Page 94 of Cloak of the Vampire
Kaylon handed him the mic, and Ragnor took it before he said in a flat tone, “Welcome to the Rayne League Quarterly Auction. I’ll keep it quick and simple.”
His eyes looked down on the first row. He seemed to be looking for someone before he spoke again. “All newcomers in my League showed certain potential, but only one stood out the most.” He paused, his gaze seemingly stuck on someone, and then said, “Bryce Sullivan. His supervisors had nothing but praise to say about him, and I believe he will be an asset to any Lord who decides to buy him. To Bryce!”
“To Bryce!” the crowd called.
“Poor Bryce,” said the newcomer to my right as Ragnor left the stage, replaced by Lord O’Brien, who started jabbering.
I turned to her. “Isn’t it good that he was given the Blessing?” I asked, frowning. It was quite confusing as to why Ragnor had chosen Bryce out of everyone. I would’ve expected him to choose Zoey or Jakob, who were obviously the stars of our class.
The newcomer gave me a pitying look. “Your CNC instructor told you nothing, did he?”
I didn’t appreciate her tone, but I wanted her to talk, so I simply shrugged and said, “Clue me in, then.”
She returned her gaze to the stage as she spoke. “Each Lord gives the Blessing to the person he wants to get rid of the most. Whoever this Bryce is, I can’t help but feel for them.” She sighed. “Being on Lord Rayne’s bad side, for whatever reason, can’t be good.”
We didn’t talk after that and instead watched as each Lord gave their Blessing to their “favorite” newcomer. Of course I didn’t take what the newcomer next to me said at face value, but I had to admit that it made sense; otherwise, why did Ragnor choose Bryce?
While the Lords were summoned one by one to give their Blessing, two vampires behind me whispered between themselves, loud enough for me to hear.
“It’s here,” one of them said, awe in his hushed voice. “Do you feel it, Naru?”
The other sounded worried. “I don’t feel a thing.”
“Strange,” the first one murmured. “Perhaps you’re not old enough to feel it?”
“You’re only three months older than me, Morris,” the second one, Naru, replied tartly.
They kept on whispering, but I tuned them out, trying to figure out what they were talking about. What the hell were we supposed to feel?
“Thank you, our Lords, for the wonderful Blessings!” Kaylon’s voice returned my attention to the stage. It was Lordless now. “And now it’s time for the part you’ve all been waiting for ... the Auction!”
Roars and cheers filled the auditorium along with the wild, loud claps. For a moment, I was reminded of the movieGladiator. It seemed as though the vampires in the audience were waiting for blood.
“Now! We’ll begin with the Renaldi League—please welcome Helena Tate!” Kaylon shouted excitedly and got off the stage.
A curvy woman in a casual dress walked into the light. Her chestnut brown hair was braided. She took off her white sandals and then took a place in the middle of the stage. Once settled, she closed her eyes and took a deep, shivery breath. She seemed nervous as she drummed her fingers against her thighs, hands held tightly against her sides. She appeared to be praying quietly as her pale skin showed a greenish tint. And when the music began, she was out of time. Suddenly, she launched herself into a dance routine, lost in the music.
“She did the same trick last year too,” the woman who was sitting next to me murmured. “Damn Lena, thinking she can run away.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked her, frowning. CJ had told me what happened to those who chose to take part in the Auction a second time. Why would this dancer do that?
The woman gave me a scowl that seemed to be directed at someone else. “Every vampire is permitted to participate in an Auction once more after their first Auction. It’s the only way to leave your League.”
That, I knew. “But what is she trying to run away from?” I asked, grimacing. “Second-timers are fated to become slaves, aren’t they?”
Her face clouded. “If you were given the Imprint by Renaldi, you wouldn’t mind being any other Lord’s slave for a fucking lifetime as long as it meant never being near him ever again.”
I didn’t need to receive the Imprint from Renaldi to understandthat.
When Helena finished her dance, Kaylon said into the mic, “Bidding starts now!”
Animated chatters spread throughout the audience. Someone yelled, “Please bid on her, Lord Daugherty!” While another screamed, “Save your cash, Lord O’Brien!”
“I didn’t know others could affect the Lords’ decision,” I murmured, staring at the spectacle behind me.
“They can’t,” said the annoyed newcomer next to me, who was apparently a second-timer. “The Lords’ decisions are theirs alone.”
Her words might’ve been resolute, but her voice was unsure. I could only hope she was right ... though, maybe, it would be good if others had some sort of a say in it.
