Page 44 of I Am the Storm

"Feast your eyes on the splendor of this beauty," Nicholas says, displaying the girl like a piece of art. She is once again in her see-through body suit, her face neutral, her white tail twitching nervously behind her.

"Many of you have tasted of her rare pleasures. Now, she can be yours forever. Let the bidding begin."

The girl looks at me, and I can't pull my gaze from her as mostly men—but also some women—bid to own her. I can only imagine the things they will do to her.

I break eye contact with her to glance at Lilith, who is impassive in the face of this atrocity. "Please do something," I say, feeling helpless even as my powers roil beneath the surface of my skin. I could unleash them here, but then I would ruin everything. What if the egg is the last up for auction? But how can I ignore what's happening?

Lilith looks at me with unreadable eyes, then gives a brief nod and holds up her crystal, entering into the bidding.

I scoot to the edge of my chair, desperate for her to win and free the girl.

Another man in the audience outbids Lilith at every turn.

She's starting to look pissed.

"Please keep going," I say. "You can't let him have her."

"Oh, I won't," she seethes between her teeth.

When the price becomes more than my mind can compute, Lilith stands up and bids an even higher amount, then takes off a ring she's wearing, holding it up for Nicholas. "I also offer the Ring of Dispel as payment. A one-of-a-kind wonder that, when worn, dispels any enchantments. It's said to have been given to Sir Lancelot by the Lady of the Lake. I can attest to its power."

The man who had been bidding against her huffs. "That's not right. She can't do that," he complains, his lusty eyes consuming the poor girl on stage.

Nicholas can't take his gaze off the ring, and I can see how badly he wants it. "Agreed," he says to Lilith, who hands over the ring with a shrewd glance at me.

The other man storms out of the room, and the cat girl looks to me and Lilith in curiosity and fear. Likely, she is wondering what will become of her.

The girl looks at me, eyes wide, before Nicholas snaps and she disappears. "Done." He slips the coveted ring onto his finger and smiles.

"You will free her, yes?" I ask Lilith.

Lilith looks at me. "I will do something with her."

I frown. "What does that mean?"

"It means, the girl probably doesn't have anywhere to go once she's freed. But I'll sort it out." She rolls her eyes at me. "You have a soft heart, Eve. Don't let it get you killed."

"And for our last—and truly most incredible—item for auction, behold the wonder that is the Viden," the Collector says and waves his hand with a flourish. From out of the mist appears a greyish-green creature at least ten feet in length pinned to a stone slab. It has a face like a deep-sea fish and the body of a snake, dozens of tentacles sprouting from its sides.

"This magnificent being can read into the hearts and minds of any being to answer their most burning questions. But the truth isn't always what it appears to be," the Collector cautions. "Captured from the deep seas near the edge of the world, the Viden is said to be the last of its kind. Who would like to volunteer to demonstrate its powers?"

Several hands go up, but I just stare as the creature's black, beady eyes lock onto mine, and I feel the pull of the darkness within it, as if it is calling my name.

Eve.

Eve.

Eve.

Lilith nudges me, snapping me out of the trance I was in without realizing. "What's going on?" I ask.

Everyone in the room is looking at me, and the Collector is holding out his hand to me. "Miss Oliver, would you join me on stage?"

I want to say no, but if this creature can answer my questions, maybe it's worth it.

I reluctantly stand and make my way forward, then take the seat in the chair provided, directly in front of the creature.

"The Viden will answer any three questions you have. Are you ready?" Nicholas asks.