^“Wake up, changed one,” a female voice says, shaking my arm. I groan, wiping my eyes with my hands, which feel dusty, and blinking my eyes open. I look up to see large metal bars in a dimly lit room. Looking around I see I’m inside a large cage, with bars all around. The ground is dusty, and there’s a young girl sitting in front of me.

“Who are you?” I ask as everything comes back to me. The ship and the men that took me. I glance down at my clothes, seeing them all in place, and nothing hurts. I only feel sick and a little dizzy as I watch the girl. She has long, brown hair, it’s all curly, and she looks to be in her early teens. The girl is too young for the serious expression she has.

“Do you have any powers that could get us out of here?” she asks. Her voice is panicked, and I look away from her to see where we are. The room is empty, other than us and one door that has some dim light coming through it. The walls are high, and there are two big gaps in the ceiling which shine light through them. The walls look like they are made of a cream stone, and the floor is nearly all sand.

“No, that’s just a rumour. The mark is nothing,” I say, and she laughs as she pulls her hair out of her face. The girl is very pretty, but I don’t understand why she is here with me. I don’t even understand what I’m doing here.

“Where are we?” I ask her.

“In one of the storage rooms for the auctions,” she says plainly. I should have guessed those guys kidnapped me to sell me. I reach up and touch my mark, feeling that it’s still warm. I remember Dante on the floor, and sickness crawls up my throat. He has to be okay. The other pirates will come back, and Chaz will help him.

“Why are you here?” I ask her to distract myself from thoughts of Dante. I can’t help him, and sitting here worrying isn’t going to get me out of this mess.

“My father sold me to the auctioneers,” she says and looks away from me. The girl has a ragged dress on a thin frame and cuts on her arms that I can see. Her accent is like Dante’s but a slight bit different. She has strange shoes on that wind around the lower parts of her bottom legs.

“What’s your name?” I ask her, and she looks up at me, her sea-blue eyes are bright, and she has a round face. I like that she isn’t scared of me, but then again, it could be that she has little to be scared of anymore. We are going to be sold at an auction soon.

“Olivia, but my friends call me Livvy, what’s yours?” she asks me.

“Cassandra, and we need to get out of here,” I say, and she laughs. The laugh is sad, and when I stand up, she goes quiet. I watch as she pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them.

I walk around the cage, pulling at the metal bars and finding them all firm. Shaking them does little difference. I find the door, pulling on it, but it has a big padlock on the outside. It’s impossible to open. I shake on it again and again until I kick it in frustration. Stupid door.

“Unless you have powers that can blow this cage up, or dig us a hole out of here, we can’t get out,” she says, and I look down at her. I know she is right. I imagine that if I did get us out of the cage, then outside those doors would be guards waiting. There is no way they would leave me unwatched.

“If I had those powers, we would be leaving,” I say with a deep sigh. Neither of us say anything as I walk around the cage, pushing against the bars again. I can only hope the pirates notice I’m missing and find me. I think they would come after me, but who knows?

I don’t know why they would, when they don’t owe me anything. I owe those pirates my life, and if they save me, I would owe it to them twice over. I wonder if they will just leave me here to my fate.

“Why did your father sell you?” I ask the girl and she looks up at me, resting her head on her knees.

“For money and food. The people here will do anything for it, and I’m a pretty girl, unlike so many here. One of the pirates who run the auctions, saw me one day. The next day, I was thrown into a cage. My father didn’t look my way as they took me, and my mother screamed. My little sister–” she stops, her voice catching for the first time. I don’t move as she wipes her eyes.

“My little sister was ill and needs medicine and some food to get better. In the end, my father didn’t have much choice, and my life was always going to end in the auctions. I know I will be dead or wishing I am soon. The only thing I can be happy about is that my little sister will survive,” she tells me. So much responsibility for someone so young. I guess it must be easier to accept, if you knew this is where you would always end up. I just can’t imagine how strong she must be to do this. To not run.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, and she just looks at the ground.

“There were girls I grew up with, sold much younger than I am. I believe I’m lucky in a way, do not be sorry for me, Cassandra. I feel sorry for you,” she says, her words make me look at her in confusion. I’m sure we will both have the same fate, but mine will be a quick death at the hands of the King’s guards. At least, that’s what I hope for. I don’t want to be taken to the King.

“Why?” I ask quietly, knowing I don’t want to know the answer.

“They will breed you like a horse,” she says, and her words fill me with disgust.

“Why would they do that?” I ask, and she finally looks up at me. Her eyes are full of tears.

“To have changed children and sell them. Every child you would have would keep them rich,” she says.

