The next morning Facilier awoke with a cruel smile on his face, last night had gone perfectly. That little alcoholic Irish wench should be very down on herself today. The look in her eyes had been priceless, a mixture of self loathing and shame. Aw it had been most delicious. Facilier was curious about how long the damage would last. Smirking he looked up at the masks on the wall. The grins on their faces mirrored Facilier's glee at this moment. "It won't be long till that little soul pays off my debt."
Meanwhile within the margins of Aleena's shop. The atmosphere was not so cheery. Aleena herself was staring at several pots, which once contained lively exotic blooms, but with the sudden change in Aleena's mood. They had shriveled and were blowing away in the wind. She was so angry at herself, at her inability to control her habit. The thought of it caused Aleena to chuckle at the irony of it all, an Irish being an alcoholic so nauseatingly ironic. Gods forbid if any of the locals found out, she a cultured Celtic lady was a good for nothing liquor lover. And now Facilier knew, and he used that against her the minute he could. And that kiss! Aleena shivered in disgust at the thought. She kissed that good for nothing piece of horse shit, and in her drunken state enjoyed it. Despite her intoxication Aleena recalled it very clearly, he tasted amazing and he smelled like apple cider.
Aleena's fists shook in frustration, screaming she knocked the pots off the table and watched as they smashed on the floor. The withered roots caught fire under her gaze, and smoldered on the floor. Writhing like dying snakes. Realizing her crime Aleena fell on her knees, new tears forming fresh paths on her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
She could hear the plants crying out in agony. Putting the fires out Aleena took the bulbs and potted them in fresh soil. "Forgive me."
Aleena touched the soil; sparks coursed through it and touched the bulbs. Fresh roots started to push their way up from the earth. It did not take long for new blooms to form. Their vines wrapped around Aleena's fingers, hugging them and trying to cheer her up. They forgave her for her outburst, for almost killing them. This was the one thing that Aleena loathed about herself, if she did not rein her temper, she could easily kill someone without intending to. And she did hurt someone only a couple months after leaving her cult. It had been bloody, and the screams still haunted her. She could kill an animal. But no matter how evil, Aleena could never kill another human being, not on purpose anyway.
Running her fingers through her tangled copper mane, Aleena shook her head. How could she be so weak? It wasn't as if Shadowman had done more that kiss her, but his shadow, Aleena shivered at the thought of its touch. She needed to get a hold of herself. She couldn't let this disgusting animal get to her. She just couldn't, it would be admitting to defeat before the fight had even started. Aleena walked over to the small sink in the back of the shop and wetted her face. Trying to bring down the red in her eyes, and make the tear tracks go away. It worked for the most part; at least no one had been here to see her few hours of weakness.
As if on cue she heard the chimes on the door sing their song. Aleena cursed herself for not locking it, "Miss Malone?!"