Milas was brought into the tunnel that now felt empty as he was the only survivor of the tournament. The metal collar was placed on his neck before the tentacles released him. The guards led him away from the arena and into a different chamber.
Faint murmurs reached his ears from behind a curtain. He could hear different voices mentioning various numbers. Milas could only guess that he was at some kind of slave auction. He heard the fall of the hammer and squeaking of wheels as a small cage was pushed into the area that he was in. Inside it was the horned cat that looked surprisingly docile with a similar collar on its neck.
Milas stared at it intently but he was pushed forward and led through the curtain. He could hear the auctioneer better as the curtain muffled all sounds.
"Next on sale is the half-born know as The Beast Slayer. This unassuming young slave is the champion of the slave games with the scars and bloodstains to prove it. We will start the bidding at fifty coppers." The instant he finished several offers were given and the price rose steadily. The people that showed the most interest were women who looked to be in their late forties. They may have looked beautiful but based on the measly knowledge he had on vampires, they had to have been over a century old.
The bidding was coming to a close with an old lady dressed in slightly revealing clothes having the highest bid. Milas was disgusted by the wrinkles on her partially revealed chest. He scanned the room hoping for someone, anyone who was willing to buy him.
"Last offer stands at two silver. Going once... Going twice..." Milas closed his eyes and waited for the fall of the hammer that would seal his fate. He was already imagining the kind of things he would be forced to do. Goosebumps rose on his skin and a fear he had never felt since turning enveloped him. It seems that his emotions weren't dull enough for him to avoid the disgust from the thought of losing his virginity to the lady.
"Wait, I've been imagining this for so long yet the hammer still hasn't fallen." Milas thought as he opened his eyes and saw that the woman was staring daggers at someone in the audience. The figure was wearing a mask that covered half the face but his body shape was that of a large man. The hammer landed and he was sold to the man.
Milas was led back towards the curtain and a clean set of clothes was handed to him. He quickly changed and was led to another room. He came face to face with his new master and he wasn't expecting such an aura.
The vampire's presence felt suffocating and it got even worse when he looked Milas in the eye. Milas felt his knees soften but he managed to remain standing and maintained his gaze on the man. The brown eyes of the vampire flickered red and Milas blacked out for a second waking up on his knees.
"I'll have the tether contract with this one. His defiant spirit will be nice to break." The masked vampire said to another vampire that had been standing in the corner of the room since the beginning. The figure approached Milas with its arm outstretched and touched his forehead. The familiar energy of an enslavement contract entered Milas' body. He could feel the mark appearing on his chest but it wasn't as restrictive as the prince's.
The figure let go of him and the masked vampire touched the area with the mark and energy entered his body as the contract was finalized. The collar was removed and the masked vampire ordered him to follow at a five meter distance. Milas didn't wait to see if the contract worked or not as the pain from the punishment was fresh in his mind.
The vampire led him to a fancy carriage that brought them out of the tunnels and into a large area with many lavish houses. The arrangement of the buildings seemed to be according to status as the more luxurious mansions were located deeper into the area. A magnificent castle stood proud in the middle of the area. Its dark walls had a shine to them that gave it a mysterious look. The dark color accompanied by the grey background made the castle look like the abode of a devil.
Milas wondered if the vampire sitting before him was another royal lunatic looking for a lab rat. He could only cross his fingers and pray that the masked vampire was only looking for manservant. The trip was filled with silence that further unnerved Milas.
The horses came to a halt inside the courtyard of a sprawling mansion. There were servants that moved around the place but it somehow looked cold and abandoned. The door was opened by a cute female servant and the man walked to the large double doors with silver etching of various beasts. The doors were pushed open by the female servant till they reached a study with a wide window to view the expanses of the Darklands forest.
The man sat on a fancy chair on one side of a stylish table and gestured for Milas to take a seat. Milas did so with no hesitation or expression on his face. His calm face made it look like he was having a business dealing with a partner not at all like a slave facing his master.
"Why haven't you tried to run? Don't tell me the mighty beast slayer has lost hope." The masked vampire said with an otherworldly voice. Milas looked him straight in the eyes before answering.
"Why run when there was no chance of success? A battle hardened veteran like yourself wouldn't even need to use your higher rank to defeat me. So I'm not stupid enough to doom myself." Milas had said this with no hesitation and the man looked impressed.
"Its good to be smart and think your moves through but it also makes you hesitate and you might miss an opportunity. That's why its important to adapt and come up with suitable plans in an instant. This will help as your enemies can't catch on to your plans if you don't have one in the first place." The vampire said as he slowly removed his mask to show a handsome face underneath. Milas was still gawking at him as he continued talking. "You will follow the rules I set to the letter. Rule number one, you must protect yourself no matter the situation and this rule overrides all the other rules that follow.
Rule number two, you will only move between the mansion and other locations that I will mention later. No stops or detours during the journey.
Rule number three, the servants and guards here are not to be touched or pressured. They serve me and a threat to them is a threat to me.
Rule number four, you can attempt to escape and if you manage to stay outside the mansion after the attempt for one day, you earn your freedom. If you get caught then you go sunbathing.
Lastly, rule number five, if you want any information or a shot at freedom, you have to make me bleed for information. As for freedom, you just defeat me and our roles reverse with you as master." The rules were enforced by the contract but Milas found them to be strange as he felt that there was something else going on.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you being so carefree and treating me better than a slave would be treated?" Milas asked as he couldn't believe that there were no strings attached to such rules.
"Make me bleed and the answer is yours." The vampire said as he stood up to leave. "Where are my manners? I am Deogratius but you will refer to me as master. She will show you to your room. Which reminds me, what is your name young one?"
"Milas, my name is Milas." Milas answered and stared at the vampire who nodded and walked away. The female servant gestured for Milas to follow and started walking away.
Milas could only stare at the decorations on the walls of what would become his new prison.