Descent

The Pirate

Piama
We travel through the woods, and finally, when I can take it no more, we come to a small village, where there is a tavern. We walk in, and I flop onto a greasy barstool.

"Finally...my feet hurt," I say.

I can hear Axl scoff, and the jingle of coins tells me she's about to order herself something.

"One bottle of rum," she says to the barmaid, who grunts in response, takes the money, and goes out back to get the rum.

"You shouldn't drink," Elian lectures.

"Yeah, maybe that works for you, but not for me. I live on rum, just like your...friend lives off drugs and incense."

Kalina rolls her eyes, and gives Axl a look I don't quite understand.

"We'll need a room," says Kalina.
Axl checks the bag, and the barmaid hands me the rum. I give it to Axl, who takes a large swig, and proclaims that we only have enough money for two rooms.

"What?!" Cries Kalina. "You have enough money for rum, but not for enough rooms?"

"Sorry, I'm just used to traveling alone," Axl replies insincerely.

"Well, you're not alone anymore," Kalina seethes.
Elian clears his throat, and whispers to us.

"There's a woman heading straight for us. She looks like a pirate."

This catches Axl's attention. She swivels around, as do I, and sure enough, there's a woman there, heading straight for us. She has sandy blonde hair, green eyes and a scar across the cheek. She smiles at Axl. Axl stands, and goes over to hug the woman. She turns back around to us, and says -

"Guys, this is Jovia. She's my...ex girlfriend."

Kalina
If there's one thing I can't deal with right now, it's Axl's list of ex lovers.
Axl, however, doesn't look fazed.

"We were a one night thing, don't worry guys. No hard feelings."

Jovia nods, and says something in Axl's ear that makes her grin like a cat.

"I'll pay for your rooms," says Jovia.

"But to save money, Ax can stay with me."

"Ax?" I say, deadpan.

Axl blushes, just a little bit.

"Jovia's got her own problems guys. We'll be fine."

After a hearty meal, we go to our rooms, which are above the small tavern. Tomorrow we will have to leave early.

"Goodnight Piama, Elian," I say. Axl and Jovia ave already gone. They each bid me their separate good nights, and I head to my room. Axl and Jovia are in the room beside mine, and I can hear laughing and the clink of bottles.
Around midnight, there's a knock on my door. It's Elian.

"They sound like they're having fun," Elian nods his towards Axl's and Jovia's room, where they can still be heard. I chuckle.

"They sure do."
Elian begins to enter my room, but I stop him.

"Elian... you have a duty to your people, and I have a duty to mine... we came so close to being found out yesterday that I... we risked our people for each other, Elian. We can't do this."

It hurts to say it, but it is what must be done. Elian's perfect face falls, and he looks... sad. No, broken is a better word.

"But Kalina, I love you! We can keep it a secret. Please, please don't push me away."

"I have to, Elian. It's for the best."
With that, I close the door in his face, and wipe the tears from my eyes.
I have only a bit of opium left in my bag, but I just can't have anything to do with the real world right now. I need to dissassociate from everything. And I do just that. Tears mix with the smoke, and in a matter of minutes, all the pain is numbed.

Axl

Jovia is as pretty as I remember her. She has rum brought up to our room, and a lot of it.

"I thought you had to save money," I purr.

She giggles.

"Maybe I just wanted time alone with you. No distractions."

I chuckle, and our lips meet. I can feel the rum on her tongue.

"Mmm..." Jovia says quietly.
Our lips part.

"Am I still a good kisser?" I ask her.

She giggles again.

"The best," she replies. "The very best."

We keep on drinking and kissing until we both climb into bed, tired. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her neck.

"You're so beautiful," I whisper.

She laughs.

"Kiss me again," she says.

I do. Which is right about when Piama walks into our room. I leap out of bed, right as Piama screams.

"What are you doing!?" She cries.

"What the hell are you doing?!?!" I scream back.

"You only said you were bunking together!" Piama screams.

Jovia comes up behind me and smiles.

"Honey, if that's what you thought, then you've got a lot to learn."

Piama's face is completely red, and she just says,
"I'm sorry if I walked in on this.... I just wanted to say goodnight."

She hurries out of the room, leaving me standing by the closed door with Jovia. Jovia sighs and climbs back into the bed.

"You coming?" She asks, and I nod, not really listening.
We spend the rest of the night together, which is to say the least, passionate, but I can't take my mind off of Piama.