13 The auction of the silver-eyed maiden

Men and women basking in wealth, royals, scientists, and priests of all races and species were all present at the auction dressed in their finest threads and jewelry. The women's faces were well done to show their prestige, their dresses matching the depth of their husbands' bank accounts.

Only the most prestigious were invited to this private event. All came with the intention of procuring the golden, diamond-studded dragon egg, not knowing that an angel was also up for sale.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" a dwarf dressed in a green suit yelled into a microphone. "Tonight's auction officially begins!" He then went on to introduce himself, "My name is Lanzo Fitz and I'll be your announcer for tonight!"

A white-furred bunny girl came out with the first item and placed it on the golden stool in the middle of the stage.

"The crown of Queen Luthien, the first queen of the northern seas," Lanzo announced. "Bidding starts at three million!"

The auction went on for an hour until the golden, diamond-studded egg was finally revealed and up for bidding. "The egg of the gold dragon God, Ezekiel!" Lanzo announced. "Bidding starts at fifteen billion!"

Danfres Magamy, the empress of Heste, the northern kingdom of demons was about to raise her number card and place her bid when one of her men whispered in her ear, "This isn't the final item."

Her eyes which were pitch black widened as she looked at the informant, "Are you saying that there is something here more valuable than Ezekiel's egg?"

"So it appears, my lady," he whispered with a bow.

Danfres looked about the small room dimly lit with floating orbs emitting golden light. She noticed a few members of high society weren't bidding on Ezekiel's egg though it was rumored to be the most valuable item at the auction.

Her black eyes scanned each face that didn't place a bid. 'The kingdoms in the east simply can't afford the egg,' the raven-haired demoness concluded. 'Neither can the royals of the human kingdoms.'

'But them,' Danfres started in her thoughts as her eyes narrowed at the royals of the house of Marquis-Estiven, a house made from the union between a dragon warrior and an elven-vampire prince.

'They haven't bid on anything since night,' she thought. 'If there were three of Ezekiel's eggs they certainly would've been able to afford all of them.'

Danfres was now certain that the true prize of the auction was going to come after Ezekiel's egg.

"Ezekiel's egg 45 billion!" Celeste heard the announcer yell. "Do I hear a second bid?" Silence followed until she heard him yell, "Going once, going twice, sold to King Hanzel and Queen Lorette of Jude, the kitsune kingdom in the south!"

"You think the night ends here?" Lanzo questioned, a glint in his eye. "We have one more item!"

Mutterings and chatter followed Lanzo's words as well as gasps of surprise and expressions of curiosity.

"I didn't hear about this."

"There's something more valuable than Ezekiel's egg?"

"What could it be?"

But there were some royals who weren't surprised at all. They didn't know what the final item was, but they did hear that its value far exceeded that of Ezekiel's egg.

The 5000-year-old elf who runs the auction took the mic from Lanzo and ushered him off the stage. He wanted to do the biggest sale of his lifetime himself.

"Distinguished guests," he started. "As you all already know, my name is Idril and I am the organizer of this annual event."

"This last item is a very special one," Idril continued. "Royals and members of the high society, I present to you..." he trailed off as he extended his hand to the red curtain behind him. "The silver-eyed maiden."

Celeste appeared from behind the red curtain with a male elf holding each arm. Her eyes were focused on her bare feet as she walked forward, tears brimming in her eyes as she quietly panicked.

Her chest heaved with each deep breath she took to calm her hammering heart and raging nerves. Even without looking up, she could feel tens of eyes on her, their muttering only adding to her anxiety.

"Bidding starts at 40 billion!" Idril announced.

The small room was engulfed in silence, one so deafening that even the air stilled.

Idril looked at the visibly frightened little girl. "Look up, child," he commanded in a whisper.

Tears rolled down Celeste's cheeks as she sniffled. Her glossy eyes glistened with the lights as she finally raised her head, meeting the eyes of her potential buyers.

"A new species," Danfres muttered, staring unblinkingly at the wonder that stood before her on the stage. She was going to raise her number card and announce her bid, but someone beat her to it.

"50 billion," a deep voice laced with a British accent announced.

Everyone tore their eyes away from Celeste to look at the white-haired elven-vampire prince who made the astounding bid. It was the house of Marquis-Estiven's first bid of the night.

The house was a union between two of the wealthiest families in the elf and dragon kingdoms. Not many kingdoms and houses could challenge them financially, however...

"51 billion," Danfres dared to challenge. The little girl was a phenomenon; the demoness had no intention of letting her slip through her fingers.

Prince Arias Estiven's red eyes fell on the Empress of Heste as he announced, "75 billion."

The other royals and members of high society could only look at the two with wide eyes and open mouths. Celeste's price tag far exceeded the limits of their bank accounts and the worth of their families as well as their possessions.

"100 billion," Danfres again challenged as she sunk her sharp nails into her palms.

Prince Arias wasn't the least bit threatened. With a calm expression on his face, he confidently doubled Danfres' bid. "200 billion," he announced.

Danfres growled under her breath as she angrily got up from her chair before marching over to the elven-vampire prince's table. Her black, lace gown drew across the ground as she walked, her heels tapping against the tile filling the silence.

She was stopped by the prince's guards, but he ushered them away with a wave of his hand.

Danfres glared at his smug face as she frustratingly whispered, "Why are you doing this, Arias?"

"Whatever do you mean, Danfres?" he questioned with a smirk. "I want the girl."

"What use would you have for her?" Danfres questioned. "Your family has no interest in biological study and research."

"My husband and I desire a daughter to spoil and pamper," Arias started. "A gem as rare and magnificent as her is quite fitting to be the daughter of the house of Marquis-Estiven."

"There are countless other little girls out there," Danfres argued. "If you wanted to you could buy a fucking princess." She stared into Arias red eyes, "Let me have the girl, Arias and I will share with you the gifts bestowed upon me by the king of kings when I identify her species."

Danfres looked at Idril with a determined expression before shouting, "200 billion!"

"200 billion!" Idril repeated. "Going once, going twice..."