She went back to where she had been sitting and drawing her knees up she hugged them to herself as her mind relived everything the messenger had said over and over again. Tomorrow she would be free.
Not only free, but full of joy too. She could never have asked for more and she closed her eyes in contented peace and rested in anticipation of the future to come.
The rosy red color wouldn't leave her cheeks, as Krista viewed herself in the mirror of the prep room. Several older women had just finished preparing her for presentation to the buyers. Soon she would be sent to the stage and she felt her resolve of faith falter some at the prospect of having to face what was to come. She had worn skimpy outfits before when she had been in service to Sebastian, but nothing like this!
A tiny bit of green linen supported her breasts, but there was more exposed than was covered! She was all but naked except for a slip of silk fabric that hung across the front of her thighs and a slip of fabric behind her that failed to completely cover her bottom.
Her hips and the sides of her cheeks were clearly visible. She knew she was regarded as a beautiful woman, but this outfit left little to be discovered or imagined at. It was humiliating!
Why did she have to go through this further humiliation before she could be free? She bit her lip and tried to hold on to the hope that the messenger's words had brought her, but it was hard and she fought against the tears that threatened to fall. She would not show any weakness to the mongering crowd she could hear jabbering on in the market room beyond the thin walls of the room. The door of the room opened, they had come for her.
The boards of the stage that her bare feet traveled across had been worn smooth by the countless poor souls who had been led across them before her. Stillness had fallen over the formerly mad atmosphere of the place.
The stage was well lit in the otherwise seedy and rundown building. She was led to the center of the stage and the iron anklet around her left ankle was securely fastened to a ring set into the floor of the stage. She was alone on the stage now except for the auctioneer off to her left.
The stillness was shattered as several hundred buyers erupted into applause at the exquisite offering before them. All manner of things were being said and Krista ignored the chattering of the lecherous buyers as best as she could, but it was hard to remain calm with what the rabid crowd was planning for her, sounding so loudly in her ears.