Damon's POV
The moment I saw them, I froze.
Ethan. Sophie.
They were on the stage, tied up, with pallid, bruised faces. They looked half-dead. The lip of Sophie was cut, Ethan had a burn on his arm that had not healed quite. Both of them were naked, with a small scarf around the waist of Sophie, and Ethan naked, his penis gaping open to everyone.
My throat went dry. I couldn't breathe.
I would have liked to stand up, to scream, to kill all the people in that room. But I didn't. Not yet.
To do it now would spoil all I have made to get this far.
I clenched the table edge to the point of whiteness. My heart beat was rapid, yet I had to slow my breathing.
Leo was still speaking on stage, and he had a glass of wine in his hand, smiling as though he were a god.
I am glad you are all here to-night, he said, with a very smooth voice. The casino is at last open, but that is no reason to celebrate.
The crowd cheered. Laughter filled the air. I sat down and stared at him.
Leo spread his arms wide. "This casino... is just a cover. And the simple reason why we are here to-night is freedom. To be ourselves."
Waiting till the noise had subsided he stopped. Too long have we been judged, people like us. They refer to us as monsters, freaks, sinners. They say what we do is wrong. But they glorify all the false and superficial--as though it were superior to us.
Some men laughed. A woman near me clapped.
I wanted to vomit.
Leo smirked. "But tonight, we show the truth. We don't hide. We live. We feel."
He wheeled about to the corner of the stage. Ethan and Sophie were dragged nearer to the spotlight by two guards.
I have something special, Leo said smiling, to-night. Two long-time partners. Devoted, submissive, trained to the letter. And for tonight only..." --he smiled broader-- "...I will lend them to anybody who wants them.
The room exploded.
"I want the girl!" someone shouted.
"I'll take the boy!" another yelled.
"No, I saw them first!"
People were standing, waving their money, screaming like animals.
My blood boiled.
Marcus, the father of Leo, invented a microphone, and his smile was as big as that of his son. "Settle down, everyone! You all want it so badly, so we will have fun. Let's have a bidding war!"
The audience whistled and applauded.
I sat there, silent. My guard leaned closer. "Sir, what do we do?"
"Wait," I muttered.
The bidding started.
"One hundred thousand!"
"Two hundred!"
"Three!"
Five hundred, I said, calmly, and with raised hand.
There was a silence in the room a moment.
Someone laughed. Two slaves, five hundred grands? You are either crazy or rich rich.
"Six hundred!" another shouted.
"Seven!"
"Eight!"
I stood up slowly. Ten million, I said, and all of you could hear me.
The crowd gasped. Marcus looked impressed.
Ten million to the pair, he repeated. "Do I hear more?"
Silence.
Marcus smiled. "Sold! For the night."
Leo started clapping. Had not supposed you had it in you, Damon, said he. Guess you wanted them all right, huh?
I forced a small smile. "You could say that."
Leo got out of the stage and came nearer. Well we can get you a separate room. Unless..." He grinned and leaned his head.
The air was again filled with laughter.
I met his eyes. "Next time."
He laughed. "Mysterious man, I like that." He nodded at the guards. Ready the back room to our great spender.
Two guards were sent to un-tie Ethan and Sophie. I didn't move. I couldn't.
Ethan's eyes met mine. His lips seemed to open as though he intended to say something, but he said nothing. Sophie was horrified, and her eyes were weeping. She made an attempt to touch him, but her hands were too much shaky.
I squeezed my hands till I tasted blood.
Leo turned back to the crowd. Fret not, friends, there is plenty of entertainment to be had!
He snapped his fingers. The guards pulled out another crowd, small children, barely teenagers.
The crowd cheered again.
That was it. I would have liked to take a stand and torch that whole place.
Before I could turn so much as a hair a great crash shook the building.
The lights flickered.
Next there was the noise of jets in the air, and then a volley of fire.
Screams broke out instantly.
"What the hell is happening!?" someone shouted.
Leo darted down as a bullet smashed a glass close to him. "Everyone down!" he yelled.
"Sir!" the voice of my guard pierced the confusion. "We have to go, now!"
I turned sharply. "No! My brothers are still in there!
"Damon, it's not safe!" he shouted, pulling my arm.
"I'm not leaving them!"
Another explosion. The entire ceiling shook. Dust rained down.
I attempted to escape, but one of the guards caught me at the back. "Move, sir! That's an order!"
Gunfire grew louder. The visitors screamed and crowded to the doors. The air was filled with the odor of smoke.
I glanced back one last time. The stage was half-collapsed. I no longer saw Ethan or Sophie. Only shadows.
they pulled me out of the house through a side door. The chill air stung my face and the sirens were heard in the street.
They shoved me into the car. "Drive!" one yelled.
The tires screeched. We ran away with bullets striking the ground behind us.
We turned a corner. Even the night was flamed behind us. The casino was on fire.
I knocked my hand on the window. "Damn it!"
"Sir, calm down!" my guard said.
I turned to him, eyes burning. "Calm down? My brothers and sisters are still in there!
When it is clear we will go back and get them, he said hastily. We can not help them, you see, when you are dead.
I swallowed hard. Who attacked that place, find out, I said at last. My voice was low but cold. Who dared to interfere?
"Yes, sir."