We spent hours searching for any trace of where the auction house might be hidden. But Luton was a sprawling, overwhelming city, far too vast to comb through together, so we split up and headed in different directions to cover more ground.
Even then, it was useless.
No matter where I went, whom I asked, or how carefully I probed, I found nothing, not a whisper of a clue, not even the faintest hint that such a place existed. Every person I questioned either looked at me with confusion or outright laughed, as if I were chasing a ridiculous rumour. To them, the idea of an auction house operating within their city was absurd.
The closest thing anyone mentioned was the casino and even that felt like a dead end. Gambling there was strictly prohibited, tightly controlled to the point where nothing even remotely resembling an underground trade could thrive.
I let out a quiet sigh.
What kind of lord enforced this level of discipline? Whoever ruled this city had a grip so firm that even whispers of illegal dealings had been erased. It was… admirable, in a way.
I was the first to arrive at our rendezvous point. Around me, the city moved as it always did, alive vibrant, untouched by the shadows we were chasing. There was no sign of ruin, no trace of unease. It was as if suffering didn't exist here.
One by one, Cassian and Vivian returned.
Both of them looked exhausted.
Their expressions alone told me everything I needed to know. Slumped shoulders, slow steps, the faint irritation in their eyes, they hadn't found anything either.
So, all of us came back empty-handed.
…This was troubling.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Cassian muttered, taking a bite of his sandwich, his frustration barely concealed. "Everyone I asked just brushed it off. Some of them didn't even take me seriously. It's like the auction house doesn't exist at all."
"Same here," Vivian added with a sigh. "People were more concerned about whether I was alright than the question itself. One of them even asked if I'd hit my head for bringing it up."
That confirmed it.
We couldn't move forward like this. Asking around blindly wasn't going to get us anywhere not in a city where not a single soul seemed aware of what we were looking for.
"I even checked with the taverns," I said quietly. "If there was any place rumours would linger, it would be there. But even they had nothing to offer."
Which meant one thing.
Either the auction house didn't exist at all… or it was hidden far deeper than we had anticipated.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my thoughts into place.
I had no other choice.
If this city refused to give me answers, then I would have to fall back on the methods that always worked, the ones I didn't prefer to use in places like this.
"I'll have to change tactics," I muttered under my breath.
The familiar edge settled in, cold and precise.
Time slowed, the world narrowing to a single point. I was just about to move…
when it was shattered
"Isn't that Cecilia over there?"
Cassian and Vivian spoke at the same time, their voices laced with unmistakable surprise.
My gaze snapped in the direction they were looking
There she was.
Standing in the middle of the street.
That annoying witch.
A flicker of irritation ran through me. Of all places, of all times, she had to show up here.
Damn it.
As much as I hated to admit it, her presence complicated things. She wasn't someone you could ignore, not with the kind of power she carried. Searching the entire city unnoticed was already difficult doing it with her around?
Nearly impossible.
And worse… I had no idea what she was here for.
"What do you think she's doing here?" Vivian asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Cecilia from a distance.
"Who knows," I replied flatly. "And we don't have time to waste speculating over it. Whatever she's doing, it's none of our concern."
At least, that's what I said.
But neither of them looked convinced.
Their attention remained fixed on her, sharp and calculating, as if they could decipher her intentions just by watching her movements. It was almost impressive, if it wasn't pointless at this distance.
Unless one of them could read lips. Which, clearly, they couldn't.
I, however, could.
To anyone else, she looked alone.
She wasn't.
The thing trailing her was subtle, too subtle for most to even sense but it was there, clinging to her presence like a shadow that didn't quite belong. I had studied entities like that before, buried in old temple texts and forbidden records.
But this one…
This one didn't match anything I'd ever read.
That alone made it dangerous.
I narrowed my focus, tuning everything else out as I fixed my gaze on their lips.
"You've been searching for an hour now," Nox said, his voice faint but clear enough when paired with her movements. "Don't you think you should rest for a few minutes?"
"I'll lose focus," she replied without hesitation. She brushed a hand through her hair, her expression sharp with concentration. "Besides… I'm close."
Close to what?
My attention sharpened.
What exactly was she looking for?
Then—
"I found it."
The shift in her expression was immediate.
Satisfaction. Cold and certain.
Her lips curved ever so slightly as she exhaled, tension bleeding out of her posture.
