Sasha followed Elise down the halls, curious about her past. The woman wasn’t keen to bring it up though. Perhaps some things were better unsaid. Elise strolled around like she owned the place.

Technically now, she did. “If this place belongs to my folks, then a massive bath is here without a doubt. At our older estates, my father would go to soak in his scalding hot tub before he’d even speak to us. He said that it boiled out the demons he didn’t want to show us.”

“Your dad sounds odd. Can’t be worse than mine though.”

“You could say that.” Elise swung open some fancy wooden double doors. A bath chamber extraordinarily massive came into view. Marble steps descended into a pool far larger than anything Sasha had ever seen. Clear steaming water filled it up to about waist length. The wall lanterns of the room were lit too. Did Abdul already pass by?

Sasha looked over her shoulder for anyone watching before shutting the doors behind them. “Are you sure we’re alone? If the water’s hot, then who heated it?”

“Would you believe me if I said it was magic?”

“I can’t tell if you’re messing with me.”

As she hesitated to proceed, looking for a towel or barrier to hide behind, Elise kicked her boots off and unclothed casually. Sasha looked away. She didn’t grow up around other women. Their ideas of what was socially normal weren’t the same. The idea of being comfortable naked in front of anyone, no matter how close, weirded Sasha out.

Maybe she was the weird one. She stripped down from the maid outfit.

Now nude, Elise stepped down into the pool to sink until only her head popped out. She let out a drawn-out exhale. “The rich find a way for everything. When the technology isn’t there, they abuse nature instead to get what they want. Do you hear that humming? That melody?”

Sasha paused, standing there in Elise’s loaner white panties and bra a bit too big. She focused in on a tune akin to a boiling tea kettle’s whistling. It played a sad song. “What is that?”

“An enslaved fire elemental. It’s buried somewhere in the walls here. My parents probably bought the poor thing to keep their tub toasty.”

As Sasha tossed her underwear aside and lowered herself into the water next to Elise, guilt for the spirit of flame ate at her. “That’s sad. I almost wish you didn’t tell me. Now I won’t be able to enjoy this bath.” She stretched out, exhaling with a pleasure-filled grin.

Elise laughed. “You’re already enjoying it. Ever seen a spirit before? A ghoul or ghost? They avoid where people gather, but they’re out there. I don’t expect a city rat to know.”

Sasha pursed her lips, a little offended. City rat? “I’ve never seen such a thing before. Only heard stories from my big brother.”

“No undead? Skeletons? Goblins?”

“Nope, and I never plan to.”

Elise’s tone became serious and monotone. “But we never plan for things to go wrong. Tragedies are tragedies because they blindside us.” She leaned back, putting her arms behind her head. “We’ll have to travel far for the rest of the great machina after taking this one from the king. We’ll run into some scary things on the way too. You prepared?”

“I’m facing everything one day at a time. What about you?”

“Scared. Scared for myself but even more for Isaac. He is all I have. I decided to do this to protect him. Even though I didn’t want to.”

“You didn’t have to come. Neither did he. I’m sorry for forcing it on you.”

“He did though. He’s weighed down by some big responsibility he feels for you. He thinks everything’s his fault when it’s not even close. Nothing I said or did could change his mind.”

“Really? He cares that much?”

“Yep. There’s no convincing him. You know, all he does is talk about you when we’re together. Sasha this, Sasha that. In the end, he’d choose you over me.”

Sasha stared at her in surprise. She meant that much to him? As she contemplated this, Elise continued. “I didn’t want my final memory of him to be watching his back walk away.”

“Do you love Isaac?”

“I do. That’s why I feel so frustrated.”

“I get that feeling completely. In the past, I did too. Then you came along.”

Elise raised her eyebrows, challenged, and then relaxed. “I figured it was like that.”

“I’m over it now. He’s never seen or treated me as a woman once anyway.”

“You’re braver than I expected to be able to tell me the truth to my face.”

“We’re teammates, aren’t we? We need to trust each other. Trust is the foundation to every relationship, and it’s built through honesty.”

“That’s wise coming from someone as young as you.”

Sasha gazed up at the ceiling, deep in thought. “It’s my machina’s ability, Ghost in the Shell. Seems like it’s changing me and the way I think the more I use it. Countless memories flood through my head. They linger and mix. It’s getting hard to distinguish them from my own.”

“Sounds rough, but that comes with great power, don’t it?” Elise looked pent up. She let out a deep sigh. “I should be more honest too. I’m jealous of you. I want you to fail so this journey can be over with. I know it’s shitty, and I feel shitty, but I can’t stop myself.”

