Captain!

"Hey! Hey! Wait a minute!" Target exclaimed, his hands coming up as if he could divide both parties with the gesture. "An agreement has been reached. There must be no fighting."

"And how will you stop me?" Malachi took a step forward, his tentacles writhing behind him.

"Ooooh!" X drawled like a kid at a playground, standing behind his partner, Y. "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" He began chanting.

"Mr. Malachi." Target declared with an officious tone. "You are in clear violation of rule number three. You shall be banned from five consecutive auctions."

"Do I look like I give a fuck?" Malachi took another step and the weight in the air became a physical force pressing down on the gathered vampires.

"Err… he's not coming for me, right?" Y said, his mask moving this way and that like a scared kid expecting to be attacked from any direction. "Somebody, do something."

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" X kept chanting happily.

Ezra narrowed his eyes, studying both men. Was it an act or was Y really scared? Somehow, he couldn't tell.

"Stop!" Target shouted as Malachi took another step.

"Stop!" Another step!

Target brought out his gun and pointed it at Malachi. "Stop or I'll shoot!"

Malachi took another step and Y backed away, his body language radiating terror.

Step.

Step.

Step.

"Stop where you are." A feminine voice whispered from directly behind Ezra's ear and the pressure present dispersed like a popped balloon.

Ezra turned his head around wildly as much as his chains allowed but couldn't find anyone. Judging by the fact that everyone was looking around, it seemed like the voice whispered from behind everyone at the same time.

He couldn't stop the shiver that went down his spine.

The black zone fell apart like the curtain at a theater to reveal a surprising scene.

In addition to Officer Target's cop car, another four cars surrounded the tunnel, two on each entrance, their lights flashing red and blue.

He could see the silhouette of single vampires in each of the four cars except one.

Standing in front of the lone car was a beautiful woman. The white uniform of the First City police force tightened in the right places leaving a figure that mesmerized everyone present. She radiated an aura of competence, her dark blue hair which matched Ezra's pulled into a ponytail.

Her cap was tilted to one side, balancing precariously on her head. Her belt tightened around her waist, showing off her hourglass figure. Her red irises spun in her eyes, drawing attention to her matching red lips.

"Captain!" Target dropped to a knee.

"Well done, Officer Target." The captain nodded at him before turning to Malachi. "Stand down. Tell Count Solomon that I'm in charge of this auction."

Malachi backed away slowly with both hands held up. "As you wish." His deep voice rumbled, coming from his small stature.

Ezra watched, cataloging every new information. The vampire police department was a corrupt faction hiding among the human police force. Why else will they wear the uniform and have access to the vehicles?

"Cash or bank transfer?" The captain turned to X and Y.

"Thank you!" Y fell to his knees and swooned like a maiden from a romance novel. "I'd like to make a transfer." After receiving the necessary details, he sent the money to them.

"This concludes our auction for today. Congratulations, Mr. X. Mr. Y" The captain whispered, her voice coming from behind everyone.

"Oh man! This was a wild ride." Y cheered before pausing. "Wait a minute... won't Mr. Short, dark and scary try to attack us when you leave?"

"Don't worry Mr. Y. We'll escort you to your destination."

"Right. Right. Where was I going?" He scratched his head in confusion before turning to the trio he had just claimed. "Where were you guys going again?"

There was silence as the three vampires in question stared at him.

Ezra narrowed his eyes. There was no way the two men would spend two hundred million credits on them and let them go on their merry way. What were they up to?

"We're going to the City Lord's domain." Genesis answered. "Will you be letting us go?"

"Letting you go?" Y asked in confusion. "Why would I do that?" He scoffed. "What do you guys want at the City Lord's domain anyways?"

"We want to register our newly turned mate." Olivia answered. "What do you want from us?"

Y looked around at the small crowd watching him. Sarah, Malachi and the flower shop girls looked on.

"Let's forget about that for now. No one wants an illegal vampire running around. Onward! To the City Lord's domain!" He placed one hand on his hip and pointed while staring forward like an explorer on the cover of an adventure novel.

"Should we proceed to the transfer of chains?" Target asked.

"No need for that. I brought my own chains." Y walked to them and touched Olivia. A tattoo of chains snaked from his arms, transferring to the side of Olivia's neck, coiling into a red circle.

"Yes, it doesn't encircle your whole neck but it's quite deadly. There are a thousand ways to die. I personally wouldn't choose this one." He took a step and transferred another chain tattoo to Genesis' neck.

When he stepped in front of Ezra, he paused. "Ah. Sorry. No chains for you. It'll be pretty cruel to chain up a newborn. I don't want child services to be called up here." He chuckled. "Cheer up kid."

Ezra said nothing, staring at the man. He wasn't one to correct an enemy when they were making a grave mistake.

"Drop their chains, Target." Everyone could hear the grin in Y's voice. "It's time for us to take our leave."