"Those bastards…" she muttered. "Hiding right under my nose."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Where is the auction?" Nox asked.
There was a brief pause before he added, almost casually, "I'll check on the kids first… before you decide to obliterate everything."
Kids?
That didn't fit.
I frowned slightly.
Was she here for the same reason we were? Or… was she the one behind all of this?
No. That didn't make sense.
And yet—
On one hand, the thought was absurd. On the other, it fit a little too well.
She wasn't the type to involve herself in something like that, not out of sympathy, not out of mercy. Saving children didn't align with anything I knew about her.
So why?
Why was she involved?
My thoughts stalled as she finally answered.
"It's right under the commercial district," she said.
A beat.
"The underground passageway."
Now that I had the location, all that remained was infiltration.
I exhaled slowly, steadying my thoughts. If it hadn't been for her, it would have taken me at least a full day, maybe more to uncover the auction house's location. And that was the time I simply didn't have.
Every passing minute mattered.
Every second lost could decide the fate of those children.
"Asier… you're staring a little too intensely in Cecilia's direction."
Vivian's voice broke through my thoughts, laced with amusement. I glanced at her just in time to catch the faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"I wasn't looking at her," I replied flatly. "She just happened to be in my line of sight. That's all."
I paused, then added with clear irritation, "I'd rather spend an entire day locked in a prayer room than waste a second staring at that witch."
Cassian let out a quiet huff.
"Forget about that," I continued, cutting off whatever remark he was about to make. "I need both of you to check something for me."
Their expressions shifted instantly lightness gone, focus returning.
"Where?" Cassian asked.
"The commercial district," I said, lowering my voice slightly. "Look into anything unusual. I don't care how small it seems, movements, restricted areas, anything out of place. Just don't draw attention to yourselves."
Vivian's gaze sharpened. "And what will you be doing?"
For a brief moment, I hesitated.
I will find out what that witch is really after.
But I couldn't say that out loud. Not yet.
"I have something else to take care of," I said instead, keeping my tone neutral. "We'll regroup at sundown."
They exchanged a glance but didn't question it further.
Good.
Because the moment they were gone, my attention shifted back.
Let's see what you're really up to, Witch.
I approached the shop she had been standing near moments ago, my steps measured, casual just another passerby in a city full of them.
"Excuse me," I said, addressing the shopkeeper.
If she had overheard anything that witch said, she gave no sign of it.
"Yes?" the woman replied politely. "How may I help you?"
I offered a small, practiced smile.
"If it's not too much trouble… the lady who was standing here a few minutes ago, do you happen to know her?"
The woman's expression changed almost instantly.
Recognition.
Then something lighter.
"Oh?" she said, a knowing smile forming. "… were you perhaps smitten by her?"
…What?
A flicker of irritation surged through me.
Smitten?
With her?
Who?
Me.
The very thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Even pretending felt unpleasant.
Still, I forced a faint chuckle. "Something like that. If possible, I'd like to know her name… or whether she visits often."
The shopkeeper shook her head gently.
"I'm afraid she's not someone who entertains that kind of attention," she said. "And no, she doesn't come here regularly."
Her smile lingered, almost teasing.
"You should consider yourself lucky you even caught a glimpse of her."
Lucky.
Right.
I thanked her and stepped away, my expression hardening the moment her gaze left me.
It wasn't just her.
Everyone I had asked gave the same kind of answer.
Vague. Deflective. Detached.
No real information.
Just enough to acknowledge her presence, nothing more.
I narrowed my eyes, my gaze drifting back to the street she had vanished into.
And the question lingered.
Was she just another piece being kept out of sight?
Either way…
There was only one answer that mattered.
Was she involved in the kidnappings?
Because if she was.
Then this hunt had just become a whole lot more dangerous..
-----
After confirming the location of the auction house, I returned to the guild.
I could have infiltrated it right then and there. The entrance was exposed, the timing favourable.
But that wouldn't be enough.
Finding the place was only half the task.
The real problem lay with those behind it, the ones who funded it, protected it, indulged in it. If I moved too soon, they would scatter like rats, retreat into whatever shadows had kept them safe for this long.
If I were going to act, I would do it properly.
I would drag every last one of them into the light.
Those rotten nobles had grown far too comfortable, hiding behind status and influence, believing themselves untouchable. Years of going unnoticed had made them careless.
