How Things Are

forty three

I felt like an alien walking among these would-be lawmen. Lucas led us to the heart of the city. Past the white picket fences and freshly mowed lawns. I've always tried to stay away from crowds unless I had to so I didn't get caught. Now Lucas is walking us straight into them as if he owns this place.

Their smiles are becoming tighter as if they're irritated or even angry we dare to have this much confidence. On the contrary, my palms are sweating and it feels like I can't breathe walking through this crowd. The others seem to be doing fine. Lucas has had to tug my rope a few times causing me to stumble. It's making me play my part well I suppose.

We should be leaving this city after everything Teedo told me. Even Wenwrey wouldn't stick around here to pick some pockets.

When Lucas stops walking I look up at the building he enters. My brother taught me to read but I'm a little rusty. I wasn't fast enough to catch all the writing before I'm pushed inside.

Then everything is magic again. Once I'm inside the air is foggy and moist. It feels good.

I finally see the first woman here. Lucas walks up to her and gives her cash. I can't hear everything he says because he hands me to Joey who takes me to the back of the group.
Lucas seems to be giving her some orders. When he's done a few more women come out. One for each of his men. If I could run I would. Is he really buying whores right now?

He walks back to me, takes the rope back, and the slave woman he gave the money to opens a door behind her I didn't see. We are all escorted back and inside there is a giant bath.

It's a bathhouse! I've heard of them but was shocked to see one in person. The water was steaming. There was a waterfall wall. It was pretty cool and Simon's explanation of one didn't do this one justice.

I didn't realize my mouth was hanging open until Lucas pushed my chin up to close it. These places are for the rich. The more pricy ones do come with women by your side to wash you so I shouldn't be surprised. All of this is heresy of course.

Everyone starts taking their clothes off except me. I freeze when I realized what's happening.

"Don't just stand there. Take off your clothes." Lucas says

I look around and see everyone already half-naked or in the bath. Some of them glance my way while others could care less.

"I won't say it again." Lucas gives me that stare everyone is afraid of. The memories it holds are enough to make me start taking off my clothes.

It's hard to be subtle when there are this many people and nothing to hide behind but they were mostly occupied looking at the slave woman Lucas paid to wash them.
When I got in I realized why Lucas never bought himself a woman. He raised an eyebrow at me and grumbled under my breath, then made my way over to him.

I have to look at the other women for guidance. This was nerve-wracking. It took everything in me to stop shaking when Lucas pulled me into his lap.

My tits were now floating above the water for his entire mafia buddies to stare at. Thankfully most were occupied however I did notice a few of them kept looking between me and their own woman as if comparing sizes.

This was too embarrassing. I just looked down at the water as I pretended to wash Lucas's chest. Shame. That's what this feeling is. Humiliation. A bit of rage. Am I being punished still or is this a joke? They will never forget this. I will never forget this. Either way, if this treatment continues I might run away after all.

After a few more men look at my tits I send a look their way which makes them scoot away from us. I hear Teedo chuckle. He wasn't staring but he's been talking to Lucas about something I couldn't pay attention to due to humiliation. He realized why the other men moved.

Having enough of it I get enough courage to lift myself off Lucas's lap and swim toward the waterfall. I wash myself and ignore everyone else. The slave women look a bit scared by what I just did but who cares. I removed the rope when I got undressed so it's their fault they can't help themselves.

I finally enjoy the water. Realizing it's orange-scented. Dunking my hair under to clean it as well. This is a luxury Winwrey is missing out on. If I see her again I'll be sure to rub it in her face.

After a few more minutes I realize someone is swimming towards me. I relax against the rock walls and put my wrist in the waterfall pretending not to notice.

This man isn't with us. He doesn't have that fake smile on his face either so I'm not sure if he's a citizen here. I take a look at Lucas and he doesn't notice or is pretending not to. Joey and I make eye contact but I don't realize what his expression is trying to tell me.

The man stopped when he was only a few feet in front of me. Too close. He stares for a bit at my blank expression. That's when a few more of Lucas's men look my way.

Is he waiting for me to say something? I don't know the rules of this bathhouse. Well either way he's too close and not speaking.

I start to make my way past him when he grabs my arm.

"You will let go now," I say calmly

He looks surprised "Slave. Did you just give me orders?"

His words grab Lucas's attention. "No one touches me without permission." My voice now seething with rage. After what I put up with today, my calm has disappeared. I've become one with the steam in this bathhouse.

He laughs "What did you say?" He gives me no time to answer "I'll touch you if I want slave woman."

Then he tries to pull me close but I twist my arm out of his hold and snap his neck. "I'm not a slave."

The women are screaming. Some run out of the bathhouse while others shake and wrap themselves around the men. It irritates me. I want my katana so I can kill them all for acting so pathetic.

I swim past the now-dead man still filled with rage and get out of the bath as well. I grab clothes that aren't mine. I don't care who they belong to. What can I say, I'm a thief. After getting dressed I take the only things that belong to me, my katana and other blades I hide up my sleeve. Then I walk to the door.

"I'll be outside when you're finished." Then slam the door shut. Who cares about the consequences?