Blood Tithe
Chapter Twenty-Five
When you're not of the mind to sit or stand for something, the only other logical choice is to separated from it entirely. Which is what Lightning thought it best to do. She left the Blue Door, knowing to stay much longer would result in one of two, and most likely unpleasant outcomes.
With the echoes of Fang's laughter and Raul's snickering ringing in her mind she stepped out into the streets, starting towards Saints Plaza with no definite idea as to what she was intending to do now that she was out and about. She thought about it further as she walked, unconsciously counting her steps as she went.
Lightning came into the open plaza, out of the shadows of the district, flinching as the mid-day sun light hit her eyes. For a moment she walked about blind, her eyes tearing even as she screwed them shut. How she made it to the other side of the plaza at this hour, with all the traffic, is as much a mystery to me as anyone. Still, Light managed all the same, and she found herself on the way the party had first come upon their arrival once her vision cleared.
Perhaps, she considered, another call to the center was in order. It had been a couple of days, and though they had made little headway, it wasn't an all around bad idea. It was along this train of thought that Light realized that she had been overlooking something rather crucial. How were they going to get out of Arash in a severe hurry, should the need arise? It wasn't at all unlikely that it would be the case; as part of the Guardian Corps she had been a part of a handful of rescue missions, it was rare indeed that the entire operation went quietly. They would need a speedy means of retreat.
An airship would do. Yes, that would do nicely.
And she would only ever trust one pilot.
And if anyone could find him, it would be Bradley.
Best get started then, it was a long walk and the day was already half over.
You can imagine that she was convinced she could run the distance, no problem, but you'd be wrong. Mind you, she did try, but she'd never tried it with a hangover. Otherwise it would have been simple. Not even fifty paces down the road did her body start to reject the silly notion of jogging, throbbing in all the wrong places, namely her head. So she stopped when she could take no more, slumping to a steady walk.
Fuck my life, she shrugged in her head. Fuck it right in the ear.
She didn't feel like being stuck out here all night again.
Still, Lightning pressed on, once again counting her steps without meaning to. For the better part of the first hour it was quiet like this, a quiet wind whispering through the grasses around her being the only interruption. She became absorbed in it, let her mind dwell on the sounds instead of the headache. That sort of distraction, I would think, was enough to keep her attention off the faint sound of another set of foot falls closing in from behind. Or should I say hoof-falls?
"Where are you going?"
Maybe it was the natural grunt of Han's voice that made her notice him, made her tip up her chin to see him astride the same white mare from the other night. She just looked at him, her hand over her eyes for a moment. Then she turned away and said, "Out."
"Hm, sounds nice." Han nodded once, sounding rather uninterested. "Care for a ride?"
"No thanks." she didn't even bother the short moment to think about it. So stubborn.
"You sure? I'll keep her pace steady as not to irritate you."
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
I just don't want to, she thought. I've been close enough to you for one day.
"At this rate it'll take you all day just to get there. Wherever there is."
"That suits me just fine." Lightning straightened her back, her chin raised slightly as if it really did suit her.
"Hm." he nodded again. "Has anyone had the nerve to mention how pigheaded you can be?"
She almost paused. Sure, plenty of times, but not like that. No one had ever had the unmitigated gall to use "pigheaded".
"A time or two."
"You earn it fairly." he affirmed gently, not wanting to sound hurtful, but certainly nothing shy of honest.
"If I wanted this kind of abuse I would've stayed at the inn." she said in a slight huff, picking up the pace that she might walk ahead of him, hoping to get out of earshot before he said anything else. For a moment she was convinced she had accomplished this, but that idea was completely obliterated when, before she could blink twice, Han had lead the horse to a sudden gallop and stopped it long-ways across the rode in front of her.
Lightning nearly walked into the animal, right into its stocky body. She looked up at him, her brow knitted.
"You're serious?"
