Brass Cage

Ferrara

"Good evening, your majesty," a petite blonde vampire greeted me with a bow as I stepped out of my limo. I brushed a hand down, wiping off the dust that'd caught on my tuxedo jacket. The air was stale and dusty, making my nose itch. "So nice of you to join us. The auction's starting in five minutes."

My bodyguards blocked her way when she tried to lead me inside. I waved at them to step aside, clumping two fingers around my nose to keep from wheezing my guts out, my skin crawling in disgust as I surveyed the rundown building of the Vampire Academy's showroom. "Why was this place chosen to auction off the shifter slaves? I know that the Academy has more access to better buildings. This is extremely low-budget for them."

She chuckled insincerely, trying to avert her gaze. "Well, you see sir, this is where we always hold our auctions. Believe me, it hasn't always been like this. But rest assured I'll tell Sir Jax about your comments and we'd renovate soon. You'd definitely see a much different scene when you come around next time."

Samuel, a three-hundred-old vampire, and my PA and friend handed me a nose mask. I donned the material on and he leaned closer to whisper, eyebrows etched in confusion. "She's lying. The Vampire Academy only began auctioning off shifters last year, and this was the same building they used." He turned to glare at the blonde lady, whose smile had only gotten brighter and creepier.

"Good day, Sir." She bowed slightly to him as well. "Welcome to the Shifter auction."

Samuel snorted with an eye roll. I could feel a palpable tension brewing, and the blonde lady's gaze dropping to the ground suspiciously. Before Samuel could intimidate her further, I slapped a palm on his chest, breaking off his growl. "Behave yourself," I whispered sharply.

He backed away, muttering to himself. I shook my head and signaled the lady to open the door, which she did with a flourish. "This way, Sir." She offered me her best smile and I strode inside, the noise from the auction getting louder as we walked down the corridor leading to the big hall. There were groups of well-dressed vampires I wasn't familiar with bowing slightly to me as we passed, then turning to whisper surprisingly amongst themselves. It was rare to see me in these functions. The weight of my crown and the burden of responsibilities keeps me from the public most time and makes it hard for me to get used to the intense glances and whispering whenever I decided to attend a social function. I had no doubt whatsoever that my being here, to watch the auction would be covered by numerous papers by tomorrow morning with twisted versions and controversial headlines. I didn't care, because I'd gotten used to it.

The theater was at least a hundred years old but had its own distinctiveness. The glittering stage was perhaps the only new thing that still looked new and the smell of shifter fur couldn't even be overpowered by the strong cologne worn by the vampire audience. Jax had told me that the shifters were willing to get sold as slave pets. Caught up in a society inhabited predominantly by vampires, they needed protection; and a little bit of freedom in exchange for their blood which vampires adored. There were more than enough vampires willing to pay for a pet, so it was all good business. I hoped.

"It'll take years to get this place cleaned up," Samuel commented, his eyes passive as he surveyed the crowd. Blondie led us to our designated seats at the front of the stage. I sighed as lowered myself onto an aisle seat.

"At least try to have fun for once," I scolded him. He raised an unimpressed brow, huffing. I turned and nodded to my protective train. They instantly took up stations around the aisle that had been chosen for us. I'd purchased the twelve most reputable bodyguards money could buy, and tonight they looked as harmless as a fly to the common eyes. Their weapons are hidden in their suits, and they protect me with their lives. After years and countless assassination attempts, I needed to be careful of those I came in contact with for my safety.

"Are you guys comfortable?" Blondie hovers close, nervously. "I could get softer seats from the dressing room."

I waved her off. "It's fine. I like the view from here."

She wasn't convinced though, but I was glad she backed off. I turned my attention to the stage.

The lights are too bright, even for dust moths to dance around. I squinted as the red curtains rippled and the audience got agitated. The atmosphere was thick with expectancy and excitement.

I stretched out my legs and leaned back, noting how Blondie's hands keep fluttering nervously. She was biting her lips and looking around cautiously as though she'd done something wrong. Her fear is a startling contrast to how cold and brooding vampires normally behave and I wondered briefly why Jax had found it worthy enough to turn her.

Speaking of Jax, I knew he had something dirty up his sleeves with this invitation. He'd been extra pushy and leering that it'd be fitting if I got a pet to keep me busy because I hardly came out. "Where's your boss?" I asked Blondie, startling her from her silent ruminations.

