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HAYLEY
Auction
I STAND IN front of the mirror, still wearing the gross uniform of the personal donor that I stole. It’s been maybe two days, could be three, since Alexander locked me in this room on the eleventh floor. I’ve never been in this area of the hotel with the basic rooms with a queen bed and a bathroom. I’m lucky he even gave me something to eat.
Touching my hair, I play with the uneven strands, wishing that I was given a pair of scissors to fix the style as best as I can. But scissors can hurt me or others, and Alexander isn’t going to let shit go down. He even took the hangers, bed sheets, and everything that wasn’t screwed down. The window doesn’t open with only a small vent allowing fresh air in, but it’s not like I’d do anything. There isn’t a balcony or soft thing to land on. I don’t have a death wish yet, but after tonight? God, I hope the universe shows me mercy. I’m scared. More scared than I’ve ever been in my damn life.
A soft knock taps on the door, but I don’t turn away from my reflection to open it because it’s locked from the outside. I’m guessing this floor is intended to be used as some sort of prison or something. I had no idea that Alexander kept donors in this hall. I’m not the only one a prisoner. I guess there has to be a way to control any reluctant donors other than murdering them. Vampires like to protect their food sources and all, though Alexander is growing more and more careless. According to the Bella Crew, he’s not the only one either.
“Hayley, it’s me. Opal asked me to come help you get ready. The performers are putting on a show for our guests, so we have about thirty minutes.” Mya’s voice trickles through the heavy door, and the bolt slides open as if whoever monitors me opens the lock. Swinging the door open, Mya peeks in and ignores the vampire guard looming behind her, trying to get a look at me.
I still don’t speak or move and wait for her to shut the door completely. The second the vampire is cut off from us, I spin and rush my best friend, throwing my arms around her. Tears well in my eyes, stinging my cold cheeks as they spill. Shuddering a breath, Mya cries quietly on my shoulder, squeezing me tightly.
“Are you okay?” she whispers, keeping her voice low.
I shake my head. There is no point in lying. I’m far from being okay. This is the worst I’ve ever felt, like I’m waiting for my execution but instead of dying, the executioner fails over and over again, leaving me in a state of agony and despair.
Mya’s lip trembles. “I hate this. If Alexander would allow me to take your place, I would. I’d do anything for you, Hayley. You don’t deserve this. I just wish I understood why he’s changed so much. He used to be good to us.”
To her and the others. He wasn’t always good to me. It’s not the first time he’s gone crazy over something out of my control, but this is the worst. He usually cools off and moves on. Something must be happening outside of the hotel and is only heated by the conflict with the Bella Crew, making him explode like a raging lunatic And not the good kind.
“I wish I knew too,” I murmur, tugging her with me to the bathroom. I turn on the shower, filling the room with the sound of running water, hoping it’s enough to stifle the sound of our voices. “Something is going on. There were men here that were a part of the Aris Coven.”
“What? They have more brothers?” Mya asks, furrowing her brows.
I shrug, because like her, I didn’t know about them either. “I think he’s flexing his power more because of them. And the Bella Crew. There was a new guy at the last show as well. I wonder if things are getting fucked up because of it. I just hope that the Bella Crew comes through for me.”
Mya eases away and looks me in the eyes. “Govan said that he’s not sure how they’re going to manage. They don’t have enough wealth or power to truly compete. He thinks that they’ll start a war and Alexander will just decide to kill us all. He wants me to leave with him.”
I blink a few times, trying to process what she says. I knew that it would be tough for the Bella Crew to compete with the Strip leaders, but I also know that they won’t just give up on me. They consider me theirs, and not in the same way Alexander and Opal do. It’s hard to explain, but it feels different. Better.
I blow out a breath and lick my lips. “I think you should.”
She cocks her head with a frown. “What? Really? Alexander will fucking make things worse if I do.”
“He’ll make it worse regardless. We can’t know for certain that he’ll keep his word. Opal is tough, but she will bow to him as her leader. She always does.” I hug her tighter. “The last thing I want is for you to be hurt or worse.”
“I’m scared. I don’t even know what I would do if I go. Govan’s fun and all, but his friends scare the shit out of me.” Mya puffs a breath of air through her lips.
“They’re not so bad.” I smile sadly, thinking about the day I spent at the Bella. There was so much I never got to do or see, and I crave to run away now and find out what it’s really like to be tagged a possession of the Bella Crew.
“Yeah, because you grip onto three of their cocks,” she teases. “Which is as crazy as me running away with one of them. My family could be hurt.”
“Tell him to take them too.” I lock my gaze to hers. “Use the auction to your advantage, Mya. I mean it. There is no getting out of this for me, but if I know you and your kin are safe, it makes me feel better. It’ll make this all worth it in the end to me. You’re my best friend forever, and I want you to do this.”
She squeezes her eyes shut, sending tears dripping from the corners of her lashes. “I love you, Hayley. I know things are going to work out.”
I wish I felt the same way, but I need to be realistic. Hope will only destroy me. I can’t pray and wish for the best when I’m staring down at a room of savage, barbaric vampires who think that because I’m a donor and they feed on me that they can do whatever the hell they want. Many lost their civility and never gained it back. They’re just good at acting the part until they flash their fangs and tear out your throat.
A beep chimes through the room. “You have fifteen fucking minutes, donors. You better be ready. I’ll fuck you up before I end up on Aris’s shit list.” The voice booms through the air from a speaker against the wall.
I cringe and shake my head, my eyes burning with more tears. Fifteen minutes. I have fifteen minutes to find the strength I need to get through this.
“I brought you some things that Opal wanted you to have,” Mya finally says after another moment passes. “I know it sucks, and I don’t want to be the one to help you get ready for this nightmare, but it was the only way I could get time with you. Opal is busy with the performers, and there was no way I was going to let someone else take my place.”
I release a shaky breath and nod. “I’m glad you’re here despite it. I was afraid I’d never get to see you again.”
Mya gasps a sob, trying to compose herself. Sliding the small bag off her shoulder, she sets it on the marble counter of the wide sink. I try not to react to the skimpy bikini she pulls from the bag, basically all strings, leaving nothing to the imagination. Beneath it lays a wig bag, and Mya carefully unties it and shows me my favorite turquoise wig. I touch the soft strands of fake hair, shining in the light from above.