Tonight would correct that mistake.
"Kerrigan," I called, my voice calm but carrying an edge that left no room for delay. "Send Max to my office."
"At once."
While I waited, I changed.
By the time a knock sounded against the door, I had already composed myself every detail in place, every thought sharpened.
"Master, I've brought Max," Kerrigan said from the other side. "Do we have permission to enter?"
"Come in."
The door opened, and Max stepped inside.
"Max," I said, adjusting the strap of my heel as I stood, "we have work to do."
His attention sharpened instantly. "Where are we headed?"
I met his gaze.
"To kill."
For a brief second, there was silence.
Then Max smiled.
Not out of cruelty, but recognition.
Understanding.
Max had always been like that.
I found him on the frontlines, long before any of this, drenched in blood, barely clinging to life, yet still trying to survive, to fight, to continue. Most would have called it stubbornness.
I called it something far more useful.
I saved him.
And from that day on, his loyalty had never wavered.
Where I walked, he followed. Where I pointed, he struck.
Tonight would be no different.
I turned toward the door, a quiet resolve settling into my chest.
"Get ready," I said. "We're paying a visit to our distinguished guests."
The faintest hint of anticipation flickered in Max's expression.
Outside, the city carried on as if nothing was about to change.
As if it wouldn't wake to something missing by morning.
I stepped forward, the sound of my heels echoing softly against the floor.
Tonight—
It would be their last.
Damn these bastards.
Operating something this large, this brazen right under my nose for so long…
And getting away with it.
My jaw tightened slightly as I stepped forward, forcing the anger into something colder, more controlled.
But it ends tonight.
Not just for them, but for anyone who might even think of trying something like this again.
An example had to be made.
A memorable one.
"My lady, your hat is a bit crooked."
Max's voice came from just behind me, smooth and composed, as if we were nothing more than aristocrats attending an evening of indulgence.
I didn't need to look to know he was enjoying this.
The theatrics. The facade.
He had always had a taste for it.
I allowed him to adjust it, tilting my head ever so slightly before continuing forward without breaking stride.
From what Nox had told me, this place wasn't exclusive, not in the traditional sense. Anyone could enter… provided they met certain conditions.
And more importantly, there was a limit.
A controlled number of guests is allowed inside at any given time.
Carefully managed.
Carefully contained.
We were stopped just before the entrance to the main hall.
"Apologies, esteemed guest," the guard said with a respectful bow. "From this point onward, no escorts are permitted."
I paused.
Then let out a quiet breath.
This couldn't have been more convenient.
They were practically handing themselves to me.
A room full of isolated targets, cut off from unnecessary interference.
It almost felt like a feast laid out in advance.
I stepped forward alone.
The main hall was dimly lit, bathed in a low, deliberate glow that drew every eye toward the stage at its center.
Everything else faded into shadow.
Dozens of figures sat scattered across the room—silhouettes draped in wealth and arrogance, their attention fixed ahead, their expressions eager, impatient.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
I let my gaze sweep across them slowly.
Counting.
Measuring.
There were quite a few. Cleanup would take time.
But that wasn't necessarily a problem.
If anything…
It gave me options.
Leverage.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."
The auctioneer's voice rang out smoothly, practiced and polished.
"I am Arthur, your host for tonight's proceedings."
He bowed, a perfect display of refinement.
"Please enjoy yourselves."
The auction began.
One item after another was brought forward, ornate, extravagant, and ultimately meaningless. Decorations masquerading as treasures. Status pieces for people with too much money and too little purpose.
Useless.
Every last one of them.
Still…
Opportunities like this didn't present themselves often.
And when they did.
It would be a waste not to indulge.
"Sold to bidder number seven."
A pause.
Then again.
"Sold to number seven."
And again.
"Sold… to number seven."
A faint murmur spread through the hall, subtle shifts of curiosity and irritation as attention began to drift.
I remained still, composed, as if this was nothing more than casual amusement.
But beneath that calm something sharper waited.
You've all had your fun.
For far too long.
My gaze hardened slightly as I leaned back in my seat, the faintest trace of a smile touching my lips.
Now…
It's my turn.
"Ladies and gentlemen… it is time for our main event."
Arthur's voice carried across the hall, smooth and brimming with anticipation.
"The moment you have all been waiting for."
