A/N: I sincerely apologize for the severe lack of chapters this story has,
but I am a junior now, and college is coming up, and the few hours a day I
have to myself I usually spend with my friends. So I ask any readers to
forgive me for keeping you waiting till the point where I only assume you
have given up all hope of updates. ^_^ well enjoy. (also, haven t written
on this in ages, so if I have continuity issues, plz tell me. :P)
Chapter 2: Petals in the Wind
Serena crept down the smoky hallway that led to the working girls rooms. It was dimly lit by the poor light of the only working bulbs in the house, one above each doorway, each covered by a deep red gauze. Ria shivered as a draft from the crack along one wall swept down the narrow corridor, causing the gauze draperies to swirl languidly, unveiling a dusty beam of yellow light before returning to crimson shadows. Her footsteps were muffled in the heavy carpeting, carefully in the shadows to conceal the rotting hems and threadbare center.
She approached the nearest doorway, her feet dragging as her nose picked up the musky smells of fear, anger, lust, and sweat. The door stood before her, the only barrier between a childhood full of nightmares, and a life of living those nightmares.
Ria nearly screamed as a huge Tralmadorian burst through the door way with a muffled oath. As he stumbled past in a drunken haze, she pressed her thin body against the damp wall as in her fear she tried to sink through the solid barrier. Even as the sound of his passage faded from her ears, she could not force her tensed limbs to release her from her terrified crouch. As the minutes ticked by, only the fear of the ice in Mistress Beuance s eyes kept Ria from collapsing on the spot.
"Honey?" Serena looked up with wide eyes into the concerned face of Alexis. "Why don t you come in here for a moment, Ducky." The lithe sable colored woman reached down a delicate, paw-like hand to help the younger girl to her feet. As Ria took the proffered hand, she winced to see the blossoming bruise revealed on the caniods lower arm. Alexis followed her stare down to the darkly colored splotch. She shrugged and gave a humorless laugh as she let the girl into the smoky depths of the room.
There was no bed, not just anyone could afford a real bed, but instead there were pillows, blankets, rags, old dresses, and every sort of cloth imaginable strewn this way and that. The chaotic tumble of bedding confused and disoriented Ria as they picked their way into the center jumble of pillows.
Alexis sat down daintily, crossing her slim legs as she reached for the limp gown Serena still unconsciously clutched in her hand. "Oooohh... catling, I m so sorry. But you know it had to happen some time. Even your mother knew it, when she wasn t Spice addled." Her big brown eyes were sympathetic as the met Ria s green ones.
"I... I ve gotta earn my living...." Serena trailed off and her lip trembled as she tried to keep the hot tears from breaking free.
"Yes deary. And this is better than some." Alexis smoothed a strand of black hair behind the cat girl s pointed ear. "it will be bad... it will be very bad... but nothing is worse than living on the streets. Nothing."
***
Jim eyed the weather beaten door uncertainly. It had the ill fitted look of something taken off a better house and forced into a crevice not large enough or well lit enough to suit it. It clearly had seen better days, and in the sagging hinges yearned for sunlit terraces, not dank alleys. The painted rose was peeling, which sadly enough, improved the original picture. It was a pathetic rose, stunted and fading, that matched the worn out ill placed door.
He was not as drunk as he had hoped to be, his nineteenth birthday and he did not wish to be reminded of what he did not have... so he fended off bittersweet memories and pangs of despair with the bottle he had come to love.
"c mon jimmy me boy, lesh us prove once an for all who ish the reeeall man of the fleetsh.." Doone staggered towards the door, but upon finding the ground not as flat as he had anticipated, fell upon his friend for support. Jim grimaced and put an arm around his drunken friends shoulder. They were the only two full humans in their class, and had formed a close friendship within months of attending the space academy. Now, on Jim s nineteenth birthday, Doone felt obligated to help Jim enjoy it. Unfortunately, he had the tendency to become incoherent before his friend, and therefore less able to assist.
"I dunno man, should we really..." Jim looked at the door in surprise as it opened. An imposing woman clothed in old silks and laces in clear imitation of the current fashions among the nobles looked them over. Her hard eyes took in their uniforms, and Doone s money pouch, which had fallen out his pocket where he normally kept it safely tucked. It apparently was fat enough to satisfy the woman, as she immediately became visibly more welcoming.
"Ahhh, m dearies, welcome to the Red Rose, how may I service you two handsome men?" She smiled sweetly, a deep red smile that never quite reached her hard, black eyes. Jim hesitated, but the alcohol in Doone s system allowed him no such restraint.
