Chapter 54

Interrogation

The pale-skinned shadow creature wastes no time backing me up against the far wall of my makeshift cell; it keeps itself interposed between me and the women. I’m bigger than Poe is, but I've seen the Shadow World denizen shatter metal with its bare hands. I have no intention of trying to fight him, but if I did I wouldn't love my chances in such a small space.

Viscarra’s mother strides haughtily into the space and gives me a look I am more than a little familiar with. Repressing a sigh, I widen my stance and put my right fist in my left palm in a way that causes my arms and stomach muscles to flex. I know when I’m being inspected, and while Hyena’s never fetch much of a price I know how I’m supposed to stand to seem as valuable as possible. I don’t even glare defiantly at the woman though the urge is very much present inside me.

“So this is him huh?” She says tilting a head to look me up and down. “ I suppose we all want to be ridden by a beast now and then, but a Hyena? And From BloodRock? Honestly Viscarra I’m a bit worried about your tastes.”

Last time when I had been at a BlackMist party Viscarra’s uncle had teased her about wanting to kiss me. It had turned her bright pink with embarrassment, having her mother talk like this is making the girl I kissed look like she wants to die.

‘The girl I kissed.’ Even with the rich sorceress inspecting me, and a mostly naked shadow monster barring me up I can’t quite keep the goofy grin off of my face.

“MOM!” Viscarra shouts in mortification. “It was one kiss, would you slow down!?”

The older BlackMist lady all but ignores her daughter as she continues to lecture the girl.

“You can’t get married to him or anything and you absolutely cannot get pregnant.”

“One kiss Mom! It was one kiss!”

Viscarra’s mother plays with a finger bone necklace she is wearing for a few heartbeats before turning her measuring gaze on her daughter.

“I don’t believe you.” The older woman says simply.

That pauses Viscarra for a moment.

“well...I” The younger BlackMist stumbles out.

“You are taking Royal’s Rue yes?”

I didn’t think Viscarra could possibly look any more embarrassed than she does right now. Her mortification is so blatant on her face that the black discs that allow her to look at me can’t even begin to hide it.

It turns out I am very wrong. I don’t know what Royal’s Rue is but the question turns Viscarra so red that she looks like Atar BloodRock. The floor draws her gaze like a lodestone and the girl opens and closes her mouth like a fish stuck on dry land.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I” Viscarra eventually manages. “ Yes.”

“Good.” Her mother says without judgment before turning back to me.

“You, shirt off.” She doesn’t offer an explanation and I don’t ask for one. This is just how inspections go. Without a word, I slip the garment over my head and toss it to Poe. The shadow creature silently catches my shirt and neatly folds it into a little square, before handing it back to me.

Her appraising eye doesn’t seem overly impressed. Something I try not to take too personally. Even when she makes a little ‘meh’ noise.

“He’s tall and looks powerful, but he has a lot of scars Viscarra, I won’t have a boy on your arm that loses.”

I feel myself stiffen at those words and do my best to fight down a glare at the women. In spite of my efforts the glare wins, and I fix the women with a scowl that could peel paint.

‘ I am not a loser. My Record speaks for itself.’

“Honestly” continues the older BlackMist. “ Why couldn’t you have gotten all moon-eyed over Resh, or that massive elephant boy…what's his name?”

“His name is Klash and I beat him.”

I used to be pretty good at not talking back when people talk about me like I’m not here. Somewhere along the way, I have lost the ability. To my surprise, it doesn’t bite me in the ass like I expect.

The middle-aged sorceress turns a sly smile on me.

“Really? And this was in a one-against-one?”

I Nod. “Yeah, It was just him and me. I’m the only loss he has”

Viscarra’s mother proceeds to quiz me on all manner of topics about myself. There doesn’t seem to be any sense to the way she eclectically jumps around. One moment she is asking me to describe my match against Resh, the next she is asking me embarrassing questions about measurements I’ve never taken. If the woman has any shame, the pleasure she is getting from making both me and her daughter blush far outweighs it.

I don’t really understand what the point of this is but I guess my answers are satisfactory enough as the woman allows me to return to the party with her daughter on my arm.

“Uhh North,” Says the girl with black discs for eyes as we walk back to the viewing box.

“Yeah?”

“Put your shirt back on.”

The snicker I managed to hold back the entire interrogation bursts from my lips. This prompts a raised eyebrow from Viscarra. Remembering Xael’s advice I rush to explain that it’s part of my curse.

The sorceress is actually quite understanding which is nice though she thinks it’s funny that putting my shirt back on is what broke the damn, rather than taking it off or some of the more outlandish things her mother asked me.

The single dimple that appears on her left cheek when she smiles is the most unfair thing ever. It combined with how dazzling I find her smile in general is making my stomach do flips, and my heart sprint like I’m fighting Resh.

I think that is the moment I decide I don’t want to go back to the party. As interested as I am in finding out who is fighting who next, I know I’ll learn the answer soon enough. Besides Xael assured me it was going to be a rigged draw anyway. No, I think I have everything I need right here in this wide hallway.

“How about,” I say while reaching forward to stroke her cheek. “ I leave it off.”

I personally think that was particularly charming. The sort of phrase that would earn me another kiss or at least a giggle. Unfortunately I never get the chance to find out as the double doors that lead back to the viewing box and party within open allowing chattering guests out into the hall with us.