The Vampire King's Assassin Pet

"Hope you're ready for tonight, Seline?" Jax whispered lowly, his voice distorted by the throngs of enslaved wolves and their masters getting ready for the auction show. I wrenched my gaze from the pristine stage and turned to look at him with a sigh.

"To be honest, Jax, I'd have said yes I'm ready a few hours before. But now...I don't know. How many hours do we have left?"

He consulted his watch, a glittering Rolex, and shook his head. "Barely an hour. Come on then, let's get you dressed up and ready. You must look your absolute best tonight, Seline. That's the only way to get his attention."

I strode with him into the dressing rooms at the back, pulling off the thin slave dress I was wearing. When I first got captured by the Vampire Hunters Academy and introduced to Jax, I hated the material. But not as much as I hated my new life or the beast that ended my old one. Here now, in the dressing room, the murmur of the audience is distinct and fuels my nerve endings to short-circuit even more. I rubbed my sweaty palms together, inhaling and exhaling in an attempt to steady my heartbeat.

You can do this, Seline. You've trained years for this night. Get it right.

Jax pulled out a shimmering red dress from the battered wooden closet and pressed it lightly against my bosom. "You can never get it wrong with red. Such a beautiful color. Like blood." He smirked, his pointed fangs shooting out a bit. I nodded in agreement, even though I disagreed. I saw nothing special about the color red and it reminded me of that night I sat on the floor of my dusty Packhouse, surrounded by the crimson pool of my dead family.

The memories just don't stop coming no matter how much I tried to avoid them.

Jax noticed my change in mood and snapped. "I understand how you must be feeling, Seline. Believe me, I felt bitter and vengeful when I lost my own family as well, thirteen years ago. Ferrara DeMarco is the enemy," his eyes darkened, an unearthly growl rising from the back of his throat. "He killed our loved ones. Ruined our childhoods. This is your chance to make it right. No forgiveness."

I swallowed hard, nodding. I hated the word forgiveness. It was a trap employed by bad people to escape justice. Please forgive us. Spare us. They always whined.

Pfft. Like my family was spared. I didn't even let them say a word more after that before driving my claws into the hollows of their throats. It eased my pain to see the blood gushing forth, their eyes going white and their bodies limp. Satisfaction at its peak.

"No forgiveness," I repeated. "I'm ready."

"Good girl." He pecked me lightly on the cheek and left the room so I could get dressed. I slipped the silky dress on slowly, loving the way it draped over my breasts and hips, molding to them with a nod to modesty. It stopped just before my knees, the wide slit allowing air in my privates. I decided not to wear panties. Ferrara might check to ascertain if I was truly a virgin, and if found otherwise he might not be willing to buy me for the right price. The downside about the dress is, that I can't hide my two-inch blade like I use to. It had no pockets and was thinner than the white slave material I often wore. I couldn't go to a battle without weapons. At least I needed a stake to drive it into his neck at the first opportunity I got.

Maybe that's what made this battle different from the rest. Ferrara was a smart king – ruled over the vampires for at least a hundred years going. I heard that he had a son and wife before but they died in a clash with the Lycans. Perhaps this would've lessened my thirst for vengeance a bit. He knew pain. He was already broken just like me. But that only explained why he went about killing the Packs around him. Smothering families. I'd have died if I hadn't been away that day.

He didn't deserve pity but death. A slow, painful death.

"Are you ready?" Jax walked in, disrupting my thoughts. I turn around so he could see how well the dress fitted me. "Beautiful," he muttered, reaching out to squeeze my breasts. I winced at how hard his hands felt. "Beautiful."

"Thank you."

"Ten minutes left!" A black-clad backstage hand strutted in, her eyes flitting between Jax and me. I cautiously moved away from him, clearing my throat. "Your leash is ready Seline. Good day, Sir Jax."

Jax waves a hand, his expression dismissive. She didn't notice though for she'd already walked away.

"Remember Seline, your weapon is seduction. And your armor is being submissive. You won't play aggressively until the right time comes."

"I'm well aware of that, Jax. I won't fail you."

He nodded just as two guards came in to escort me into my cage. Guess he doesn't still trust me well enough to know I won't run or back out of this last minute.

I can't wait for things to get started already.

