Game of the Vampires

Chapter 2:

     Mai and I were herded inside the auction house along with the other girls. We were moved to the back room that led to the stage.

     Mai clung to me as we passed by the slave masters. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as I kept my eyes glued forward. My goal was to avoid that hungry, red-eyed gaze that they gave us.

     I saw some of the boy slaves being led to another room. Some were barely even twelve. The younger boys were apprentices if they were allowed to live. The young and weak were killed as soon as they were registered within a camp. It was the same for girls, as well.

     Girls and boys were rarely allowed to socialize with each other because of the watchers' fear of proximity. Only in times of assigned jobs could we work with boys. Sometimes the watchers wouldn't let us talk. We were assigned to work as quickly as possible and move on.

     My attention was pulled from the boys when Fran began lining us up. When she came to us, she frowned at our linked hands before grabbing my hand away from Mai's. Mai sent me a nervous glance as I was yanked towards the back of the line. I gave her a small smile to try to comfort her before I moved to my assigned spot in line.

     I glanced around the sea of girls, looking for Mai before I felt someone behind me nudge me forward as the line began to move.

     The dim lights of the stage washed over me as I took my place on the stage. My eyes fluttered a few times as I tried to adjust to the lighting.

     I had lost sight of Mai, and it was actually beginning to worry me. My attention was snapped to the audience as I heard a voice on the microphone.

     The crowd mostly consisted of male buyers and slave owners. Most of the males were in their twenties or older. The room was almost packed to the roof with the red-eyed creatures. One group of buyers, seated at the balcony overlooking the event, caught my attention: the head coven.

     This event was dedicated to them. This is why most of the people showed up. Everything else was merely a side show of entertainment.

     The only reason I knew who they were was because I saw them once on the news my old owner used to watch. There were six from the clan tonight.

     The king, the elder, was seated in front of the others on the balcony. Two other men were guards. One was turned away from the stage, enabling me to make out his features. The other guard with a shaved head surveyed the room.

     The other three, I assumed, were the king's three sons. The first I saw had dark red hair. His attention was consumed in a book. Only occasionally would be glance up at the stage.

     The second son had stark-white hair that looked slightly tousled. He took a sip of his dark-colored drink as his eyes danced across the stage with eagerness and excitement.

     The last son had black hair that was spiked in the back and slightly fell above his eyes in the front. He seemed bored as he slouched in his chair with his head propped against his hand.

     A part of me was secretly mesmerized by them. I scorned that one part. After all, they are only creatures in disguise who love pain. Still, I couldn't deny that I was fascinated by them.

     Another voice sounded over the speakers. I turned my attention away from the crowd and tuned in to the announcer.

     "Good evening. Tonight, we hold this event for our king and his family. We hope that this will help you find the perfect selection for your games."

     A few cheers and applause sounded when the announcer paused.

     "This will be our last group of females tonight. The age range for this group are twelve to twenty-six. We will begin the auction."