Chapter Eight

She glanced at Bowie to see him watching her. He looked panicked, and she realized that he was imploring her with his eyes. He doesn’t want me to use it now. Damn it. I guess I’ll just have to put up with Psycho for now. She nodded once – a small nod that was barely perceptible – and Bowie relaxed. Ellie allowed herself to be dragged around to the front of the tent and led inside.

There were no chairs or benches, no decorations or tables. There was only a large stage across from the door. Black velvet curtains hung down around the bottom of the stage, concealing what was underneath. Two door flaps were tied open on either side of the stage. Ellie assumed that those who were being auctioned off came from. Lanterns like the ones outside hung from poles in various locations, seemingly with no pattern in mind. It was clear that this was meant to be a quick affair. The woman grabbed a fistful of Ellie’s thick brown hair, curling and twisting her long, spindly fingers in it. Ellie winced as she was violently yanked into an awkward position. Her head was pulled back as far is it could go without breaking her spine. Her broken leg was weak, making it harder for her to stand straight. She tried to straighten, but the woman only pulled harder on her hair, forcing her to bend farther back than she thought was possible.

“Child! Explain yourself this instant!” a woman shrieked. The psycho woman jumped and quickly untangled her hand from Ellie’s hair. She didn’t look embarrassed. Instead, she seemed to be annoyed. She turned to face the bitch that Ellie saw earlier.

“I have brought this piece of filth back to the auction. We caught her trying to sneak out with those two idiots,” she said, pointing an accusing finger at Bowie and his companion. “The bitch bit me! I want her right now!” she demanded.

“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, child, but the master has given us specific orders not to sell this one. You will have to purchase one of the other humans instead,” she said coldly. The psycho did not take the news well.

“No! I don’t want another human! I want this one! She has caused me bodily harm and I will see that she suffers for her actions!” She stuck her nose in the air and crossed her arms stubbornly, like a toddler throwing a tantrum. The bitch narrowed her eyes dangerously and the psycho’s resolve faltered. The crowd that had filed in after the psycho was eerily quiet, watching the exchange with bated breath.

The bitch slowly made her way to the stage, climbing up the rickety steps while maintaining eye contact with the psycho. She made her way to the center and stopped, facing the crowd but still staring at the psycho.

“Dear children, it seems that some of you have forgotten the rules we have here. If you would so kindly, tell me what they are, hm? What is rule number one?” she asked the crowd.

“Never speak of the auction with others from the outside,” they answered in unison.

“Wonderful. Rule number two?”

“Never share your invitation with anyone. Only those who are chosen may participate.”

“Oh, such wonderful children you are,” the bitch cooed. She broke eye contact with the psycho and gazed lovingly at the crowd. “And the third and final rule?”

“Never argue with the master or the mistress.” The psycho’s arms fell to her sides as the bitch made eye contact with her again. She began to shake uncontrollably, fear paralyzing her in her place.

“Perfect. Just perfect, my children. And what happens if you break any of those rules?” she asked, her voice suddenly becoming cold and cruel.

“If any of the rules are broken, you forfeit your life,” the crowd answered ominously.

No one spoke as the mistress nodded her head. She raised her hands clapped three times, the slow, soft sounds carrying loudly over the quiet crowd. They echoed her movements, each person clapping their hands three times. Everyone surrounding the psycho stepped back, forming a semi-circle around her. The psycho finally seemed to come to her senses, but it was far too late by that point. She tried to scurry into the crowd, but the other patrons stood side by side, blocking her in. She tried to run toward the stage and halted, fear freezing her in place.

A series of loud, low growls came from underneath the bitch on the stage. Ellie shivered uncontrollably. The sounds reminded her of a mountain lion she’d had the misfortune of coming across when she was younger. That experience was... far from pleasant. Suddenly, the curtains beneath the stage began to rustle. Ellie’s eyes widened as the crowd dropped to their knees, bowing lowly.

From underneath the stage came two very large tan-colored felines. They looked almost exactly like the mountain lion Ellie had seen as a child. There were a few differences, however.

First, these felines were huge – larger than any feline she had ever seen. These cats were three times the size of her, and she briefly found herself wondering how the large creatures had managed to fit beneath the stage in the first place.

Second, their eyes were almost unreal. There was no color, no pupils or irises that she could see. Instead, their eyes seemed to be completely black, darker than the black curtains they came from. It was like staring into an endless pit.

Third, and most importantly, their tails were… unusual, to say the least. Instead of a normal tail, the felines’ tails were long, at least five feet long each. But that was not what made them odd. The end of their tails were rounded, like a small boulder had been attached. One side was smooth and shiny while the other was covered in sharp, serrated spikes. They swung their tails wildly, watching Ellie and the psycho with predatory eyes.

“Helper, please move the human back to a safe distance,” the mistress called to someone behind Ellie. She felt strong hands pick her up and drag her carefully and slowly to the edge of the tent. “Thank you, dear one. Your assistance will not go unrewarded. Now, my children. Bear witness to what happens if the rules are broken. Come, lift your faces and watch your fallen sister rejoin the life force that surrounds us all.” She clapped her hands slowly, four times this time. On the fourth clap, the creatures pounced.

