So the unusual spectacle of a naked monkey girl riding a talking donkey made it's way to the back of the building where something caused Laura to stop in her tracks.
"Look over there - hee haw!"
Sophie looked to the end of the room where a familiar looking tank was placed. Above it was a telling sign.
Name: Annie
Age: 18
Species: Human/Frog
Special Feature: Believes she is a cursed princess
Reserve Price: £75,000
"Hey, why is her reserve price higher than mine *ook* *eek*?" Sophie pouted.
"Seriously? That's the thing you choose to - hee haw- worry about? Her tank is empty!"
"Shit, you"re right" Sophie felt guilty for her uncharacteristic moment of vanity and concerned that her friend was already at the auction house "Hang on I can *ook* hear voices!"
Laura backed up so she and Sophie were obscured from view but could still see what was going on in front of them. Two figures soon came into view. One was instantly recognisable as Annie, the other an attractive, expensively dressed red haired girl around Sophie's age. The pair were in the middle of a discussion.
"So you promise if I go to the auction I'll *croak* find my Prince *croak*?"
The woman rolled her eyes "For the hundredth time yes. My father's clients are all filthy rich, some of them are bound to be royalty. And I'm sure they'll find the whole cursed princess thing you have going on adorable"
So this was the store owners daughter? The physical resemblence wasn't obvious but she seemed just as unpleasant.
"More importantly you should earn my father a fortune which he can spend on me, so we'll both be happy right?" The young woman continued.
"That bitch" Sophie whispered in Laura's ear "so all of this is to *ook* fund her shallow lifestyle? Well let's see how she likes being *eek* dehumanised and objectifief!"
Sophie was flicking frantically through the spell book but Laura was more cautious.
"Be careful Sophir you -hee haw - still have no idea what you're doing with that"
Sophie sighed, reluctantly shut the book and continued to listen in on the conversation a few feet away.
"So where are you *croak* taking me?" Annie asked.
"The auction house obviously" The owner's daughter seemed bored of Annie's company "Your doggie friend is already waiting for you there. Then I just need to come back to this dump one more time for the monkey. I have a personal friend who'd pay a fortune to have her in his private zoo, particularly if I can persuade my father to take her voice away"
"Right that's it!" Sophie hissed as she opened the spellbook and, before Laura had a chance to stop her, aimed an incantation at the owners bratty daughter.