Han held out his only hand without a "yes" or a "no". But he was serious, indeed. What kind of man would leave a lady alone in wilds such as these?
"It'll be our secret, if you'd prefer." he said, thinking it would help his case.
"You're not gonna give it up, are you?" She cocked up an eyebrow at him, a shrug hiding beneath the indifference in her tone.
"No." He almost shook his head, and he almost smiled. Almost. "Come on. I'm sure, if you're careful, you won't enjoy it."
With that remark she relented, but didn't feel the need to accept his hand in order pull herself astride the horse. That, and she was beginning to suffer the distinct notion that he and Fang had been spending far too much time together. Light braced herself with one hand behind her as the mare began to move again.
As promised, he kept the pace steady, not wanting to jar either one of them. His head was still a wee bit tender, as he was certain her's was as well. Though you can imagine his mild surprise at what she said not a few minutes after they began.
"How old am I going to be by the time we get there?"
"How old do you want to be?"
Light scowled behind his back. He was getting way too good at being smart with her.
"Would you like to go a bit faster?"
"If you can manage it."
"Then you might wish to hold on." He wore a slight smirk, though not that she could see it. Han felt one of her small hands grip tightly to the back of his belt. "I'm not going to bite."
"No, but I do."
"Very well."
Han gave the horse a good kick in the ribs and it steadily eased into a gallop. He hunched forward, his hand fisting the mane, but kept his middle loose as not to rattle himself to pieces. He shivered at the distinct sensation of hair tickling the middle of his back, his mind forcing him to picture Light leaning closer to him. Was this too fast for her? Or maybe not fast enough...
He kicked the mare again, demanding a touch more oomph in the animal's locomotion. Like this they traveled along the road, blazing over a handful of miles in a matter of minutes when it would've taken Light hours alone.
Lightning had missed riding, missed having Odin charging mightily beneath her in the heat of battle. It had been a thrill, a wild rush that tugged at the back of her mind rather often. This wasn't the same as riding the divine stallion, but it was enough. Still holding to Han's belt she straightened, letting the winds whip at her hair and whistle passed her ears. Her heart hammered in her chest, her body throbbed with the swift blood in her veins. Damn this was good. Like sex in a thunderstorm.
But, as all good things must, it had to end once they reached the end of the kept road, where the statues stood vigil. With a silent shrug Lightning dismounted, fishing through her pockets for the cellular before starting the climb up Kalitas' noble visage. Like before she perched upon his shoulders, switching on the device that Bradley had given her and waiting for the light to change before hailing the center. As before, several rings transferred through the signal before someone answered.
"Thank you for calling one-eight-hundred spank me," came a humorless and lackluster sigh as the trademark sound of shuffling papers carried through from the background. "How may I help you?"
"Bradley,"
"Oh, it's you," he sounded genuinely startled, surprised to hear her voice. "F-Farron, what's up? How goes the mission?"
"Apparently not as good as yours." her tone was flat, but she was smirking. "Speaking of which, I need you to reach out and touch someone for me."
"That's a cruel joke, Farron. Not to mention bad. Who do you need?"
"Sazh, he's a pilot."
"Yeah, I know him. Saw him just yesterday, actually. What for?"
"I need a ship out here as soon as you can spare one."
"Okay," there was a pause as if he was looking for something. "Can you hold for a minute? I might be able to reach him right now,"
"Sure." then there was a click, the conversation coming to a halt for the moment. Some minutes passed and she watched as a hawk made lazy circles overhead. How long this tedious quiet lasted was trivial compared to how long it felt. Might as well have been forever.
Click
"Sazh speakin'," came the rough, tired voice from the other end.
"Sazh, it's Light."
"That's what Bradley said, nice to hear from ya. What is it you needed, exactly?"
"Can you get a ship down here?"
"Where is 'here' exactly?" he asked after a contemplative grumble.
"Some...maybe forty-something miles due north of Oerba. You can't miss it."
"All the way out there?"
