The pet seller is here again.
Everyone shifted in their cages, our bare backs pressing against the cold metal as we cowered away at the sound of the door slamming open. A string of curse words left his lips as he staggered in, his lanky figure hidden under many dirty coats. He tossed the empty bottle in his hands at the floor, sending it crashing into the wall and shattering. The girl in the cage next to mine very nearly squealed, her big reddish eyes staring fearfully at him and her hands covering her tear stained cheeks. She had sobbed all night; typical for anyone who gets in new. Luckily for her, the pet master didn't want anyone with fresh whip marks, there was going to be an auction today, so she went away with just a thin scar on her cheek from a rough slap.
He let out a deep chuckle as his droopy eyes scanned all the cages with a wolfish grin. We all lowered our gazes, not wanting to renew our whip marks. My still stung painfully, I had to think of anything else but the whip to take my mind off the pain. I thought of my life before, I thought of an escape plan, I just thought until I can only subtly feel the pain. I stared at my dirty feet, brown with dirt, I hadn't had a bath in days, maybe weeks.
"Today is the day. You know what that means don't you?" He waved a tough brown leather whip at us. "You behave, or you get killed."
He let out a dark laugh. "Enjoy your last day, you may not live to see another." He turned to leave, but turned back, bloodshot eyes scanning everyone. "You think I am cruel?" He let out a dark laugh. "Wait till you see what's out there... If you don't get drained dry first."
When nightfall came, we were lined out of cages, it felt good to stretch to my full height for a change, not bound to the rough metal of the cage, squirming in uncomfortable conditions till you're simply numb to it all. Ever since the Vampires took over and females became play things they called pets, chained to cages, held by a leash, forced to do their bidding and drained dry when they are thirsty, you live every day looking forward to nothing but hoping you get a chance to die painlessly. I have heard a vampire fangs might just be the most painful things ever, especially on the sensitive flesh of the skin.
"Move!" A rough man jerked a girl forward, she fell to the floor, limp. He sent a rough kick to her sides with his boot, she whimpered and spluttered, we all looked away. I clenched my fists at my sides, squeezing my eyes shut and fighting the urge to risk it all and attach my incisors to that man's skin. We have barely had anything to eat for days, how can he expect her to stand on her own, talk more of move quickly.
The pet seller appeared through the corner. "Don't kick so hard, we don't want her all roughed up. The princes are coming over to chose a pet today."
The man huffed. "Then I would be doing her a favor killing her."
They both chuckled at that. I scoffed audibly, causing their eyes to land on me. My heart stilled for a brief second, shocked at my own carless reaction. He stormed towards me, gripping my hair roughly and pulling me down. The pet seller is a short man, he could easily be a dwarf, though most vampires were ridiculously tall.
My scalp stung and his cracked eyes glared at me, I glared back. "I would love to enjoy disciplining you, but you might just fetch me good money today, so let's keep that skin of yours intact shall we? Hmm?" He let go off my hair roughly before pushing me forward. "Send them out!"
We were lined up and put upon the stage like work of art, except we aren't expensive artwork, we are human girls in shabby clothes, tangled hair that hasn't felt the bristle of any comb in months, malnourished pale skin and scrawny figures, a meal or a plaything for bored and bloodthirsty vampires. It was literally present in the air, their hunger for blood. It showed in the way their red eyes scanned each girl, contemplating on which one they will love to buy and the way their fangs glistened with delight. Before they stepped to the light, they lived amongst us, looking like us, acting like us, they actually looked better than us, were more successful. The crowd seemed to be full of handsome men that looked at least two hundred years younger than tht actually were, but beneath... They are vile, bloodthirsty creeps.
The first girl stepped forward, head lowered, the pet seller grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the spotlight.
"Five thousand!" A man in the crowd stood and yelled. "Seven thousand!" Another countered. He was a short bald thing, eyeing the girl hungrily. She shuddered visibly. Vampires were mostly unnaturally good looking, in an almost ethereal way, but there were many who missed that streak, the pet seller and this man were obvious examples.
I looked away, clenching my eyes shut, balling my fingers into fists and trying to calm my looming anxiety or the impending urge to throw up. What would happen to me if and when I got bought? It would still be leashes, collars and cages of course. But how long before my master drained me dry of blood or whipped me to death?
"10,000!"
"Sold!" The pet seller announced.
A man came forward, he grabbed her leash roughly, causing her tightly placed collar to choke her slightly, she stumbled after him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The girl next to me whimpered. I turned to her, the new girl. She was just about my age, but I came in six weeks earlier than she did. Her wide eyes scanned the crowd fearfully and my heart ached for her. And that moment, I made a tough decision. I will run. If I get bought, I will make a run for it. I will die trying to run from this cruel fate.
The next girl stepped forward to the spotlight and I clenched my fist tighter, my turn is near.
I looked up as my turn approached, scanning the crowd with eyes full of hate. Someone at the top farthest of the crowd caught my eyes. He sat almost alone except for two men by his side, at a spot that gave him a perfect view of this show. He was one of them; the exceptionally good looking ones. He had long jet black hair, combed and falling down to his neckline, sharpened jaw line and beautiful, flawless features, he looked surreal... He can't full me, the better they look the more cruel they will be, or so I was told. With one hand leaning on his chin he stared down with disinterest, yet one could feel power radiating off him at a glance. Gold glistened when he tapped his fingers against his jaw, and the carving on it clarified my suspicions... He is a royal. Royals were trouble, bad luck to humans. They are ancient and pure blooded vampires, exuding beauty and power. They didn't just rule Vampires, they rule the humans now too. They governed every political and whimsical human affairs, they ruled the world with brutality, especially to pets. Dejected humans like us, betrayed by our own race and given as play things to vampires. I glared at him unconsciously, and suddenly his amber eyes turned to mine, his brows furrowed slightly before his eyes settled into a hard glare back, burning down my spine. I instinctively looked down.
"And next is "Astra!"
I stepped forward as my name was called.
"Blood type is fantastic, O - negative, fiery red hair and an equally fiery personality. Nothing a good ol' whip won't handle."
The crowd chuckled at that. I clenched my teeth.
"10,000!"
"15,000!"
And the bid begun.