The Vampire Hunters Academy Showroom is long past its use. The air is normally dusty, stale, and unsafe for normal humans to breathe in. Do you know that toxic smell of socks that had been left unwashed for years and now smelt like rotten urine? Yup, that pretty much fits the description. It even got worse when you descended the stairs and climbed up one or two to get to the elevated platform that served as a stage filled with cages. The guards hustled me past the other masters and their pets for sale, while Jax spoke to me telepathically, urging me not to lose focus and perfect my submission. A part of me boiled at the way the Academy treated shifters like we didn't have the right of having our own will. I wanted to break the guards' hold on my arms, turn around and break the iron bars and free my kind. In another life maybe, the Vampire Academy would be the villain and I could do so. But I couldn't be more grateful to them. We all had a common enemy; Ferrara, and to bring him down we all needed to work together.

They'd done their part; training me. It was time to head in for the final kill.

What will happen to them? I asked Jax, glancing around once more at the slaves being jostled about.

They'll be having new homes, Seline. They'll be fine. He assured me. When he noticed that I'd gone quiet, he silently added. Only you can save them now. This shouldn't be happening to your kind. When he is gone, the Vampire Academy will change hands and this wrong will be made right. Your kind would be free to live and express themselves better, without fear.

I didn't know if it was just me, but Jax had never disappointed me with words. He always had the perfect thing to say and lift my spirits. He was nice and kind as well. The qualities of a good leader. Everything Ferrara was not.

When is he arriving? The audience was already filing up – scores of important figures, all vampires walking in and flanked alongside by their bodyguards holding brand new leashes.

Soon. He's confirmed that he's already on his way. Give him fifteen minutes and he'll be here soon. I'll give the signal once he's seated and you'll start.

I drew in a deep breath, straightening my arms by my sides. The cage door opened, but before I'm shoved inside, the guards hold me back for a final inspection. A figure emerges from backstage – a hard-faced woman with gray lines in her hair. She turned me about slightly, humming in satisfaction. I allowed her to study me, dropping my eyes to the floor. If I going to be acting submissive for the next few weeks, it was wise for me to get into practice.

She touched my braided hair, running her fingers lightly over the smooth texture. She commented about my makeup is simple and ordinary, yet powerful. She loved the blazing red color of my lipstick. "It compliments your dress perfectly and makes you stand out quite well. Jax has outdone himself yet again. This would get Ferrara's attention for sure. He loves them beautiful and thoughtful."

"What if he doesn't take the bait?" I voiced out my fears. Her eyes darkened. "What if he's not impressed?"

"Then it's up to you to make that happen. Show him that you can be both innocent and naughty at the same time." Her rough hands closed around my arm, her grip painful and cruel. Another reminder for me not to fuck this up. I nodded.

"Good girl. Remember all Jax has taught you. He's my son, and if he's disappointed with your performance you know what that means?" she makes a knife-slicing gesture and I shuddered. She stepped back and the guards fastened a red collar around my neck. I'm shoved into the cage at the exact moment that the auctioneer in a blue tux took the microphone.

It is time.

"Good evening, your majesty," a petite blonde vampire greeted me with a bow as I stepped out of my limo. I brushed a hand down, wiping off the dust that'd caught on my tuxedo jacket. The air was stale and dusty, making my nose itch. "So nice of you to join us. The auction's starting in five minutes."

My bodyguards blocked her way when she tried to lead me inside. I waved at them to step aside, clumping two fingers around my nose to keep from wheezing my guts out, my skin crawling in disgust as I surveyed the rundown building of the Vampire Academy's showroom. "Why was this place chosen to auction off the shifter slaves? I know that the Academy has more access to better buildings. This is extremely low-budget for them."

She chuckled insincerely, trying to avert her gaze. "Well, you see sir, this is where we always hold our auctions. Believe me, it hasn't always been like this. But rest assured I'll tell Sir Jax about your comments and we'd renovate soon. You'd definitely see a much different scene when you come around next time."

Samuel, a three-hundred-old vampire, and my PA and friend handed me a nose mask. I donned the material on and he leaned closer to whisper, eyebrows etched in confusion. "She's lying. The Vampire Academy only began auctioning off shifters last year, and this was the same building they used." He turned to glare at the blonde lady, whose smile had only gotten brighter and creepier.

"Good day, Sir." She bowed slightly to him as well. "Welcome to the Shifter auction."

