Three Days of Night by Tracey H. Kitts

besides the echo of our footsteps. It sounded like we were approaching some kind of party, just like he’d said. I could hear voices, loud music and was that an explosion?
    “So, what are you doing with this guy?” the troll asked, gesturing back to Morgan. “I hear he’s a superhero. I didn’t know those were real.”
    I smiled and the hood felt tighter against my face. I was seriously reconsidering showing the troll my face, just to get some air.
    “It’s complicated.”
    “He can’t even see in the dark. Seems like an odd choice for a vampire.”
    “Hey,” Morgan said from behind me, “I can hear you, you know?”
    “Who says we’re a couple?” I asked.
    The troll only laughed in response and turned his back on me again, leading us farther down the hallway. Finally we came to a door. It was an old fashioned door, one that used a regular metal key. The troll swung it open and with another laugh said, “Have fun.”
    The scene in front of us could not be taken in at first. This market really was underground! It was in a dome with an artificial atmosphere and everything! It was massive. There was one stage to my right where animals of different sorts were being auctioned off. The ones I recognized were thought to be extinct. The others I’d never seen before. The prices being called out for these were truly astounding. To my left looked like some sort of antiquities auction. But it was the stage directly in front that caught my attention.
    Even though Morgan could see now, he kept his hand on my hip. I was glad for the contact, it made me feel safer. It’s strange that I felt I needed protection in this place. I mean, I’m a vampire, superhuman strength and all that. But something about this place felt violent . Maybe it was the explosion I’d heard on the way in. Either way, I was grateful to have someone else with me. Because if they didn’t give D back, I planned to start trouble.
    Just as we entered a female cyborg led D onto the stage. I felt what could best be described as rage coursing through me. When I actually use my vampire abilities, such as strength or speed, I feel a sort of rush just before. It’s a little bit like the “fight or flight syndrome.” However you want to describe it, I knew something bad was about to happen. And if they didn’t give my friend back, it was going to happen to anyone who got in my way. Just then an announcer began to speak.
    “Nothing like him as far as we can tell,” the announcer said. “So, it’s reasonable to believe he is the last of his kind. And just take a look at that body!”
    “We’ve got to hurry,” I said, pulling Morgan along through the crowd.
    I pushed past anyone who was in my way, no longer caring who I offended. That was my friend up there, my oldest friend other than Bob. Like me, Dr. Death didn’t age. I wasn’t about to let them auction off the only other immortal I knew.
    At first glance I thought they had stripped him naked, but then I realized he was wearing a thong that matched his marble-white skin. His white hair seemed to blow in a breeze that touched him alone. As I ran up to the stage, Dr. Death turned his glowing blue eyes toward me.
    It was at this moment that I felt the sun set outside and my strength began to return. Good. If I had to fight for him, I was now fully capable.
    “The auction will now proceed.”
    “The hell it will,” I said.
    I leapt onto the stage in a single move and stepped in front of D. Morgan moved between me and the auctioneer as I turned to face the crowd.
    “There has been some kind of mistake,” I began. “This man is a member of my crew. He was sent to pay the toll.”
    “And he is paying it,” the auctioneer said. “Now step aside.”
    “Shut the fuck up,” Morgan said. “He was sent down with currency to pay the toll in order for our ship to make port. He was not sent down to be auctioned off as a slave.”
    The crowd erupted around us. Morgan reached to his belt and removed