"Wouldn't be here if it wasn't important, Sazh." she assured him, not liking the way he was sidestepping this. "And you know I trust you."
"More than anyone, sure I do." he grumbled again. "Well...let me think...I gotta get a few things together, get some fuel in the old girl...I can be there in two hours. I suppose you can fill me in on the specifics then."
"I owe you one, Sazh, thanks a lot."
"No problem. See you after a while."
"See you then."
Click
Han had tried not to listen in, knowing it was rude, but it was so damn quiet otherwise, it was a difficult thing to do. What was this pilot going to be like? Han was rather sure he had never met him before. He watched Light as she negotiated her way down the statue, but not so closely as she bent over the shoulder, her backside perched in the air in a way that a pervert would consider perfect. He turned his head towards his shoulder, pretending to watch the horse as it wandered through the grass nearby.
"Hope you don't mind waiting a while." she said when she had reached the ground.
"Didn't have anywhere else to be." Han cleared his throat, his fist at his mouth. Then he fished into his belt, pulling free his pipe and, eventually, the matches and tobacco he needed to light it.
Lightning leaned against the base of the statue, arms crossed as she watched him sit cross-legged in the grass. "What were you doing out here, anyway?"
"Just wanted to get out," he paused long enough to take the first few puffs, "wanted to go for a ride, I suppose."
Light looked at the horse from where she stood, almost itching to get in the saddle again. So to speak anyway. It was a bareback ride all the way here, and if she were any other woman she would've called that kinky. Out loud anyway.
Han must have been able to read the look on her face, if you could call it a look. She always seemed so stoic, so distant, but there was something slightly different as he glanced up at her through his uneven bangs. "Go ahead, we're not going anywhere."
"Huh?" as if she hadn't heard it. She most certainly had, you and I both know that.
"Ride for a while, it'll do you some good."
She just looked at him, unsure of what to say.
"I won't tell anyone if you have any fun."
"Ass." she almost laughed, but she definitely grinned.
"Bah deh roh." he shook his head, looking at the ground.
"What?" she straightened, her arms falling to her side.
"Nothing."
"What does that mean?"
And he just snickered. Snickered? She considered that perhaps she should feel insulted, but ignored the idea. Clearly he wasn't going to explain the comment at the time being, doubly so seeing how much it appeared to amuse him. Lightning forced the thoughts aside for now, and instead took up his suggestion to ride a while.
And it was a hell of a ride.
Across the grasslands and out into the hills, southwards to jump the river, and up and down stretches of the managed road the mare galloped at Lightning's behest. She felt the rush once more, the shudder of adrenaline in her blood. She had to fight the urge to draw her blade and hold it high as if to strike down some unseen foe. She missed the flight of combat, the charge of it all. In doing this she could revisit that bygone time that seemed so brief from today. The battles were over, but she was still here. But she didn't have to stay. For this second, this flickering moment, she was a valiant knight astride her noble steed and off to wage war elsewhere, to emerge in victory. Wow, can I belt out the crap or what?
Lightning was panting slightly when she returned to the statues, satisfied as her skin still tingled with lingering excitement. She smiled as she stroked the horse's neck.
"You should name her." Han said from where he sat, a short distance away but far enough to need to raise his voice.
"Why? Isn't she yours?"
"No." he puffed his pipe. "She's yours."
Lightning turned and scrutinized him curiously, her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Is my English really that bad? I mean what I said." he assured her plainly. "Think of it as an apology."
"For what?"
"Pick something, I'm sure you can. Still, go ahead; can't just call her horse."
It was customary for Kushtan men to offer a gift to a woman they felt they had wronged. It was just one of those things to smooth over any bad blood between the two, just in case sorry wasn't good enough. Han felt he had indeed done some rather foolish things in dealing with Lightning, things he felt bad about, and he didn't think it wise to let it sit and gnaw at him.
And, just between you and me, it actually felt somewhat good, giving. He had been living so selfishly for so long.
