Shadows of Avarice (BxB)

Chapter 2

It took Xia the rest of the day to reach Rasea. It was dark out by the time he reached the city. While the days in Rasea had suffocating heat, the nights were bitterly cold. If you weren't a native to these climates, then it would be hard to survive. After a day of plundering a temple and running through a desert to escape capture, Xia was ready to turn in for the day. He was able to acquire the ultimate treasure, which made him excited to show his family. They would be thrilled to see the spoils that he brought home.

Xia kept his shawl up to cover his face and hair as he walked through the streets of Rasea. Many of the stall vendors were packing up for the day, and Xia snagged an apple from one of the vendors when their back was turned. He stole from someone in the market every single day, whether it was food or robbing a customer of their coin purse. Maybe he wouldn't have to steal anymore once he got the tiara appraised.

This was his nature, though, so he doubted that he would stop any time soon.

After passing through the market district, Xia had to go down a few more streets before reaching his home. The home was small, with barely enough room to fit him and his family. His three siblings and grandmother were waiting for him inside. His siblings would have stayed up until he returned, but he doubted that he would see his grandmother tonight. Her old age was starting to catch up with her, so she was tired most of the day. She was a big reason why Xia wanted to change their lives.

Xia pushed open the wooden door to their home. He was correct in thinking that his siblings would be up waiting for him. His sister Alishba, and his two brothers Zakariya and Tariq, were sitting at the table, playing with some handmade cards that their grandmother made for them. All the siblings looked different, as they weren't actually family. They were orphans that their grandmother took in. Xia was the only one who wasn't human. When the siblings were together, he stood out like a sore thumb. At least the other three looked like they belonged in Rasea. Xia didn't know where he belonged.

Upon seeing their brother enter the room, the other three siblings looked enthusiastic for his return. Alishba glanced at his bag and reached for it, but Xia quickly pulled it away. All the siblings were thieves, and Xia wasn't about to let his sister steal from him. These were his spoils, and he would share when he was ready to. He would make his siblings wait for their end of the profit.

"Come onnnn, Xia! Don't leave us in suspense! Did you get the treasure or not?" Alishba pouted at him. Making that face wasn't going to win him over. Alishba always acted this way when she wanted something. It was part of the reason she was able to rob people so effectively. She could charm any man with those eyes of hers.

Tariq, the quiet and most reasonable of the group, glanced up from his cards. "Hush now, Alishba. Don't be too loud or else you'll wake Grandmother up."

"If Xia wasn't being such a meanie right now then I wouldn't have to be loud." She crossed her arms and shot daggers Xia's way.

"You're just being a brat right now," Zakariya added. He was the eldest in their group and while he was a thief as well, Zakariya also worked in the market. He helped one of the elderly women there, but he didn't get paid much to support his family. With the lack of decent pay, he resorted to crime to help put food on the table. He glanced at Xia and asked, "But seriously, did you get the treasure?"

Xia took the last free chair next to Alishba. He leaned back in the chair and put his feet up on the table, then took a bite out of the apple that he had stolen. He thought about leaving his siblings in suspense for a little longer. They all looked at him, hope in their eyes. He knew how much this meant to them, so instead of messing with them, Xia reached into his bag and took the ruby tiara out.

Upon seeing the tiara, the other three could hardly contain their excitement. This would be a life changer for them. For once, they wouldn't have to struggle. They wouldn't have to wonder when their next meal would be. They could give their grandmother the life that she deserved. After all, she was the one who saved all of them. If it weren't for her, then the siblings may have died on the streets. It was their dream to make a better life for her, and that was finally within their grasp.

"I-is this real?" Alishba could hardly believe her eyes. There it was in front of her, yet it was hard to fathom this. Out of all of the treasure that they had stolen, this one took the cake.

Xia twirled the tiara in his hand. "Oh, it's real, and I went through hell to get it." He shot a glare at Tariq. "By the way, didn't you tell me that today would be safe to go to the temple? Explain why the sultan's men were there today." 

This information took the siblings by surprise. Tariq wasn't sure how to respond. He was nervous as he said, "I don't know, honestly. I did my research and no one else should have gone there. The temple has been abandoned for so long, this doesn't make any sense."

"This can pose a problem if Xia runs into those men anytime soon. He's not exactly . . ." Zakariya trailed off, unwilling to finish his sentence.

"Normal, I know. I can't help it that I'm weird looking." Xia shrugged his shoulders. He was used to feeling different, so his siblings didn't need to point it out.

"Xia, don't say that!" Alishba cut in. "You're so handsome, despite your weird hair color and pointy ears. Any man would be interested in having you, which is true. I've seen how people are attracted to you. Besides, if the tiara doesn't fetch us a good price, we did have another idea on how to make money."

Alishba teased Xia, which he decided to ignore. He wouldn't let his sister get under his skin with her silly remark. Instead, he focused on the last thing she said. "What idea?"

"Sorry, Xia . . ." Tariq muttered.

Each of the siblings seemed reluctant to tell him their idea, but Zakariya sighed and finally said, "The sultan is holding a selection ceremony soon for a new concubine. It's been getting harder to make money these days so we thought that perhaps someone could infiltrate the palace as a concubine. Originally, we were going to have Alishba try her luck, but . . ."

"I don't want to!" she interrupted. "Which was why we were hoping that you would, Xia. If the tiara doesn't sell for a high price, then we could use the money to go shopping. With a cute dress and some make-up, I can transform you. You would make a very pretty girl. Your features will surely catch the sultan's attention."

Xia didn't want to hear any more of this stupid plan that his siblings came up with behind his back. He stood up and threw his bag on the table. "My answer is no, so whatever intentions that you had for me, forget it. I refuse to dress up as a woman and become a concubine. Are you guys even hearing yourselves right now? I am a male. Do you realize how much trouble I would get in if I'm discovered? You're basically asking me to go to my death "

"Don't say that. We're not forcing you to do anything, and after your run-in with the sultan's men, I'm very against the idea," Tariq said.

"We were just jesting, Xia. It was an idea, nothing too serious." Alishba shrugged.

He heard enough for one night. His siblings entertained the thought without discussing it with him first, which annoyed him. "Whatever. I'm going to bed. Tomorrow we'll get the tiara appraised."

Xia left his siblings to turn in for the night. He was upset with them, but he would get over it after some rest. He never stayed mad at them for long and after tomorrow, they shouldn't have to entertain such ideas ever again.