I don't know how long we slept before we were awakened by the sound of the lock releasing.
"Come with me."
He turned back out of the cell. We stepped out after him and two more guards came up behind. The two in front grabbed my cousin. I couldn't help the growl.
"Just a little collateral. To make sure you don't cause any problems."
I looked at my cousin. We shared a conversation with our eyes and I nodded in response. I sat down saying I agree as long as they don't hurt my cousin.
"Good choice. Now follow me we will head to the auction now."
Walking down the corridors I saw more cells and slaves being led the same direction as us. Turning multiple corners I lost track of the way. Before long we came to the door leading down the ramp. The first view of the place was as I had expected. Dry, filty and desolate. A wave of depression hit me as we passed through the giant gate we saw slaves lined up waiting for their turn to be sold. We stopped while the bug that brought us continued on to talk to the slave auctioneer. He talked for about ten minutes before they clasped hands. He nodded and patted his chest in goodbye and headed back this direction.
"He said you will be next. I had to pull a few strings to get you up there so fast. Normally you would be there until the others in line have been through. However I am in a hurry to be somewhere else I don't have time to wait that long."
We were next just as he said. Dragged up to the stage.
" Being sold as a pair. A beauty and a wolf. Do I hear a thousand?"
A hand was raised in the crowd and the auctioneer continued the bid as each hand was raised.
"Do I hear five thousand?"
It was at more than I thought it would go. How high would it go. My cousins hand gripped into the ruff of my neck. She started shaking as she watched who was raising the bid. I followed her gaze and cringed myself. It was a short squat man fatter than any I have seen. Sitting on a floating chair with a woman on a chain at his side. He had no hair a bulbous nose thin lips and massive cheeks.
"Do I hear fifty thousand?"
I was astounded. I had never seen that many credits before let alone be sold for them. But the auction wasn't over yet.
"Do I hear a hundred thousand?"
"Here!"
A new hand and voice shout out from the crowd. I look to see a gold skinned man over seven feet towering over the heads. He had black hair cut military style. He had broad shoulders with just a vest covering a chest showing a muscular stomach tapered waist and I guess some kind of animal skin pants hanging low. I couldn't tell his eye color from here but I could feel them on me as he took the bid.
"Sold to the agrithian. Come pay and collect."
He nodded and walked to the payment officer. As we were pushed down the stairs a collar and chain were placed around our necks. As he finished paying they handed the ends of the chain to him. With a grunt he turned and stalked off. The chain yanked giving us no choice but to follow. Walking towards the station we came upon the biggest ship sitting on the dock. Stomping up into the ship we were dragged behind into the cargo hold. He continued to walk through turning this way than that and again I lost my bearings. We stopped at a door where he swiped his hand acrossed and it opened. He motioned us in. As soon as we were in the door shut and locked behind us.
"I don't know what an agrithian is or what he wants with us but this is a step up from the cells with the bugs."
"I agree. How are you holding up Caylee?"
My cousin looked at me after I voiced the question in her head. I guess I could point out the obvious that as a wolf I can't actually speak. We use telepathy to speak back and forth and we can use it while in human form as well.
"Better than I thought. Little surprised, slightly relieved and a whole lot nervous."
"Same. I don't know what is going to happen to us but at least we have each other."
"That is the best thing I have heard in the last week Kyra."
She smiles and gives me a hug. We both crawl onto the bunk in the room and pass out from exhaustion of the last few days.