Descend

Chapter 7

The summer breeze brushed against my skin sending goosbumps on my bare skin, the day was new, the princess had convinced me to go for a walk around town. Although at the time it sounded a good idea, but walking these streets where this town was foreign to me made me realise how much I wasn't home anymore. A market was set up and children ran up and down the cobbled streets, although people parted as the princess walked it wasn't the same treatment for me. People pushed me around and I soon lost sight of the princess.

I had been walking for a lest twenty minutes trying to find the princess or the way back to the palace but with no luck I had ended up in the grimy part of the city, it was much darker and less clean, the sound of load music could be heard from one of the many taverns. A wooden sign was nailed to a brick wall with red paint saying "Paradises Hell". There was nothing paradises about this place that was for sure.

A run down hotel came into view and I headed towards there, hoping maybe they would know how to get me back to the palace. I pushed the doors open to be greeted with a deep smell of strong perfumes and incense, my nose scrunched up in violation of the strong smells and my eyes burnt. The reception was dull and run down a wood desk sat near the door which had beads hanging down, the sounds of shouts where heard then a woman came out the door, she stopped and stared at me, her caramel skin glittering under the light, her black hair was twisted in plaits and wrapped up on her head, she wore little clothing showing a lot flesh, she wrapped a golden shawl around her neck. Another woman came out after her she was much fatter and she looked at the girl in anger.

"Shay, you better not do anything stupid"

Shay turned around and glared at the middle aged woman. She turned to leave giving me one last glance and then left slamming the door behind her. The older lady muttered to herself when her eyes landed on me, she looked me up and down her red hair coming out of her tight bun. She wore a deep purple dress and she was adored by jewellery, at least one ring on each finger. Her make up was done up heavy and dark, red lipstick stained her lips and teeth.

"So what happened got yourself kicked out, you look like an upper class girl. The men will be crazy for some high lady to pay for."

She pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, eyeing me all the while.

"What?"

I felt uncomfortable with her heavy gaze on me and I was starting to feel like this was a bad idea. I took a deep breath and moved towards to the desk.

"Look I just need some directions to the palace."

The lady crackled in laughter flicking her cigarette away and moved towards me. She grabbed my face into her hands looking me over.

"Well you have the light hair. You must be some sort of noble blood."

I moved out of her grasp, glaring at her.

"Look lady, if you know the way back to palace that would be grateful, if not I will be on my way."

The door behind us bang open and man came in holding Shay by the arm, a blue bruise was forming on her cheek and a look of fear came across the lady face.

"Victor..What are you doing?"

The man was middle aged, a scar ran down his left eye. He was well built and his dark hair was cropped short. There was something unsettling with this man. His eyes shot to me and a shiver ran down my body. He threw Shay to the floor and the old lady ran to her and tried to pick her up, but Victor shoved her out of the way.

"Is this how you run my brothel Rose?"

Brothel! I'm in a freaking brothel! Victor crouched down to Shay level, and grabbed her chin.

"A little birdie told me today, that apparently you haven't been working for a month now. Why is that Shay"

She spat in his a face and sound of a whip could be heard echoing in the room, as he slapped her across the face. Rose gasped and Shay lip started to bleed she looked at him with hatred. All I felt was angry. Hot fire took over my being and before I knew what I was doing my legs were moving and my dagger that I always strapped to my thigh was in my hand. The man was too busy shouting at Shay to even notice me coming up behind him. I tapped him on the shoulder. He stopped his shouting and turned to look me up and down and raised a brow.

"Has your mother ever told you that you shouldn't hit a girl?"

He folded his arm and a smug look fell on his face, before he could even move an inch, I punched him in the face making him stumble back.

"Because she will only hit you back harder."

A silence echoed in the room and shock was etched on their faces, Victor started cursing and I undid my cloak and handed it to Shay whose mouth was still open in shock. Victor turned to me and murder was written on his face.

"Here look after this for me it is new and I don't won't to get blood on it."

Then the old me was gone and a dark and sinister smile fell on my face, Victor almost halted his steps in pursuing me but carried and aimed to punch me, I grabbed his fist and twisted it behind his back and then kicked his legs out from under him so he fell with his face hitting the hard wooded floor. I got out my dagger and flip him over using my body to hold him down. I then started to etched my initials into his forehead, deeper enough to scare but not enough for him to bleed out, his screamed out in agony and it brought me great pleasure, after I had done my great piece of art on his face I moved my lips closer to ear as if I was his lover.

"Next time you want to hit a girl, just think about me and what I could do you.. coz darling I have artist hands and red is my favourite colour."

I felt him shiver and I knew my words did the job. I saw the fear in his eyes and then punched him hard to knock him out. I got up and turn to the two women standing there in shock.

"Now.. Is someone going to show me where the palace is?"

Rose pushed Shay forward and ran into the back room. Shay held out my cloak and headed out of the door and I followed behind.

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We had walked in silences. Shay kept looking at me like I had grown two heads and it was getting fairly annoying. After another five minutes of her doing that I had to break the silence.

"Look he had it coming. No one should be treated like that! Stop staring at me like I killed the Queen of freaking England."

She looked at me confused and I remembered she probably didn't know who that was. She stopped and turned to me I folded my arms waiting for her to scream bloody murder."

"Can I work for you?"

My eyes widen. Well I wasn't expecting that. She wanted to work for me?

"Erm, I'm not.. Really into girls.."

"Not in that way!"

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms and I sigh in relief, thank god because that would have been awkward.

"More like your personal maid"

She said she chewed her bottom lip and kicked a rock to the side, I study her for a moment, then an idea struck, oh this could work nicely.

"I have something even better, you are going to be my personal spy."

I grinned at her and a plan was starting to form in my head.