Chapter 232 - Uninvited

"Two billion one," Cornellio counted with a smile, as the cursed man stayed silent, and antsy. "Two billion two. Anyone else?"

A ferocious glare from Eve must've made anyone who had a dream to have that piece of the seal to back off. Or maybe they didn't want to waste their dollars on things they won't be able to appreciate fully, anyway.

"Sold for two billion to the number sixty-three!"

As Cornellio's attendants began to pack the seal so Eve could take it with her later, she sat back in her chair and let out a long breath. "Damn… It's been a while since I spent my money so recklessly."

"You are really interested in this seal," I said. The call of money was… so strong. The knowledge that I had another piece was burning on my tongue. But I forced it down for now. Instead, I focused on something else, something that made my spider senses tingle again..

"I do. I've been wishing to get a piece, at least one, on my hands for a long time now. For research. I have a lot to learn from Hong Se Niao," Eve said, all calm again. Even a little smug.

"I wonder why the other person wanted it, though. He wasn't a witch, and he seemed pretty desperate about it." I glanced at JJ. "Everyone has their reasons to do things, but… doesn't that seem strange to you?"

"Is it? I do have a low opinion of average intelligence of people, but from time to time there are some who understand all the important things, such as the value of the Seal of Absolute Knowledge." Eve shrugged. "I was lucky it was only one person, and not the richest one here."

"I agree with Eve, but I also share your confusion, ma chèrie." JJ gave me a long, telling look. "Either way, this man lost today, while you, Eve, won. Congratulations! Now, ma chèrie, you have been nodding off for a while now. Maybe it's time for us to go back to the hotel."

I looked around. The gala was on again, but many guests began to leave, especially ones that were still bound by such mortal limits as the need to sleep every day. Or, better yet, night. "Yeah, that sounds good. Eve, I'd like for us to chat again one day. I just realised that I have something in my personal stash you might want to look at, and I'd be happy to have you as my guest. Can't promise Cornellio's lavishness, though."

"Interesting, you say?" Eve raised her brows, but accepted the business card I passed to her. "I will have to ask you specifics, but not tonight. We are both too tired for this. Have a good night, you two."

I and JJ bid her farewell and prepared to leave ourselves. First, though, we had to tell Cornellio about the cursed man—and just be polite and say our goodbyes. With that intent, we weaved our way towards the stage, where we found Cornellio talking with the cursed man himself. Instead of interrupting them, I and JJ wordlessly agreed to wait. And if we listened, well, they just talked too loudly.

"You don't understand. This person, he won't be happy. If he wants something, he gets it, sooner or later. I'm warning you for the best of the both of us—you have to find that woman and ask her to return the item." The man looked, and sounded, almost desperate. His round face gleamed with nervous sweat, at which he dabbed with a handkerchief.

"Please, I can't just ask a buyer to return something because of a vague threat like that," Cornellio said. The owl on his shoulder hooted in agreement. "If you want to have a bought item, you have to address this plea to the buyer, not to me."

"But you have it for now, right? You can just give it to me. This person would thank you for that generously, more generously than anyone here could."

Cornellio's brows rose. "You ask me to go back on my client? How despicable. If this person was so intent on buying things from my auction house, they should've requested an invitation."

"They don't request. They—" suddenly, the man clutched for his heart. The seal in it burst, pulsating, and without thinking, I stepped forward, reaching for it.

The seal, whatever it was, was killing this man. His heart was going to explode if I was just a moment too slow, so I had no time to think—just act. I pulled the entire seal on myself, not caring for the side-effects of taking it out this way, like a weed. In my hands, I broke the seal into pieces, harmless on their own.

At the same time, Cornellio and JJ both rushed to catch the man before he could fall. I focused on what my eyes could see. The man's skin was white as a sheet, and his eyes wide, but he moved and breathed.

"I think he has a heart attack! But his heart still beats," Cornellio exclaimed, but quietly, then lifted his eyes at me and JJ. "There's a doctor on staff. Will you watch this man while I get him? Try to not create a commotion."

"It wasn't just a heart attack, this man was cursed. I was going to tell you just now—"

The rest of my words were cut off by the main doors into the hall opening with a bang. A wave of power swept from there, smelling like fresh grass and making hairs on my nape stand on end. I swivelled towards the source of it and froze at what I saw.

Talk about the wicked witch coming to a birthday party uninvited, this was above and beyond. This man wasn't a witch, or even a witcher, but he radiated both power and scorn, so much that even powerful and snotty vampires were struck speechless. What's there to say about someone like me? I could only gape.