No, no..." "Very well, I shall take her."

Sabrina's POV "Look what we have here," The pot-bellied auctioneer said, harshly grabbing my arms to drag me forward. "A clean, fair-faced woman." The men under the raised podium booed, their lustful gazes scrutinizing my body without restraint, stripping me bare before the bidding even started. "Starting price, ten silver coins." The auctioneer called out. I stood still, frozen in the same spot. After two weeks, I had finally accepted the bitter truth, my body no longer belonged to me. Soon, I would be auctioned off like a mere good. "Twenty silver coins!" A man yelled, staring at me intently while licking his lips. "Thirty silver coins!" "Thirty five silver coins!" "Ten gold coins!" "Ten gold coins. Sold once," I closed my eyes as the auctioneer announced, like a prisoner waiting for a verdict. "Ten gold coins. Sold twice, sold the..." "Forty gold coins!" An arrogant voice suddenly interrupted, and my eyes twitched.  Who would be willing to spend so much just to buy a mere slave? "It's his highness, the second Prince." Someone whispered in disbelief, and I froze. Second Prince? The one rumored for his weird fetish? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought and my legs weakened. Until now, I had not cared who bought me, as I had considered killing my way out. But, the Prince ... How could I escape? "Fourty gold coins, sold once, twice and thrice. Sold out." said the auctioneer, his voice trembling slightly in excitement.  ... A month drags past like a year, but my life never remained the same. "Yes, yes. Hmm~" Prince Kael moaned loudly, his hands fisting on my hair as his face twisted with pleasure.  "Faster." He urged hurriedly, and I did as told, holding back the urge to spit out the pulsating, stiff organ in my mouth.  My mouth and hand moved with practiced ease and my saliva served as a natural lubricant. I swallowed his length into my mouth, expertly grazing it with my teeth occasionally for stimulation.  Sure enough, Prince Kael groaned, his body trembling subtly.  "Faster. Oh, you are so good."  He started moving his waist, thrusting deeper into my throat and inducing my gagging reflex, to which I forcefully pressed down.  His movement became frantic, and soon, his body jerked furiously. I was about to retreat when he yanked me back, "Swallow it." Came his command as he shot into my mouth.  Then, his once proud shaft went soft, and he finally retreated with a satiated grin spread across his roguish face. "You've done a good job. An extra meal and two silver coins for you." With that said, he rolled up his trousers and left the room without another word. The instant he left, I spat out the salty content in my mouth and retched. Having not had anything to eat, I only dry heaved and could not vomit anything. After that, I regained my composure once again. It had been a month in this hell, and nothing has changed. I was no longer a woman, but a thing, a toy for the Prince and other aristocrats to satisfy their psychological needs. Occasionally, I would be paid for my service, just like a prostitute. However, that did not mean that my life had become better.  Dragging my feet, I made my way to the kitchen. I was greeted by the familiar screech of the Head chef, Mona.  "Here comes her highness." She spat, her face filled with sarcasm. "You think lying under the Prince exempts you from work?"  I swallowed the lump in my throat, and said nothing. "Clean the hearth," She barked. "And make it shine, or I will have one of your fingers in the stew tonight. Aren't you having an extra meal? Having your finger boiled soft sounds good." The maids in the kitchen laughed in response.  Reaching the hearth, I crouched low and scrapped the soot into a bucket nearby. I ignored their jest, and walked out to dump the ashes in the back courtyard.  The hallway was quiet. Until I heard it. The sound of footsteps, slow and intentional. Like they had been waiting for that moment. I paused, but proceeded forward calmly, my twitching fingers the only reaction that betrayed my anxiety.  "Her highness of the slut quarters, may I ask where you are headed to?" A voice called out, and a lithe figure blocked my path. It was Mia, beside her were Lucy and Rose. Mia had her lips curled into a smirk as she folded her arms, "I heard the Prince gave you coins, should we bow?" She jested.  Knowing well not to reply, I shifted to bypass them, but Mia grabbed my arm and slammed my back against the wall. "Don't be rude, Your highness. We are here for a peaceful conversation, where are the silver coins?" She asked faintly, hands wandering over my body roughly.  I bit my lips, "He didn't ..." Lucy interrupted, "Did not what? Your highness, are you hiding good things from us?" "I ... I ..." Before my response could escape my lips, a punch landed on my stomach and a muffled groan escaped my lips. "What, do you think you are better than us just because you receive a few coins after a session with the Prince? You are just trash, the Prince's walking hole." Lucy spat with an insidious visage. Another punch, and I fell to my knees, feeling as if air had been knocked off my lungs. "You like it, don't you? Opening your legs for silver, I will do the same for a handful of coins as well." "Why don't we add some rouge to make your white face prettier?" I was shoved to the ground, kicks falling on me like rain. I shielded my head, struggling amidst their abuse. However, the most painful thing was not their kicks, but their words. Just then, I heard the footsteps of someone approaching and the three of them scampered off like startled rats. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the butler walking forward with a neutral expression.  Despite my pitiful state, his expression remained unchanged as if he stared at a mere livestock.  "The Prince has ordered for you to be sent to the Prime Minister tonight."

