Devour

Day 2

Awoken to the sound of sobbing, I stood up from my fitful sleep: it was auction day. Looking around the pool house, I jumped as the door unlocked. It was a woman dressed in black and held an umbrella. The first thought that came to mind was goth. Then I looked closer and gasped: it was the dead girl. Two angry welts were on her neck and she had the girl's warm smile.

"Good morning girls!"

I was at a loss for words. How could she still be alive? I remembered her lifeless eyes and the scared look on her face. I winced at the memory and reached out to touch her. She then grew fangs and angrily hissed at me. This was not the girl from the shack.

"Yes I am the girl from last night, do not try to converse with me as I am under compulsion."

"Compulsion?"

"You will find your outfits in your bedside table along with a number."

I hesitantly returned to my green bed and opened the drawer. Inside, was a black dress, an emerald necklace, and the number five. I then turned to find her staring at me. I looked around, the only bed without a person was March.

"Now get dressed, I will come back with your stylist."

"What is all this for?"

"Even cattle have to look their best."

I glared at her, I took offense to that comment. We are simply "cattle" whatever that meant. We're we not considered human? Then I remembered, this is beyond human. The stubborn Taurus I was, I refused to get dressed. The stylists came in and they gave me a worried look. One of them ran over to me and dragged me into the bathroom just as I heard March's voice. I crossed my arms, I won't let them win.

"You need to get dressed."

"Why should I?"

"Listen. You don't want to mess with these-"

"Yes, but what exactly are they!"

"Vampires."

I scoffed at this answer, vampires were only in fairy tales! Then I remembered: the bite marks, the compulsion, the blood. I stared at my feet, what a predicament I have gotten myself into. He styled me in silence and I got dressed. I looked in the mirror holding my neck. All this makeup was a waste, I would most likely be dead by sun down.

***

They led us through the house blindfolded, so I focused on my breathing and listened around: there were people here. I heard the clanking of glass and the ugly cackle of some woman. Everyone got quiet once we entered and I could feel their stares piercing my skin.

"Poor May, she won't last long."

"Maybe with Orpheus auctioning."

"You know Cerberus loves the taste of May."

I wondered what the mystery people meant by that. We then stopped and they removed our blindfolds. Looking around I saw the glowing eyes and pale skin of vampires. I also saw blood, and lots of it. Then my heart stopped, I saw the man from my dreams or rather nightmares. We glanced at each other and quickly looked away. A very old vampire stood on a balcony and raised his hands.

"Welcome to the 100th Blood Auction! We have I fine selection of cattle and you know how this goes. Bets on January?"

January was the youngest of our group, she trembled and I couldn't believe what was going on. This was sick. How could anyone think of a little girl as cattle? Then I remembered, these were monsters. I listened to the bets and waited for my turn.

"Bets on the sweetest month, May?"

"500!"

"1000!"

"5000!"

"5000 going once...twice...-"

"20,000."

"Excuse me Orpheus?"

"20,000 dollars, cash."

"Sold! Claim your prize tomorrow and I will retrieve my money, today."