"Even if the world forsakes you, there's one who wouldn't—and he's the devil! He's ready to give you everything your soul desires, but there's always a price to pay in exchange for your desires... Are you ready to pay the price?!"
~ Ruby Banks ~
It was dark. Very dark and misty.
She opened her eyes, though she was used to the darkness that surrounded her due to her blindness. But this darkness—this was beyond anything she had ever known.
She looked around, trying to feel the darkness with her senses, but she failed. This darkness was beyond recognition.
She sat down in the midst of the endless void, silent, until she heard a faint voice. She stood up, slowly following the direction of the sound. She moved cautiously, her steps steady despite the unknown.
"Ho ho ho! Who do we have here?"
A majestic, firm voice echoed.
She moved closer, until a heavy, malevolent aura pressed against her skin—the unmistakable presence of something ancient and powerful.
"I see you're blind," the voice said mockingly, causing the girl to frown.
"Heh heh! Easy there, for you know not who you stand before... I am Zeus, the Prince of Hell. Welcome to my domain!"
"Wh-why am I he-here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Hahaha! You don't know? Shall I play you the last scene before you arrived here?"
Zeus asked, eyes narrowing as he gazed at the blind girl.
"Oh! You're blind... hmm. How about I give you your sight again, just so you can watch your final moments?"
With a snap of his fingers, he added,
"There you go. Open your eyes now!"
She obeyed—and light flooded her vision.
"I... I can see... you..."
"What? Oh! This isn't what you expected, huh? Those foolish humans have tarnished my name, and I've done nothing at all. But we'll see... Tell me, what do you see in me?"
Zeus asked, staring deeply into her. She trembled beneath his gaze.
"You are nothing like what I've heard. You... you're like an ang—no, a fallen angel, I must say," she replied candidly, unwavering.
That answer pulled a smile from Zeus—his first sincere one in ages. No flattery, just honest words. Still, he masked his reaction, returning to his cold demeanor as he cleared his throat.
"Since you answered honestly, I intended to take your sight back... but I've changed my mind. You'll keep it—as my gift. Never shed a tear with the eyes I gave you, for I am now your master. I wouldn't want my slave to cry. The fact that I am the Prince of Hell doesn't mean I love lies... Among my commandments, I despise liars the most."
He waved his hand, conjuring a couch from the shadows.
"Very well. I shall show you your last scene on Earth. Sit."
She obeyed, walking slowly to the couch and sitting. Another wave of Zeus's hand, and a bright screen lit up in the black chamber. She instinctively shut her eyes, trying to adjust to the sudden light assaulting her freshly gifted sight.
"Whatever you watch now—you shall decide for yourself. I will give you another life. But you must choose: return to your past, or stay here as my slave. If you stay, you will become strong... like me. But beware, the price is never spoken upfront. The choice is yours."
"I understand," she replied, locking her gaze on the screen.
---
On the screen, a fifteen-year-old girl lay naked in a dark room. She wasn't moving. She simply lay still—like someone in a deep sleep.
Four men entered, eyes trained on the girl. One of them, clearly the boss, stepped forward and examined her.
"You guys drugged her?" he asked, turning to the others.
"Yeah, we did. Her parents sold her to us, of course. Said we could do anything we wanted. She kept struggling, so we had to drug her. She's fragile. And blind. I think her parents are ashamed of her," one of the men said casually.
"Very well then. She's ours now, isn't she? Wake her up. Before we do anything, she needs to eat something," the boss said before walking out, leaving the three men with the unconscious girl.
"What are you both waiting for? Get the syrup and inject her. The boss shouldn't be kept waiting, and I don't want to get punished because of you," one snapped, sending the others scurrying.
---
The girl in the throne room kept her eyes on the screen, watching herself. She wanted to cry. But Zeus's command echoed in her mind, and she fought the tears back.
Zeus, noticing her restraint, grinned to himself. He was curious now—to see how the men would treat his new slave.
---
Back on the screen, after the injection, the men stood by the bed.
A few minutes passed before she sneezed and stirred. Her eyes opened—sightless, but alert. She sensed their presence.
"Wh... where am I, please?" she asked, turning toward the sound.
"Where you are?" the man repeated, laughing.
"Tsk! You don't remember? Your dear parents sold you to us. They said we could do anything we wanted. You mean nothing to them."
A tear slid down the girl's cheek. She wiped it away and faced the men.
"So... what are you going to do with me?"
They exchanged glances and smiled.
"You'll know soon enough. But first—eat."
He pushed a plate of food toward her.
She lowered her head to the scent. It was the most delicious thing she'd ever smelled. Her entire life, she'd eaten whatever was placed in front of her—nothing ever tasted... like this.
She took a bite. Then another. She devoured it eagerly.
The men gaped.
After she was done, she looked at them and smiled softly.
That smile sent a chill through them.
"Thanks for the food. It's the first time I've tasted something so sweet. As long as you feed me like this... you can do anything you want with me," she said clearly, firmly.
The men blinked. One of them finally turned.
"Since you've eaten, I'll let the boss know," he said, walking out with the others close behind.