The Auction

LILA POV

This little girl needs to just be grateful we are being so kind to her. A young woman in her position could have ended up in a very bad place. We will get what we want from her. But we will not hurt her. She will be set for life. All she has to do is breed a few hybrids and she can be on her merry little way.

"Tatina, you look so worried," I say. I desperately am trying to sound sympathetic. It is hard when you feel like someone is so damn ungrateful.

"I am fine. This place just looks a little creepy,” she says.

Her innocence, Mr. Craig will play on that. He will have her eating out of the palm of his hand. She just wants to be loved so badly.

"Oh darling, I understand. But what I do not understand is why you think 1 would put you in harm's way," I say. I am trying to not come off as a bitch, but I probably did.

She sits there across from me. Looking at me looking at the people in the room.

"I am sorry. I have not been out in the world much and this is a big city," she says.

I scan the room. The vampires are checking her out. I notice one really looking at her. Maybe I will introduce him.

"Excuse, Tatina. I need to speak with someone,” I say.

I leave the table and her whiny self there. I walk over to the bar. A young vampire with dark hair and dark green eyes is watching me watch him. He smiles like the devil himself when I approach.

"See something you like tall dark and handsome,” I say.

He stands up from the bar. "Actually I do," he says.

I reach for his arm. "You looking at her," I ask.

He smiles. "She looks ripe. Is she?" He asks.

"Mr. Craig will be examining her soon. The auction will be this Saturday at the mansion," I tell him.

I walk away. I knew this was a good idea. They are going to bid like crazy. This one. This girl is going to make a lot of money. She probably will not be happy with the way things are going to go down. But in the end, she will have everything her little heart desires.

I sit back down at the table. Her mood seems to have changed. I hope so. I cannot take it another minute if she starts whining again.

"Feel better," I ask her.

"Actually I do. The vampires in here seem okay. Don't get me wrong I was raised by a vampire, but I know that there is something about me that they want and it makes me uneasy sometimes,” she says.

I reach for her hand. "My dear, you will be fine. You are under the protection of Mr. Craig. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. He will take care of you," I tell her.

The waitress comes back with two plates and sits one down in front of each of us. Tatina's eyes get really big.

"It's a lot of food isn't it?" I ask her as a place the red linen in my lap. She takes her red linen napkin and places it in her lap. "I have never seen so much food. I will never eat all this," she says.

"Whatever you do not eat I will have them box up. You can give it to the homeless girl we saw on Royal street,” I tell her.

The homeless girl. She had to stop and talk to her. Tatina is a very sweet person. I will give her that, but we have things to do. I can't have her out there trying to be a saint. I need her to be ready for Saturday.

"Eat up Tatina. It won't nourish your frail little body with you staring at it," I tell her.