The Blood Contract
Chapter 38: I want to volunteer

Chapter 38: I want to volunteer

Vincent lifted a brow when he heard what Lucian said, his expression a mix of amusement and mild surprise. He moved his gaze briefly to Serena, only to see that she was also caught off guard by Lucian’s words, although she was trying to mask her reaction with a subtle, composed demeanor. Her eyes flickered with a hint of confusion, but she quickly schooled her features into neutrality.

With that, Vincent donned a smile, his lips curving into a knowing grin. "You never cease to amaze me, Lucian. But then, you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t amaze me," he said, his tone light but carrying a hint of challenge. He took a deliberate step back, his polished shoes clicking softly against the marble floor, then fixed his gaze on Serena. "See you around, darling," he flashed her a wink, his eyes glinting with mischief, before turning on his heel and walking away from them. His steps were confident and unhurried, his tailored suit fitting him perfectly as he disappeared into the crowd.

"Don’t start. We’ll talk about this later," Lucian whispered to Serena, his voice low but firm, as he noticed the questions forming in her eyes. His tone left no room for argument, and though his expression remained stoic, there was a flicker of something—perhaps irritation or protectiveness—in his gaze.

Serena swallowed what she wanted to say, gritting her teeth to keep her composure. She forced a smile back on her face, her lips curving into a polite but tight expression, as an usher approached to show them to their reserved seats.

The table was a VIP one, seating ten, and it provided an unobstructed view of the stage. It was elegantly set, with fine china, sparkling glassware, and a centerpiece of fresh flowers that added a touch of sophistication. There were already other people seated there, their faces lighting up with bright smiles as they stood to greet Lucian as soon as he arrived.

"Who’s this lovely damsel with you?" one of the men asked, his tone friendly but laced with curiosity. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a charming smile that seemed to put people at ease.

"Meet my wife, Serena," Lucian began the introductions, his voice calm but carrying a note of pride. "Serena, this is Alistair and Joe."

"It’s an honor to finally meet you in person, Mrs. Draven," Alistair said, extending a hand toward Serena. His grip was firm but not overpowering, and his smile was warm and genuine.

"The honor is mine," Serena replied, her voice warm and gracious as she shook his hand. She then turned to Joe, who gave her a friendly nod and a firm handshake. She also offered a polite nod to the ladies around the table, her smile never wavering as she took her seat. Lucian hadn’t specified who the men were, but she suspected they were his friends. However, the air around them felt warmer and lighter than the one surrounding Lucian, making her feel slightly more at ease.

As the event proceeded, special guests were introduced, their names announced with great fanfare. But sadly, to the disappointment of both Lucian and Serena, the name "Salvador" never made it to the list.

Soon, it was time for the special auction, as announced by the host. A sleek android tablet was presented to everyone interested in participating, its screen glowing softly as it displayed the details of the upcoming auction.

"What are they auctioning?" Serena probed, her voice a mere whisper as she leaned toward Lucian so he would hear her. The hall had been thrown into silence in readiness for the beginning of the auction, the air thick with anticipation.

"Mystery item," Lucian answered in a whisper too, leaning toward her ear to say the words. Their gesture, though not overly pronounced, caught the attention of a few people nearby, who began to exchange curious glances and murmur among themselves, questioning what they thought they knew about the couple.

"Today’s item is..." the auctioneer began, his voice booming through the hall. A woman standing beside him, her face lit up with a dramatic wide grin, stepped forward to reveal a flat brown box. She opened it with a flourish, revealing a single dull white glove nestled inside.

"The Glove of Arashat," the auctioneer announced, and a series of gasps erupted in the hall, the sound echoing off the high ceilings.

"Impossible!"

"It can’t be!"

"Is this a joke?"

These were the comments of a few people in the hall after the announcement, their voices a mix of disbelief and awe.

The Glove of Arashat was a legendary artifact, believed to grant ten heart’s desires of the wearer, irrespective of what the desire was, as long as it had to do with the mind of another person who must have been touched by the gloved hand of the wearer. In a nutshell, it was mind control—ten different times, on ten different people or one person. It didn’t matter.