“There is no way you will be given the gift of death for many years, and if you ever get a chance to kill yourself, do it. Many, many do before they get to the auctions, and I wish I had,” she says, her words haunting and make me slide to the floor. I have always expected death, not anything else. I would rather kill myself than be a puppet for some man. I would never let anyone take a child from me, just to sell them to the King.

“Why is it this way? All for a stupid mark,” I say, my words echo around the room.

“Because the Sea God kisses his special children on the forehead. Leaving a mark. The Sea God chooses them and gives them untold power,” she says.

“What does that mean?” I ask. I have never heard that before. I don’t know much about the changed ones and the Sea God. I wonder how linked they are?

The doors open before she can respond, the light flooding the room and making me squint my eyes. I stand up, and so does Livvy. When I can see more of the room, there are two men walking towards the cage. I watch as one of them unlocks the door. They both walk into the cage, swords at their sides and sinister grins on their faces.

“Come,” the man says grabbing my arm, and I don’t fight him. It’s pointless for me to try while he holds a sword that could end my life in seconds. I wonder for a second why we aren’t in handcuffs and my eyes drift to the sword. I know that they don’t need to cuff us because they could just knock us out or worse.

The other man grabs Livvy and drags her out of the room, her vacant eyes meet mine. She has given up all together. The light is brighter outside, and I use my arm to cover my eyes. When I can see, there are hundreds of eyes on me. We are being pulled through a crowd and people are whispering and pointing. The people look well-off, with shiny, multicolour clothes and big figures like my father. When we break out of the crowd, I see the big wooden stage that’s in the middle. There are three women on the stage, and people are shouting prices in the crowd. I pull my eyes away and look up, seeing only tall, wooden, house-like structures that tower into the skies. People are hanging out of the windows, looking down and cheering. The strange thing is, there is so much colour and yet not one tree in sight. There isn’t any wildlife or plants around either, just sand paths and tall, wooden-built houses. They make it seem like it’s night, as they block out the sun.

I hear ‘changed one’ shouted louder, and louder throughout the crowd.

“All sold,” the man in the middle of the stage says, clapping his hands as we get closer. He has long, black hair in dozens of tight braids that match his dark skin. The man is dressed in all black, with gold bands around his wrists. There are at least three on each arm, and they seem to almost glow. I can’t pull my gaze away from them, and I almost trip on a rock, but the man holding my arm roughly pulls me up.

“I have a special treat for sale today! Not only do we have a very beautiful, untouched girl brought up on Sevten, but we have a female changed one!” the man shouts the end part, and the crowd cheers. They start clapping and cheering so loudly I can’t hear anything but them as I’m dragged up the stairs of the stage. The man holding me, chucks me into the man on the stage. He holds me at a distance, his hand tight on my arms as I try to move. It doesn’t work as he pulls me to his chest and holds a hand across my chest, while his other arm is wrapped around my waist.

“She is a pretty one as well!” the man shouts, and the cheering gets quicker as I try to get out of his clasp. I don’t like him calling me pretty or how he’s holding me close. His foul-smelling breath is unavoidable as he moves his face close to mine. I wriggle against him and smile when my hand wraps around the dagger in his belt.

“So, how much would you give me for a female changed one? She would be perfect for breeding with a gorgeous body like hers. Just imagine all the changed children you could have and the money from them!” The man shouts, and a wave of disgust fills me as people start cheering. I glance around, seeing the men’s stares and the small bags of gold they are pulling out of their pockets to pay for me. I won’t be paid for, and I’m not letting this man sell me. I look up at the man, and his greedy eyes watch the crowd. He’s not watching me at all, like he should be. I wait until people start shouting numbers out before bending my spare hand behind me, reaching for the dagger in his belt. He doesn’t notice at all as I slide it out of the holder. With the dagger firmly in my hand, I do something I know will get me killed. I slam it into his stomach, the dagger sliding through easily as it’s so sharp.

The man looks down at me in shock before his eyes glass over, and he stumbles away from me, his hand going to the dagger in his stomach. I walk slowly over to him, standing close as his mouth gapes open.

“I will not be sold to anyone, and may the Sea God take you to hell, where you belong.” My words are loud, and the crowd is silent, hearing every single one of my words. I don’t take them back, and I watch as he falls to the ground. I back away from the middle of the stage as the two guys that brought us out pull out their swords. The man holding Livvy throws her onto the ground and her eyes look at me with panic. I turn to run when an arm wraps around my waist. I go to push the person away when I look up to see Hunter smiling down at me.