"He's backstage. I'll go get him." She sauntered off. Immediately, Samuel leaned close to whisper.

"She's such a pain. I never knew that the Academy allowed tender and clueless ones like her. It's clear that she's been given orders to lie to us. This whole auction stuff isn't what it seems. My instincts are never wrong."

Before I had the chance to reply to him, Blondie returned with Jax trailing behind her, wearing his usual sinister smirk. He hardly bowed before taking my outstretched hand. "Glad to see you here, Your Majesty," he glanced at Blondie, a storm of clouds gathering in his irises for a brief moment and she flinched. Samuel nudged me when Jax's gaze returned to me, along with his smile. "Are you comfortable? Is the view from here satisfactory?"

"Yes. It's great." I answered him curtly. Samuel was right, something didn't seem right. "I'm going to ask you this again, are you absolutely sure that the shifters gave their consent to this? You know the penalties if they're being forced."

"And I'll say it again as well, yes," he rubbed his left temple wearily. "Most are rare species. They've lost their families and clan and don't want to submit to stronger shifters. Relax, we're helping them."

"Do you think it's wise pledging their lives to vampires instead of their own kind? That makes no sense. One can't be cruel to its kind."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not my life. And I wouldn't know that, considering the fact that I'm a vampire."

I pursed my lips together in doubt but didn't want to argue. Jax was a man of words. He had the exact words to manipulate any situation in his own twisted way. Most shifters I knew would rather prefer being burned than belonging to a vampire master. It wasn't every one of them that was lucky to get a good vampire as master. And shifters are a part of wild animals. They basked in their freedom and hated being submissive.

"If you have any more questions about the auction, you can ask Mary here," he pointed at Blondie. "She's my personal assistant and would be more than pleased to clear you."

I offered him a tight smile. "Not at this time. Thank you, Jax."

"Always welcomed, your majesty." He bowed, taking the side of the stage into the interior part of the building.

"I bet you five hundred bucks that he's lying," Samuel scoffed, glaring at Blondie who had her ears up, listening to him. He leaned in to whisper this time. "Now that I've thought of it, why are we even here tonight? It's not like you need a pet."

I exhaled, exasperated. "Who knows if that's just what I need at this point?"

His blue eyes crinkled as he spat. "Bullshit. None of them are befitting of your status as a king."

"Sorry about the interruption, Sir," Mary chipped in and we both glanced at her, "but these shifters are the best you'd ever find. Most of them are naturally submissive and owning such a powerful creature which you could show off whenever your visitors come around is thrilling."

Samuel regarded her silently, looking her over. "You work here, sis. Of course, you'll sing whatever tune they play."

"With all due respect, Sir, please consider bidding on a pet tonight," she subtly scowled at Samuel and he matched her annoyance with a snarl of his. There's definitely more to their not getting along than meets the eyes, but I had to let them figure out their sizzling attraction for each other beneath the glares and mutual disagreements. "You can't be working around the clock every day. There's more than enough time, especially for you. A pet can help relieve the stress."

She had a point. In the long run, being a vampire, disinterest in things was imminent. And with disinterest came boredom. With boredom came a craving for things out of the ordinary. More excitement, more sexual perversions. Deeper and more outrageous needs.

"I still think it's a bad idea and I'll have no hand in this. You can do as you please, Sire." Samuel huffed.

A low, slow tune began seeping through the speakers. The lights went off, except the ones used on stage. I steepled my fingers, mulling through the idea of having a pet. Though they'd agreed to the auction, shifters put up an exhilarating distraction after they were bought. It'd feel good to have them subdued for months. That was where the fun was in. but tonight, I had another thing in mind. I'd received news of a conspiracy and the best way to catch the culprits was to act the fool. Which was why I'd agreed to come here in the first place. To blend in and make everyone think I had no idea of what was actually going on behind my back. A few days more and I'd have the names of my enemies.

And just like always, I only have to lift a finger and they'd be dead.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Vampire Academy's 16th quarterly auction ceremony," a stout, wiry vampire boomed into the microphone, his announcement sending a frenzy through the crowd. "The auction is about to start and I implore you all to sit tight and have a good time. We've gathered only the rarest, best shifters for your entertainment and we do hope you're pleased well enough to be willing to place high bids on them."

The crowd's anticipation heightened as the red curtain parted slowly.

Then she appeared. The very first to be hauled out in a brass iron cage.