I'm sure you're wondering how he was able to afford it. He had gathered a small bagful of crystal pieces from around ground zero, curious as to what purpose they served in this mess. They turned out to be rather valuable.
"So?" he lifted his brow at her.
The sentiment wasn't lost on her, though you wouldn't have guessed that by her expression. She seemed confused, almost disbelieving. Maybe it was the simple fact that she didn't see it coming. They had only just begun to be on speaking terms, after all.
In any case, she felt a considerable amount of pressure from this new responsibility. It was like naming a child. You can't just call it anything. She walked around to face the animal, whose coal black eyes met hers almost immediately. Light touched the mare's muzzle, rubbed its chin and forehead, and the animal took a step forward to press itself into her shoulder. It was almost like a strange sort of embrace.
All the while Han watched, curious, finding it somewhat cute. Although, he was forced to admit now that, in spite of how she tended to behave, Lightning couldn't be such a bad person. There was something good in her that she simply refused to show, though the horse could sense it anyway.
"What about Valkyrie?" she said aloud after a while. The mare tossed its head, perhaps in approval.
"Sounds fair...strong." he didn't know what it meant or if it meant anything at all, but he didn't exactly have grounds to protest it. "Though she looks a bit tired now."
"I know." Light had spent easily an hour charging through the Hinterlands on its back. She pat the animal on the back and let it roam once more, strolling the short distance needed to sit not too close beside Han.
"So who was it you were talking to, Bradley?"
"Partly." She crossed her legs and hunched forward, her elbows on her knees.
"Who else, then?"
"An old friend. He's bringing an airship so when we get out of here, we can do it in a hurry."
"An airship?" Han half turned his head, his pipe between his teeth. "Funny..."
"Why?"
"Oh, no reason...just curious why we didn't use one to get here to begin with."
Lightning felt her insides tighten, her mind frantic to find a believable excuse. It was hard pressed to do so, mind you. The idea had never crossed her, believe it or not. "The whole fleet was too busy ferrying supplies to make up for the influx of refugees."
Han nodded, exaggerating the motion by tipping his chin just a little higher than normal. Like he knew she was just grasping at straws. "So it wasn't forgetfulness on the account of old age?"
"Excuse me?"
"Fang mentioned you were getting on in years." he dipped his head and turned away ever so slightly. "What are you, forty-something?" it was taking all of his self control not to laugh. Even a little.
Lightning refused to answer, reacting instinctively and throwing a closed fist in his direction. It landed squarely on the metal bowl covering his empty shoulder with a dull pok. She recoiled quickly but wouldn't allow him the satisfaction of seeing her nurse the stinging in her knuckles.
"Does that happen to you often?" He asked, genuinely curious.
"Shut up."
Finally he laughed, but it was a small one, enough to make his shoulders bounce. Then it was quiet for a moment. Just a minute or two passing before he said, "In any case, it's done now. No use in dwelling on it. Though it cost us a considerable amount of time...I suppose you could say that we've done some good all the same."
Maybe, just maybe, she thought. They had managed to save a satyr from certain death, Han had reconnected with an old friend...okay, sure, but let's take a brief moment and weigh it against the shit pile they had to plow through. Yeah, maybe not so much good then.
"If you say so. Though...I can't say I see me being tossed into the mud as a good thing."
"Depends on how you look at it." and since he was rather sure she wasn't looking, Han smiled from ear to ear, sighing as he leaned back until he fell flat into the grass.
They said little more, the silence eventually interrupted by a dull roar echoing across the sky above them. The two stood, watching as the airship steadily dropped altitude and came to rest some ways off the road. It was one of the smaller ones, typically used for moving small groups of passengers, but it was still loud. Valkyrie whinnied and bolted, startled by the unfamiliar racket, Han going after the mare as if on instinct. It wasn't like Light needed him to speak with this pilot, so what better to do, right?