“Such a naughty little bird,” he laughs as he pulls his sword out and pushes me behind his back. I watch as Hunter blocks a blow from one of the men, moving quickly to slam a kick into this stomach and pushing the sword through his chest as the man straightens. Hunter pulls his sword out as the other man comes over. They fight for a long time, their swords clanging against each other, and it’s clear this man is a better fighter than his dead friend. My heart is in my chest as Hunter is caught on the arm by the other man’s sword, and I see it bleeding. My mark starts burning as I watch the blood drop down his arm, but Hunter doesn’t waste a second as he hits back, managing to catch the other man off guard and slamming his sword through his chest, through the man’s heart. Hunter leaves the sword in the man’s chest, and picks up the dead man’s sword, holding it at his side as he walks over to me. Another man gets on the stage, his hands in the air as he watches us. This man has long, black hair, light-gold skin and is not far from our age.

“We will be leaving now, don’t follow,” Hunter says to him. I watch as he takes a small bag out of his pocket and throws it on stage. The bag opens as it lands and gold coins roll all over the stage. How in the seas did he get all that money?

I know that amount is a fortune, enough to buy half an island. The man nods, running towards the bag and picking up the gold. Clearly, it’s enough to buy me.

“Come on,” Hunter says, turning to face me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. The moment he touches me, I feel safer than I have in hours, and I look up at the pirate. He saved me. I was saved by these pirates more times than I want to admit. I wonder where the others are. I can’t say I expected Hunter to come after me or to be holding me close like he is.

“No, we have to get the girl I was with,” I say, stopping him by putting my hand on his chest. I look up into his dark-blue eyes, they match every part of his dark personality. Dark but beautiful.

My hand feels warm as my fingers graze the skin on his chest where his shirt dips open. I don’t know why I did it, but his deep breath makes me look up at him again.

“Cassandra,” he says, and I can’t miss the warning in his tone, but I don’t want to listen to it. The sounds of people shouting and everything else dies away as we stare at each other. We could have been anywhere in the world, for the way he looks at me is something I would have trouble ever forgetting. My gaze skims over his face, seeing the little dents here and there from fighting. The little stubble he always has that looks soft and finally to the soft lips that are open slightly.

“Coming up next is a stunning, young woman. I hear she has never been touched, and look at all this soft, brown hair,” a male voice says, snapping me out of my thoughts of Hunter and those damn lips.

“Hunter please. I can’t leave without her. Please, for me.” I say, pleading with him. I don’t know what crosses over his eyes, but I don’t move as I mentally beg him to save Livvy for me. I know begging him anymore wouldn’t help, but I can’t leave her here. I can’t save everyone, but I won’t lose her.

When he gives me a simple nod, I suck in a deep breath. Hunter is going to do this for me. The pirate that I never thought even liked me, has saved my life, battled two men for me, and now is going to save someone else because I asked him to. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out another bag around the same size as the last one. Hunter pulls me with him back to the steps of the stage and walks up them.

“I want the girl as well,” Hunter says and throws the bag of gold towards the man who is on the floor picking up the gold from the last bag.

“Deal,” the other man on the stages says, the one holding Livvy tightly in his grip. Her tear-filled eyes meet mine, and she sags in relief against him. The man lets her go, and she runs into my arms.

“Thank you. I will never, ever forget this,” she says to me, and I don’t reply. I didn’t save her, Hunter did. I will have to thank him. I still don’t know why he changed his mind.

I hug her tightly, and then she holds my hand as I let her go. I urge her with my eyes to stand tall and not let these evil people see her fear. They don’t care. Hunter grabs my other hand as we walk down the stairs, and he starts leading us out of the crowd. I keep my eyes on Hunter’s back, not looking at the people around me who whisper and watch us as they move out of the way. I glance down at my hand, seeing the blood on my fingers and try to block out the sight of the man’s shocked face as he died. I killed someone.

I took their life, and my last words to them were something I read in a book about the Sea God. How the damned are dragged to hell by him.

We come out of the crowd and through a tunnel that leads to a long path full of little carts. I can’t stop looking around as Hunter drags me through the crowd. There are so many different types of people, all with their eyes watching me in shock. The wooden houses look bigger this close, with wire hanging between them and clothes being dried in the wind. There’s smoke coming out of many of the rooms, and the place is just so noisy. There is so much going on that I don’t know where to look. A woman with light-pink hair walks past us, her dark eyes catching mine in the crowd, and she smiles gently. I smile back, surprised when she stops walking and bows low to me. A few people walk past, and when I look back, the woman is gone. Why would she bow to me?

