Sold?

"You okay?" I asked Arius while we walked to a shadier part of the city.

"Oh yea. My phone was martyred in an awesome way and I couldn't talk to Lex but I guess that's fine."

"Was talking to him that important." He seemed somewhat jealous but I couldn't really tell. It might just be my imagination but Lex is important for him.

"Well, I just had to tell him about that guy who tried to hurt Rosalie and Summer, but he's in jail so it should be fine." We arrived at a shop. It had a pretty worn out exterior and the sign seemed like it would fall off at any moment. "Be sure to tell him when you have the time, you never know he might get out and try to hurt her again."

He sighed, "Sure."

"This place looks too shabby." I was way too skeptical about this place. Why would Arius bring to a place like this?

"Oh don't worry." He walked ahead. "The inside is totally different." I followed him inside not believing his words because the first room with the counter was just as neglected as the exterior. The desk was as old as mother earth itself and the wallpaper was so dusty and dark I couldn't tell if it was actually the design or that it hadn't been cleaned in like, forever.

But Arius didn't stop at the counter or even greet the person sitting there. The man just raised his head to see who it was but didn't say anything.

At the end of the room was a long black curtain and Arius went behind it. I walked behind him and paused.

Wow…

The entire place transformed. It looked nothing like the outside.

What was this sorcery?

The room was huge, divided by thick glass walls. The interior decoration was top notch and there were tattoo beds in each glass compartment with its own tattoo artist.

Arius smirked when he saw my amazement.

"Wondering why the drastic change?" He asked.

"Uh-Yeah…" I nodded.

He shook his head, "There's actually no reason other than the owner has some of my support and he wants to hide that." He walked at the end of the room, to the wooden door, "Come on." He gestured and I began walking again.

Behind the door was a VIP room and a woman with a pixie haircut, dark blue hair and tons of tattoos. She looked like a badass person.

The moment she saw Arius she smirked.

"So you finally brought your girl?"

"Oh yes!" He slid his hand around my waist, "Finally, I hope you'll take good care of her."

"Oh yes." She stood up from the chair she was sitting in and walked up to me, "She'll be in my care."

Arius looked at me, "Getting tattoos takes a lot of time. You'll be here for hours."

I nodded, "Its okay. Are you going to leave?"

"Yes. I'll pick you up at night."

I internally sighed, "Okay."

He kissed my cheek and left and I looked at the woman.I smiled at her. She did seem like a good person

"Amita." She stated her name, "Relax Azalea. You're in good hands."

***

I had three sessions with Amita but when I looked at my back in the mirror I was amazed. I could no longer see my burns, instead they were covered by a fierce dragon that occupied the whole of my back.

The pain was worth it.

I smiled and looked at Amita.

"You're awesome!"

"The pleasure's all mine."

"Did you make Arius's tattoo's too?"

"Yes and the tattoo's of all his men." She looked proud, "Because of them I get a lot of underworld customers but it's worth it."

***

Arius came to pick me up around eight, half an hour after I was done.

He didn't take me home, instead, he took me to a boutique.

"Why are we here?" I asked him when he waved at the manager to come over.

"We're going to a party."

"Oh… What party?" I asked him but at that time a lady approached us and asked me to follow her. I looked at Arius and he nodded.

I followed her and she took me to the changing room. I was given a black starry sky formal dress.

It was beautiful but what was more surprising? It fit me perfectly, hugged my curves softly and reached till my feet.

It had a cut on the left leg until my knee.

I was given a pair of matching heels and also received a light makeup touch.

That all got me overly curious as to where Arius was taking me?

When I got ready and got out I was surprised to see Arius had changed into a formal wear as well.

He smiled softly when he saw me. His eyes softened as he spoke, "You look beautiful."

I blushed slightly and he held out his hand for me, "I have something else to give you. Let's go."

I took his hand and we made our way to his bugatti.

I was expecting that he'd go to some hotel or to some event but he drove home.

I was confused and looked at him with my eyebrows furrowed, "We're home?"

He parked the car, "We're having a party."

"Among ourselves?"

"You'll meet a lot of people you never did today." He got out and walked to my side of the car, opened the door and held out his hand for me.

"But why?" I took his hand and he closed the door behind me. Then took out something from his pocket.

It looked like a small chip.

Gently, he removed my hair to the side and pressed that chip on the back of my collar.

I heard three beeps and then the collar fell off my neck.

It was an amazing feeling, like that of freedom.

"Today," Arius started and I looked at him wide-eyed, "I'm making an official announcement about us."