Thicker than Water

Chapter Twenty Two

I had never felt so invisible in my life.  These people didn't stare nor whisper about me as I passed.  They went about their business like I was just a ghost, completely unknown to them.  I actually enjoyed the change.  Quite usually, I was stared at.  People talked behind my back and muttered hateful things.  If they were bold enough some would go as far as to call out to me and chase me through streets and alleys until I finally gave up to take the beating.  Then, Haden would eventually 'avenge' me.

Speaking of Haden, he was in my thoughts again constantly checking in on and chatting with me as I walked with Kendell through the market.  More or less, I felt bad for shutting him out in the first pace.  It was childish and dumb to begin with, but the topic of children bothered me so much that I couldn't think straight.  At first I was fine not having any, but now that Haden and I were actually an item now I wanted them for him.  But, he didn't press the topic any further.  And I kept my mind off of it as best as I could.

Where are you, Haden asked me quietly.  He had been talking about random things earlier, but now he seemed much more grim.  Our bond was getting stronger by the hour and now whenever he felt something strong, I could feel it too.  It was the same for him and he knew how on edge I was even though this, according to him, had entirely been my idea.  I knew that, but it still bothered me to walk past these people who have either killed or stolen things before.  No one had a clean record down here.  Not a single person.

Over by the handmade dress shop, I replied with a sigh as Kendell stopped at the little shop.  "This looks nice," Kendell says suddenly and I look over to where he is standing.  He held up a long dress with a shirt of what looked like could be feathers.  He grinnedfrom ear to ear while prodding me over to try it on.  So far, we were pretending to be husband and wife traveling through the tunnels of the black market.  No one bothered laying a hand on me.  He usually stayed quiet and hid his face while I did a majority of the talking. 

When I came to stand next to him, he pressed the dress against my frame and spun me around to face a mirror.   He whispered quietly for me to ask what feathers these were.  When I looked over to the dealer who was already watching us, I said in elvish, "What is this dress made of?"

The burly looking lady smiled at me.  "Silk and the finest feathers," she said, her voice too deep to be a woman.  "Those un-dyed feathers came from an angel's wings.  For the best quality and the greatest softness of course."  My stomach churned and I felt sick holding the thing.  I wanted to throw this dress in the pits of hell.  Who in the world would wear a dress like this?  They must have tortured people like animals for their feathers.  She tilted her head and her smile faded.  She said loudly, "It's twenty hundred dollars.  Leave if you aren't buying anything."

I nodded quickly and hung it back and then dragged the stunned Kendell away.  Once far enough, I said to him, "How could anyone do such a thing?  They aren't animals!  Yet, they took their feathers like they would a tiger's pelt."  Kendell nodded with a paled face but didn't say a word.

However, Haden did respond.  Angels and demons of the Divinity are the most hated races, he said calmly.  They are blamed for death, diseases, and war.  But in all honestly, they hardly ever screw with any of the others.  People like to blame them to soothe a guilty conscious. They should only blame themselves for the tragedies they cause.  He sighed heavily in his mind.  I could feel he was telling not only the truth but also his own perspective.  He disliked the torture as much as I did.  Rogue, let no one know who you are.  They may do the same to you.  Or at least, try to.

I know, I promised him as Kendell and I made our way to the rendezvous point.  But, those were someone's feathers.  It's not like it was just a bird, but it was an actual person.  They were either tortured or killed for their feathers to be made into such a dress!