I awake in a cold sweat and wonder where I am and what is happening. I sit up and look around me, my mind a blur of fog. It looked as though I was under the ground somewhere. How was that possible? Was I dead?
I try to move so I can look around at my surroundings a bit better, but find that I am unable to do so as my wrists are unfortunately chained up. How odd. Who would have done such a thing to me.
'Zayne, what is it that you are doing if I might inquire?'
I feel my veins pulsing more strongly, as though the blood itself was burning up and being replaced. It felt as though it was a combination of the poison and something else. Was my blood changing? Is that what is killing me, for surely, I am dying. But Zayne seems to be trying to grant me a way to survive. I shall have to rely on him.
My eyes flutter open, and I look about me. Ah yes, I was still in my room at the Paws and Claws. There was a relief in that, but it also felt like someone was sitting on my chest. Oh, no one is sitting on my chest. Goodness me, that just happens to be the weight of my emotions.
Goodness I am embarrassed. I roll over onto my side, pull the blankets over my head and let myself cry hard, sobs wracking my body. I know that it isn't the case, but part of me felt as though my life was over. I cry until that feeling diminishes. It was best not to dwell on things such as this anyways.
I rub my eyes and throw the blankets off. It seems that the pain was subsiding a bit, though that weird pulsing is continuing. I was trying to ignore it, but I was really starting to wonder what it was. Was there something else going wrong? I certainly do hope that there is not to worry about.
'What are you attempting to do? Purify me?'
Zayne says, and I can almost see him sticking his tongue out at me. Mayhaps he is being silly in order to try to raise my spirits. He truly can be a good god if he wants to.
Right then, I shall stop moping. It was time to get back to what was left of my life such that it was. I take a hot bath, dress and put on make-up. I know not what time it is, but I am certain that I can be of use in some way. I give myself a good look in the mirror and decide that the make-up was a needed touch. I happened to look a bit like a ghost without it. Well, I was quite nearly dead but a short while ago.
I open the door and take a deep breath. I do my best to leave my room with confidence and quite nearly trip. My goodness I am as weak as a newly birthed kitten. This shant do, it simply shant! Hmmph. I take another deep breath and continue forward.
I look around and attempt to gauge the time, finding that I am rather sadly unable to do so. People were talking lively, and the drinks were flowing. It smelled of a mix of spirits and food. It was an aroma that I must say I enjoy. It smelled of life! I finish coming down the stairs and hear the door open. I look up to see who was coming in and it was...
"Good day Cat! Good day Kay!" I say and carefully make my way over to see them. It was nice to see them.
"Cat! Holy cats, Ami is awake! Ami are you awake? You are, and you look super pretty too, and not like the living dead. Does that mean that you are feeling better? Did you do something miraculous and kick the poisons butt like kicka' pow!?"
"I do not believe so. And that is the magic of make-up. I can teach you something about it tonight if you wish. We can ask one of the other ladies if they wish to join. Maybe you can convince Cat to be our model."
"No."
"What if I said that it would help me in the healing process?"
"No. I'll just nurse you the extra needed amount. Better nurse then model."
"Why? I think it sounds like fun!" Kay says enthusiastically. I do not believe that I have met someone as enthused with cute things in a rather long time. Though rare in boys it was charming and I hope that no one tells Kay that he needs to change. If they do I shall have to find a creative method of causing them grievous bodily injury.
"Amaya, you are awake?" Emmelina says as she glides over to us.
"Yes, indeed I am. Is there anything that I can do? I feel as though I have not been pulling my weight in a great many days. What day is it?"
"Humlansday."
"Goodness! No wonder I feel so weak!" I exclaim. Had I truly been sleeping so much? "I have many days of work to make up for."
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"We will find you something. But let’s have you eat some broth and bread. Do you think you can stomach that?"
"I believe so." I say, determined to make that the truth.
"Good. Be seated over by the fire and I will bring you something. I shall also think of something not challenging for you to do. I do have an idea though.”
I sit and stare into the fire as Kay animatedly tells me about his day. I smile as I listen to him talk about it. His passion had not been dimmed at all. In fact, he seemed extra motivated. Was that on my account? If so, that was very kind.
"There was one thing that has been putting a huge damper on everything aside from you not being there of course." Kay said.
"What is that?" I inquire.
"Rex. He is strutting around like he thinks he is a god or something. It's making me seriously angry." Kay says, and I was surprised that I could actually hear anger in Kay's voice. He is usually rather even tempered.
"Currently he has gotten away with a crime. No wonder he is strutting about."
"I almost have everything that I need to charge him. I am close to having everything together. It should all be ready by the middle of next week."
I nod to him. "Thank you Cat. I have no good way of expressing my gratitude to you."
"Keep living. Find happiness in life however you can. Don't leave my guild even if you have to be an above ground member only. Those are just as important." he says and places a hand on my head.
"I promise to do all I can on this front Cat." I tell him honestly. I could not promise to do this. After my experience this morning of seeing through Zayne's eyes. Trying to return to my creator, isn't that what he said. Am I truly so close to death? Am I truly flirting with it so?
