Chapter 2: The Auction

Theriault looked at the messy mop that he called hair in the mirror of the hotel bathroom.

The suit, a simple white blazer and slats with a black button-up and a loose black tie to finish the look, was nearly two sizes too big.

The fabric hung off him like sticky dough, folds and wrinkles naturally forming as it tried its best to cling to the small 18-year-old.

His pale skin was quite the contrast he noticed. Having the slightest tint of color only from his veins, and looking as if he hadn't seen the sun his entire life.

"Ah, father… Your suit doesn't fit," He said as he stared in the mirror. He cuffed the extra length of his pants, folding it three times before it finally let him see his sleek black shoes. There was nothing he could do with the blazer, but he tucked in the white button-up, leaving the tie as he turned away from the bathroom mirror, a gust of wind causing the hairs of his neck to stand up.

Theriault checked the time he had until the auction started. It was right around the street, he had everything he needed, and he knew what he wanted.

"I'm simply a young naive boy with too much money," Theriault repeated to himself over and over again, as if he was trying to practice lines to a movie.

"I won't die..." He said softly to himself as he finished his reciting and looked back at the mirror, a skeleton in a hood looking back at him.

"You'll want to," It said back as he left the room quickly.

...

"Let the auction begin!" Charles Mccline yelled as the stage members threw the sheet off the first artifact, revealing a vibrant painting of a young man crying under a tree.

"This painting is from the early American Renaissance period, it depicts the loneliness a man feels, the artist is unknown, and for that fact we will be starting the bid at 300 dollars"

Immediately several boards raised, men and women alike screaming out higher and higher numbers.

"19,000 dollars!" A young voice yelled above the crowd. Shen Yi raised her board as many eyes fell on her.

Murmuring erupted throughout the crowd before another voice lazily called out. "20,000"

"20,000 going once? Going twice?"

"21,000!" Shen Yi yelled out once again. Her grandmother next to her smiling.

"Going once… Going twice… Sold to the beauty in the pink jacket!" The man said as they rolled off the painting and Shen yi relaxed, now she could just chill out the rest of the night until the after-party banquet.

"Good job dear, maybe buy one or two more pieces to show off our wealth." Her grandma whispered in her ear, causing Shen Yi to inwardly sigh as she looked on to the next piece.

The next piece was a painting of a battlefield, which went for 200,000 dollars, quite a sum of money for a simple painting, but Shen Yi watched the crowd.

"There are quite a few Keymasters here Shen Yi," Her grandmother said, looking around at several people dressed in fancy suits.

"Yeah… I didn't expect such a turnout, guess papa wasn't lying when he said these auctions were held in high regard even to our society."

Shen Yi hated separating herself from "normal" people. For as long as she could remember she'd been being trained and educated on why their family was different. Why she couldn't have friends, why she couldn't go to school. Since the beginning of her memories, she felt like she was being prepared to take on her family's pride...

Shen Yi reached at the chain around her neck, pulling it out and exposing the bright pink key that was tied to it, the piece glowing faintly in the dark room.

"And sold for 30,000!" The auctioneer said, smiling as they rolled out another artifact.

That's how the night went for the next hour, she didn't see anything she particularly wanted, that was in her price range at least.

Finally, it happened, Shen Yi felt the energy of the artifact that was rolled out on stage.

"This bird is one of the first ever art pieces created in Chinese history. It was found barely a year ago, and is now being auctioned off at the starting price of 200 dollars!"

Shen Yi stared at the piece, a brown carving of a bird. It wasn't beautiful by any means, in fact most people in the room saw a lump of junk.

However, a select few in the room could tell what the object actually was.

"A divine key? I haven't seen one in ages," A man whispered to his wife as his hand instinctively dropped to his back pocket where he kept his own key.

A gust of wind blew around the room as a man stood up, his eyes glowing faintly as he raised his board "I bid 900,000 dollars!" He yelled out.

Mo Da smiled as he looked up at Marcus, the man radiating confidence as he stole the room with his high bid.

"I must admit you Germans have a way with people," Mo Da said, sipping on his tea as he relaxed.

The room went silent. For the commoners, as the Keymasters called them, this was insane.

Bidding so much money when the starting bid was 200? And it didn't even look like anyone wanted the junk anyway.

They were wrong though, the Keymasters, owners of the legendary artifacts made thousands of years ago, felt what the art sculpture really was.

'I have got to have it,' They all thought as many wealthy-looking people raised their boards, bidding more and more money.

"9 million!" One man with dyed pink hair said as he smirked at the other people bidding.

"10 million!"

"20 million!"

"50 million!"

Shen Yi watched as the bid went higher and higher.

"What's so special about that thing YiYi?" Her grandmother asked. Though she had once been in possession of the same key Shen Yi now carried around, giving it up left her blind to the true artifact that was being auctioned off.

"Fenghuang, The immortal Phoenix, that key holds their power," Shen Yi said as she too stood up. "60 million," she raised.

For Shen Yi, it was more about her culture than it was about the power.

Every Keymasters was taught that having multiple keys was a bad idea. There were side effects to being accepted by these ancient powers, and having multiple of them meant more side effects.

