House of Mia Terceo

Seventh Chapter

He leaned up closer to a nice silver ring and picked it up to examin it closely.

A delicate thing. Thin with a copper edge. Standing next to him, I saw our tall statues refleced in the glass monitor, as he twirled the ring between his strong fingers.

"Is this the one?" I asked. He chewed on the idea. Imagining Shelda's hand hand with the ring. If he bought it, all the money would be spent.

I saw the conflict on his face in the way he squinted his eyes.
"Shelda will be extatic, no matter the ring, Alfred. And that is because you bought it," I reason.

Men tend to think women are material creatures, that is the reason why Alfred took us to this store in Central Chysa. When in fact we treasure the small things, the small gestures - since those are the ones that show how much we are loved. How much they have listend, perhaps.

He nodded to himself. He had decided. Alfred went to pay and laid the ring before the bob lady.

She was still twirling the telephone string between her thin hand and giggled at whatever the person on the other end said. She continuesly chattered on the telephone for a whole minute. Ignoring us.

At Alfred's tugged lips and flushed cheeks, I could tell he was uncomfortable. I shook my head. I glared at the chirping bird, known as a human female and pointly coughed for attention. A scowl deeply planted on my face.

Her eyes swept over at were we stood. Finally she noticed us, "Excuse me," she said with an eye roll and hung up. About bloody time.

Agonizingly slow, her eagle eyes look us up and down with obvious displeasure evident in those small eyes of her, "And you're to buy this ring-...?" She stops, unsure what to adress him by "-Mr."

Anger slowly taps on my insides like stabbing hay.

"Yes," was his one word answer.

Alfred plastered on a practiced look of indifferance, seemingly unfaced, having tried this multible times.
No doubt he had. He was often in Chysa for deliveries and doing buisness for Lord Vega.

She looked at the pricetag. "Four-hundred. Isn't this above your price range? Maybe you should try looking at the very outskirts of town, I hear it is marvellous," she sneered and turned her back and reached for the telephone.

This woman, could she not see the money in his hands?

Out of the corner of my eye I see Alfred turning a sour shade of pink and his arms flexing, like they always did when he was opposed something.

Before he gets the chance, I speak up. "Then perhaps you should consider moving your store further out, for better costumers. I am sure you would fit right in with the harlots and beggars, since you are here," I gave her a tight lipped smile, which problebly resembled more a dnapping wolf.

The jobs in the poor end of Chysa were mostly factory's, small unsuccessfull markets and prostitutes on the sidewalk that were delt the bad end of the bunch. I had never seen them for myself but Lina had told me plenty of their sickly figures and wandering eye for the next fix.

"Get the hint - we don't sell to people like you," She flared. She took the ring and stomped her way to the back through a swing door, that gave a 'smack' that eccoed in the stillness.

I want to run after her and throw all the jewelry at her and smear her overpriced lipstick with the floor.

I grab onto Alfred's arm and pull him out of here, before anger overflow both of us. Once outside, I let out a ferocious growl.
On one hand, fine it is what it is. And the other part of me... far more dangerous said - make her regret ever saying those words - go on, steal the ring.