Chapter 137 - Dhampir Knight

Theora frowned, slightly taken aback.

"...An auction?"

Reylan replied only with a stiff nod, his eyes riveted on their view into the room. Theora wasn't sure how much his human eyes could see; the clouded night worked for them, as it lowered the risk someone would spot them, but it also made the night very dark and the inside of the room perhaps harder to see.

"You have been here before?"

"I tried entering once, but they kicked me out right away," he hissed. "Security is tight. This is the closest I could go."

Given how wealthy the customers they could see seemed, it made sense. Even with most of them keeping their capes on, Theora counted many shiny earrings, necklaces, and rings. It was hard to identify anyone. Most of the customers either kept the hood of their capes on or had dark hair. She did notice many pairs of red eyes behind masks, however. She stiffened without thinking; she had never seen so many vampires gathered in one place. There were a few humans with other eye colors, but red was definitely the dominant color. She wondered if her half-brother was among them. She'd only seen him for a handful of minutes; would she recognize him under a mask? Vampires all had red eyes and dark hair, and with masks covering their facial features, it was almost impossible to identify anyone, even with her eyesight. In fact, she wondered if the guests even knew each other, as there was hardly any mingling. She had caught some conversations going on in whispers, but it was her enhanced hearing picking up on things that some humans in the same room might not even hear themselves. Theora tried to focus on one and realized it was a couple chatting about their budget for the auction. Another exchange was a couple propositioning a third individual, and all the voices were male, making her raise an eyebrow and move on. She tried to listen some more, but either the voices were really quiet, which made sense given how good the hearing of vampires was, or the topics were irrelevant. Most guests were silent or on their own, too. Some were pacing the room, but after a few minutes, many gradually started taking their seats. She couldn't see all the seats, how many people there were, or how big the room was, but it was clear most people were sitting down. Theora's eyes went to a female figure sat at the back who felt familiar, but she couldn't figure out why, as a full mask completely covered her face. She had long black hair, which seemed to indicate she was probably a vampire, and wore a beautiful silver diadem with shiny gemstones. Her eyes should have been visible, but frustratingly for Theora, her body was angled the wrong way for her to see them.

Suddenly, everyone went quiet, and sat down, facing one end of the room. Theora couldn't see what they were all looking at, but seconds later, she had the answer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Our Grand Auction is pleased to welcome you back tonight! I am your host, and you may call me Mister Gold!"

His moniker made a few people giggle in the room. Because he was speaking for all the room to hear, Theora could listen to him just fine, but she noted he wasn't particularly raising his voice; it certainly wouldn't reach the ears of passersby in the street below.

"Tonight, we uphold the century-long tradition of the Kingdom’s most exclusive event, a tradition that has survived decades—thanks to the utmost discretion of you all, the elite gathering not just to indulge in fortune but to secure the rarest treasures and secrets this world has to offer! Thanks to your patronage, our reputation remains unchanged over the decades—those who attend leave with more than just a prize; they leave with treasures like no other, delights galore, and testaments to their wealth! This evening, we promise you wonders from across the Kingdom, items beyond imagination, and mysteries long coveted by the greatest families of the Kingdom. Prepare your credits and ready your bids, for what we present here cannot be found anywhere else. Our treasures—some of them passed down through generations, others newly acquired—are yours to claim if you dare. But do remember, ladies and gentlemen, our dealings here ought to remain the best-kept secret in the Kingdom! By dawn, this will be nothing but a dream, and our presence will be nothing but a whisper in the wind until we have the pleasure of inviting you for the next evening of delight. Now, ladies and gentlemen, may the bidding begin!"

The people in the room clapped their hands, and a cold shiver ran down Theora's spine, one that had nothing to do with the night’s cold wind. This was an illegal auction, there was no doubt. The secretive customers, the exclusive access, the clear warning in the auctioneer's voice... They weren't about to bid on everyday items, and she had a bad feeling about it.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen! I remind you that each item's bid will start at a hundred silver credits. While it might be a measly sum for your gorgeous wallets, we guarantee that we have nothing but the extraordinary tonight!"

