Well It's up later on Wednesday than I wanted, but better late than never right? Anyways this is part 8 of the Tower story. I'll try to get things up in a more timely manner next time.
Tower part 8
Across the arena a group of armed vampires walked into a
large padded booth taking up positions before a white figure walked slowly and
gracefully into the booth to sit down. The white figure pulled back the cloth
veil to reveal a beautiful woman whose mere presence caused the entire chamber
to fall into silence. The woman raised her hand and a loud booming voice told
everyone that the auction would begin momentarily.
“Who’s that?” Trell leaned forward to whisper to Kaitlyn.
“Our leader, the White Queen.” Kaitlyn replied simply eyes
shifting from the arena floor to the White Queen briefly.
Trell looked across the arena at the White Queen as another
woman of equal beauty joined her. There was something about the White Queen
that was both entrancing and terrifying. Before he could turn his attention
back to the arena floor where the auction was starting Trell found the White
Queens gaze on him. Her eyes from across the room where powerful and almost
demanded that the person they fell upon speak the utmost truth to her. It was
difficult but Trell managed to tear his eyes away from the White Queens powerful
gaze and focus on the auction that had now begun.
There was a half naked man that was holding up the first
item for sale, a book that had been written some five hundred years before by a
monk. Kaitlyn expressed no interest in the book and sat waiting and watching as
other people bid for the book. At first Trell couldn’t tell why Kaitlyn had
called the auction barbaric. It didn’t seem like there was any strange things happening,
but then it happened. The winner of the book descended down a set of stairs to
the arena floor to claim his prize and without warning grabbed the slave
holding the book and tore into his neck. The book fell from the mans hands but
was deftly caught by another vampire standing nearby for just such an
occurrence. The auction winner drank his fill from the slave and took the
proffered cloth to clean himself with. The scent of blood filled the air as the
vampire collected his book and returned to his seat.
“What in the hells was that?” Trell hissed leaning forward
to talk to Kaitlyn only to have her shove him back into his seat giving him a
very angry look.
“That’s part of the auction.” Selena whispered to Trell.
“The winner of the item can do whatever they wish to the slave that holds it.”
“That’s horrible!” Trell said watching two vampires move the
slaves body off to one side as another slave came out holding a glass urn.
“It is why Mistress does not like coming to the auctions.”
Selena said watching Trell closely to make sure he didn’t do anything foolish.
Trell was about to say something to Kaitlyn when the bidding
for the glass urn started. Kaitlyn showed no interest at first, but jumped in
when many of the other bidders were shaking their heads at the price. Looking
around to where Trell had seen Gelt sit down he found that he wasn’t there, it
would seem that Kaitlyn had waited for him to leave before bidding. The bidding
war ended with Kaitlyn victorious as was expected, she quickly got up and
walked down to the arena floor dragging Trell and Selena with her.
Kaitlyn accepted the urn and handed it to Selena before
eying the slave that had been holding it. The girl was young and clearly
terrified of what was going to happen to her. Trell wondered if she had seen
the other slave get killed before she entered the arena, he hoped not. Kaitlyn
seemed to think about what to do with the girl for a moment before holding her
hand out to the guard standing by the slave girl. Trell thought Kaitlyn was offering
him the girl for some reason and was about to protest when the guard took out a
collar and fitted it around the girls neck. He then handed the leash to Kaitlyn
who nodded her thanks and led all three of them out of the arena and back
towards the outdoors.