She couldn't pass this up though, even if she used her entire fortune she'd get this artifact.

"Wow looks like some of the wealthier members of the crowd appreciate ancient history huh?" Charles Mccline said as he walked out on stage, a wide smile on his face as people continued bidding, reaching higher and higher amounts with each raise.

"300 million!" The Green-eyed blond man said, standing there in his suit.

"And Mr. Marcus Redwell raises it to 300 million! Is anyone feeling 310?" Charles said, fueling the fire as his eyes were practically Money symbols.

"Boss, I'm not sure about this, there seems to be quite a few Keymasters bidding, is it smart to give them this power?" A man said behind Charles, a worried look on his face as the bidders raised their price higher and higher, none of them slowing down.

"Who cares? I find, I collect, and I sell, that's it, whatever they want with it isn't my business, it's how we make a profit Zak, just continue to roll out the artifacts, I knew this one would be the big seller…"

Charles focused his attention back on the auction, which had seemed to dwindle down.

"723 million!" A man yelled desperately, his price instantly being outmatched by Marcus, who stood there with a smug smirk on his face as he looked at all the other Keymasters who'd already given up.

"That's right… Just as I said Mo Da, The Phoenix key will be ours, and your boss will be immortal, if I am paid of course," Marcus said, raising his board again. "800 million."

Shen Yi faltered, it was only her and two others still in the bid, and it seemed the others were about to call it quits.

"802 million!" Shen Yi yelled out, glaring at the blond man who smirked right back at her and raised the bid to 810 million without even hesitating.

"8… 825 million," She said, her voice shaking a bit as she knew she'd reached a price she couldn't even pay. It was over, she had lost, and now this foreigner, who seemed to already hold a powerful key, would get another powerful artifact.

"Shen Yi, it's okay," Her grandmother said, pulling her back down to her chair. "There's plenty of things here to bid on," Her grandmother tried to reassure her, smiling and patting her back.

"I suppose you're right," She said as the room went silent while Marcus raised the bid to 850 million. This was the highest price it would go, who could contest this clearly rich man who threw prices with no hesitation?

"No one else wants to bid? Is 850 the highest you guys can go? Here I thought some prestigious people were among us today, I was hoping to break our 920 million dollar record... Oh well."

Charles Mccline shrugged as he walked toward the bird artifact, picking it up and studying for a second. For a second there seemed to be something off before he smiled and set it back down.

"Well then, going once... going twice... and-"

"1 billion for the LingJing figurine," A voice called out as the crowd gasped in unison. Marcus's smile disappeared, replaced with a shocked look as he turned toward the origin of the new bidder

The crowd watched the young frail-looking Boy dressed in an oversized suit walk down the stairs, the corners of his mouth tugging up as if he wanted to laugh but was holding it in.

"1 billion?" Charles questioned, before quickly regaining his composure and smiling brightly. The bid was back on. "1 billion! Am I hearing 1 billion and-"

"2 billion, only to get this over with, I didn't realize it was MRR policy to allow someone to randomly join the bid," Marcus said, a pissed-off look on his face as he glared at the boy who continued walking down.

"Haha, our policy is whoever has money can bid," Charles shot back, a

"3 billion," The Boy said, passing Shen Yi as she stared at him in awe. How could someone who looked so young have such money?

"Quatsch! End this bid immediately, it is clear this boy has no such money!" Marcus yelled, stepping out of the aisle to get a better look at the boy.

"Ah Ah Ah My dear friend Marcus. If someone bids we continue, is it safe to assume you don't have the money?" Charles said, his smile widening as he saw Marcus's dangerous glare land on him.

"Fine, 10 billion, now leave it at that boy and-"

"20 billion dollars for the LingJing figurine..." The boy said, stopping at an empty seat and grabbing a board. "Mr. Redwell, please calm down, it is no one's intention to anger anyone. Remember, we are held to a higher standard," Theriault, smirking wildly as his pale grey eyes pierced into Marcus's bright green ones, said as he sat down.

"20 billion going once, 20 billion going twice!" Charles said, amusement clearly expressed on his face as he, and every other person in the amphitheater looked between Marcus and Theriault, one thought floating in all of their minds.

'Who will win?'

That answer was given in the next second as Marcus gritted his teeth.

"I... Concede..." Marcus said as He looked down at Theriault, both of them holding eye contact, one exuding anger, the other exuding a calm aura of peace, not bothered by the pressure.

"Sold to the boy in the oversized suit!" Charles exclaimed.

Theriault, and every other person in the audience, watched the small figurine worth 20 billion U.S dollars being wheeled away.

One person in the room wasn't watching the artifact however, Marcus had his eyes locked on Theriault, his fists clenched as he felt more embarrassed than he'd ever felt before.

"Well... I suppose you've failed Mister Redwell," Mo Da said, shaking his head in disappointment. I will alert my emperor right away-"

"No," Marcus snapped, turning toward Mo Da with his eyes glowing brightly. "It's not over yet..." He said, his face contorted as he stepped out of the aisle and left the amphitheater, not caring about the rest of the auction.

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