Death Before Slavery (The Auction)



"Your heart will be auctioned this night." The words came from Dracon booming down like a judgement to be indelibly engraved forever in her mind. "But Master!" Tears pleaded, "What have I done to displease you?" "It is my word," he said simply, "And I will not be turned from my intention." After that followed silence....final, as if no further question would be allowed. The last of his words echoed through the halls of the castle...her castle. She knew then, at that moment, she was doomed. She lowered her gaze as Dracon's titanic wings unfurled to their full 28 foot span, the shadow of them looming over her form, so like the power he weilded over her very life. "The auction will be held upon the ninth hour of this night," it came like a whisper from him, still commanding in it's tone but almost fatherly in it's tenderness. She merely nodded in silent acquiescence. Then, his wings dipped down and tensed. Suddenly, they shot up sending Dracon's body to spring forth into the air, skybound. Out the large, high window he flew..out into the welcoming shroud of the chill night. She simply stood there as her own crimson tears began to fall, the droplets of blood crystalizing in midair making a sound like shards of glass tinkling against the cold stone. She wept, for she knew then she was to surely die. She called royal court to gather an hour later and told her royal suitors that were present of her impending fate. Mustering bravado with great effort she also said to them, "I would rather die than to face an existence of slavery." Her arms spread wide as her gaze rose to look upon the walls of her beloved castle, "This...my home...our home....You...all of you...I will miss you dearly." "But Tears!", one suitor cried out. "How can this be? Are you going to allow this? We can kill him. All of us can" Gruff agreement was exchanged throughout the gathered. "Nay, I will not allow it. Dracon has treated me kindly all these years. I will not naysay him in this, his one request of me." With this the crowd hushed to an uneasy whisper. The ones that were not present for her original announcement, she told personally. One of the ones whom took the information as an affront was one of Tears' closest friends thus far, Nalan. At first he was shocked to hear that she even had a master, and she explained that it was only because he physically posessed her heart from that time so long ago, that he had stolen it. The night the fourth was turned, Red. He did not let his disappointment of her be lost. He told her of how he personally felt and that his respect of her dwindled after finding this out about her. She could only explain to him the circumstances which afforded such a position and then she left him, for already she was preparing to die. He stopped her and asked her what she planned to do. She told him simply that she would rather die than to be a slave. He asked her if she was not that now. She disagreed saying that Dracon had always allowed her to do as she wished and his posession of her heart was merely a power play. But she also intimated her fear that a new master would not be so kind, and so she reaffirmed her own belief that she was doomed then to die. Nalan grew silent after that and she took it for shame and so left him to his own musings. Little did she know he was considering even then what he was to do. And so the hour of the auction did come. She did not attend. Dracon allowed it, for, it seems he had plans.... The bidding took place in the Vampire Tavern and the competition was stiff. Sir Owen had already put in his bid, and it was the opening bid for her at 6 million gold pieces. This piqued the interest of the tavern and the bidding rose to a frenzied pace. Nalan was the only one that really even knew Tears that was present, and all of her royal suitors had already proffered their bids in secret to Dracon. As the bidding continued on, it rose to phenomenal amounts. Nalan, being the clone of the then deceased _Alucard___, had at his fingertips the wealth of the Vlad_Tepes fortune. It was his bid than won out in the end. His final offer was a google plex of gold and his very soul to be commanded as Dracon wished. Dracon smiled and took Nalan to speak alone with him. As Nalan entered, he did so with apprehension, for it was his strict intention to kill Dracon for the affrontry of offering the soul of the woman he loved (even as his love had gone unrequitted until that point and had remained a secret). But, Nalan in his curiosity listened nonetheless to Dracon's words being so very curious as to the whole situation of the auction. In that very cryptic of meetings, it was revealed unto Nalan the reason Dracon sought to give Tears' heart up was because he felt he was not present enough in her life, and he feared that he could not protect her like he wanted to. He then confessed to Nalan that he loved Tears dearly and that he could not bear the thought if anything were to happen to her, so he sought one whom would give his very life to protect her. He continued saying the auction was the only way to know if anyone valued Tears as he did. And confided to Nalan that she was his most precious treasure. To say the least Nalan was aghast with the news. He had (and apparently Tears did not either) no idea that Dracon felt so deeply for her. His wicked intention was then lain to rest and he simply shook Dracon's hand saying that he would have given even more if Dracon had required it, for he did love Tears just that much. Dracon simply nodded his head in silence and handed Nalan the ring. His last words were, "Love her as I have..." then he walked away and faded into the darkness leaving Nalan with his bounty....