Samuel snorted with an eye roll. I could feel a palpable tension brewing, and the blonde lady's gaze dropping to the ground suspiciously. Before Samuel could intimidate her further, I slapped a palm on his chest, breaking off his growl. "Behave yourself," I whispered sharply.

He backed away, muttering to himself. I shook my head and signaled the lady to open the door, which she did with a flourish. "This way, Sir." She offered me her best smile and I strode inside, the noise from the auction getting louder as we walked down the corridor leading to the big hall. There were groups of well-dressed vampires I wasn't familiar with bowing slightly to me as we passed, then turning to whisper surprisingly amongst themselves. It was rare to see me in these functions. The weight of my crown and the burden of responsibilities keeps me from the public most time and makes it hard for me to get used to the intense glances and whispering whenever I decided to attend a social function. I had no doubt whatsoever that my being here, to watch the auction would be covered by numerous papers by tomorrow morning with twisted versions and controversial headlines. I didn't care, because I'd gotten used to it.

The theater was at least a hundred years old but had its own distinctiveness. The glittering stage was perhaps the only new thing that still looked new and the smell of shifter fur couldn't even be overpowered by the strong cologne worn by the vampire audience. Jax had told me that the shifters were willing to get sold as slave pets. Caught up in a society inhabited predominantly by vampires, they needed protection; and a little bit of freedom in exchange for their blood which vampires adored. There were more than enough vampires willing to pay for a pet, so it was all good business. I hoped.

"It'll take years to get this place cleaned up," Samuel commented, his eyes passive as he surveyed the crowd. Blondie led us to our designated seats at the front of the stage. I sighed as lowered myself onto an aisle seat.

"At least try to have fun for once," I scolded him. He raised an unimpressed brow, huffing. I turned and nodded to my protective train. They instantly took up stations around the aisle that had been chosen for us. I'd purchased the twelve most reputable bodyguards money could buy, and tonight they looked as harmless as a fly to the common eyes. Their weapons are hidden in their suits, and they protect me with their lives. After years and countless assassination attempts, I needed to be careful of those I came in contact with for my safety.

"Are you guys comfortable?" Blondie hovers close, nervously. "I could get softer seats from the dressing room."

I waved her off. "It's fine. I like the view from here."

She wasn't convinced though, but I was glad she backed off. I turned my attention to the stage.

The lights are too bright, even for dust moths to dance around. I squinted as the red curtains rippled and the audience got agitated. The atmosphere was thick with expectancy and excitement.

I stretched out my legs and leaned back, noting how Blondie's hands keep fluttering nervously. She was biting her lips and looking around cautiously as though she'd done something wrong. Her fear is a startling contrast to how cold and brooding vampires normally behave and I wondered briefly why Jax had found it worthy enough to turn her.

Speaking of Jax, I knew he had something dirty up his sleeves with this invitation. He'd been extra pushy and leering that it'd be fitting if I got a pet to keep me busy because I hardly came out. "Where's your boss?" I asked Blondie, startling her from her silent ruminations.

"He's backstage. I'll go get him." She sauntered off. Immediately, Samuel leaned close to whisper.

"She's such a pain. I never knew that the Academy allowed tender and clueless ones like her. It's clear that she's been given orders to lie to us. This whole auction stuff isn't what it seems. My instincts are never wrong."

Before I had the chance to reply to him, Blondie returned with Jax trailing behind her, wearing his usual sinister smirk. He hardly bowed before taking my outstretched hand. "Glad to see you here, Your Majesty," he glanced at Blondie, a storm of clouds gathering in his irises for a brief moment and she flinched. Samuel nudged me when Jax's gaze returned to me, along with his smile. "Are you comfortable? Is the view from here satisfactory?"

"Yes. It's great." I answered him curtly. Samuel was right, something didn't seem right. "I'm going to ask you this again, are you absolutely sure that the shifters gave their consent to this? You know the penalties if they're being forced."

"And I'll say it again as well, yes," he rubbed his left temple wearily. "Most are rare species. They've lost their families and clan and don't want to submit to stronger shifters. Relax, we're helping them."

"Do you think it's wise pledging their lives to vampires instead of their own kind? That makes no sense. One can't be cruel to its kind."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not my life. And I wouldn't know that, considering the fact that I'm a vampire."

