Demand answers

“Just spill it already!” Janette demanded from their host.

Damien sighed. “Oh, it’s just not as fun when you know what’s about to happen.Very well! I’ll tell you the story.” He gave a shrug and picked up his glass of champagne for a sip. In the back, the auction continued with another item being up for bid. The group were too focused on getting to the bottom of the house to pay attention. “You see, this auction house is actually a branch of a larger, more prestigious auction house that’s actually well respected around the world! The thing is… the sellers for the auction here, well… they’re not in it for the money.”

“Yeah, what is this whole bidding thing about?” Terrence asked.

Damien raised a finger to his point and nodded. “The sellers have no need of money, but they DO value entertainment!”

“What sort of entertainment?” Kayla asked, warily.

“Any kind, really, but they especially enjoy being surprised! Having all the luxuries you could possibly imagine and people serving their every desire they wish, they have seen it all and rarely see things that will spark any novelty in their eyes. Hence why it would have been better if you went in not knowing how this works…”

“OK, so these mysterious sellers are looking to trade dances and other things for entertainment? How does that work? Where did that lady go?” Wyatt asked, still not able to piece everything together.

Just as he asked, there was another flash and the first winner returned to the exact same spot she had left. Damian checked his watch. “Right on time!” he announced.

The woman looked disheveled with her hair tossed up and dirt on her body. Her dress was torn up and barely clinging to her slender frame.

“What happened to her?” Janette gasped.

“I don’t quite know…” Damien admitted. “But, would you all like to find out?”

They looked at one another, one by one, then finally turned to Damien. Speaking for the group, Kat answered, “Well… yeah!”

“OK,” Damien said, but added, “But you guys have to do one thing first…”