Eterna

~Chapter 8~ Silent Auction

We set up an area to sleep and put our trust in Payne's diligence. It was after midnight when Payne woke me from my sleep.

"What's wrong?"

"We need to move."

We started to wake everyone up when we heard a scream.

Kalu had been caught in a net and was kicking and screaming like her life depended on it. I ran to her but it was too late. The net she was caught in skyrocketed backward and she was pulled into the darkness of the forest.

"Kalu!"

"Stop screaming!"

Devon grabbed me and covered my mouth.

"Stay calm. Don't panic. Reuben."

"What the hell is goin' on?" Reuben said as he yawned and scratched his head.

"Can you focus please?"

"Yeah, yeah sure."

"Kalu was just kidnapped. Can you track her?"

"Yeah, just gimme a minute."

"We might not have a minute!" I yelled.

"Okay! Dammit! And I was having the best dream..."

Reuben got on all fours and began to breathe heavily. His body elongated and he began to change. Hair grew all over his body and he took on the features of a wolf; a very large, vicious wolf.

"Keep up." He snarled.

He ran through the forest, cutting through shrubs and trees with ease. He lead us into a clearing and we saw a fully illuminated house and people going inside. He changed back in an instant.

"Somebody owes me a new shirt."

"Impressive." Said Devon. "But how are we getting in?"

"Let go of me! I said let GO!"

Kalu struggled as she was thrown into a damp, dirty cell. Other prisoners backed up against the wall, staring with wide eyes.

"Wh-where am I?"

"Hell." Said a voice from the far corner of the cell.

Kalu strained her eyes and saw a slender, young, blonde haired figure giving water to a younger prisoner.

"Hello."

"Hi." Said the stranger. "I'm Isaiah. These are holding cells for Upper Auctions, which you happen to now be a part of."

"What's an Upper Auction?"

"You're not from around here, huh?"

Kalu shook her head.

"Upper Auctions are where they take beings like us; winged creatures, and enslave us for our wings. They hold illegal auctions once a month and saw off our wings to auction off to the highest bidder. The Falens go first, then the Mechs, and then us."

"What are you?"

"We're Rited. Our wings go for the highest price."

The man stepped out of the darkness to reveal young features, and striking white wings.

"Wow, they're beautiful."

"Thank you. Yours are lovely too."

"Yeah, I forgot I had them."

"That's strange."

"Uh, yeah. I don't use them much."

"Well, you'll probably be going out with us. Adonian wings are extremely rare and very expensive."