In the dark halls, Rafael looked at both sides with disinterest as he followed the assistant of the owner of this slave establishment, Cresmoore. This was not the first time Rafael had come to the establishment, but it did not change the fact that he loathed it.
The very existence of it was a stain on their soul. Even they, who drink the blood of humans for survival did not keep humans like cattle but this place did that.
He could see the young girls suffering and crying in every corner of the room no matter where he looked and yet… he could not react. Not even blink for it would be unfitting for the position of a vampire lord. He had to be strong and strength was equal to coldness in this cruel world.
"My lord, we have brought a fine specimen for the palace. Did our last delivery please you?" asked the man with a hint of pride in his voice. As if he already knew that no one would complain against the slaves he had chosen for the palace. They were perfect in every aspect.
"They were not bad!" Rafael trailed. He didn't even remember who the slaves were. He had sent them to Scarlet as she dealt with all the management of the palace after his parents death.
He had work! And a lot of it on his plate. Most of the slaves were either used as servants or blood slaves by the palace. A few of them were gifts to their army commanders to maintain their morale.
The whole idea was bizarre but it fit everyone's needs and he had seen slaves thanking his aunt a few times. So, it must be a better place than this dark one. Or he could not imagine thanking Scarlet for being kind to anyone else except witches.
She loathed humans and witches alike. Though witches were more hatred for their betrayal not so long ago. His chest tightened just with the thought of it and he hardly registered that the man had stopped walking and now whispering to someone.
"My lord, this way please." with a smile, Cresmoore pointed at the door guards by two mixed blood vampires. They held the door for him and bowed their heads.
There was only one large chair in the big room. A dozen young girls were kneeling on the ground. Each of them had a chain in their neck. The leash was held by a guard standing behind them.
The scene did not differentiate much with a lot of nobles standing in the garden holding their pet dog's leashes.. But there were no dogs here.
"These are the newly brought slaves. We have trained them for six months and made sure that they did not make a single mistake. They will follow your every command and be useful no matter what!" the man announced with joy, happiness waved in his heart as he proudly pointed at the humans kneeling on the ground.
Rafael passed them a quick glance afraid that he would snatch the chain and break it. No, it would be better that he bind those chains in the neck of this man and ask how it felt then.
But just when he had thought he could not feel any worse, his eyes stopped on the last woman kneeling on the ground. Her hair was silver.
"You did not inform me that you have a new witch in your lot.'' The assistant was equally surprised and he followed Rafael's gaze and noticed a witch at the other corner.
His eyes narrowed and his face turned dark.
"Crespin, I did not remember you asking to join the group with your new slave." there was censure in his voice. His cold eyes glanced at the guard and then at the young witch kneeling on the ground.
The way her eyes flicker and she notices everything around her, she must not be trained. How in the world could they bring an untrained slave to serve their lord.
She would create a stain on his years-long reputation! This witch! He cursed as he moved closer.
"This must be some mistake, my lord. I did not.." he sighed as she stood in front of the guard and pulled the leash from his hands.
The action was so rough that the belt around Bella's neck tightened and she choked, creating a voice making the assistant gasp.
"You brought a slave here that can make a noise." the man looked baffled by the thought! His voice rose an octave, shocking everyone as if the woman had done a sin.
Crispin gulped. He was worried for this very moment and wanted to delay it for weeks when Bella learnt how to behave. But the woman was a hurricane. Not only had she killed a guard but she had created a crack in the wall. He had to change his duties to hide it for tonight.
But soon it would be found out and they would realize it was Bella. If the guard would kill her, he had to part with the large sum the witch had offered. So, he had no choice but to hasten the matter.
"I was told to bring the witch by Bernand. He said that the lord wanted every witch of the lot trained or untrained since it had nothing to do with servicing but.." he paused but the word sacrifice echoed in the room for everyone to suck in a deep breath.
They all looked mortified by the bluntness of Crispin.
"You.." Cresmoore trembled with rage and pointed a finger at the guard to fire him. He did not need such incompetent men working for him when Rafael laughed.
"He is right! I will take that witch with me even if she is not trained." Announced Rafael as he walked closer as if all the other slaves were not kneeling on the ground to take his attention.
"In fact, I am only taking her tonight. You can take all the other slaves back to their chambers."