The showcase that she wished for finally came on however her face didn't highlight her enthusiasm. The presenter, his tone elated to get to the most anticipated section of the bid. "And for our final section, we'll have a slave exhibit." His words drawing eyes once bored with what was on display.
'It would seem that she hasn't placed a bid either.' The presenter couldn't help but wonder as he gestured at the first trophy put on the spotlight. With the tarp now gone, a weak frame could be seen by the bidders. The girl no older than twenty glanced around at the cold beady eyes shot at her.
Some of the exhibits brought were either bought elsewhere, kidnapped or bought off from the earth camps. However with the influx of humans into Caerthalas, the bid didn't start of strong at a meager two thousand blue malcore shards. One by one they began their debut, some shocked, others horrified with what would become their new fates.
What met them were the bid of the elites and chuckles here and there. Once more the air began to boil with excitement and yet Callista wasn't that hooked with the scene. 'What exactly is she looking for?' The man seated next to her couldn't help but wonder. He knew that she was in search of a slave but so far she had shown interest with any of those brought up.
"Looks like this was a waste of my time." Her words rang through making the man flinch. "I'm sure that what you are in search for will turn up. After all it's too early to throw in the towel." Callista let out a exacerbated sign before watching the gallery of exhibits brush by.
'Not having a good time?' Jarren taunted in her mind, his tone playful as he watched the scene through her eyes. 'So far I haven't met what I can consider fit, they are nothing more than scared children and spent dolls.' Her tone of apathy dripping through her teeth. 'It's a matter of patience Callista as you have already been told.'
She felt like punching Jarren with that line. 'Why does everyone keep on telling me to be patient?!' The void rippled with her anger festering, a little more and reality would be no more. 'Maybe you lack the virtue of patience as I have told you once before and I'm sure that Guinevere will tell you this as well.'
Her fists clenched, her eyes rolling to the side with dismay. 'Are you still talking about my trophy? It'll bring a tear to my eye when I see her pass. Are you sure that you don't want a funeral for her?' Jarren didn't bite as a silence followed. 'A funeral it is then.' Still he didn't yield. 'What about James? He still graces this planet.'
Deflection at the moment would be too obvious for her, backing away from his taunts would mean that she lost and defeat wasn't something she savored. "I'll get him when I get to him, or do you wish to see him fall so soon? After all you're going to be far more patient than that should you want to survive my wrath.'
A laugh was what followed her words. 'I have no hurry with this world, if not then why world would be nothing more than ash and crimson.c' Before he could retort, another gallery came to the stage. "And here we have our next exhibit. A demon once acquired from the ruins of wastelands."
The air fell silent as a trace of corruption took it's place. The demon brought up was no older than fifteen years old, her crimson eyes eyes as her jet black hair cascaded down her back. Her figure adorned in rags with her eyes roaming all over. "Isn't that the bitch from last time?!" A voice rang through the crowd that forced the presenter to nod.
Callista paused, his partner could feel it as he sighed with relief. 'Finally something that draws her attention.' The muse running in his heart as a bid sparked. "The bid for her will start at twenty malcore shards." The air calm unlike the heated unrest the presenter was used to. "No bidders?" He posed hoping that someone would get the demon out of his hands.
Elves having a higher affinity with malcore wouldn't dare entertain the notion of keeping a demon as a slave much less a pet unless of a few specific reasons. Therefore the sight of no bidders didn't take the man by surprise as he was forced to conclude that no one wanted to demon. Before he could give the orders, a hand was raised.
"We have twenty thousand blue malcore shards." Eyes drifted to the bidder before scoffs echoed. Some ridiculing the price paid for such a demon before the exhibit dragged on. Callista rose to her feet, her tone perking up. "As much as it has been a pleasure to have me, I'll be forced to leave early, I have other matters to attend to."
The man once hesitant to let her leave her a face of satisfaction on his lips. "Of course, I hope that she is what you wished for." And with that the man accompanied her back to his room for some light words before she took her leave.
...
The demon felt the eyes cast on her and once they weren't of disgust but rather intrigue. She could tell that something was odd with her bidder for the air to be so restless. A man walked up to her cage, his smile shining through his owl mask. "Well it would seem little one that you have finally managed to get someone that would want you. You best behave." His tone a mixture of wariness and glee.
Still she didn't flinch or flicker, her gaze steady as she saw the man gesture to have her cage be taken away.
...
"Ugh!" Callista groaned as she let her figure collapse onto Jarren's body which lay lounged on the sofa. "I take it that you didn't have a fruitful meeting with Tharan." She bellowed, her gaze meeting his as he landed a kiss on her forehead. "It was expected, besides I'm sure that he would have reacted the same sooner or later upon uncovering the truth."
