THE AUCTION

Renae POV

I try to open my eyes, but my eyes are so heavy. I am so weak. Where am I? I am not sure. I remember being grabbed on the street when I was trying to ditch Draco so I could get to Lester. Why is Draco and Tatina here? It all happened so fast. I got distracted when I thought I saw Jules’s brother Horace. It is strange because I thought he was dead or missing or something. Didn't Craig kill Horace or something after the incident at an authority auction like maybe three years ago or maybe not quite that long ago. I cannot think. I know he was wanted by the vampire authority at some point. Someone wanted him dead. Why can't I think? What is wrong with me?

My brain is too fuzzy to think. I look around the room to see if I can figure out where I am and what exactly is going on with me. Who took me? Why am I here? I look around. I see other women. The room is dark, so very dark, or is it my vision. I am not sure. Think Renae, focus on where you are and what is happening to you. I feel someone touch my leg.I recoil my leg. I am scared. I am trying to be brave, but I am afraid.

“Honey, you are okay,” I hear a meek little voice say, with a sweet accent.

I try to make out where the voice is coming from, but I cannot. “Where am I?” I ask, tossing my head from side to side, trying to pull myself together. I cannot see anything but the darkness.

“Calm yourself; it is the drugs making you feel groggy. Remain calm and they might not stick you again,” the voice says.

“Who are you? Where are you? Why are you being nice to me?” I ask the voice. I blink rapidly, trying to focus on the image coming closer to me. I still cannot figure out who or what or why.

“I am Lettie, honey. Try to stay calm,” she replies to me.

“Lettie, can you tell me where am I?” I ask her.

She moves closer. “Honey, you are in an auction house. You are going to be auctioned off tonight by Horace,” Lettie says to me.

“What? How? This shit cannot be happening. I am married to a member of the vampire authority. I cannot be here,” I try to scream, but even my voice is affected by the drugs they gave me. I can only squeak out my anger.

“You must have really fought them. The auctioneers have you really doped up. I hope you hurt one of them. They are brutal,” Lettie says.

“My name is Renae Dufrene. My husband is Lester Dufrene. He will come for me. When he does I will help you,” I say to her.

“Lester Dufrene is your husband?” Lettie asks me. She is confused, I can tell by her voice.

“Yes, I am married to Lester,” I say hoarsely. My voice continues to crack. My throat hurts from talking, maybe from screaming. Maybe it is the drugs that are making me hoarse. I am so thirsty.

“How did you end up here? Is he mad at you or something? Why would he send you here with us or who would be stupid enough to put you in the auction?” Lettie asks.

“No, they grabbed me off of the street in New Orleans. Are we still in New Orleans? Do you know where we are, Lettie,” I ask her?

“Yes, but I am not sure exactly where at in New Orleans. I was grabbed in the French Quarter. It only took twenty minutes to get here, so we are still close to the quarter. I tried to pay attention to where they were taking me. I should have never come here. I want to go home,” Lettie says.

“I promise when Lester comes for me, I will help you. Do you know when the auction is? Is it soon?” I ask her.

“I heard something about they are coming to get some of us tonight to prep us for the auction, but I am not sure if it is tonight or tomorrow night. I am not sure if they are really coming or not. It is just what I heard,” Lettie says.

I hear someone coming. Lettie rushes back to where ever she is supposed to be. I close my eyes and pretend to be out of my mind. I do not want whoever it is to know I am awake. Maybe they will not drug me anymore.

The footsteps are loud and grow louder. I hear the movement of other people in the room, but I dare not open my eyes to see what is going on around me. I need to get these drugs out of my system so I can help these women to get out of here.

“She is over here in this cell,” I hear a rough voice say.

The multiple footsteps are loud and hard against the floor. Someone shakes me, but I do not move or open my eyes. I do not want any more drugs. Please do not give me any more drugs.

“Is she breathing? Os she alive?” I hear a voice ask.

I feel a hand on my chest. “Yeah, the bitch is breathing and she is alive,” someone says.

“How much dope did you give her?” the other harsh voice says.

The other man laughs. “ I gave her enough to keep her knocked out until either Lester pays for her or I sell her in the auction. She has a lot of fight in her and I do not want her getting away. We might even have a little fun with her,” the voice says.

“You really think Lester will come for her, Horace? Isn’t she the ex-wife?” the voice says.

“Oh, No! They are still married. He sent her into Jules’s place pretending to be divorced, but this bitch is still married to him. Jules let me know as soon as she came to his club. We have been watching her for a while now,” Horace says.

Fucking hell, Horace has me. He is right about one thing Lester will come for me. Lester will kill him and hell will rain down on him. That is why Draco and Tatina are here. They are here to take down an auction. I wonder if Lester called them for help. I just do not think the authority will let Draco help. I hope Tatina comes for me.

“Do you want me to give her more dope, Horace?” the voice asks.

“Yeah, I want her comatose until arrangements are done being made for her. Either if will come or we sell her. But I do want a taste of her first,” Horace says.

I hear movement. I think I hear a cabinet being locked and unlocked. I guess the two men left. I open my eyes. Horace is looking right at me.

“Oh, look, the bitch is awake. How are you feeling, sweetie? You want to play with me?” Horace says to me, grinning at me. He is gross and looking at me like he wants to taste me. If he touches me I will kick his ass.

I try to keep my eyes open, but I cannot. The other man is a slim tall man. I cannot make him out. My vision is too blurry. He jabs a needle into my thigh. My legs begin to burn. Then he gives me another shot in my arm. I can feel Horace touch my leg.

“That should keep her completely paralyzed until you do whatever you have planned with her. This dope will last about four hours. Do whatever you want to her and enjoy,” the tall thin man says.

My entire body goes numb. Horace reaches down and touches my leg again, rubbing my inner thigh. “Oh, the things I could do to you if I had the time. Maybe later before I get rid of you. We will have so much fun,” he says to me.

I close my eyes and fade into darkness.

I open my eyes. Lettie is back sitting on the bed with me. She is watching me and I am thankful for her. She sees me trying to open my eyes.

“You okay? I have some water for you,” Lettie says.

“Thank you, I am thirsty,” I whisper to her. My throat hurts so bad.

“Come help me,” she says to another woman.

A small blonde woman comes over. She holds up my head while Lisa is trying to get me to drink some water.

“Drink slowly. You have a lot of drugs in your system and your throat is probably numb. It will be hard to swallow,” Lettie says.

It is hard to swallow, but I do my best. I need the water.

“If you want more, I can get it for you,” Lettie says.

“No, I am fine. Thank you for helping me,” I say to her.

“This is Lee,” Lettie says.

“Hi, Lee. Thank you for helping me,” I say to Lee.

“You are welcome,” Lee says.

“We are all wondering if when Lester comes for you, will he help us too?” Lettie asks me.

“Yes, he has been trying to shut down all of these auctions for the last two years. I will make sure he helps you,” I say to both of them.

“All of us here we look out for you, but we need your help to get out of here, please. We want to go home to our families,” Lettie says.

“Lester was trying to get Tatina and Draco to come to New Orleans. I do not know if he got ahold of them. I cannot remember. The drugs have my brain all fuzzy. I do not remember what he told me. I am sorry,” I say.

“Let’s hope they come,” Lee says.

“Lester will come for me. I will make sure he helps all of you,” I say. I am repeating myself. I realize that as I speak. The drugs, they gave me way too much.

Lee and Lettie pull their beds over by mine. “We will be on each side of you if you need something. We will take good care of you,” Lettie says.

I close my eyes. I cannot stay awake any longer. Please do not let me die. Did I say that out loud?