These negative thoughts must’ve been bottled up for a while.

This should’ve hurt Sasha’s feelings. Instead, she nodded. “Mhm. Heard loud and clear. If you want, we could bring it up to Isaac. You two could leave.”

Elise shook her head. “No. As much as I like the idea, it’s selfish. This isn’t all about you and me. Isaac and that king have unfinished business. If we come out on top, I wonder if he’ll be able to move on from it. I wonder if he’d stop running in place.”

“Well, if nothing comes from this, at least we got to understand each other deeper. Thanks for bringing this issue up, Elise.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Same for me. For someone so small, you have guts. I respect that. Maybe I shouldn’t feel jealous though. I still have the upper hand in some ways.” Elise’s gaze wandered to Sasha’s breasts.

Sasha covered them and sunk lower into the water. “I can’t believe you.”

“Don’t sweat it. We’re both girls anyway.” Elise wrapped her arm around Sasha’s shoulder with a smug face. The closeness made her shrink, as vulnerable and exposed as she felt. Sasha had never felt the touch of even half that much bare skin.

Elise picked on her. “Why so uncomfortable? Into women?”

Sasha gave her a burning glare. “Anyone would be uncomfortable having a stranger’s melons shoved in their face after bathing alone their whole life. Back off, you pervert.”

Elise was taken aback. “Melons? Well at least mine aren’t small.”

Sasha’s brow furrowed. She snapped back. “Huh?! They’re average! And they don’t get in the way either. I’m fine just the way I am.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. I’m sure you’ll be a heartbreaker when this is all over as cute as you are too.” She smiled and backed away. “Sorry. It’s just that seeing you act so unfazed and grown up this whole time started to piss me off. I wanted to see if I could make you flustered.”

Agitated, Sasha sunk deeper into the water. She blew bubbles, violent eyes peeking up above the surface like a swamp creeper.

I am grown up, damn it.

The closed doors opened wide, creaking loudly. It sent a fearful jolt through both Sasha and Elise. A peeper? An intruder? They nodded to each other before stumbling out of the pool and scooping up their machina.

With a towel wrapped tight around herself, Sasha snuck to the double doors and looked out into the hallway. Nothing there except suits of armor. “I closed these behind me. Heard the click and everything. I’d bet my life on it.”

Elise stood behind her butt naked, breasts and all open to the wind, without a care. “Let’s get dressed and out of here.”

“Where’s your towel, you exhibitionist? You’ll be giving the peeper what he wants.”

Isaac’s dumb face popped up in Sasha’s head for some reason. If it was any of the three men with them, it had to be him. As far as she knew, Abdul didn’t swing that way and Simon was better than that.

Elise shrugged. “Not a big deal but fine.” She went to go get dressed.

With a bewildered expression and eye twitch, Sasha called out into the halls. “Anyone? Simon? If that was you, I’ll kill you. On second thought, that’d be harsh, but I’ll be super-duper mad!”

She imagined him shooting back with something like, “Who even says super-duper?”

He didn’t though. Nothing responded. Now dried enough, Elise put her gear back on. Sasha slipped on her underwear and worked on the maid’s dress.

Elise whistled. “Cute butt.”

Sasha rolled her eyes at her. “If you’re gonna be weird about it, then look the other way while I’m getting dressed. I feel like I’m getting ogled at by a boy.”

“Lighten up. Nobody can appreciate a woman’s beauty more than another woman.”

They left to roam the halls further. Sasha followed closely behind Elise, deep in thought.

Is it cute? Really? Score.

Major in her hand let out a low groan. The dagger grumbled in her mind. Sometimes, I wish I couldn’t hear everything you thought. Let’s establish some boundaries.

She bounced back in her head. You’re taking a ride in my head, not the other way around!

Pissed off, Sasha mumbled. “I think I’m getting a case of butterfingers.” She dropped the blade. It bounced off the wooden floor.

“Ouch!” Major shouted.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. I’ll be more careful.”

“Evil woman.”

Elise opened another door to find another storeroom. This one looked to be janitorial. Nothing but shelves filled with things like mops and unknown cleaning solutions. “From what I can tell, this entire wing is dedicated to the staff of the manor, but where are they?”

“Do you think they could be dead?”

“You’re quick to assume the worst. Nothing that serious. My family suffered from money issues partly because of me. My father was also stingy. Whenever they moved here, I doubt they could afford a full staff. At least one maid or butler should’ve been around though. Dust builds up quick in manors this big. This place is taken care of.”

“Broke rich people? Is that even possible?”

