The Way of All Flesh

Chapter Thirteen

Naomi woke to a stiff and sickening pain in her neck, which shot daggers down her spine with every slight movement. The way she slept, head resting on the couch at an unnatural angle, had caused all her muscles to protest. She didn't want to move, but the chatter around her was enough to ensure that she had to.

There was bickering, voices arguing, but she couldn't make out who's.

Gradually, she opened her eyes.

Dima was in Sylvester's face, moving her hands wildly as she spoke which was only concerning because in one hand she held tightly onto her dagger.

"Puppet! That's what you are, you know," Her voice was almost hysteric in the way it got when she seemed truly angry, not just trying to insight her usual games on people. "Why that bitch keeps you around, I have no idea,"

Slowly, Naomi stirred to her feet. There was no chance the elf would listen to her, but she had to do something before the hot-headed girl decided to stab someone again.

"Isn't it too early to be threatening people?" she groaned, walking towards them.

Dima turned to her, eyes filled with rage.

"Now you wake up!" She swung the hand that held the dagger towards Naomi.

Choosing to ignore the elf's newly directed anger, she turned her gaze to Helenia, who stood calmly beside Dima though didn't seem to have made any effort to calm her down.

"What happened now?" Naomi asked, side stepping away from the knife in her face before her own anger took over. If she thought Dima wouldn't stab her as well, she would've smacked the knife clean onto the floor, and perhaps the girl with it.

"Nothing happened," Sylvester's calm voice interjected. He seemed unconcerned with the threats towards him. "We just happen to be traveling with a mad-woman,"

"I'm mad!" Dima turned back to face him. "Why don't you tell our fearless leader here what you said to me, hm?"

Sylvester scoffed. "I merely suggested that once we're all done playing adventurer we take these concerns to the Varlan guard where they may actually be able to stop a daemon,"

"You liar," Dima's voice was lower but still coated in thick rage. "Changing your words now so, what? You can impress this bitch? 'Take these concerns to Varla', gah! You said you would take us to Varla. Think if you bring your old knight buddies some fresh faced outlaws they won't prosecute you too? You're just as wanted as the rest of so unless you plan on rotting in Varlan prison as an accomplice to witchcraft-"

"Okay, that's enough," Naomi cut her off. Dima's angry whines were beginning to grate at her ears. "I don't think Sylvester is going to turn anyone in,"

His hardened expression faltered slightly at words. It was as if he had forgotten why he was with them at all, but her words reminded him. Of everyone in the room, he was the least of her worries. Sure, they were all criminals now, she could get any one of them imprisoned if she tried hard enough. And the guard would love to lock up a foreigner or elf, would love even more to behead one. But Sylvester, she reminded him with her gaze, was one poor decision away from Naomi taking his fate in her hands.

"No more arguing. Please," Helenia said softly, though she seemed to be talking specifically to Dima.

The elf sighed, yet somehow Helenia's request seemed to soften her rage more than Naomi's pragmatic response.

"You're going to let us all leave once you're done, right?" Dima asked, returning the dagger to her belt.

Naomi nodded. "I'm a woman of my word."