The engines died as Lightning made her way towards the craft, the large ramp at the ass-end of the ship flopping onto the grass. Sazh strolled out, rubbing the back of his neck and looking somewhat dismayed. Maybe even exasperated. Or maybe, just maybe, it was that he had simply gotten older.
"Glad you could come so soon." she said once close enough for him to hear.
"Yeah." his reply was a sort of sighing grumble. He took a moment to look around. "Nice place you've wound up in."
"Nice enough, for now anyway."
"Where are the others?"
"Back at the inn. Why don't you park this thing a little further down the road?"
"Wouldn't that be a bad thing?" his eyebrows lifted in a curious way. "I mean...chances are, by the looks of it, these folks have never seen anything like this before. Last thing I want is for some looky-loos taking her apart out of curiosity."
"If you want we can bring you back later. It was a thought. If we need to leave in a rush it'd be closer, easier to reach."
"Yeah, I suppose so. We may just have to. Not meaning to inconvenience anyone,"
"You're doing us a favor, don't worry about it." she insisted.
"Now, tell me what in all is going down here." he crossed his arms, head cocked to one side and his brow tense. "I know a little bit, but nothing in great detail. Vanille might be in some trouble?"
"From what we've gathered so far, big trouble is more like it." her brow knitted tightly in the middle to match his. "But let's get moving, I'll tell you the rest once we're back behind closed doors."
"What can hear us out here?" Sazh almost laughed, surprised at the former soldier's caution.
"That's just it. I'm not entirely sure. Come on."
Teh'Han was returning from the impromptu chase to find the airship lifting off again, and not a word said to him in warning about it. His brow flattened, but he refused to worry as it appeared to simply be advancing closer to Arash.
"That woman." He shook his head. And Valkyrie did as well, seeming to feel his frustration.
Without another thought about he climbed atop the horse's back and rode to meet them a ways down the road, and then on over the last stretch to the city gates.
"Some place," Sazh tipped back his head, watching as the grand arch at the entrance passed over him. He didn't notice at all how the gatekeepers locked their eyes on him and refused to blink. They looked rather shocked about something. With that being said, would it at all be surprising if I mentioned how that reaction became rather prevalent as the crowds grew?
Everyone, humans, vampires, men and women, even Han all looked, eyes wide and unyielding. They had never seen anything, anyone like that before. Children stopped in the middle of their games to look, unsure of what they were seeing. Unsure if it was real. For all they knew it could have been some new twist of sorcery. It was Altaire the Mystic's day of the festival after all.
"What's with the funny looks?" Sazh muttered, his hands deep in his pockets.
"You're going to get that a lot." Light answered casually. "Just keep walking and don't make eye contact." and that piece of advice came with a short, almost sarcastic laugh.
"Easy for you to say." he glanced over his shoulder, finding a street full of people that had stopped dead in their tracks. Still looking what he could have sworn was right at him. "It's starting to creep me out." and it certainly didn't help that some of these people appeared to have fangs and eyes that resembled those of venomous reptiles.
"We haven't had any real trouble with the locals yet," Light added, "although I'm pretty sure Hope was almost raped by a horde of starving artists the first day."
Sazh whimpered quietly. He didn't like the sound of that one damn bit. A tiny voice in his head was telling him he should've stayed home and that he was too old for this shit.
The ogling from the public didn't stop, in fact it seemed to get worse once they reached the plaza. All eyes seemed to fall on them, anyone who caught a glimpse stopping entirely. Some of the more curious began to follow but a few steps behind, unable to withstand the desire for a closer look. This went on for a long while, almost long enough for them to cross the plaza, and that was when Sazh couldn't quite take it anymore. He was convinced everyone was staring at him and he needed to know why. Just as he was about to twist around and confront his then unseen stalkers, something stopped him. Someone actually had it in them to address them instead of just stare.
"By the saints," a man gasped.
