Cassandra Pendragon

Half an hour later, we were sitting on an open veranda, only a couple of blocks away from Madame Sinis’ establishment. Viyara and Pete had found us easily enough, Aurelia in tow, and we had decided to indulge in a late breakfast, before we were going to deal with Richard’s brother. Beating or threatening your way up the food chain was rather distasteful and doing so on an empty stomach made it even worse. Consequentially, we were slowly chewing our way through an assortment of local delicacies, some of which I couldn’t identify, despite my heightened senses. Then again, I wasn’t too sure, I actually wanted to know what I was shovelling into my mouth. Some meats surely lost their flavour, once you knew how they had looked, while still alive.

From where we were seated, we could keep an eye on the street, leading to the “Gilded Dream”, and more out of habit than necessity, I watched the unending stream of people, searching for something out of the ordinary. I didn’t see a thing, though, and the variety of filled pastries, smoked meats, fresh fruit and cured vegetables gobbled up my attention quickly enough. I didn’t think I was a glutton, but I had always enjoyed a good meal and since I didn’t have to worry about becoming sick or overly full anymore, not to mention that I still had some fattening up to do, I dug in, with more than just a healthy appetite.

The mixture of sweet mangos, savoury pork belly, salty beans with tomatoes and chilled goat milk was surprisingly pleasing and for a while, I was content with listening to the others. Reia was mostly busy admiring her new toys, but the rest couldn’t stop questioning the vampire or conjecturing why a Captain of Free Land might have been interested in lending a hand to the assailants, who had burned Boseiju to the ground. With a small smile, I imagined how much more lively their conversations would become, if they knew that another faction was already hunting for ways to extract the essence of dead creatures, or rather undead ones. The conflict between Alassara and the local authorities seemed to be much more widespread than we had thought and I couldn’t shake the feeling, that it was all connected, somehow. A struggle for power that had probably started long before I had even been born and everything we had witnessed was, but another facet of a still obscure whole.

You might be wondering, why I hadn’t told them, but from where I stood, I didn’t see why it would matter, just then. We had things to do, people to threaten and probably others to kill and I wasn’t going to make it even more complicated than it needed to be. Sure, in the end, we’d have to get to the bottom of the whole mess, but for now, our only job was to confirm Captain Nightshade’s involvement and the one of his church, of course. In a way, I saw him as the first thread we’d pull on, to unravel the entangled chaos, Free Land’s politics had turned out to be. Once the first bits and pieces came together, I planned on sharing my suspicions with Alassara and I was going to inform Ahri, once we had visited the “Silver Swan”, anyways. There were several things we had to talk about, after all.

They both had a right to know and maybe the vampire queen could explain why some factions were dead set on eliminating her people. Fear, I understood. I mean, who would want to live in a city, filled with predators, specialised on sentient beings? But from the looks of it, the attack on her mansion, the blatant refuse to act against the emperor before settling old scores, the dubious way her brother had skirted around the other Captains, there was much more to the story. Maybe an old grudge, a wound opened while the siblings had first risen to power? I didn’t know, and speculations wouldn’t help, so I kept my mouth shut until we had an actual way to get to the truth.

“Can I bring you anything else? Maybe another glass of fresh juice or some sweets,” a pleasant voice shook me from my reverie. A small and pretty blonde was catering to our needs, her bright smile showing sparkling, white teeth. We weren’t the only guests, a handful of patrons indulged in a late breakfast, just like us, and a few even sat at the counter, downing wine as if it was water.

“Not for me, thanks. But if you don’t mind, I’ve got a couple of questions. Here, that’s yours, whether you’re inclined to answer or not.” I pulled a silver coin from my pocket, I had gotten a bit more careful, and placed it on the table.

“What kind of questions,” she asked suspiciously without touching the money. The others had fallen quiet, eyeing us dubiously.

“Nothing sinister,” I laughed. “Just… how well do you know the taverns around here? We’ve got an appointment at the “Gilded Dream”, later, and I’d like to know beforehand, what I’m walking into.” Pete had already told us what to expect, but I wanted to consult the neighbours, so to speak. They’d be the first to know, if anything changed or went downhill and if the “Gilded Dream” had suddenly become the haunt of choice for crest bearing mercenaries, she’d be able to tell me.

