Page 27 of Bloody Valentine

“There you are, Maddox! Lord in heaven, I need you in line for the auction. Why are you hiding back here? I swear, boy, you are nothing like your father.”

I finished wiping off my face. “Thank fuck for that.”

The priest held his heart and gasped while I pushed past him and made my way to the front, stepping in line with the other professors.

Father Demarco walked out of the back, adjusting his collar and clearing his throat.

“Very well. The auction will commence. Thank you to our charitable sponsors, the Valentines, and the Benefactorfounding families. They have brought this conclusion today for us. May we bow our heads in thanks.”

While everyone dropped their heads in silent prayer, I searched the room for my Little Virgin. She had changed from that delicious outfit. Now, she had simple clothing covering her, and her hair was wet. She’d probably washed off the blood in the bathroom.

Her friend was still beside her, and I refrained from growling at the bitch. She would be next on my list for interfering.

I couldn’t take the chance to hunt again so soon after last night.

News had spread this morning of the missing student, and everyone feasted on the meat that was set up in the buffet area of the church, effectively eliminating any evidence that remained.

I had cleared the body to be certain. Setting up the doe in the tree was a distraction that none other than my nosy Little Virgin had found. She was an anomaly. Scared as she was, she constantly faced her fear when it came to saving another.

Will you be so brave when it is you that I chase?

I chuckled to myself, and her eyes sprung up to meet my own. She knew I was dangerous, yet her stubborn nature would still have her ‘buying’ me today. I waited for the auction mumbo to shut up and continue with the heart of the charity.

We were being ‘sold’ to the highest bidder—to be their ‘Valentine’ for an entire weekend.

The strike of midnight ended the arrangement on Valentine’s Day. Too bad for Vivian. Her soul would be owned at that time by the Divine.

“And so we are onto one of our most popular buys…” The priest touted all the past auctions of the thousands spent on me alone.

I wondered if Vivian could afford me.

I set everything up for the Divine to distract the usual buyers. They were not in attendance, and I hoped that this allowed my Little Virgin to succumb to her desires…so I could divulge my own.

“Starting the bid at one hundred dollars, who bids this fine specimen, Maddox Valentine?”

The auction started, and random numbers were shouted while I was spun around like some prized horse.

“That’s three hundred! Can I hear four?”

“Four!”

Over and over, the money rose to nearly one thousand. I looked at my Little Virgin. She kept her head down, not even looking at me.

Did I push her too far?

“Ten thousand.” Everyone gasped and looked around the room for the bidder. It wasn’t my Little Virgin, but her friend beside her.

The priest balked, stuttering and clearing his throat.

“I-I have ten thousand! Ten thousand, going once…twice…”

No…

“Sold for ten thousand dollars! Maddox Valentine goes to…what’s your name dear?”

The female looked at my Little Virgin with a smile. “Vivian Valentine.”

Vivian gasped as the crowd applauded. I was silently relieved that I wasn’t forced to kill her friend and waste time I could spend on my chase with my own little white deer.

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