Chapter 94: Chapter 94
DAHLIA:
It was a strange night…
Not only was it strange because we were out on a dangerous mission. It was also strange because no matter what I do, I seemed to be drawing unwanted attention to myself.
After the attendant led us into a small passage that seemed to go on forever, we were finally shown into a grand hall where a lot of people had gathered.
It was a sight to see! I’ve been acquainted to creatures from other clans before, but it was the first time I had even been in such a large gathering of beast clans where there was a need for everybody to be on his or her feet.
Almost as soon as we joined the gathering, several people began looking at me.
Initially, I brushed it off as a form of curiosity, but by and by, their stares were becoming more and more intense, and I was feeling a bit frightened.
‘I don’t have a good feeling about this, Dahlia,’ Eve said. Even my wolf was becoming increasingly aware of the danger that seemed to be forming all around us.
“Stay close to me, honey,” Tristan said in a firm voice. He wounded his arms around me tightly.
Great… I just dumped him several minutes ago, but now I was positively cowering under him, needing his protection when I was supposed to help him tonight.
Honestly though, I was grateful for it… His hug was comforting enough to make my heart beat several notches down after feeling panicky…
All of a sudden, the announcer started to speak on the stage. Everybody’s eyes moved towards him, especially as he attempted to present the rarest item of the auction…
“Let me give you a glimpse of our most precious prize – the red ruby of the Shadow Runes,” the announcer said with vigor.
As soon as the cloth came away, the brilliance of a stone the size of a small child’s closed fist came into view.
The red ruby – a Shadow Rune’s spirit stone - was a sight to behold! It was the first time I was finally seeing one in the flesh. It glowed surreally with a blinding light, flickering as if it was engulfed in flames.
I held my breath. It looked far too beautiful and far too bright to be an ordinary stone…
“Is that it? Is it hers,” I asked Tristan. I remembered what he said about the closest kin confirming the owner of spirit stones with a certain feeling. Did Tristan recognize it?
“Uh huh,” he nodded slightly, “but something’s wrong with it.”
“Something’s wrong,” I frowned, “what is it?”
“It’s too small… This one looked like an infant’s spirit stones. Usually the adult have ones are the size of their own hearts…”
I squinted. It really was small to be the size of an adult’s heart.
“Do you think they reshaped it, or cut it up into a smaller piece,” I whispered yet again to Tristan.
“I don’t know… Spirit stones are hard to manipulate. Also usually, if they did succeed in cutting up spirit stones, they would normally fuse themselves back… Spirit stones naturally clump themselves together, that’s why they are very powerful.”
I bit my lips in frustration. Why in the world happened to this particular spirit stone? How did it end up becoming that small?
I took a sideway glance towards Tristan and sighed. Although he did not show it, he must be feeling sad and frustrated to finally find her long lost mother’s spirit stone in this state…
“Now that you’ve seen it, let’s begin this auction formally,” the announcer on stage declared.
The attendants shoved the red ruby out of the spotlight and moved another covered crate on stage. This time, it was a fairly larger one.
“Dahlly, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Hmm, yes,” I said absentmindedly, unable to tear my eyes away from the item in front out of sheer curiosity.
“Will you be alright on your own? I need to go and check on something.”
I instantly looked at Tristan, his eyes were fixed on a seat at the upper side of the hall were a small podium is located.
The podium was covered by a semi-transparent black curtain. I couldn’t see what was on the inside, but it was clear that there were some people there.
“Um, are you going to be alright,” I whispered. I have never seen him look so tense just now.
“Yes. I will come back quickly. I just need to check on something,” he said again, not tearing his eyes on the place.
I nodded. “Alright… I’ll wait for you here.”
The moment I said yes, I wanted to take it back. Staying there amongst strangers did not feel like a very wise or good thing to do. However, I understood Tristan. He must be worried whether other Shadow Rune spirit stones or items would also be auctioned. If I go with him, we might miss bidding for them. I think it’ll be best for one of us to remain here just to be sure.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can, honey,” he said a bit loudly, then he dropped down his voice even lower, just barely enough for me to hear. “If anything were to ever happen, run towards the exit. Gideon will be waiting there.”
Although I had no idea how I would reach the exit after coming out of that confusing hallway, I bravely nodded.
As soon as Tristan left my side, I felt a tad colder and even more nervous. There were in fact two layers of jackets covering me, so why did I feel like I was almost freezing?
“My lady, I see your escort has finally left… May I join you then, and keep you company?...”
I turned around and looked at the person who just spoke. Finally, I understood why it felt cold.
A man in a dark suit and whose face was covered with a white and gold mask came into view. He had a piercing gaze that sent chills into the core of my body.
“I see you are alone now, and this hall can be a lonely place. Mind if we keep you company?”
Damn it!… Why didn’t I realize it earlier? This vampire has been eyeing me from the start, and as soon as Tristan left, he and his men seized the opportunity to surround me from all corners…