"Beautiful women. Exotic beautiful women, for me ansh my friendsh here..." he waved in Jim s general direction.
"And some alcohol would be good. Rum, if you have it." Jim added. The woman s mouth turned up ever so slightly, sharpening the smile imperceptibly and lending an added, almost predatory glint to her eyes.
"Welcome. I am Mistress Beuance, and I hope you will enjoy your night with us at the Red Rose."
***
Serena plucked listlessly at the hem of her ratty nightgown. The pale cream color made her think of her mothers skin, which when clean had been so smooth and soft... before the Spice had corrupted her body and spread its poison influence wherever it could reach...
A soft, hesitant tapping on her door brought Ria out of her reflective trance. At her soft word, the old-fashioned handle turned, and a figure slipped in through the cracked opening. Tousled black hair and pale blue skin revealed it to be the kitchen boy, who doubled as a messenger when customers arrived.
"One for exotic, 50 silver, Mistress Beuance wants im well pleased, she says e s an officer or som tha" the boy declared, clearly impressed with his responsibility.
"Thankie Daniel. Run along now childe." Ria watched him slip back through the door, closing it behind him with a whisper of cloth. Leaning over the side of her nest, she reached into a nearby cabinet, and brought out a little leather sack. She extracted a small cube and an old fashioned lighter. With a deft flick she lit the machine, and held the little flame next to the cube till it took. A breath of air put out the flame, leaving the ember to produce a spicy scented smoke. Again she reached into the bag, this time pulling out a black stick, which with, with the help of a mirror, she heavily lined her slanted green eyes in black.
She carefully put her supplies back into the soft pouch, and stowed it back in the cabinet, just as the door opened with a bang. A young man in a white suit was sent stumbling into her room by a drunken shove and a hearty laugh before his helper moved on and the door was quickly closed by the Mistress. The man caught himself and straightened, blinking blearily in the dim light. He searched the room, and catching sight of Ria, took a swig from a blue bottle she recognized as the rum Mistress Beuance preferred.
"How may I help you, m lord?" Serena breathed, holding back the now familiar tears. He took another drink, then looked at her long, bared legs.
"Jim. Jim. An thing that ll make me forget."
"yes... Jim, I do believe I can do that for you..." She stretched languidly, hating the smooth feel of the old silks against her legs, hating the thin nightgown that hid nothing, hating the beautiful man in front of her. " Twill be no problem at all..."
A/N: *badaboosh!* and there it is, the loooooong awaited chapter three. Feedback is appreciated!
Chapter 2: Petals in the Wind
Serena crept down the smoky hallway that led to the working girls rooms. It was dimly lit by the poor light of the only working bulbs in the house, one above each doorway, each covered by a deep red gauze. Ria shivered as a draft from the crack along one wall swept down the narrow corridor, causing the gauze draperies to swirl languidly, unveiling a dusty beam of yellow light before returning to crimson shadows. Her footsteps were muffled in the heavy carpeting, carefully in the shadows to conceal the rotting hems and threadbare center.
She approached the nearest doorway, her feet dragging as her nose picked up the musky smells of fear, anger, lust, and sweat. The door stood before her, the only barrier between a childhood full of nightmares, and a life of living those nightmares.
Ria nearly screamed as a huge Tralmadorian burst through the door way with a muffled oath. As he stumbled past in a drunken haze, she pressed her thin body against the damp wall as in her fear she tried to sink through the solid barrier. Even as the sound of his passage faded from her ears, she could not force her tensed limbs to release her from her terrified crouch. As the minutes ticked by, only the fear of the ice in Mistress Beuance s eyes kept Ria from collapsing on the spot.
"Honey?" Serena looked up with wide eyes into the concerned face of Alexis. "Why don t you come in here for a moment, Ducky." The lithe sable colored woman reached down a delicate, paw-like hand to help the younger girl to her feet. As Ria took the proffered hand, she winced to see the blossoming bruise revealed on the caniods lower arm. Alexis followed her stare down to the darkly colored splotch. She shrugged and gave a humorless laugh as she let the girl into the smoky depths of the room.
There was no bed, not just anyone could afford a real bed, but instead there were pillows, blankets, rags, old dresses, and every sort of cloth imaginable strewn this way and that. The chaotic tumble of bedding confused and disoriented Ria as they picked their way into the center jumble of pillows.
Alexis sat down daintily, crossing her slim legs as she reached for the limp gown Serena still unconsciously clutched in her hand. "Oooohh... catling, I m so sorry. But you know it had to happen some time. Even your mother knew it, when she wasn t Spice addled." Her big brown eyes were sympathetic as the met Ria s green ones.
