Savages and Purists

Chapter 7

In as much as the underworlds have a reputation for war and agriculture, they also have a penchant for living life to the fullest,- to the point, rumor has it, of hedonism. And
as I arrive on the king's infamous island to the view of mermen and mermaids dancing without a reason, food and wine overflowing, accompanied by high vibrational music, they were not beating the allegations.

Giovanni Morais sits barefoot on his throne. A traditional oversized, golden chair embellished with shark teeth, leaves, and whatever else his men got from trophy hunting in the jungle. His upper body is only covered by a golden shoulder pad, thenceforth showing his ripped torso.
Xanthe is unrecognizable standing next to him along with a few guards, covered in a golden embroidered black suit holding his older brother's cane - loyally. The celebrations surrounding them seem to be of no consequence to this meeting.

Zhén introduces me and leaves.

"Madame Brooke sent for the meruba flower. She also sent her regards." I state my mission half kneeling.

"Get up."

He addresses me with a casualness that verges on degradation.

Eyes firmly on the ground, I rise.

"Stop with the bloody antics and look at me."
Trust me he would be complaining otherwise.
There is no point defying him, I fix my eyes towards the underworld king.

His look is dark and somber but I notice something else... A victory of sorts

"Rosier - give her what she asks for."

Wow, what a surprise, no rumblings on about how the underworld is the most disrespected place in Pyrenees, how ungrateful upperlanders need underworld resources for survival and in conclusion must pay him tribute.

As far as he is concerned, King Giovanni has finally done what he always wanted to do... capture a Panachean.

His first wife hands me a package filled with meruba flowers and mermaid honey (a dessert made from the Caycia fruit only found in the underworld). She curtseys and I bow my head repeating their mantra.

"May the blessings of the unseen follow your shadows."

Honestly, I cannot believe what I am about to do but here goes nothing.
Unexpectedly, I place the package onto the ground doing away with the forced niceties.

"I'm also going to need you to free Amelia."

Giovanni's arrogant smirk appears, dismissing the bowl of grapes he is being fed, he challenges me with a stare.

"You have always been rather predictable to me. Well from today onwards count your weakness as strength. Your thieving friend stays."

My eyes don't waver.

"Amelia is an unruly, erratic, and unbearable but above all an irreplaceable asset to the Fleur Panache organization... one of our best soldiers..."

"Why should that bother me?"

"She returned the white stone - there is no reason to keep her here," (nor is it worth ruining relations over.)
I say it like I am reading it off a script cause what is this?

Duty.

No one should get left behind. It's all over the contracts we sign, it's even on our logo on the blazers we wear as part of our uniform.

"Or else?"

He asks feigning calamity when I know hard and well he would rather strike me with lightning instead.

"It's blood for blood."

The merman is mortified.

I hate Amelia for making me do this.
King Giovanni and I are at a standstill threatening each other with stares. His stare is now a shade of venom.
Normally he lets me be because he knows - I'm Brooke Stanes' favorite, however, today, it is just not feeling like it is enough. Stealing the white stone is a huge offense to the underworld.