Page 24 of His Place in the World
“Something’s happening,” Remi suddenly said.He leaned even closer to the screen he was watching, his nose almost brushing against it.
Del did the same.He watched as Ryland and Angus were herded toward a door at the back of the room.The hallway they stepped in was dark, but Del could see curtains framing doors every few feet on the right side.Someone quickly brought them to one of the red curtains, which they raised.Behind the curtains were several comfortable-looking seats on what appeared to be some kind of balcony, and Ryland settled in one of them while Angus sat next to him.Mercer and Matt were no doubt behind them, making sure no one snuck in.
From this position, Del could see what Ryland saw, and it made his mouth go dry.
It was a stage framed by more red curtains and illuminated by one single spotlight directed right at the center of it.
The auction was about to begin.
* * * *
Angus had to work hard not to throw up.He stared in front of him, wondering if he was strong enough not to run away screaming or possibly jump onto the stage and intervene.
Ryland grabbed his hand and squeezed.Angus was thankful for the relative darkness.Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to fool anyone into thinking he was a meek shifter only doing what his master wanted.
“This is awful,” Ryland murmured.
Angus suspected he was holding onto him for both their sakes.Knowing that Ryland’s brother had been involved in something like this couldn’t be easy for Ryland.Angus despised how these shifters were treated, but he didn’t have a personal connection to any of them.The same couldn’t be said for Ryland, yet, he hadn’t hesitated to come on this mission.
“Do we know what’s going to happen?”Matt asked.
“Not for sure, but I can imagine,” Angus told him.
The silence between them was tense as they waited.It took several more minutes for the room to fall quiet.The only light was the spotlight on the stage, but it was so bright that Angus could see the other balconies.The people he’d seen earlier sipping champagne and talking were eagerly staring at the stage.One woman was even leaning so far out over the railing that he wondered if she might be about to fall.
One could hope.
Then a man stepped onto the stage.A scattering of applause made Angus want to rage, but instead, he swallowed and looked at the man.Like every other human in the room, he wore a suit that appeared to be costly enough to pay for Angus’s grocery shopping for an entire year.He held the microphone and stopped right under the spotlight, seeming to love it.He raised his free hand and waved at a few people, and Angus took advantage of that moment to examine him.
The man had to be in his early fifties, possibly a bit older.His hair was dark, though, making Angus wonder if he dyed it.That was probably the case, but his mustache betrayed his age, with the silver strands in it glinting under the light.The man had a strong nose and was dressed impeccably.He gave off an air of being rich, which he had to be to be present tonight.
“Is that our host?”Ryland asked.
“I’m surethey’realready on it,” Mercer murmured to him.
“Welcome back,” the man said.“Since I’ve been warned there are new faces tonight, let me introduce myself.My name is Fulton, as most of you are aware of.I’m the organizer of this party and auction, and please, if I don’t know you yet, come to me once it’s over.I wantallmy guests to be happy with what they find at the auction and with the food and drinks.Besides, I always look forward to getting to know new people.”
Someone tittered, and Angus glared around.Ryland’s hand tightened on his, and he leaned forward, expecting what was about to happen.
Angus dreaded it.It would be the hardest part of all of this.He’d have to watch shifters being auctioned without being able or allowed to do anything to help them.
“Programs with the names and details of the shifters about to go on auction are being distributed right now,” Fulton continued.“Please, take a few minutes to go over them and make your choice.I hope everyone will find something they want and will enjoy, although, of course, the only way to win who you want is by using your credit card.”
A smattering of laughter made Angus grit his teeth.He wasn’t a violent person, but right now, he wished he could kill every single person in the room.
Fulton bowed lightly.“Enjoy your evening, and I’ll see you later, during dinner.”
Fulton left the stage, and the noise level went up again.Angus was relieved—it would hide whatever he and the others had to say—but the anticipation made him sick.
There was a movement behind them, but Mercer stepped in before Angus could see what was happening.He quietly talked to someone, and when the curtain lowered again, he appeared next to Ryland, holding what looked like a thin booklet.He appeared disgusted as he held it out to Ryland with two fingers, but Ryland didn’t hesitate to snatch it from him.
He let go of Angus’s hand and quickly thumbed through the leaflet.Angus knew the moment he realized his brother wouldn’t be auctioned tonight.Ryland’s shoulders slumped, and he let out a heavy sigh.
“We knew this might be a possibility,” Angus told him.
“I know.I was still hoping he’d be here.”
Angus understood, so he left Ryland alone.Ryland continued looking through the leaflet, but Angus couldn’t help but notice that he paused at one page in particular.He wondered if maybe Ryland knew whoever the shifter on that page was, but the room fell silent before he could ask.