"I... I ve gotta earn my living...." Serena trailed off and her lip trembled as she tried to keep the hot tears from breaking free.
"Yes deary. And this is better than some." Alexis smoothed a strand of black hair behind the cat girl s pointed ear. "it will be bad... it will be very bad... but nothing is worse than living on the streets. Nothing."
***
Jim eyed the weather beaten door uncertainly. It had the ill fitted look of something taken off a better house and forced into a crevice not large enough or well lit enough to suit it. It clearly had seen better days, and in the sagging hinges yearned for sunlit terraces, not dank alleys. The painted rose was peeling, which sadly enough, improved the original picture. It was a pathetic rose, stunted and fading, that matched the worn out ill placed door.
He was not as drunk as he had hoped to be, his nineteenth birthday and he did not wish to be reminded of what he did not have... so he fended off bittersweet memories and pangs of despair with the bottle he had come to love.
"c mon jimmy me boy, lesh us prove once an for all who ish the reeeall man of the fleetsh.." Doone staggered towards the door, but upon finding the ground not as flat as he had anticipated, fell upon his friend for support. Jim grimaced and put an arm around his drunken friends shoulder. They were the only two full humans in their class, and had formed a close friendship within months of attending the space academy. Now, on Jim s nineteenth birthday, Doone felt obligated to help Jim enjoy it. Unfortunately, he had the tendency to become incoherent before his friend, and therefore less able to assist.
"I dunno man, should we really..." Jim looked at the door in surprise as it opened. An imposing woman clothed in old silks and laces in clear imitation of the current fashions among the nobles looked them over. Her hard eyes took in their uniforms, and Doone s money pouch, which had fallen out his pocket where he normally kept it safely tucked. It apparently was fat enough to satisfy the woman, as she immediately became visibly more welcoming.
"Ahhh, m dearies, welcome to the Red Rose, how may I service you two handsome men?" She smiled sweetly, a deep red smile that never quite reached her hard, black eyes. Jim hesitated, but the alcohol in Doone s system allowed him no such restraint.
"Beautiful women. Exotic beautiful women, for me ansh my friendsh here..." he waved in Jim s general direction.
"And some alcohol would be good. Rum, if you have it." Jim added. The woman s mouth turned up ever so slightly, sharpening the smile imperceptibly and lending an added, almost predatory glint to her eyes.
"Welcome. I am Mistress Beuance, and I hope you will enjoy your night with us at the Red Rose."
***
Serena plucked listlessly at the hem of her ratty nightgown. The pale cream color made her think of her mothers skin, which when clean had been so smooth and soft... before the Spice had corrupted her body and spread its poison influence wherever it could reach...
A soft, hesitant tapping on her door brought Ria out of her reflective trance. At her soft word, the old-fashioned handle turned, and a figure slipped in through the cracked opening. Tousled black hair and pale blue skin revealed it to be the kitchen boy, who doubled as a messenger when customers arrived.
"One for exotic, 50 silver, Mistress Beuance wants im well pleased, she says e s an officer or som tha" the boy declared, clearly impressed with his responsibility.
"Thankie Daniel. Run along now childe." Ria watched him slip back through the door, closing it behind him with a whisper of cloth. Leaning over the side of her nest, she reached into a nearby cabinet, and brought out a little leather sack. She extracted a small cube and an old fashioned lighter. With a deft flick she lit the machine, and held the little flame next to the cube till it took. A breath of air put out the flame, leaving the ember to produce a spicy scented smoke. Again she reached into the bag, this time pulling out a black stick, which with, with the help of a mirror, she heavily lined her slanted green eyes in black.
She carefully put her supplies back into the soft pouch, and stowed it back in the cabinet, just as the door opened with a bang. A young man in a white suit was sent stumbling into her room by a drunken shove and a hearty laugh before his helper moved on and the door was quickly closed by the Mistress. The man caught himself and straightened, blinking blearily in the dim light. He searched the room, and catching sight of Ria, took a swig from a blue bottle she recognized as the rum Mistress Beuance preferred.
"How may I help you, m lord?" Serena breathed, holding back the now familiar tears. He took another drink, then looked at her long, bared legs.
"Jim. Jim. An thing that ll make me forget."
"yes... Jim, I do believe I can do that for you..." She stretched languidly, hating the smooth feel of the old silks against her legs, hating the thin nightgown that hid nothing, hating the beautiful man in front of her. " Twill be no problem at all..."
A/N: *badaboosh!* and there it is, the loooooong awaited chapter three. Feedback is appreciated!