"Good morning," Irina greeted.
Luiza wandered out onto the porch and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Irina, it's good to see you."
She released Irina and motioned towards the door.
"Come inside and have some breakfast. My old man would love to see you again," she mentioned.
Irina turned her down, holding back a grimace. "I appreciate the offer, but I came by to say thank you. Elena told me you took care of the horses while I was gone."
"There's no need to thank me," she said with a smile.
Her kind eyes narrow in concern. "Is there something wrong?"
"Oh no," Irina answered back. "I'm leaving the village for a bit and wanted to say goodbye before I went."
Luiza puckered a brow. Where was she going? Perhaps the rumors about her were accurate; maybe she had a suitor in the village over.
Honestly, it was none of her business.
Luiza leaned forward and placed her hand on Irina's shoulder.
"Be safe, dear, and come back anytime you want."
Irina had tears in her eyes. She nodded and said farewell to Luiza, venturing back to her house to pack a spare bag she got from the Duke and wandered back to the area with the strange altar.
The Duke waited for her with a grin.
"Are you ready?"
Irina nodded. "I said my goodbyes."
"And you are sure about this?"
Again, she nodded. There were no more ties to cut. She wanted Luiza and the people on her side of the village to remain safe, so she decided on an idea to keep them from becoming a test subject; she decided to pack up and travel with the Duke.
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
The Duke laughed and motioned for her to join him.
"It's a pleasure to have you along for the journey," he assured her. "Come along; we have business near the reservoir."
Irina thanked him and got into the carriage, taking a seat on a plush ottoman as the Duke packed up his merchandise. The carriage began to move shortly after.
"I imagine you don't plan to stay most nights," he said, raising his voice so she could hear.
Irina looked at the back of his head through the rear window.
"No, but I will honor our arrangement and assist you," she answered back. "It's the least I can do for the gratitude you've shown me."
The Duke nodded in agreement but said nothing more as he focused on the path ahead.
Sitting back, Irina rested her eyes and listened to the wheels of the carriage splash through the mud as it moved along. She hoped that she had made a decent choice leaving her village behind. In her heart, she knew that this was the only way to protect the ones she loved, the only way to accept the wickedness she was about to do.
I can do this, she thought. I have to keep moving and think nothing of it, no matter what happens.
Before long, the carriage came to a sudden stop, and Irina sat up.
"We're here," the Duke stated.
He peeked back and met her curious gaze.
"Before you exit the carriage, I want to give you something. It's in the trunk below the ottoman you are sitting on."
Irina bent to her knees and pulled a small trunk from beneath the seat. Opening it, she glanced over the contents inside, taking them out.
"An outfit?"
The Duke laughed. "A disguise. It's prudent that you don't warrant attention from the other lords, should we have to meet with them."
"You sell to the Lords of the surrounding territories?"
He hummed. "I sell to anyone willing to buy. It's good business. Lady Dimitrescu, for example, has a custom-made lipstick she favors."
"I see," Irina uttered.
She slid on a black wool cloak over her blouse and hid her face from the cheekbones up with a horned mask decorated with metal flowers and shimmering silver rhinestones. It was a bit over the top, but she trusted the Duke's judgment.
Leaving the carriage, Irina looked around.
She was at first taken back by the horrid smell of decaying plant material – akin to rotten eggs and dead fish – but the odor went away after a few minutes, and she trudged through the mud to the back end of the carriage, where the Duke was sitting.
He parked them near a large structure called the gatehouse to the back of the reservoir. The houses near the base were underwater. Irina wondered how many people had lost their homes. And how it happened?
"Where did the people go that were from here?"
The Duke hummed. "Most moved to the village up the hill from here; the rest perhaps died in the flood."
"And you can keep business here?"
He nodded in agreement. "I have a shop set up inside the gatehouse that the villagers come to when ready."
"Do you need me to help you?"
The Duke shook his head. "Oh no. I am particular about my merchandise, but if you are going back to the factory, take these with you."
He reached into his carriage and took out a small box, handing it to Irina.
She glanced at it in curiosity.
"Lord Heisenberg fancies his cigars," he explained. "He'll know the amount of coin to send back with you."
Irina shook her head. "I need to speak with him about something; then I will return later."
"See you soon, Irina."
She said her goodbyes and trudged towards the village through snow and muck. Once she arrived, she noticed that this side was much smaller than the village in the west where she came from. However, more people were roaming around, a sight she was pleased to see.
Perhaps this could work.
Not worried about them for now, Irina rushed down the path, following markers back to the area with the altar. Soon after, she returned to the factory and beat on the gate, shouting for Heisenberg to let her in.
He did so and met her at the front door as she came running up the path.
"What in the hell are you wearing?"
She caught her breath and handed him the box.
"These are for you," Irina stated, ignoring his question.
Heisenberg opened the lid and grinned.
"So, you know the merchant," he mentioned.
She nodded. "I'm working with him."
Heisenberg puckered a brow. Since when? He didn't know much about her personal life or cared to know for that matter, but the last time he checked, she was nothing more than a village worm stealing for money.
Lifting the box, he shook the contents.
"Is this why you came here?"
Irina shook her head. "No. I wanted to speak with you about something."
"Make it quick," he retorted.
She took an uneasy breath. "I want to bring you test subjects for your projects."
Heisenberg was taken back.
"Have you lost your fucking mind?"
Irina puckered a brow. "I don't understand."
She thought he'd appreciate the suggestion.
"This came out of nowhere," he pointed out.
Just yesterday, she was a hot mess, bawling her eyes out after seeing his creations. What changed? And why did she want to help him so badly?
Heisenberg snorted.
"What angle are you playing?"
Irina narrowed her eyes. "I want out of here. You promised me that, and I am willing to bring you living subjects to move along your plans to get it."
She was desperate. Heisenberg could see it in her eyes.
"You know there will be consequences," he mentioned.
A life of misery and regret. Irina knew he was right.
"I'll pass that bridge when that day comes," she stated.
Who was he to argue?
Heisenberg brought out his hand; she took it, sealing the agreement.
"Tell me what I need to do," Irina pleaded.
He grinned and motioned for her to come inside.
How fucking ironic, he thought.
He was using her, and she was using him.
There was something about her that he was fond of.