Bloodgate

Chapter 3: Bloodgate

The ballroom was lit up like Christmas. People flocked through the room wearing million dollar pearls and diamonds.

The dress was uncomfortable.

Sierra couldn't stop thinking about the stupid dress. She showed her invitation to the young man in front of the room. He compared her invitation to a computer, probably making sure she was not a cop. Her alias was solid however, and after a minute she was waved in. His eyes lingered just a little too long on her as she walked by. She quickly dismissed it and entered the room.

"I'm in."

Her earrings were rigged with miniature microphones, and a small speaker was placed in the crook of her ear.

"Good job proceed to phase two."

Caroline's voice drifted in her ear over the classical music that was playing in the large room. Tables lined the edge of the room, selling various items and services to the wealthy individuals walking around. Sierra glanced at her watch. Ten minutes. She walked over to one of the tables, wanting to blend in. A waiter passed her, holding a tray of champagne. She stopped him and took a glass. The waiter nodded and moved on. As he turned, Sierra saw that he had a very small earpiece in. Stupid soilder. Sierra hoped that their cover wasn't going to be blown, it would make things harder.

She felt exposed in this room. The dress was restricting, she was only able to get one knife strapped to her thigh into the room. She quickly eyed the armed guards at the corners of the room. They were equipped with expensive assault rifles, probably stolen military. The wielders of these weapons were more of an intimidation factor, she knew that. The people they were protecting could handle themselves.

Sierra made her way to the front of the room, where a stage had been set up. Slowly others made their way to the front until everyone in the room was standing in a small half-circle. A short and overweight man made his way to the stage.

"Welcome to the auction, please wait a moment while we set things up."

With that the man waddled his way off the stage and scurried away to prepare. Light conversation filled the space around her as the millionaires and billionaires talked about what was about to happen.

"You look a little young to be here miss."

Sierra turned to see a middle-aged man smiling at her. He wore an expensive suit with a large gold watch. His salt and pepper black hair seemed to almost shine in the bright lights of the ballroom.

"I am here on behalf of my father's organization." Sierra replied. "People tend to back off when I start making bids."

The man laughed. He seemed nice. Sierra knew that he had to be awful, why else was he here?

"Now that I know you secret, I will have to watch out for you. If you don't mind me asking, who is your father?"

Sierra wondered where this man was getting at. He seemed almost anxious to hear her response. He must have an enemy among this crowd. Just before she answered the fat man arrived on the stage.

"We will now start the auction."

The man behind her had wandered off so Sierra was free to move into a better position. She moved her way to the front of the crowd. She kept her hand near the knife, waiting for the target.

Sierra had never seen anything as illegal and inhumane as that auction was. She blocked out most of it, but there was many awful things that happened that would keep her awake for years to come. At last however, the main event was coming.