"We can't travel this far to miss the whole thing" "Well... You should have listened to me and come the day before " Matteo said "tch, you know I was busy" "busy doing what? Trying to get back with Carissa ?" he rolled his eyes. "Shut up".
They finally arrived and it was already really late, the sky was already very dark and the stars were out.
"Am I going nuts or is that Matteo and Adam wraith?" someone who was hanging around outside, said to theirself.
"Whoa, it's Matteo of the Blood Wraiths", murmurs started surfacing.
Matteo and Adam seemed used to it as they walked in with indifferent looks, each holding their bidder placards.
"The Blood Wraiths?"
" I didn't expect to run into them here "
"wow, are they here because of the main event?"
"The leading vampire clan in the Saphyr Region, why are they here?"
" I have to call dad, we have to at least be on their good side"
"It'll be good to use this opportunity to grow our own clan"
"I have to get their backing "
"I have to take notes of whatever they purchase here "
There were silent whispers everywhere which later grew into noise, the auctioneer couldn't help but notice the cause of the commotion and he quickly went to inform some certain people.
Soon, Matteo and Adam were moved from the main room into a VIP area, it was just another floor in the same building but very few people were there, there was a huge see through glass sceeen where they could see the auction going on in the first floor but nobody outside the room could see them.
They were served red tea with blood crackers and standby waiters were placed with them.
The premium service staff situated with them was also constantly asking if they wanted a product before it was out for auction so they had an advantage of buying it before the other bidders even get to see it.
"Are the nightmare potions still available?" Matteo asked the staff, these things were so rare and almost non existent in their town and the neighbouring towns so they've been travelling around villages and auction houses, looking for these nightmare potions.
"I'm sorry sir, we've sold all four pots" the staff bowed a little "four pots!?" Adam who was previously focused on the auction was surprised when he heard the staff.
"That's a lot, who purchased them?" Matteo asked "miss Geraldine of the Divant family for 700golds " "700golds!? what the hell is that?" Adam asked with a frown, "do these people even know the worth of these things " Adam snorted.
"They probably don't, this is just a small village in the east" Matteo said to Adam before turning back to the staff "I want to speak with the auction manager after the whole auction is over, I want to make a deal with them. Please convey this information " "right away sir". The staff walked away quickly and soon came back with a confirmatory nod.
Nothing else really interested them until the show was over and it was time for the main event.
_________________________________________
"Ladies and gentlemen, vampires and vampiresses are you readyyyyy???" Lady Gigi whooped into the microphone, creating excitement and enthusiasm in the bidders. They all hollered in response with happy applauds and whistles.
"Okay it's time" Adam smirked and licked his lips lewdly, Matteo glared in disgust and rolled his eyes, he laid back in his chair unenthusiastically.
"Okay bring them in" Lady Gigi's arm pointed towards the red curtains and the entire bidders' attention moved there.
The first slave came up with a guard holding a piece of paper, Lady Gigi took the paper and read from it.
"Filp juls, a human nineteen year old man, he's fit as you can see, he's healthy, and filled with blood..." she raised his shirt up showing his muscles and abs. Though he was thin, the constant hard labour made him develop muscles overtime..."and, he sure can make you feel good because he's long down there " Lady Gigi winked humourously, and the audience, mostly the females giggled and blushed.
"bidding starts at 2000 golds, may the richest bidder win". The crowd went crazy and started bidding, mostly the women.
At this time, Yasmine had already arrived, she needed male slaves so she was also bidding.
"Okay the boy goes to Mr. Harold for seven thousand golds " Lady Gigi announced when no one else bidded after Mr Harold yelled "Seven thousand golds!" they all left it and thought there was still more to come so they shouldn't spend so much on just one.
"The slave will return back now, sealing of slave contract will be done after the show"
"The next is Harpy Balengo, this one is a big one, he was born fat so now he's a big man at eighteen years old, he's healthy and hugeeee" "Bidding starts at 2500 golds "
.
.
Scarlett was done preparing the potion, she just had to say a few words and the spell was done.
She spewed a few unknown words repeatedly, Zoey was the only audible word in those words.
Suddenly the liquid in the cauldron started forming shapes and figures, slowly morphing into a distinct image, Zoey's figure slowly formed and appeared in the liquid, it showed Zoey just standing somewhere waiting for something but that was the only thing she could see, she couldn't see anything else not even her surroundings.
Scarlett took a deep breath and closed her eyes and concentrated, she put both her arms into the potion, the ripples formed, distorting Zoey's image in the process.
"Zoey" "Zoey" she spoke, more like called, as if expecting a reply.
.
.
"Did you call my name" Zoey asked Penelope "What? No" Penelope answered "That's weird, I could've sworn I heard 'Zoey' just now" "it happens, I guess".
"Grandma?" Zoey said with a confused look, she heard her name again.
Penelope was confused "What?" Zoey held her finger out, telling Penelope to be quiet.
"Grandma is that you?"
Yes~
The voice sounded like a whisper but she could recognise it was her grandmother's.
"Grandma? How are you doing this? Are you here?" Zoey asked with a confused tone, while also looking around maybe she was nearby. She spoke in whispers too because she didn't want others' attention to be on her.
Where are you?
"I- I'm in the black market... I don't exactly know where this is but I'm in an auction house"
Auction house? You mean slave auction ho-
"Yes grandma... I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, can you hear me?, now I'm about to be sold.. I- I have a plan. But if I don't make it .... " Zoey paused.
~give me more informati- on
"I- I was brought here from a barrack like place... There were so many bungalows.... A flatland ... Filled with vampires.... Uhm... There's a slave house.. like a prison... There's a man with a big scar and.. Xavier..."
Xav-ier?
"Y-yes.. I was by the barrier when two vampire men suddenly came and knocked me out...when I woke up I was in a cell... "
Chwhh-kaka-zo-
"what? Grandma? Can you hear me? Grandma?"
....
" It stopped " Zoey turned to face Penelope who was wide-eyed .
"h-how?" Penelope was genuinely confused, "I don't know either, I just know I was surely communicating with my grandma " Zoey wore a thinking face as if trying to remember something....
.
.
"Zoey!" "Zoey!" Scarlett called to no reply...
" I've run out of time" , she bit her lower lip..
"Black market...slave auction house ... Barracks... Scarred man... Xavier " she kept repeating those words as she walked to her room to get some things.
She grabbed bottles filled with dark liquids, an incense, her invisible cloak, a few other things and a book .
"Time to hunt"