“Oh,” she sighed, relieved, and took the coin. “I’m sorry, but we have all sorts around here and better safe than sorry, as my auntie always says. I don’t know much about the “Gilded Dream” but… from what little I’ve heard, I can’t imagine it’s the place to go, with four beautiful women. I… but that’s your business. It’s not far from here,” she gesticulated down the street, “you can reach it in a few minutes.” She wrinkled her freckled nose as if smelling something bad and continued:

“It’s a place where you can buy… every form of entertainment, if you catch my drift. It’s cheap and rowdy and the favourite of many a… gentleman with less than a stellar reputation. I’ve never been inside, but when we close down around sundown, I have to walk past, on my way home. You wouldn’t believe how often I had to dissuade their patrons from taking liberties with me.” I cocked and eyebrow and asked:

“And how did you do that? Forgive me, but you don’t look like a fighter.” She smiled at me.

“I’m not, but you don’t have to be, to get by. It’s mostly drunks, who can’t even walk straight anymore, and if I’m unlucky enough to meet someone half sober, I usually just run. I’m not strong, but I’m quick on my feet and I know a few places to hide. Still, I can’t imagine you’re going to be as lucky, especially if you go inside.”

“Oh my, are you worried for us? That’s surprisingly sweet, but also unnecessary. If push comes to shove, it’s not the first place we had to fight our way out of and I can’t imagine it to be the last.”

“Your call,” she replied, shrugging, her eyes darting to Reia, “but I still wouldn’t bring a child in there. She… she might see things she’s not supposed to. It’s… oh hells, it’s a brothel and a gambling den. Whatever vice your heart lusts for, you can satisfy your needs there. Whoever would pick a place like that for a meeting?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“To be fair, it doesn’t sound half bad. No one will bother listening in on a conversation, if there are so many distractions around and I highly doubt that anyone would cry foul if something went awry. As for the child, don’t let her appearance fool you, she’s a devil in disguise.” The vixen in question promptly stuck her tongue out at me. “See? I fear she’ll fit right in. Maybe she’d even fetch a decent price…” I couldn’t finish, since Reia and Ahri simultaneously stomped on my feet.

“Ouch. Fine, no selling, message received. And thanks, your food is delicious and your willingness to answer very welcome. One more question. If you walk past every night, you must have seen the regulars, right? Any chance they changed over the last few weeks? Any new faces?”

“Not as far as I can tell,” she answered slowly. “But that doesn’t mean much. Like I said, I never went inside and the windows are covered with curtains. Or… wait, for a while now, I’ve often seen a few men, lingering near the entrance. It’s almost as if they’re keeping watch. That’s all I can tell you.”

“That’s already been plenty. Here,” I tossed her another coin, “a proper thank you. What do I owe for the food?”

“Half a silver. Are you quite sure there’s nothing else I can get you?”

“If you insist, I’ll have another glass of blood orange juice,” Aurelia chimed in.

“Very well, I’ll be back in a moment.” I watched her retreating backside, lost in thought, when Ahri pinched my side.

“What did I do, now,” I complained. “I didn’t stare at her, I swear. I was just thinking…”

“About what,” she demanded to know, even though I couldn’t possibly have lied.

“Whether or not we should simply buy our way to the answers we need. Sometimes, it just works like a charm, but then again… What do you think, Pete?”

“Won’t work,” he mumble around a mouthful of a suspicious smelling kebab, I hadn’t been brave enough to try. “Sinis won’t risk her reputation for a few gold and if your boy is really under the heel of a Captain or a church, no amount of coin will convince him to risk being keelhauled.”

“Keelhauled,” I echoed, never having heard the term.

“A seamen’s punishment. I’ve heard, in ages past, when ships still sailed the oceans, it was already in use. You’d be tied to a rope and dragged underneath the ship, transversely or longitudinally, depending on your offence. Nowadays, it’s a bit more simple. Your hands are being tied together, the rope attached to the mast and then, you’re thrown overboard. You’ll break your arms when the rope draws tight and there you’ll swing until the crows pick the flesh off your bones and take your eyes. Only when the corpse is clean, will it be cut down, dropped into the ocean. For most superstitious folk, that’s the worst part.”

“Lovely,” Viyara commented. “So… they won’t talk willingly and we’re back to hitting things, aren’t we? Isn’t there something else we could try? I don’t know any mind magic, but you…”

“You mean, we should try and order them to comply, don’t you,” Ahri asked. The dragoness shrugged and met her gaze evenly.

“It’s worth a shot. We’re not talking about a city, or even a street. It’s a single room.”

“Maybe,” I interjected hesitantly, “but… it would affect you as well, unless you remained behind.”

“So? What are you going to make us do? You could, anyways, and telling the truth or not hurting you isn’t exactly a command I can’t live with. You’re already in my head,” she added with a smile.

