Dreaming.
That's what the two girls thought was the farthest they could do, until they found themselves in the gnarly old streets of Ketterdam.
With book characters coming to life and illicit secrets at deadly stakes, Jan Van Eck is back, stronger t...
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TW: Reference to sex trafficking/ Underage Prostitution ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
They bustled through the crowded market, fumbling and pushing through the people.
At one point Vivi almost bumped into a horse.
"Nice eyesight" Zephyr teased.
"Oh shut up." Vivienne huffed.
They were looking for a place to get clothing as a diguise.
"So, by far we haven't come across any of those shops" Vivi yelled, though her voice came out muffled with all the noises.
"I think we need to go deeper into the market!" Zephyr yelled back, his voice equally as faint
"Deeper into the what?!"
"The market!"
"Basket?!"
Zephyr, unable to hear anything, gently tugged Vivi by the shoulder, her face cupped in his hands, and spoke to her ear.
"I said in the market!" Vivi laughed at him, slight goosebumps on her back.
"I think we might need to borrow a horse or two" he spoke in her ear again, Vivi nodding.
Zephyr then sneakily petted a golden Haffinger near them, the one Vivi bumped into, and pulled it by its harness, sitting on it in an instant.
"Since when did you become some royal chief?" Vivienne said looking up at him.
He shrugged and reached out a hand to her, holding her by her hand and waist, he pulled her up and before long, they were trodding onto the horse.
They finally stopped in front of a market stall, finding the clothes they wanted.
"The black silk one please!" Vivi said, pointing to the costume, as they got inside the shop.
Vivienne got outside the stall now in her disguise. Her hair was undone as she fixed the silk cloth covering her lower face. Wearing something so revealing was clearly uncomfortable for Vivi as she kept fumbling with the hem of her short top just enough to cover her chest and pulled her harem pants.
"Atleast, I look kinda hot I guess." Vivienne said shrugging, looking at Zephyr who stared at her then shook his head.
"I don't look hot ?" Vivienne drew her brows together and slumped on a stool of the shop.
"No that's not-"
"You look very wonderful, your lover must be lucky." The shop owner, a woman said smiling at Vivi from the wood counter.
"Thankyou." Vivienne beamed, then murmured to herself, "If only I actually had someone."
"This is too risky." Zephyr said, pushing a hand in his hair. This was a gesture, vivi noticed, when something was bothering him.
"It's okay, Zeph." Vivienne said as she stood up, smiled reassuringly and walked towards him.
Zephyr looked up, Vivi was in front of him and it took all of his might as he fixated his stare at her face. He found his cheeks heating him as Vivienne narrowed her eyes at how still he went and he could see a playful smirk on her lips from the translucent cloth. He wanted to punch himself, he didn't want to stare at her in a way that may come off as disrespectful. Zephyr bit his lips and glanced away.
"Staring won't hurt me, you know." Vivienne said softly, then smiled, "It's just human nature."
"I don't know what you are on about." Zephyr said still not looking at her, as he fiddled with the rings on his fingers.
"You are a terrible liar, you know." Vivienne said as she smiled shaking her head and went to the woman to pay for the clothes.
"Let's go, then. Shall we?" Vivienne said as Zephyr nodded. Vivienne casually grabbed for Zephyr's arm as they walked through the busy crowd in Ketterdam's West stave. Zephyr glanced at her, as she mouthed something about getting lost. He smiled softly as he gently took her hand from his arm and interlaced his fingers with hers instead. Vivienne looked at him and their hands, smiling to herself from ear to ear as they moved through the crowd.
Vivienne and Zephyr came to a halt in front of the more than two stories high buildings which was designed like a tiered cage with golden bars on the windows, how ironic. A group of men looking like they were in their 40's came out of the front door looking smug as one of them adjusted their pant belt. Vivienne grimaced.
Noticing Vivi feeling uncomfortable, Zephyr stood infront of her, folding his arms and staring at the men, a disgusted look on his face.
"Oh how I wish I could turn them into the air itself. Are you alright?"
Vivienne nodded, brushing her hair
"You know where we meet right?"
"Yep. Fourth left lane"
"Good. . . Viv?" Zephyr looked at her for a moment
"Be safe. These men are disgustingly cruel, and Tante Heleen, well she's ruthless"
"I will be, I have daggers right here" Vivi grinned pointing at her thigh Zeph drew in a deep breath as they both entered inside.
Two bulky guards were standing right infront of the office door, smirking at Vivienne who internally wanted to kick their balls.
Heleen was sitting in the office, signing some paperwork, as Vivienne tiptoed inside. "Stop." Heleen commanded without looking "Come here" Vivienne nervously came closer, as Heleen stood up and cupped Vivienne's face, looking at into her eyes "Where is the kohl I gave you all? Doll yourself up a little, spray some of the oil too."
She commanded as Vivienne grabbed some kohl from the drawers and started applying some infront of the huge mirror hung on the wall. The room itself was sprayed with pheromones and incense.
"Where had you been? He is waiting for well over fifteen minutes. Better hurry."
Vivienne nodded, as Tante adjusted the ruffles on her top and pulled it lower, Vivienne feeling flushed
"What are you so ashamed of? You are made for this" Heleen smirked, spraying some aromatic perfume and oil onto Vivi's neck, her squirming
"Your hair, do it better next time unless you know what will happen to you" She told her quietly. "Where is your tattoo, girl?"
"I covered it, I'll wash it off once it's done" Vivienne replied in a low tone, as Heleen motioned her to go.
Zephyr then walked in, clearing his throat
"Any orders ma'am? I'm the cloth seller." He said, with a thick pretentious Ravkan accent, his tone naive
"Yes, I have a list"
They went on speaking as Vivienne kept glancing at Zephyr who wrote notes
"And why aren't you leaving?" Heleen raised her brow at Vivienne "Give me a minute please." she told Zeph as she firmly held Vivi by the shoulder, and pulled her into the room.
"If they have any complaints, No food for a week" she sneered, opening the door and surprisingly looking calm
"Here is she, sir, one of our best Shu girls."
The man was stout and plump, his hair and mustache slightly gray as he smirked at Vivi at the lock of the door.
Back there Zephyr quietly fidgeted with his rings. He never believed in the Saints, but if it was for Vivi, he would pray all he could.
He looked around at the monstrous castle, and hoped if anyone ever worked here, it was out of their will. "May the Saints keep them all safe" he muttered under his breath.
Daphne observed them all silently behind the curtains. ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