His tone steady as the air began to twist. "Shouldn't you be praising me for my pick? Rather than lazily lounging I expected you to have a red carpet laid out for me." She began her gloats which was met with a chuckle. "Really? How do you expect me to do so much when I can barely stand?" The two were interrupted with the head butler.
"Sir, madam, your prize has arrived." His tone filled with reverence before taking a bow and leaving. "You barely fought for her, I don't think that I need to spoil you too much." A punch landed on his chest to which he retaliated with a kiss before the doors slid open.
The head butler now back and behind him a girl could be seen. Her small frame coming as adorable to the two who remained intertwined with each other. Her horns jutting towards the sky, her eyes calm as she saw the so called new owners that had bothered to claim her. The designs of the place told her much about the two but what she hadn't expected was for them to be so young.
"Thank you." The door shut behind before the three were now alone. Callista took in her features before a click escaped her lips. "Why aren't you bathed yet?" Jarren beneath Callista bothered with the girl. "What's your name?" His tone low making the girl hesitate. Her eyes felt empty, something about her stillness brought a smile to Callista as she recalled her own state prior to being what she was at the moment.
"I have no name." Her words finally came through. Not with anger it resentment, merely function which further drew in the two. "Looks like I may have underestimated your appraisal dear." Jarren was the first to pose pushing Callista off him. "Well in that case it would be best for you to get on with your present then. Makes sure that you don't miss anything."
Jarren sighed her off as he made his way to the girl, his gaze growing curious with each step. "Wouldn't it best to have Clomere name her? After all it's her toy." Callista posed behind his back as he lowered for a crouch. Her height in comparison to his was his chest and a crouch made her tower over him.
The two locked eyes with each other engaging in a battle unsaid. "I'm sure that Lyssara should suffice." Callista was lost in her theatrics, the girl didn't refute cementing his choice. Rising back up again, he held her chin forcing her to look at him. His sharp gaze now turned playful with a smirk forming on his face. "I'm sure that you'll be perfect for what's to come."
Still, Lyssara watched it all happen with no input of her own like a spectator with a mask on. "Does all she do is watch, not say anything?" Callista chimed in however Jarren waved her off as his fingers began to bore into her mouth flashing her canines to him. Saliva coated his thumbs, his head turning with intrigue as if analyzing a profound specimen.
"Don't break her just yet, there's something that I want to test with her." Making her way over, Jarren stepped to the side allowing Callista to do as she pleased with Lyssara. The girl didn't react, merely watch the two circle her like prey. "Lyssara, what do you remember about your past before you were wrapped in chains?"
Lyssara's lips parted followed with a short silence. "I... can't remember. It's been too long." Her tone mind numbingly monotone which didn't tick off the two. "I want you to be our toy, our blade and our representation from here on out. I'm getting a little old to be moving around like this." Still the little girl failed to react.
The two glanced at each other before looking back at Lyssara as if in agreement of what to do with her. "Do you believe in gods Lyssara?" Jarren was the first to break the silence, Callista flashing back in her original place which fluttered her lashes before falling back to her rhythmatic flutter. "I don't. After all monsters are allowed to roam with no consequences."
It felt more like a jab at the two eliciting a smile to Jarren as he went on. "Do you have any form of attachment with this world?" He pressed on. She shook her head. "Well that's interesting." His tone showing his fascination as he began to circle her. Her crimson beads darted at the lady on the coach before resting back on Jarren.
"I take it that you have heard snippets of Redfall, correct?" A nod was his response. He paused now facing her face. "If I told you that I was something more than a god , would you believe me?" The silence from before came as easily as it had left. Something within her already made her on edge with the two as they sighted her as nothing more than a trick to get over with.
And yet she had no other choice but to play their game. "What do you want from me?" Jarren's eyes narrowed, now invested with the girl. "Your face burns with apathy, a cold silence hangs around your shoulders and your emotions deeply buried in your mind." His rant failing to faze her. "However what use is it in front of me? Your act for survival is nothing more than a trick in front of me."
His tone now grew malicious, not with the the intent of harm but bordering it. "I can feel your heartbeat Lyssara, and it's creeping in far too comfortable for someone like you." Lyssara narrowed her eyes, there were those who would look at her like a broken record, nothing more to her but those who managed to see through her face had more to them.
Most of which had chosen to treat her to watch her limits before losing her facade till she grew to be the monster that she was right now. Her fists subconsciously clenched and for the first time her breathe began to grow shallow meeting the two.