“It is. Believe it or not, it takes money to make money. Things are never what they appear to be.” Elise tried the next room, nodding at the results. “Another maid’s room.”

Sasha stood in the middle of the bedroom. Its vastness surprised her. It looked eerily reminiscent of her old room at Randle’s. Even low wage servants lived better than she and Ley did back in Low Monestate. Could Elise’s childhood in a place like this have been that bad?

Elise filed through clothes hanging in a dresser. “The girl only owned maid dresses, Sasha. They look to be your size. Not your style?”

“I’m already wearing one. Find me some normal clothes.”

Elise frowned. “You’d look cuter in pink though.”

“I. Am. Not. A. Maid.”

A panicked, masculine yell echoed from the halls. It came from the entrance’s direction. Elise got cold as she stared out into the empty manor. “Isaac?”

The hairs on Sasha’s arms stood. “That did sound like him.”

Elise bowed to her, uttering “Sorry. I’ve got to go.” and took off into the halls.

Sasha looked at her machina. “Major, do you sense anything? Something off? If that was the case, I feel like you would’ve told me by now.”

“Damn… I’ve let my guard down.”

She got frustrated. “Don’t be so vague. It’s scary!”

“I sense nothing at all. That’s no good. No good at all. Everything changed in an instance.”

Its wording confused her. “Well, it’s good that there’s no enemy, right?”

“I no longer sense the machina of Isaac, Abdul, or Simon either. Their signals are either destroyed or out of range.”

Sasha did her best to stay calm, but her eye twitch tic from the slums returned. “And here I thought we were gonna get to rest.”

On her way out, Sasha saw a mirror. She checked out her own ass before taking off into a sprint. Elise was right. Cute.

Sasha shook her head and locked in. Where were her priorities? Why did she feel so unfocused?

She ran down the halls toward where Elise called Isaac’s name frantically. Eventually, they met. Elise waited in the middle of the living room with a chilled expression. “He’s gone. Nobody else is responding either. Wasn’t that Simon guy around earlier? And Abdul couldn’t have been that far, right?”

Sasha watched her back, machina drawn. “You think they got together to pull a big prank on us?”

“I doubt it. Isaac and I have boundaries.”

Major spoke to both. “There’s something that’s been bothering me. I’d like to test it.”

Sasha’s face sharpened. “What’s that?”

“Where has the natural light gone? It is too dark. We started our infiltration of High Monestate at midnight. It should’ve been nearing sunrise when we stumbled upon this place. We’ve all been in here for hours. Check outside.”

Elise balled up her fists. “You’re right.”

All their attention turned toward the front double doors. Major warned them. “Be careful. Slowly.”

Sasha inched forth, reaching for the knob. Her hand connected and twisted. The door gave and creaked. She pushed. She pushed the wood to swing out into nothingness. Where the front stone stairs once sat now vanished. A single step outside would mean an abyssal plummet into who knew what? Sasha stumbled back with a horrified shriek right into Elise who caught her.

The door slammed. With that, most lit lights within their view extinguished. Darkness. The manor became nothing but pitch black, overwhelming void. Elise shook Sasha who stared vacantly with paling skin. “What did you see?”

She flutter blinked. “I saw a sea of black. It’s like this manor’s the only thing that exists.”

“What do we do now?”

“I don’t know.” Sasha held up Major, hoping for answers.

The dagger sighed. “We’ve been fooled, and I don’t even know who or what did the fooling. This was a trap. Not only that, but most likely the work of a machina.”

Sasha recoiled. “I thought you said that you couldn’t sense a machina. Are your senses dull?”

“It was slumbering. We awoke it, and now it's too late.”

Elise’s eyes widened massively. “The manor is a machina?”

“I do not know. All I know is that we have been pulled into a different plane. Stay on guard. We are trapped in its territory. It should know we’re here. Now it’s a matter of what it has in store for us.”

The gravity of the situation hit them. Sasha mulled over the words a few times before vocalizing them. “A different plane? How can we fight it?”

“We may not be able to.”

Elise began to panic. “But Isaac? Where— How is—” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Major spoke over their cowering with authority. It gazed into Elise’s eyes. “Here is a possibility: You are connected to this manor. Perhaps it wants something from you. Seek that out.”

Elise scratched her head with an unenthused look. “So… we should be safe then?”

“There’s no ‘we’ in it. Who knows how the rest are being treated? You’re the only clue we’ve got. Hurry and put an end to this.”

Major directed the fiercest demand to Sasha she’d ever heard “Take Elise’s hand and never let go of it, you hear me! I cannot predict how this will turn out.”

The volume caught her off guard. “Um, yes Sir!