I pursed my lips together in doubt but didn't want to argue. Jax was a man of words. He had the exact words to manipulate any situation in his own twisted way. Most shifters I knew would rather prefer being burned than belonging to a vampire master. It wasn't every one of them that was lucky to get a good vampire as master. And shifters are a part of wild animals. They basked in their freedom and hated being submissive.

"If you have any more questions about the auction, you can ask Mary here," he pointed at Blondie. "She's my personal assistant and would be more than pleased to clear you."

I offered him a tight smile. "Not at this time. Thank you, Jax."

"Always welcomed, your majesty." He bowed, taking the side of the stage into the interior part of the building.

"I bet you five hundred bucks that he's lying," Samuel scoffed, glaring at Blondie who had her ears up, listening to him. He leaned in to whisper this time. "Now that I've thought of it, why are we even here tonight? It's not like you need a pet."

I exhaled, exasperated. "Who knows if that's just what I need at this point?"

His blue eyes crinkled as he spat. "Bullshit. None of them are befitting of your status as a king."

"Sorry about the interruption, Sir," Mary chipped in and we both glanced at her, "but these shifters are the best you'd ever find. Most of them are naturally submissive and owning such a powerful creature which you could show off whenever your visitors come around is thrilling."

Samuel regarded her silently, looking her over. "You work here, sis. Of course, you'll sing whatever tune they play."

"With all due respect, Sir, please consider bidding on a pet tonight," she subtly scowled at Samuel and he matched her annoyance with a snarl of his. There's definitely more to their not getting along than meets the eyes, but I had to let them figure out their sizzling attraction for each other beneath the glares and mutual disagreements. "You can't be working around the clock every day. There's more than enough time, especially for you. A pet can help relieve the stress."

She had a point. In the long run, being a vampire, disinterest in things was imminent. And with disinterest came boredom. With boredom came a craving for things out of the ordinary. More excitement, more sexual perversions. Deeper and more outrageous needs.

"I still think it's a bad idea and I'll have no hand in this. You can do as you please, Sire." Samuel huffed.

A low, slow tune began seeping through the speakers. The lights went off, except the ones used on stage. I steepled my fingers, mulling through the idea of having a pet. Though they'd agreed to the auction, shifters put up an exhilarating distraction after they were bought. It'd feel good to have them subdued for months. That was where the fun was in. but tonight, I had another thing in mind. I'd received news of a conspiracy and the best way to catch the culprits was to act the fool. Which was why I'd agreed to come here in the first place. To blend in and make everyone think I had no idea of what was actually going on behind my back. A few days more and I'd have the names of my enemies.

And just like always, I only have to lift a finger and they'd be dead.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Vampire Academy's 16th quarterly auction ceremony," a stout, wiry vampire boomed into the microphone, his announcement sending a frenzy through the crowd. "The auction is about to start and I implore you all to sit tight and have a good time. We've gathered only the rarest, best shifters for your entertainment and we do hope you're pleased well enough to be willing to place high bids on them."

The crowd's anticipation heightened as the red curtain parted slowly.

Then she appeared. The very first to be hauled out in a brass iron cage.

Seline

"Auction 1. Extra special edition," the auctioneer chortled. The two hefty bodyguards that brought out my cage turned the lock and hauled me forward on the stage, causing me to fall face-flat on the floor. I got up to my feet quickly, dusting off my dress. My blood boiled in anger, but I let it go, recalling briefly that I was already playing my role.

Standing on the elevated platform, I stared into a large ocean of darkness with at least a million pairs of eyes on me. After all these years, the attention from strangers was still overwhelming. I lowered my gaze to the floor, my eyesight affected by the harsh pool of lights around me. I was supposed to seem submissive anyway. A perfect, thrilling little pet for a vampire.

"She's the most beautiful thing you'll ever set your eyes on tonight. Female, wolf-shifter from a powerful bloodline, twenty-three. She's been trained to be submissive and taught all things ladylike but..." the auctioneer trailed off, building the suspense's momentum. "She's never been blooded, nor mounted either. That's the secret why she's so special. She's pure all over. A sweet virgin!"

A growl rose up my throat when I heard the audience's murmur increase in excitement. My anger raked through me slowly and I curled my fists in disgust. I'd only just gotten a hundred times more special and I'd be lying if that didn't make them all sickening.