Theora couldn't help but grimace. How was a hundred silver credits a "measly" sum?

"To start off the night, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce this gorgeous set of glass jewelry! While the craftsmanship and design might not follow the current trends, you should know that those incomparable items were crafted in the Ruby Lands on the orders of Queen Milena herself!"

Theora's eyebrows shot to her hairline, and she was frustrated that she couldn't see the set. While she would never spend so much money on some glass jewelry, she was eager to get a glimpse of anything related to the Dhampir Queen.

"As you may notice, despite being decades old, this set of jewelry has hardly aged, a testament to the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kingdom's Ice Age! Queen Milena launched the tidal wave, which was the trend of glass jewelry with durable items and exquisite craftsmanship! While the trend has long faded and the glass industry has moved on, those iconic pieces certainly are invaluable! First worn during the Queen's brother, Duke De Crescent's engagement party, and again for Queen Milena and King Rayan's twentieth anniversary, this set is rumored to have been amongst the favorites of the Queen herself! Now, ladies and gentlemen, while we all know this gorgeous set belongs in the Royal Museum, you have this unique chance to acquire it for yourself! Now, will any of you- Yes, to the gentleman in the blue mask, we have a first bid of a hundred and fifty silver credits! Wonderful! Who for two hundred? Come on, ladies and gentlemen, you know we never present an item twice!"

Theora listened, appalled, as more people bid. She had no doubt that this set belonged in a museum and should never have appeared in a shady auction, but she couldn't understand why Reylan had brought her here.

"What is this about?" she asked him in a whisper, confused.

"Keep listening," he simply hissed.

So she did. She listened as piece after piece was presented to the public, and from what she heard, little of them should have been available for individuals to buy. A lot of those were linked to the royal family or the duchies, and she could not help but grimace when a bracelet that had belonged to ArchDuchess Maribella De Crescent was presented, too. The auctioneer often emphasized how sensationally the item had been obtained, like found in a dramatic fire that had burned down a building, stolen during a break-in, or mysteriously found in a secret room by a greedy heir. The more gruesome and tragic the story, the more bids they got. One of them almost made her gasp.

"This delightful piece has been lost for over a decade, ladies and gentlemen! Rumored to have been bestowed to Lady Astoria De Winter by none other than the "defeated Queen," Lady Philomenie De Winter, for her wedding to the Cursed Duke, this marvelous piece was lost during the tragic accident that took the young Duchess's life! Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have to warn you: this piece is also rumored to carry a curse! But, isn't it a delightful item? With seventeen light-blue sapphires, ten small clear diamonds, and a design so intricate it is said to have been crafted by a Holy One! Now, this is one of our best pieces for this evening, we have high expectations for it! This wonderful piece is valued at a hundred gold credits, no less! But how much do you, dear guests, value this incomparable item? Will you fear the curse that tragically took the Duchess' life? Or will you defy the odds to behold a necklace made for a princess? ...Amazing! A hundred and fifty gold credits from the gentleman in the silver mask! Delightful! Who will dare bid next!"

Theora had a hard time betraying her emotions. She had to remind herself that Reylan was right next to her, and he couldn't find out who she was, not now. Still, a lump appeared in her throat, and she tried subtly to angle her body, desperate to see the necklace. Why did it sound so much like the one she had kept in a box at home? Had they stolen it? Was it true that this necklace had belonged to her mother and had been given by a former queen? Theora had never heard the story behind the necklace, and she'd never known what the gems on it were, but she knew in her gut that this was the necklace she kept hidden in a box in her bedroom. Or did her mom have other necklaces? But they said it was lost in the accident she hadn't actually died in... How could it be there? She wished she could fly home and check, but all she could do was add a sentence to her letter to Danell to beg him to check. She hadn't forgotten about that necklace, but she sure had pushed it to the back of her mind, and it was a brutal reminder. She should have taken better care of it. She should have kept it with her, maybe deposited it in a safe at the bank. Theora listened, heartbroken, feeling sorry like never before toward her mom, as the necklace was valued at insane prices by strangers.