Many people believed it to be a myth, while those who believed it once existed knew it had been destroyed a long time ago.

Serena had heard the story of the glove but had treated it as passing news at the time. Now that the council was brandishing a supposedly identical glove, she couldn’t believe it.

"That has to be fake," she uttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of the crowd.

"It’s not the original, but I doubt it’s less effective," Joe, who sat right beside her, explained in a low voice. "I heard they’ve been working on this glove for a long time. I didn’t know it had been completed. But trust me, the council wouldn’t auction something that’s ineffective."

Alistair nodded in affirmation, his expression serious.

"Of course, many of us have heard about the Glove of Arashat and how it was destroyed ages ago, but the Council of Vitae is proud to announce that we’ve created an exact replica with the same capabilities as the original one," the auctioneer announced, his tone laced with pride. "But even better, this one has eleven wishes. To be fair and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the glove, we will use up one wish right here and now."

He picked up the glove by the detachable wristband, his movements deliberate and theatrical. He slid it onto his hand, then detached the band and held his hand up for everyone to see.

Silence descended on the hall as everyone anticipated what would happen next, the tension palpable.

Thirty seconds later, the white glove melted into the auctioneer’s skin, leaving no residue and no hint that he had worn a glove on that hand.

Another round of gasps echoed through the hall, accompanied by raised brows and impressed nods. That was one characteristic of the original glove—you would never know the wearer had it on.

"Now, I’ll need a volunteer from the audience to test this wonder on," the auctioneer began again, his eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.

He finally locked eyes with Serena, and a wide grin appeared on his face. "Mrs. Draven, you look so lovely tonight. Would you do us the honor of volunteering for tonight’s demonstration?"

"No. She isn’t volunteering," Lucian objected immediately, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. He found the question stupid and offensive, and his tone left no room for argument.

The man didn’t comment further. He only stared at Lucian, his grin faltering slightly, then moved his gaze back to Serena with a raised brow, as if wanting to confirm if she supported Lucian’s decision. Seeing this, Serena looked back at him, leaning back against her chair and raising her brows as well, her expression calm but defiant.

When they got back to the house, she would give Lucian a piece of her mind and warn him never to make decisions or speak for her ever again. But right now, she would stand with him as long as they were standing against the Council of Vitae.

"Very well then," the man uttered, looking away from their table. "Anyone willing to volunteer?"

"What was that?" Alistair whispered the question to Lucian’s ear, having leaned toward the latter.

"What was what?" Lucian asked, genuinely confused.

"I thought you said it was nothing serious between you two?" Alistair pointed out, his voice low but teasing.

"So?"

"You have a ring on your finger," Alistair continued, still speaking in hushed tones. "You just spoke for her, and you have that look in your eyes."

"What look are you talking about?" Lucian frowned, his expression darkening.

"The ’touch her and die’ look," Alistair revealed, his tone playful but pointed.

Lucian threw him an annoyed frown, pulling away from the whisperer and relaxing comfortably in his seat. "You should volunteer for the demonstration so we can know if it truly works, instead of being an inefficient detective," Lucian said to him in an audible tone, successfully closing the previous topic without giving any answer. He wasn’t even sure he knew the correct answers anymore.

A soft laugh escaped from Alistair. "You just saved your wife from volunteering, and now you’re asking me to do the same. Is that how much you want me to be ridiculed?" he asked in a light tone that suggested he wasn’t in the least offended.

"I used to be a photographer, so I know how to capture every moment. You wouldn’t miss a thing, I promise," Joe, who had heard the last part of their conversation, chimed in, waving his phone and winking at Alistair.

And that was all it took for Alistair to nod in agreement. "Alright, I’ll do it. But not without compensation."

"Three million," Joe uttered.

"Five million," Lucian added.

"Eight million dollars richer just for a few minutes of ridicule..." Alistair laughed, then raised his hand and declared, "I want to volunteer."