Necharra: Part Two
Suggested Music: Apocalyptica - Cohkka
Ascending Earth 23, R.Y. 765
"Things can change so much in a year," thought Fay as she strolled through the dark street on her way to the safe house. The idea that you had to get permission to be a pickpocket was still something she found funny. The punishment she received for her transgression was less funny. Thank the gods for Lady Aurora. Now she was in the employ of one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Necharra. Jacques had his hands in everything. Pickpocketing, burglary, begging, drugs, prostitution, gambling, slavery, Fay...
Fay giggled, and the sound carried down the quiet streets like chimes in a spring breeze. She had a rather carefree life. Jacques got her into the nicest parties, where she would easily fit in with her upbringing, and she would easily life large sums of money from marks that had more than they could keep track of. She had a large room, beautiful clothes, and all the thugs knew better than to mess with a member of Jacques crew.
Suddenly, she heard a boot scuff on the cobblestone behind her, and her reflexes kicked in. She twisted away and to the side as a blade pierced the space she had just been standing in. She swept her leg low, and her attacker went from off balance to on his back. He landed flat, knocking the wind from his lungs. His knife clattered on the ground at Fay's feet. Rage washed over her as she picked up the blade and examined its jagged edge. As she watched the man grasp at his throat, her face hardened. She straddled his waist and dropped down onto him, which didn't help him control his breathing. He reached up at her, eyes wide, but her natural dexterity was enough to slip passed them. The knife bit deep into the right side of his chest, sliding between his ribs. Once it had sunk down to the hilt, she ripped it to the side and out, further tearing at his flesh.
The breath that he had started to recover quickly slipped away as his wound bubbled in his side. His gurgling gasps for air just pissed Fay off more, and ignoring his weakening arms, she slid further up his body. When she placed her hands tightly around his neck, the blood stopped being pulled into his lungs and flowed freely from his side, making Fay's leg warm and wet. Fay watched as panic, and life, slipped from his eyes like a man falling into an endless pit until all was dark and still. When the adrenaline started to recede, she noticed her hands hurt from clenching so hard, and he had scratched her face, neck, arms, and chest. As she slowly released hi throat, she flexed the soreness from her fingers and stood, grinning.
Ascending Earth 27, R.Y. 765
"What the fuck are you so happy about?" Jacques growled at Fay. The dinning room went quiet, and the other members of the crew all looked down at their plates as Jacques glowered at Fay. He hadn't intended for everyone to hear his question, but it was too late for that now.
Grinning, like she had been for days now, Fay turned to Jacques and replied dreamily, "I killed a man."
Fay didn't fear Jacques like the rest of the crew did. Truth be told, it was the other way around. Jacques confidence came from his god-blood, and in the face of what was generally considered stronger blood, he was unsure. That all being said, it wasn't the dynamic at play here. Jacques was pissed to cover his fear and embarrassment that Fay must have found a new man. Probably one that wasn't so close to middle age and starting to bald.
Fay. for her part, had been moving through the world like a dream, the scenes playing out around her background noise to the one continuously replaying in her head. Ever since killing that man she had reclaimed a part of herself that she had forgotten she lost. She remembered who, and what, she was. It was when she was standing over the cooling corpse of the attacker that she knew what she had to do and that she could. One day, After her father was gone, she would return home, kill her brother, and take her throne.
"You what? When?" stammered Jacques, taken off guard. All eyes turned to Fay, shocked and searching for evidence to collaborate her story. Her hair hung loose down past her shoulders, no a strand out of place. Her skin smooth and soft, unmarked by scar or blemish. A touch of makeup, not to conceal but to accentuate whatever perfect feature she wanted to show off that day. Her purple dress, walking the line between sexy and slutty, was unlikely to be hiding any injuries. Down to her delicate hands, unbruised and nails manicured. Thew few signs of her struggle had faded quickly due to her exalted nature, but only Jacques knew of her heritage.
"A few days ago. A man tried to stab me. I put his knife between his ribs before choking the life from him," continued Fay, her eyes glazed and a finger tracing a lone over her throat where her hands had wrapped around the man's. The room sat totally silent for the length of time it took for a man to die before Fay sighed contently, and her body relaxed. If not for Fay's force of personality most of the people in the room would have laughed at the ridiculousness of such a small woman killing a thug in the streets. Fearing her powers, however, Jacques was already inclined to believe her story.
"Who attacked you? Who?" Jacques demanded, standing quickly enough to knock his chair over. Anger flashing in his eyes as he stared down at Fay. "Who would dare attack what is mine? Who wants war with Jacques?" he wanted to scream, but he waited quietly for Fay's response, jaw clenched tight.
After a few seconds, Fay shrugged and giggled, "I don't know." She tried to remember the man's face, but in her mind it was always her brother's.