Hunter walks us faster through the crowd, not slowing once in his large strides, and he shoves some people out of the way. A massive group of people stop in front of us, causing us to stop in the middle of the path as we wait for them to pass us by. This part seems like a shopping district, full of little carts. The carts seem to be selling a range of different things from clothes to food. There is one with different coloured eggs that catches my attention. There are five large eggs, all different colours and held in glass cases.

“Hunter, what are those?” I ask him, pointing in the direction of the table. Hunter looks over at them and then back at me with a little laugh.

“Dragon eggs,” he says. My eyes widen as I look back at the table. I heard there were dragons in the mountains, but, apparently, they are extremely rare. I don’t want to know how hard it must have been for the man to get the five eggs on his carts. I wonder if they are real at all. I don’t have much more time to think of it as Hunter starts moving us down the path again, and I have to concentrate on not falling over as we walk fast.

“Where are the others, and is Dante ok?” I ask him, raising my voice a little over the noise of the people we are passing to get to the sea. I can see the ships and the port now in the distance.

“They are checking all the auctions. We weren’t sure which one you had been taken to, and Dante is fine,” Hunter explains as he walks us down the long pier and towards the ship. I can see our ship right at the end, with Chaz standing near the plank of wood that leads up to it. When he sees me, he smiles and nods. His eyes drift to Livvy before giving Hunter a strange look. I imagine he’s wondering why Hunter brought back more than one girl. I look up in time to see Hunter shake his head and give me an annoyed look. I resist the urge to smile at him.

When we stop in front of Chaz, he moves closer to me and lifts my chin. His finger gently moves across the little cut there, and his eyes narrow.

“You okay?” he asks me gently as he lets my chin go. I nod, feeling in a little bit of a daze as I think about his caring nature. I wonder if he is this lovely to everyone, and it’s just me that feels bothered by it. I like it too much, the feeling of being cared for.

“Pretty girl,” Dante says, coming down the wooden plank from the ship. I let go of Livvy and run into his opens arms. Dante holds me close, and I take a deep breath,

“You’re really okay, I saw you on the floor and–” I say, looking up at him. I gently trace my finger across the cut on his forehead.

“The bastards caught me off guard, but I’m sorry for letting them take you. I won’t ever let that happen again,” he says, making my breath catch.

“Dante–” I start to say, and Hunter cuts me off.

“I will find the others,” Hunter says before walking past us. I watch him go, and he looks back when he gets on the ship. Our eyes meet and he smirks before he walks away.

“Come and see me later,” Dante says and lets me go. Livvy runs to me and takes my hand.

“Why don’t you take your new friend on board and clean up in my room?” Chaz says, his voice soft as Livvy bursts into tears.

“Shh,” I say, holding her to my side. Unsure what else to do I give Chaz a panicked look. He simply nods his head towards the boat with a smile. I don’t know what to do with her, but I guess taking her on the ship is the next thing to do. What am I going to do with Livvy when I get off the ship at Fiaten? I guess she could come with me, but I don’t want to put her in any danger.

I take Livvy onto the ship and to Chaz’s room, not seeing anyone else on the way, but I do look. I want to see them all, make sure they are okay and back on the ship. What is wrong with me? Once we are there, she sits on the bed with me and just cries softly until she falls asleep. My hand goes to my mark, remembering the burning feeling. I have no idea why it did that, and I remember the book I was reading.

What is a changed one’s chosen?

I try to think of anything else as I don’t have any answers. I’ll go and find that book again, it seemed to have a lot of useful information but I have no idea what Queen they are talking about. I try to keep my mind on the book and not to think of what could have happened today and what did happen. I killed someone.

The sight of his cold, lifeless eyes fills my mind, and I get off the bed, leaving the room and walking down the corridor. I find my way to the dining room and sit in a chair, just staring at the wooden table. I don’t know how long I sit quietly, only moving my gaze when the chair next to me is pulled out. I look up to see Zack as he sits in the chair next to me and places his glove-covered hand over mine. I’ve never seen him without those leather gloves on, and I wonder why he doesn’t take them off. I try to focus on the feeling of his hand over mine; the warmness of it and knowing Zach is with me.

“Hunter told me you killed the man who was selling you,” he says, his tone is gentle and holds no accusation. I look up into his eyes and nod.

“That man would have killed and sold thousands. You may have killed him, Cassandra, but his soul was already tied to death. He deserved death, and the Sea God would only thank you,” he says and stands up. I almost miss his hand when he moves away and walks out of the room.

Is my soul marked with death now? Or has it always been for the mark I was born with?