Page 5 of Visionary

Milo and I expected to see many of the same faces we saw at smaller sales and on the black market. The Shirogane Family was well known for their events, and putting on an auction of this caliber in a short amount of time meant something. Ceril always thought four steps ahead. All of the families knew that. Making sales of Senketsus as public as he is will pull all of the families out of their safety nets. All except for Vea.

5

SEVERN

The wooden chair in Ceril’s office was just as uncomfortable as ever. Trying to readjust to a more tolerable position, I shifted, and the chair creaked slightly. My head jerked up, eyes quickly locking with Ceril’s.

“Make another sound and the chair is gone.” Ceril’s eyes never left mine as I moved to finish my readjustment. After so many years of this, I wasn’t scared of him anymore, but I definitely didn’t want to be standing in here for the rest of the day.

I sat in the back corner of the office every day like a statue or following Ceril around wherever he went. His obedient little assistant. My only reprieve was the days he had me chained away to bleed out and paint. A never-ending cycle of mental and physical torture. Every glimpse into the future I had was influenced by Ceril because he dictated my life. There was nothing I wanted more than to be able to see something other than Ceril’s future.

Beings were in and out of his office all day, bringing information and updates about the preparations for the auction the following day. A small part of me wanted to be excited about my art selling this way. But I also knew it didn’t really mean anything in the way I wanted it to. I wanted it to mean I was being recognized for my talents, that I was going to be known. But being known meant too much. Ceril would never allow that. So I sat in my chair and waited while my future was decided for me because I would never have a say in what happened.

“We’ve heard back from each of the families in Noirhaven, Ceril. They all plan to send a representative tomorrow.” Tirah slid a piece of paper across the desk to Ceril. Tirah had become Ceril’s bitch, she did everything for him.

“So Vea is the only one not coming. Just sending her usual people. I guess that’s not too surprising.” Ceril tossed the paper back to Tirah. “I want you and Severn at my side tomorrow. I don’t know what could happen. We know nothing about these beings,” he pointed to the paper, “we have to be ready for anything.”

When we arrived at the auction house the following day, huge posters of my art were lit up in the windows. If I hadn’t known my father was doing this for himself. For the money and the recognition, I would've been touched. Instead, I rolled my eyes and buttoned my jacket as I walked behind Ceril into the building.

The lobby was already filled with beings from all over Noirhaven. A beautiful female approached us. She had long, curly dark hair and brown eyes that glistened under the sparkling lights. The pale greens and yellows of her chiffon dress were magnificent against the rich, dark brown of her skin. “Ceril, what a displeasure it was to find this invitation in my inbox.” The nymph leaned in closer to Ceril and whispered. “I’m only here as a formality, so don’t you dare think you’re getting a fucking dime from me, you piece of shit.” When she leaned away, she was smiling and turned to me, putting out her slender, gorgeously manicured hand. “I am so sorry, my name is Talia.”

Reaching for her hand, I shook it lightly. “Severn, pleasure to meet you.”

Talia reacted at the sight of my fangs. “A vampire?” Her eyes were wide as she looked over at Ceril. “You’ve got a vampire working for you? Does Vea know?”

“Don’t read too much into it, Talia. Long story.” Ceril gripped the back of my neck tightly and guided me away from the crowd toward a dimly lit hallway.

6

AIDEN

Shirogane Auction House was already packed by the time Milo and I arrived as we had planned. We wanted to be as invisible as possible when we got there so we didn’t have too many eyes on us, and we could sneak in where we wanted to be toward the back where no cameras would catch us. I tried my best to subdue my senses, passing on the trays of champagne that were being passed around while Milo happily took one every now and then.

“I envy you more than you realize right now,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Not my fault I don’t have an extra sense to worry about.” He smiled and downed the rest of the glass he held while staring at me. I looked away, rolling my eyes.

I cut my eyes at him. “Well, it’s not my fault I was born and not made, you ass.” Milo chuckled and placed the empty glass on the server's tray as they walked by.

The elite of Noirhaven roamed the room. It didn’t take long for me to spot Talia, the head of the Malmora family, with her partner Celine. I was sure that someone from the demon and werewolf families would be here too.

“Talia and Celine are over there.” I nodded my head in the direction of the nymphs.

Milo nodded, lightly tilting his glass in another direction. “Myq is over there, not sure where his crew is though.”

“Mmm, I see him.” I acknowledged, spotting the werewolf in the back but not seeing any of the members of the pack that he usually surrounded himself with. “That just leaves Beck. He has to be here somewhere.”

“Do you know why Vea rarely comes to things like this? She always sends us, or Des.” Milo looked at me with curious eyes. Truthfully, I did know, but it wasn’t my place to share the information. Des had told me years ago, and it was part of why I was hired, but if Des wanted Milo to know, she would tell him. I shook my head and shrugged, looking at the crowd, continuing to survey the room. Milo just nodded and sipped another drink.

We spotted Beck about five minutes before the auction began. He had a demon I had never seen attached to his hip, no surprise there.

Ceril walked onto the stage holding a microphone. His giant white wings tucked tightly behind and around him so as not to knock anything over. “Good evening everyone!” The crowd erupted into applause. “I want to thank you all for joining me at this very special live auction tonight.” Applause continued. The beings in the room fawned over Ceril. His angelic beauty captured people who didn’t know his true nature. Luckily, it was easy to spot those who did because we were immune to his charm. “We have many gorgeous pieces available for you all tonight, but of course, the stars of our show are these five, stunning Senketsu pieces.”

As if on cue, a cloth was pulled off of five canvases that were lined up on the stage, and five of the Senketsu paintings I had been studying the past few days were in front of me. Squinting my eyes, I looked closely at the artwork. The golden sheen in the red told me exactly what I needed to know. The red wasn’t paint at all. It was blood. And not just any blood, Senketsu blood.

Pulling out my phone, I opened the text thread with Vea and Des.

Me