As I was lost in my thoughts food was placed in front of me. It was delivered by Vita.
"Hello lovely. You look so pretty. How would you like to be our own personal bard tonight?"
"Isn't that an adventurer's class though?" I ask her, confused.
"Actually, it is a class that can serve above ground. Yes, there are bards that go into the depths of the dungeon, but others stay above ground and make money for the guild, and give them buffs before a dungeon run. The higher the skill, the longer it lasts. Some truly blessed bards are even able to bless their fighters for a week or more!" Vita said, eyes glowing wickedly.
"Until we have you fan dancing again you shall act as our bard. Unless you deny me?" she asks, pouting her lower lip.
"Of course I shall not deny you. If I can truly serve in such a capacity then I shall do so." I reassure her. It seems as though I can still serve, and even in one of my recommended classes. Would it be okay to go to lecture classes?
"I like that you give in so easily. Me and the others will give you personal lessons on all of the things that you need to know for serving above ground." she tells me as though she is reading my mind.
"Now eat up. I will bring you your instruments and allow you to choose which one you want to play."
"Isn't a lute the traditional instrument?"
"It is. Can you play any other instruments?" she inquires. I was able to play a bit on a few different instruments, but it wasn't my focus.
"I can, but not as well so let us stick with the lute. What songs do you wish for me to play?"
"Anything that will give us pep and energy of course!" she says joyfully. "Now eat!" she demands. I gratefully concede to her request.
We have light conversation while we eat, laughing as though there was nothing wrong, and everyone is doing their best to act as though there really is nothing wrong.
'Can you finally let me know what it is that you are doing?'
'You were the one that talked to me first.'
Warmth. Food, friends, my dear sweet god that took up residence inside my mind. This was a good life still.
Once I finish eating and sitting a few extra moments Vita brings me the lute.
"Hello everyone, who is in the mood for live music?" she shouts, and a chorus of whoops and cheers is the response. Okay, lively. I can do lively. "Can anyone accompany her on the piano?" she asks, staring pointedly at Cat. He sighs and goes over to the piano.
I briefly imagine him in tiny cat form playing the piano, I smile at the thought and secretly hope it happens that way.
Together we fill the Paws and Claws with music. The patrons sang along when they knew the words, or whistled or clapped. It was a great deal of fun. Until I can fan dance I would very much enjoy doing this… Well I suppose I shall be doing both depending upon the time of day.
The later it got the slower the songs became. We were respectful here and knew that people would be needing to get sleep during the night, and we wanted to provide an environment in which they can do this.
I did however happen to lose track of time while having fun. At the point that Cat and I were singing gentle harmonies together the door opens and in strides the last person that I would have expected to come here.
"Rex." Vita hisses when he walks in. None of us wanted him here. He was more than unwelcomed but we could not tell him to leave.
"Tch." he says and strides into the Paws and Claws as though he belonged here. He doesn't. He does not belong here, and I very much wish him to turn around and leave. Am I allowed to say that?
"Well, do we just seat ourselves?" he demands, as though he was expecting to be seated. Had he never been to a tavern before? What was his problem.
Even with all of this going through my head I continue to play and sing with Cat, as though he wasn't attempting to sully and defile my home here with his presence.
"Yes. Seat yourself." Hillie says. She seemed to be the sternest of us. Still nice, but not as gentle as Emmie or as lively as Vita. "Once you choose a seat, I will tell you the food we are able to offer at this time." she says and keeps her eyes on him as he scans around. He spots Kay and a twisted smile distorts his lips.
"Cousin." he said, spitting out the word. He clearly seemed to hate being related to Kay, so why was he here. "I have come to give my condolences. I had heard rumor that the bitch of yours hasn't woken up yet.”
Ah yes, that was right. He did not know what I looked like, I had absolutely no desire to show him what I looked like either. Though a dagger, that I would be happy to show him.
Kay flicks his eyes around as if he is looking for the right thing to say. His eyes land on Cat and he gives his head a small shake to communicate to Kay to not reveal to him that I was awake. Good call Cat!
"It really is unfortunate. But you hate her. And you hate me. What are you doing here Rex?"
"I told you. I was coming to give you my condolences." he looks around and smirks when his eyes land on me. "Huh. Seems not all mutts are ugly. If I look past the ears and tail your singer is downright fuckable." he says his eyes roving every inch of my body.
I felt as though I needed to throw up. I could do less than nothing to protect myself. The fun that I was having, was what was keeping me on my feet. However, just a comment was not enough to give us leave to throw him out of the establishment.
"So, how much does a night with her cost? You all do bed customers for the right amount don't you?"
I see Hillie blink slowly, calculating. "Sure. If we want to. We don't have to. We do it for fun. The money is just a bonus for us being so good at what we do. And trust me, she won't bed you."
"Everyone has a price. Everyone."
I could see Kay shaking. I flick my eyes to Cat. He nods. He would support me in anything that I decide. We stop the music and I approach him.
"I would rather have someone pluck out my eyes and rip out each of my teeth slowly then sully myself with you. " I tell him calmly.