That was the cue.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The lights dimmed further, the murmurs quieting into a tense, eager silence as the stage was prepared. Then—
They were brought out.
Children of different ages. Different races.
Terrified.
Broken.
Displayed.
No matter how many times I encounter this… no matter how many times I put an end to it—it never gets easier. It always drags those same bitter memories back to the surface, sharp and unrelenting.
And seeing the children like that… broken, hollow-eyed, trembling at shadows that shouldn't even exist in their world.
It doesn't just anger me.
It ignites something far darker.
The moment this bidding began, it was over for them.
Max would handle everything outside. Anyone trying to flee, anyone guarding the perimeter, none of them would make it past him.
Inside…
This would be my domain.
But first—
The one sitting beside me. A problem I couldn't ignore.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
I said, my gaze fixed forward, voice low and even.
A quiet chuckle came from beside me.
"I could ask you the same thing."
I turned slightly, just enough to meet his eyes.
"To think I'd run into you of all people," he added, a hint of disdain curling in his tone. "What rotten luck."
"I asked you a question," I said, my voice dropping further, edged with something lethal. "Answer it… before I rip your throat out."
He didn't flinch.
Just smiled.
"Maybe I have my reasons," he said lazily. "And even if I did… it wouldn't concern you."
…Vermin.
My fingers twitched slightly at my side.
Every instinct told me to deal with him now and end it before it became a problem.
But not yet.
I wasn't about to jeopardize this operation over something that could be handled later.
I exhaled softly, forcing the tension down.
"Don't get in my way," I said. "This is your only warning."
His smile didn't fade nor did he respond.
I leaned back slightly, my gaze returning to the stage.
Then, under my breath—
"Knight Cavalry, Unit Three… heed my summons."
The shadows moved.
Subtly.
Like something long buried had decided to rise.
From beneath the floor, from behind pillars, from the edges of dim light figures emerged, silent, taking their positions across the hall without drawing a single eye.
Everything was in place.
"You bastards…" My voice cut cleanly through the air, devoid of emotions, stripped of anything resembling mercy. "You've indulged yourselves for far too long."
A pause.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
My gaze moved over them, one by one, weighing, condemning finding nothing worth sparing.
I didn't move from where I stood.
Didn't need to.
For a second silence.
Then chaos.
"Guards!" Arthur's voice cracked through the tension, sharp with panic. "Capture that woman now!"
They moved.
Fast.
Trained.
Closing in from all sides with weapons drawn, killing intent clear in their eyes.
They surged forward.
Fast. Trained. Coordinated.
Weapons drawn, killing intent worn plainly on their faces like they'd forgotten what it felt like to be afraid.
I watched them come.
I did not move.
The first one reached me and simply ceased.
No dramatic motion. No grand gesture.
One moment he existed.
The next, his head left his shoulders with a sound like a whispered secret, and his body stood there a half-second longer, confused, before remembering to fall.
I hadn't so much as shifted my weight.
The second guard's throat opened mid-stride.
He hadn't even registered the first death yet.
The third folded at the knees—
then the fourth—
Then two more in the same breath, their bodies dropping in sequence like a row of candles being snuffed out one by one by an idle hand.
I remained exactly where I was.
Still.
Composed.
Not a single hair displaced.
The only evidence of anything at all was the spreading silence that followed each kill, the way the room seemed to exhale around me, and the faint, wet sound of things that had recently been people meeting the floor.
My Unit moved through it all like shadows with purpose. Precise. Invisible until they weren't.
My eyes stayed fixed on Arthur.
On the men seated beside him, rising now, scrambling, reaching for weapons that would do them no good.
On the ones nearest the exits who had already decided survival was worth more than dignity.
I watched all of it. And felt nothing in particular.
Screams tore through the hall. Chairs overturned. Glass shattered.
I did not look.
When the last guard crumpled—
silence returned.
Heavy. Final. Mine.
I stood at the center of it, untouched.
No blood on my hands.
Just the quiet that always followed when the world remembered its proper order.
My gaze settled on those still standing.
Still breathing.
Still under the delusion that those two facts were guaranteed to remain true.
"Run," I said.
The word slipped from my lips, quiet and absolute.
Not a warning.
Not mercy.
But Permission.
My gaze lifted, meeting theirs one by one.
Those who had laughed.
Bid.
Watched.
"Tonight…"
My smile sharpened."…is going to be your hell."
To be continued....