“Angel Harrison.”
My heart thumped in my chest as I rose from seat and slowly made my way to the stage.
All eyes were on me. I tried to keep my face neutral. I’d seen this Ceremony every year since I’d been born. I’d seen my sister go through it the year before and my friends before.
I’m sixteen years old and as with everyone else in the world, on your sixteenth birthday you are sold into slavery of a vampire. Yes, a vampire. They used to be hidden in the world, but over the past two centuries they have came to power and have kept that party. Now, we are they’re slaves. Most vampires are cruel, ruthless, and heartless. But then there are those vampires who treat their slaves nicer, but they were rare.
Anyways, I made my way to the center of the stage and kept my eyes on the ground.
“Angel Harrison, sixteen years old as of yesterday. 115 pounds, 4 ft 6 in. Natural raven black hair, green eyes,” the Seller said into the microphone. “Oh, and how nice. A virgin.”
My face flushed at the laughter that came from the Buyer section of the room. Vampire’s for some reason prefer virgin blood. They said it was sweeter, more enjoyable. And the Seller was right. I was a virgin. I never saw the point of changing that since I wouldn’t be with the guy for the rest of my life. Still, my last boyfriend, Daniel, asked if we could have sex, but I said no and he accepted it.
“Since a virgin is so hard to find these days, how about we start the bidding at $100,000?”
“$150,000!”
“$200,000!”
“$275,000!”
Was virgin blood really that good? On and on it went and with each number called out breathing got harder and harder to do.
“The final bid is at $775,000! Going once, going twice-”
“$1,000,000!”
My head snapped up involuntarily. My eyes searched for the bidder, but there were so many vampires, I couldn’t be sure which spoke.
“King Tarus, always a pleasure to see you.” My heart sank. “Won’t you please come forward?”
King Tarus. One of the seven ruling families. I racked my brain trying to remember his family ways and how many children he had. But of course I was drawing up a blank.
“You already have quite a few slaves, my King. Which of children earned the virgin?”
King Tarus smiled. “My eldest son, Adrian, has yet to buy his own slave. So as a birthday gift, I am presenting him with this one.”
The Seller nodded. “I see, my King. Well rest assure, your son will certainly enjoy this one.”
Laughter rang out across the room and I was taken back stage to collect my things.
Well, I thought. This birthday can’t any worse.
