Chapter Nine

Alaska sat down, while Jefrey stood by him, Ariel don’t know if she should sit or stand but as she looks around, she could see there was no seat for her, so she stands closer to Jefrey afraid of what will become of her.

“Now that we are all here, let’s start the auction for this month” the coordinator said. 

Ariel frowns, looking confused. 

“Was this an auction?” she thinks silently.

“The first item we have here is named ‘Sapphire of silent’ it weighs 197.8 carats from ancient mines of Kashmir, it surfaces during the fall of Ottoman Empire, it passed through royal hands. According to legend, whoever possesses the gem enjoys a long time of dominance and extraordinary influence. It is going for $18 million” the coordinator said. 

Ariel’s face widens in utter shock. The item is oval in shape, looks like a watchful eye, black indigo with flashes of violent under the light.

“197.8 carats! $18 million!” she almost let out.  

One of the mafias sitting raise his hand. 

“$18 million”. 

Another raises his hand.

“$20 million”. 

“$20 million” the coordinator repeats. 

The first person raises his hand again. 

“$30 million”.

“$40 million”. A mafia from the third row said shocking everyone, he seems to be a VIP among the mafias, Ariel couldn’t see his face but he was guarded by three hefty mafias. 

Ariel looks at Alaska who sit quietly, he seems not to be interested in the item. 

“$40 million going” the coordinator said as no one was opposing. 

“Going” he repeats.

“$50 million!” Alaska interrupts him. Ariel looks so shock, she thought he wasn’t interested in the item but he wanted to bid when the price is high!

“$50 million going, going, gone. The item goes to Mr. Alaska” the coordinator said. The mafia who had bid the item for $40 million, Vito Cartel, is a powerful Russian Mafia lord.

Vito Cartel sat like a dark god three rows away from the stage and looks back at Alaska furiously, who looks unmoved. He has a Russian tattoo, coiled up his neck.

Looking at the tattoo, Ariel looks scared, it was then realized she that most of the mafias seated have one tattoo or the other, except Alaska and Jefrey. It feels creepy to see those dangerous tattoos all together, she wonders why Alaska and Jefrey don’t have tattoos, probably they have in a hidden place.

It was obvious Alaska doesn’t need the item but deliberately bid for it to provoke Vito. 

Ariel looks so scared with the furious look from the Vito, since she was with Alaska, she knew how dangerous it could be for her. 

“Why provoke him when it was obvious he was not interested in the item?” Ariel feels they might encounter trouble later with Vito. 

“The next item is a very important item, that we all have been waiting for. And this rare item, is the ‘Hell breach Mk V (CTN)’ this rare weapon is a low – yield battlefield nuclear device, 0.3 Kilton, from cold war relic, recovered and modified in Iran. It is said to be the last remaining deployable CTN on black market, it is red – line item, it goes for $120 million” the coordinator said. 

Ariel looks extremely shocked, she wonders what kind of weapon that is and how much of harm it could do and why will they even want to possess such item. 

At the mention of the item everyone present seems to be eager to possess it, many of the mafias raise their hands but Vito whom Alaska had provoked rise the price to $200 million which makes some to the mafias to drop their hands but Alaska bid more.

“$250 million” he said. Ariel keeps getting more shocked as they increase the price in competition. Vito looks back at Alaska this time with venom in his eyes and also rises the bid but Alaska couldn’t care.

“$350 million” he said. 

Everyone was amazed, but Alaska looks so calm. 

“$400 million” Alaska said. 

Ariel could not believe he will continue with the bidding. Vito looks at him getting more furious now. 

“$500 million” Vito said. Alaska decides to stop bidding now. 

“$500 million going, going, gone. This rare item goes to Mr. Vito Cartel” the coordinator said. Ariel really don’t understand the mafia world, she wonders why someone will waste such big amount of money for something that destructive.

Vito turned to look at Alaska and smirked victoriously, but Alaska looks unbothered as if he deliberately rise the price of the item, purposely to get on Mr. Vito’s nerves. 

The other items were bided for, weapons, stolen information, stolen goods and the likes, but Alaska did not bid for any of them. Ariel wonders why Alaska was at the auction if he did not get the item he came for, because to her, it does not seem Alaska was actually there to get the item even though he wanted it. 

Ariel sighed wondering what he was up to. 

As the auction was going to an end Alaska stand to talk, his icy eyes hidden behind his tinted glasses.

“I have a rare item I will love to auction” he said. Ariel wonders what item it will be, Jefrey was surprise too.

“This item is so rare, beautiful and priceless” he adds with a wicked grin on his face. The others start to get curious to know what kind of item he is talking about. 

“Her” he points to Ariel. 

Ariel’s eyes widen in shock, she looks stunned, frozen in disbelief. At first, she doesn’t seem to understand what he meant by pointing to her until he forcefully pushes her to the stage. Now all eyes were on her, that was when she realized she was wearing a short dress way above her knee exposing her laps to the mafias’ preying eyes.

Vito grin looks predatory.

“What was he doing?” Ariel feels like crying as she tries to cover her laps from the lustful eyes. 

Everyone was surprise including Jefrey, because Alaska never told him about auctioning Ariel. And moreover, she is his wife. 

“She is pure, untouched and a virgin at that” Alaska tells them. Ariel looks at him with teary eyes, but Alaska don’t look at her face at all. 

“She goes for $10 million! So cheap” he smirked. 

“Is he selling me off now?” Ariel feels that her life is pathetic. 

“How did he know I’m a virgin? I told him I was pregnant. Did he already know I was lying?” Now she knew why he brought her with him to such place, what was she even excepting from a brutal person like him?

Only Vito feels that it is interesting, so he bid for her. 

“I will take her for $20 million” he rise the price. 

“$20 million going, going, gone” the coordinator said.

“Mr. Vito takes her” he adds.

Ariel starts to shed tears; her life is not even worth more than $20 million, she looks betrayed. The auction ended and Alaska rose to leave, Jefrey looks at Ariel worriedly, he knew Alaska will not just sell Ariel like that, so he wonders what is going on in his mind. 

“Mr. Alaska, I should thank you for the wonder item” Vito said smiling while pointing to Ariel.

Alaska stops in his track, offered a cold smile.

“It’s my pleasure to give out my unused items” he replies sarcastically and walk to Ariel who looks stranded on the stage.

“This your punishment for trying to run away, enjoy your life with him” he whispers to her and leave with Jefrey.