The psycho never stood a chance. She tried to dart past the felines, but she was too slow. One swung its tail, its spikes driving deep into her back. She screamed, pain saturating her voice. The creature whipped its tail, pulling her back toward it fiercely. The psycho clawed at the earth, trying to drag herself away from the large predator. The mistress watched on in silence as her two pets toyed with the woman, letting her escape so far, only to pierce her with their tails and drag her back. Her screams became cries of agony as her voice grew hoarse. Bits of flesh hung precariously from her back and legs. Blood soaked the ground around them, turning the large animals’ fur red. Finally, the mistress clapped her hands once, and one of the cats swung their tail, striking the psycho in the back of the head with the smooth end of its balled tail. A sickening crunch resonated through the room, and Ellie nearly vomited.

The crowd watched silently as the cats tore her apart limb from limb. They feasted on her quickly, the sound of their enthusiastic chewing pushing Ellie’s stomach over the edge. She turned and lost the contents of her stomach loudly, though no one could hear it over the sound the cats were making. When they were satisfied, the creatures turned back to the stage and slinked back underneath, their contented purrs vibrating the ground. The only trace of the psycho that was left was the blood and bits of hair left on the floor that the cats couldn’t consume. Everything else – clothing, flesh, bones – had been thoroughly consumed. The mistress raised her arms and smiled widely at the crowd.

“Rejoice, children! For we have removed a false sister from our ranks! Take solace in the knowledge that we are safer now that our unseen threat has been eliminated! Praise the master!” she called loudly.

“Praise the master!” the crowd chanted. Laughter and shouting followed. Men and women hugged and cheered. They seemed genuinely happy to have witnessed the psycho be torn apart like a ragdoll.

Ellie was terrified. I have to get away. They’re all fucking insane. I’m going to die if I stay here! Her eyes searched wildly around the room for a way out. She was just beginning to hyperventilate when she realized that Bowie was standing next to her. He had a protective arm around her waist and Ellie finally understood that he was the one to drag her to safety.

“Thank you,” she whispered. He gave her a small smile as he watched the crowd, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I have to get out of here.” Bowie’s smile dropped and he nodded subtly.

“Be patient. Help is coming,” he said out of the corner of his mouth. He didn’t elaborate, but Ellie didn’t push the matter. Bowie had proved that he was an ally, so she put her trust in him and stood quietly. She watched as the mistress cleared her throat, calling for the crowd’s attention.

“Now, children. It is time for the auction to begin. Have your cards ready. This will be over with quickly, so if you see one you want, you must bid immediately. We will not hold humans for anyone, so if you do not have the coin, then do not bid. Understood?” The crowd acknowledged their understanding and the mistress smiled. “Wonderful. Let us begin. Helpers! Send them out!” she called.

A line of people filed out of the doorway on the right. Each person was dressed like Ellie; the women were in long white dresses while the men wore only white pants. Their hands were bound with rope while their feet had heavy weights tied to them, forcing them to move slowly. The first person to the stage was an old, frail looking man. He seemed more confused than anything, his eyes searching the room for something he could recognize.

“Male. Aged seventy-two. Would make a good butler or personal servant. Starting bid is fifty coins,” the mistress read off a piece of parchment paper. The crowd was silent for a moment before a woman in the back finally spoke.

“I’ll take him. I need a new servant!” She had raised her hand, displaying a card that had the number twenty-seven boldly written on it.

“Excellent. Sold to the wonderful child in the back. Next!” A woman Ellie’s age climbed up onto the stage. She was much slimmer than Ellie was, and Ellie felt she was much prettier too. “Female. Aged twenty-five. Athletic and sturdy. Would make a good worker or servant. Starting bid is one hundred coins.”

Three people bid at once. After a bit of confusion, the bid went up to three hundred coins and the woman was sold to what seemed to be an older couple. The woman was practically fawning over the human she had bought, expressing her excitement about having a new slave to work the fields.

“Next! Male. Aged seventeen. Would make a good butler or servant. Starting bid is one hundred coins…” Ellie tuned out the rest of the auction. She couldn’t believe that she was seeing people being bought and sold like cattle. She shook her head and looked at the crowd instead. She was shocked to discover that some of the patrons were still eyeing her with interest. Annoyed, she stared back, unblinking, until the patrons became uncomfortable and averted their eyes. Bowie chuckled silently next to her, impressed by her courage.

It was clear that these were the kind of people who were only brave when they knew they would succeed. If anyone showed any kind of fight, they seemed totally lost. She chuckled and stretched a bit, her body sore from the ordeal she’d been through. She felt the dagger moving around beneath her sleeve and she worried that she might accidently stab Bowie. He didn’t seem to be in any pain or discomfort, so Ellie relaxed and allowed him to support her.

The bidding process flew by, and before Ellie knew it, it was over. She was about to ask Bowie a question when she spotted the creepy man from earlier staring at her from the door the humans were coming from. He smiled widely at her, and she shivered, goosebumps prickling over her skin. She didn't want to go home with him. The crowd was slowly beginning to disperse, some people heading for the exit while others headed toward the stage, eager to collect their prizes. The man strolled out of the back room and headed leisurely toward Ellie and Bowie. Ellie’s heart had begun to race, fearing the approaching man, when there suddenly came screams and shouts from outside. Men and women rushed back inside and ran past the stage, further into the back of the tent.

“What is happening, children?” the mistress exclaimed, worried.

“The Royal Guards! The Royal Guards have found us!” a woman wailed as she ran past. The mistress’ face paled, and she turned to the man who had been watching Ellie.

“What do we do, master?” she cried. The man simply shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned with the raid.

“I do not care what you do. All I want is my human,” he said calmly. Ellie’s heart dropped to her stomach.

Not good, not good, not good! she thought worriedly. She turned to Bowie, panicked. He turned to her at nearly the same time and grimaced.

“Time to go,” he whispered.