Before I could reply, Aurelia cleared her throat quietly. It was a charmingly old fashioned gesture, only her fingertips brushing against her lips.

“I… why do you even bother,” she asked. “I know who you are. Why don’t you just take, what you need? Where’s the point? They’re humans… they can’t harm us. Well, maybe Pete.” When he protested, she shrugged. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. When I… I’ve never seen anyone fret as much as you do, over inconsequential details.”

“And what’s the alternative,” Ahri asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Go in and take what you need,” the vampire replied nonchalantly. “If they don’t comply, make them, by whatever means necessary. Why the fuss?” I blinked and Pete spluttered.

“Fuss,” he exclaimed. “That’s my people we’re talking about, some of them I even consider friends. I’m sorry if we’re boring you, but I’d rather not leave behind nothing, but scorched earth, I still have to live here. Should you walk into the place, wings blazing, all you gonna get in return is defiance and fear. Make them spill the beans afterwards and you’ll have a few new enemies. And it’s not even necessary! Just… let me talk to Sin. She won’t rat out her customers, but I’m sure she’ll look the other way, if we ask her nicely. He’s probably in one of the private rooms. We’ll get the girl out and then you can do as you please, no violence necessary. Well, at the end, maybe.”

“What are we waiting for, then,” Aurelia asked, unabashedly.

“I still have to pay and you ordered another glass of juice,” I replied irritably. “A bit forgetful, aren’t we?” I had meant it as a joke, but she didn’t take it that way.

“Hmm… maybe. Sometimes, it’s difficult. I’ve slept for so long, I’ve dreamt and now I’m awake but I can’t always tell the difference. It’s been… distracting. But I’m getting better.”

“You haven’t been awake for long. I’m sure it’s going to be just fine,” I mumbled uncertainly. I hadn’t expected her honesty. “Do you… remember much? Of the past, of us?” She shrugged.

“Bits and pieces. I don’t know why I was interred, here, but I’d do remember coming to this planet. There are… gaps, my past is a chaotic mess of memories and dreams. I can’t say what really happened, what I wished for and what I saw, while asleep. Sometimes, it makes perfect sense, I immediately recognised you for what you are, for example, and other times, I just… don’t know.” She raised her hands helplessly.

“The bond I share with Viyara helps, it keeps me grounded. Like a compass I can consult, whenever I feel like I’m losing my way. But I’ll need time and maybe a good psychiatrist. Are those still a thing?”

“Not around here,” Ahri answered. “Maybe once we get to the Emerald Island, but I wouldn’t bank on it. People in this day and age are more concerned with bodily harm.”

“On that front, at least, I’m good,” the vampire smiled. “Better than I can remember, even though that doesn’t mean much.” She paused, when the waitress came back. I distractedly paid our bill, my thoughts circling around Aurelia’s past. For her, not knowing what she had done and what had been done to her was definitely a blessing, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Somehow, I had clung to the hope, she might know more than me. A fools hope, surely, since I was trying to unravel a web of secrets, most immortals didn’t know existed, but it had still been there.

When the waitress had happily skipped away, my mom projected: “a second chance at life is something precious. Don’t squander it, Aurelia. You’ve got quite the burden to carry, even by our standards. Are you sure, throwing your lot in with us, is the best choice for you? I’ve always wondered… you’ve got the chance to walk away. I’m convinced Viyara would let you, or maybe even come along. You don’t have to spend your second life fighting, as well.”

“Maybe not, but right now, I want to. There’s much I don’t understand, but I know Viyara doesn’t want to leave and I can’t leave her. I don’t want to. So… for as long as you’ll have me, I’d be delighted to stick around.”

“Another one,” Ahri whispered in my ear, her soft breath tickling my fur.

“This one’s on you. But truth be told, I’m glad you stopped me. She… she’s much more innocent than I had thought. I think I like her.”

“Of course you do. She’s pretty, troubled and lost. You know, you haven’t changed that much, come to think of it. Well, you’re less callous, warmer, and even more erratic, but you’re still… a hero. All you need is a cape.”

“Already got one. It’s even white and very comfy.” I closed my eyes and leaned into her, her scent a soft caress, as I breathed in. “I’d like to take you out, tonight,” I whispered. “I can’t promise it’ll be peaceful and I have some things to tell you, but I really want to spend a few hours with you, alone. There’s this place I’ve heard about. No drunks, no mercenaries, actual cutlery. Would you do me the honour of accompanying me, darling?”