"Alright darling. Show them what you've got," the auctioneer demanded with a wave of his hand. I dropped to my hands and knees, then looked toward the crowd like a timid little puppy. It's a more than enough show that proves my submission as they howl like delirious chickens. And to think these were high vampires of society.

"You've seen what treasure she is, folks. So let's get the ball rolling then. Bidding starts at two hundred thousand," the auctioneer called. "Two hundred thousand for this rare, beautiful virgin pet. Anyone? No one? Ah – yes, the man holding a brown jacket at the back. Who else would love to own this beautiful, dolled up specimen of a shifter? She's the best we have tonight so don't lose out! Yes, keep them coming. Can I get a three – "

The bidding went higher, spurred by the auctioneer's sugarcoated persuasions. I surveyed the crowd. How many people were really watching me tonight? Two thousand? That was taking things too far. A thousand? Nine hundred? I glanced up involuntarily, at the balcony overlooking the audience and saw Jax watching me. Look down, he glared. I bowed my head immediately, already feeling like I was a letdown.

It didn't matter how many people were willing to buy me. I only wanted one vampire. One master. Ferrara DeMarco. I needed to do something enticing. Something that would make him interested in me.

What would interest someone of his status to me? A meek pose? I'd done that already. Try and look sexy? I couldn't do that with a pose as this. I wasn't even feeling sexy. Not when my kind were being subjected to this shit. I wanted to punch the lights out of someone for forcing shifters into this mess.

I clenched my fists once more, my nails digging into the skin of my palms, drawing blood.

Fuck, I wanted this charade to be over already.

Soon, Seline. My wolf, Alphie purred. Soon.

Ferrara

She was coerced into this.

That was my instant thought as I watched her fists clench and unclench with each word that came out of the auctioneer's mouth. She's beautiful – dazzling in her blood red outfit, full-lipped and sensual. Currently, as the auctioneer ran his grubby little hands on her cleavage, cupping her breast and emphasizing her virginal status over and over again to entice the crowd while setting the bid higher, I didn't miss the dangerous twitch at the corner of her lips. To the rest of the audience she seemed meek and gentle, but I saw through her bullshit like thin paper. My eyes trailed down the bruises on her arms and wrists from all the thoughtless shoving by the guards, but aside from that, nothing else made her look vulnerable. She wouldn't be an easy creature to tame.

Her height, her eyes – the colour of rare, uncommon honey, her crown of fiery red hair that falls over her shoulders to stop at her knees. Everything about this she-wolf was tempting, and even now as she lifted her eyes and glared straight at the crowd, my body responded to her hypnotic gaze – blood rushing to my groin and tightening my briefs. Damn, her resistance once she was bought would be more than thrilling. What would it be like to own such a perfect creature? To study and subdue her enough till she became really meek and submissive?

I masked my growing interest with a look of indifference. Mary kept glancing between me and the stage, watching out for a reaction for the beautiful Amazon of a wolf currently on display. The clocks in my head were whirling. I supposed I could afford a distraction to divert my attention for a while. That was the price one had to pay for immortality – you kept on exploring new thrills while looking for the next big thing. I had no doubt that I would get bored of this she-wolf in two months' time, but still it would be fun to have her at my beck and call for a while.

There's something so eerily familiar about her. She looked like someone I knew, perhaps in my past life. And that fueled my curiosity even further.

On stage, she looked straight at me, her eyes widening a bit. A thrill rushed through me that she seemed overwhelmed by my stare. She lowered her eyes and licked her rosy lips and my pants tighten even more. I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. The biding number in Mary's hand caught my attention. She knew I was onto the beauty in a red dress on stage.

"You said you won't bid tonight. Changing your mind already?" Samuel cooed from my side and I'd never wanted to punch his balls so hard. He read all my facial expressions and body language so well like a psychic.

"Shut up. I never said that." I elbowed him. Palming a hand on my hard groin, I swallowed harder.

Christ. I have never gotten this hard in months.

Mary turned to me with a smile. "Impressed by what you're seeing, Sire? She's the best product you'll see tonight."

Eyes of the she-wolf, I palmed my hand harder down my dick. "Yes, Mary. I can see that. She's...truly one of a kind."

I meant that in more ways than one.