Now our party were the ones staring, at a tall, well dressed vampire that now stood before them. His perfectly kept hair gleamed crimson in the light and just behind him stood his bondsman who looked just as fascinated at what he saw as his master.
"You must forgive any intrusion, but I noticed what was going on and had to see for myself. I must admit that I've never seen anyone quite as...unique as yourselves."
"We're from abroad." Lightning answered quickly. This conversation needed to end as soon as possible.
"Foreigners!" he gasped. "Are you here for the festival, perhaps?"
"Sure."
"Fantastic! You must come to my villa," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm hosting a dinner and it would honor me for to be my guests."
"With all due respect," Lightning put a fist on her hip, "but who are you?"
"Oh my goodness, where are my manners?" the vampire laughed almost nervously. "I am the Bloodchief of Kalitas house, Hassan." and he introduced himself with a bent waist and dipped chin. "So, will you accept my offer?"
Lightning thought about it, not considering for even a brief moment of what the others would think of it. Her instincts were trying to tell her two things at once, although the louder voice was pushing her to go for it.
She tried to soften her tone to give her answer. "Our pleasure. When?"
"It's at the end of the week on the last night of the festival," Hassan seemed almost ridiculously happy. "I will send someone for you, would that suffice?"
"Sounds fine."
"Wonderful! Where can I find you?"
"We're staying at the Blue Door."
"Ah, Raul's place," Hassan grinned. "Very well, I suppose I will see you then. Very pleased to meet you all, by the way. I'm afraid I must run, though."
"Don't let us keep you."
"Good afternoon to you." and then he and his bondsman disappeared.
Han didn't like the sound of that conversation from beginning to end. It couldn't have been coincidence. It couldn't have been just simple chance. Did the bloodchief know about them somehow?
"That was weird." Sazh shrugged as they began to walk again. "Are we almost there?" he was feeling the need to hide.
"Just a little further." Lightning assured him.
"You two go on, I'll catch up." Han said quickly and then ducked away. He needed to return the horse to the stable, seeing as there was no room at the inn for it.
They went on without him, not concerned as he knew the way back.
Sazh did feel somewhat better when they had stepped into the shade and quiet of the Blue Door, almost happy to see the practically empty bar at the foot of the staircase that greeted them.
"There's the old man," Fang stood up from where she was sitting to meet him. "How goes it?"
"With or without me." he replied.
"Come on and have seat, you look tired." with her arm around the man's shoulder she pushed him gently towards the bar, to the nearest empty stool.
Raul heard the unfamiliar voice and popped his head up from where he was crouching to replace an empty barrel with a full one. His face suddenly set much like the faces of the people outside, wide eyes and blatant curiosity.
"Friend of yours?" One eyebrow lifted as his slitted eyes slid to the side to settle on Lightning.
"Yeah."
"Splendid." and then he went quickly back to what he was doing.
Francisco then appeared from an opening in the floor behind the bar, a piece of paper in his hand that he had yet to look up from. "We need to order more of that purple Hasha, Raul, we're on the last few bottles."
"Oh yes, I suppose we should. Drana's night is coming up soon."
Francisco hummed in agreement as he kicked the door to the cellar shut, finally looking up to see where he was going. But he didn't get far. He froze when he caught sight of their newest guest.
"Raul?"
"Yes?"
"Were we expecting anyone new?"
"No, but he's here all the same, Francisco. Say hello."
Francisco stared a moment, his brow knitted as if to scrutinize. He rounded the bar and came to stand right beside Sazh as he sat there. On the far side Fang watched, curious as to what was going on, more so of what was about to happen.
Then, slowly, almost uncertainly, Francisco raised his hand and put it to Sazh's cheek. He pressed, pushed back and pulled forward, then withdrew and looked at his palm. Perhaps he expected something to have rubbed off and leave a mark. When he found that no such thing happened, his countenance vaulted to sheer astonishment. He quickly turned and started for the door behind the stage, muttering something that resembled "it doesn't come off?"
