Page 60 of Ashes

The woman exhales slowly and clicks her tongue. Then she claps her hands and says loudly to the air, “Bring me Number Five.” When she looks back at us, she says, “Take a seat,” and gestures to the chaise. “I’ll change and be right back. Then we’ll have a talk.”

At the door to, I assume, a walk-in-wardrobe, she looks back and says, “You can call me Madame, by the way.”

When she disappears, I look at Luther, trying to meet his eyes, but he hasn’t broken his pose. He’s staring straight ahead, arm around my shoulders. My heart is hammering in my chest. A shiver snakes through me. With his free hand, Luther takes mine and gently strokes my palm.

Madame emerges wearing a long red dress, hair hanging loose over her shoulders. She’s barefoot but tall, and walks straight to the doors to open them.

On the other side, the guard is waiting. Next to him… Sam.

My body jerks with the desire to get up and run to him, but Luther squeezes my thigh hard and keeps me still. “Nearly there,” he whispers. “Hold it together.”

Like last night, Sam is wearing black pants and a black mask on his face. The shield on his arm has gone. A long-sleeved gray t-shirt covers his torso. He winces as he walks forward.

“Madame,” he greets her, lowering his head.

She strokes his chin. “Good morning, Number Five,” she says, lowering her lips to his ear. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Madame,” he replies, staring straight ahead.

Waving her hand at the guard to tell him to leave, Madame puts her hand on Sam’s arm and walks him to the center of the room. “This is the wolf you like?” she asks me.

At that moment, Sam’s eyes finally flicker in my direction. They widen, almost imperceptibly, but nothing about his posture changes. He is stock still, hands behind his back, legs apart, waiting.

I look at Luther, then at Sam. “Yes, he’s the one.”

“And you’d like to buy him?” she looks from me to Luther.

“Yes.” Luther stands up and strides forward, ignoring Sam and speaking only to Madame. “How much would you ask for him?”

Twitching her nose, Madame walks a slow circle around Sam’s back. She smooths her hands over his shoulders. His breath catches in his chest, but he remains motionless.

She sighs heavily. “If it was any other wolf…” She shakes her head. “You see, Sam is very special. It’s rare to find a wolf of his talents.” She stops next to him and runs a finger down his side. “He’s an exceptional dancer. Very handsome. Verystrong.” She snaps her eyes toward me. “And a virgin.”

I blink several times.

“Sam has been with me since he was sixteen years old. He has never been with a woman, or a man,” she laughs, “or a demon.” She cups his face with her hand. “He’s completely pure.” Then she looks at Luther. “Do you know how much he could fetch at auction?”

Nausea and fire swirl in my stomach. I close my eyes, picture Luther’s cool breeze soothing my body.

“How much?” Luther asks tightly, handing her his phone with the screen unlocked and the calculator open.

Madame’s lips tweak into a smile. She bites her lip, then types in a number and returns the screen to Luther.

“Fine.” He doesn’t even try to haggle. “I can have it transferred within the hour.”

Madame’s eyes widen. “Well, well, well. Don’t I feel silly? I should have asked for more.” She looks at Sam and leans in, dragging her tongue across his jaw. I close my eyes. “Samuel? Would you like to go with these nice people?”

Sam clears his throat. “I will do as you say, Madame.”

She hesitates, still close to his face. Then claps her hands again and smiles. “Very well. He’s yours. Have the money transferred, and you can come back to collect him at midday.”

“We take him now.” Luther swipes at his phone. “I make the transfer now. We leave with him now.”

“Oh, come now, Mr…” She frowns, realizing she hasn’t asked our names, but then shrugs, rolls her eyes and says, “Fine.” She waves at the phone. “Do it.”

Luther’s thumbs move quickly over the screen. He presses a button, answers a call, says, “Yes. I’m authorizing it. Code 3-0-7-1,” then hangs up and shows her the confirmation. “Done.”

She claps twice. The guard reappears. “My cellphone?” she asks.

---