Satisfied with the number of charms sold, Velvet went back to the ship.

She knew how much time she had remaining, and didn’t dare to cross Viroa more and let her leave with the ship for being late.

The sailors had finished loading the new merchandise, so Velvet went and loaded herself too. She saw Couger climbing up the stairs to the cargo hold, and Viroa smoking pipe.

She was almost at Dodon.

…

It was almost night when they arrived. The Algae would stay the night at Dodon’s harbor, and go back tomorrow morning. After all, navigating at night was impossible for this ship.

Velvet went to find Viroa, who was walking towards an inn. Going next to her, both of them stayed silent.

“I’m not paying for your stay.” Viroa started.

“Wasn’t gonna ask you to,” Velvet continued. “I just want something to give to your ‘owner of favors’ so that they know it is not a scam.”

“Aren’t you in a hurry? I can give you something tomorrow.”

“Mmm, impossible. I’m gonna take the midnight train in a few hours.” Velvet’s initial plan didn’t need her to move from Dodon’s harbor, but now that she needed to take the airship, she had to go out from Petren, Dodon’s capital and where the harbor was, to Wishbell, right across the island, where the hangar was.

That made her think about taking a train, and, since she could get on the midnight one, that’s what she was gonna do.

The trip took two days and two nights, with a cost of two auris for the basic accommodations.

Viroa sighed, and Velvet could almost believe there was a bit of sadness in there. “You’re rushing too much… Didn’t no one teach you that the faster you run, the bigger the crash?”

Velvet smiled at her, not doubting her words. “And yet, I will keep on running.”

“Youngsters should listen more to the elderly…” She complained, pulling a beautiful pocket watch from her coat, giving it to Velvet. “That’s all the proof you need.”

“Ooohhh… it's gorgeous!” She lifted the watch to observe it better. It was old, and a bit damaged, but she still found it precious. “Do I need to give it to… you didn’t tell me any name. Still, do I need to give it to them? Or just show it and keep it for myself?” Putting the watch in her pant’s pocket, she kept on bothering Viroa.

“No and no, you’ll only keep it and return it to me once you can.” Delighted by Velvet’s disappointed gaze, she continued. “And the man you need to ask for is Saliman Ramis, the Blue Python’s owner.”

“Can’t I keep it as a birthday present? I’ll be eighteen in less than two weeeeks…”

“Maybe you’ll start acting as an adult then. No. Now get lost, shoo.” Pushing her away, both of them flinched when Couger entered the inn running.

“You’re leaving already?” Almost shouting, he got shushed by both women. “Sorry, sorry…”

He was listening from outside the door, right? Velvet mused.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Yes, I don’t need to stay, and Viroa won’t pay for my room…” Before Couger could puppy eye the old woman, Velvet stopped him. “And I want to be prepared for another Lyngbakr situation.”

“... That makes sense…” Disappointed but not surprised, he remained still for a moment. “Ah, can you wait here for a moment? I want to go get something.” Not waiting for Velvet’s answer, he went running towards the Algae.

Both women watched in silence from the door. Couger tripped and almost fell several times, since he was hurrying too much.

He went and came back in two minutes, carrying a box. Velvet clapped.

“You’re sooo fast, like a cougar.”

Taking deep breaths, Couger laughed at her praise. “Aren’t you in a hurry? Here.” Pushing the box on Velvet’s arms, his eyes shined in anticipation. “Since it’s your birthday soon, I got you this.”

“Awww…” She opened the box, inside, there was a gorgeous low top hat. Black in color with a decorative orange ribbon, it would compliment nicely with the clothes Madam Dorna gave her. “Thank you so much! It’s great, really great! I’m going to protect and care for it with my life!” Cradling the hat on her hands as if it was the most precious treasure ever, happy tears accumulated in her eyes. “Oooohh… Aren’t you a beautiful thing? Beautiful things need a name, don’t they? How about Wendy? No, no… Oh! Belladona! Elegant, beautiful and deadly! Yes, I hereby name you Belladona!”

Viroa coughed, trying to get Velvet's attention. It did not work.

“Velvet and Belladona, yes, yes. The Vel and the Bel, I like it!” The coughing sounds got louder. Giving Viroa an annoyed side eye, Velvet stopped fawning. “What?”

“The midnight train won’t wait for you.”

“I know I know, I’m leaving already!” She patted Couger on the shoulder. “Be a good boy and become a good man.” Putting her new hat on her suitcase, she waved at them. “See you someday!”

Running into the streets, Velvet left them, while Couger waved back at her and Viroa smoked in silence.

When she disappeared from view, Viroa sighed.

“Kid, try to change those tastes. Women like her are just problems in the making.”

Jumping in surprise, Couger tried to defend his questionable tastes. “W-what?! Velvet is a good person! What even makes you think that?”

The old lady laughed. “Hah! No, you are mistaken, kid. You are a good person. Velvet is just like me.”

Taking a puff from her pipe, she added. “And we never played nice.”

…

Walking fast down the streets, Velvet was ignorant of the conversation she was missing on.

The pocket watch Viroa gave her was broken, so the only way to tell the time was the clocktower at the harbor. Last time Velvet looked at it, it was eight pm. The train left the station at ten pm.

I’m good, then. In ten minutes I’ll arrive. Slowing her steps, she kept on going.

“Hey! You there!” Someone screamed at her, making her stop.

“Need something? I’m in a hurry, as you can see.”

A man, around his forties, closed in on her from the side street. “Is that so? Then be a good girl, and this can be over sooner than you think.”

Any normal person would notice that something was wrong when, threatening someone with physical abuse was met with the possible victim turning to look at them and smiling.

“Oh! I was waiting for this to happen!” Velvet went towards the man, playing with something inside her pocket.

“Waiting for this? Are you some kinda pervert?” Confident in his abilities, the man didn’t run away.

“No, I am a magician.”

…

Putting back her gloves, Velvet hummed while putting things back in her suitcase.

“I really didn’t know that was possible. The human body is full of curiosities!” Speaking to Hyde and herself, she finished packing her things. “Oh, that took me half an hour, better leave now! And you…”

Trembling with a dead look in his eyes, the man refused to meet her gaze, curling in a fetal position.

“Cmon, you’ll be fine! Oh, just don't try this with someone else! Or the curse I put on your friend will activate. Hm? You want to know what it does? It’s a surprise!”

Waving at him, she left towards the station.