"...That money could feed a family of six for a year," Reylan suddenly hissed.

Theora nodded. Truthfully, she was glad he had to focus on the auctioneer to hear what was going on, and hadn't noticed her turmoil of emotions. She listened to the necklace being bid away for no less than six hundred gold credits to the man in a silver mask. She couldn't see him from the window, but seeing how people turned their heads slightly, he was probably somewhere in the first rows. She wondered what kind of man was ready to pay that price for this item. Although she thought, for a split second, it might have been her father or brother, she sincerely hoped neither of them was present at this ominous auction. Feeling dejected and powerless, Theora let out a faint exhale and waited to hear more. She knew they hadn't come here for a couple of physical items, no matter how she felt about it. Reylan was obviously waiting for something else. A couple more items went, a watch and a painting whose artist had apparently been assassinated, and then, she felt the atmosphere shift noticeably.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen! We are reaching the pinnacle of our evening! I am sure our next prize will be the favorite of our red-eyed guests! Here is an absolutely gorgeous prize, as shown in this marvelous painting, which, I guarantee you for having seen the real thing myself, is an absolutely accurate sample of your next meal! Now, for obvious reasons, we couldn't have the real thing here, but we do have delicious samples for you to try!"

Theora almost let out a gasp of shock. She glanced at Reylan, who had gone completely stiff, a murderous look in his eyes. He didn't even look at her, his burning irises riveted on the window. They watched, grossed out, as the females in gold masks walked through the ranks, handing little cups to the guests who were asking for one. Theora watched as a woman sniffed her cup and tasted it like one would sample a fine wine. She felt even more awful, knowing all too well what they were sampling, for she had done it herself between the walls of The Blood Bank.

"Sixteen years old, female, with a delicate complexion, light brown hair, the face of a child, and the body of a woman! A virgin with smooth skin, the voice of a bird, and- And we already have a magnificent two hundred silver credits bid over there! Sir, you have excellent taste! Now, who else would love to acquire this gorgeous piece for three hundred? Yes, three hundred over there to the lady with the red and black mask! Wonderful! It seems our gorgeous songbird is in high demand. Do I have five hundred silver credits, ladies and gentlemen?"

"...They're bidding on humans?" Theora said in a broken voice.

"Blood slaves," Reylan muttered. "Slaves to bleed and use as much as they want."

"It's... It's inhumane!"

Reylan snorted.

"It's vampires," he retorted darkly.

Theora was so shocked she couldn't even talk back. She knew the people in the room were scum, the worst of the worst, bidding on stolen items and human lives. A part of her wanted to believe that not all vampires were like that. But if there were auctions selling humans, how common was that practice? How could she deny what was going on right in front of their eyes? She started shivering for good, her brain wandering in scary directions, suddenly flooded with terrifying thoughts. Had her father ever been to one of these? Did he own blood slaves in that manor of his? Did The Blood Bank know about blood slaves? They had told her the blood was sourced from willing and fairly paid sources, but how could she be sure? Was that... common amongst vampires? She couldn't see the whole room, but there were at least twenty or thirty vampires in there. What percentage of the vampire population was that? How often were those auctions held? Where the hell did they acquire actual humans to sell? She asked Reylan the last question in a whisper, although she immediately realized she already had the answer.

"The slums, mostly," he admitted. "Orphanages, too. ...Brothels, sometimes. Or servants that nobles want to get rid of."

"But... But someone must have reported this before! They can't... They can't enslave people, and no one notices!"

"They are nobles, Theora. How much shit do you think they get away with on a daily basis? How many secret rooms do you think their manors have? This is the world you don't know about that your vampire mates are all too familiar with."