Chapter Thirty-Eight
“Enough. Enough,”
One of the men confidently grasped the microphone, his voice resonating through the room. As the disco lights swirled and danced, a beam of light suddenly illuminated his face, revealing his features with stunning clarity.
My face immediately contorted into a scowl as I caught sight of his face, the man with piercing gray eyes… “That bastard!” I seethed, completely unaware of Alma’s bubbling excitement next to me.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
“Hey!” She nudged me, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
“What?!” I snapped, my irritation evident.
“Isn’t he handsome?” She giggled, and I couldn’t help but shoot her a sharp glare. “Have you lost your mind? Can’t you use that brain of yours for once?” I spat, giving her a scrutinizing look.
The smile slowly faded from her face, replaced by a frown. “What did I do now?”
“Everything… You’ve done everything wrong by checking on an enemy who should be six feet under!” I barked, but she quickly covered my mouth, silencing me.
“Shh,” she hushed me, her eyes widening as she scanned our surroundings. “Do you want to get us killed?” she asked, taken aback by my outburst. “Just accept your fate, baby girl. We’re trapped here.”
Growling, I forcefully shrugged off her hands and turned to face the crowd. The jerk was up on the stage, flashing his mischievous pearly white canines.
“Welcome to our home, the Blood Moon Pack in Milan, the city ruled by the King of all kings, Alessandro Leonardo. Step into our domain and feel the power that flows through our veins. Welcome!”
I couldn’t help but grimace at his pompous welcome speech. “Teks… Too proud,” I muttered under my breath, shooting him a disdainful glare.
“Just like always, the king won’t grace us with his presence. He sends his greetings,” The guy who I assumed to be Lucas, the one who had walked in with that jerk, announced. The crowd erupted into a wild frenzy of screams and applause, which only served to irritate me.
My anger intensified as I noticed even the slaves clapping, a glimmer of admiration in their eyes.
Fools…. I snarled.
“The auction is about to begin! We’re starting the bidding at five million dollars for number one!” Lucas announced, stepping back to let that jerk take charge.
A trembling slave was pushed towards the center, her tag number prominently displayed around her neck. From my observation, it was clear that she was scared, and it filled me with a sense of pity for her.
“She’s terrified,” I remarked to Alma.
“She should be grateful. They’re even bidding higher for her,” she replied.
Seriously… I snapped my head in her direction. This girl is so ignorant, that I feel like shaking some sense into her.
“Seven million!” Marcus exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. “We’ve got a bid of seven million!” A bidder in a black cloak raised his hand, causing Lucas to beam with delight.
“Ten million!” another man shouted, his hand held high in the air.
Damnit… The girl was visibly trembling with fear and disgust.
This is not good at all.
“Twelve million dollars!”
“Sixteen million dollars!… Eighteen million dollars….. Twenty-three million dollars!”
“Sixty million dollars!” Another person screamed, causing a gasp to ripple through the crowd. The price continued to climb higher and higher, and I couldn’t stand it. The anger inside me increased.
Unable to bear the anger any longer, I made up my mind to leave. But just as I turned to go, a voice rang out, “Eighty million dollars!!” The entire building fell into a stunned silence. Murmurs and whispers filled the room.
Alma gasped, clearly taken aback. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her. I still couldn’t comprehend how selling people could be seen as exciting or normal to them. The anger and humiliation that some of these slaves would endure there were unbearable to me. So, I carefully made my way out, ensuring I didn’t step on anyone’s toes.
I feel suffocated there!
Damn it… I groaned and hurriedly left the place without even thinking of informing Alma. She didn’t even notice that I left. I walked briskly down the unfamiliar hallway, bursting into the restroom. My breath was erratic, heaving up and down in panic. I stumbled inside, placing my hand over my chest to steady my breathing and gather my thoughts on how to escape this den of immorality. I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be my fate one day.
Standing on that stage, in front of that crowd, and being bid like a worthless soul by those disgusting fellows.
The whole place was filled with those disgusting vampires and daft slaves.
Hissing in frustration, I quickly walked down the corridor, glancing behind me to ensure no one was following. I just needed a moment to cool off somewhere and think until this stupid ceremony was over. I stopped in front of one of the restroom doors and forcefully pushed it open, only to freeze in my tracks as I came face to face with two people engaged in an intimate act.
Fuck it……. I should have instantly turned around and vanished since it was none of my business. But for some unknown and odd reason, my legs felt stuck to the floor, unmoving as I stared at them with wide eyes.
Just then, the girl lifted her head, and our gazes locked. Her face seemed damn familiar… I twitched my eyebrow in confusion as her name flashed through my mind – “Sofia,” I mumbled, and she quickly pushed the strange guy away.
“What the fuck is an enemy doing here?” the guy spit, his face crumpled in a frown.
Gulping hard, I shook my head as the spell holding me in that spot dissipated. “I’m sorry,” I muttered and quickly turned around to leave. I could feel Sofia picking up her dress, wearing it on her body, and rushing after me.
“Hey, you!”
I didn’t stop; I rushed out of the latrine corridor toward the hallway, my pace fast as I tried to leave the place as soon as possible.
“Stop there, slave!” she shouted, her voice filled with authority.
I yelped as she pulled my hair, forcing me to turn around. Her gaze pierced into mine, demanding an explanation.
“Why are you stopping me?” I asked, quickly squatting her hands off my hair.
“Don’t pretend, you know why,” she snapped.
“I have no idea what you’re saying,” I cleared my throat, feigning innocence. After all, it’s none of my business.
“I know you’re gonna use this to buy favor in front of King Alessandro. I know bitches like you!” she sneered.
“King Alessandro,” I spit, my face crinkled in disgust. “Look, I don’t care what you do, and I have no business with your king,” I blurted out, though something inside me seemed to contradict my own words. It was confusing, but I decided not to dwell on it too much.
“Well, you smell like trouble since the first time I saw you,” she interrupted with a snarl. I looked away from her, tilting my head away from her face. “But just remember, you’re a mere slave… an enemy! So your word will never be chosen over mine. NEVER!”
“Since you know that, tell me why you’re still so shaky,” I smirked, causing her to stop pacing and glare at me.
“Just shut the fuck up!” she barked, the look on her face resembling that of an enraged beast.
“Watch your tongue or have me handle them,” she threatened, but just then a voice came from the door. “You’re still with the slave?” the guy asked, coming up to stand beside the fuming Sofia.
“You should be in the ceremony,” he snarled.
“Hmm… yep,” I let out a dry chuckle, nodding. I saw this as my opportunity to flee from the presence of that enraged beast before she could try to stop me.
But something bugs me… What’s her relationship with Alessandro Leonardo, and why does she seem so scared of being exposed?
Why do I feel restless knowing they share some kind of unknown bond? I can’t be feeling this way for that arrogant bastard…. An enemy!