Riley noticed Hoda lick her lips as she reached for the unusual gun strapped to her belt. Riley was instantly worried. If Hoda let her long slimy tongue loose, it was a death sentence for the demon.
“I’m fine. Thank you,” Riley interjected, before the unexpected confrontation escalated.
She smiled nervously at Spawn, hoping he believed her, then sighed in relief when he backed up and let Hoda pass.
The strange interlude only distracted Riley for a moment, as she mounted the stage and started dancing again. Staying brave was wearing on her. And the morose love song, Just Like Heaven, wasn’t helping. Riley wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and sob. Instead she was forced to dance with a less than enthusiastic smile pasted to her face.
Riley made her rounds on the stage, ignoring most of the eager patrons. She noticed Spawn at the edge with another Cadi. Spawn pinned her with his gaze.
“Your screeching music sounds like some pathetic creature’s being skinned alive,” Spawn commented when she was close enough to hear.
Okay, Riley frowned. The Cure’s not that bad.
As she moved on, Riley tried to memorize the reminder of home. Now that she’d destroyed her thumb drive, this was the last time she’d hear her favorite songs. Each one was attached to a memory. The Cure reminded her of her first love, Adam. She smiled wistfully as she remembered the awkward way he’d taken her virginity in an abandoned parking lot, after they ditched the lame high school dance. She could almost feel the seatbelt of the rusted-out Escort, digging into her hip, as she swayed to the beat.
“You call that dancing? It looks more like a seizure.”
Spawn’s snide comment pulled Riley from her thoughts. She didn’t know what crawled up his ass and died, between here and the grand hall, but she was in no mood to be fucked with. It wasn’t enough that she was stuck in this living Hell, but now she was supposed to put up with some douchebag heckler.
“No one’s forcing you to stick around, asshole. Why don’t you just fuck off?” Riley snarled.
“Is that any way to talk to your future master?” he replied.
Of all the cocky…
“If you’re looking for a sweet submissive slave, don’t waste your money. I’ll sooner stick my boot up your ass than bow down to a dickhead,” Riley bit out.
Spawn’s full lips, with one corner quirked up, pissed Riley off and pulled her in at the same time. His compelling jet-black eyes were lit with amusement. Riley hated that she found Spawn attractive, even as he antagonized her. If he’d been closer, she would’ve wiped the arrogant smirk off his face with the heel of her boot.
“What’s a dick?” Spawn’s friend asked.
“She’s referring to my shaft.”
“Or the lack thereof.” Riley cast Spawn a saccharine sweet smile.
Instead of getting mad that she insulted his manhood, Spawn had the nerve to wink at her.
He’s intentionally baiting me. Riley shook her head.
To add to the weirdness, Aculus decided he was going to teach Spawn some manners. Riley watched him circle the stage toward Spawn and his posturing friends. If the men started a brawl, she wasn’t certain who would come out on top. Based on the scars Spawn sported, he was no stranger to conflict. And Riley doubted Aculus came from a peace-loving people. Not with his bony built-in-armor.
What the hell is going on? I’m surrounded by cavemen!
Riley couldn’t believe the dick swinging contest she was witnessing. It was all such bullshit.
“Don’t fool yourselves. None of you are gentlemen. Look around. Where the fuck do you think we are?” Riley snarled at the men. “Sit down and shut-up, before I have Hoda kick both of you out.”
I’m so ready for this damn auction to be over with.
Riley danced, ignoring the idiotic men. She was still aggravated when the music suddenly stopped and Hoda mounted the stage.
“Is it time for dinner already?” Riley asked.
“No, it’s time.”
“Oh.” It’s time.
“Welcome honored guests of Distraho,” Cuttles’ voice echoed through the vaulted room, capturing everyone’s attention. “I know many of you have eagerly awaited the auction of the exotic human. However, due to the interest she has drawn, there has been a change of plans, that we think you will find entertaining.”
“What change of plans?” Riley asked with mounting concern, but Hoda didn’t reply.
“Tonight, instead of bidding on the female you will bid on one of several spots. The winners of those spots will have the honor of hunting the female in our coliseum,” Cuttles continued.
Hunt?
“What the fuck?” Riley bellowed.