Sabrina's POV Midday, I sat in the carriage that journeyed towards the Prime Minister's mansion. The interior was lined with gold silks, and its wheels rode smoothly against the rough pavement.  For someone like me- auctioned, dirty, ingratiating, it was too clean. It was almost laughable that I, of all people, could have the privilege to ride in a nobleman's carriage.  But, according to the butler, the Prince could not afford losing face. So, here I was- cleaned and finely groomed like a royal steed being prepared for battle. What a joke! The carriage slowed while passing the marketplace, and I used the chance to peek out of the carriage through a hole on the drape. I watched the busy vendors, tired travelers searching for a resting place, parents taking their children out.  That purposeful and peaceful life had nothing to do with me. Then, my eyes caught on a group of panic-stricken men running out from a corner, and I paused. I could hear my coachman cussing silently, followed by the loud neighs of the horses as the carriage stopped. The men had run past the carriage without care for their lives. Fortunately, the horses were merely trotting, if not, they would have been run over. "What are they doing?" I whispered underneath my breath. My gaze shifted to the men behind them and my eyes widened at their bulky frame. It was as though they were made of muscle, every part of their body screamed of sheer strength. As I marvelled, it happened.  A scene I would never forget in my entire life. The muscular men gave a bestial roar, and their bodies convulsed, before shifting unnaturally.  With an agape mouth, I watched as their skin tore, but instead of blood, what sprouted was shiny black furs. I could see the snapping of their bones from my position, and how their fingers elongated into long, deadly claws. Mouths turned into muzzles, lined with rows of sharp fangs that glinted with a ferocious light.  My spine went cold instantly.  A man screamed hysterically, "Virekans! Run!" "Goodness, the Virekans are here!" "Run for your life!" "My child, help my child!" Instantly, chaos erupted, and the initial calm disappeared like smoke. The people ran like headless chickens, some even forgetting to take their children due to the fear. Virekans, creatures known for their savagery and bestiality. They are also known as shape-shifters, a group of bloodthirsty, wild men. But, didn't they dwell in the wilderness? What were they doing here? My blood ran cold, and I stood still, not daring to make a sound, fearing that these beasts would hear and attack me. In one single step, one of the beasts grabbed hold of one of the men who was running, and before he could scream, his torso was separated from the rest of his body. Inner organs, blood, and bones gathered on the floor, bathing the earth with a new color- red. My face grew ashen. Another beast leapt, covering at least a few meters in one step before pouncing on another man. It flung the man away and coincidentally, the man's body slammed against our carriage. The force caused the carriage to tilt to the side, carrying us with it. "Spare me." The man croaked, but it was as if the beast had no ears. It rushed over, and punched the same man against  the carriage. Like that, the carriage toppled over, and I could not even struggle. I have heard tales of these beasts, but seeing them was something else. Hurled sideways, I hit my head against the wall of the carriage and my head buzzed. With a groan, I pushed myself up and noticed that my fingers were wet. Blood, but it was not my own. Slowly, I raised my head to see a figure nailed against the slanted carriage by a broken twig. His head had been crushed, leaving half of his face flattened and sucked in. One of his eyes had fallen off its socket, the large eyeball staring into nothing, swinging with the air wave like a pendulum dangling from its broken hinge. His chest had caved in, showing his broken ribcage and a crushed bloody paste which should have been a beating heart. The revolting sight made me gag as bile rose to my throat. With a stumble, I forced my way out of the carriage.  The marketplace was unrecognizable.  Blood was everywhere.  That was when I saw an enormous Virekan, larger than the rest. It landed on all fours, staring at the bloody scene without moving.  Then, his gaze snapped towards me and I froze.  Those yellow eyes, like molten lava, held my gaze and time seemed to still. My heart raced on its own accord, like it was no longer my own. I felt something, but I could not name it. 'Mine.' A deep voice echoed in my mind. The Virekan growled, and that was when I remembered to run. ... 'Mine!' 'You are mine!' 'Come to me.' I jolted awake with a start, sweat trickling down my forehead. I had no idea why, but since I saw those beasts, I have been having nightmares.  Especially those golden eyes.  They were doing things to me. "Slut, do I have to wake you up in a grandeur manner like you are some princess?" Mona's voice sounded from the entrance of my small room, and I swung the covers away from my body to rush over. "Well, you sure are lucky. Despite the attack yesterday, you were still able to make it back alive." I kept my head lowered, not saying a word. "Anyways, you've been summoned. Orders from above." She added casually, and I lifted my head. "Where to?" I asked warily. She sneered, "Was it ever in your place to question orders? Just follow me." Left with no choice, I followed Mona, and we left the main mansion, walking towards the backyard. We walked past the serene garden and the stable, towards the Riverbank by the orchard.  "It is quiet here," Mona began, "Quiet in its own way." There was something in her voice, something that induced an ominous feeling from my heart.  Just then, two guards walked out from behind me and grabbed my arms. "What are you doing?" I yelled, struggling frantically.  Mona turned around, an amused smile gracing her lips, "What does it look like? Orders, remember?"