The Reaping of the Gods

Chapter 8

"Attention. Ladies and Gentleman. Gods and Goddesses." Anubis is standing up on a stage at the front of the ballroom. Everyone quiets and listens intently. "Welcome to the Auction of the Reaped. Let's go over the rules before we start. First, all bids are final and cannot be taken back so make sure you have the money. Second, Ladies you are required to fulfill the obligations of the date. If it wasn't who you wanted to win please be respectful and no whining." People laughed in the audience. "And last but not least No fighting. Now everyone take your seats and let's have a fun evening."

Everyone starts shuffling into seats set up in front of the stage each with a button on the arm rest. I assume that's how they bid. Overflow people stand behind them with paddles in case they want to bid. The girls start walking towards the side of the stage where they have set up chairs for us to sit. I walk over and take a seat next to Josie and Hanna.

I haven't seen Luke at all which I guess means he's not partaking in the auction. I think that might be better than him being here. If he was here and didn't bid on me that would hurt. It shouldn't but I know it would.

"First up is Ms Hanna." Hanna walks on stage and we hear some cheers and jeers. "We will start the bidding at 1000 gold." Buttons start getting pushed and before long Hanna is sold. She seems happy about it though.

"Alec is worried he won't have enough money to buy me." Josie whispers, the sound of another girl being auctioned cutting the silence in the room.

"I'm sure it'll be fine. If he doesn't you just have to go on one date with someone else and then never see them again." I wrap my arm around her and give her a hug.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a door open to the ballroom. Luke walks into the ballroom. Wearing a navy blue suit. I will say that the navy is way better than the burgundy suit. He shoots me a smile and then walks into the crowd of people standing behind all the chairs.

"Ms. Josie." Anubis calls out and I watch as Josie walks up on stage. Bidding starts and of course Alec is bidding. Him and another person get into a bidding war and I can see Josie starting to look worried. She must know he's coming close to his budget. I see that other man hit his button for 6000 gold and then I see Alec's head hang low. You could feel the defeat coming from him and you could see Josie's expression change.

"Going once." Anubis calls out.

I look and see Luke moving towards Alec. He bends down and whispers something in Alec's ear. He looks up at him and they both nod in agreement.

"Going twice."

"7000 gold." Alec yells as he hits his button.

"7000 gold from Asclepius. Going once, Going twice" Silence. "Sold." Josie's face immediately beams. She jumps off the stage and runs into Alec's arms.

"Yes yes very nice. Young love isn't it beautiful." Anubis calms the crowd as they applaud and cheer.

"Now we have Ms Larissa." I hear my name and slowly take my place on stage. "1000 gold."

Set immediately presses his button. "Do I hear 2000 gold?" Anubis looks around. "Yes you in the back I see your paddle." I try to see who is holding up the paddle in the back group of people but can't.

"3000 gold?" Set pushes his button.

"4000 gold?" Paddle goes up.

This goes back and forth a while until bidding is at 25,000 gold. Anubis stops calling out numbers and leans over to whisper something to Anaya at the edge of the stage. Then comes back to the microphone.

"Wow this is quite the bidding battle we have going on. I'd love to raise more money for this lovely girl but we still have several other ladies that need their chance so can I have both bidders come up so that we might discuss an alternative arrangement." Anubis motions for Set to come up and then the man at the back. Set rises from his seat and walks up very confidently, at the back I see someone making his way through the crowd. When he emerges I see Luke. And my heart skips a beat. He likes me. He's bidding on me. I can't help but to blush.

They both come up and Anubis motions for someone else to take over the auction and then ushers us into the hallway off to the side of the stage. Anaya joining our little meeting

"Now I'd like to offer a proposal. Both of you pay 25,000 gold and both will get to have a date with Ms Larissa here. Does that sound fair?"

" Yes it does." Anaya says.

"I could go higher if that changes anything?" Set chimes in.

"You know I'd just match it, Set." Luke sneers back at him.

"There's supposed to be a winner not a tie." Set turns to Anubis looking for some sort of support.

"You two are both too stubborn to ever concede. We all know that except maybe Larissa. Two dates. That is my final word." Anubis bows to me and then takes his leave.

"I choose tomorrow night." Set pipes up. "I already have something planned." Set gives me a wink and a smirk.

"Fine, Would you like to join me for lunch tomorrow?" Luke turns and asks me. I give a slight nod.

"Well now that we have that figured, you two need to go pay and Larissa should head back to her seat to support her friends." Anaya gives me a nod to head back inside.

I go back inside and find my seat next to Josie. "What happened?" She pries.

"They decided on a tie so I will go on a date with both of them." I answer her.

"50,000 gold. Girl you're rich." Josie laughs.

"50,000 dollars is nice but I wouldn't say rich." I laugh back.

"You know one gold is worth $100 right? so that 50,000 is actually worth about 5 million dollars?" Josie looks at me puzzled.

"You gotta be shitting me." I spurt out. "Holy s**t"

I slump back in my chair. That money would solve alot of problems back home. But that can only happen if I go home. And I'm not sure I want to. I've come to like it here but I guess it's easy to like this place.

The auction comes to an end and everyone starts to leave.

"That was one of the funnest auctions I've been to." I look up and see Medusa standing in front of me. "I'm always a fan of when men have to pay. And you got two of them to pay." She gives me a smirk before heading out.

"Ladies, here are your earnings." Anubis comes in with a man in tow holding a tray full of leather sacks full of gold coins. Different amounts in each based on their sizes. He starts handing them out and all the girls giggle and squeal excitedly.

"Ms Larissa" Anubis stands in front of me. The man with the tray comes up to me and I see two very huge bags. "Would you like to carry these or shall I send them over with Anaya?" I look around and see the other girls staring.

"Um....with Anaya is fine." Anubis nods and heads out. The girls start heading out as well and I follow.

Josie leans over and whispers, "The girls thought one of them would've skimped out. They might be a little jealous."

Based on the stares and glares, some of them looked like they down right hated me now.