as he leans down and picks up Lucy’s body with more care than I expected of him. “Too young.”
“Then why do you do this?” I question. The Irish man looks at me as he places Lucy down on the bed, like he just noticed I am here. “Does life mean nothing to any of you?”
“We all have our debts to pay, little one,” he replies and pulls out a breakfast bar from his pocket. “The stealers always get me these when they collect humans. Want one?”
The stealers, that’s what the vamps who kidnapped me are called. Good to know.
My aching stomach screams yes, even as I shake my head and grit my teeth. The Irish man sighs and comes over to me, placing the bar in front of my feet.
“The name’s Eachann,” he introduces himself even though I didn’t ask. “And I won’t hurt you. I simply look after the auction house prizes and work with the stealers.”
“So this is an auction house? We are going to be sold off?” I question. He pauses before nodding his head.
“Don’t suppose telling you is going to do much harm,” he sighs. “The rich and powerful will come and buy whoever they want. Anyone still here after four weeks is sent to the whorehouses or bloodhouses on the island,” he explains, and my gaze drifts to the silent girl no one has bought. I gulp. “You’ve attracted more attention than most, little one, so you shouldn’t worry.”
“How is this place hidden from humans?” I question him. I might as well dig up as much information as I can from this vamp. Eachann straightens up and goes back to the bed.
“That’s a long story,” he starts and scratches his head. “But seeing as you are popular and likely to be sticking around, I will tell you it. See, long ago, before humans even walked this earth, there were vampires, witches and sirens. Always at war, the witches made several islands like this one, and on them, they cloaked the island with powerful magic. The magic was held in objects, and one family was given the responsibility of protecting the magic for their lives. Each island has its own magical objects, and each race lives on them.”
“Are vampires immortal then?” I question. “And what are the magical objects?”
And importantly, can I steal them and use them to bribe my way off this island?
“To a human, it would seem so, but no. Vampires can live for two thousand years before needing to sleep for a thousand and be reborn for another two. And so on,” he replies. “Therefore, immortality can be achieved quite easily. As for your other part, they are orbs of magic.”
So, not immortal, and clearly the sun doesn’t bother them. What could the weakness be?
“And witches? They are real then?” I question. “And sirens?”
“Extremely so and very powerful. There are ten witch covens and most live on their own island. As for the sirens, there is one clan, and they are secretive,” he tells me before doing the zip up on Lucy’s bag, shutting her away. “But I think that’s enough of story time for today.”
“Wait.” I make him stop as he goes to push Lucy out. “What will you do with her body?”
His eyes are soft, making him almost seem human, and it’s strange. “We bury the dead in the sea as we have much dead around. I will be gentle with her and wish her our god’s protection.”
“How can you believe in any god when you are all blood-sucking monsters who kill so easily and without guilt?” I demand.
His eyes find mine. “Not all of us feel no guilt, nor do we take life. Can you say humans are without faults?”
“Kidnapping and murder is illegal for humans. Is it here?” I question as he wheels Lucy out of the cage door.
“No, because humans are not at the top of the food chain on this island,” he warns me and shuts the door, locking it as he meets my eyes once more. “The auction is tomorrow. Good luck, little one.”
“Wait!” I call out, rushing to my feet and running to the gate as he pulls the key out.
“Why does everyone scream if you can simply use compulsion to calm them? Make them think they are okay?” I ask. The question has been bothering me.
He meets my eyes. “The only ones powerful enough to use that amount of magic on so many are the royals, and they would not waste their time on