142 The Late Show (1/2)
\”Welcome to the Special Samhain Auction hosted by the Under Ring, proprietors of the Wailing House.\” A pixie in fine livery bowed his head to us. \”Might I see your invitation?\”
Kallista, gorgeous in her tight red velvet dress, passed a card to him.
He spent a brief second looking at the card before turning his gaze on each of us in turns.
\”Welcome, Madam Kallista of the famed Rings of Fortune Auctioneers,\” he said in welcoming tone. Then he addressed us, \”And these are?\”
\”My guests,\” Kallista said in almost imperious manner like she wasn't about to be questioned by the doorman about who she brought with her.
She pushed the pixie aside and walked in. And while he looked on at her with half of a protest stuck in his mouth, Aura, Luca, Shanks, and I followed her through the threshold of the Wailing House's front entrance.
It was ironic that we were walking in through the front door when we'd infiltrated and caused mayhem inside the estate only the previous night. Of course, this time we were disguised to keep the guards from noticing who we were.
Not that the masquerade-styled mask that covered Shank's face could hide his massive physique. The garish blue coat he wore did nothing to make him look any less conspicuous either.
Luca, on my left, was dressed in a similar style. He wore the same masquerade mask and coat Shank's sported as they were both playing the role of our bodyguards.
But Aura, who was on my right, well, she'd quieted down an entire lobby full of self-important fairies and human viseres just by entering the hall in a golden gown that only served to highlight her beauty. Indeed, it was as if Idunn, the golden moon, had come down from the heavens for a single night to walk amongst the mere mortals.
Weirdly enough, that was exactly what happened in the fairy version of the legend of Samhain.
Aura's chin-length golden hair had been parted to one side and held together by a crystal hairband. Her beautiful face was uncovered, yet painted in the style of the old druids, swirls of leaf patterns forming across her cheeks.
I did my best not to steal a glance at her for fear that my brain would crash. After all, I needed my wits about me tonight and.
Ironically enough, Kallista said the same thing as she led us up the Wailing House's central staircase.
\”Keep your wits about you,\” she whispered. \”There are many vipers here tonight.\”
The party made our way up the red-carpeted steps but were stopped just as we'd reached the second floor by a bald dwarf whose own cheeks had been painted with the word 'Leprechaun' written across his rather large nose.
\”Gorgeous Kallista,\” he called to her, raising his hands forward in greeting. \”I didn't think I'd expect you at my auction. Didn't you always hate trading in slaves?\”
Kallista was a master at the fake laughter.
The dwarf named Qarta stroked his rather impressively long beard. \”Count Oculus, you say? Don't think I've heard of you before?\”
This was my cue to step forward. And I did exactly this while ensuring to whip my black cape back with a flourish.
I inclined my masked face to the dwarf while thinking in my head that my costume looked too much like that of The Phantom of the Opera.
Qarta's initial skepticism of me vanished almost immediately after he'd noticed the finery of my clothes and the jewelry that adorned my neck and fingers. All pieces Aura had lent me to complete the look of a wealthy slave owner looking for something new to play with.
\”I hope you find what you're looking for in our auction,\” he whispered conspiratorially to me. \”We of the Under Ring pride ourselves in providing our clients with every kind of pleasure or sin they could ask for.\”
I felt my skin crawl as we walked away from him. I was certainly going to need a shower after this whole night was over.
On the second floor landing, an usher guided our party to a private room that opened into its own balcony that overlooked the right side of the auditorium.
The three of us took our seats in the balcony while Luca and Shanks stood behind us like the guards they pretended to be.
\”I feel naked without my broadsword, Dean,\” Luca complained.
\”You fight just as well with your fists, little brother,\” I countered. \”Take this as an opportunity to polish your skills.\”
I ignored Luca's sigh of protest and gazed out at the packed seats below us.
\”Big crowd,\” I said.
Just like your typical movie theatre showing the next big summer blockbuster, the seats were full to bursting with eager faces—the sleazeballs. After all, this was a slave auction.
\”Promise me you won't go crazy and try to free every human you see down there?\” Aura pleaded.
\”Almost sounds like you think I'll do something crazy and jump down to rescue all the slaves down there,\” I countered.
\”You do strike me as someone who'd do that,\” Shanks added from behind.
\”He's definitely someone who'd do that,\” Luca agreed.
I turned around in my seat to glare at him.
\”I'm not suicidal, you know,\” I reasoned. Then gave my brother the once over and noticed that his hands were shaking slightly. \”You sure you want to be here, Luca?\”