Run.

I had to run.

Today.

Five years of plotting my escape in vivid detail and yet here I was.

And three days.

That was all I got to study this new place before taking the chance and exacting my escapade. To count each exit and each guard. Each rotation and each hallway. The time and distance between the different destinations I'd marked.

To be informed that I had become a part of the yearly auction of all sorts of slaves for the most Elite of Vampires.

Elite my ass.

But I dared not voice my thoughts.

I took a deep breath and did a subtle sweep of the room and its inhabitants. Three half blood vampire guards out in the hallway, two guarding the only exit lazily and one taking a stroll right outside the only window in the room that I was standing near.

And as if their strength and speed weren't enough, each was armed with swords.

I slowly inched towards the window, my jade green eyes cast down in submission, my hands fumbling with the hem of the short red fabric of the one piece dress I was made to wear. With dipped neckline, the bottom low and thigh length, it was designed to show off our body for a better bid. A pair of worn out heels were on my feet as well. At least the dress wasn't clingy or tight. I could work with that.

A toy. That was all I would be if I let myself go through this.

Anger and dread simmered in my heart but I trampled them down.

Girls around me were in different states of panic. Some were crying. Some trembling. Some whimpering. Some trained too well to not show fear. Some broken. Some completely emotionless. Some accepting their fate with a strong set of their jaws. Some already taking on the role of a trained sultry plaything.

My heart squeezed at the sight. It was a pity to see such young girls in such states. But it could be worse.

It will be worse if you don't go through your plan tonight, I firmly reminded myself.

Maybe I was being selfish but freeing all these girls was not a feat I could achieve. And compassion got you nowhere. You're all on your own in this world of cruelty. I was not going to do anything to risk my escape. I was a realist and it was clear as day that I was  in no position to help someone when I myself need help. So, despite whatever I might be feeling at times it was better to think for myself.

It would be an accomplishment if I myself could get out.

I kept an eye on the guard walking in the room, checking out the girls with the excuse of 'doing his duty' - filthy moron - and glanced out the window from my peripheral.

It was night and pretty dark but the moonlight and the light of the passing carriages was enough to illuminate the basic structures I'd been eyeing for the past three days.

The guards were exactly where they had been stationed these past three days which confirmed my beliefs that their positions wouldn't change today either. Extra guards would be by the entrance not by the route I would take for my escape. Hopefully.

Even from this distance, I could make out the borderline of Adalda: the werewolf territory. And if I remained successful in my escape; then my safe haven and refuge.

The purple translucent wall of power was rippling against the moon beams; looking like a mystical waterfall.

I'd calculated the distance I'd have to cover in order to reach it. I glanced at the clock ticking away in the far left wall of the musty and dark room Madam Belaura was using to accommodate the 50 or so of us high bred slaves. The room was lit by just a few flickering fire torches.

A gust of cold wind blew in from the open window to my right and goosebumps formed on my skin. It was like a strange sort of beckoning.

Yet, I didn't dare show an emotion other than fear and anxiousness. Not that I was faking it entirely. Bravery or boldness? They didn't have a place here. And I knew that.

A shrill feminine cry came from the front row of girls and I discreetly chanced a look to where the vampire guard was roughly pulling the hair of a girl with a cruel sneering grin as his eyes raked over her.

She was beautiful I suppose. As beautiful as you can be with minimal food and usual punishing scars. But she was. Pity. It catches attention. And in this world, it's never good for us humans.

She sobbed and he grinned wickedly.

I subtly bit the inside of my cheek. That's something which helps me get a patient grip on my emotions. I need a let out but showing the emotions is never an option so I chose this. It's not noticeable but it's there. The way I tightly bite the inside of my cheek to calm down my anger or my frustration..or whenever I feel like breaking down and crying wretchedly.

But I never do. I bite my cheek and I stare ahead blankly.

No one dared say anything. Not like I would either. I might have strong feelings of hate and repulsion but I'm not stupid. Nor do I let reckless emotions rule me or get the best of me. I was anxious though, my hands clammy and I was sure my heartbeat matched the speed of the other girls' in the room.

Only.....I had partly different reasons. I was going to risk my life and escape once and for all.

One wrong move.

One wrong move and it'd all be over.

One wrong move and I would die.

