Page 44 of The Arbiter

We go up two more flights of stairs and three more corridors, and it doesn’t take me long to realize this place looks like an old hospital of some sort. The layout looks like an asylum I visited about seventy years ago. I knew a Damned that fed off the fear of the patients there that owed me some money. I hated the place. I wasn’t a huge fan of humans, especially then, but I still didn’t agree with the conditions of places like this so long ago.

However, this building has been renovated to suit these people’s needs. The higher we go, the cleaner and fancier the place becomes. By the time we reach what I believe is the top floor, you’d never guess it was once an asylum at all.

The fluorescent lights have been replaced with small chandeliers, and the floors appear to be white marble. The walls are plaster that’s been painted gold, and there are several pots of flowers and other plants to liven up the place. It gives me the chills at how they tried to disguise this place as somewhere nice when it is anything but that.

The guards take me through a set of double doors that lead to another room that looks to be the back of a stage. There’s light equipment and props lying all over the place. Several other Damned are chained next to their own set of guards, all looking down at their feet in fear.

They’re all dolled up like I am. The men are dressed in fine, tailored suits, and the women in an array of ball gowns much like mine, only theirs are all white.

This is just sick…

All of the Damned in the room begin to perk up and look to me, having probably felt my presence. However, their faces fall once again when they see I’m chained just as they are, only more heavily.

One of the males, an Incubus, goes to say something to me, but I slowly shake my head at him in warning. There’s no telling what these people will do to him if he tries speaking to me, so it’s best he keeps quiet while we’re surrounded. Thankfully, the Incubus looks to the guards and understands. He closes his mouth and resumes his forlorn look like the others.

“Listen up, monsters,” a human guard says, his tone giving off as much disdain as his facial expression. “You’re all about to be auctioned off to the highest bidders. Whoever buys you gets to decide what to do with you. No matter what, you won’t be leaving this facility. You’re slaves. They can torture you, kill you, or even fuck you. I don’t really care. Either way, you’re theirs for however long they want. Got it?”

The others nod their heads, but I only glare at the man. He sneers at me but makes no comment at my lack of agreement.

A loud voice booms into a microphone through the door that I could only guess leads to the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have all eyes on me! We have a beautiful collection of different species to show you tonight! However, I must warn you; no matter how beautiful these creatures may look, they are not human and areverydangerous. We thank you all for participating in this truly remarkable event,” the announcer adds.

I’m going to fucking kill them for this, the Lupin included. Do they not care that I’m their Arbiter, or are they hoping I’m tortured and killed during this shit showbecauseof who I am?

“Most of you are repeat clients and know what is expected should you win the bid, but just in case this is your first time here at The Factory, I shall remind you of the rules,” the announcer continues. “Once a bid is placed, you cannot rescind your offer. Once your purchase is made, there are no exchanges or returns. You are not required to kill your prize, but you are required to return them to us should you not. No creature in the auction is to be taken from this facility, or you shall reap the consequences. A non-disclosure agreement will be signed before acquiring your prize to make sure none of what happens within these walls will be discussed outside of them. And finally, each winning bid will be given a private room of their choice to follow through with whatever they plan to do with their asset. We have luxurious rooms in the higher levels for more privacy, as well as chambers in the lower levels of the building that will supply you with many tools of choice for torturing needs.”

A round of applause meets my ears from the audience, making my stomach roll with bile. These sick fucks all deserve to die. It doesn’t matter that we’re different. We feel as deeply as humans, if not moreso. We deserve to live normal lives just as much as they do.

They will all pay.

“Without further ado, let’s meet our auctions for the night! We have a wide range of specimens for you as well as a special auction at the end of the night,” the man exclaims, and the applause grows.

Without a doubt, that special auction is me. I reach deep within myself and feel my power coming back little bits at a time. The serum they injected is thankfully wearing off. I hide my smile of satisfaction as one of the guards opens the door, and the Damned are led out one by one. I’m the last to be herded through.

I tune out the applause and push down at my power, making sure to hide it as much as possible from the Damned who’re guarding us. They already know who I am, so hiding that isn’t the goal. It’s because I plan to let them believe that I am vulnerable, and they are safe. I want them to think that they have all the power. I want them to feel like they’ve gotten away with something and will reap the benefits of the deal they’ve made.

When in fact, they will meet their end in this room. And no amount of power will save them from the eternal Damnation I will rain down upon them and every human in there.

I’m the fucking Arbiter, and I’ll show no mercy.

Monroe

I knew she was here the moment she stepped through the doors of this damned place, having recognized her scent and the feel of her power like it was my own. I was both elated and pissed all at once. There was no way she’d been captured. She’d let them take her. My girl was much too strong to come unwillingly.

I wait patiently in this bare room, biding my time until the right moment. I’m not sure why they put me in here, but I can only imagine it’s because they knew their pathetic silver cell couldn’t hold me. Honestly, this room probably couldn’t hold me either, which is why they’ve kept me sedated a majority of my stay.

It’s a bit insulting, actually.

I feel her power grow tenfold not long after she enters, and I know why. I had been sedated the moment I saw what was being done to our people, and the horrors of their torture will live inside my mind like a plague the rest of my existence. I thought us Damned were good at torture, but apparently humans have become far more creative than their counterparts of old.

Her power is quickly snuffed out and almost unreadable after a few moments, letting me know they probably sedated her like me. I wish they hadn’t let her see that. Then again, that rage she felt could be what saves us all. She is far more powerful than she knows. Especially having two different forms other than her human one. A fact I found most interesting when she shared that little bit of information. She truly is a marvel, and I can only imagine how much power she’d have if she melded the two parts together. I’m not entirely sure that’s possible, but Nocturna isn’t like the Arbiters before her. Her sense of justice is perfectly balanced. Her heart lies with both sides of the spectrum when it comes to the supernatural.

And that’s what will make her the strongest Arbiter to ever walk the three planes.

I wait for at least another hour before I feel her again. Unfortunately, her power is barely a hum, so they must’ve dosed her more heavily than me. I just hope they still don’t know who she is. Them lacking the information could give us an advantage.

Forty-five minutes later, I perk up a little in my seated position on the bed when her presence enters the floor I’m on. It’s almost time. They’ve conveniently spaced out the sedation since I’ve acted compliant longer in between each dosage. They probably think it’s not needed as thoroughly. They’re wrong, but I won’t be the one to point that out.

---