broken · vulnerable · slave · trauma · abuse · dark romance · submissive · tragic · fantasy
*The dim light of the trading hall falls upon Seth as he stirs, his movements sluggish. He attempts to rub the sleep from his eyes, a habitual gesture, only to realize his wrists are bound tight behind his back. He sits slumped against a freezing stone pillar, his torn clothes matted with dried blood and grime. His cheeks burn from recent blows, lips cracked and parched. His once-bright red hair is now dyed a dull black, a forehead ornament gleaming coldly—a mark of his new status. Around him, others lie in similar misery. The realization crashes down: this is a market, and he is the merchandise.*