Never Scared
I hate teleporting. Sure instantaneous travel sounds fun, except having to scout out an area miles away from you, creating a wormhole between those points, and hoping that your mental shield doesn't collapse leaving you exposed to cosmic shit I've never heard of nor can explain without the assistance of Albert Einstein. Luckily I survived this time, landing in a sea of flowers. Poppies to be specific, a field of the tiny purple buds, all protected by a long electrified fence and a few other nasty surprises. Parting the sea of poppies, I go up to a villa that looks as if it hasn't been maintained since Buddha last preached. On the porch is an old man, in flowing robes. He sat with his eyes closed on a bench, a long flowing white beard and mustache, with an opium pipe between his lips.
Looking at the old man, I can't help but snicker, "Sano…that's the most stereotypical form you've ever had." Taking the pipe from his mouth, I take a hit off of it. "Though, I have to say, you always have the best." He stood up, and the robes wrapped around him like a cocoon. Emerging was a muscular man, that I was forced to look up towards.
As he looked me in the eyes, his head blocked out the sun, "Lora Caldwell, what are you doing all they way in the Southeast peninsula?"
Looking around my feet break the shackles of gravity, lifting up to view this entire facility, all it was appeared to be the poppy field and the poor looking shack. Slowly descending back to the ground, I look to Sano, "So where is this world-famous Opium Den I've heard so much about?"
He laughs bodily at my question, "Ah, her highness requires relaxation? To stressful being the most wanted bitch on your island?"
I approach him with a shake in my hips that I know will catch his eye, "Well I thought you would prefer this as payment." I remove a folded map with an ancient insignia form its resting place in my bosom. "However, if you would prefer something more physic-"
Sano snatched the ancient map from my fingers, "No…this will be sufficient, how long were you wishing to stay?"
I look away, running my hand along one of the pillars, "I..I'm not sure. It will be awhile. I need to recruit some mercenaries."
He pursued my hesitation, "What do you need mercenaries for?" Then a frown came across his face, "You lost the Thirteen?"
I quickly turned, shoving him back mentally, "I didn't lose them, my goody-goody brother caught us during a celebration. I need mercenaries, to fight off my brother's lackeys while I beat him to a pulp."
Sano backed off, "Easy now Lora. You can stay as long as you need." He moved past me and welcomed me into the house. The inside of the house was exquisite, with carefully designed interiors, and expensive furniture. He handed me a key, and pointed to the stairs, "You can stay upstairs. Come down tonight for the party."
Not really in a party move, I just shrug it off and walk upstairs heading towards my room. It was easy enough to find, considering there was a sign on the door labeled guest room. When I opened the door I didn't expect much, and I didn't get much. The room consisted of a dresser, a queen sized bed, and a desk. The only light came from a window, that let in a lot more light than I would've given it credit for. I go towards the bed immediately, and jump on the bed with my arms spread as if it were a dive. I hit the softness as if I had landed on a cloud, the comfiness of the material overwhelming me into a fit of girlish glee as I snuggle into the material and appropriately pass out.