For a brief moment Sazh was unsure of what to think. What the hell had just happened?
Wait a minute...
"Hold on a sec," he started just before he stalled. "All this...it's all because I'm-,"
"I think it is." Fang answered before he could finish, fighting a grin. She knew what was going on, and it was damn funny. Well, maybe it was his reaction, not so much the situation.
Sazh crossed his arms atop the bar, his head hanging almost low enough to pay across them. "Good grief. I wanna go home."
"Sorry, old man, you're stuck with us." Fang patted his back.
"You'll have to forgive Francisco," Raul appeared again. "He's...easily excited. To be frank, sir, we've never seen anyone like you before. Naturally he must have thought you had simply painted yourself that color."
"Naturally." he groaned.
"Perhaps you'd like something to drink?" Raul was sounding sympathetic. In a way, perhaps he was. He could understand how being singled out could feel at times. "On the house."
Sazh lifted his head. "I like you already."
"Can I have one?" Fang asked.
"You can wait until sunset."
"Why?" she almost whined.
Before Raul could answer, Lightning leaned on to the bar. "We've been invited to a bloodchief's party."
Raul's mouth was still open when the statement processed, his brow vaulting. "That so? Which one?"
"Hassan something-or-other."
"Ah, my brother-in-law, yes. I would imagine so. He likes strangers, and I suppose it doesn't get much stranger than you lot."
"Way to make a guy feel welcome," Sazh grumbled.
"What should we do?" Light continued their conversation.
"Did you accept the invitation? Then go. You would certainly be thought suspicious if you don't."
"Good point."
"It's not as big a deal as you think. I'll be going as well, Francisco and I are part of the entertainment. We will be there for you should something happen. Otherwise it is like any other social gathering you would go to."
Lightning seriously doubted that. It couldn't be like anything she had ever attended, considering how off a soldier's sense of fun could be once you get them drunk enough. She could share some stories.
"Though I'd imagine you would need something to wear other than what you have on. You'll need something more formal."
"Sunshine in a dress? Well, that doesn't sound like it goes against the natural order of the universe, now does it?" Fang prodded.
"That just sounds weird." Sazh didn't need to consider the idea very long to come up with that conclusion.
"You think that's strange? Wait until you meet Shilo."
"Who?"
Now, I know I've said this before, but I'll be damned if I don't say it again.
Speak of the devil and he appears.
The door at the top of the stairs swung open, Hope stepping through closely followed by the Leonin. The two descended the stairs.
"Just as you sent me to look for the boy, I crossed him on his way back here." Shilo explained. In reality, he had only stepped out a short while ago, a half hour at the most, at Fang's request to find out where Hope had disappeared to. No one had seen him all morning.
A talking lion, Sazh thought to himself, astonished. Now I've seen everything.
"Where did you go?" Lightning asked, her tone almost motherly.
"The conservatory." his answer was low toned, very sober.
Everyone turned to look at him, noticing the severity of his expression. Something was on his mind, something very serious.
"What's wrong?" Fang asked wearily.
"I don't know really," and for an instant he sounded confused.
"What did you go there for?"
"I wanted to meet this magistrate guy for myself." and to be honest the encounter left him feeling sullied. Maybe it had been the way the pure blooded vamp spoke. That tone of voice that just seemed to make you think of grime oozing down a sewage pipe.
And that wasn't the entire truth, either. Frankly, he'd been tired of waiting on Bard to try and speak to the magistrate, being so hung up on his engagement with the orchestra. It was frustrating, nearly angering for the young man to sit through. He decided to do some snooping of his own.
Hope explained how he had gone to the conservatory, posing as a fan of the magistrate's work and feigning the desire to commission a painting. That seemed to make the receptionist much more agreeable to pencil in an appointment for him. He waited for a couple of hours, having left that morning only a little while after Bard had. His patience eventually payed off. The magistrate had been more than happy to listen to his falsified fan gushing about how much he admired his paintings, especially "this one in particular at the Blue Door".
