"Please take this!"
"Miranda, for the last time, no. You know I hate taking handouts from people, especially when its money." There was absolutely no way around the brown eyed woman. Every time I stepped one way around, she stepped in front of me, her palm outstretched with a small bag of Dagols. "I really don't want it. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but Tessa and I are doing just fine on my income."
Gripping the bag in her palm, she put her fists on her hips, giving me an unconvinced glare. "How long has it been since you've gone out to eat?" Before I could open my mouth to answer, she added, "And leftovers from your lunch break at Club Vampire don't count."
Her questioning was beginning to sting. I couldn't take Tessa out to eat as often as I'd like, so her dinners consisted of whatever Dan decided to feed me for lunch during my breaks, which was normally more than I could eat on my own. It wasn't as if I chose leftovers to be the only thing my sister ate.
"Come on, Miranda. Its late. I need to go pay my uncle's pub bill and get back to Tessa."
I stepped to my left and was blocked by her as expected. Before she had time to move again, however, I stepped right and ran past her. I heard her loud groan of frustration behind me.
:-:-:-:
Walking past the brightly-colored houses in the White Town of Stars and Faith, I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, my right hand fondling the small collection of coins. I hoped Uncle Jarvis wasn't at Carl's Pub by the time I showed up to pay his tab. He always argued with me, but eventually gave in.
I began to think about Miranda and how persistent she was to give me the Dagols. Deep down inside, I started to regret not taking her offer. I could really need it, but I would never admit that to anyone but myself.
I shook the feeling of remorse from my head as I walked over the small house with the bridge for it's roof. It had remained vacant for months, and I had thought of moving Tessa and myself into it many times, but it was too far away from the Beast Pit. The rent was probably more expensive, too, and I couldn't afford it.
"Good evening, miss," a Theater Vancoor member said softly as I walked past the large guild headquarters. I gave him a gentle smile, admiring the fact that he had an interest in flowers. For the past year or so, this member of the warrior guild took Tessa out into the fields to pick flowers. She loved to decorate our house with them and always fell into a temporary state of depression when they withered.
"Good evening, Dennis," I replied, turning the corner sharply to find my drunken uncle sparring a boy around my age. A short man in royal-looking clothes stood off to the side, watching them anxiously.
Uncle Jarvis dragged his large sword on the ground with one hand, using his entire body to swing it at the boy, who easily jumped back. "Take…that!" Jarvis slurred, his eyes rolling back into his head for a moment.
With a quick swing of his blade, the boy sent my uncle flying back onto his back. I was thankful for the bulky armor he wore. If it weren't for the suit, he could've been injured badly.
"You're lucky I had them beers, or I'd…I'd kick your…" Uncle Jarvis mumbled before closing his eyes and falling asleep. The light from the streetlamp made his crimson face glow.
"Stupid bigmouth drunkard," the boy mumbled before looking around. "Captain?" He locked eyes with me, and I swear he had the biggest brown eyes I'd ever seen in my life. "Hey, did you see a short guy anywhere around here?"
I pointed toward a nearby door that lead to Carl's Pub. "I think he went in there." Honestly, I had no idea where the man went. I'd been too focused on the beating my uncle received.
The boy grabbed the handle and held the door open for me. I grinned at him, nodded my head in thanks, and walked inside the pub. The scent of smoke and alcohol filled my nose and mouth. I resisted the urge to cough.
The bar owner, Giske, snuffed out his cigarette and lifted a hand to wave at me. After accepting a hug from Yuri, I made my way to the counter and sat on a stool, leaning over the wood and placing all the coins I had in my pocket on the surface.
"I think this should cover this week," I told him. "Unless he drank more than he usually does."
Giske scooped the Dagols off the counter after counting them and shook his head. "Paid in full. You want something to drink?" Before I even answered, he was already filling a glass with water.
"Um, sure."
A pathetic sigh from my right caught my attention. The short man from before was sitting next to me, his head nearly in his mug of beer. It was hard to remember the last time I'd seen someone so disheartened.
"So, how's that baby girl of yours?" Giske asked, bringing my gaze away from the unknown man. I wrapped my hands around the cup of water, looking into the clear liquid.
"She's doing well. Still spends every waking moment either running around with Cody or pushing her nose deeper into books at Vareth Institute."
He chuckled, handing Yuri a rag to wipe tables off with. "That little girl has got to be the smartest five-year-old I've ever met."
"She'll be six in about a month. She likes announcing it to everyone."
"Captain, its late. We should go," the boy from before said, putting his hand on the short man's shoulder. The man sighed and straightened up.
"I suppose you're right. A new life awaits at Theater Vancoor!" He sounded drunk, but looking at the one beer he had, I doubted he truly was.
He hopped off the stool and walked out with the boy, holding his hands stiffly to his sides. Giske scoffed once they were gone. "Damn knights."
:-:-:-:
The Beast Pit wasn't as boisterous as the other houses I passed on my way home, but it wasn't exactly the quietest either. The one thing I hated about living there was that there wasn't a time when everyone was asleep. There was always someone awake and walking around.
"Kianna!" a high-pitched voice yelled. I bent down to catch my sister in my arms and held her tight to my body. She wrapped her arms around my neck and wound her fingers through my long hair.
I carried her to the bathroom and placed her on the counter. "Tessa, why are you awake? You know when your bedtime is."
She crossed her arms over her chest, making the cute pouting face I loved. The cerulean eyes that reflected mine narrowed at me. "I don't want to go to school tomorrow," she mumbled. I rolled my eyes and ruffled her messy brown hair.
"Tessarae, you're going tomorrow. I don't pay for you to sit at home and not go."
I turned the warm water on and placed a rag under it. Once it was damp enough, I squeezed out the extra fluid and wiped it on Tessa's face. She filled her mouth with air, puffing out her cheeks. I gently pressed my palms to them, forcing the air out.
"Go change and get in bed. I mean it."
Tessa sighed and stomped off to our room. I walked into the kitchen, looking gratefully at the box I'd brought home my sister's dinner in from Club Vampire. Remembering Miranda's words, a brick of guilt fell into my stomach.
My sister never complained about the food I brought home for her. She eats at Vareth, too, so its not as if she only has one meal a day. The embarrassment of not having enough Dagols to take her out to eat still got to me, though. I wanted more for my sister, but I just couldn't afford it.
I grabbed the box and tossed it in the trash. A small note on the counter caught my eye. Next to it was the same bag Miranda was trying to force on me earlier.
"Kianna,
I know you're going to hate me for this, but I sent the Dagols home with Tessa. Please don't be too mad, and please don't hesitate to ask the Olacion Order for anything. We're more than happy to help.
Love,
Miranda"
A growl of frustration escaped from my mouth as I crumpled up the message and tossed that in the trash, too. The exhaustion of the day was catching up to me, so I retreated to my room to find Tessa curled up on our bed, snoring softly.
I changed into relaxing clothes to sleep in and crawled in bed next to her. I pulled her close to my body and shut my eyes tight.
Falling asleep was complicated. Everything was rushing through my mind and I felt as if I couldn't catch up with my thoughts. The only conclusion I came up with was that Tessa and I couldn't live like this much longer.