Resplendent Earth 3, R.Y. 765
Fay stretched and yawned. Jacques was missing, but his side of the bed was still warm. Glancing at the window, she saw no sign of the dawn. "Odd," she thought idly, settling back into the bed. When she heard her name from out in the hall, her curiosity overcame her sleepiness. Using a touch of essence to prevent the sheets from rustling or the floor from creaking, she padded over to the door and pressed her ear against it.
"Lasko?" Are you sure?" said Jacques angrily.
"Yeah. He recently struck out on his own. The guy that attacked Fay was his cousin. He was probably trying to prove he wasn't afraid of anyone by pissing you off," explained the young man's voice.
After a moment of silence, Jacques growled, " Yeah well, we're going to remind this city why no one picks a fight with us. Find out everyone associated with his new crew. We're going to kill them one by one until he's the only one left. Then I'm personally going to splash his insides all around town. Keep eyes on him. I don't want him skipping town once this starts."
"Yes, sir," replied the other man.
Fay quickly bounced back to the bed with a grin on her face. She pretended to be asleep when Jacques cracked the door and slipped back into the room. She was facing away from him to hide her smile when he lowered himself gently into the bed next to her. Sidling up next to her, he placed one of his hands on her tits as his dick pressed against her ass. Not exactly smooth, but she was already worked up just thinking about killing this Lasko guy.
Resplendent Earth 5, R.Y. 765
The essence infused makeup Fay painted on hid her distinguishing features and made her face bland and unremarkable. She styled her hair so that it hid some of her face before slipping into a dress that would ensure Lasko's men's eyes never moved up past her neck. She left her feet bare and put her fingers through the straps on her heels so she could carry them but still use her hand. Opening the shutters covering the window of the small, dirty room, she breathed in the cool night air. It was the kind of place she had performed in countless times before falling in with Jacques crew. As she scanned the alley below, she listened to the party next door. Lasko's crew had taken over the adjacent tavern for a private party, and it sounded like things were finally winding down.
There were a couple of guys watching the front door that she could have talked her way passed, but they might have figured it out the next day. Plus, Jacques probably had at least one person watching the place, and she didn't want him to know until she told him. Climbing up onto the sill, she crouched in the open window before leaping up toward the room of the tavern next door. The hearthstone, set in the brooch her father had given her, glowed softly, propelling her forward and up. She landed half on the roof, but her legs banged against the other wall. A little essence quieted the thud. After scrambling the rest of the way up, she looked to see if anyone had seen her.
Once she was satisfied no one had, she started searching for an open window. Luckily, there was one, and it was facing the back of the tavern. Seeing no light and hearing no noise from the room, she slipped down to the window. Crouching in a second window for the night, she froze. A man was sleeping in the bed, but didn't stir. Softly, she padded over to him and looked at his face. It wasn't Lasko.
As quietly as she could, she let herself into the hall. Confirming it was all clear, she slipped her heels on and straightened her dress before heading to the stairs. Standing at the top, she lit a cigarette, leaned against the wall, and waited. A few minutes later a guy and girl ascended the stairs. He didn't match the description of Lasko and they were too busy with each other to pay attention to her. She had to wait almost 10 minutes before someone else came up. Three guys, drunk, but not trashed.
"Hi handsome," Fay said to Lasko when they were a few steps below her.
The three men took their time looking her over before Lasko said, "Gentlemen, if you will excuse us."
"Yeah," they chuckled, "See you tomorrow." As they slipped passed her to their rooms, they gave her a good fucking with their eyes, but Fay kept her intense gaze on Lasko the entire time. As they wandered down the hall, Lasko took the last few steps to Fay.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm. Giggling, Fay took it and fell in place beside him. They stopped two doors down, where he knocked twice. The door opened immediately, and a large man filled it.
"Boss," he nodded, letting them into the room. Then he handed a key to Lasko and stepped into the hall. Lasko shut the door, locked it, and pocketed the key before turning to Fay.
Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt and cuffs before shrugging out of it and hanging it on the chair nearby. Then he stepped close to her and caressed her hair behind her hair. Suddenly, he slapped her, hard. Before she could recover, he grabbed a fist full of her hair, pulled her head back, and kissed her roughly.
"You will not enjoy this," he growled as he broke the kiss.
"That, Brother, is where you are wrong," Fay grinned insanely. Confusion washed over Lasko's face. A moment later a boiling stream of water blasted him backwards. As he slammed against the wall, choking on water, the chair holding his shirt crumbled beneath him.
Out in the hall, a mountain of a man shook his head. He understood showing a woman her place, but sometimes Lasko went a little far. With a sigh, he leaned against the door frame and nodded off.