Though come to think of it, I'd rather die than face whatever fate being sold would bring me. And it was a miracle in itself that I'd never been sold previously and I was 18.

I'd made sure every part of my plan was put into carefully exacted motion.

Now only if it would work.....

Suddenly, the room grew silent and two familiar vampires strolled in.

My eyes took the sight in and I gulped.

"Well, I presume we're ready?" The male vampire Dwayne motioned for the guards to start chaining and cuffing us while the female stood by him silently assessing us all one last time.

It wasn't really up for discussion...why would he frame it as a question? I internally snickered.

Smug bastard.

My heartbeat sped up and my stomach dropped. The full blooded Vampire Dwayne was the host of the auction.

Cold and Cruel.

I breathed in one last breath.

It's going to be the last one I take as a slave, I told myself with renewed determination.

"Now be good pets. I hope you all shall be on your best behavior or the end of the night might also be your end." Madam Belaura's haunting voice was smooth and uncharacteristically chipper than usual. I suppose she was excited. But the underlying warning rang clear.

Her voice still managed to make me feel chills even after spending five tormenting years under her watchful eye. She was a strange character. Wicked cruel and selfish yet carried herself with decorum.

The guards made their way around the room, cuffing us all and chaining us together. The vampires looked at us. Probably seeing the delightful amount of money we would bring them by the end of the night instead of living, breathing and suffering human females.

Sick. They're all sick.

I slowed my breaths and in a carefully natural and subtle movement, right before the vampires came to cuff me, I slipped in a lethal hairpin into the depths of my onyx black hair. One swift move and my hand was back in front of me.

First step done.

The guard reached me and cuffed and chained me as well, the only sounds in the room were uncharacteristic and uneven breathing of the slaves and the clinking of these metal chains. He moved on without a second glance at me, his work done.

I stopped myself from letting out a sigh of relief at this small unnoticed victory. We were being cuffed only for a show of power-play. To show how weak and broken we were. That despite the dresses we had for tonight, we were still replaceable slaves. They knew no one would be stupid enough to make a run for it so the chains weren't tight, nor were the cuffs. Well, I suppose I would be one to change that notion tonight.

Dwayne spoke to Belaura and then turned to leave. From my peripheral I watched him disappear. Good.

The lines were moving forward and I was being brought closer and closer to the exit doors. Girls shuffled out into the hallway I'd sneaked in and out of the previous day. I kept my eyes down even as I felt Belaura's gaze burning holes into my head. Just as I passed her, words barely audible were whispered, colder than ever and even if I wanted I couldn't deny them. At least as far as I could make sense of them.

"It's time...."

I made the mistake of looking into her eyes that were staring me down but the emotion that flickered in there was one I wasn't familiar with and gone within seconds. I swallowed thickly and walked with the line of slaves.

There was that moment when no guard had his eyes near me and I slipped the hairpin from my hair, unlocking the cuffs silently and swiftly. Expertise in unlocking cuffs was something I had gained during my many years of plotting.

Second step done.

The wood slightly creaked beneath our feet as we made our way to the auction hall in the next building. I counted down the seconds to the moment where the guard was past me and no one was focused on my patch of slaves. My pace slowed ever so slightly as we approached the curve of the perfectly hidden blind spot. The glint between the wooden boards in the crevice was momentary.

Now.

The girl behind me stepped on the heels of my shoes as a result of me having slowed my pace, instantly apologizing and sputtering, more to the guard than me. The moment played out perfectly and I swiftly tripped, my hand sweeping past the glint in the crevice. I adjusted my dress awkwardly, regaining my balance, apologizing meekly too, as I stealthily slipped the bejeweled knife into my hidden thigh sheath, pulling the hem down where the guard was focused on my suddenly exposed skin. All in one move, precisely 12 seconds.

I felt a slight surge of pride.

I looked up wide eyed at the cruel guard who had stopped to look at the mere scene we had made up with narrowed eyes that soon turned into a sneer when he noticed me fumbling to draw the hem of the dress lower and hide my skin. I felt bad thinking that the other girl might've caught his attention but thankfully it didn't happen. Meaning neither would she suffer a terrible fate in my stead and nor would my plan be ruined. His gaze lingered a bit too long on my legs.

And I doused out the tiny flames of triumph that lit up inside me.

Time for the next step.