"Oh, that one, yes." Tezzim's voice echoed in his head. "You know, you're not the first one to say that."
"I didn't think so," Hope had replied. "That model was beautiful."
"Indeed." Tezzim made no attempt to hide the sensual undertone of his voice.
"I'm honestly thinking of, if it's convenient, commissioning one for myself."
"You had best get in line, young man. Half of my colleagues want one as well."
He remembered how hearing that nearly made him sick. "That's a shame. I won't be staying in the city very long. I'm only here for the festival."
"Pity." Tezzim had sounded genuinely displeased, almost hurt to hear that. "Well...I have an idea."
They had been in the magistrate's office at the time, and he reached for a sheet of paper. He ripped a corner off of it before reaching for a pen to scrawl his name and a time across it. Then he handed it over.
"If you're able, which I pray you are, come back tomorrow morning. You see, tomorrow is Aela's day and I try to have a bit of a...get together for all of my artist friends to celebrate. I'll be bringing her, so if you want a painting so badly you may come. Just give that to Vivian and she will show you in. Don't be late."
All of this he had been so eager to give, almost too eager.
Hope relayed all of that, and once he was done, a heaviness fell over the room.
"I'm going," he said after a tense and quiet spell. "I might not be able to do much...at least we'll know if she's okay."
"It's a step forward." Lightning nodded, her arms crossed over her chest and her brow low over her eyes.
No one else seemed to have it in them to speak. Except Raul.
"It sounds like he thinks you're an artist as well. If that's the case, then we need to make you look like one. Come, I should have some clothes that will fit you, and you can borrow some of Francisco's sketch books."
"I'm trying." Hope said quietly, maybe more so speaking to himself than to anyone else. He was trying to convince himself that he wasn't powerless. "I'm doing the best I know how."
He followed Raul back into the rear hallway, the same hallway that Francisco had blown up the other day. The walls were still spattered with various colors and scorch marks. He let Raul pull him around his bedroom, manipulate him as he tried to find something suitable for him to wear. Hope was going to need the most plain, most ordinary attire Raul could pull up. Most artists in this city were broke, and you could tell.
After he was properly dressed, Raul sneaked off to Francisco's workshop, having to fight his dwarven statured companion for a sketchbook and some writing utensils. And by fight I mean a rigorous session of face sucking. He put it all into a leather messenger bag, something very common for the vocation.
"That should do it." the vampire cautiously asserted.
Hope thought he looked like an absolute bum. But then he thought back to all those girls, and some guys, that had wanted to do his portrait when they first arrived. They hadn't looked much different.
"Although I'll tell you this." Raul stood close to Hope, making sure the boy was paying very close attention. "Tezzim is a strange man. He likes pushing people, especially if he can get away with it. Chances are very good that he may want you to do something or go along with something...unusual." and by the way he said "unusual", he most likely meant "morally taboo".
"What should I do?" any advice was welcome. He wanted this to go as smoothly as possible, to come out with the best circumstances.
"Just go with it." was his answer. "Act like he's a man after your own heart, and just do as he suggests even if you wouldn't normally. You want him to think he can trust you."
Hope didn't like the idea one bit. He felt his courage wavering.
"If it turns out that this girl is a ward of Kalitas house, then the closer you get to the magistrate, the better."
And that renewed his resolve.
Author's Note: Oh sweet God, pulling teeth would've been easier than writing this...this crap! I had to force it, I won't lie. And in spite of my effort which could be, on the one hand, considered half-assed at best, I only managed to pinch off a chapter full of filler. Yay me. Still, with that being said, I should be able to do one of two things now: spend the next chapter causing innocent people more agonizing pain, or spend the next chapter moving the plot along. Chances are I'll be leaning more towards the first one.
Anyway, next chapter...well, we'll just see. Any questions? You know how to reach me.