Envy was at a complete loss. Her heart and mind was racing with possibilities as she stared at the eight large copper coins in her palm. It was the most money she had ever held.
Suddenly aware of how exposed she was, she hid her palm and drew the cloak tighter around her. The rules of the streets were painfully clear on how quickly weakness incited violence.
Envy walked around the market, seeming to inspect clothes as the Master had ordered. Behind this façade, her brain went into overdrive. Somewhere out there, Exill was observing her from the shadows, judging her actions and ready to intercept should she try to escape.
Taking a deep breath, she forced the encroaching paranoia aside and centred herself, forcibly converting her fear into anger, a vicious smile forming on her lips, ‘I can kill him at any time. I’ve done it before.’
Her confidence may have been restored but she was still bewildered by his command - having never purchased clothes of her own before. She unobtrusively observed the women passing by, most of them were wearing a modest blouse and skirt.
‘How am I supposed to choose clothes?’ she questioned, flipping through the articles of repaired clothing half-heartedly. They all looked the same. She eventually settled on a pair of mundane linen tunics and brown breeches. The tunic because she was already wearing one, and the breeches because her Master owned one.
She pinched her thighs.
Envy remembered her Master, red faced and silently swearing, trying to fit his pajamas on her – and failing. Speaking of which, she hadn’t failed to notice her body was more... full, maybe even taller. She hadn’t felt this aware and present since -
The train of thoughts was immediately shut down. There was only so much use in beating yourself when others were more than willing to do it for you. She paid the stall owner 60 Denars and asked the woman to cover her with an awning as she changed into the used clothes under the cover of her cloak.
“Oh deary me, I see the breeches are a bit tight around your thighs. It’s because you’re a tall lass and this is the largest size we have; you need to go to the Tailors if you want a better fit.” The Vendor fussed over the trousers. It became a bit more comfortable after she loosened some cordage around the sides.
Surrounded by lewd gazes checking out her figure, Envy waited by the fountain. She didn’t mind the attention but drew the cloak tighter, aware that further interest could attract trouble.
***
Exill arrived at the fountain, half expecting the Vampire to have run off.
‘That might not be so bad considering what I learnt today...’ he thought glumly. The debt to Diallo would need to be repaid, but it was easier to think of it as a lesson on fate. Up ahead, Exill finally spotted her a little distance from the fountain, her eyes wary and alert. She looked... lithe in her form fitting clothes, like a predator at ease amongst prey.
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Their eyes met as he approached and he slowed down, expecting the Vampire to fall in beside him. He held out his palm. Envy hesitated before placing five denars, which he quickly palmed into his coin pouch.
‘Sly girl... did she think I wouldn’t notice when I have [Appraisal]?’ he mused, knowing she was withholding fifteen Denars for herself. In spite of this, he strangely chose to overlook her indiscretion. After all, she would need money to buy conveniences such as combs and whatever else vampires needed.
“I’m going to the Guild. You can follow me or head back to the Inn, it’s your choice”
Envy replied by entwining one arm around his, making her intentions to follow him clear.
‘What is this succubus planning!?’ he was repulsed and immediately on guard by the sudden display of affection. Healer Perg’s comment about how she had murdered her previous master flashed discordantly through his mind, yet it couldn’t conceal the tips of ears growing red in embarrassment from the physical contact.
Meanwhile, Envy grinned inwardly at his visible discomfort. She was familiar with men and their desires. It was only a matter of time until she wrapped him around her fingers, and she smiled warmly while pressing his tense arms tighter to her chest.
***
With Envy latched to his arm, he opened the door to the Guild. Many who had become passing acquaintances to Exill were taken aback by this sudden development and display of affection, from an astounding beauty no less. He approached the counter, increasingly regretting the choice of bringing the Vampire along. He could see Iris’s welcoming smile falter under Envy’s challenging glare.
“Exill! It’s nice t-to see you?” Iris was obviously suppressed by the way she wasn’t fussing over his wellbeing. He saw the unspoken question in her confused grey eyes – ‘who is this woman on your arms?’ she wanted to know.
“It’s nice to see you too Iris, I dropped by because I heard there was a search out for me.”
“Yes, it was a...” she turned her head to her fellow clerk, and Marco raised five fingers in response, “500 denar bounty posted yesterday by Savta’s clinic.”
Exill’s eyebrows rose in astonishment, but it quickly turned into a greed laced smile, “I would like to turn myself in and claim the bounty. I am staying at the Sundry Inn.”
Iris turned to her fellow clerk Marco for help, but he just shrugged in response. This was equally unprecedented for him.
“Um... okay... It should be fine if I report to the client your new address. Here is the reward for your bounty” she slid five silver coins forward, which Envy promptly snatched away.
Exill swore inwardly for the 25th time that week. He was starting to suspect this woman was manipulative and greedy! With a weak smile on his face, he bid the clerk goodbye, “Thank you Iris, I have to run now but I’ll drop by in the near future.”
They exited the Guild, and he slipped down a secluded alleyway in the direction of the Inn. If he was correct, they would need to prepare for the arrival of visitors… but there was a slightly more urgent matter to attend to first.
“Envy.” he stopped, raising an upraised palm demandingly with barely suppressed rage. The Vampire’s eyes flashed amber-red, studying his expression. Then after a brief pause, dropped the silver coins, one-by-one, clinking into his outstretched palm.
She inwardly revised her plans to wrap him around her finger. From the state of their accommodations, she had accurately guessed he was stingy, but it appeared he valued money more than women.
‘There are other ways to manipulate greedy little virgins...’ she smiled while pulling his arm against her breasts. Envy was confident about her ability to dominate men through their many desires.
‘He will learn to submit or die.’