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Val now shook with desperate rage. his mind was racing, he tried to think of something quick to bid. he had to be carefull, or he'd give up something far too valuable by mistake.

but he was anything but careful. and before he could stop himself, he sputtered "My Moving Mansion!" he caught himself and quickly added "For a full Lunar Cycle, along with all non-organic items within it. and my previous two offers on top of it."

Sam groaned. "what will you do with her, Valthier... the mood in this room has become so villainous...I'd bid my Violin, if I but had it still with me."

Val's pointed ears perked and he jerked his head slightly in Scarlet's direction.

"did you say... Lycan?" he asked, incredulously. the last he dealt with Lycanthropes was unfortunately very messy, but he held high Respect for them. and they truely were gifted creatures.

his wits returned at the new thoughts, he relaxed his muscles a bit and unclenched his fists. his thoughts were twirling, but he found coherency in the cyclone of concepts.

"I daresay, I don't have anything to top my Mansion. it is quite useful, a marvel of a construction if I do say so myself. but I can build a creation as useful to your specific needs as my Mansion is to mine;" he said confidently.

"A Portal equally as grand or better, linking each door to eachother. you can have, as my bid, my personal services as your Portal Master indefinitely. I will Craft Portals for you at you will."

he then walked over to help Sam stand up, and afterwards took a seat, awaiting further responses. he told himself silently that that would be his final bid; he would offer no more.

"thank you, Sam." he whispered to his friend. "you're quite right, I went too far."

"Such powerful portals of my own would indeed be helpful--especially when the Red and Black courts start sending their dirty little assassins after me." The offer was more appealing than she let show. The idea of a room or home that could not be traced would be very advantageous, and she could finally do something without Devonte knowing about it. "Are you sure you don't have a Stradivari squirreled away somewhere, Sam? Well, I suppose if you did, I couldn't demand such a treasure for so paltry a peasant. And Cassandra, are you sure you have nothing more of value? Maybe I could take your pet off your hands for keeps? No? Oh well. It was worth a try. Then, my dear Valthier, for your services as my personal portal Master and the creation of something similar to your moving mansion, you may have the Wretch, to do with as you will. Her life, death, and possibly undeath, is in your capable hands," Scarlet declared regally.

Devonte still stood protectively between Wretch and the vampires. His glare told Valthier that he wanted the payment to be made in full to Scarlet's satisfaction before he stepped aside. Devonte himself was a little perplexed about why he was so uncharacteristically emotional about Wretch's fate, but as in all things, he yielded to Scarlet. Women like Wretch were a dime a dozen, he reminded himself, and he knew his sister would shower him with as many human servants as he could ever desire--had offered to do so on more than one occasion. Still, this whole business did not sit well with him.

Scarlet turned to Cassandra to reassure her. "They will be ready for her. And don't be surprise that I know your pet's heritage--I could smell her all over you. It is faint, but I've only caught that odor once before in the deep forests of Germany. The creature was stalking me--right to one of my galas, no less. I would never mistake it."

Valthier grinned in surprised joy, as his bid won. he stepped towards the girl, to be faced with a still apprehensive Devonte, and had to await his prize.

"I'll have my way with it in my quarters for tonight, later. in the meantime, it can be my lap-pet." he declared, referring to his new prize as an item rather than as a person. "I'll gladly be of service on call, milady. I'll need supplies, of course."

he pulled the girl, who seemed stiff with fear, into his lap as he sat down again, and played with her hair. he seemed completely obsessed with her, as though she were a toy.

"may I name it, Scarlet?" he asked, like a spoiled child. "I would very much like to give it a name."

the Elf was so pleased that he didn't even mind being forced to wait to have his fill of flesh. his lips curled in an evil smile, and he stroked the girl's exposed neck, causing her to shover and close her eyes tightly.

"I'll call it 'mouse', because it squeeks." he said. "and is perfect prey. I'll play with it, like a Cat does with a Mouse." he said all this without taking his eyes off of her.

then he turned to look at Scarlet. "Japan, ah? I'll need to visit each place I build a Portal. I'll have the list made this morning before bed then, since I'll be without company. would you like me to bring it to you at the Ball, or leave it for your servants to find?"

he was actually looking realy forward to the job, though he worried about the length of the task, and the time he'd be spending away from his usual affairs.

Sam, meanwhile, looked to Devonte, and saw that he was still as uneasy as he was about Valthier's behavior. a wave of conflicting emotions swept over him, and he looked to Scarlet as well.

their Hostess seemed completely uneffected by the state of the girl, only moments ago called 'Wretch', and now named 'mouse'. how could she be so cruel as to engage in Human Trafficking? he knew she had done it before, and probably still did, but even then she was usually saving and rescuing the victims, not feeding them to vicious predators, or auctioning them off like paintings and sculptures.

then again, it was Val, whom they all trusted. but could they trust him after his display?

no! don't think such ill thoughts, Sam! these are your Friends! of course you can trust them. they wouldn't do anything evil. he told himself.

Ciro simply shook his head at Val's antics, and finished his wine. Somewhat bored, he pulled out his USP and began cleaning it. The mention of favors piqued his interest, but only for a moment. A faint noise coming from outside, on the other hand, suddenly caught his attention. "What is that? I know I've heard it before...."

--------------------

*whuppa whuppa whuppa*
"You hear that?"
"Your ride has arrived."

"What do you see on thermal?"
"Two figures, third story window. Several on the ground, a few in the towers.... wait. one of the figures in the window has activated an IR beacon."
"That's the package. Move in."

"I actually have not had the pleasure of meeting Jamie," Scarlet said darkly, walked away from the speaking tube to the window. "I am insulted that he didn't ask permission to intrude on my airspace. Ciro, with me, we're going to have a little talk with Jamie." She tightened the belt on her robe, still leaving plenty of cleavage visible, and marched out of the room.

Cassandra wasn't sure if it was anger or curiosity, or quite possibly both she had felt from Scarlet, but she was sure of the fact that this was not likely to end well for Jamie or Alfons. Suddenly, she picked up a new thought pattern, and had to refrain yet again from prying.
"Devonte," Cassandra spoke in her low, bell-toned voice, "I'm sure it's been a stressfull night for you, but won't you please sit?" She paused, "Surely you cannot be comfortable standing fro all of eternity. I do not believe I've ever had the luxury of seeing you at rest."